chronicle of the conquest of granada-第84节

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e　pursued　and　overtaken　by　the　Moors　of　Granada。　　As　he　wound　up　the　steep　ascent　to　his　mountain…city　the　inhabitants　poured　forth　to　meet　him　with　shouts　of　joy。　　His　triumph　was　doubly　enhanced　by　being　received　at　the　gates　of　the　city　by　his　wife；　the　daughter　of　the　marques　of　Villena；　a　lady　of　distinguished　merit；　whom　he　had　not　seen　for　two　years；　during　which　he　had　been　separated　from　his　home　by　the　arduous　duties　of　these　iron　wars。

We　have　yet　another　act　to　relate　of　this　good　count　de　Tendilla；　who　was　in　truth　a　mirror　of　knightly　virtue。　　One　day　a　Christian　soldier；　just　escaped　from　captivity　in　Granada；　brought　word　to　the　count　that　an　illustrious　damsel　named　Fatima；　niece　of　the　alcayde　Aben　Comixa；　was　to　leave　the　city　on　a　certain　day；　escorted　by　a　numerous　party　of　relatives　and　friends　of　distinguished　rank；　on　a　journey　to　Almunecar；　there　to　embark　for　the　African　coast　to　celebrate　her　nuptials　with　the　alcayde　of　Tetuan。　　This　was　too　brilliant　a　prize　to　be　neglected。　　The　count　accordingly　sallied　forth　with　a　light　company　of　cavalry；　and；　descending　the　defiles　of　the　mountains；　stationed　himself　behind　the　rocky　sierra　of　Elvira；　not　far　from　the　eventful　bridge　of　Pinos；　within　a　few　short　miles　of　Granada。　　Hence　he　detached　Alonso　de　Cardenas　Ulloa；　with　fifty　light　horsemen；　to　post　himself　in　ambush　by　the　road　the　bridal　party　had　to　travel。　　After　a　time　the　latter　came　in　sight；　proving　less　numerous　than　had　been　expected；　for　the　damsel　was　escorted　merely　by　four　armed　domestics　and　accompanied　by　a　few　relatives　and　two　female　attendants。　　The　whole　party　was　surrounded　and　captured　almost　without　resistance；　and　carried　off　to　the　count　at　the　bridge　of　Pinos。　　The　good　count　conveyed　his　beautiful　captive　to　his　stronghold　at　Alcala；　where　he　treated　her　and　her　companions　with　all　the　delicacy　and　respect　due　to　their　rank　and　to　his　own　character　as　a　courteous　cavalier。

The　tidings　of　the　capture　of　his　niece　gave　poignant　affliction　to　the　vizier　Aben　Comixa。　　His　royal　master；　Boabdil；　of　whom　he　was　the　prime　favorite　and　confidential　adviser；　sympathized　in　his　distress。　With　his　own　hand　he　wrote　a　letter　to　the　count；　offering　in　exchange　for　the　fair　Fatima　one　hundred　Christian　captives　to　be　chosen　from　those　detained　in　Granada。　　This　royal　letter　was　sent　by　Don　Francisco　de　Zuniga；　an　Aragonese　cavalier；　whom　Aben　Comixa　held　in　captivity；　and　who　was　set　at　liberty　for　the　purpose。

On　receiving　the　letter　of　Boabdil　the　count　de　Tendilla　at　once　gave　freedom　to　the　Moorish　maid；　making　her　a　magnificent　present　of　jewels；　and　sending　her　and　her　companions　under　honorable　escort　to　the　very　gates　of　Granada。

Boabdil；　exceeding　his　promises；　immediately　set　free　twenty　captive　priests；　one　hundred　and　thirty　Castilian　and　Aragonian　cavaliers；　and　a　number　of　peasant…women。　　His　favorite　and　vizier；　Aben　Comixa；　was　so　rejoiced　at　the　liberation　of　his　niece；　and　so　struck　with　the　chivalrous　conduct　of　her　captor；　that　he　maintained　from　that　day　a　constant　and　amicable　correspondence　with　the　count　de　Tendilla；　and　became　in　the　hands　of　the　latter　one　of　the　most　efficacious　agents　in　bringing　the　war　of　Granada　to　a　triumphant　close。*

*This　interesting　anecdote　of　the　count　de　Tendilla；　which　is　a　key　　to　the　subsequent　conduct　of　the　vizier　Aben　Comixa；　and　had　a　　singular　influence　on　the　fortunes　of　Boabdil　and　his　kingdom；　is　　originally　given　in　a　manuscript　history　of　the　counts　of　Tendilla；　　written　about　the　middle　of　the　sixteenth　century　by　Gabriel　　Rodriguez　de　Ardila；　a　Granadine　clergyman。　　It　has　been　brought　　to　light　recently　by　the　researches　of　Alcantara　for　his　History　of　　Granada　（vol。　4；　cap。　18）。



CHAPTER　LXXXVIII。

EXEPEDITION　OF　BOABDIL　EL　CHICO　AGAINST　SALOBRENA。　　　　　EXPLOIT　OF　HERNAN　PEREZ　DEL　PULGAR。


King　Boabdil　found　that　his　diminished　territory　was　too　closely　dominated　by　Christian　fortresses　like　Alcala　la　Real；　and　too　strictly　watched　by　vigilant　alcaydes　like　the　count　of　Tendilla；　to　be　able　to　maintain　itself　by　internal　resources。　　His　foraging　expeditions　were　liable　to　be　intercepted　and　defeated；　while　the　ravage　of　the　Vega　had　swept　off　everything　on　which　the　city　depended　for　future　sustenance。　　He　felt　the　want　of　a　seaport　through　which；　as　formerly；　he　might　keep　open　a　communication　with　Africa　and　obtain　reinforcements　and　supplies　from　beyond　the　sea。　　All　the　ports　and　harbors　were　in　the　hands　of　the　Christians；　and　Granada　and　its　remnant　of　dependent　territory　were　completely　landlocked。

In　this　emergency　the　attention　of　Boabdil　was　called　by　circumstances　to　the　seaport　of　Salobrena。　　This　redoubtable　town　has　already　been　mentioned　in　this　chronicle　as　a　place　deemed　impregnable　by　the　Moors；　insomuch　that　their　kings　were　accustomed　in　time　of　peril　to　keep　their　treasures　in　its　citadel。　　It　was　situated　on　a　high　rocky　hill　dividing　one　of　those　rich　little　vegas　or　plains　which　lie　open　to　the　Mediterranean；　but　run　like　deep　green　bays　into　the　stern　bosoms　of　the　mountains。　　The　vega　was　covered　with　beautiful　vegetation；　with　rice　and　cotton；　with　groves　of　oranges；　citrons；　figs；　and　mulberries；　and　with　gardens　enclosed　by　hedges　of　reeds；　of　aloes；　and　the　Indian　fig。　　Running　streams　of　cool　water　from　the　springs　and　snows　of　the　Sierra　Nevada　kept　this　delightful　valley　continually　fresh　and　verdant；　while　it　was　almost　locked　up　by　mountain…barriers　and　lofty　promontories　stretching　far　into　the　sea。

Through　the　centre　of　this　rich　vega　the　rock　of　Salobrena　reared　its　rugged　back；　nearly　dividing　the　plain　and　advancing　to　the　margin　of　the　sea；　with　just　a　strip　of　sandy　beach　at　its　foot　laved　by　the　blue　waves　of　the　Mediterranean。

The　town　covered　the　ridge　and　sides　of　the　rocky　hill；　and　was　fortified　by　strong　walls　and　towers；　while　on　the　highest　and　most　precipitate　part　stood　the　citadel；　a　huge　castle　that　seemed　to　form　a　part　of　the　living　rock；　the　massive　ruins　of　which　at　the　present　day　attract　the　gaze　of　the　traveller　as　he　winds　his　way　far　below　along　the　road　through　the　vega。

This　important　fortress　had　been　entrusted　to　the　command　of　Don　Francisco　Ramirez　de　Madrid；　captain…general　of　the　artillery　and　the　most　scientific　of　all　the　Spanish　leaders。　　That　experienced　veteran；　however；　was　with　the　king　at　Cordova；　having　left　a　valiant　cavalier　as　alcayde　of　the　place。

Boabdil　had　full　information　of　the　state　of　the　garrison　and　the　absence　of　its　commander。　　Putting　himself　at　the　head　of　a　powerful　force；　therefore；　he　departed　from　Granada；　and　made　a　rapid　march　through　the　mountains；　hoping　to　seize　upon　Salobrena　before　King　Ferdinand　could　come　to　its　assistance。

The　inhabitants　of　Salobrena　were　mudexares；　or　Moors　who　had　sworn　allegiance　to　the　Christians。　　Still；　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　the　Moorish　drums　and　trumpets；　and　beheld　the　squadrons　of　their　countrymen　advancing　across　the　vega；　their　hearts　yearned　toward　the　standard　of　their　nation　and　their　faith。　　A　tumult　arose　in　the　place；　the　populace　shouted　the　name　of　Boabdil　el　Chico　and；　throwing　open　the　gates；　admitted　him　within　the　walls。

The　Christian　garrison　was　too　few　in　number　to　contend　for　the　possession　of　the　town：　they　retreated　to　the　citadel　and　shut　themselves　within　its　massive　walls；　which　were　considered　impregnable。　　Here　they　maintained　a　desperate　defence；　hoping　to　hold　out　until　succor　should　arrive　from　the　neighboring　fortresses。

The　tidings　that　Salobrena　was　invested　by　the　Moorish　king　spread　along　the　sea…coast　and　filled　the　Christians　with　alarm。　　Don　Francisco　Enriquez；　uncle　of　the　king；　commanded　the　city　of　Velez　Malaga；　about　twelve　leagues　distant；　but　separated　by　ranges　of　those　vast　rocky　mountains　which　are　piled　along　the　Mediterranean　and　tower　in　steep　promontories　and　precipices　above　its　waves。

Don　Francisco　summoned　the　alcaydes　of　his　district　to　hasten　with　him　to　the　relief　of　this　important　fortress。　　A　number　of　cavaliers　and　their　retainers　answered　to　his　call；　among　whom　was　Hernan　Perez　del　Pulgar；　surnamed　〃El　de　las　hazanas〃　（He　of　the　exploits）　the　same　who　had　signalized　himself　in　a　foray　by　elevating　a　handkerchief　on　a　lance　for　a　banner　and　leading　on　his　disheartened　comrades　to　victory。　　As　soon　as　Don　Francisco　beheld　a　little　band　collected　round　him；　he　set　out　with　all　speed　for　Salobrena。　　The　march　was　rugged　and　severe；　climbing　and　descending　immense　mountains；　and　sometimes　winding　along　the　edge　of　giddy　precipices；　with　the　surges　of　the　sea　raging　far　below。　　When　Don　Francisco　arrived　with　his　followers　at　the　lofty　promontory　that　stretches　along　one　side　of　the　little　vega　of　Salobrena；　he　looked　down　with　sorrow　and　anxiety　upon　a　Moorish　army　of　great　force　encamped　at　the　foot　of　the　fortress；　while　Moorish　banners　on　various　parts　of　the　walls　proved　that　the　town　was　already　in　possession　of　the　infidels。　　A　solitary　Christian　standard　alone　floated　on　the　top　of　the　castle…keep；　showing　that　the　brave　garrison　were　hemmed　up　in　their　rock…built　citadel。　　They　were；　in　fact；　reduced　to　great　extremity　through　want　of　water　and　provisions。

Don　Francisco