he　strong；　but　that　God　alone　giveth　the　victory。〃
  *Cura　de　los　Palacios。
  The　worthy　father　Fray　Antonio　Agapida；　however；　asserts　it　to　be　a　punishment　for　the　avarice　of　the　Spanish　warriors。　　They　did　not　enter　the　kingdom　of　the　infidels　with　the　pure　spirit　of　Christian　knights；　zealous　only　for　the　glory　of　the　faith；　but　rather　as　greedy　men　of　traffic；　to　enrich　themselves　by　vending　the　spoils　of　the　infidels。　　Instead　of　preparing　themselves　by　confession　and　communion；　and　executing　their　testaments；　and　making　donations　and　bequests　to　churches　and　convents；　they　thought　only　of　arranging　bargains　and　sales　of　their　anticipated　booty。　　Instead　of　taking　with　them　holy　monks　to　aid　them　with　their　prayers；　they　were　followed　by　a　train　of　trading…men　to　keep　alive　their　worldly　and　sordid　ideas；　and　to　turn　what　ought　to　be　holy　triumphs　into　scenes　of　brawling　traffic。　　Such　is　the　opinion　of　the　excellent　Agapida；　in　which　he　is　joined　by　that　most　worthy　and　upright　of　chroniclers；　the　curate　of　Los　Palacios。　　Agapida　comforts　himself；　however；　with　the　reflection　that　this　visitation　was　meant　in　mercy　to　try　the　Castilian　heart；　and　to　extract　from　its　present　humiliation　the　elements　of　future　success；　as　gold　is　extracted　from　amidst　the　impurities　of　earth；　and　in　this　reflection　he　is　supported　by　the　venerable　historian　Pedro　Abarca　of　the　Society　of　Jesuits。*
  *Abarca；　Anales　de　Aragon；　Rey　30；　cap。　2；　0xA4　7。
  CHAPTER　XIV。
  HOW　KING　BOABDIL　EL　CHICO　MARCHED　OVER　THE　BORDER。
  The　defeat　of　the　Christian　cavaliers　among　the　mountains　of　Malaga；　and　the　successful　inroad　of　Muley　Abul　Hassan　into　the　lands　of　Medina　Sidonia；　had　produced　a　favorable　effect　on　the　fortunes　of　the　old　monarch。　　The　inconstant　populace　began　to　shout　forth　his　name　in　the　streets；　and　to　sneer　at　the　inactivity　of　his　son　Boabdil　el　Chico。　　The　latter；　though　in　the　flower　of　his　age　and　distinguished　for　vigor　and　dexterity　in　jousts　and　tournaments；　had　never　yet　fleshed　his　weapon　in　the　field　of　battle；　and　it　was　murmured　that　he　preferred　the　silken　repose　of　the　cool　halls　of　the　Alhambra　to　the　fatigue　and　danger　of　the　foray　and　the　hard　encampments　of　the　mountains。
  The　popularity　of　these　rival　kings　depended　upon　their　success　against　the　Christians；　and　Boabdil　el　Chico　found　it　necessary　to　strike　some　signal　blow　to　counterbalance　the　late　triumph　of　his　father。　　He　was　further　incited　by　his　father…in…law；　Ali　Atar；　alcayde　of　Loxa；　with　whom　the　coals　of　wrath　against　the　Christians　still　burned　among　the　ashes　of　age；　and　had　lately　been　blown　into　a　flame　by　the　attack　made　by　Ferdinand　on　the　city　under　his　command。
  Ali　Atar　informed　Boabdil　that　the　late　discomfiture　of　the　Christian　knights　had　stripped　Andalusia　of　the　prime　of　her　chivalry　and　broken　the　spirit　of　the　country。　　All　the　frontier　of　Cordova　and　Ecija　now　lay　open　to　inroad；　but　he　especially　pointed　out　the　city　of　Lucena　as　an　object　of　attack；　being　feebly　garrisoned　and　lying　in　a　country　rich　in　pasturage；　abounding　in　cattle　and　grain；　in　oil　and　wine。　　The　fiery　old　Moor　spoke　from　thorough　information；　for　he　had　made　many　an　incursion　into　these　parts；　and　his　very　name　was　a　terror　throughout　the　country。　　It　had　become　a　by…　word　in　the　garrison　of　Loxa　to　call　Lucena　the　garden　of　Ali　Atar；　for　he　was　accustomed　to　forage　its　fertile　territories　for　all　his　supplies。
  Boabdil　el　Chico　listened　to　the　persuasions　of　this　veteran　of　the　borders。　　He　assembled　a　force　of　nine　thousand　foot　and　seven　hundred　horse；　most　of　them　his　own　adherents；　but　many　the　partisans　of　his　father；　for　both　factions；　however　they　might　fight　among　themselves；　were　ready　to　unite　in　any　expedition　against　the　Christians。　　Many　of　the　most　illustrious　and　valiant　of　the　Moorish　nobility　assembled　round　his　standard；　magnificently　arrayed　in　sumptuous　armor　and　rich　embroidery；　as　though　for　a　festival　or　a　tilt　of　canes　rather　than　an　enterprise　of　iron　war。　　Boabdil's　mother；　the　sultana　Ayxa　la　Horra；　armed　him　for　the　field；　and　gave　him　her　benediction　as　she　girded　his　scimetar　to　his　side。　　His　favorite　wife　Morayma　wept　as　she　thought　of　the　evils　that　might　befall　him。　　〃Why　dost　thou　weep；　daughter　of　Ali　Atar？〃　said　the　high…minded　Ayxa：　〃these　tears　become　not　the　daughter　of　a　warrior　nor　the　wife　of　a　king。　　Believe　me　there　lurks　more　danger　for　a　monarch　within　the　strong　walls　of　a　palace　than　within　the　frail　curtains　of　a　tent。　　It　is　by　perils　in　the　field　that　thy　husband　must　purchase　security　on　his　throne。〃
  But　Morayma　still　hung　upon　his　neck　with　tears　and　sad　forebodings；　and　when　he　departed　from　the　Alhambra　she　betook　herself　to　her　mirador；　overlooking　the　Vega；　whence　she　watched　the　army　as　it　went　in　shining　order　along　the　road　leading　to　Loxa；　and　every　burst　of　warlike　melody　that　came　swelling　on　the　breeze　was　answered　by　a　gush　of　sorrow。
  As　the　royal　cavalcade　issued　from　the　palace　and　descended　through　the　streets　of　Granada　the　populace　greeted　their　youthful　sovereign　with　shouts；　anticipating　deeds　of　prowess　that　would　wither　the　laurels　of　his　father。　　The　appearance　of　Boabdil　was　well　calculated　to　captivate　the　public　eye；　if　we　may　judge　from　the　description　given　by　the　abbot　of　Rute　in　his　manuscript　history　of　the　House　of　Cordova。　　He　was　mounted　on　a　superb　white　charger　magnificently　caparisoned。　　His　corselets　were　of　polished　steel　richly　ornamented；　studded　with　gold　nails；　and　lined　with　crimson　velvet。　　He　wore　a　steel　casque　exquisitely　chiselled　and　embossed；　his　scimetar　and　dagger　of　Damascus　were　of　highest　temper；　he　had　a　round　buckler　at　his　shoulder　and　bore　a　ponderous　lance。　　In　passing　through　the　gate　of　Elvira；　however；　he　accidentally　broke　his　lance　against　the　arch。　　At　this　certain　of　his　nobles　turned　pale　and　entreated　him　to　turn　back；　for　they　regarded　it　as　an　evil　omen。　Boabdil　scoffed　at　their　fears　as　idle　fancies。　　He　refused　to　take　another　spear；　but　drew　forth　his　scimetar　and　led　the　way　（adds　Agapida）　in　an　arrogant　and　haughty　style；　as　though　he　would　set　both　Heaven　and　earth　at　defiance。　　Another　evil　omen　was　sent　to　deter　him　from　his　enterprise：　arriving　at　the　rambla；　or　dry　ravine；　of　Beyro；　which　is　scarcely　a　bowshot　from　the　city；　a　fox　ran　through　the　whole　army　and　close　by　the　person　of　the　king；　and；　though　a　thousand　bolts　were　discharged　at　it；　escaped　uninjured　to　the　mountains。　　The　principal　courtiers　now　reiterated　their　remonstrances　against　proceeding；　the　king；　however；　was　not　to　be　dismayed　by　these　portents；　but　continued　to　march　forward。*
  *Marmol；　Rebel。　de　los　Moros；　lib。　1；　c。　xii。；　fol。　14。
  At　Loxa　the　army　was　reinforced　by　old　Ali　Atar　with　the　chosen　horsemen　of　his　garrison　and　many　of　the　bravest　warriors　of　the　border　towns。　　The　people　of　Loxa　shouted　with　exultation　when　they　beheld　Ali　Atar　armed　at　all　points　and　mounted　on　his　Barbary　steed；　which　had　often　borne　him　over　the　borders。　　The　veteran　warrior；　with　nearly　a　century　of　years　upon　his　head；　had　all　the　fire　and　animation　of　youth　at　the　prospect　of　a　foray；　and　careered　from　rank　to　rank　with　the　velocity　of　an　Arab　of　the　desert。　　The　populace　watched　the　army　as　it　paraded　over　the　bridge　and　wound　into　the　passes　of　the　mountains；　and　still　their　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　pennon　of　Ali　Atar　as　if　it　bore　with　it　an　assurance　of　victory。
  The　Moorish　army　entered　the　Christian　frontier　by　forced　marches；　hastily　ravaging　the　country；　driving　off　the　flocks　and　herds；　and　making　captives　of　the　inhabitants。　　They　pressed　on　furiously；　and　made　the　latter　part　of　their　march　in　the　night；　to　elude　observation　and　come　upon　Lucena　by　surprise。　　Boabdil　was　inexperienced　in　warfare；　but　had　a　veteran　counsellor　in　his　old　father…in…law；　for　Ali　Atar　knew　every　secret　of　the　country；　and　as　he　prowled　through　it　his　eye　ranged　over　the　land；　uniting　in　its　glare　the　craft　of　the　fox　with　the　sanguinary　ferocity　of　the　wolf。　He　had　flattered　himself　that　their　march　had　been　so　rapid　as　to　outstrip　intelligence；　and　that　Lucena　would　be　an　easy　capture；　when　suddenly　he　beheld　alarm…fires　blazing　upon　the　mountains。　〃We　are　discovered；〃　said　he　to　Boabdil；　〃the　country　will　be　up　in　arms；　we　have　nothing　left　but　to　strike　boldly　for　Lucena：　it　is　but　slightly　garrisoned；　and　we　may　carry　it　by　assault　before　it　can　receive　assistance。〃　　The　king　approved　of　his　counsel；　and　they　marched　rapidly　for　the　gate　of　Lucena。
  CHAPTER　XV。
  HOW　THE　COUNT　DE　CABRA　SALLIED　FORTH　FROM　HIS　CASTLE　IN　　　　　QUEST　OF　KING　BOABDIL。
  Don　Diego　de　Cordova；　count　of　Cabra；　was　in　the　castle　of　Vaena；　which；　with　the　town　of　the　same　name；　is　situated　on　a　lofty　sun…　burnt　hill　on　the　frontier　of　the　kingdom　of　Cordova　and　but　a　few　leagues　from　Lucena。　　The　range　of　mountains　of　Horquera　lies　between　them。　　The　castle　of　Vaena　was　strong　and　well　furnished　with　arms；　and　the　count　had　a　numerous　band　of　vassals　and　retainers；　for　it　behooved　the　noblemen　of　the　frontiers　in　those　times　to　be　well　prepared　with　man　and　horse；　with　lance　and　buckler；　to　resist　the　sudden　incursions　of　the　Moors。　　The　count　of　Cabra　was　a　hardy　and