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！
CHAPTER XCIX。
SURRENDER OF GRANADA。
The night preceding the surrender was a night of doleful lamentings within the walls of the Alhambra； for the household of Boabdil were preparing to take a last farewell of that delightful abode。 All the royal treasures and most precious effects were hastily packed upon mules； the beautiful apartments were despoiled； with tears and wailings； by their own inhabitants。 Before the dawn of day a mournful cavalcade moved obscurely out of a postern gate of the Alhambra and departed through one of the most retired quarters of the city。 It was composed of the family of the unfortunate Boabdil； which he sent off thus privately； that they might not be exposed to the eyes of scoffers or the exultation of the enemy。 The mother of Boabdil； the sultana Ayxa la Horra； rode on in silence； with dejected yet dignified demeanor； but his wife Morayma and all the females of his household gave way to loud lamentations as they looked back upon their favorite abode； now a mass of gloomy towers behind them。 They were attended by the ancient domestics of the household； and by a small guard of veteran Moors loyally attached to the fallen monarch； and who would have sold their lives dearly in defence of his family。 The city was yet buried in sleep as they passed through its silent streets。 The guards at the gate shed tears as they opened it for their departure。 They paused not； but proceeded along the banks of the Xenil on the road that leads to the Alpuxarras； until they arrived at a hamlet at some distance from the city； where they halted and waited until they should be joined by King Boabdil。 The night which had passed so gloomily in the sumptuous halls of the Alhambra had been one of joyful anticipation in the Christian camp。 In the evening proclamation had been made that Granada was to be surrendered on the following day； and the troops were all ordered to assemble at an early hour under their several banners。 The cavaliers； pages； and esquires were all charged to array themselves in their richest and most splendid style for the occasion； and even the royal family determined to lay by the mourning they had recently assumed for the sudden death of the prince of Portugal； the husband of the princess Isabella。 In a clause of the capitulation it had been stipulated that the troops destined to take possession should not traverse the city； but should ascend to the Alhambra by a road opened for the purpose outside of the walls。 This was to spare the feelings of the afflicted inhabitants； and to prevent any angry collision between them and their conquerors。 So rigorous was Ferdinand in enforcing this precaution that the soldiers were prohibited under pain of death from leaving the ranks to enter into the city。
The rising sun had scarce shed his rosy beams upon the snowy summits of the Sierra Nevada when three signal guns boomed heavily from the lofty fortress of the Alhambra。 It was the concerted sign that all was ready for the surrender。 The Christian army forthwith poured out of the city； or rather camp； of Santa Fe； and advanced across the Vega。 The king and queen； with the prince and princess； the dignitaries and ladies of the court； took the lead； accompanied by the different orders of monks and friars； and surrounded by the royal guards splendidly arrayed。 The procession moved slowly forward； and paused at the village of Armilla； at the distance of half a league from the city。
In the mean time； the grand cardinal of Spain； Don Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza； escorted by three thousand foot and a troop of cavalry； and accompanied by the commander Don Gutierrez de Cardenas and a number of prelates and hidalgos； crossed the Xenil and proceeded in the advance to ascend to the Alhambra and take possession of that royal palace and fortress。 The road which had been opened for the purpose led by the Puerta de los Molinos； or Gate of Mills； up a defile to the esplanade on the summit of the Hill of Martyrs。 At the approach of this detachment the Moorish king sallied forth from a postern gate of the Alhambra； having left his vizier； Yusef Aben Comixa； to deliver up the palace。 The gate by which he sallied passed through a lofty tower of the outer wall； called the Tower of the Seven Floors （de los siete suelos）。 He was accompanied by fifty cavaliers； and approached the grand cardinal on foot。 The latter immediately alighted； and advanced to meet him with the utmost respect。 They stepped aside a few paces； and held a brief conversation in an under tone； when Boabdil； raising his voice； exclaimed； 〃Go； senor； and take possession of those fortresses in the name of the powerful sovereigns to whom God has been pleased to deliver them in reward of their great merits and in punishment of the sins of the Moors。〃 The grand cardinal sought to console him in his reverses； and offered him the use of his own tent during any time he might sojourn in the camp。 Boabdil thanked him for the courteous offer； adding some words of melancholy import； and then； taking leave of him gracefully； passed mournfully on to meet the Catholic sovereigns； descending to the Vega by the same road by which the cardinal had come。 The latter； with the prelates and cavaliers who attended him； entered the Alhambra； the gates of which were thrown wide open by the alcayde Aben Comixa。 At the same time the Moorish guards yielded up their arms； and the towers and battlements were taken possession of by the Christian troops。
While these transactions were passing in the Alhambra and its vicinity the sovereigns remained with their retinue and guards near the village of Armilla； their eyes fixed on the towers of the royal fortress； watching for the appointed signal of possession。 The time that had elapsed since the departure of the detachment seemed to them more than necessary for the purpose； and the anxious mind of Ferdinand began to entertain doubts of some commotion in the city。 At length they saw the silver cross； the great standard of this crusade； elevated on the Torre de la Vela； or Great Watch…tower； and sparkling in the sunbeams。 This was done by Hernando de Talavera； bishop of Avila。 Beside it was planted the pennon of the glorious apostle St。 James； and a great shout of 〃Santiago！ Santiago！〃 rose throughout the army。 Lastly was reared the royal standard by the king…at…arms； with the shout of 〃Castile！ Castile！ for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella！〃 The words were echoed by the whole army； with acclamations that resounded across the Vega。 At sight of these signals of possession the sovereigns sank upon their knees； giving thanks to God for this great triumph； the whole assembled host followed their example； and the choristers of the royal chapel broke forth into the solemn anthem of ''Te Deum laudamus。〃
The king now advanced with a splendid escort of cavalry and the sound of trumpets； until he came to a small mosque near the banks of the Xenil； and not far from the foot of the Hill of Martyrs； which edifice remains to the present day consecrated as the hermitage of St。 Sebastian。 Here he beheld the unfortunate king of Granada approaching on horseback at the head of his slender retinue。 Boabdil as he drew near m