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！
s of the Moors fortified themselves in rock…built towers and castles； inhabited solely by warriors； whence they carried on a continual war of forage and depredation； sweeping down into the valleys and carrying off flocks and herds and all kinds of booty to these eagle…nests； to which it was perilous and fruitless to pursue them。
The worthy Fray Antonio Agapida closes his history of this checkered year in quite a different strain from those triumphant periods with which he is accustomed to wind up the victorious campaigns of the sovereigns。 〃Great and mighty；〃 says this venerable chronicler； 〃were the floods and tempests which prevailed throughout the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon about this time。 It seemed as though the windows of heaven were again opened and a second deluge overwhelming the face of nature。 The clouds burst as it were in cataracts upon the earth； torrents rushed down from the mountains； overflowing the valleys； brooks were swelled into raging rivers； houses were undermined； mills were swept away by their own streams； the affrighted shepherds saw their flocks drowned in the midst of the pasture； and were fain to take refuge for their lives in towers and high places。 The Guadalquivir for a time became a roaring and tumultuous sea； inundating the immense plain of the Tablada and filling the fair city of Seville with affright。
〃A vast black cloud moved over the land； accompanied by a hurricane and a trembling of the earth。 Houses were unroofed； the walls and battlements of fortresses shaken； and lofty towers rocked to their foundations。 Ships riding at anchor were either stranded or swallowed up； others； under sail； were tossed to and fro upon mountain waves and cast upon the land； where the whirlwind rent them in pieces and scattered them in fragments in the air。 Doleful was the ruin and great the terror where this baleful cloud passed by； and it left a long track of desolation over sea and land。 Some of the faint…hearted；〃 adds Antonio Agapida； 〃looked upon this torment of the elements as a prodigious event； out of the course of nature。 In the weakness of their fears they connected it with those troubles which occurred in various places； considering it a portent of some great calamity about to be wrought by the violence of the bloody… handed El Zagal and his fierce adherents。〃*
*See Cura de los Palacios； cap。 91； Palencia； De Bello Granad。； lib。 8。
CHAPTER LXX。
HOW KING FERDINAND PREPARED TO BESIEGE THE CITY OF BAZA； AND HOW THE CITY PREPARED FOR DEFENCE。
The stormy winter had passed away； and the spring of 1489 was advancing； yet the heavy rains had broken up the roads； the mountain…brooks were swollen to raging torrents； and the late shallow and peaceful rivers were deep； turbulent； and dangerous。 The Christian troops had been summoned to assemble in early spring on the frontiers of Jaen； but were slow in arriving at the appointed place。 They were entangled in the miry defiles of the mountains or fretted impatiently on the banks of impassable floods。 It was late in the month of May before they assembled in sufficient force to attempt the proposed invasion； when at length a valiant army of thirteen thousand horse and forty thousand foot marched merrily over the border。 The queen remained at the city of Jaen with the prince…royal and the princesses her children； accompanied and supported by the venerable cardinal of Spain and those reverend prelates who assisted in her councils throughout this holy war。
The plan of King Ferdinand was to lay siege to the city of Baza； the key of the remaining possessions of the Moor。 That important fortress taken； Guadix and Almeria must soon follow； and then the power of El Zagal would be at an end。 As the Catholic king advanced he had first to secure various castles and strongholds in the vicinity of Baza which might otherwise harass his army。 Some of these made obstinate resistance； especially the town of Zujar。 The Christians assailed the walls with various machines to sap them and batter them down。 The brave alcayde； Hubec Abdilbar； opposed force to force and engine to engine。 He manned his towers with his bravest warriors； who rained down an iron shower upon the enemy； and he linked caldrons together by strong chains and cast fire from them； consuming the wooden engines of their assailants and those who managed them。
The siege was protracted for several days： the bravery of the alcayde could not save his fortress from an overwhelming foe； but it gained him honorable terms。 Ferdinand permitted the garrison and the inhabitants to repair with their effects to Baza； and the valiant Hubec marched forth with the remnant of his force and took he way to that devoted city。
The delays caused to the invading army by these various circumstances had been diligently improved by El Zagal； who felt that he was now making his last stand for empire； and that this campaign would decide whether he should continue a king or sink into a vassal。 He was but a few leagues from Baza； at the city of Guadix。 This last was the most important point of his remaining territories； being a kind of bulwark between them and the hostile city of Granada； the seat of his nephew's power。 Though he heard of the tide of war； therefore； collecting and rolling toward the city of Baza； he dared not go in person to its assistance。 He dreaded that should he leave Guadix； Boabdil would attack him in the rear while the Christian army was battling with him in front。 El Zagal trusted in the great strength of Baza to defy any violent assault； and profited by the delays of the Christian army to supply it with all possible means of defence。 He sent thither all the troops he could spare from his garrison of Guadix； and despatched missives throughout his territories calling upon all true Moslems to hasten to Baza and make a devoted stand in defence of their homes； their liberties； and their religion。 The cities of Tavernas and Purchena and the surrounding heights and valleys responded to his orders and sent forth their fighting…men to the field。 The rocky fastnesses of the Alpuxarras resounded with the din of arms： troops of horse and bodies of foot… soldiers were seen winding down the rugged cliffs and defiles of those marble mountains and hastening toward Baza。 Many brave cavaliers of Granada also； spurning the quiet and security of Christian vassalage； secretly left the city and hastened to join their fighting countrymen。 The great dependence of El Zagal； however； was upon the valor and loyalty of his cousin and brother…in…law； Cid Hiaya Alnagar；* who was alcayde of Almeriaa cavalier experienced in warfare and redoubtable in the field。 He wrote to him to leave Almeria and repair with all speed at the head of his troops to Baza。 Cid Hiaya departed immediately with ten thousand of the bravest Moors in the kingdom。 These were for the most part hardy mountaineers； tempered to sun and storm and tried in many a combat。 None equalled them for a sally or a skirmish。 They were adroit in executing a thousand stratagems； ambuscadoes； and evolutions。 Impetuous in their assaults； yet governed in their utmost fury by a word or sign from their commander； at the sound of a tr