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！
In one of the forays of the Moorish chivalry into the Christian territories they had surprised a frontier fortress commanded by Sancho Ximenes de Solis； a noble and valiant cavalier； who fell in bravely defending it。 Among the captives was his daughter Isabella； then almost in her infancy； who was brought to Granada； delicately raised； and educated in the Moslem faith。* Her Moorish captors gave her the name of Fatima； but as she grew up her surpassing beauty gained her the surname of Zoraya； or the Morning Star； by which she has become known in history。 Her charms at length attracted the notice of Muley Abul Hassan； and she soon became a member of his harem。 Some have spoken of her as a Christian slave whom he had made his concubine； but others； with more truth； represent her as one of his wives； and ultimately his favorite sultana； and indeed it was often the case that female captives of rank and beauty； when converted to the faith of Islam； became united to the proudest and loftiest of their captors。
*Cronica del Gran Cardinal； cap。 71。
Zoraya soon acquired complete ascendancy over the mind of Muley Abul Hassan。 She was as ambitious as she was beautiful； and； having become the mother of two sons； looked forward to the possibility of one of them sitting on the throne of Granada。 These ambitious views were encouraged； if not suggested； by a faction which gathered round her inspired by kindred sympathies。 The king's vizier； Abul Cacim Vanegas； who had great influence over him； was； like Zoraya； of Christian descent； being of the noble house of Luque。 His father； one of the Vanegas of Cordova； had been captured in infancy and brought up as a Moslem。* From him sprang the vizier； Abul Cacim Vanegas； and his brother； Reduan Vanegas； likewise high in rank in the court of Muley Abul Hassan； and they had about them numerous and powerful connections； all basking in court favor。 Though Moslems in faith； they were all drawn to Zoraya by the tie of foreign and Christian descent； and sought to elevate her and her children to the disparagement of Ayxa la Horra and her son Boabdil。 The latter； on the other hand； were supported by the noble and once…potent family of the Abencerrages and by Aben Comixa； alcayde of the Alhambra； and between these two factions； headed by rival sultanas； the harem of Muley Abul Hassan became the scene of inveterate jealousies and intrigues； which in time； as will be shown； led to popular commotions and civil wars。**
*Cura de los Palacios； Hist。 de los Reyes Catol。； cap。 56。
**It is to be noted that several historians have erroneously represented Zoraya as the mother of Boabdil； instead of Ayxa la Horra； and the Abencerrages as the opponents of Boabdil； instead of his strenuous adherents。 The statement in the text is according to the most reliable authorities。
While these female feuds were threatening Muley Abul Hassan with trouble and disaster at home； his evil genius prompted him to an enterprise which involved him in tenfold danger from abroad。 The reader has already been apprised of a singular clause in the truce existing between the Christians and the Moors； permitting hasty dashes into each other's territories and assaults of towns and fortresses； provided they were carried on as mere forays and without the parade of regular warfare。 A long time had elapsed； however； without any incursion of the kind on the part of the Moors； and the Christian towns on the frontiers had； in consequence； fallen into a state of the most negligent security。 In an unlucky moment Muley Abul Hassan was tempted to one of these forays by learning that the fortress of Zahara； on the frontier between Ronda and Medina Sidonia； was but feebly garrisoned and scantily supplied； and that its alcayde was careless of his charge。 This important post was built on the crest of a rocky mountain； with a strong castle perched above it upon a cliff； so high that it was said to be above the flight of birds or drift of clouds。 The streets and many of the houses were mere excavations wrought out of the living rock。 The town had but one gate； opening to the west and defended by towers and bulwarks。 The only ascent to this cragged fortress was by roads cut in the rock； so rugged in many places as to resemble broken stairs。 In a word； the impregnable security of Zahara had become so proverbial throughout Spain that a woman of forbidding and inaccessible virtue was called a Zaharena。 But the strongest fortress and sternest virtue have weak points； and require unremitting vigilance to guard them： let warrior and dame take warning from the fate of Zahara。
CHAPTER IV。
EXPEDITION OF MULEY ABUL HASSAN AGAINST THE FORTRESS OF ZAHARA。
In the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred and eighty… one； and but a night or two after the festival of the most blessed Nativity； the inhabitants of Zahara were sunk in profound sleep the very sentinel had deserted his post； and sought shelter from a tempest which had raged for three nights in succession； for it appeared but little probable that an enemy would be abroad during such an uproar of the elements。 But evil spirits work best during a storm。 In the midst of the night an uproar rose within the walls of Zahara more awful than the raging of the storm。 A fearful alarm…cry； 〃The Moor！ the Moor！〃 resounded through the streets； mingled with the clash of arms； the shriek of anguish； and the shout of victory。 Muley Abul Hassan； at the head of a powerful force； had hurried from Granada； and passed unobserved through the mountains in the obscurity of the tempest。 While the storm pelted the sentinel from his post and bowled round tower and battlement； the Moors had planted their scaling…ladders and mounted securely into both town and castle。 The garrison was unsuspicious of danger until battle and massacre burst forth within its very walls。 It seemed to the affrighted inhabitants as if the fiends of the air had come upon the wings of the wind and possessed themselves of tower and turret。 The war…cry resounded on every side； shout answering shout； above； below； on the battlements of the castle； in the streets of the town； the foe was in all parts； wrapped in obscurity； but acting in concert by the aid of preconcerted signals。 Starting from sleep； the soldiers were intercepted and cut down as they rushed from their quarters； or if they escaped they knew not where to assemble or where to strike。 Wherever lights appeared the flashing scimetar was at its deadly work； and all who attempted resistance fell beneath its edge。
In a little while the struggle was at an end。 Those who were not slain took refuge in the secret places of their houses or gave themselves up as captives。 The clash of arms ceased； and the storm continued its howling； mingled with the occasional shout of the Moorish soldiery roaming in search of plunder。 While the inhabitants were trembling for their fate； a trumpet resounded through the streets summoning them all to assemble； unarmed； in the public square。 Here they were surrounded by soldiery and strictly guarded until daybreak。 When the day dawned it was piteous to behold this once…prosperous community； who had laid down to rest in pe