University of Virginia Library

8. CHAPTER VIII.
Sequel of the events at Alhama.

While all Andalusia was thus in arms, and pouring
its chivalry through the mountain passes of the
Moorish frontier, the garrison of Alhama was reduced
to great extremity, and in danger of sinking
under its sufferings before the promised succor
could arrive. The intolerable thirst that prevailed
in consequence of the scarcity of water, the incessant
watch that had to be maintained over the vast
force of enemies without, and the great number of
prisoners within, and the wounds which almost every
soldier had received in the incessant skirmishes and
assaults, had worn grievously both flesh and spirit.
The noble Ponce de Leon, marques of Cadiz, still
animated the soldiery, however, by word and example,
sharing every hardship and being foremost in
every danger; exemplifying that a good commander
is the vital spirit of an army.

When Muley Aben Hassan heard of the vast force
that was approaching under the command of the
duke of Medina Sidonia, and that Ferdinand was
coming in person with additional troops, he perceived
that no time was to be lost: Alhama must be carried
by one powerful attack, or abandoned entirely
to the christians.

A number of Moorish cavaliers, some of the
bravest youth of Granada, knowing the wishes of

the king, proposed to undertake a desperate enterprise,
which, if successful, must put Alhama in his
power. Early one morning, when it was scarcely
the gray of the dawn, about the time of changing the
watch, these cavaliers approached the town, at a
place considered inaccessible, from the steepness of
the rocks on which the wall was founded; which, it
was supposed, elevated the battlements beyond the
reach of the longest scaling-ladder. The Moorish
knights, aided by a number of the strongest and most
active escaladors, mounted these rrocks, and applied
the ladders, without being discovered; for, to divert
attention from them, Muley Aben Hassan made a
false attack upon the town in another quarter.

The scaling party mounted with difficulty, and in
small numbers; the sentinel was killed at his post,
and seventy of the Moors made their way into the
streets before an alarm was given. The guards
rushed to the walls, to stop the hostile throng that
was still pouring in. A sharp conflict, hand to hand
and man to man, took place on the battlements, and
many on both sides fell. The Moors, whether
wounded or slain, were thrown headlong without
the walls; the scaling-ladders were overturned, and
those who were mounting were dashed upon the
rocks, and from thence tumbled upon the plain.
Thus, in a little while, the ramparts were cleared
by christian prowess, led on by that valiant knight
Don Alonzo Ponce, the uncle, and that brave esquire
Pedro Pineda, nephew of the marques of Cadiz.

The walls being cleared, these two kindred cava

liers now hastened with their forces in pursuit of the
seventy Moors who had gained an entrance into
the town. The main party of the garrison being engaged
at a distance resisting the feigned attack of the
Moorish king, this fierce band of infidels had ranged
the streets almost without opposition, and were
making their way to the gates to throw them open
to the army.[1] They were chosen men from among
the Moorish forces, several of them gallant knights
of the proudest families of Granada. Their footsteps
through the city were in a manner printed
in blood, and they were tracked by the bodies of
those they had killed and wounded. They had
attained the gate; most of the guard had fallen beneath
their scimitars; a moment more, and Alhama
would have been thrown open to the enemy.

Just at this juncture, Don Alonzo Ponce and Pedro
de Pineda reached the spot with their forces.
The Moors had the enemy in front and rear; they
placed themselves back to back, with their banner
in the centre. In this way they fought with desperate
and deadly determination, making a rampart
around them with the slain. More christian troops
arrived, and hemmed them in; but still they fought,
without asking for quarter. As their numbers decreased,
they serried their circle still closer, defending
their banner from assault; and the last Moor died at
his post, grasping the standard of the Prophet. This
standard was displayed from the walls, and the tur

baned heads of the Moors were thrown down to the
besiegers.[2]

Muley Aben Hassan tore his beard with rage at the
failure of this attempt, and at the death of so many
of his chosen cavaliers. He saw that all further
effort was in vain; his scouts brought word that they
had seen from the heights, the long columns and
flaunting banners of the christian army approaching
through the mountains. To linger, would be to place
himself between two bodies of the enemy. Breaking
up his camp, therefore, in all haste, he gave up
the siege of Alhama, and hastened back to Granada;
and the last clash of his cymbals scarce died upon
the ear from the distant hills, before the standard of
the duke of Sidonia was seen emerging in another
direction from the defiles of the mountains.

When the christians in Alhama beheld their enemies
retreating on one side and their friends advancing
on the other, they uttered shouts of joy and
hymns of thanksgiving, for it was as a sudden relief
from present death. Harassed by several weeks
of incessant vigil and fighting, suffering from scarcity
of provisions and almost continual thirst, they resembled
skeletons rather than living men. It was a
noble and gracious sight to behold the meeting of
those two ancient foes, the duke of Medina Sidonia
and the marques of Cadiz. When the marques beheld

his magnanimous deliverer approaching, he
melted into tears: all past animosities only gave the
greater poignancy to present feelings of gratitude and
admiration; they clasped each other in their arms,
and from that time forward were true and cordial
friends.

While this generous scene took place between the
commanders, a sordid contest arose among their
troops. The soldiers who had come to the rescue
claimed a portion of the spoils of Alhama; and so
violent was the dispute, that both parties seized their
arms. The duke of Medina Sidonia interfered, and
settled the question with his characteristic magnanimity.
He declared that the spoil belonged to those
who had captured the city. “We have taken the
field,” said he, “only for honor, for religion, and for
the rescue of our countrymen and fellow-christians;
and the success of our enterprise is a sufficient and
a glorious reward. If we desire booty, there are
sufficient Moorish cities yet to be taken, to enrich us
all.” The soldiers were convinced by the frank and
chivalrous reasoning of the duke; they replied to
his speech by acclamations, and the transient broil
was happily appeased.

The marchioness of Cadiz, with the forethought
of a loving wife, had dispatched her major domo
with the army, with a large supply of provisions.
Tables were immediately spread beneath the tents,
where the marques gave a banquet to the duke and
the cavaliers who had accompanied him, and nothing

but hilarity prevailed in this late scene of suffering
and death.

A garrison of fresh troops was left in Alhama; and
the veterans who had so valiantly captured and
maintained it, returned to their homes, burthened
with precious booty. The marques and duke, with
their confederate cavaliers, repaired to Antiquera,
where they were received with great distinction by
the king, who honored the marques of Cadiz with
signal marks of favor. The duke then accompanied
his late enemy, but now most zealous and grateful
friend, the marques of Cadiz, to his town of
Marchena, where he received the reward of his
generous conduct, in the thanks and blessings of the
marchioness. The marques celebrated a sumptuous
feast, in honor of his guest; for a day and night, his
palace was thrown open, and was the scene of continual
revel and festivity. When the duke departed
for his estates at St. Lucar, the marques attended
him for some distance on his journey; and when
they separated, it was as the parting scene of brothers.
Such was the noble spectacle exhibited to the chivalry
of Spain, by these two illustrious rivals. Each
reaped universal renown from the part he had performed
in the campaign; the marques, from having
surprised and captured one of the most important
and formidable fortresses of the kingdom of Granada;
and the duke, from having subdued his deadliest foe,
by a great act of magnanimity.