part08-第7部分

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said　he；　'at　the　end　of　our　journey。'　I　looked　about；　but　could　see　no

signs　of　habitation；　nothing　but　the　mouth　of　a　cavern。　While　I　looked

I　saw　multitudes　of　people　in　Moorish　dresses；　some　on　horseback；　some

on　foot；　arriving　as　if　borne　by　the　wind　from　all　points　of　the

compass；　and　hurrying　into　the　mouth　of　the　cavern　like　bees　into　a

hive。　Before　I　could　ask　a　question　the　trooper　struck　his　long

Moorish　spurs　into　the　horse's　flanks；　and　dashed　in　with　the

throng。　We　passed　along　a　steep　winding　way；　that　descended　into　the

very　bowels　of　the　mountain。　As　we　pushed　on；　a　light　began　to　glimmer

up；　by　little　and　little；　like　the　first　glimmerings　of　day；　but

what　caused　it　I　could　not　discern。　It　grew　stronger　and　stronger；　and

enabled　me　to　see　every　thing　around。　I　now　noticed；　as　we　passed

along；　great　caverns；　opening　to　the　right　and　left；　like　halls　in

an　arsenal。　In　some　there　were　shields；　and　helmets；　and　cuirasses；

and　lances；　and　cimeters；　hanging　against　the　walls；　in　others　there

were　great　heaps　of　warlike　munitions；　and　camp　equipage　lying　upon

the　ground。

　　〃It　would　have　done　your　excellency's　heart　good；　being　an　old

soldier；　to　have　seen　such　grand　provision　for　war。　Then；　in　other

caverns；　there　were　long　rows　of　horsemen　armed　to　the　teeth；　with

lances　raised　and　banners　unfurled；　all　ready　for　the　field；　but

they　all　sat　motionless　in　their　saddles　like　so　many　statues。　In

other　halls　were　warriors　sleeping　on　the　ground　beside　their

horses；　and　foot…soldiers　in　groups　ready　to　fall　into　the　ranks。

All　were　in　old…fashioned　Moorish　dresses　and　armor。

　　〃Well；　your　excellency；　to　cut　a　long　story　short；　we　at　length

entered　an　immense　cavern；　or　I　may　say　palace；　of　grotto　work；　the

walls　of　which　seemed　to　be　veined　with　gold　and　silver；　and　to

sparkle　with　diamonds　and　sapphires　and　all　kinds　of　precious

stones。　At　the　upper　end　sat　a　Moorish　king　on　a　golden　throne；　with

his　nobles　on　each　side；　and　a　guard　of　African　blacks　with　drawn

cimeters。　All　the　crowd　that　continued　to　flock　in；　and　amounted　to

thousands　and　thousands；　passed　one　by　one　before　his　throne；　each

paying　homage　as　he　passed。　Some　of　the　multitude　were　dressed　in

magnificent　robes；　without　stain　or　blemish　and　sparkling　with　jewels；

others　in　burnished　and　enamelled　armor；　while　others　were　in

mouldered　and　mildewed　garments；　and　in　armor　all　battered　and

dented　and　covered　with　rust。

　　〃I　had　hitherto　held　my　tongue；　for　your　excellency　well　knows　it　is

not　for　a　soldier　to　ask　many　questions　when　on　duty；　but　I　could　keep

silent　no　longer。

　　〃'Prithee；　comrade；'　said　I；　'what　is　the　meaning　of　all　this？'

　　〃'This；'　said　the　trooper；　'is　a　great　and　fearful　mystery。　Know；

O　Christian；　that　you　see　before　you　the　court　and　army　of　Boabdil　the

last　king　of　Granada。'

　　〃'What　is　this　you　tell　me？'　cried　I。　'Boabdil　and　his　court　were

exiled　from　the　land　hundreds　of　years　agone；　and　all　died　in　Africa。'

　　〃'So　it　is　recorded　in　your　lying　chronicles；'　replied　the　Moor；

'but　know　that　Boabdil　and　the　warriors　who　made　the　last　struggle　for

Granada　were　all　shut　up　in　the　mountain　by　powerful　enchantment。　As

for　the　king　and　army　that　marched　forth　from　Granada　at　the　time　of

the　surrender；　they　were　a　mere　phantom　train　of　spirits　and　demons；

permitted　to　assume　those　shapes　to　deceive　the　Christian

sovereigns。　And　furthermore　let　me　tell　you；　friend；　that　all　Spain　is

a　country　under　the　power　of　enchantment。　There　is　not　a　mountain

cave；　not　a　lonely　watchtower　in　the　plains；　nor　ruined　castle　on

the　hills；　but　has　some　spell…bound　warriors　sleeping　from　age　to

age　within　its　vaults；　until　the　sins　are　expiated　for　which　Allah

permitted　the　dominion　to　pass　for　a　time　out　of　the　hands　of　the

faithful。　Once　every　year；　on　the　eve　of　St。　John；　they　are　released

from　enchantment；　from　sunset　to　sunrise；　and　permitted　to　repair　here

to　pay　homage　to　their　sovereign！　and　the　crowds　which　you　beheld

swarming　into　the　cavern　are　Moslem　warriors　from　their　haunts　in

all　parts　of　Spain。　For　my　own　part；　you　saw　the　ruined　tower　of　the

bridge　in　Old　Castile；　where　I　have　now　wintered　and　summered　for　many

hundred　years；　and　where　I　must　be　back　again　by　daybreak。　As　to　the

battalions　of　horse　and　foot　which　you　beheld　drawn　up　in　array　in　the

neighboring　caverns；　they　are　the　spell…bound　warriors　of　Granada。

It　is　written　in　the　book　of　fate；　that　when　the　enchantment　is

broken；　Boabdil　will　descend　from　the　mountain　at　the　head　of　this

army；　resume　his　throne　in　the　Alhambra　and　his　sway　of　Granada；　and

gathering　together　the　enchanted　warriors；　from　all　parts　of　Spain；

will　reconquer　the　Peninsula　and　restore　it　to　Moslem　rule。'

　　〃'And　when　shall　this　happen？'　said　I。

　　〃'Allah　alone　knows：　we　had　hoped　the　day　of　deliverance　was　at

hand；　but　there　reigns　at　present　a　vigilant　governor　in　the　Alhambra；


a　stanch　old　soldier；　well　known　as　Governor　Manco。　While　such　a

warrior　holds　command　of　the　very　outpost；　and　stands　ready　to　check

the　first　irruption　from　the　mountain；　I　fear　Boabdil　and　his　soldiery

must　be　content　to　rest　upon　their　arms。'

　　Here　the　governor　raised　himself　somewhat　perpendicularly；

adjusted　his　sword；　and　twirled　up　his　mustaches。

　　〃To　make　a　long　story　short；　and　not　to　fatigue　your　excellency；　the

trooper；　having　given　me　this　account；　dismounted　from　his　steed。

　　〃'Tarry　here；'　said　he；　'and　guard　my　steed　while　I　go　and　bow　the

knee　to　Boabdil。'　So　saying；　he　strode　away　among　the　throng　that

pressed　forward　to　the　throne。

　　〃'What's　to　be　done？'　thought　I；　when　thus　left　to　myself；　'shall

I　wait　here　until　this　infidel　returns　to　whisk　me　off　on　his　goblin

steed；　the　Lord　knows　where；　or　shall　I　make　the　most　of　my　time　and

beat　a　retreat　from　this　hobgoblin　community？　A　soldier's　mind　is　soon

made　up；　as　your　excellency　well　knows。　As　to　the　horse；　he　belonged

to　an　avowed　enemy　of　the　faith　and　the　realm；　and　was　a　fair　prize

according　to　the　rules　of　war。　So　hoisting　myself　from　the　crupper

into　the　saddle；　I　turned　the　reins；　struck　the　Moorish　stirrups

into　the　sides　of　the　steed；　and　put　him　to　make　the　best　of　his　way

out　of　the　passage　by　which　he　had　entered。　As　we　scoured　by　the　halls

where　the　Moslem　horsemen　sat　in　motionless　battalions；　I　thought　I

heard　the　clang　of　armor　and　a　hollow　murmur　of　voices。　I　gave　the

steed　another　taste　of　the　stirrups　and　doubled　my　speed。　There　was

now　a　sound　behind　me　like　a　rushing　blast；　I　heard　the　clatter　of　a

thousand　hoofs；　a　countless　throng　overtook　me。　I　was　borne　along　in

the　press；　and　hurled　forth　from　the　mouth　of　the　cavern；　while

thousands　of　shadowy　forms　were　swept　off　in　every　direction　by　the

four　winds　of　heaven。

　　〃In　the　whirl　and　confusion　of　the　scene　I　was　thrown　senseless　to

the　earth。　When　I　came　to　myself　I　was　lying　on　the　brow　of　a　hill；

with　the　Arabian　steed　standing　beside　me；　for　in　falling；　my　arm

had　slipped　within　the　bridle；　which；　I　presume；　prevented　his

whisking　off　to　Old　Castile。

　　〃Your　excellency　may　easily　judge　of　my　surprise；　on　looking

round；　to　behold　hedges　of　aloes　and　Indian　figs　and　other　proofs　of　a

southern　climate；　and　to　see　a　great　city　below　me；　with　towers；　and

palaces；　and　a　grand　cathedral。

　　〃I　descended　the　hill　cautiously；　leading　my　steed；　for　I　was　afraid

to　mount　him　again；　lest　he　should　play　me　some　slippery　trick。　As　I

descended　I　met　with　your　patrol；　who　let　me　into　the　secret　that　it

was　Granada　that　lay　before　me；　and　that　I　was　actually　under　the

walls　of　the　Alhambra；　the　fortress　of　the　redoubted　Governor　Manco；

the　terror　of　all　enchanted　Moslems。　When　I　heard　this；　I　determined

at　once　to　seek　your　excellency；　to　inform　you　of　all　that　I　had　seen；

and　to　warn　you　of　the　perils　that　surround　and　undermine　you；　that

you　may　take　measures　in　time　to　guard　your　fortress；　and　the

kingdom　itself；　from　this　intestine　army　that　lurks　in　the　very　bowels

of　the　land。〃

　　〃And　prithee；　friend；　you　who　are　a　veteran　campaigner；　and　have

seen　so　much　service；〃　said　the　governor；　〃how　would　you　advise　me

to　proceed；　in　order　to　prevent　this　evil？〃

　　〃It　is　not　for　a　humble　private　of　the　ranks；〃　said　the　soldier；

modestly；　〃to　pretend　to　instruct　a　commander　of　your　excellency's

sagacity；　but　it　appears　to　me　that　your　excellency　might　cause　all

the　caves　and　entrances　into　the　mountains　to　be　walled　up　with

solid　mason　work；　so　that　Boabdil　and　his　army　might　be　completely

corked　up　in　their　subterranean　habitation。　If　the　good　father；

too；〃　added　the　soldier；　reverently　bowing　to　the　friar；　and

devoutly　crossing　himself；　〃would　consecrate　the　barricadoes　with

his　blessing；　and　put　up　a　few　crosses　and　relics　and　images　of

saints；　I　think　they　might　withstand　all　the　power　of　infidel

enchantments。〃

　　〃They　doubtless　would　be　of　great　avail；〃　said　the　friar。

　　The　governor　now　placed　his　arm　akimbo；　with　his　hand　resting　on　the

hilt　of　his　Toledo；　fixed　his　eye　upon　the　soldier；　and　gently　wagging

his　head　from　one　side　to　the　other。

　　〃So；　friend；〃　said　he；　〃then　you　really　suppose　I　am　to　be　gulled

with　this　cock…and…bull　story　about　enchanted　mountains　and

enchanted　Moors？　Hark　ye；　culprit！…　not　another　word。　An　old　soldier

you　may　be；　but　you'll　find　you　have　an　older　soldier　to　deal　with；

and　one　not　easily　outgeneralled。　Ho！　guards　there！　put　this　fellow　in

irons。〃

　　The　demure　handmaid　would　have　put　in　a　word　in　favor　of　the

prisoner；　but　the　governor　silenced　her　with　a　look。

　　As　they　were　pinioning　the　soldier；　one　of　the　guards　felt　something

of　bulk　in　his　pocket；　and　drawing　it　forth；　found　a　long　leathern

purse　that　appeared　to　be　well　filled。　Holding　it　by　one　corner；　he

turned　out　the　contents　upon　the　table　before　the　governor；　and

never　did　freebooter's　bag　make　more　gorgeous　delivery。　Out　tumbled

rings；　and　jewels；　and　rosar