e enemy and driven into the stream。 I heard him cry upon Allah in the midst of the waters： when I reached the other bank he was no longer by my side。〃
Cidi Caleb passed on； leaving all Granada in lamentation： he urged his steed up the steep avenue of trees and fountains that leads to the Alhambra； nor stopped until he arrived before the Gate of Justice。 Ayxa； the mother of Boabdil； and Morayma； his beloved and tender wife； had daily watched from the Tower of Comares to behold his triumphant return。 Who shall describe their affliction when they heard the tidings of Cidi Caleb？ The sultana Ayxa spake not much； but sat as one entranced。 Every now and then a deep sigh burst forth； but she raised her eyes to heaven。 〃It is the will of Allah！〃 said she； and with these words endeavored to repress the agonies of a mother's sorrow。 The tender Morayma threw herself on the earth and gave way to the full turbulence of her feelings； bewailing her husband and her father。 The high…minded Ayxa rebuked the violence of her grief。 〃Moderate these transports； my daughter；〃 said she； 〃remember magnanimity should be the attribute of princes： it becomes not them to give way to clamorous sorrow； like common and vulgar minds。〃 But Morayma could only deplore her loss with the anguish of a tender woman。 She shut herself up in her mirador； and gazed all day with streaming eyes upon the Vega。 Every object recalled the causes of her affliction。 The river Xenil； which ran shining amidst groves and gardens； was the same on whose banks had perished her father； Ali Atar； before her lay the road to Loxa； by which Boabdil had departed； in martial state； surrounded by the chivalry of Granada。 Ever and anon she would burst into an agony of grief。 〃Alas！ my father！〃 she would exclaim； 〃the river runs smiling before me that covers thy mangled remains； who will gather them to an honored tomb in the land of the unbeliever？ And thou； O Boabdil； light of my eyes！ joy of my heart！ life of my life！ woe the day and woe the hour that I saw thee depart from these walls！ The road by which thou hast departed is solitary； never will it be gladdened by thy return： the mountain thou hast traversed lies like a cloud in the distance； and all beyond is darkness。〃
The royal minstrels were summoned to assuage her sorrows： they attuned their instruments to cheerful strains； but in a little while the anguish of their hearts prevailed and turned their songs to lamentations。
〃Beautiful Granada！〃 exclaimed they； 〃how is thy glory faded！ The flower of thy chivalry lies low in the land of the stranger； no longer does the Vivarrambla echo to the tramp of steed and sound of trumpet； no longer is it crowded with thy youthful nobles gloriously arrayed for the tilt and tourney。 Beautiful Granada！ the soft note of the lute no longer floats through thy moonlit streets； the serenade is no more heard beneath thy balconies； the lively castanet is silent upon thy hills； the graceful dance of the Zambra is no more seen beneath thy bowers！ Beautiful Granada！ why is the Alhambra so lorn and desolate？ The orange and myrtle still breathe their perfumes into its silken chambers； the nightingale still sings within its groves； its marble halls are still refreshed with the plash of fountains and the gush of limpid rills。 Alas！ alas！ the countenance of the king no longer shines within those halls！ The light of the Alhambra is set for ever！〃
Thus all Granada； say the Arabian chroniclers； gave itself up to lamentation； there was nothing but the voice of wailing from the palace to the cottage。 All joined to deplore their youthful monarch； cut down in the freshness and promise of his youth； many feared that the prediction of the astrologers was about to be fulfilled； and that the downfall of the kingdom would follow the death of Boabdil； while all declared that had he survived he was the very sovereign calculated to restore the realm to its ancient prosperity and glory。
CHAPTER XVIII。
HOW MULEY ABUL HASSAN PROFITED BY THE MISFORTUNES OF HIS SON BOABDIL。
An unfortunate death atones； with the world； for a multitude of errors。 While the populace thought their youthful monarch had perished in the field nothing could exceed their grief for his loss and their adoration of his memory； when； however； they learnt that he was still alive and had surrendered himself captive to the Christians； their feelings underwent an instant change。 They decried his talents as a commander； his courage as a soldier； they railed at his expedition as rash and ill…conducted； and they reviled him for not having dared to die on the field of battle； rather than surrender to the enemy。
The alfaquis； as usual； mingled with the populace and artfully guided their discontents。 〃Behold；〃 exclaimed they； 〃the prediction is accomplished which was pronounced at the birth of Boabdil！ He has been seated on the throne； and the kingdom has suffered downfall and disgrace by his defeat and captivity。 Comfort yourselves； O Moslems！ The evil day has passed by； the prophecy is fulfilled： the sceptre which has been broken in the feeble hand of Boabdil is destined to resume its former sway in the vigorous grasp of Abul Hassan。〃
The people were struck with the wisdom of these words： they rejoiced that the baleful prediction which had so long hung over them was at an end； and declared that none but Muley Abul Hassan had the valor and capacity necessary for the protection of the kingdom in this time of trouble。
The longer the captivity of Boabdil continued； the greater grew the popularity of his father。 One city after another renewed allegiance to him； for power attracts power and fortune creates fortune。 At length he was enabled to return to Granada and establish himself once more in the Alhambra。 At his approach his repudiated spouse； the sultana Ayxa； gathered together the family and treasures of her captive son； and retired； with a handful of the nobles； into the Albaycin； the rival quarter of the city； the inhabitants of which still retained feelings of loyalty to Boabdil。 Here she fortified herself and held the semblance of a court in the name of her son。 The fierce Muley Abul Hassan would have willingly carried fire and sword into this factious quarter of the capital； but he dared not confide in his new and uncertain popularity。 Many of the nobles detested him for his past cruelty； and a large portion of the soldiery； besides many of the people of his own party； respected the virtues of Ayxa la Horra and pitied the misfortunes of Boabdil。
Granada therefore presented the singular spectacle of two sovereignties within the same city。 The old king fortified himself in the lofty towers of the Alhambra； as much against his own subjects as against the Christians； while Ayxa； with the zeal of a mother's affection； which waxes warmer and warmer toward her offspring when in adversity； still maintained the standard of Boabdil on the rival fortress of the Alcazaba； and kept his powerful faction alive within the walls of the Albaycin。
CHAPTER XIX。
CAPTIVITY OF BOABDIL EL CHICO。
The unfortunate Boabdil remained a prisoner closely guarded； but treated with great deference and respect； in the castle of Lucena； where the noblest apartments were appointed for his abode。 From the towers of his prison he beheld the town below filled with armed men； and the lofty hill on which it was built girdled by massive walls and ramparts； on which a vigilant watch was maintained night and day。 The mountains around were studded with watch…towers overlooking the lonely roads which led to Granada； so that a turban could not stir over the border without the alarm being given and the whole country put on the alert。 Boabdil saw that there was no hope of escape from such a fortress； and that any attempt to rescue him would be equally in vain。 His heart was filled with anxiety as he thought on the confusion and ruin which his captivity must cause in his affairs； while sorrows of a softer kind overcame his fortitude as he thought on the evils it might bring upon his family。
A few days only had passed away when missives arrived from the Castilian sovereigns。 Ferdinand had been transported with joy at hearing of the capture of the Moorish monarch； seeing the deep and politic uses that might be made of such an event； but the magnanimous spirit of Isabella was filled with compassion for the unfortunate captive。 Their messages to Boabdil were full of sympathy and consolation； breathing that high and gentle courtesy which dwells in noble minds。
This magnanimity in his foe cheered the dejected spirit of the captive monarch。 〃Tell my sovereigns； the king and queen；〃 said he to the messenger； 〃that I cannot he unhappy being in the power of such high and mighty princes； especially since they partake so largely of that grace and goodness which Allah bestows upon the monarchs whom he greatly loves。 Tell them； further； that I had long thought of submitting myself to their sway； to receive the kingdom of Granada from their hands in the same manner that my ancestor received it from King John II。； father to the gracious queen。 My greatest sorrow； in this my captivity； is that I must appear to do that from force which I would f