Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/48

24 24 WAR OF GRANADA. PART valor from the hands of those from whom it is most '- grateful to receive it. ^^ Ferdinand, who had hitherto brought into action only the lighter pieces of ordnance, from a willing- ness to spare the noble edifices of the city, now ^ij^'^ons of pointed his heaviest guns against its walls. Before opening his fire, however, he again summoned the place, offering the usual liberal terms in case of immediate compliance, and engaging otherwise, " with the blessing of God, to make them all slaves " ! But the heart of the alcayde was hard- ened like that of Pharaoh, says the Andalusian chronicler, and the people were swelled with vain hopes, so that their ears were closed against the proposal ; orders were even issued to punish with death any attempt at a parley. On the contrary, they made answer by a more lively cannonade than before, along the whole line of ramparts and for- tresses which overhung the city. Sallies were also made at almost every hour of the day and night on every assailable point of the Christian lines, so that the camp was kept in perpetual alarm. In one of the nocturnal sallies, a body of two thou- sand men from the castle of Gebalfaro succeeded Danger of in surprisiug the quarters of the marquis of Cadiz, the marquis /. ..r Cadiz. who, with his followers, was exhausted by fatigue and watching, during the two preceding nights. The Christians, bewildered with the sudden tumult which broke their slumber, were thrown into the '4 Salazar de Mendoza, Cr6n. 70. — Bernaldez, Reyes Cat61icos, del Gran Cardenal, lib. 1, cap. 64. MS., cap. 83. — Zurita, Anales, torn. iv. cap.