Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/493

347 ROUT IN THE AXARQUIA. 347 without further opposition. The king continued chapter his retreat without halting, as far as the romantic '. — site of the Pefia de los Enamorados, about seven leagues distant from Loja ; and, abandoning all thoughts of offensive operations for the present, soon after returned to Cordova. Mulej Abul Ha- cen arrived the following day with a powerful re- inforcement from Granada, and swept the coun- try as far as Rio Frio. Had he come but a few hours sooner, there would have been few Spaniards left to tell the tale of the rout of Loja. ^ The loss of the Christians must have been very considerable, including the greater part of the bag- gage and the artillery. It occasioned deep mor- tification to the queen ; but, though a severe, it proved a salutary lesson. It showed the impor- tance of more extensive preparations for a war, which must of necessity be a war of posts ; and 6 Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, rises between Archidona and An- MS., cap. 58. — Conde, Domina- teqiiera. The unfortunate fugi- cion de los Arabes, torn. iii. pp. lives, who had scrambled to the 214-217. — Pulgar, Reyes Catoli- summit of the rocks, finding all cos, ubi supra. — Lebrija, Rerum further escape impracticable, after Gestarum Decades, ii. lib. 1, cap. tenderly embracing each other, 7. — The Pe/ia de los Enamorados threw themselves headlong from received its name from a tragical the dizzy heights, preferring this incident in Moorish history. A dreadful death to falling into the Christian slave succeeded in inspir- hands of their vindictive pursuers, ing the daughter of his master, a The spot consecrated as the scene wealthy Mussulman of Granada, of this tragic incident has received with a passion for himself. The the name of Rock of the Lovers. two lovers, after some time, fearful The legend is prettily told by Ma- of the detection of their intrigue, riana, (Hist, de Espaila, tom. ii. resolved to make their escape into pp. 253, 254,) who concludes with the Spanish territory. Before they the pithy reflection, that" such con- could effect their purpose, however, stancy would have been truly ad- they were hotly pursued by the mirable, had it been shown in de- damsel's father at the head of a fence of the true faith, rather than party of Moorish horsemen, and in the gratification of lawless appe- overtaken near a precipice which tite."