chronicle of the conquest of granada-第36节
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Muley Abul Hassan did not wait for the arrival of his brother。 Unable any longer to buffet with the storms of the times； his only solicitude was to seek some safe and quiet harbor of repose。 In one of the deep valleys which indent the Mediterranean coast； and which are shut up on the land side by stupendous mountains； stood the little city of Almunecar。 The valley was watered by the limpid river Frio； and abounded with fruits； with grain； and pasturage。 The city was strongly fortified； and the garrison and alcayde were devoted to the old monarch。 This was the place chosen by Muley Abul Hassan for his asylum。 His first care was to send thither all his treasures； his next care was to take refuge there himself； his third； that his sultana Zoraya and their two sons should follow him。
In the mean time； Muley Abdallah el Zagal pursued his journey toward the capital； attended by his three hundred cavaliers。 The road from Malaga to Granada winds close by Alhama； and is dominated by that lofty fortress。 This had been a most perilous pass for the Moors during the time that Alhama was commanded by the count de Tendilla： not a traveller could escape his eagle eye； and his garrison was ever ready for a sally。 The count de Tendilla； however； had been relieved from this arduous post； and it had been given in charge to Don Gutiere de Padilla； clavero （or treasurer） of the order of Calatravaan easy； indulgent man； who had with him three hundred gallant knights of his order； besides other mercenary troops。 The garrison had fallen off in discipline； the cavaliers were hardy in fight and daring in foray； but confident in themselves and negligent of proper precautions。 Just before the journey of El Zagal a number of these cavaliers； with several soldiers of fortune of the garrison； in all about one hundred and seventy men； had sallied forth to harass the Moorish country during its present distracted state； and； having ravaged the valleys of the Sierra Nevada； or Snowy Mountains； were returning to Alhama in gay spirits and laden with booty。
As El Zagal passed through the neighborhood of Alhama he recollected the ancient perils of the road； and sent light cerradors in advance to inspect each rock and ravine where a foe might lurk in ambush。 One of these scouts； overlooking a narrow valley which opened upon the road； descried a troop of horsemen on the banks of a little stream。 They were dismounted； and had taken the bridles from their steeds； that they might crop the fresh grass on the banks of the river。 The horsemen were scattered about； some reposing in the shades of rocks and trees； others gambling for the spoil they had taken： not a sentinel was posted to keep guard； everything showed the perfect security of men who consider themselves beyond the reach of danger。
These careless cavaliers were in fact the knights of Calatrava returning from their foray。 A part of their force had passed on with the cavalgada； ninety of the principal cavaliers had halted to refresh themselves in this valley。 El Zagal smiled with ferocious joy when he heard of their negligent security。 〃Here will be trophies；〃 said he； 〃to grace our entrance into Granada。〃
Approaching the valley with cautious silence； he wheeled into it at full speed at the head of his troop； and attacked the Christians so suddenly that they had no time to put the bridles upon their horses or even to leap into the saddles。 They made a confused but valiant defence； fighting among the rocks and in the rugged bed of the river。 Their defence was useless； seventy…nine were slain； and the remaining eleven were taken prisoners。
A party of the Moors galloped in pursuit of the cavalgada： they soon overtook it winding slowly up a hill。 The horsemen who convoyed it； perceiving the enemy at a distance； made their escape； and left the spoil to be retaken by the Moors。 El Zagal gathered together his captives and his booty； and proceeded； elate with success； to Granada。
He paused before the gate of Elvira； for as yet he had not been proclaimed king。 This ceremony was immediately performed； for the fame of his recent exploit had preceded him and intoxicated the minds of the giddy populace。 He entered Granada in a sort of triumph。 The eleven captive knights of Calatrava walked in front： next were paraded the ninety captured steeds； bearing the armor and weapons of their late owners； and led by as many mounted Moors： then came seventy Moorish horsemen； with as many Christian heads hanging at their saddle…bows： Muley Abdallah followed； surrounded by a number of distinguished cavaliers splendidly attired； and the pageant was closed by a long cavalgada of the flocks and herds and other booty recovered from the Christians。*
*Zurita； lib。 20； c。 62； Mariana； Hist。 de Espana； Abarca； Anales de Aragon。
The populace gazed with almost savage triumph at these captive cavaliers and the gory heads of their companions； knowing them to have been part of the formidable garrison of Alhama； so long the scourge of Granada and the terror of the Vega。 They hailed this petty triumph as an auspicious opening of the reign of their new monarch； for several days the name of Muley Abul Hassan and Boabdil el Chico were never mentioned but with contempt； and the whole city resounded with the praises of El Zagal； or the Valiant。
CHAPTER XXXII。
HOW THE COUNT DE CABRA ATTEMPTED TO CAPTURE ANOTHER KING； AND HOW HE FARED IN HIS ATTEMPT。
The elevation of a bold and active veteran to the throne of Granada in place of its late bedridden king made an important difference in the aspect of the war； and called for some blow that should dash the confidence of the Moors in their new monarch and animate the Christians to fresh exertions。
Don Diego de Cordova； the brave count de Cabra； was at this time in his castle of Vaena； where he kept a wary eye upon the frontier。 It was now the latter part of August； and he grieved that the summer should pass away without an inroad into the country of the foe。 He sent out his scouts on the prowl； and they brought him word that the important post of Moclin was but weakly garrisoned。 This was a castellated town； strongly situated upon a high mountain； partly surrounded by thick forests and partly girdled by a river。 It defended one of the rugged and solitary passes by which the Christians were wont to make their inroads； insomuch that the Moors； in their figurative way； denominated it the shield of Granada。
The count de Cabra sent word to the monarchs of the feeble state of the garrison； and gave it as his opinion that by a secret and rapid expedition the place might be surprised。 King Ferdinand asked the advice of his councillors。 Some cautioned him against the sanguine temperament of the count and his heedlessness of danger： Moclin； they observed； was near to Granada and might be promptly reinforced。 The opinion of the count； however； prevailed； the king considering him almost infallible in matters of border warfare since his capture of Boabdil el Chico。
The king departed； therefore； from Cordova； and took post at Alcala la Real； for the purpose of being near to Moclin。 The queen also proceeded to Vaena； accompanied by her children； Prince Juan and the princess Isabella； and her great counsellor in all matters； public and private； spiritual and temporal； the venerable grand cardinal of Spain。
Nothing could exceed the pride and satisfaction of the loyal count de Cabra when he saw the stately train winding along the dreary mountain…roads and entering the gates of Vaena。 He received his royal guests with all due ceremony； and lodged them in the best apartments that the warrior castle afforded。
King Ferdinand had concerted a wary plan to ensure the success of the enterprise。 The count de Cabra and Don Martin Alonso de Montemayor were to set forth with their troops so as to reach Moclin by a certain hour； and to intercept all who should attempt to enter or should sally from the town。 The master of Calatrava； the troops of the grand cardinal； commanded by the count of Buendia； and the forces of the bishop of Jaen； led by that belligerent prelate； amounting in all to four thousand horse and six thousand foot； were to set off in time to co…operate with the count de Cabra； so as to surround the town。 The king was to follow with his whole force and encamp before the place。
And here the worthy padre Fray Antonio Agapida breaks forth into a triumphant eulogy of the pious prelates who thus mingled personally in these scenes of warfare。 As this was a holy crusade （says he）； undertaken for the advancement of the faith and the glory of the Church； so was it always countenanced and upheld by saintly men； for the victories of their most Catholic majesties were not followed； like those of mere worldly sovereigns； by erecting castles and towers and appointing alcaydes and garrisons； but by the founding of convents and cathedrals and the establishment of wealthy bishoprics。 Wherefore their majesties were always surrounded in court or camp； in the cabinet or in the field； by a crowd of ghostly advisers inspiriting them to the prosecution of this most righteous war。 Nay； the holy men of the Church did not scruple； at times； to buckle on the cuirass over t
