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*The house whence the king and queen contemplated the battle is likewise to be seen at the present day。 It is in the first street to the right on entering the village from the Vega； and the royal arms are painted on the ceilings。 It is inhabited by a worthy farmer； Francisco Garcia； who in showing the house to the writer refused all compensation with true Spanish pride； offering； on the contrary； the hospitalities of his mansion。 His children are versed in the old Spanish ballads about the exploits of Hernan Perez del Pulgar and Garcilasso de la Vega。
CHAPTER XCIV。
THE LAST RAVAGE BEFORE GRANADA。
The ravages of war had as yet spared a little portion of the Vega of Granada。 A green belt of gardens and orchards still flourished round the city； extending along the banks of the Xenil and the Darro。 They had been the solace and delight of the inhabitants in their happier days； and contributed to their sustenance in this time of scarcity。 Ferdinand determined to make a final and exterminating ravage to the very walls of the city； so that there should not remain a single green thing for the sustenance of man or beast。 The eighth of July was the day appointed for this act of desolation。 Boabdil was informed by his spies of the intention of the Christian king； and prepared to make a desperate defence。 Hernando de Baeza； a Christian who resided with the royal family in the Alhambra as interpreter； gives in a manuscript memoir an account of the parting of Boabdil from his family as he went forth to battle。 At an early hour on the appointed day； the eighth of July； he bathed and perfumed himself； as the Moors of high rank were accustomed to do when they went forth to peril their lives。 Arrayed in complete armor； he took leave of his mother； his wife； and his sister in the antechamber of the Tower of Comares。 Ayxa la Horra； with her usual dignity； bestowed on him her benediction and gave him her hand to kiss。 It was a harder parting with his son and his daughter； who hung round him with sobs and tears： the duenas and doncellas too of the royal household made the halls of the Alhambra resound with their lamentations。 He then mounted his horse and put himself in front of his squadrons。*
*Hernando de Baeza； as cited by Alcantara； Hist。 Gran。； t。 4； c。 18。
The Christian army approached close to the city； and were laying waste the gardens and orchards when Boabdil sallied forth； surrounded by all that was left of the flower and chivalry of Granada。 There is one place where even the coward becomes bravethat sacred spot called home。 What； then； must have been the valor of the Moors； a people always of chivalrous spirit； when the war was thus brought to their thresholds！ They fought among the scenes of their loves and pleasures； the scenes of their infancy； and the haunts of their domestic life。 They fought under the eyes of their wives and children； their old men and their maidensof all that was helpless and all that was dear to them； for all Granada； crowded on tower and battlement； watched with trembling heart the fate of this eventful day。
There was not so much one battle as a variety of battles： every garden and orchard became a scene of deadly contest； every inch of ground was disputed with an agony of grief and valor by the Moors； every inch of ground that the Christians advanced they valiantly maintained； but never did they advance with severer fighting or greater loss of blood。
The cavalry of Muza was in every part of the field； wherever it came it gave fresh ardor to the fight。 The Moorish soldier； fainting with heat； fatigue； and wounds； was roused to new life at the approach of Muza； and even he who lay gasping in the agonies of death turned his face toward him and faintly uttered cheers and blessings as he passed。
The Christians had by this time gained possession of various towers near the city； whence they had been annoyed by crossbows and arquebuses。 The Moors； scattered in various actions； were severely pressed。 Boabdil； at the head of the cavaliers of his guard； mingling in the fight in various parts of the field； endeavored to inspirit the foot…soldiers to the combat。 But the Moorish infantry was never to be depended upon。 In the heat of the action a panic seized upon them； they fled； leaving their sovereign exposed with his handful of cavaliers to an overwhelming force。 Boabdil was on the point of falling into the hands of the Christians； when； wheeling round； he and his followers threw the reins on the necks of their steeds and took refuge by dint of hoof within the walls of the city。*
*Zurita； lib。 20； c。 88。
Muza endeavored to retrieve the fortune of the field。 He threw himself before the retreating infantry； calling upon them to turn and fight for their homes； their families； for everything sacred and dear to them。 All in vain： totally broken and dismayed； they fled tumultuously for the gates。 Muza would fain have kept the field with his cavalry； but this devoted band； having stood the brunt of war throughout this desperate campaign； was fearfully reduced in numbers； and many of the survivors were crippled and enfeebled by their wounds。 Slowly and reluctantly； therefore； he retreated to the city； his bosom swelling with indignation and despair。 Entering the gates； he ordered them to be closed and secured with bolts and bars； for he refused to place any further confidence in the archers and arquebusiers stationed to defend them； and vowed never more to sally with foot…soldiers to the field。
In the mean time； the artillery thundered from the walls and checked all further advance of the Christians。 King Ferdinand therefore called off his troops； and returned in triumph to his camp； leaving the beautiful city of Granada wrapped in the smoke of her fields and gardens and surrounded by the bodies of her slaughtered children。
Such was the last sally of the Moors in defence of their favorite city。 The French ambassador； who witnessed it； was filled with wonder at the prowess； the dexterity； and the daring of the Moslems。
In truth； this whole war was an instance； memorable in history； of the most persevering resolution。 For nearly ten years had the war enduredan almost uninterrupted series of disasters to the Moorish arms。 Their towns had been taken； one after another； and their brethren slain or led into captivity。 Yet they disputed every city and town and fortress and castle； nay； every rock itself； as if they had been inspirited by victories。 Wherever they could plant foot to fight； or find wall or cliff whence to launch an arrow； they disputed their beloved country； and now； when their capital was cut off from all relief and a whole nation thundered at its gates； they still maintained defence； as if they hoped some miracle to interpose in their behalf。 Their obstinate resistance （says an ancient chronicler） shows the grief with which they yielded up the Vega； which was to them a paradise and heaven。 Exerting all the strength of their arms； they embraced； as it were； that most beloved soil； from which neither wounds nor defeats； nor death itself； could part them。 They stood firm； battling for it with the united force of love and grief； never drawing back the foot while they had hands to fight or fortune to befriend them。*
*Abarca； Reyes de Aragon； R。 30； c。 3。
CHAPTER XCV。
CONFLAGRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN CAMP。BUILDING OF SANTA FE。
The moors now shut themselves up gloomily within their walls； there were no longer any daring sallies from their gates； and even the martial clangor of the drum and trumpet； which had continually resounded within the warrior city； was now seldom heard from its battlements。 In the midst of this deep despondency a single disaster in the Christian camp for a moment lit up a ray of hope in the bosom of the Moors。
The setting sun of a hot summer's day； on the 10th of July； shone splendidly upon the Christian camp； which was in a bustle of preparation for the next day's service； when an attack was meditated on the city。 The camp made a glorious appearance。 The various tents of the royal family and the attendant nobles were adorned with rich hangings and sumptuous devices and costly furniture； forming； as it were； a little city of silk and brocade； where the pinnacles of pavilions of various gay colors； surmounted with waving standards and fluttering pennons； might vie with the domes and minarets of the capital they were besieging。
In the midst of this little gaudy metropolis the lofty tent of the queen domineered over the rest like a stately palace。 The marques of Cadiz had courteously surrendered his own tent to the queen： it was the most complete and sumptuous in Christendom； and had been carried about with him throughout the war。 In the centre rose a stately alfaneque； or pavilion； in Oriental taste； the rich hangings being supported by columns of lances and ornamented with martial devices。 This central pavilion； or silken tower； was surrounded by other compartments； some of painted linen lined with silk； and all separated from each other by curtains。 It was one of those camp palaces which are raised and demolished in an instant like the city of canvas which surrounds them。
As the evening