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！
een companions； all of powerful arm and dauntless heart。
His project was to penetrate Granada in the dead of the night by a secret pass made known to him by a Moorish renegade of the city； whom he had christened Pedro Pulgar； and who was to act as guide。 They were to set fire to the Alcaiceria and other principal edifices； and then effect their retreat as best they might。 At the hour appointed the adventurous troops set forth provided with combustibles。 The renegade led them silently to a drain or channel of the river Darro； up which they proceeded cautiously； single file； until they halted under a bridge near the royal gate。 Here dismounting； Pulgar stationed six of his companions to remain silent and motionless and keep guard； while； followed by the rest and still guided by the renegade； he continued up the drain or channel of the Darro； which passes under a part of the city； and was thus enabled to make his way undiscovered into the streets。 All was dark and silent。 At the command of Pulgar the renegade led him to the principal mosque。 Here the cavalier； pious as brave； threw himself on his knees； and； drawing forth a parchment scroll on which was inscribed in large letters 〃AVE MARIA；〃 nailed it to the door of the mosque； thus converting the heathen edifice into a Christian chapel and dedicating it to the Blessed Virgin。 This done； he hastened to the Alcaiceria to set it in a blaze。 The combustibles were all placed； but Tristan de Montemayor； who had charge of the firebrand； had carelessly left it at the door of the mosque。 It was too late to return there。 Pulgar was endeavoring to strike fire with flint and steel into the ravelled end of a cord when he was startled by the approach of the Moorish guards going the rounds。 His hand was on his sword in an instant。 Seconded by his brave companions； he assailed the astonished Moors and put them to flight。 In a little while the whole city resounded with alarms； soldiers were hurrying through the streets in every direction； but Pulgar； guided by the renegade； made good his retreat by the channel of the Darro to his companions at the bridge； and all； mounting their horses； spurred back to the camp。 The Moors were at a loss to imagine the meaning of this wild and apparently fruitless assault； but great was their exasperation on the following day when the trophy of hardihood and prowess； the 〃AVE MARIA；〃 was discovered thus elevated in bravado in the very centre of the city。 The mosque thus boldly sanctified by Hernan del Pulgar was actually consecrated into a cathedral after the capture of Granada。*
*The account here given of the exploit of Hernan del Pulgar differs from that given in the first edition； and is conformable to the record of the fact in a manuscript called 〃The House of Salar；〃 existing in the library of Salazar and cited by Alcantara in his History of Granada。
In commemoration of this daring feat of Pulgar； the emperor Charles V。 in after years conferred on that cavalier and on his descendants； the marqueses of Salar； the privilege of sitting in the choir during high mass； and assigned as the place of sepulture of Pulgar himself the identical spot where he kneeled to affix the sacred scroll； and his tomb is still held in great veneration。 This Hernan Perez del Pulgar was a man of letters； as well as art； and inscribed to Charles V。 a summary of the achievements of Gonsalvo of Cordova； surnamed the Great Captain； who had been one of his comrades… in…arms。 He is often confounded with Hernando del Pulgar； historian and secretary to Queen Isabella。 （See note to Pulgar's Chron。 of the Catholic Sovereigns； part 3； c。 iii。； edit。 Valencia； 1780。）
CHAPTER XCIII。
HOW QUEEN ISABELLA TOOK A VIEW OF THE CITY OF GRANADA； AND HOW HER CURIOSITY COST THE LIVES OF MANY CHRISTIANS AND MOORS。
The royal encampment lay so distant from Granada that the general aspect of the city only could be seen as it rose gracefully from the Vega； covering the sides of the hills with palaces and towers。 Queen Isabella had expressed an earnest desire to behold nearer at hand a city whose beauty was so renowned throughout the world； and the marques of Cadiz； with his accustomed courtesy； prepared a great military escort and guard to protect her and the ladies of the court while they enjoyed this perilous gratification。
On the morning of June the 18th a magnificent and powerful train issued from the Christian camp。 The advanced guard was composed of legions of cavalry； heavily armed； looking like moving masses of polished steel。 Then came the king and queen； with the prince and princess and the ladies of the court； surrounded by the royal body… guard； sumptuously arrayed； composed of the sons of the most illustrious houses of Spain； after these was the rear…guard； a powerful force of horse and foot； for the flower of the army sallied forth that day。 The Moors gazed with fearful admiration at this glorious pageant； wherein the pomp of the court was mingled with the terrors of the camp。 It moved along in radiant line across the Vega to the melodious thunders of martial music； while banner and plume and silken scarf and rich brocade gave a gay and gorgeous relief to the grim visage of iron war that lurked beneath。
The army moved toward the hamlet of Zubia； built on the skirts of the mountain to the left of Granada； and commanding a view of the Alhambra and the most beautiful quarter of the city。 As they approached the hamlet the marques of Villena； the count Urena； and Don Alonso de Aguilar fled off with their battalions； and were soon seen glittering along the side of the mountain above the village。 In the mean time； the marques of Cadiz； the count de Tendilla； the count de Cabra； and Don Alonso Fernandez； senior of Alcaudrete and Montemayor； drew up their forces in battle array on the plain below the hamlet； presenting a living barrier of loyal chivalry between the sovereigns and the city。
Thus securely guarded； the royal party alighted； and； entering one of the houses of the hamlet which had been prepared for their reception； enjoyed a full view of the city from its terraced roof。 The ladies of the court gazed with delight at the red towers of the Alhambra rising from amid shady groves； anticipating the time when the Catholic sovereigns should be enthroned within its walls and its courts shine with the splendor of Spanish chivalry。 〃The reverend prelates and holy friars who always surrounded the queen looked with serene satisfaction；〃 says Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃at this modern Babylon； enjoying the triumph that awaited them when those mosques and minarets should be converted into churches； and goodly priests and bishops should succeed to the infidel alfaquis。〃
When the Moors beheld the Christians thus drawn forth in full array in the plain； they supposed it was to offer battle； and hesitated not to accept it。 In a little while the queen beheld a body of Moorish cavalry pouring into the Vega； the riders managing their fleet and fiery steeds with admirable address。 They were richly armed and clothed in the most brilliant colors； and the caparisons of their steeds flamed with gold and embroidery。 This was the favorite squadron of Muza； composed of the flower of the youthful cavaliers of Granada。 Others succeeded； some heavily armed； others 〃a la gineta〃 with lance and buckler； and lastly came the legions of foot…soldiers with arquebuse and crossbow and spear and scimetar。
When the queen saw this army issuing from the city she sent to the marques of Cadiz； and forbade any attack upon the enemy or the acceptance of any challenge to a skirmish； for she was loth that her curiosity should cost the life of a single human being。
The marques promised to obey； though sorely against his will； and it grieved the spirit of the Spanish cavaliers to be obliged to remain with sheathed sword's while bearded by the foe。 The Moors could not comprehend the meaning of this inaction of the Christians after having apparently invited a battle。 They sallied several times from their ranks； and approached near enough to discharge their arrows； but the Christians were immovable。 Many of the Moorish horsemen galloped close to the Christian ranks； brandishing their lances and scimetars and defying various cavaliers to single combat； but Ferdinand had rigorously prohibited all duels of the kind； and they dared not transgress his orders under his very eye。
Here； however； the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida； in his enthusiasm for the triumphs of the faith； records the following incident； which we fear is not sustained by any grave chronicler of the times； but rests merely on tradition or the authority of certain poets and dramatic writers who have perpetuated the tradition in their works： While this grim and reluctant tranquillity prevailed along the Christian line； says Agapida； there rose a mingled shout and sound of laughter near the gate of the city。 A Moorish horseman； armed at all points； issued forth； followed by a rabble who drew back as he approached the scene of danger。 The Moor was more robust and brawny than was common with his countrymen。 His visor was closed； he bore a huge buckler and a ponderous lance； his scimetar was of a Damascus blade； and his