|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 53
"The army moved towards the hamlet of Zubia, built on the skirts of
the mountain to the left of Granada, and commanding a view of the
Alhambra, and the most beautiful quarter of the city. As they
approached the hamlet, the Marques of Villena, the Count Ure�a, and
Don Alonzo de Aguilar filed off with their battalions, and were
soon seen glittering along the side of the mountain above the
village. In the mean time the Marques of Cadiz, the Count de
Tendilla, the Count de Cabra, and Don Alonzo Fernandez, senior of
Alcaudrete and Montemayor, drew up their forces in battle array on
the plain below the hamlet, presenting a living barrier of loyal
chivalry between the sovereigns and the city.
"Thus securely guarded, the royal party alighted, and, entering one
of the houses of the hamlet, which had been prepared for their
reception, enjoyed a full view of the city from its terraced roof.
The ladies of the court gazed with delight at the red towers of the
Alhambra, rising from amid shady groves, anticipating the time when
the Catholic sovereigns should be enthroned within its walls, and
its courts shine with the splendor of Spanish chivalry. 'The
reverend prelates and holy friars, who always surrounded the queen,
looked with serene satisfaction,' says Fray Antonio Agapida, 'at
this modern Babylon, enjoying the triumph that awaited them, when
those mosques and minarets should be converted into churches, and
goodly priests and bishops should succeed to the infidel alfaquis.'
"When the Moors beheld the Christians thus drawn forth in full
array in the plain, they supposed it was to offer battle, and
hesitated not to accept it. In a little while the queen beheld a
body of Moorish cavalry pouring into the vega, the riders managing
their fleet and fiery steeds with admirable address. They were
richly armed, and clothed in the most brilliant colors, and the
caparisons of their steeds flamed with gold and embroidery. This
was the favorite squadron of Muza, composed of the flower of the
youthful cavaliers of Granada. Others succeeded, some heavily
armed, others _� la gineta_, with lance and buckler; and lastly
came the legions of foot-soldiers, with arquebus and cross-bow, and
spear and scimiter.
"When the queen saw this army issuing from the city, she sent to
the Marques of Cadiz, and forbade any attack upon the enemy, or the
acceptance of any challenge to a skirmish; for she was loth that
her curiosity should cost the life of a single human being.
"The marques promised to obey, though sorely against his will; and
it grieved the spirit of the Spanish cavaliers to be obliged to
remain with sheathed swords while bearded by the foe. The Moors
could not comprehend the meaning of this inaction of the
Christians, after having apparently invited a battle. They sallied
several times from their ranks, and approached near enough to
discharge their arrows; but the Christians were immovable. Many of
the Moorish horsemen galloped close to the Christian ranks,
brandishing their lances and scimiters, and defying various
cavaliers to single combat; but Ferdinand had rigorously prohibited
all duels of this kind, and they dared not transgress his orders
under his very eye.
"Here, however, the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, in his enthusiasm
for the triumphs of the faith, records the following incident,
which we fear is not sustained by any grave chronicler of the
times, but rests merely on tradition, or the authority of certain
poets and dramatic writers, who have perpetuated the tradition in
their works. While this grim and reluctant tranquillity prevailed
along the Christian line, says Agapida, there rose a mingled shout
and sound of laughter near the gate of the city. A Moorish
horseman, armed at all points, issued forth, followed by a rabble,
who drew back as he approached the scene of danger. The Moor was
more robust and brawny than was common with his countrymen. His
visor was closed; he bore a huge buckler and a ponderous lance; his
scimiter was of a Damascus blade, and his richly ornamented dagger
was wrought by an artificer of Fez. He was known by his device to
be Tarfe, the most insolent, yet valiant, of the Moslem
warriors--the same who had hurled into the royal camp his lance,
inscribed to the queen. As he rode slowly along in front of the
army, his very steed, prancing with fiery eye and distended
nostril, seemed to breathe defiance to the Christians.
"But what were the feelings of the Spanish cavaliers when they
beheld, tied to the tail of his steed, and dragged in the dust, the
very inscription, 'AVE MARIA,' which Hernan Perez del Pulgar had
affixed to the door of the mosque! A burst of horror and
indignation broke forth from the army. Hernan was not at hand to
maintain his previous achievement; but one of his young companions
in arms, Garcilasso de la Vega by name, putting spurs to his horse,
galloped to the hamlet of Zubia, threw himself on his knees before
the king, and besought permission to accept the defiance of this
insolent infidel, and to revenge the insult offered to our Blessed
Lady. The request was too pious to be refused. Garcilasso remounted
his steed, closed his helmet, graced by four sable plumes, grasped
his buckler of Flemish workmanship, and his lance of matchless
temper, and defied the haughty Moor in the midst of his career. A
combat took place in view of the two armies and of the Castilian
court. The Moor was powerful in wielding his weapons, and
dexterous in managing his steed. He was of larger frame than
Garcilasso, and more completely armed, and the Christians trembled
for their champion. The shock of their encounter was dreadful;
their lances were shivered and sent up splinters in the air.
Garcilasso was thrown back in his saddle--his horse made a wide
career before he could recover, gather up the reins, and return to
the conflict. They now encountered each other with swords. The Moor
circled round his opponent, as a hawk circles when about to make a
swoop; his steed obeyed his rider with matchless quickness; at
every attack of the infidel, it seemed as if the Christian knight
must sink beneath his flashing scimiter. But if Garcilasso was
inferior to him in power, he was superior in agility; many of his
blows he parried; others he received upon his Flemish shield, which
was proof against the Damascus blade. The blood streamed from
numerous wounds received by either warrior. The Moor, seeing his
antagonist exhausted, availed himself of his superior force, and,
grappling, endeavored to wrest him from his saddle. They both fell
to earth; the Moor placed his knee upon the breast of his victim,
and, brandishing his dagger, aimed a blow at his throat. A cry of
despair was uttered by the Christian warriors, when suddenly they
beheld the Moor rolling lifeless in the dust. Garcilasso had
shortened his sword, and, as his adversary raised his arm to
strike, had pierced him to the heart. 'It was a singular and
miraculous victory,' says Fray Antonio Agapida; 'but the Christian
knight was armed by the sacred nature of his cause, and the Holy
Virgin gave him strength, like another David, to slay this gigantic
champion of the Gentiles.'
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|