Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/474

328 328 WAR OF GRANADA. PART I. (Consterna- tion of the Moors. The report of this disaster fell like the knell of their own doom on the ears of the inhabitants of Granada, It seemed as if the hand of Providence itself must have been stretched forth to smite the stately city, which, reposing as it were under the shadow of their own walls, and in the bosom of a peaceful and populous country, was thus suddenly laid low in blood and ashes. Men now read the fulfilment of the disastrous omens and predictions which ushered in the capture of Zahara. The melancholy romance or ballad, with the burden of Ay de mi Alhama, " Woe is me, Alhama," com- posed probably by some one of the nation not long after this event, shows how deep was the dejection which settled on the spirits of the people. The old king, Abul Hacen, how^ever, far from re- signing himself to useless lamentation, sought to retrieve his loss by the most vigorous measures. A body of a thousand horse was sent forAvard to reconnoitre the city, while he prepared to follow^ with as powerful levies, as he could enforce, of the militia of Granada. ^° 10 " Passeavase el Key Moro For la ciiidad de Granada, Desde las puertas de Elvira Hasta las de Bivarambla. Ay de mi Alhama ! " Cartas le fueron venidas ftue Alhama era gnnada. Las cartas eclio en el fuego, Y al mensagero matava. Ay de mi Alhama ! " Ilombres, ninos y mugeres, Lloran tan graiide pcrdida. Lloravan todas las damas Quantas en Granada avia. Ay de mi Alhama ! " For las calles y ventanas Mucho Into parecia ; Mora el Rey como fembra, Qu' es mucho lo qne perdia. Ay de mi Alhama! " The romance, according to Hyta, (not the best voucher for a fact,) caused such general lamentation, that it was not allowed to be sung by the Moors after the conquest. (Guerras Civiles de Granada, torn, i. p. 350.) Lord Byron, as the reader recollects, has done this ballad into English. The version has the merit of fidelity. It is not his fault if his Muse appears to little advantage in the plebeian dress of the Moorish minstrel.