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 learned, 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, oh 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 valour 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 albaycen, 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 albaycen.
