按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
al amount； and that the residue should be paid within eight months that if any of the number； actually living； should die in the interim； their ransom should nevertheless be paid。 If； however； the whole of the amount were not paid at the expiration of the eight months； they should all be considered and treated as slaves。
The unfortunate Moors were eager to catch at the least hope of future liberty； and consented to these hard conditions。 The most rigorous precautions were taken to exact them to the uttermost。 The inhabitants were numbered by houses and families； and their names taken down； their most precious effects were made up into parcels； and sealed and inscribed with their names； and they were ordered to repair with them to certain large corrales or enclosures adjoining the Alcazaba； which were surrounded by high walls and overlooked by watch…towers； to which places the cavalgadas of Christian captives had usually been driven to be confined until the time of sale like cattle in a market。 The Moors were obliged to leave their houses one by one： all their money； necklaces； bracelets； and anklets of gold； pearl； coral； and precious stones were taken from them at the threshold； and their persons so rigorously searched that they carried off nothing concealed。
Then might be seen old men and helpless women and tender maidens； some of high birth and gentle condition； passing through the streets； heavily burdened； toward the Alcazaba。 As they left their homes they smote their breasts and wrung their hands； and raised their weeping eyes to heaven in anguish； and this is recorded as their plaint： 〃O Malaga！ city so renowned and beautiful！ where now is the strength of thy castle； where the grandeur of thy towers？ Of what avail have been thy mighty walls for the protection of thy children？ Behold them driven from thy pleasant abodes； doomed to drag out a life of bondage in a foreign land； and to die far from the home of their infancy！ What will become of thy old men and matrons when their gray hairs shall be no longer reverenced？ What will become of thy maidens； so delicately reared and tenderly cherished； when reduced to hard and menial servitude？ Behold thy once happy families scattered asunder； never again to be unitedsons separated from their fathers； husbands from their wives； and tender children from their mothers： they will bewail each other in foreign lands； but their lamentations will be the scoff of the stranger。 O Malaga！ city of our birth！ who can behold thy desolation and not shed tears of bitterness？〃*
*Pulgar； Reyes Catolicos； c。 93。
When Malaga was completely secured a detachment was sent against two fortresses near the sea； called Mixas and Osuna； which had frequently harassed the Christian camp。 The inhabitants were threatened with the sword unless they instantly surrendered。 They claimed the same terms that had been granted to Malaga； imagining them to be freedom of person and security of property。 Their claim was granted： they were transported to Malaga with all their riches； and on arriving there were overwhelmed with consternation at finding themselves captives。 〃Ferdinand；〃 observes Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃was a man of his word； they were shut up in the enclosure at the Alcazaba with the people of Malaga and shared their fate。〃
The unhappy captives remained thus crowded in the courtyards of the Alcazaba； like sheep in a fold； until they could be sent by sea and land to Seville。 They were then distributed about in city and country； each Christian family having one or more to feed and maintain as servants until the term fixed for the payment of the residue of the ransom should expire。 The captives had obtained permission that several of their number should go about among the Moorish towns of the kingdom of Granada collecting contributions to aid in the purchase of their liberties； but these towns were too much impoverished by the war and engrossed by their own distresses to lend a listening ear； so the time expired without the residue of the ransom being paid； and all the captives of Malaga； to the number； as some say； of eleven； and others of fifteen； thousand； became slaves。 〃Never；〃 exclaims the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida in one of his usual bursts of zeal and loyalty；〃never has there been recorded a more adroit and sagacious arrangement than this made by the Catholic monarch； by which he not only secured all the property and half of the ransom of these infidels； but finally got possession of their persons into the bargain。 This truly may be considered one of the greatest triumphs of the pious and politic Ferdinand； and as raising him above the generality of conquerors； who have merely the valor to gain victories； but lack the prudence and management necessary to turn them to account。〃*
*The detestable policy of Ferdinand in regard to the Moorish captives of Malaga is recorded at length by the curate of Los Palacios （c。 87）； a contemporary； a zealous admirer of the king； and one of the most honest of chroniclers； who really thought he was recording a notable instance of sagacious piety。
CHAPTER LXVII。
HOW KING FERDINAND PREPARED TO CARRY THE WAR INTO A DIFFERENT PART OF THE TERRITORIES OF THE MOORS。
The western part of the kingdom of Granada had now been conquered by the Christian arms。 The seaport of Malaga was captured； the fierce and warlike inhabitants of Serrania de Ronda and the other mountain…holds of the frontier were all disarmed and reduced to peaceful and laborious vassalage； their haughty fortresses； which had so long overawed the valleys of Andalusia； now displayed the standard of Castile and Aragon； the watch…towers which crowned every height； whence the infidels had kept a vulture eye over the Christian territories； were now either dismantled or garrisoned with Catholic troops。 〃What signalized and sanctified this great triumph；〃 adds the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃were the emblems of ecclesiastical domination which everywhere appeared。 In every direction rose stately convents and monasteries； those fortresses of the faith garrisoned by its spiritual soldiery of monks and friars。 The sacred melody of Christian bells was again heard among the mountains； calling to early matins or sounding the Angelus at the solemn hour of evening。〃*
*The worthy curate of Los Palacios intimates in his chronicle that this melody； so grateful to the ears of pious Christians； was a source of perpetual torment to the ears of infidels。
While this part of the kingdom was thus reduced by the Christian sword； the central part； round the city of Granada； forming the heart of the Moorish territory； was held in vassalage of the Castilian monarch by Boabdil； surnamed El Chico。 That unfortunate prince lost no occasion to propitiate the conquerors of his country by acts of homage and by professions that must have been foreign to his heart。 No sooner had he heard of the capture of Malaga than he sent congratulations to the Catholic sovereigns； accompanied with presents of horses richly caparisoned for the king； and precious cloth of gold and Oriental perfumes for the queen。 His congratulations and his presents were received with the utmost graciousness； and the short…sighted prince； lulled by the temporary and politic forbearance of Ferdinand； flattered himself that he was securing the lasting friendship of that monarch。
The policy of Boabdil had its transient and superficial advantages。 The portion of Moorish territory under his immediate sway had a respite from the calamities of war； the husbandmen cultivated their luxuriant fields in security； and the Vega of Granada once more blossomed like the rose。 The merchants again carried on a gainful traffic： the gates of the city were thronged with beasts of burden； bringing the rich products of every clime。 Yet； while the people of Granada rejoiced in their teeming fields and crowded marts； they secretly despised the policy which had procured them these advantages； and held Boabdil for little better than an apostate and an unbeliever。 Muley Abdallah el Zagal was now the hope of the unconquered part of the kingdom； and every Moor whose spirit was not quite subdued with his fortunes lauded the valor of the old monarch and his fidelity to the faith； and wished success to his standard。
El Zagal； though he no longer sat enthroned in the Alhambra； yet reigned over more considerable domains than his nephew。 His territories extended from the frontier of Jaen along the borders of Murcia to the Mediterranean； and reached into the centre of the kingdom。 On the northeast he held the cities of Baza and Guadix； situated in the midst of fertile regions。 He had the important seaport of Almeria also； which at one time rivalled Granada itself in wealth and population。 Besides these； his territories included a great part of the Alpuxarras mountains； which extend across the kingdom and shoot out branches toward the sea…coast。 This mountainous region was a stronghold of wealth and power。 Its stern and rocky heights； rising to the clouds； seemed to set invasion at defiance； yet within their rugged embraces were sheltered delightful valleys of the happiest temperature and richest fertility。 The cool springs and limpid ri