ng him to capitulate。
Muza alone rose in opposition。 〃It is yet too early；〃 said he； 〃to talk of surrender。 Our means are not exhausted； we have yet one source of strength remaining； terrible in its effects； and which often has achieved the most signal victoriesit is our despair。 Let us rouse the mass of the peoplelet us put weapons in their hands let us fight the enemy to the very utmost until we rush upon the points of their lances。 I am ready to lead the way into the thickest of their squadrons； and much rather would I be numbered among those who fell in the defence of Granada than of those who survived to capitulate for her surrender。〃
The words of Muza were without effect； for they were addressed to broken…spirited and heartless men； or men； perhaps； to whom sad experience had taught discretion。 They were arrived at that state of public depression when heroes and heroism are no longer regarded； and when old men and their counsels rise into importance。 Boabdil el Chico yielded to the general voice： it was determined to capitulate with the Christian sovereigns； and the venerable Abul Casim was sent forth to the camp empowered to treat for terms。
CHAPTER XCVII。
CAPITULATION OF GRANADA。
The old governor Abul Casim was received with great courtesy by Ferdinand and Isabella； who； being informed of the purport of his embassy； granted the besieged a truce of sixty days from the 5th of October； and appointed Gonsalvo of Cordova and Hernando de Zafra； the secretary of the king； to treat about the terms of surrender with such commissioners as might be named by Boabdil。 The latter on his part named Abul Casim； Aben Comixa the vizier； and the grand cadi。 As a pledge of good faith Boabdil gave his son in hostage； who was taken to Moclin； where he was treated with the greatest respect and attention by the good count de Tendilla as general of the frontier。
The commissioners on both parts held repeated conferences in secret in the dead of the night at the village of Churriana； those who first arrived at the place of meeting giving notice to the others by signal… fires or by means of spies。 After many debates and much difficulty the capitulation was signed on the 25th of November。 According to this； the city was to be delivered up； with all its gates； towers and fortresses； within sixty days。
All Christian captives should be liberated without ransom。
Boabdil and his principal cavaliers should perform the act of homage and take an oath of fealty to the Castilian Crown。
The Moors of Granada should become subjects of the Spanish sovereigns； retaining their possessions； their arms and horses； and yielding up nothing but their artillery。 They should be protected in the exercise of their religion； and governed by their own laws； administered by cadis of their own faith under governors appointed by the sovereigns。 They should be exempted from tribute for three years； after which term they should pay the same that they had been accustomed to render to their native monarchs。
Those who chose to depart for Africa within three years should be provided with a passage for themselves and their effects； free of charge； from whatever port they should prefer。
For the fulfilment of these articles five hundred hostages from the principal families were required previous to the surrender； who should be treated with great respect and distinction by the Christians； and subsequently restored。 The son of the king of Granada and all other hostages in possession of the Castilian sovereigns were to be restored at the same time。
Such are the main articles affecting the public weal which were agreed upon； after much discussion； by the mixed commission。 There were other articles； however； secretly arranged； which concerned the royal family。 These secured to Boabdil； to his wife Morayma； his mother Ayza； his brothers； and to Zoraya； the widow of Muley Abul Hassan； all the landed possessions； houses； mills； baths； and other hereditaments which formed the royal patrimony； with the power of selling them； personally or by agent； at any and all times。 To Boabdil was secured； moreover； his wealthy estates both in and out of Granada； and to him and his descendants in perpetuity the lordships of various town and lands and fertile valleys in the Alpuxarras； forming a petty sovereignty。 In addition to all which it was stipulated that on the day of surrender he should receive thirty thousand castelanos of gold。*
*Alcantara； t。 4； c。 18。
The conditions of surrender being finally agreed upon by the commissioners； Abul Casim proceeded to the royal camp at Santa Fe； where they were signed by Ferdinand and Isabella； he then returned to Granada； accompanied by Hernando de Zafra； the royal secretary； to have the same ratified also by the Moorish king。 Boabdil assembled his council； and with a dejected countenance laid before it the articles of capitulation as the best that could be obtained from the besieging foe。
When the members of the council found the awful moment arrived when they were to sign and seal the perdition of their empire and blot themselves out as a nation； all firmness deserted them； and many gave way to tears。 Muza alone retained an unaltered mien。 〃Leave； seniors；〃 cried he； 〃this idle lamentation to helpless women and children： we are menwe have hearts； not to shed tender tears； but drops of blood。 I see the spirit of the people so cast down that it is impossible to save the kingdom。 Yet there still remains an alternative for noble mindsa glorious death！ Let us die defending our liberty and avenging the woes of Granada。 Our mother earth will receive her children into her bosom； safe from the chains and oppressions of the conqueror； or； should any fail a sepulchre to hide his remains； he will not want a sky to cover him。 Allah forbid it should be said the nobles of Granada feared to die in her defence！〃
Muza ceased to speak； and a dead silence reigned in the assembly。 Boabdil looked anxiously round and scanned every face； but he read in all the anxiety of careworn men； in whose hearts enthusiasm was dead and who had grown callous to every chivalrous appeal。 〃Allah Akbar！〃 exclaimed he； 〃there is no God but God； and Mahomet is his prophet！ We have no longer forces in the city and the kingdom to resist our powerful enemies。 It is in vain to struggle against the will of Heaven。 Too surely was it written in the book of fate that I should be unfortunate and the kingdom expire under my rule。〃
〃Allah Akbar！〃 echoed the viziers and alfaquis； 〃the will of God be done！〃 So they all agreed with the king that these evils were preordained； that it was hopeless to contend with them； and that the terms offered by the Castilian monarchs were as favorable as could be expected。
When Muza heard them assent to the treaty of surrender he rose in violent indignation。 〃Do not deceive yourselves；〃 cried he； 〃nor think the Christians will be faithful to their promises； or their king as magnanimous in conquest as he has been victorious in war。 Death is the least we have to fear。 It is the plundering and sacking of our city； the profanation of our mosques； the ruin of our homes； the violation of our wives and daughters； cruel oppression； bigoted intolerance； whips and chains； the dungeon； the fagot； and the stake： such are the miseries and indignities we shall see and suffer； at least those grovelling souls will see and suffer them who now shrink from an honorable death。 For my part； by Allah； I will never witness them！〃
With these words he left the council…chamber； and passed gloomily through the Court of Lions and the outer halls of the Alhambra without deigning to speak to the obsequious courtiers who attended in them。 He repaired to his dwelling； armed himself at all points； mounted his favorite warhorse； and； issuing from the city by the gate of Elvira； was never seen or heard of more。*
*Conde； part 4。
CHAPTER XCVIII。
COMMOTIONS IN GRANADA。
The capitulation for the surrender of Granada was signed on the 25th of November； 1481； and produced a sudden cessation of those hostilities which had raged for so many years。 Christian and Moor might now be seen mingling courteously on the banks of the Xenil and the Darro； where to have met a few days previous would have produced a scene of sanguinary contest。 Still； as the Moors might be suddenly roused to the defence if within the allotted term of sixty days succors should arrive from abroad； and as they were at all times a rash； inflammable people； the wary Ferdinand maintained a vigilant watch upon the city and permitted no supplies of any kind to enter。 His garrisons in the seaports and his cruisers in the Straits of Gibraltar were ordered likewise to guard against any relief from the grand soldan of Egypt or the princes of Barbary。 There was no need of such precautions。 Those powers were either too much engrossed by their own wars or too much daunted by the success of the Spanish arms to interfere in a desperate cause； and the unfortunate Moors of Granada were abandoned to their fate。
The month of December had nearly passed away： the famine became extreme； and there was no hope of any favorable event within the term specified in the capitu