University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XIV.

The defeat of the Christian cavaliers
among the mountains of Malaga, and the
successful inroad of Muley Aben Hassan
into the lands of Medina Sidonia, had
produced a favourable effect on the fortunes
of the old monarch. The inconstant
populace began to shout forth his
name in the streets, and to sneer at the
inactivity of his son, Boabdil el Chico.
The latter, though in the flower of his age,
and distinguished for vigour and dexterity
in jousts and tournaments, had never yet
fleshed his weapon in the field of battle;
and it was murmured, that he preferred
the silken repose of the cool halls of the
Alhambra, to the fatigue and danger of
the foray, and the hard encampments of
the mountains.

The popularity of these rival kings
depended upon their success against the
Christians; and Boabdil el Chico found
it necessary to strike some signal blow,
to counterbalance the late triumph of his
father. He was further incited by the
fierce old Moor, his father-in-law, Ali
Atar, alcayde of Loxa, with whom the
coals of wrath against the Christians
still burned among the ashes of age, and
had lately been blown into a flame by
the attack made by Ferdinand on the
city under his command.

Ali Atar informed Boabdil, that the
late discomfiture of the Christian knights
had stripped Andalusia of the prime of
her chivalry, and broken the spirit of
the country. All the frontier of Cordova
and Ecija now lay open to inroad;
but he specially pointed out the city of
Lucena as an object of attack; being
feebly garrisoned, and lying in a country
rich in pasturage, abounding in cattle

and grain, in oil and wine. The fiery
old Moor spoke from thorough information;
for he had made many an incursion
into those parts, and his very name was
a terror throughout the country. It had
become a byword in the garrison of Loxa,
to call Lucena the garden of Ali Atar;
for he was accustomed to forage its fertile
territories for all his supplies.

Boabdil el Chico listened to the persuasions
of this veteran of the borders. He
assembled a force of nine thousand foot
and seven hundred horse, most of them
his own adherents, but many the partisans
of his father: for both factions,
however they might fight among themselves,
were ready to unite in any expedition
against the Christians. Many of
the most illustrious and valiant of the
Moorish nobility assembled around his
standard, magnificently arrayed in sumptuous
armour and rich embroidery, as
though they were going to a festival, or
a tilt of reeds, rather than an enterprise
of iron war. Boabdil's mother, the Sultana
Ayxa la Horra, armed him for the
field, and gave him her benediction as
she girded his cimeter to his side. His
favourite wife Morayma wept, as she
thought of the evils that might befall
him. "Why dost thou weep, daughter
of Ali Atar?" said the high-minded
Ayxa; "these tears become not the
daughter of a warrior, nor the wife of a
king. Believe me, there lurks more
danger for a monarch within the strong
walls of a palace, than within the frail
curtains of a tent. It is by perils in the
field, that thy husband must purchase
security on his throne."

But Morayma still hung upon his neck
with tears and sad forebodings; and
when he departed from the Alhambra,
she betook herself to her mirador, which
looks out over the vega; whence she
watched the army, as it passed in shining
order along the road that leads to Loxa;
and every burst of warlike melody that
came swelling on the breeze was answered
by a gush of sorrow.

As the royal cavalcade issued from the
palace, and descended through the streets
of Granada, the populace greeted their
youthful sovereign with shouts, and anticipated
success that should wither the
laurels of his father. In passing through
the gate of Elvira, however, the king
accidentally broke his lance against the
arch. At this, certain of the nobles
turned pale, and entreated him not to
proceed, for they regarded it as an evil
omen. Boabdil scoffed at their fears,
for he considered them mere idle fancies;
or rather, says Fray Antonio Agapida,
he was an incredulous pagan, puffed up
with confidence and vainglory. He
refused to take another spear, but drew
forth his cimeter, and led the way (adds
Agapida) in an arrogant and haughty
style, as though he would set both heaven
and earth at defiance. Another evil omen
was sent, to deter him from his enterprise.
Arriving at the rambla or dry ravine of
Beyro, which is scarcely a bowshot from
the city, a fox ran through the whole
army, and close by the person of the
king, and, though a thousand bolts were
discharged at it, escaped uninjured to
the mountains. The principal courtiers
about Boabdil now reiterated their remonstrances
against proceeding; for
they considered these occurrences as
mysterious portents of disasters to their
army. The king, however, was not to
be dismayed, but continued to march
forward.[30]

At Loxa the royal army was reinforced
by old Ali Atar, with the chosen
horsemen of the garrison, and many of
the bravest warriors of the border towns.
The people of Loxa shouted with exultation,
when they beheld Ali Atar armed
at all points, and once more mounted on
his Barbary steed, which had often borne
him over the borders. The veteran warrior,
with nearly a century of years upon
his head, had all the fire and animation
of a youth at the prospect of a foray,
and careered from rank to rank with the
velocity of an Arab of the desert. The
populace watched the army as it paraded
over the bridge, and wound into the passes
of the mountains; and still their eyes
were fixed upon the pennon of Ali Atar,
as if it bore with it an assurance of
victory.

The Moorish army entered the Christian
frontier by forced marches, hastily
ravaging the country, driving off the
flocks and herds, and making captives of

the inhabitants. They pressed on furiously,
and made the latter part of their
march in the night, that they might elude
observation, and come upon Lucena by
surprise. Boabdil was inexperienced in
the art of war; but he had a veteran
counsellor in his old father-in-law: for
Ali Atar knew every secret of the country;
and as he prowled through it, his
eye ranged over the land, uniting, in its
glare, the craft of the fox, with the sanguinary
ferocity of the wolf. He had
flattered himself that their march had
been so rapid as to outstrip intelligence,
and that Lucena would be an easy capture;
when, suddenly, he beheld the
alarm-fires, blazing upon the mountains.
"We are discovered," said he to Boabdil
el Chico; "the country will be up in
arms. We have nothing left, but to
strike boldly for Lucena: it is but slightly
garrisoned, and we may carry it by assault,
before it can receive assistance."
The king approved of his counsel, and
they marched rapidly for the gate of
Lucena.