登陆注册
14814700000007

第7章

The Moorish inhabitants looked jealously at this small but proud array of Spanish chivalry, as it paraded, with that stateliness possessed only by Spanish cavaliers, through the renowned gate of Elvira. They were struck with the stern and lofty demeanor of Don Juan de Vera and his sinewy frame, which showed him formed for hardy deeds of arms, and they supposed he had come in search of distinction by defying the Moorish knights in open tourney or in the famous tilt with reeds for which they were so renowned, for it was still the custom of the knights of either nation to mingle in these courteous and chivalrous contests during the intervals of war. When they learnt, however, that he was come to demand the tribute so abhorrent to the ears of the fiery monarch, they observed that it well required a warrior of his apparent nerve to execute such an embassy.

Muley Abul Hassan received the cavalier in state, seated on a magnificent divan and surrounded by the officers of his court, in the Hall of Ambassadors, one of the most sumptuous apartments of the Alhambra. When De Vera had delivered his message, a haughty and bitter smile curled the lip of the fierce monarch. "Tell your sovereigns," said he, "that the kings of Granada, who used to pay tribute in money to the Castilian crown, are dead. Our mint at present coins nothing but blades of scimetars and heads of lances."*

*Garibay, 1. 40, c. 29; Conde, Hist. Arab., p. 4, c. 34.

The defiance couched in this proud reply was heard with secret satisfaction by Don Juan de Vera, for he was a bold soldier and a devout hater of the infidels, and he saw iron war in the words of the Moorish monarch. Being master, however, of all points of etiquette, he retained an inflexible demeanor, and retired from the apartment with stately and ceremonious gravity. His treatment was suited to his rank and dignity: a magnificent apartment in the Alhambra was assigned to him, and before his departure a scimetar was sent to him by the king, the blade of the finest Damascus steel, the hilt of agate enriched with precious stones, and the guard of gold. De Vera drew it, and smiled grimly as he noticed the admirable temper of the blade. "His Majesty has given me a trenchant weapon," said he: "I trust a time will come when I may show him that I know how to use his royal present." The reply was considered a compliment, of course: the bystanders little knew the bitter hostility that lay couched beneath.

On his return to Cordova, Don Juan de Vera delivered the reply of the Moor, but at the same time reported the state of his territories.

These had been strengthened and augmented during the weak reign of Henry IV. and the recent troubles of Castile. Many cities and strong places contiguous to Granada, but heretofore conquered by the Christians, had renewed their allegiance to Muley Abul Hassan, so that his kingdom now contained fourteen cities, ninety-seven fortified places, besides numerous unwalled towns and villages defended by formidable castles, while Granada towered in the centre as the citadel.

The wary Ferdinand, as he listened to the military report of Don Juan de Vera, saw that the present was no time for hostilities with a warrior kingdom so bristled over with means of defence. The internal discords of Castile still continued, as did the war with Portugal: under these circumstances he forbore to insist upon the payment of tribute, and tacitly permitted the truce to continue; but the defiance contained in the reply of Muley Abul Hassan remained rankling in his bosom as a future ground of war; and De Vera's description of Granada as the centre of a system of strongholds and rock-built castles suggested to him his plan of conquest--by taking town after town and fortress after fortress, and gradually plucking away all the supports before he attempted the capital. He expressed his resolution in a memorable pun or play upon the name of Granada, which signifies a pomegranate. "I will pick out the seeds of this pomegranate one by one," said the cool and crafty Ferdinand.

NOTE.--In the first edition of this work the author recounted a characteristic adventure of the stout Juan de Vera as happening on the occasion of this embassy; a further consultation of historical authorities has induced him to transfer it to a second embassy of De Vera's, which the reader will find related in a subsequent chapter.

同类推荐
  • 维摩经义疏

    维摩经义疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 捣尘集词钞

    捣尘集词钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说大乘造像功德经

    佛说大乘造像功德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 石洞集

    石洞集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Heretics

    Heretics

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 无业逆转成妃

    无业逆转成妃

    无业女青年尹沧月,一朝穿越成了皇亲国戚。哎哎哎!说好的兄妹,你怎么能反悔呐!
  • 好妈妈培养优秀男孩的100个细节

    好妈妈培养优秀男孩的100个细节

    本书从男孩的生活习惯、美好性格、良好心态、智慧培养、情商教育、美德教育、挫折教育、学习生活、娱乐活动、气质修养10个方面进行分析和讲述家庭教育方法。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 农田香女

    农田香女

    为了改变命运的逆袭之路,一路上花香四溢,伴女成长。战乱之年,夫从军。灾荒之年,与亲儿子走散,苦寻不到,心力交瘁而亡。这一生,还是那群人,却发生不一样的故事。
  • 书诀

    书诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 忆血殇

    忆血殇

    一契血书。。。为什么,要骗我?该死,为什么要叫我丫头?曾经的我已经死了,今后,便是新生的我。。。你背叛我,今我喝下这忘情绝,今后你我二人再无瓜葛爱你的是沐倾瑶,恨你的是沐殇瑶
  • 守仙录知

    守仙录知

    守池小仙负责看守仙界通往人界的通道已有两千多年,一直兢兢业业,眼看就要挨到轮换了,仙界可以唯一一位从天地浩劫里活下来的古仙就落在了这幽掖池边。
  • 剑心纪

    剑心纪

    这个世界被划分为四个大陆,分别是东烈,南天,西风,北雪大陆。每片大陆之间都隔有天难险阻。欲望总是战争与毁灭的前奏曲,人类对于力量的贪婪发动了天命祭,无意间打破了魔族与人界的天之屏障,人类举全族之力终于力挽狂澜,祭出神剑鬼天终将魔族击退,战后人族元气大伤,天,龙,灵族也纷纷退隐各自大陆休养生息,有传说自那一战之后,鬼天神剑便不知所踪,也有皇室昭告天下鬼天剑供奉于皇室重地,此谕一出,人族军心大镇,天下百姓安居乐业。——致敬网游《剑灵》之作
  • 重回末世:幸好有帅哥

    重回末世:幸好有帅哥

    明静冷漠:“不就是不,没有为什么。”旁白:亲,别激愤,她上一世亲眼目睹人类战败灭绝,受刺激太大,所以……你懂的。明静冷笑:“你们不是想赖账么。放心,我已经解决了这个事。彻底解决。”旁白:亲们,不说再见了——永别了!明静冷嗤:“教你?凭什么。你还真当自己是个人物了。”旁白:亲,她的意思是不白教。有物资吗?有宝贝吗?赶紧拿出来啊!都没有?那要是长得帅又做饭好吃,也能试试运气……明静吃饱喝足:“味道可以。”旁白:什么?!你打算卖色相卖厨艺、追她、娶她,造福自己造福大家,少奋斗三十年、再请她干掉基地外头那头大怪兽?别!千万别!她收集帅哥是当宠物、不是当男友!快打消这主意,否则小命不保,还连累九族!
  • 王俊凯,星空下的眼泪

    王俊凯,星空下的眼泪

    “亲爱沈若言小姐,你愿意嫁给最帅的王俊凯先生吗?”“我!愿!意!”-------------------------“沈若言,没想到你是这样的人!我对你很失望!离婚吧!”“王俊凯,你终究还是不相信我!”------------------------摩天轮之上,回忆正旋转着过往……多希望能倒转摩天轮的思念......