chronicle of the conquest of granada-第59节
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iled with advantage； and gave the besieging army no repose night or day。 While his troops sallied on the land； his floating batteries attacked the besiegers on the sea； so that there was incessant skirmishing。 The tents called the Queen's Hospital were crowded with wounded； and the whole army suffered from constant watchfulness and fatigue。 To guard against the sudden assaults of the Moors； the trenches were deepened and palisadoes erected in front of the camp； and in that part facing Gibralfaro； where the rocky heights did not admit of such defences； a high rampart of earth was thrown up。 The cavaliers Garcilasso de la Vega； Juan de Zuniga； and Diego de Atayde were appointed to go the rounds and keep vigilant watch that these fortifications were maintained in good order。
In a little while Hamet discovered the mines secretly commenced by the Christians： he immediately ordered counter…mines。 The soldiers mutually worked until they met and fought hand to hand in these subterranean passages。 The Christians were driven out of one of their mines； fire was set to the wooden framework and the mine destroyed。 Encouraged by this success； the Moors attempted a general attack upon the camp； the mines； and the besieging fleet。 The battle lasted for six hours on land and water； above and below ground； on bulwark； and in trench and mine； the Moors displayed wonderful intrepidity； but were finally repulsed at all points； and obliged to retire into the city； where they were closely invested； without the means of receiving any assistance from abroad。
The horrors of famine were now added to the other miseries of Malaga。 Hamet； with the spirit of a man bred up to war； considered everything as subservient to the wants of the soldier； and ordered all the grain in the city to be gathered and garnered up for the sole use of those who fought。 Even this was dealt out sparingly； and each soldier received four ounces of bread in the morning and two in the evening for his daily allowance。
The wealthy inhabitants and all those peacefully inclined mourned over a resistance which brought destruction upon their houses； death into their families； and which they saw must end in their ruin and captivity； still； none of them dared to speak openly of capitulation； or even to manifest their grief； lest they should awaken the wrath of their fierce defenders。 They surrounded their civic champion； Ali Dordux； the great and opulent merchant； who had buckled on shield and cuirass and taken spear in hand for the defence of his native city； and with a large body of the braver citizens had charge of one of the gates and a considerable portion of the walls。 Drawing Ali Dordux aside； they poured forth their griefs to him in secret。 〃Why；〃 said they； 〃should we suffer our native city to be made a mere bulwark and fighting…place for foreign barbarians and desperate men？ They have no families to care for； no property to lose； no love for the soil； and no value for their lives。 They fight to gratify a thirst for blood or a desire for revenge； and will fight on until Malaga becomes a ruin and its people slaves。 Let us think and act for ourselves； our wives； and our children。 Let us make private terms with the Christians before it is too late； and save ourselves from destruction。〃
The bowels of Ali Dordux yearned toward his fellow citizens； he bethought him also of the sweet security of peace and the bloodless yet gratifying triumphs of gainful traffic。 The idea also of a secret negotiation or bargain with the Castilian sovereigns for the redemption of his native city was more conformable to his accustomed habits than this violent appeal to arms； for； though he had for a time assumed the warrior； he had not forgotten the merchant。 Ali Dordux communed； therefore； with the citizen…soldiers under his command； and they readily conformed to his opinion。 Concerting together； they wrote a proposition to the Castilian sovereigns； offering to admit the army into the part of the city entrusted to their care on receiving assurance of protection for the lives and properties of the inhabitants。 This writing they delivered to a trusty emissary to take to the Christian camp； appointing the hour and place of his return that they might be ready to admit him unperceived。
The Moor made his way in safety to the camp； and was admitted to the presence of the sovereigns。 Eager to gain the city without further cost of blood or treasure； they gave a written promise to grant the condition； and the Moor set out joyfully on his return。 As he approached the walls where Ali Dordux and his confederates were waiting to receive him； he was descried by a patrolling band of Gomeres； and considered a spy coming from the camp of the besiegers。 They issued forth and seized him in sight of his employers； who gave themselves up for lost。 The Gomeres had conducted him nearly to the gate； when he escaped from their grasp and fled。 They endeavored to overtake him； but were encumbered with armor； he was lightly clad； and he fled for his life。 One of the Gomeres paused； and； levelling his crossbow； let fly a bolt which pierced the fugitive between the shoulders； he fell and was nearly within their grasp； but rose again and with a desperate effort attained the Christian camp。 The Gomeres gave over the pursuit； and the citizens returned thanks to Allah for their deliverance from this fearful peril。 As to the faithful messenger； he died of his wound shortly after reaching the camp； consoled with the idea that he had preserved the secret and the lives of his employers。*
*Pulgar； Cronica； p。 3； c。 80。
CHAPTER LVIII。
SUFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OF MALAGA。
The sufferings of Malaga spread sorrow and anxiety among the Moors； and they dreaded lest this beautiful city； once the bulwark of the kingdom； should fall into the hands of the unbelievers。 The old warrior…king； Abdallah el Zagal； was still sheltered in Guadix； where he was slowly gathering together his shattered forces。 When the people of Guadix heard of the danger and distress of Malaga； they urged to be led to its relief； and the alfaquis admonished El Zagal not to desert so righteous and loyal a city in its extremity。 His own warlike nature made him feel a sympathy for a place that made so gallant a resistance； and he despatched as powerful a reinforcement as he could spare under conduct of a chosen captain； with orders to throw themselves into the city。
Intelligence of this reinforcement reached Boabdil el Chico in his royal palace of the Alhambra。 Filled with hostility against his uncle； and desirous of proving his loyalty to the Castilian sovereigns； he immediately sent forth a superior force of horse and foot under an able commander to intercept the detachment。 A sharp conflict ensued； the troops of El Zagal were routed with great loss and fled back in confusion to Guadix。
Boabdil； not being accustomed to victories； was flushed with this melancholy triumph。 He sent tidings of it to the Castilian sovereigns； accompanied with rich silks； boxes of Arabian perfume； a cup of gold richly wrought； and a female captive of Ubeda as presents to the queen； and four Arabian steeds magnificently caparisoned； a sword and dagger richly mounted； and several albornozes and other robes sumptuously embroidered for the king。 He entreated them at the same time always to look upon him with favor as their devoted vassal。
Boabdil was fated to be unfortunate； even in his victories。 His defeat of the forces of his uncle destined to the relief of unhappy Malaga shocked the feelings and cooled the loyalty of many of his best adherents。 The mere men of traffic might rejoice in their golden interval of peace； but the chivalrous spirits of Granada spurned a security purchased by such sacrifices of pride and affection。 The people at large； having gratified their love of change； began to question whether they had acted generously by their old fighting monarch。 〃El Zagal；〃 said they； 〃was fierce and bloody； but then he was faithful to his country； he was an usurper； it is true； but then he maintained the glory of the crown which he usurped。 If his sceptre was a rod of iron to his subjects； it was a sword of steel against their enemies。 This Boabdil sacrifices religion； friends； country； everything； to a mere shadow of royalty； and is content to hold a rush for a sceptre。〃
These factious murmurs soon reached the ears of Boabdil； and he apprehended another of his customary reverses。 He sent in all haste to the Castilian sovereigns beseeching military aid to keep him on his throne。 Ferdinand graciously complied with a request so much in unison with his policy。 A detachment of one thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry was sent under the command of Don Fernandez Gonsalvo of Cordova； subsequently renowned as the grand captain。 With this succor Boabdil expelled from the city all those who were hostile to him and in favor of his uncle。 He felt secure in these troops； from their being distinct in manners； language； and religion from his subjects； and compromised with his pride in thus exhibiting that most unnatural and humiliating of all regal spectacles； a monarch supported on his throne by foreign weapons and by soldiers hostile to hi
