chronicle of the conquest of granada- 第78部分

The　loss　of　the　Christians　in　this　siege　amounted　to　twenty　thousand　men；　of　whom　seventeen　thousand　died　of　disease；　and　not　a　few　of　mere　colda　kind　of　death　（says　the　historian　Mariana）　peculiarly　uncomfortable；　but　（adds　the　venerable　Jesuit）　as　these　latter　were　chiefly　people　of　ignoble　rank；　baggage…carriers　and　such…like；　the　loss　was　not　of　great　importance。

The　surrender　of　Baza　was　followed　by　that　of　Almunecar；　Tavernas；　and　most　of　the　fortresses　of　the　Alpuxarras　mountains；　the　inhabitants　hoped　by　prompt　and　voluntary　submission　to　secure　equally　favorable　terms　with　those　granted　to　the　captured　city；　and　the　alcaydes　to　receive　similar　rewards　to　those　lavished　on　its　commanders；　nor　were　either　of　them　disappointed。　　The　inhabitants　were　permitted　to　remain　as　mudexares　in　the　quiet　enjoyment　of　their　property　and　religion；　and　as　to　the　alcaydes；　when　they　came　to　the　camp　to　render　up　their　charges　they　were　received　by　Ferdinand　with　distinguished　favor；　and　rewarded　with　presents　of　money　in　proportion　to　the　importance　of　the　places　they　had　commanded。　　Care　was　taken　by　the　politic　monarch；　however；　not　to　wound　their　pride　nor　shock　their　delicacy；　so　these　sums　were　paid　under　color　of　arrears　due　to　them　for　their　services　to　the　former　government。　　Ferdinand　had　conquered　by　dint　of　sword　in　the　earlier　part　of　the　war；　but　he　found　gold　as　potent　as　steel　in　this　campaign　of　Baza。

With　several　of　these　mercenary　chieftains　came　one　named　Ali　Aben　Fahar；　a　seasoned　warrior　who　had　held　many　important　commands。　He　was　a　Moor　of　a　lofty；　stern；　and　melancholy　aspect；　and　stood　silent　and　apart　while　his　companions　surrendered　their　several　fortresses　and　retired　laden　with　treasure。　　When　it　came　to　his　turn　to　speak；　he　addressed　the　sovereigns　with　the　frankness　of　a　soldier；　but　with　the　tone　of　dejection　and　despair。

〃I　am　a　Moor；〃　said　he；　〃and　of　Moorish　lineage；　and　am　alcayde　of　the　fair　towns　and　castles　of　Purchena　and　Paterna。　　These　were　entrusted　to　me　to　defend；　but　those　who　should　have　stood　by　me　have　lost　all　strength　and　courage　and　seek　only　for　security。　　These　fortresses；　therefore；　most　potent　sovereigns；　are　yours　whenever　you　will　send　to　take　possession　of　them。〃

Large　sums　of　gold　were　immediately　ordered　by　Ferdinand　to　be　delivered　to　the　alcayde　as　a　recompense　for　so　important　a　surrender。　　The　Moor；　however；　put　back　the　gift　with　a　firm　and　dignified　demeanor。　　〃I　came　not；〃　said　he；　〃to　sell　what　is　not　mine；　but　to　yield　what　fortune　has　made　yours；　and　Your　Majesties　may　rest　assured　that　had　I　been　properly　seconded　death　would　have　been　the　price　at　which　I　would　have　sold　my　fortresses；　and　not　the　gold　you　offer　me。〃

The　Castilian　monarchs　were　struck　with　the　lofty　and　loyal　spirit　of　the　Moor；　and　desired　to　engage　a　man　of　such　fidelity　in　their　service；　but　the　proud　Moslem　could　not　be　induced　to　serve　the　enemies　of　his　nation　and　his　faith。

〃Is　there　nothing；　then；〃　said　Queen　Isabella；　〃that　we　can　do　to　gratify　thee；　and　to　prove　to　thee　our　regard？〃〃Yes；〃　replied　the　Moor；　〃I　have　left　behind　me；　in　the　towns　and　valleys　which　I　have　surrendered；　many　of　my　unhappy　countrymen；　with　their　wives　and　children；　who　cannot　tear　themselves　from　their　native　abodes。　　Give　me　your　royal　word　that　they　shall　be　protected　in　the　peaceable　enjoyment　of　their　religion　and　their　homes。〃〃We　promise　it；〃　said　Isabella；　〃they　shall　dwell　in　peace　and　security。　　But　for　thyself　what　dost　thou　ask　for　thyself？〃〃Nothing；〃　replied　Ali；　〃but　permission　to　pass　unmolested　with　my　horses　and　effects　into　Africa。〃

The　Castilian　monarchs　would　fain　have　forced　upon　him　gold　and　silver　and　superb　horses　richly　caparisoned；　not　as　rewards；　but　as　marks　of　personal　esteem；　but　Ali　Aben　Fahar　declined　all　presents　and　distinctions；　as　if　he　thought　it　criminal　to　flourish　individually　during　a　time　of　public　distress；　and　disdained　all　prosperity　that　seemed　to　grow　out　of　the　ruins　of　his　country。

Having　received　a　royal　passport；　he　gathered　together　his　horses　and　servants；　his　armor　and　weapons；　and　all　his　warlike　effects；　bade　adieu　to　his　weeping　countrymen　with　a　brow　stamped　with　anguish；　but　without　shedding　a　tear；　and；　mounting　his　Barbary　steed；　turned　his　back　upon　the　delightful　valleys　of　his　conquered　country；　departing　on　his　lonely　way　to　seek　a　soldier's　fortune　amidst　the　burning　sands　of　Africa。*

*Pulgar；　part　3；　cap。　124；　Garibay；　lib。　40；　cap。　40；　Cura　de　　los　Palacios。



CHAPTER　LXXXII。

SUBMISSION　OF　EL　ZAGAL　TO　THE　CASTILIAN　SOVEREIGNS。


Evil　tidings　never　fail　by　the　way　through　lack　of　messengers：　they　are　wafted　on　the　wings　of　the　wind；　and　it　is　as　if　the　very　birds　of　the　air　would　bear　them　to　the　ear　of　the　unfortunate。　　The　old　king　El　Zagal　buried　himself　in　the　recesses　of　his　castle　to　hide　himself　from　the　light　of　day；　which　no　longer　shone　prosperously　upon　him；　but　every　hour　brought　missives　thundering　at　the　gate　with　the　tale　of　some　new　disaster。　　Fortress　after　fortress　had　laid　its　keys　at　the　feet　of　the　Christian　sovereigns：　strip　after　strip　of　warrior　mountain　and　green　fruitful　valleys　was　torn　from　his　domains　and　added　to　the　territories　of　the　conquerors。　　Scarcely　a　remnant　remained　to　him；　except　a　tract　of　the　Alpuxarras　and　the　noble　cities　of　Guadix　and　Almeria。　　No　one　any　longer　stood　in　awe　of　the　fierce　old　monarch；　the　terror　of　his　frown　had　declined　with　his　power。　　He　had　arrived　at　that　state　of　adversity　when　a　man's　friends　feel　emboldened　to　tell　him　hard　truths　and　to　give　him　unpalatable　advice；　and　when　his　spirit　is　bowed　down　to　listen　quietly　if　not　meekly。

El　Zagal　was　seated　on　his　divan；　his　whole　spirit　absorbed　in　rumination　on　the　transitory　nature　of　human　glory；　when　his　kinsman　and　brother…in…law；　the　prince　Cid　Hiaya；　was　announced。　That　illustrious　convert　to　the　true　faith　and　the　interests　of　the　conquerors　of　his　country　had　hastened　to　Guadix　with　all　the　fervor　of　a　new　proselyte；　eager　to　prove　his　zeal　in　the　service　of　Heaven　and　the　Castilian　sovereigns　by　persuading　the　old　monarch　to　abjure　his　faith　and　surrender　his　possessions。

Cid　Hiaya　still　bore　the　guise　of　a　Moslem；　for　his　conversion　was　as　yet　a　secret。　　The　stern　heart　of　El　Zagal　softened　at　beholding　the　face　of　a　kinsman　in　this　hour　of　adversity。　　He　folded　his　cousin　to　his　bosom；　and　gave　thanks　to　Allah　that　amidst　all　his　troubles　he　had　still　a　friend　and　counsellor　on　whom　he　might　rely。

Cid　Hiaya　soon　entered　upon　the　real　purpose　of　his　mission。　　He　represented　to　El　Zagal　the　desperate　state　of　affairs　and　the　irretrievable　decline　of　Moorish　power　in　the　kingdom　of　Granada。　〃Fate；〃　said　he；　〃is　against　our　arms；　our　ruin　is　written　in　the　heavens。　　Remember　the　prediction　of　the　astrologers　at　the　birth　of　your　nephew　Boabdil。　　We　hoped　that　their　prediction　was　accomplished　by　his　capture　at　Lucena；　but　it　is　now　evident　that　the　stars　portended　not　a　temporary　and　passing　reverse　of　the　kingdom；　but　a　final　overthrow。　　The　constant　succession　of　disasters　which　have　attended　our　efforts　show　that　the　sceptre　of　Granada　is　doomed　to　pass　into　the　hands　of　the　Christian　monarchs。　　Such；〃　concluded　the　prince　emphatically；　and　with　a　profound　and　pious　reverence；〃such　is　the　almighty　will　of　God。〃

El　Zagal　listened　to　these　words　in　mute　attention；　without　so　much　as　moving　a　muscle　of　his　face　or　winking　an　eyelid。　　When　the　prince　had　concluded　he　remained　for　a　long　time　silent　and　pensive；　at　length；　heaving　a　profound　sigh　from　the　very　bottom　of　his　heart；　〃Alahuma　subahana　hu！〃　exclaimed　he〃the　will　of　God　be　done！　Yes；　my　cousin；　it　is　but　too　evident　that　such　is　the　will　of　Allah；　and　what　he　wills　he　fails　not　to　accomplish。　　Had　not　he　decreed　the　fall　of　Granada；　this　arm　and　this　scimetar　would　have　maintained　it。〃*

*Conde；　tom。　3；　c。　40。


〃What　then　remains；〃　said　Cid　Hiaya；　〃but　to　draw　the　most　advantage　from　the　wreck　of　empire　left　to　you？　　To　persist　in　a　war　is　to　bring　complete　desolation　upon　the　land　and　ruin　and　death　upon　its　faithful　inhabitants。　　Are　you　disposed　to　yield　up　your　remaining　towns　to　your　nephew　El　Chico；　that　they　may　augment　his　power　and　derive　protection　from　his　alliance　with　the　Christian　sovereigns？〃

The　eye　of　El　Zagal　flashed　fire　at　this　suggestion。　　He　grasped　the　hilt　of　his　scimetar　and　gnashed　his　teeth　in　fury。　　〃Never；〃　cried　he；　〃will　I　make　terms　with　that　recreant　and　slave。　　Sooner　would　I　see　the　banners　of　the　Christian　monarchs　floating　above　my　walls　than　they　should　add　to　the　possessions　of　the　vassal　Boabdil！〃

Cid　Hiaya　immediately　seized　upon　this　idea；　and　urged　El　Zagal　to　make　a　frank　and　entire　surrender。　　〃Trust；〃　said　he；　〃to　the　magnanimity　of　the　Castilian　sovereigns；　they　will　doubtless　grant　you　high　and　honorable　terms。　　It　is　better　to　yield　to　them　as　friends　what　they　must　infallibly　and　before　long　wrest　from　you　as　enemies；　for　such；　my　cousin；　is　the　almighty　will　of　God。〃

''Alahuma　subahana　hu！〃　repeated　El　Zagal〃the　will　of　God　be　done！〃　　So　the　old　monarch　bowed　his　haughty　neck　and　agreed　to　surrender　his　territories　to　the　enemies　of　his　faith；　rather　than　suff