The Alhambra . attend his banner. The grand master listened to the hermit as to a messengerfrom heaven, and followed his counsel in all things. By hisadvice he despatched tvro of his stoutest warriors, armed cap-a-pie^ on an embassy to the ^Moorish king. They entered thegates of Granada without molestation, as the nations were atpeace : and made their way to the Alhambra, where they werepromptly admitted to the king, who received them in the Hallof Ambassadors. They delivered their message roundly andhardly. We come, O King, from Don Martin Yaiiez deBarbudo, grand master of Alcantara : who aff
The Alhambra . attend his banner. The grand master listened to the hermit as to a messengerfrom heaven, and followed his counsel in all things. By hisadvice he despatched tvro of his stoutest warriors, armed cap-a-pie^ on an embassy to the ^Moorish king. They entered thegates of Granada without molestation, as the nations were atpeace : and made their way to the Alhambra, where they werepromptly admitted to the king, who received them in the Hallof Ambassadors. They delivered their message roundly andhardly. We come, O King, from Don Martin Yaiiez deBarbudo, grand master of Alcantara : who affirms the faith ofJesus Christ to be true and holy, and that of Mahomet falseand detestable, and he challenges^thee to maintain the contrary,hand to hand, in single combat. Shouklst thou refuse, heoffers to combat with one hundred cavaliers against twohundred; or, in like proportion, to the number of onethousand, always allowing thy faith a double number ofchampions. Remember, O King, that thou canst not refuse. ^I^ilglf^ 1^ ^5 4o6 THE ALIIAMBRA this challenge ; since thy prophet, knowing the impossibilityof maintaining his doctrines by argument, has commanded hisfollowers to enforce them with the sword. The beard of king Yusef trembled with indignation. Themaster of Alcantara, said he, is a madman to send such amessage, and ye are saucy knaves to bring it. So saying, he ordered the ambassadors to be thrown into adungeon, by way of giving them a lesson in diplomacy ; andthey were roughly treated on their way thither by the populace,who were exasperated at this insult to their sovereign and theirfaith. The grand master of Alcantara could scarcely credit thetidings of the maltreatment of his messengers; but the hermitrejoiced when they were repeated to him. God, said he, has blinded this infidel king for his downfall. Since he hassent no reply to thy defiance, consider it accepted. Marshalthy forces, therefore : march forward to Granada ; pause notuntil thou seest the gate of Elvi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondon, bookyear190
