chronicle of the conquest of granada-第62节
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irst tower； and placed a piece of ordnance with its mouth upward immediately under the foundation； with a train of powder to produce an explosion at the necessary moment。
When this was arranged he advanced slowly with his forces in face of the towers； erecting bulwarks at every step； and gradually gaining ground until he arrived near to the bridge。 He then planted several pieces of artillery in his works and began to batter the tower。 The Moors replied bravely from their battlements； but in the heat of the combat the piece of ordnance under the foundation was discharged。 The earth was rent open； a part of the tower overthrown； and several of the Moors were torn to pieces； the rest took to flight； overwhelmed with terror at this thundering explosion bursting beneath their feet and at beholding the earth vomiting flames and smoke； for never before had they witnessed such a stratagem in warfare。 The Christians rushed forward and took possession of the abandoned post； and immediately commenced an attack upon the other tower at the opposite end of the bridge； to which the Moors had retired。 An incessant fire of crossbows and arquebuses was kept up between the rival towers； volleys of stones were discharged； and no one dared to venture upon the intermediate bridge。
Francisco de Ramirez at length renewed his former mode of approach； making bulwarks step by step； while the Moors； stationed at the other end； swept the bridge with their artillery。 The combat was long and bloodyfurious on the part of the Moors； patient and persevering on the part of the Christians。 By slow degrees they accomplished their advance across the bridge； drove the enemy before them； and remained masters of this important pass。
For this valiant and skilful achievement King Ferdinand after the surrender of the city conferred the dignity of knighthood upon Francisco Ramirez in the tower which he had so gloriously gained。* The worthy padre Fray Antonio Agapida indulges in more than a page of extravagant eulogy upon this invention of blowing up the foundation of the tower by a piece of ordnance； which； in fact； is said to be the first instance on record of gunpowder being used in a mine。
*Pulgar； part 3； c。 91。
CHAPTER LXII。
HOW THE PEOPLE OF MALAGA EXPOSTULATED WITH HAMET EL ZEGRI。
While the dervise was deluding the garrison of Malaga with vain hopes the famine increased to a terrible degree。 The Gomeres ranged about the city as though it had been a conquered place； taking by force whatever they found eatable in the houses of the peaceful citizens； and breaking open vaults and cellars and demolishing walls wherever they thought provisions might be concealed。
The wretched inhabitants had no longer bread to eat； the horse… flesh also now failed them； and they were fain to devour skins and hides toasted at the fire； and to assuage the hunger of their children with vine…leaves cut up and fried in oil。 Many perished of famine or of the unwholesome food with which they endeavored to relieve it； and many took refuge in the Christian camp； preferring captivity to the horrors which surrounded them。
At length the sufferings of the inhabitants became so great as to conquer even their fears of Hamet and his Gomeres。 They assembled before the house of Ali Dordux； the wealthy merchant； whose stately mansion was at the foot of the hill of the Alcazaba； and they urged him to stand forth as their leader and to intercede with Hamet for a surrender。 Ali Dordux was a man of courage as well as policy； he perceived also that hunger was giving boldness to the citizens； while he trusted it was subduing the fierceness of the soldiery。 He armed himself； therefore； cap…a…pie； and undertook this dangerous parley with the alcayde。 He associated with him an alfaqui named Abraham Alhariz and an important inhabitant named Amar ben Amar； and they ascended to the fortress of Gibralfaro； followed by several of the trembling merchants。
They found Hamet el Zegri； not； as before； surrounded by ferocious guards and all the implements of war； but in a chamber of one of the lofty towers； at a table of stone covered with scrolls traced with strange characters and mystic diagrams； while instruments of singular and unknown form lay about the room。 Beside Hamet stood the prophetic dervise； who appeared to have been explaining to him the mysterious inscriptions of the scrolls。 His presence filled the citizens with awe； for even Ali Dordux considered him a man inspired。
The alfaqui； Abraham Alhariz； whose sacred character gave him boldness to speak； now lifted up his voice and addressed Hamet el Zegri。 〃We implore thee；〃 said he； solemnly； 〃in the name of the most powerful God； no longer to persist in a vain resistance which must end in our destruction； but deliver up the city while clemency is yet to be obtained。 Think how many of our warriors have fallen by
the sword； do not suffer those who survive to perish by famine。 Our wives and children cry to us for bread； and we have none to give them。 We see them expire in lingering agony before our eyes； while the enemy mocks our misery by displaying the abundance of his camp。 Of what avail is our defence？ Are our walls； peradventure； more strong than the walls of Ronda？ Are our warriors more brave than the defenders of Loxa？ The walls of Ronda were thrown down and the warriors of Loxa had to surrender。 Do we hope for succor？whence are we to receive it？ The time for hope is gone by。 Granada has lost its power； it no longer possesses chivalry； commanders； nor a king。 Boabdil sits a vassal in the degraded halls of the Alhambra； El Zagal is a fugitive； shut up within the walls of Guadix。 The kingdom is divided against itselfits strength is gone； its pride fallen； its very existence at an end。 In the name of Allah we conjure thee； who art our captain； be not our direst enemy； but surrender these ruins of our once…happy Malaga and deliver us from these overwhelming horrors。〃
Such was the supplication forced from the inhabitants by the extremity of their sufferings。 Hamet listened to the alfaqui without anger； for he respected the sanctity of his office。 His heart too was at that moment lifted up with a vain confidence。 〃Yet a few days of patience；〃 said he； 〃and all these evils will suddenly have an end。 I have been conferring with this holy man； and find that the time of our deliverance is at hand。 The decrees of fate are inevitable； it is written in the book of destiny that we shall sally forth and destroy the camp of the unbelievers； and banquet upon those mountains of grain which are piled up in the midst of it。 So Allah hath promised by the mouth of this his prophet。 Allah Akbar！ God is great！ Let no man oppose the decrees of Heaven！〃
The citizens bowed with profound reverence； for no true Moslem pretends to struggle against whatever is written in the book of fate。 Ali Dordux； who had come prepared to champion the city and to brave the ire of Hamet； humbled himself before this holy man and gave faith to his prophecies as the revelations of Allah。 So the deputies returned to the citizens； and exhorted them to be of good cheer。 〃A few days longer；〃 said they； 〃and our sufferings are to terminate。 When the white banner is removed from the tower； then look out for deliverance； for the hour of sallying forth will have arrived。〃 The people retired to their homes with sorrowful hearts； they tried in vain to quiet the cries of their famishing children； and day by day and hour by hour their anxious eyes were turned to the sacred banner； which still continued to wave on the tower of Gibralfaro。
CHAPTER LXIII。
HOW HAMET EL ZEGRI SALLIED FORTH WITH THE SACRED BANNER TO ATTACK THE CHRISTIAN CAMP。
〃The Moorish nigromancer；〃 observes the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃remained shut up in a tower of the Gibralfaro devising devilish means to work mischief and discomfiture upon the Christians。 He was daily consulted by Hamet； who had great faith in those black and magic arts which he had brought with him from the bosom of heathen Africa。〃
From the account given of this dervise and his incantations by the worthy father it would appear that he was an astrologer； and was studying the stars and endeavoring to calculate the day and hour when a successful attack might be made upon the Christian camp。
Famine had now increased to such a degree as to distress even the garrison of Gibralfaro； although the Gomeres had seized upon all the provisions they could find in the city。 Their passions were sharpened by hunger； and they became restless and turbulent and impatient for action。
Hamet was one day in council with his captains； perplexed by the pressure of events； when the dervise entered among them。 〃The hour of victory；〃 exclaimed he； 〃is at hand。 Allah has commanded that to…morrow morning ye shall sally forth to the fight。 I will bear before you the sacred banner and deliver your enemies into your hands。 Remember； however； that ye are but instruments in the hands of Allah to take vengeance on the enemies of the faith。 Go into battle； therefore； with pure hearts； forgiving each other all past offences； for those who are charitable toward each other will be victorious over the foe。〃 Th
