ough a country which had so often been the scene of his exploits； but to be thus impeded in his flight and harassed and insulted by a mere handful of warriors roused the violent passions of the old Moor to perfect frenzy。 He had marked Don Alonso de Aguilar dealing his blows （says Agapida） with the pious vehemence of a righteous knight； who knows that in every wound inflicted upon the infidels he is doing God service。 Ali Atar spurred his steed along the bank of the river to come upon Don Alonso by surprise。 The back of the warrior was toward him； and； collecting all his force； the Moor hurled his lance to transfix him on the spot。 The lance was not thrown with the usual accuracy of Ali Atar： it tore away a part of the cuirass of Don Alonso； but failed to inflict a wound。 The Moor rushed upon Don Alonso with his scimetar； but the latter was on the alert and parried his blow。 They fought desperately upon the borders of the river； alternately pressing each other into the stream and fighting their way again up the bank。 Ali Atar was repeatedly wounded； and Don Alonso； having pity on his age； would have spared his life： he called upon him to surrender。 〃Never；〃 cried Ali Atar； 〃to a Christian dog！〃 The words were scarce out of his mouth when the sword of Don Alonso clove his turbaned head and sank deep into the brain。 He fell dead without a groan； his body rolled into the Xenil； nor was it ever found or recognized。* Thus fell Ali Atar； who had long been the terror of Andalusia。 As he had hated and warred upon the Christians all his life； so he died in the very act of bitter hostility。
*Cura de los Palacios。
The fall of Ali Atar put an end to the transient stand of the cavalry。 Horse and foot mingled together in the desperate struggle across the Xenil； and many were trampled down and perished beneath the waves。 Don Alonso and his band continued to harass them until they crossed the frontier； and every blow struck home to the Moors seemed to lighten the load of humiliation and sorrow which had weighed heavy on their hearts。
In this disastrous rout the Moors lost upward of five thousand killed and made prisoners； many of whom were of the most noble lineages of Granada； numbers fled to rocks and mountains； where they were subsequently taken。
Boabdil remained a prisoner in the state tower of the citadel of Lucena under the vigilance of Alonso de Rueda； esquire of the alcayde of the Donceles； his quality was still unknown until the 24th of April； three days after the battle。 On that day some prisoners； natives of Granada； just brought in； caught a sight of the unfortunate Boabdil despoiled of his royal robes。 Throwing themselves at his feet； they broke forth in loud lamentations； apostrophizing him as their lord and king。
Great was the astonishment and triumph of the count de Cabra and Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova on learning the rank of the supposed cavalier。 They both ascended to the castle to see that he was lodged in a style befitting his quality。 When the good count beheld in the dejected captive before him the monarch who had so recently appeared in royal splendor surrounded by an army； his generous heart was touched by sympathy。 He said everything to comfort him that became a courteous and Christian knight； observing that the same mutability of things which had suddenly brought him low might as rapidly restore him to prosperity； since in this world nothing is stable； and sorrow； like joy； has its allotted term。
The action here recorded was called by some the battle of Lucena； by others the battle of the Moorish king； because of the capture of Boabdil。 Twenty…two banners； taken on the occasion； were borne in triumph into Vaena on the 23d of April； St。 George's Day； and hung up in the church。 There they remain （says a historian of after times） to this day。 Once a year； on the festival of St。 George； they are borne about in procession by the inhabitants； who at the same time give thanks to God for this signal victory granted to their forefathers。*
*Several circumstances relative to the capture of Boabdil vary in this from the first edition； in consequence of later light thrown on the subject by Don Miguel Lafuente Alcantara in his History of Granada。 He has availed himself much of various ancient documents relative to the battle； especially the History of the House of Cordova by the abbot of Rute； a descendant of that familya rare manuscript of which few copies exist。
The question as to the person entitled to the honor and reward for having captured the king long continued a matter of dispute between the people of Lucena and Vaena。 On the 20th of October； 1520； about thirty…seven years after the event； an examination of several witnesses to the fact took place before the chief justice of the fortress of Lucena； at the instance of Bartolomy Hurtado； the son of Martin； when the claim of his father was established by Dona Leonora Hernandez； lady in attendant on the mother of the alcayde of los Donceles； who testified being present when Boabdil signalized Martin Hurtado as his captor。
The chief honor of the day； and of course of the defeat and capture of the Moorish monarch； was given by the sovereign to the count de Cabra； the second to his nephew； Don Diego Fernandez de Cordova。
Among the curious papers cited by Alcantara is one existing in the archives of the House of Medina Celi； giving the account of the treasurer of Don Diego Fernandez as to the sums expended by his lord in the capture of the king； the reward given to some soldiers for a standard of the king's which they had taken； to others for the wounds they had received； etc。
Another paper speaks of an auction at Lucena on the 28th of April of horses and mules taken in the battle。 Another paper states the gratuities of the alcayde of los Donceles to the soldieryfour fanegas； or about four hundredweight； of wheat and a lance to each horseman； two fanegas of wheat and a lance to each foot…soldier。
CHAPTER XVII。
LAMENTATIONS OF THE MOORS FOR THE BATTLE OF LUCENA。
The sentinels looked out from the watch…towers of Loxa along the valley of the Xenil； which passes through the mountains of Algaringo。 They looked to behold the king returning in triumph at the head of his shining host； laden with the spoil of the unbeliever。 They looked to behold the standard of their warlike idol； the fierce Ali Atar； borne by the chivalry of Loxa； ever foremost in the wars of the border。
In the evening of the 21st of April they descried a single horseman urging his faltering steed along the banks of the Xenil。 As he drew near they perceived； by the flash of arms； that he was a warrior； and on nearer approach by the richness of his armor and the caparison of his steed they knew him to be a warrior of rank。
He reached Loxa faint and aghast； his courser covered with foam and dust and blood； panting and staggering with fatigue and gashed with wounds。 Having brought his master in safety； he sank down and died before the gate of the city。 The soldiers at the gate gathered round the cavalier as he stood by his expiring steed： they knew him to be Cidi Caleb； nephew of the chief alfaqui of the mosque in the Albaycin； and their hearts were filled with fearful forebodings。
〃Cavalier；〃 said they； 〃how fares it with the king and army？〃
He cast his hand mournfully toward the land of the Christians。 〃There they lie！〃 exclaimed he。 〃The heavens have fallen upon them。 All are lost！ all dead！〃*
*Bernaldez （Cura de los Palacios）； Hist。 de los Reyes Catol。； MS。； cap。 61。
Upon this there was a great cry of consternation among the people； and loud wailings of women； for the flower of the youth of Loxa were with the army。
An old Moorish soldier； scarred in many a border battle； stood leaning on his lance by the gateway。 〃Where is Ali Atar？〃 demanded he eagerly。 〃If he lives the army cannot be lost。〃
〃I saw his helm cleft by the Christian sword； his body is floating in the Xenil。〃
When the soldier heard these words he smote his breast and threw dust upon his head； for he was an old follower of Ali Atar。
Cidi Caleb gave himself no repose； but； mounting another steed； hastened toward Granada。 As he passed through the villages and hamlets he spread sorrow around； for their chosen men had followed the king to the wars。
When he entered the gates of Granada and announced the loss of the king and army； a voice of horror went throughout the city。 Every one thought but of his own share in the general calamity； and crowded round the bearer of ill tidings。 One asked after a father； another after a brother； some after a lover； and many a mother after her son。 His replies all spoke of wounds and death。 To one he replied； 〃I saw thy father pierced with a lance as he defended the person of the king；〃 to another； 〃Thy brother fell wounded under the hoofs of the horses； but there was no time to aid him； for the Christian cavalry were upon us；〃 to another； 〃I saw the horse of thy lover covered with blood and galloping without his rider；〃 to another； 〃Thy son fought by my side on the banks of the Xenil： we were surrounded by the enemy and driven into the stream。 I heard him cry upon Allah in the midst of the waters： when I r