Leila or, the Siege of Granada, Complete Page 7

  CHAPTER I. THE ROYAL TENT OF SPAIN.--THE KING AND THE DOMINICAN--THE VISITOR ANDTHE HOSTAGE.

  Our narrative now summons us to the Christian army, and to the tentin which the Spanish king held nocturnal counsel with some of his moreconfidential warriors and advisers. Ferdinand had taken the field withall the pomp and circumstance of a tournament rather than of a campaign;and his pavilion literally blazed with purple and cloth of gold.

  The king sat at the head of a table on which were scattered maps andpapers; nor in countenance and mien did that great and politic monarchseem unworthy of the brilliant chivalry by which he was surrounded. Hisblack hair, richly perfumed and anointed, fell in long locks on eitherside of a high imperial brow, upon whose calm, though not unfurrowedsurface, the physiognomist would in vain have sought to read theinscrutable heart of kings. His features were regular and majestic: andhis mantle, clasped with a single jewel of rare price and lustre, andwrought at the breast with a silver cross, waved over a vigorous andmanly frame, which derived from the composed and tranquil dignity ofhabitual command that imposing effect which many of the renownedknights and heroes in his presence took from loftier stature and amplerproportions. At his right hand sat Prince Juan, his son, in the firstbloom of youth; at his left, the celebrated Rodrigo Ponce de Leon,Marquess of Cadiz; along the table, in the order of their military rank,were seen the splendid Duke of Medina Sidonia, equally noble in aspectand in name; the worn and thoughtful countenance of the Marquess deVillena (the Bayard of Spain); the melancholy brow of the heroic Alonzode Aguilar; and the gigantic frame, the animated features, and sparklingeyes, of that fiery Hernando del Pulgar, surnamed "the knight of theexploits."

  "You see, senores," said the king, continuing an address, to which hischiefs seemed to listen with reverential attention, "our best hope ofspeedily gaining the city is rather in the dissensions of the Moorsthan our own sacred arms. The walls are strong, the population stillnumerous; and under Muza Ben Abil Gazan, the tactics of the hostile armyare, it must be owned, administered with such skill as to threaten veryformidable delays to the period of our conquest. Avoiding the hazardof a fixed battle, the infidel cavalry harass our camp by perpetualskirmishes; and in the mountain defiles our detachments cannot cope withtheir light horse and treacherous ambuscades. It is true, that bydint of time, by the complete devastation of the Vega, and by vigilantprevention of convoys from the seatowns, we might starve the city intoyielding. But, alas! my lords, our enemies are scattered and numerous,and Granada is not the only place before which the standard of Spainshould be unfurled. Thus situated, the lion does not disdain to servehimself of the fox; and, fortunately, we have now in Granada an allythat fights for us. I have actual knowledge of all that passes withinthe Alhambra: the king yet remains in his palace, irresolute anddreaming; and I trust that an intrigue by which his jealousies arearoused against his general, Muza, may end either in the loss of thatable leader, or in the commotion of open rebellion or civil war. Treasonwithin Granada will open its gates to us."

  "Sire," said Ponce de Leon, after a pause, "under your counsels, I nomore doubt of seeing our banner float above the Vermilion Towers, than Idoubt the rising of the sun over yonder hills; it matters little whetherwe win by stratagem or force. But I need not say to your highness, thatwe should carefully beware lest we be amused by inventions of the enemy,and trust to conspiracies which may be but lying tales to blunt oursabres, and paralyse our action."

  "Bravely spoken, wise de Leon!" exclaimed Hernando del Pulgar, hotly:"and against these infidels, aided by the cunning of the Evil One,methinks our best wisdom lies in the sword-arm. Well says our oldCastilian proverb:

  'Curse them devoutly, Hammer them stoutly.'"

  The king smiled slightly at the ardour of the favourite of his army, butlooked round for more deliberate counsel. "Sire," said Villena, "far beit from us to inquire the grounds upon which your majesty buildsyour hope of dissension among the foe; but, placing the most sanguineconfidence in a wisdom never to be deceived, it is clear that we shouldrelax no energy within our means, but fight while we plot, and seek toconquer, while we do not neglect to undermine."

  "You speak well, my Lord," said Ferdinand, thoughtfully; "and youyourself shall head a strong detachment to-morrow, to lay wastethe Vega. Seek me two hours hence; the council for the present isdissolved."

  The knights rose, and withdrew with the usual grave and statelyceremonies of respect, which Ferdinand observed to, and exacted from,his court: the young prince remained.

  "Son," said Ferdinand, when they were alone, "early and betimes shouldthe Infants of Spain be lessoned in the science of kingcraft. Thesenobles are among the brightest jewels of the crown; but still it isin the crown, and for the crown, that their light should sparkle.Thou seest how hot, and fierce, and warlike, are the chiefs ofSpain--excellent virtues when manifested against our foes: but had we nofoes, Juan, such virtues might cause us exceeding trouble. By St.Jago, I have founded a mighty monarchy! observe how it should bemaintained--by science, Juan, by science! and science is as far removedfrom brute force as this sword from a crowbar. Thou seemest bewilderedand amazed, my son: thou hast heard that I seek to conquer Granada bydissensions among the Moors; when Granada is conquered, remember thatthe nobles themselves are at Granada. Ave Maria! blessed be the HolyMother, under whose eyes are the hearts of kings!" Ferdinand crossedhimself devoutly; and then, rising, drew aside a part of the draperyof the pavilion, and called; in a low voice, the name of Perez. A graveSpaniard, somewhat past the verge of middle age, appeared.

  "Perez," said the king, reseating himself, "has the person we expectedfrom Granada yet arrived?"

  "Sire, yes; accompanied by a maiden."

  "He hath kept his word; admit them. Ha! holy father, thy visits arealways as balsam to the heart."

  "Save you, my son!" returned a man in the robes of a Dominican friar,who had entered suddenly and without ceremony by another part of thetent, and who now seated himself with smileless composure at a littledistance from the king.

  There was a dead silence for some moments; and Perez still lingeredwithin the tent, as if in doubt whether the entrance of the friar wouldnot prevent or delay obedience to the king's command. On the calmface of Ferdinand himself appeared a slight shade of discomposure andirresolution, when the monk thus resumed:

  "My presence, my son, will not, I trust, disturb your conference withthe infidel--since you deem that worldly policy demands your parley withthe men of Belial."

  "Doubtless not--doubtless not," returned the king, quickly: then,muttering to himself, "how wondrously doth this holy man penetrate intoall our movements and designs!" he added, aloud, "Let the messengerenter."

  Perez bowed, and withdrew.

  During this time, the young prince reclined in listless silence on hisseat; and on his delicate features was an expression of weariness whichaugured but ill of his fitness for the stern business to which thelessons of his wise father were intended to educate his mind. His,indeed, was the age, and his the soul, for pleasure; the tumult of thecamp was to him but a holiday exhibition--the march of an army, theexhilaration of a spectacle; the court as a banquet--the throne, thebest seat at the entertainment. The life of the heir-apparent, to thelife of the king possessive, is as the distinction between enchantinghope and tiresome satiety.

  The small grey eyes of the friar wandered over each of his royalcompanions with a keen and penetrating glance, and then settled in theaspect of humility on the rich carpets that bespread the floor; nor didhe again lift them till Perez, reappearing, admitted to the tent theIsraelite, Almamen, accompanied by a female figure, whose long veil,extending from head to foot, could conceal neither the beautifulproportions nor the trembling agitation, of her frame.

  "When last, great king, I was admitted to thy presence," said Almamen,"thou didst make question of the sincerity and faith of thy servant;thou didst ask me for a surety of my faith; thou didst demand a hostage;and didst refuse further parley without such pledge we
re yielded tothee. Lo! I place under thy kingly care this maiden--the sole child ofmy house--as surety of my truth; I intrust to thee a life dearer than myown."

  "You have kept faith with us, stranger," said the king, in that soft andmusical voice which well disguised his deep craft and his unrelentingwill; "and the maiden whom you intrust to our charge shall be rankedwith the ladies of our royal consort."

  "Sire," replied Almamen, with touching earnestness, "you now hold thepower of life and death over all for whom this heart can breathe aprayer or cherish a hope, save for my countrymen and my religion. Thissolemn pledge between thee and me I render up without scruple, withoutfear. To thee I give a hostage, from thee I have but a promise."

  "But it is the promise of a king, a Christian, and a knight," said theking, with dignity rather mild than arrogant; "among monarchs, whathostage can be more sacred? Let this pass: how proceed affairs in therebel city?"

  "May this maiden withdraw, ere I answer my lord the king?" said Almamen.

  The young prince started to his feet. "Shall I conduct this new chargeto my mother?" he asked, in a low voice, addressing Ferdinand.

  The king half smiled: "The holy father were a better guide," hereturned, in the same tone. But, though the Dominican heard the hint, heretained his motionless posture; and Ferdinand, after a momentary gazeon the friar, turned away. "Be it so, Juan," said he, with a look meantto convey caution to the prince; "Perez shall accompany you to thequeen: return the moment your mission is fulfilled--we want yourpresence."

  While this conversation was carried on between the father and son,the Hebrew was whispering, in his sacred tongue, words of comfort andremonstrance to the maiden; but they appeared to have but little of thedesired effect; and, suddenly falling on his breast, she wound herarms around the Hebrew, whose breast shook with strong emotions, andexclaimed passionately, in the same language, "Oh, my father! what haveI done?--why send me from thee?--why intrust thy child to the stranger?Spare me, spare me!"

  "Child of my heart!" returned the Hebrew, with solemn but tenderaccents, "even as Abraham offered up his son, must I offer thee, uponthe altars of our faith; but, O Leila! even as the angel of the Lordforbade the offering, so shall thy youth be spared, and thy yearsreserved for the glory of generations yet unborn. King of Spain!"he continued in the Spanish tongue, suddenly and eagerly, "you are afather, forgive my weakness, and speed this parting."

  Juan approached; and with respectful courtesy attempted to take the handof the maiden.

  "You?" said the Israelite, with a dark frown. "O king! the prince isyoung."

  "Honour knoweth no distinction of age," answered the king. "What ho,Perez! accompany this maiden and the prince to the queen's pavilion."

  The sight of the sober years and grave countenance of the attendantseemed to re-assure the Hebrew. He strained Leila in his arms; printed akiss upon her forehead without removing her veil; and then, placing heralmost in the arms of Perez, turned away to the further end of the tent,and concealed his face with his hands. The king appeared touched; butthe Dominican gazed upon the whole scene with a sour scowl.

  Leila still paused for a moment; and then, as if recovering herself-possession, said, aloud and distinctly,--"Man deserts me; butI will not forget that God is over all." Shaking off the hand of theSpaniard, she continued, "Lead on; I follow thee!" and left the tentwith a steady and even majestic step.

  "And now," said the king, when alone with the Dominican and Almamen,"how proceed our hopes?"

  "Boabdil," replied the Israelite, "is aroused against both his armyand their leader, Muza; the king will not quit the Alhambra; and thismorning, ere I left the city, Muza himself was in the prisons of thepalace."

  "How!" cried the king, starting from his seat.

  "This is my work," pursued the Hebrew coldly. "It is these hands thatare shaping for Ferdinand of Spain the keys of Granada."

  "And right kingly shall be your guerdon," said the Spanish monarch:"meanwhile, accept this earnest of our favour." So saying, he took fromhis breast a chain of massive gold, the links of which were curiouslyinwrought with gems, and extended it to the Israelite. Almamen movednot. A dark flush upon his countenance bespoke the feelings he withdifficulty restrained.

  "I sell not my foes for gold, great king," said he, with a stern smile:"I sell my foes to buy the ransom of my friends."

  "Churlish!" said Ferdinand, offended: "but speak on, man, speak on!"

  "If I place Granada, ere two weeks are past, within thy power, whatshall be my reward?"

  "Thou didst talk to me, when last we met, of immunities to the Jews."

  The calm Dominican looked up as the king spoke, crossed himself, andresumed his attitude of humility.

  "I demand for the people of Israel," returned Almamen, "free leave totrade and abide within the city, and follow their callings, subjectedonly to the same laws and the same imposts as the Christian population."

  "The same laws, and the same imposts! Humph! there are difficulties inthe concession. If we refuse?"

  "Our treaty is ended. Give me back the maiden--you will have no furtherneed of the hostage you demanded: I return to the city, and renew ourinterviews no more."

  Politic and cold-blooded as was the temperament of the great Ferdinand,he had yet the imperious and haughty nature of a prosperous andlong-descended king; and he bit his lip in deep displeasure at the toneof the dictatorial and stately stranger.

  "Thou usest plain language, my friend," said he; "my words can be asrudely spoken. Thou art in my power, and canst return not, save at mypermission."

  "I have your royal word, sire, for free entrance and safe egress,"answered Almamen. "Break it, and Granada is with the Moors till theDarro runs red with the blood of her heroes, and her people strew thevales as the leaves in autumn."

  "Art thou then thyself of the Jewish faith?" asked the king. "If thouart not, wherefore are the outcasts of the world so dear to thee?"

  "My fathers were of that creed, royal Ferdinand; and if I myself deserttheir creed, I do not desert their cause. O king! are my terms scornedor accepted?"

  "I accept them: provided, first, that thou obtainest the exile or deathof Muza; secondly, that within two weeks of this date thou bringest me,along with the chief councillors of Granada, the written treaty of thecapitulation, and the keys of the city. Do this: and though the soleking in Christendom who dares the hazard, I offer to the Israelitesthroughout Andalusia the common laws and rights of citizens of Spain;and to thee I will accord such dignity as may content thy ambition."

  The Hebrew bowed reverently, and drew from his breast a scroll, whichhe placed on the table before the king. "This writing, mighty Ferdinand,contains the articles of our compact."

  "How, knave! wouldst thou have us commit our royal signature toconditions with such as thou art, to the chance of the public eye? Theking's word is the king's bond!"

  The Hebrew took up the scroll with imperturbable composure, "My child!"said he; "will your majesty summon back my child? we would depart."

  "A sturdy mendicant this, by the Virgin!" muttered the king; and then,speaking aloud, "Give me the paper, I will scan it."

  Running his eyes hastily over the words, Ferdinand paused a moment, andthen drew towards him the implements of writing, signed the scroll, andreturned it to Almamen.

  The Israelite kissed it thrice with oriental veneration, and replaced itin his breast.

  Ferdinand looked at him hard and curiously. He was a profound reader ofmen's characters; but that of his guest baffled and perplexed him.

  "And how, stranger," said he, gravely,--"how can I trust that man whothus distrusts one king and sells another?"

  "O king!" replied Almamen (accustomed from his youth to commune with andcommand the possessors of thrones yet more absolute),--"O king! if thoubelievest me actuated by personal and selfish interests in this ourcompact, thou has but to make, my service minister to my interest, andthe lore of human nature will tell thee that thou hast won a ready andsubmissive slave. But if
thou thinkest I have avowed sentiments lessabject, and developed qualities higher than those of the mere bargainerfor sordid power, oughtest thou not to rejoice that chance has throwninto thy way one whose intellect and faculties may be made thy tool? IfI betray another, that other is my deadly foe. Dost not thou, the lordof armies, betray thine enemy? The Moor is an enemy bitterer to myselfthan to thee. Because I betray an enemy, am I unworthy to serve afriend? If I, a single man, and a stranger to the Moor, can yet commandthe secrets of palaces, and render vain the counsels of armed men, haveI not in that attested that I am one of whom a wise king can make anable servant?"

  "Thou art a subtle reasoner, my friend," said Ferdinand, smiling gently."Peace go with thee! our conference for the time is ended. What ho,Perez!" The attendant appeared.

  "Thou hast left the maiden with the queen?"

  "Sire, you have been obeyed."

  "Conduct this stranger to the guard who led him through the camp. Hequits us under the same protection. Farewell! yet stay--thou art assuredthat Muza Ben Abil Gazan is in the prisons of the Moor?"

  "Yes."

  "Blessed be the Virgin!"

  "Thou hast heard our conference, Father Tomas?" said the king,anxiously, when the Hebrew had withdrawn.

  "I have, son."

  "Did thy veins freeze with horror?"

  "Only when my son signed the scroll. It seemed to me then that I saw thecloven foot of the tempter."

  "Tush, father, the tempter would have been more wise than to reckon upona faith which no ink and no parchment can render valid, if the Churchabsolve the compact. Thou understandest me, father?"

  "I do. I know your pious heart and well-judging mind."

  "Thou wert right," resumed the king, musingly, "when thou didst tellus that these caitiff Jews were waxing strong in the fatness of theirsubstance. They would have equal laws--the insolent blasphemers!"

  "Son!" said the Dominican, with earnest adjuration, "God, who hasprospered your arms and councils, will require at your hands an accountof the power intrusted to you. Shall there be no difference between Hisfriends and His foes--His disciples and His crucifiers?"

  "Priest," said the king, laying his hand on the monk's shoulder, andwith a saturnine smile upon his countenance, "were religion silent inthis matter, policy has a voice loud enough to make itself heard. TheJews demand equal rights; when men demand equality with their masters,treason is at work, and justice sharpens her sword. Equality! thesewealthy usurers! Sacred Virgin! they would be soon buying up ourkingdoms."

  The Dominican gazed hard on the king. "Son, I trust thee," he said, in alow voice, and glided from the tent.