chronicle of the conquest of granada-第87节
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rival the most valiant veterans。 Do we want provisions？ Our horses are fleet and our horsemen daring in the foray。 Let them scour and scourge the country of those apostate Moslems who have surrendered to the Christians。 Let them make inroads into the lands of our enemies。 We shall soon see them returning with cavalgadas to our gates； and to a soldier there is no morsel so sweet as that wrested with hard fighting from the foe。〃
Boabdil； though he wanted firm and durable courage； was readily excited to sudden emotions of bravery。 He caught a glow of resolution from the noble ardor of Muza。 〃Do what is needful；〃 said he to his commanders； 〃into your hands I confide the common safety。 You are the protectors of the kingdom； and； with the aid of Allah； will revenge the insults of our religion； the deaths of our friends and relations； and the sorrows and sufferings heaped upon our land。〃*
*Conde。
To every one was now assigned his separate duty。 The wazir had charge of the arms and provisions and the enrolling of the people。 Muza was to command the cavalry； to defend the gates； and to take the lead in all sallies and skirmishings。 Naim Reduan and Muhammed Aben Zayde were his adjutants。 Abdel Kerim Zegri and the other captains were to guard the walls； and the alcaydes of the Alcazaba and of the Red Towers had command of the fortresses。
Nothing now was heard but the din of arms and the bustle of preparation。 The Moorish spirit； quick to catch fire； was immediately in a flame； and the populace in the excitement of the moment set at naught the power of the Christians。 Muza was in all parts of the city； infusing his own generous zeal into the bosoms of the soldiery。 The young cavaliers rallied round him as their model； the veteran warriors regarded him with a soldier's admiration； the vulgar throng followed him with shouts； and the helpless part of the inhabitants； the old men and the women； hailed him with blessings as their protector。
On the first appearance of the Christian army the principal gates of the city had been closed and secured with bars and bolts and heavy chains： Muza now ordered them to be thrown open。 〃To me and my cavaliers；〃 said he； 〃is entrusted the defence of the gates； our bodies shall be their barriers。〃 He stationed at each gate a strong guard chosen from his bravest men。 His horsemen were always completely armed and ready to mount at a moment's warning： their steeds stood saddled and caparisoned in the stables； with lance and buckler beside them。 On the least approach of the enemy a squadron of horse gathered within the gate； ready to launch forth like the bolt from the thunder…cloud。 Muza made no empty bravado nor haughty threat； he was more terrible in deeds than in words； and executed daring exploits beyond even the vaunt of the vainglorious。 Such was the present champion of the Moors。 Had they possessed many such warriors； or had Muza risen to power at an earlier period of the war； the fate of Granada might have been deferred； and the Moor for a long time have maintained his throne within the walls of the Alhambra。
CHAPTER XCI。
HOW KING FERDINAND CONDUCTED THE SIEGE CAUTIOUSLY； AND HOW QUEEN ISABELLA ARRIVED AT THE CAMP。
Though Granada was shorn of its glories and nearly cut off from all external aid； still its mighty castles and massive bulwarks seemed to set all attack at defiance。 Being the last retreat of Moorish power； it had assembled within its walls the remnants of the armies which had contended； step by step； with the invaders in their gradual conquest of the land。 All that remained of high…born and high…bred chivalry was here； all that was loyal and patriotic was roused to activity by the common danger； and Granada； so long lulled into inaction by vain hopes of security； now assumed a formidable aspect in the hour of its despair。
Ferdinand saw that any attempt to subdue the city by main force would be perilous and bloody。 Cautious in his policy； and fond of conquests gained by art rather than valor； he resorted to the plan so successful with Baza； and determined to reduce the place by famine。 For this purpose his armies penetrated into the very heart of the Alpuxarras； and ravaged the valleys and sacked and burnt the towns upon which the city depended for its supplies。 Scouting parties also ranged the mountains behind Granada and captured every casual convoy of provisions。 The Moors became more daring as their situation became more hopeless。 Never had Ferdinand experienced such vigorous sallies and assaults。 Muza at the head of his cavalry harassed the borders of the camp； and even penetrated into the interior； making sudden spoil and ravage； and leaving his course to be traced by the slain and wounded。 To protect his camp from these assaults； Ferdinand fortified it with deep trenches and strong bulwarks。 It was of a quadrangular form； divided into streets like a city； the troops being quartered in tents and in booths constructed of bushes and branches of trees。 When it was completed Queen Isabella came in state； with all her court and the prince and princesses； to be present at the siege。 This was intended； as on former occasions； to reduce the besieged to despair by showing the determination of the sovereigns to reside in the camp until the city should surrender。 Immediately after her arrival the queen rode forth to survey the camp and its environs： wherever she went she was attended by a splendid retinue； and all the commanders vied with each other in the pomp and ceremony with which they received her。 Nothing was heard from morning until night but shouts and acclamations and bursts of martial music； so that it appeared to the Moors as if a continual festival and triumph reigned in the Christian camp。
The arrival of the queen； however and the menaced obstinacy of the siege； had no effect in damping the fire of the Moorish chivalry。 Muza inspired the youthful warriors with the most devoted heroism。 〃We have nothing left to fight for；〃 said he； 〃but the ground we stand on； when this is lost we cease to have a country and a name。〃
Finding the Christian king forbore to make an attack； Muza incited his cavaliers to challenge the youthful chivalry of the Christian army to single combat or partial skirmishes。 Scarce a day passed without gallant conflicts of the kind in sight of the city and the camp。 The combatants rivalled each other in the splendor of their armor and array； as well as in the prowess of their deeds。 Their contests were more like the stately ceremonials of tilts and tournaments than the rude conflicts of the field。 Ferdinand soon perceived that they animated the fiery Moors with fresh zeal and courage； while they cost the lives of many of his bravest cavaliers： he again； therefore； forbade the acceptance of any individual challenges； and ordered that all partial encounters should be avoided。 The cool and stern policy of the Catholic sovereign bore hard upon the generous spirits of either army； but roused the indignation of the Moors when they found that they were to be subdued in this inglorious manner： 〃Of what avail；〃 said they； 〃are chivalry and heroic valor？ The crafty monarch of the Christians has no magnanimity in warfare； he seeks to subdue us through the weakness of our bodies； but shuns to encounter the courage of our souls。〃
CHAPTER XCII。
OF THE INSOLENT DEFIANCE OF TARFE THE MOOR； AND THE DARING EXPLOIT OF HERNAN PEREZ DEL PULGAR。
When the Moorish knights beheld that all courteous challenges were unavailing； they sought various means to provoke the Christian warriors to the field。 Sometimes a body of them； fleetly mounted； would gallop up to the skirts of the camp and try who should hurl his lance farthest within the barriers； having his name inscribed upon it or a label affixed containing some taunting defiance。 These bravadoes caused great irritation； still； the Spanish warriors were restrained by the prohibition of the king。
Among the Moorish cavaliers was one named Tarfe； renowned for strength and daring spirit； but whose courage partook of fierce audacity rather than chivalric heroism。 In one of these sallies； when skirting the Christian camp； this arrogant Moor outstripped his companions； overleaped the barriers； and； galloping close to the royal quarters； launched his lance so far within that it remained quivering in the earth close by the pavilions of the sovereigns。 The royal guards rushed forth in pursuit； but the Moorish horsemen were already beyond the camp and scouring in a cloud of dust for the city。 Upon wresting the lance from the earth a label was found upon it importing that it was intended for the queen。
Nothing could equal the indignation of the Christian warriors at the insolence of the bravado and the discourteous insult offered to the queen。 Hernan Perez del Pulgar； surnamed 〃He of the exploits；〃 was present； and resolved not to be outbraved by this daring infidel。 〃Who will stand by me；〃 said he； 〃in an enterprise of desperate peril？〃 The Christian cavaliers well knew the harebrained valor of Hernan； yet not one hesitated to step forward。 He chose fifteen companions； all of powerful arm and dauntless heart。
His project was to penetrate Granada in
