CHAPTER XII.
The intent, and not the deed, Is in our power; and therefore, who dares greatly Does greatly.
_Browne's Barbarossa._
E ben degg'io, di libertade amico, Meno la morte odiar di quella vita, Che ricever dovrei dal mio nemico.
_Metastasio._
We must now recall the reader's attention to that portion of the historyof the rebellious Moors, which is in some measure connected with ourtale. The forty chiefs, who had been elected in the revolt of theAlbaycin, succeeded, as we have already seen, in disseminating theirsentiments through many towns and villages in the jurisdiction of theAlpujarras: their efforts, however, were almost invariably unsuccessful.In most of their encounters, the Moors were either entirely worsted, orcompelled to seek for safety in flight; yet they persevered in theirdesigns. Defeats and repeated crosses, instead of subduing, tended onlyto increase their courage, by adding to the desire of vengeance.
The rebels had already sustained some severe reverses; amongst which themost prominent was the loss of the town of Guejar, which, after aprotracted and desperate resistance, had been taken by storm by thecombined forces of Count de Tendilla and the famous Gonzalo de Cordova.Most of the Moors either perished in the defence, or were put to thesword by the conquerors; whilst the Castle itself was given up to theflames.
The Count de Lerin next possessed himself of the fortress and town ofAndarax; and, exasperated at the resistance of the inhabitants, whocontinued to protract the defence, although without any chance ofsuccess, he at length blew up the Mosque, where a considerable numberhad fled for shelter, along with the women and children.
Thus of the three strong holds of the rebels, Lanjaron was the only onethat now remained unconquered, and this indeed appeared to offer a moreformidable resistance, chiefly on account of the garrison having elNegro for a leader--a man of mean origin, but extraordinary courage andresolution. These qualities, together with the services which he hadalready rendered to the Moorish cause in the wars of Granada, hadacquired for him the confidence of his countrymen, who had accordinglyintrusted him with the command of this important post. He was a man ofsevere habits, with a natural ferocity of character, which, although notcalculated to conciliate, nevertheless succeeded in commanding therespect and obedience of his troops.
The castle of Lanjaron, situated in the vale of Lecrin, was considered apost of the utmost consequence, not only from the strength of itsdefences, but from the circumstance of being a place of secure retreatto the Moors of the surrounding country. At this moment the fortresswas closely beleaguered by the troops under the command of the Alcaydede los Donceles and other chiefs, who deprived the rebels of thesmallest communication with their friends of the mountains, and had thusreduced them to an utter state of destitution.
Under these distressing circumstances, el Negro assembled his men, andin a short but animated speech endeavoured to make them sensible of theimportance of keeping possession of Lanjaron, till the other leaders hadgained time to organise their means of defence in the Alpujarras. Thewords of el Negro were received with a burst of enthusiasm, and for sometime the Moors vied with each other in giving the most heroic proofs ofcourage and perseverance. As the fortress, however, was completelysurrounded, and the means of subsistence began to fail them, as a lasthope, they made a desperate sally during the night, but were driven backwith considerable loss. The failure of this attempt damped theirresolution, and some of the less courageous even murmured against anexploit beset with difficulties, which it appeared next to animpossibility to surmount.
El Negro beheld these symptoms of discontent with heartfelt sorrow, butat the same time with a countenance expressive of coolness and undauntedfortitude. He exerted his utmost endeavour to quell the rising storm,soothing some with pleasing hopes and promises, and thundering horriblethreats on the most refractory. The following morning three grislyheads, dripping blood, appeared affixed to poles upon the battlements;but this salutary punishment did not produce the expected effect, forthough it appalled the discontented, it inspired not a single spark ofvalour in their hearts; whilst the Christians, who beheld the ghastlyspectacle, augured favorably from this bloody proof of disaffection.
The numbers of the besieged were daily decreasing, until at length theycame to an open resolution of surrendering at discretion. The principalmen of the garrison, without the knowledge of their chief, had alreadysent privately a messenger into the camp of the Spaniards to treat aboutthe surrender, and the conspirators had assembled in a clandestinemeeting, when el Negro, whom they supposed to be reposing from hisfatigue, suddenly came, and threw them into consternation.
"Traitors! what means this?" he cried, with a voice of thunder; "whatare your intents?"
"To capitulate," answered one more hardy than the rest, "and save ourlives by a timely submission."
"Villain!" exclaimed el Negro, fiercely, "thou at least shall not enjoythe reward of thy cowardice!" And raising his arm, with a ponderous blowof his scymitar, he cleaved the head of the traitor down to the veryshoulder, and the body rolled heavily on the ground. His companionsstood aghast in speechless horror, whilst el Negro, his lips curlingwith ire, and casting around a glance of defiance and contempt--"Go," heexclaimed, "go, unworthy Moors, and abandon a cause which you have notthe courage to sustain. Go, and live like slaves, since ye know not howto die like men. Senseless, pitiful cowards! Was it for this then thatyou forced me to be your leader? Was it for this that I abandonedGranada, leaving there, at the mercy of the Christians, all my dearestfriends, and severing the tenderest ties that bind man to existence? Go,and accept the proffered pardon. I will remain alone, to shew ourcountrymen of the Alpujarras, that at Lanjaron there was at least _one_true man--one who knew how to die in the execution of his duty."
He said, and snatching the sacred standard, ascended rapidly to thesummit of the battlements, and placed himself by the three heads, which,from their exposure to the sun and wind, had already begun to decay, andpresented a most ghastly and loathsome spectacle. The revolted garrisonthrew open the gates of the castle to their enemies, whilst el Negro,abandoned by all his companions, continued gloomily pacing thebattlements. The Christians, respecting his resolute conduct, andwilling to save his life, sent a herald to invite him once more tosurrender, declaring he had done his duty, and death alone would be theconsequence of his further resistance. He received the message with asneer, in which contempt was blended with sadness and despair; thentaking the presented _adarga_,[24] the acceptation of which was asignification of peace, he threw it disdainfully on the ground, andtrampled it under his feet.
"Carry this answer to him who sent thee!" and folding his arms, heresumed his melancholy walk.
The Christians now took possession of the castle, and el Negrotranquilly beheld their approach. El Alcayde de los Donceles, willing tomake a last effort to save him, cried out as he advanced--"Yield thee,Moor--yield--and accept thy pardon."
"Never!" exclaimed fiercely el Negro; "the Moor will accept no boon fromhis enemies. Death is now my only resource; but, Christians, do notrejoice; I have been subdued by treachery, not by arms. Do not rejoice,for our resources are still great, and while el Feri de Benastepar andCaneri live, your oppression shall not be complete."
He said, and with a sudden spring he hurled himself from the summit ofthe tower. His body falling on a rock below, was dashed to pieces.
The surrender of Lanjaron, and the tragical end of el Negro, were anirretrievable loss to the Moors. They now found it utterly impossible tooppose the superior and better disciplined troops of the Christians withany chance of success, either in open battle or in regular sieges. Theytherefore resolved to limit their whole means of defence to themountains, a description of warfare more suitable to their wanderinghabits, and far better calculated to harrass the enemy, withoutsustaining risk. Accordingly, el Feri de Benastepar, Andalla, Caneri,and other chiefs, collected their
forces, and assigned to each other aportion of those mountains which they were at once to govern and defend.By this means the Christians were likewise obliged to divide their armyinto many divisions, and to encounter the rebels in partial struggles.Don Alonso de Aguilar, who had succeeded in compelling el Feri toretreat before him, now pursued his advantage, and advanced towardsGergal, where that rebel chief was collecting his adherents.
In the mean time, Don Antonio de Leyva, whom we have left at Guadix,condoling with Don Manuel at the flight of his daughter, was compelledto forego his wishes to serve the afflicted father. His duty now calledhim to join the army of Aguilar, and act in conjunction with him againstCaneri and el Feri de Benastepar.
Don Antonio's party had already arrived at Guadix, and the gallant youngknight, unwilling to procrastinate his departure when the path of honorwas open to him, immediately proceeded to take leave of Monteblanco. Hefound the unfortunate father plunged in deeper affliction than before.In the society of Don Antonio he had found a source of relief, and hisdeparture was productive of the most melancholy sensations. But DonManuel felt the necessity of the separation, and he was too generous andnoble minded to signify his wish to cause any delay.
"Go, my friend, go, where honor calls you," he said, as he threw hisarms round de Leyva's neck--"Go, and show by your conduct how worthy youare of the confidence reposed in you.--When the glory of your deedsshall be blazoned abroad, my ungrateful child will feel a pang of regretfor the loss of a man so deserving of her affection and esteem."
Here he was overcome with grief, and could proceed no further.
"Senor," said Don Antonio, "do not yield yourself a prey to despondency;but a short time has yet elapsed since the melancholy occurrence thatafflicts you, and you have no reason to relinquish your hopes. In allcases be assured, Don Manuel, that you and those who concern you willalways be next my heart, and that unless death deprive me of the power,I shall at least see your wrongs redressed, if I can bring no otherconsolation."
Saying this he hastily disengaged himself from the arms of Don Manuel,and endeavouring to conceal his own emotion, gave the word of command.He bounded lightly on his spirited barb, and the martial display of hismen, the glitter of armour, and the seductive prospect of future gloryand renown, powerfully contributed to dispel the cloud that hung overhim. Yet it was a sad parting, for there was something peculiarlyaffecting in the sight of a father who, like Monteblanco, found himselfin old age isolated in the midst of the world, and bereft of the lastdear comfort that still bound him to life. Besides, in the shortinterviews between Theodora and Don Antonio, both in the last visit andat former periods, she had left a pleasing recollection in his mind.Already the cries of those who bade the party of de Leyva farewell werediminishing on the ear, and the turrets and steeples of Guadix becamemore obscurely perceptible in the distance. The warriors began now toassume a mastery over their feelings, and the tear of sympathy wasbrightened in the glow of expectation. Courage and renown took entirepossession of those hearts which but too lately had sympathized with theweaker and more tender sentiments of humanity.
The absence of Don Antonio was like a death-blow to the hopes ofMonteblanco. Often did he regret the infirmities of age, which nowprevented him from grasping his sword; but his arm was grown nerveless,and for the first time in his life the helpless cavalier felt bitterlythe recollection that all his brave sons had sacrificed their lives inthe defence of their country, not one now remaining to prop the honor ofhis falling house. Don Manuel was a man, and this transitory feeling ofregret was natural to a father under his affliction, who knew not towhom to turn for consolation and advice.
Gomez Arias, who had insensibly won his favor, departed the next dayfor Granada, in which quarter he had no longer any danger to apprehend.He was anxious to assume his station in the war against the rebel Moors.Monteblanco considered his intention not only just, but highlycommendable, and a tear coursed down the old man's cheek, as he tookleave of the seducer of his child, and the cause of his presentmisfortunes.