 | The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards |  |
1
Almanzor and Almahide,
Or, The CONQUEST OF Granada.
The First Part.
Boabdelin, Abenamar, Abdelmelech, Guards.Boab.
Thus, in the Triumphs of soft Peace I reign;
And, from my Walls, defy the Powr's of Spain:
With pomp and Sports my Love I celebrate,
While they keep distance; & attend my State.
[To Aben.
Parent to her whose eyes my Soul inthrall;
Whom I, in hope, already Father call;
Abenamar, thy Youth these sports has known,
Of which thy age is now Spectator grown:
Judge-like thou sitst, to praise, or to arraign
The flying skirmish of the darted Cane:
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And our bold Moors their Loves with danger grace,
Then, heat new bends thy slacken'd Nerves again,
And a short youth runs warm through every Vein.
Aben.
I must confess th'Encounters of this day
Warm'd me indeed, but quite another way:
Not with the fire of Youth; but gen'rous rage
To see the glories of my Youthful age
So far outdone.
Abdel.
Castile could never boast, in all its pride,
A pomp so splendid; when the lists set wide,
Gave room to the fierce Bulls, which wildly ran
In Sierra Ronda, 'ere the War began:
Who, with high Nostrils, Snuffing up the Wind,
Now stood, the Champions of the Salvage kind.
Just opposite, within the circled place,
Ten of our bold Abencerrages race
(Each brandishing his Bull-spear in his hand,)
Did their proud Ginnets gracefully command.
On their steel'd heads their demy-Lances wore
Small pennons, which their Ladies colours bore.
Before this Troop did Warlike Ozmyn goe;
Each Lady as he rode, saluting low;
At the chief stands, with reverence more profound,
His well-taught Courser, kneeling, touch'd the ground;
Thence rais'd, he sidelong bore his Rider on,
Still facing, till he out of sight was gone.
Boab.
You praise him like a friend, and I confess
His brave deportment merited no less.
Abdelm.
Nine Bulls were launch'd by his victorious arm,
Whose wary Ginnet, shunning still the harm,
Seem'd to attend the shock; and then leap'd wide:
Mean while, his dext'rous Rider, when he spy'd
The beast just stooping; 'twixt the neck and head
His Lance, with never erring fury, sped.
Aben.
My Son did well; and so did Hamet too;
Yet did no more then we were wont to do;
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Abdel.
He finish'd all those Triumphs we began.
One Bull, with curld black head beyond the rest,
And dew-laps hanging from his brawny chest,
With nodding front awhile did daring stand,
And with his jetty hoof spurn'd back the sand:
Then, leaping forth, he bellow'd out aloud:
Th'amaz'd assistants back each other crow'd,
While, Monach-like he rang'd the listed field:
Some toss'd, some goar'd, some, trampling down, he kill'd.
Th'ignobler Moors, from far, his rage provoke,
VVith woods of darts, which from his sides he shooke.
Mean time, your valiant Son who had before
Gain'd fame, rode round to every Mirador,
Beneath each Ladies stand, a stop he made;
And, bowing, took th'applauses, which they paid.
Just in that point of time, the brave unknown,
Approach'd the Lists.
Boab.
I mark'd him, when alone
(Observ'd by all, himself observing none)
He enter'd first; and with a graceful pride
His fiery Arab, dextrously did guide:
Who, while his Rider every stand survay'd,
Sprung loose, and flew, into an Escapade:
Not moving forward, yet, with every bound,
Pressing, and seeming still to quit his ground.
What after pass'd—
Was far from the Ventana where I sate,
[To Abdel.
But you were near; and can the truth relate.
Abdel.
Thus, while he stood, the Bull who saw this foe,
His easier Conquests proudly did forego:
And, making at him, with a furious bound,
From his bent forehead aim'd a double wound.
A rising Murmure, ran through all the field,
And every Ladies blood—with fear was chill'd.
Some schriek'd, while others, with more helpful care,
Cry'd out aloud, beware, brave youth, beware!
At this he turn'd, and, as the Bull drew near,
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The Lance broke short: the beast then bellow'd lowd,
And his strong neck to a new onset bow'd.
Th'undaunted youth—
Then drew; and from his Saddle bending low,
Just where the neck did to the shoulders grow,
With his full force discharg'd a deadly blow.
Not heads of Poppies, (when they reap the grain)
Fall with more ease before the lab'ring Swayn,
Then fell this head:—
It fell so quick, it did even death prevent:
And made imperfect bellowings as it went.
Then all the Trumpets Victory did sound:
And yet their clangors in our shouts were drown'd.
[A confus'd noise within.
Boab.
Th'Alarm-bell rings from our Alhambra walls,
And, from the Streets, sound Drums, and Ataballes.
[Within, a Bell, Drumms & Trumpets.
How now! from whence proceed these new alarms?
[To them a Messenger.
Mess.
The two fierce factions are again in arms:
And, changing into blood the dayes delight,
The Zegrys with the Abencerrages fight,
On each side their Allies and Friends appear;
The Maças here, the Alabezes there:
The Gazuls with the Bencerrages joyn,
And, with the Zegrys, all great Gomels line.
Boab.
Draw up behind the Vivarambla place;
Double my guards, these factions I will face;
And try if all the fury they can bring
Be proof against the presence of their King:
Exit Boabdelin.
The Factions appear; At the head of the Abencerrages, Ozmyn; at the head of the Zegrys, Zulema, Hamet, Gomel, and Selin: Abenamat and Abdelmelech joyned with the Abencerrages.
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The faint Abencerrages quit their ground:
Press 'em; put home your thrusts to every wound.
Abdelmelech.
Zegry, on manly force our Line relyes;
Thine, poorly takes th'advantage of surprize.
Unarm'd, and much outnumber'd we retreat
You gain no fame, when basely you defeat:
If thou art brave, seek nobler Victory;
Save Moorish blood; and, while our bands stand by,
Let two to two an equal combat try.
Hamet.
'Tis not for fear the Combat we refuse;
But we our gain'd advantage will not loose.
Zul.
In combating, but two of you will fall;
And we resolve we will dispatch you all.
Ozmyn.
Wee'l double yet th'exchange before we dye;
And each of ours two lives of yours shall buy.
Almanzor enter's betwixt them, as they stand ready to engage.
Almanz.
I cannot stay to ask which cause is best;
But this is so to me because opprest.
[Goes to the Abencerrages.
To them Boabdelin and his Guards going betwixt them.
Boab.
On your Allegiance, I command you stay;
Who passes here, through me must make his way.
My life's the Isthmos; through this narrow line
You first must cut, before those Sea's can joyn.
What fury, Zegrys, has possest your minds,
What rage the brave Abencerrages blinds?
If, of your Courage you new proofs wou'd show,
Without much travel you may find a foe.
Those foes are neither so remote nor few,
That you shou'd need each other to pursue.
Lean times, and foreign Warrs should minds unite,
When poor, men mutter, but they seldome fight.
O holy Alha, that I live to see
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You fight the Christians battels; every life
You lavish thus, in this intestine strife,
Does from our weak foundations, take one prop
Which helpt to hold our sinking Country up.
Ozmyn.
'Tis fit our private Enmity should cease;
Though injur'd first, yet I will first seek peace.
Zulem.
No, Murd'rer, no; I never will be won
To peace with him whose hand has slain my Son.
Ozmyn.
Our Prophets curse—
On me, and all th'Abencerrages light
If unprovok'd I with your Son did fight.
Abdelmel.
A band of Zegry's ran within the Place,
Match'd with a Troop of thirty of our race.
Your Son and Ozmyn the first squadrons led,
Which, ten by ten, like Parthyans, charg'd and fled.
The Ground was strow'd with Canes, where we did meet,
Which crackled underneath our Coursers feet.
When Tarifa, (I saw him ride apart)
Chang'd his blunt Cane for a steel pointed Dart,
And meeting Ozmyn next,
Who wanted time for Treason to provide,
He, basely, threw it at him, undefy'd:
[Ozmyn showing his arm.
Witness this blood—which, when by Treason sought,
That follow'd, Sir, which to my self I ought.
Zulema.
His hate to thee was grounded on a grudge
Which all our generous Zegrys just did judge;
Thy villain blood thou openly didst place
Above the purple of our Kingly race.
Boabd.
From equal Stems their blood both houses draw,
They from Marocco, you from Cordova.
Hamet.
Their mungril race is mixt with Christian breed,
Hence 'tis that they those Dogs in prisons feed.
Abdel.
Our holy Prophet wills, that Charity
Shoud, ev'n to birds and beasts extended be:
None knows what fate is for himself design'd;
The thought of humane Chance should make us kind.
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We waste that time we to revenge shou'd give:
Fall on; let no Abencerrago live.
[Advancing before the rest of his Party.
Almanzor
, advancing on the other side; and describing a line with his sword.
Upon thy life pass not this middle space;
Sure Death stands guarding the forbidden place.
Gomel.
To dare that death, I will approach yet nigher.
Thus, wer't thou compass'd in with circling fire.
[They fight.
Boab.
Disarm 'em both; if they resist you, kill.
Almanzor, in the midst of the Guards kills Gomel, and then is disarmed.
Almanz.
Now, you have but the Leavings of my will.
Boab.
Kill him; this insolent Unknown shall fall,
And be the Victime to attone you all.
Ozmyn.
If he must die, not one of us will live,
That life he gave for us, for him we give.
Boab.
It was a Traytors voice that spoke those words;
So are you all, who do not sheath your swords.
Zulema.
Outrage unpunish'd when a Prince is by,
Forfeits to scorn the rights of Majesty:
No Subject his Protection can expect
Who, what he ows himself, does first neglect.
Abenamar.
This stranger, Sir is he,
Who lately in the Vivarambla place
Did, with so loud applause, your Triumphs grace.
Boab.
The word which I have giv'n, Ile not revoke;
If he be brave he's ready for the stroke.
Almanz.
No man has more contempt than I, of breath;
But whence hast thou the right to give me death?
Obey'd as Soveraign by thy Subjects be,
But know, that I alone am King of me.
I am as free as Nature first made man
'Ere the base Laws of Servitude began
When wild in woods the noble Savage ran.
Boab.
Since, then, no pow'r above your own you know,
Mankind shou'd use you like a common foe,
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By your own law, I take your life away.
Almanz.
My laws are made but only for my sake,
No King against himself a Law can make.
If thou pretendst to be a Prince like me,
Blame not an Act which should thy Pattern be.
I saw th'opprest, and thought it did belong
To a King's office to redress the wrong:
I brought that Succour which thou oughtst to bring,
And so, in Nature, am thy Subjects King.
Boab.
I do not want your Councel to direct,
Or aid to help me punish or protect.
Almanz.
Thou wantst 'em both, or better thou wouldst know
Then to let Factions in thy Kingdom grow.
Divided int'rests while thou thinkst to sway,
Draw like two brooks thy middle stream away.
For though they band, and jar, yet both combine
To make their greatness by the fall of thine.
Thus, like a buckler, thou art held in sight,
While they, behind thee, with each other fight.
Boab.
Away; and execute him instantly.
[To his Guards.
Almanz.
Stand off; I have not leisure yet to dye.
To them Abdalla hastily.
Abdella.
Hold, Sir, for Heav'n sake hold.
Defer this noble Strangers punishment,
Or your rash orders you will soon repent.
Boab.
Brother, you know not yet his insolence.
Abdal.
Upon yourself you punish his offence:
If we treat gallant Strangers in this sort,
Mankind will shun th'inhospitable Court.
And who, henceforth, to our defence will come,
If death must be the brave Almanzors doom?
From Africa I drew him to your ayd;
And for his succour have his life betray'd.
Boab.
Is this th'Almanzor whom at Fez you knew,
When first their swords the Xeriff Brothers drew?
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This, Sir, is he who for the Elder fought,
And to the juster cause the Conquest brought:
Till the proud Santo, seated in the Throne,
Disdain'd the service he had done, to own:
Then, to the vanquish'd part, his fate he led;
The vanquish'd triumph'd, and the Victor fled;
Vast is his Courage; boundless is his mind,
Rough as a storm, and humorous as wind;
Honour's the onely Idol of his Eyes:
The charms of Beauty like a pest he flies:
And, rais'd by Valour, from a birth unknwn,
Acknowledges no pow'r above his own.
Boabdelin
coming to Almanzor.
Impute your danger to our ignorance;
The bravest men are subject most to chance:
Granada much does to your kindness owe:
But Towns, expecting Sieges, cannot show
More honour, then t'invite you to a foe.
Almanzor.
I do not doubt but I have been too blame:
But, to pursue the end for which I came,
Unite your Subjects first; then let us goe,
And poure their common rage upon the foe.
Boab.
to the Factions.
Lay down your Arms; and let me beg you cease
Your Enmities.
Zulema.
We will not hear of peace,
Till we by force have first reveng'd our slain:
Abdel.
The Action we have done we will maintain:
Selin.
Then let the King depart, and we will try
Our cause by armes:
Zul.
For us and Victory.
Boab.
A King intreats you.
Almanz.
What Subjects will precarious Kings regard:
A Begger speaks too softly to be heard:
Lay down your Armes; 'tis I command you now.
Do it—or by our Prophets soul I vow,
My hands shall right your King on him I seize.
Now, let me see whose look but disobeys.
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Long live King Mahomet Boabdelin:
Alman.
No more; bu husht'd as midnight silence go:
He will not have your Acclamations now,
Hence you unthinking Crowd—
The common people go off on both parties.
Empire, thou poor and despicable thing,
When such as these unmake, or make a King!
Abdalla.
How much of vertue lies in one great Soul
[embracing him.
Whose single force can multitudes controll!
A trumpet within.
Enter a Messenger.
Messen.
The Duke of Arcos, Sir,—
Does with a trumpet from the Foe appear.
Boab.
Attend him, he shall have his Audience here.
Enter the Duke of Arcos.
Arcos.
The Monarchs of Castile and Arragon
Have sent me to you, to demand this Town:
To which their just, and rightful claim is known.
Boab.
Tell Ferdinand my right to it appears
By long possession of eight hundred years.
When first my Ancestors from Affrique sail'd,
In Rodriques death your Gothique title fail'd.
Arcos.
The Successours of Rodrique still remain;
And ever since have held some part of Spain.
Ev'n in the midst of your victorious pow'rs
Th'Asturia's, and all Portugal were ours.
You have no right, except you force allow;
And if yours then was just, so ours is now.
Boab.
'Tis true; from force the noblest title springs;
I therefore hold from that, which first made Kings.
Arcos.
Since then by force you prove your title true,
Ours must be just; because we claim from you.
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Invading with your Moores the South of Spain,
I, who that day the Christians did command,
Then took; and brought you bound to Ferdinand.
Boab.
Ile hear no more; defer what you would say:
In private wee'l discourse some other day.
Arcos.
Sir, you shall hear, however you are loath,
That, like a perjur'd Prince, you broke your oath.
To gain your freedom you a Contract sign'd,
By which your Crown you to my King resign'd.
From thenceforth as his Vassail holding it,
And paying tribute, such as he thought fit:
Contracting, when your Father came to dye,
To lay aside all marks of Royalty:
And at Purchena privately to live;
Which, in exchange, King Ferdinand did give.
Boab.
The force us'd on me, made that Contract voyd:
Arcos.
Whey have you then its benefits enjoy'd?
By it you had not only freedome then,
But since had ayd of mony and of men.
And, when Granada for your Uncle held,
You were by us restor'd, and he expel'd.
Since that, in peace we let you reap your grain,
Recall'd our Troops that us'd to beat your Plain,
And more—
Almanz.
Yes, yes, you did with wondrous care
Against his Rebels prosecute the war,
While he secure in your protection, slept,
For him you took, but for your selves you kept.
Thus, as some fawning usurer does feed
With present summs th'unwary Unthrifts need;
You sold your kindness at a boundless rate,
And then orepaid the debt from his Estate:
Which, mouldring piecemeal, in you hands did fall;
Till now at last you came to swoop it all.
Arcos.
The wrong you do my King I cannot bear;
Whose kindness you would odiously compare.
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He's now content in his own wrong to buy.
Almanz.
And he shall buy it dear what his he calls:
We will not give one stone from out these Walls.
Boab.
Take this for answer, then—
What 'ere your arms have conquer'd of my land
I will, for peace, resign to Ferdinand:
To harder terms my mind I cannot bring;
But as I still have liv'd, will dye a King.
Arcos.
Since thus you have resolv'd, henceforth prepare
For all the last extremities of war:
My King his hope from heavens assistance draws:
Almanz.
The Moors have Heav'n and me t'assist their cause.
Exit Arcos.
Enter Esperanza.
Esper.
Fair Almahide.
(Who did with weeping eyes these discords see,
And fears the omen may unlucky be:)
Prepares a Zambra to be danc'd this Night,
In hope soft pleasures may your minds unite.
Boab.
My Mistris gently chides the fault I made:
But tedious business has my love delay'd;
Business, which dares the joyes of Kings invade.
Almanz.
First let us sally out, and meet the foe:
Abdalla.
Led on by you we to Triumph goe.
Boab.
Then, with the day let war and tumult cease:
The night be sacred to our love and peace:
'Tis just some joyes on weary Kings shoul waite;
'Tis all we gain by being slaves of State.
Exeunt omnes.
| The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards | |