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of Malaga should eat of those heaps of bread； but they ate in humiliation and defeat and with sorrow and bitterness of heart。〃
Dark and fierce were the feelings of Hamet el Zegri as he looked down from the castle of Gibralfaro and beheld the Christian legions pouring into the city and the standard of the cross supplanting the crescent on the citadel。 〃The people of Malaga；〃 said he； 〃have trusted to a man of trade； and he has trafficked them away； but let us not suffer ourselves to be bound hand and foot and delivered up as part of his bargain。 We have yet strong walls around us and trusty weapons in our hands。 Let us fight until buried beneath the last tumbling tower of Gibralfaro； or； rushing down from among its ruins； carry havoc among the unbelievers as they throng the streets of Malaga。〃
The fierceness of the Gomeres； however； was broken。 They could have died in the breach had their castle been assailed； but the slow advances of famine subdued their strength without rousing their passions； and sapped the force of both soul and body。 They were almost unanimous for a surrender。
It was a hard struggle for the proud spirit of Hamet to bow itself to ask for terms。 Still； he trusted that the valor of his defence would gain him respect in the eyes of a chivalrous foe。 〃Ali；〃 said he； 〃has negotiated like a merchant； I will capitulate as a soldier。〃 He sent a herald； therefore； to Ferdinand； offering to yield up his castle； but demanding a separate treaty。＇15＇ The Castilian sovereign made a laconic and stern reply： 〃He shall receive no terms but such as have been granted to the community of Malaga。〃
For two days Hamet el Zegri remained brooding in his castle after the city was in possession of the Christians； at length the clamors of his followers compelled him to surrender。 When the remnant of this fierce African garrison descended from their cragged fortress； they were so worn by watchfulness； famine； and battle； yet carried such a lurking fury in their eyes； that they looked more like fiends than men。 They were all condemned to slavery； excepting Ibrahim Zenete。 The instance of clemency which he had shown in refraining to harm the Spanish striplings on the last sally from Malaga won him favorable terms。 It was cited as a magnanimous act by the Spanish cavaliers； and all admitted that； though a Moor in blood； he possessed the Christian heart of a Castilian hidalgo。*
*Cura de los Palacios； cap。 84。
As to Hamet el Zegri； on being asked what moved him to such hardened obstinacy； he replied； 〃When I undertook my command； I pledged myself to fight in defence of my faith； my city； and my sovereign until slain or made prisoner； and； depend upon it； had I had men to stand by me； I should have died fighting； instead of thus tamely surrendering myself without a weapon in my hand。〃
〃Such；〃 says the pious Fray Antonio Agapida； 〃was the diabolical hatred and stiff…necked opposition of this infidel to our holy cause。 But he was justly served by our most Catholic and high…minded sovereign for his pertinacious defence of the city； for Ferdinand ordered that he should be loaded with chains and thrown into a dungeon。〃 He was subsequently retained in rigorous confinement at Carmona。*
*Pulgar； part 3； cap。 93； Pietro Martyr； lib。 1； cap。 69； Alcantara； Hist。 Granada； vol。 4； c。 18。
CHAPTER LXVI。
HOW THE CASTILIAN SOVEREIGNS TOOK POSSESION OF THE CITY OF MALAGA； AND HOW KING FERDINAND SIGNALIZED HIMSELF BY HIS SKILL IN BARGAINING WITH THE INHABITANTS FOR THEIR RANSOM。
One of the first cares of the conquerors on entering Malaga was to search for Christian captives。 Nearly sixteen hundred men and women were found； and among them were persons of distinction。 Some of them had been ten； fifteen； and twenty years in captivity。 Many had been servants to the Moors or laborers on public works； and some had passed their time in chains and dungeons。 Preparations were made to celebrate their deliverance as a Christian triumph。 A tent was erected not far from the city； and furnished with an altar and all the solemn decorations of a chapel。 Here the king and queen waited to receive the Christian captives。 They were assembled in the city and marshalled forth in piteous procession。 Many of them had still the chains and shackles on their legs； they were wasted with famine； their hair and beards overgrown and matted； and their faces pale and haggard from long confinement。 When they found themselves restored to liberty and surrounded by their countrymen； some stared wildly about as if in a dream； others gave way to frantic transports； but most of them wept for joy。 All present were moved to tears by so touching a spectacle。 When the procession arrived at what is called the Gate of Granada； it was met by a great concourse from the camp with crosses and pennons； who turned and followed the captives； singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving。 When they came in presence of the king and queen； they threw themselves on their knees； and would have kissed their feet as their saviors and deliverers； but the sovereigns prevented such humiliation and graciously extended to them their hands。 They then prostrated themselves before the altar； and all present joined them in giving thanks to God for their liberation from this cruel bondage。 By orders of the king and queen their chains were then taken off； and they were clad in decent raiment and food was set before them。 After they had ate and drunk； and were refreshed and invigorated； they were provided with money and all things necessary for their journey； and sent joyfully to their homes。
While the old chroniclers dwell with becoming enthusiasm on this pure and affecting triumph of humanity； they go on in a strain of equal eulogy to describe a spectacle of a far different nature。 It so happened that there were found in the city twelve of those renegado Christians who had deserted to the Moors and conveyed false intelligence during the siege： a barbarous species of punishment was inflicted upon them； borrowed； it is said； from the Moors and peculiar to these wars。 They were tied to stakes in a public place； and horsemen exercised their skill in transpiercing them with pointed reeds； hurled at them while careering at full speed； until the miserable victims expired beneath their wounds。 Several apostate Moors also； who； having embraced Christianity； had afterward relapsed into their early faith； and had taken refuge in Malaga from the vengeance of the Inquisition； were publicly burnt。 〃These；〃 says an old Jesuit historian exultingly；〃these were the tilts of reeds and the illuminations most pleasing for this victorious festival and for the Catholic piety of our sovereigns。〃*
*〃Los renegados fuernon acanavareados： y los conversos quemados； y estos fueron las canas； y luminarias mas alegres； por la fiesta de la vitoria； para la piedad Catholica de nuestros Reyes。〃Abarca； 〃Anales de Aragon；〃 tom。 2； Rey xxx。 c。 3。
When the city was cleansed from the impurities and offensive odors which had collected during the siege； the bishops and other clergy who accompanied the court； and the choir of the royal chapel； walked in procession to the principal mos