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for word from one or other of the orthodox chroniclers of Spain。
The ironical vein also was provoked by the mixture of kingcraft and priestcraft discernible throughout this great enterprise； and the mistaken zeal and self…delusion of many of its most gallant and generous champions。 The romantic coloring seemed to belong to the nature of the subject； and was in harmony with what I had seen in my tour through the poetical and romantic regions in which the events had taken place。 With all these deductions the work； in all its essential points； was faithful to historical fact and built upon substantial documents。 It was a great satisfaction to me； therefore； after the doubts that had been expressed of the authenticity of my chronicle； to find it repeatedly and largely used by Don Miguel Lafuente Alcantara of Granada in his recent learned and elaborate history of his native city； he having had ample opportunity； in his varied and indefatigable researches； of judging how far it accorded with documentary authority。
I have still more satisfaction in citing the following testimonial of Mr。 Prescott； whose researches for his admirable history of Ferdinand and Isabella took him over the same ground I had trodden。 His testimonial is written in the liberal and courteous spirit characteristic of him； but with a degree of eulogium which would make me shrink from quoting it did I not feel the importance of his voucher for the substantial accuracy of my work：
〃Mr。 Irving's late publication； the 'Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada；' has superseded all further necessity for poetry and； unfortunately for me； for history。 He has fully availed himself of all the picturesque and animating movement of this romantic era； and the reader who will take the trouble to compare his chronicle with the present more prosaic and literal narrative will see how little he has been seduced from historic accuracy by the poetical aspect of his subject。 The fictitious and romantic dress of his work has enabled him to make it the medium of reflecting more vividly the floating opinions and chimerical fancies of the age； while he has illuminated the picture with the dramatic brilliancy of coloring denied to sober history。〃*
*Prescott's Ferdinand and Isabella； vol。 ii。 c。 15。
In the present edition I have endeavored to render the work more worthy of the generous encomium of Mr。 Prescott。 Though I still retain the fiction of the monkish author Agapida； I have brought my narrative more strictly within historical bounds； have corrected and enriched it in various parts with facts recently brought to light by the researches of Alcantara and others； and have sought to render it a faithful and characteristic picture of the romantic portion of history to which it relates。
W。 I。
Sunnyside； 1850。
A CHRONICLE OF THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA。
CHAPTER I。
OF THE KINGDOM OF GRANADA； AND THE TRIBUTE WHICH IT PAID TO THE CASTILIAN CROWN。
The history of those bloody and disastrous wars which have caused the downfall of mighty empires （observes Fray Antonio Agapida） has ever been considered a study highly delectable and full of precious edification。 What； then； must be the history of a pious crusade waged by the most Catholic of sovereigns to rescue from the power of the infidels one of the most beautiful but benighted regions of the globe？ Listen； then； while from the solitude of my cell I relate the events of the conquest of Granada； where Christian knight and turbaned infidel disputed； inch by inch； the fair land of Andalusia； until the Crescent； that symbol of heathenish abomination； was cast down； and the blessed Cross； the tree of our redemption； erected in its stead。
Nearly eight hundred years were past and gone since the Arabian invaders had sealed the perdition of Spain by the defeat of Don Roderick； the last of her Gothic kings。 Since that disastrous event one portion after another of the Peninsula had been gradually recovered by the Christian princes； until the single but powerful and warlike territory of Granada alone remained under the domination of the Moors。
This renowned kingdom； situated in the southern part of Spain and washed on one side by the Mediterranean Sea； was traversed in every direction by sierras or chains of lofty and rugged mountains； naked； rocky； and precipitous； rendering it almost impregnable； but locking up within their sterile embraces deep； rich； and verdant valleys of prodigal fertility。
In the centre of the kingdom lay its capital； the beautiful city of Granada； sheltered； as it were； in the lap of the Sierra Nevada； or Snowy Mountains。 Its houses； seventy thousand in number； covered two lofty hills with their declivities and a deep valley between them； through which flowed the Darro。 The streets were narrow； as is usual in Moorish and Arab cities； but there were occasionally small squares and open places。 The houses had gardens and interior courts； set out with orange； citron； and pomegranate trees and refreshed by fountains； so that as the edifices ranged above each other up the sides of the hills； they presented a delightful appearance of mingled grove and city。 One of the hills was surmounted by the Alcazaba； a strong fortress commanding all that part of the city； the other by the Alhambra； a royal palace and warrior castle； capable of containing within its alcazar and towers a garrison of forty thousand men； but possessing also its harem； the voluptuous abode of the Moorish monarchs； laid out with courts and gardens； fountains and baths； and stately halls decorated in the most costly style of Oriental luxury。 According to Moorish tradition； the king who built this mighty and magnificent pile was skilled in the occult sciences； and furnished himself with the necessary funds by means of alchemy。* Such was its lavish splendor that even at the present day the stranger； wandering through its silent courts and deserted halls； gazes with astonishment at gilded ceilings and fretted domes； the brilliancy and beauty of which have survived the vicissitudes of war and the silent dilapidation of ages。
*Zurita； lib。 20； c。 42。
The city was surrounded by high walls； three leagues in circuit； furnished with twelve gates and a thousand and thirty towers。 Its elevation above the sea and the neighborhood of the Sierra Nevada crowned with perpetual snows tempered the fervid rays of summer； so that while other cities were panting with the sultry and stifling heat of the dog…days； the most salubrious breezes played through the marble halls of Granada。
The glory of the city； however； was its Vega or plain； which spread out to a circumference of thirty…seven leagues； surrounded by lofty mountains； and was proudly compared to the famous plain of Damascus。 It was a vast garden of delight； refreshed by numerous fountains and by the silver windings of the Xenil。 The labor and ingenuity of the Moors had diverted the waters of this river into thousands of rills and streams； and diffused them over the whole surface of the plain。 Indeed； they had wrought up this happy region to a degree of wonderful prosperity； and took a pride in decorating it as if it had been a favorite mistress。 The hills were clothed with orchards and vineyards； the valleys embroidered with gardens； and the wide plains covered with waving grain。 Here were seen in profusion the orange； the citron； the fig； and the pomegranate； with great plantations of mulberry trees； from which was produced the finest silk。 The vine clambered from tree to tree； the grapes hung in rich clusters about the peasant's cottage； and the groves were rejoiced by the perpetual song of the nightingale。 In a word； so beautiful was the earth； so pure the air； and so serene the sky of this delicious region that the Moors imagined the paradise of their Prophet to be situated in that part of the heaven which overhung the kingdom of Granada。
Within this favored realm； so prodigally endowed and strongly fortified by nature； the Moslem wealth； valor； and intelligence； which had once shed such a lustre over Spain； had gradually retired； and here they made their final stand。 Granada had risen to splendor on the ruin of other Moslem kingdoms； but in so doing had become the sole object of Christian hostility； and had to maintain its very existence by the sword。 The Moorish capital accordingly presented a singular scene of Asiatic luxury and refinement； mingled with the glitter and the din of arms。 Letters were still cultivated； philosophy and poetry had their schools and disciples； and the language spoken was said to be the most elegant Arabic。 A passion for dress and ornament pervaded all ranks。 That of the princesses and ladies of high rank； says Al Kattib； one of their own writers； was carried to a height of luxury and magnificence that bordered on delirium。 They wore girdles and bracelets and anklets of gold and silver； wrought with exquisite art and delicacy and studded with jacinths； chrysolites； emeralds； and other precious stones。 They were fond of braiding and decorating their beautiful long tresses or confining them in knots sparkling with jewels。 They were finely formed； excessively fair； graceful in their manners； and fascinating in the