18. CHAPTER XVIII.
How Muley Aben Hassan profited by the misfortunes of
his son Boabdil.
An unfortunate death atones, with the world, for
a multitude of errors. While the populace thought
their youthful monarch had perished in the field,
nothing could exceed their grief for his loss, and
their adoration of his memory: when, however, they
learnt that he was still alive, and had surrendered
himself captive to the christians, their feelings underwent
an instant change. They decried his talents
as a commander, his courage as a soldier; they railed
at his expedition, as rash and ill conducted; and they
reviled him for not having dared to die on the field
of battle, rather than surrender to the enemy.
The alfaquis, as usual, mingled with the populace,
and artfully guided their discontents. “Behold,”
exclaimed they, “the prediction is accomplished,
which was pronounced at the birth of Boabdil. He
has been seated on the throne, and the kingdom has
suffered downfall and disgrace by his defeat and captivity.
Comfort yourselves, O Moslems! The evil
day has passed by; the fates are satisfied: the sceptre
which has been broken in the feeble hand of Boabdil,
is destined to resume its former power and sway in
the vigorous grasp of Aben Hassan.”
The people were struck with the wisdom of these
words: they rejoiced that the baleful prediction,
which had so long hung over them, was at an end;
and declared, that none but Muley Aben Hassan had
the valor and capacity necessary for the protection
of the kingdom, in this time of trouble.
The longer the captivity of Boabdil continued, the
greater grew the popularity of his father. One city
after another renewed allegiance to him; for power
attracts power, and fortune creates fortune. At
length he was enabled to return to Granada, and
establish himself once more in the Alhambra. At
his approach, his repudiated spouse, the sultana
Ayxa, gathered together the family and treasures of
her captive son, and retired, with a handful of the
nobles, into the Albaycin, the rival quarter of the
city, the inhabitants of which still retained feelings
of loyalty to Boabdil. Here she fortified herself, and
held the semblance of a court in the name of her
son. The fierce Muley Aben Hassan would have
willingly carried fire and sword into this factious
quarter of the capital; but he dared not confide in
his new and uncertain popularity. Many of the
nobles detested him for his past cruelty; and a large
portion of the soldiery, beside many of the people of
his own party, respected the virtues of Ayxa la Horra,
and pitied the misfortunes of Boabdil.
Granada therefore presented the singular spectacle
of two sovereignties within the same city. The old
king fortified himself in the lofty towers of the Alhambra,
as much against his own subjects as against
the christians; while Ayxa, with the zeal of a mother's
affection, which waxes warmer and warmer
towards her offspring when in adversity, still maintained
the standard of Boabdil on the rival fortress
of the Alcazaba, and kept his powerful faction alive
within the walls of the Albaycin.
