The Abencerrage

by Washington Irving

　　On the summit of a craggy hill, a spur of the mountains of Ronda, standsthe castle of Allora, now a mere ruin, infested by bats and owlets, butin old times one of the strong border holds of the Christians, to keepwatch upon the frontiers of the warlike kingdom of Granada, and to holdthe Moors in check. It was a post always confided to some well-triedcommander; and, at the time of which we treat, was held by Rodrigo deNarvaez, a veteran, famed, both among Moors and Christians, not only forhis hardy feats of arms, but also for that magnanimous courtesy whichshould ever be entwined with the sterner virtues of the soldier.The castle of Allora was a mere part of his command; he was Alcayde, ormilitary governor of Antiquera, but he passed most of his time at thisfrontier post, because its situation on the borders gave more frequentopportunity for those adventurous exploits which were the delight of theSpanish chivalry. His garrison consisted of fifty chosen cavaliers, allwell mounted and well appointed: with these he kept vigilant watchupon the Moslems; patrolling the roads, and paths, and defiles of themountains, so that nothing could escape his eye; and now and thensignalizing himself by some dashing foray into the very Vega of Granada.On a fair and beautiful night in summer, when the freshness of theevening breeze had tempered the heat of day, the worthy Alcayde salliedforth, with nine of his cavaliers, to patrol the neighborhood, andseek adventures. They rode quietly and cautiously, lest they should beoverheard by Moorish scout or traveller; and kept along ravines andhollow ways, lest they should be betrayed by the glittering of the fullmoon upon their armor. Coming to where the road divided, the Alcaydedirected five of his cavaliers to take one of the branches, while he,with the remaining four, would take the other. Should either party be indanger, the blast of a horn was to be the signal to bring their comradesto their aid.The party of five had not proceeded far, when, in passing through adefile, overhung with trees, they heard the voice of a man, singing.They immediately concealed themselves in a grove, on the brow of adeclivity, up which the stranger would have to ascend. The moonlight,which left the grove in deep shadow, lit up the whole person of thewayfarer, as he advanced, and enabled them to distinguish his dress andappearance with perfect accuracy. He was a Moorish cavalier, and hisnoble demeanor, graceful carriage, and splendid attire showed him tobe of lofty rank. He was superbly mounted, on a dapple-gray steed, ofpowerful frame, and generous spirit, and magnificently caparisoned.His dress was a marlota, or tunic, and an Albernoz of crimson damask,fringed with gold. His Tunisian turban, of many folds, was of silk andcotton, striped, and bordered with golden fringe. At his girdle hung ascimitar of Damascus steel, with loops and tassels of silk and gold. Onhis left arm he bore an ample target, and his right hand grasped a longdouble-pointed lance. Thus equipped, he sat negligently on his steed, asone who dreamed of no danger, gazing on the moon, and singing, with asweet and manly voice, a Moorish love ditty.Just opposite the place where the Spanish cavaliers were concealed, wasa small fountain in the rock, beside the road, to which the horse turnedto drink; the rider threw the reins on his neck, and continued his song.The Spanish cavaliers conferred together; they were all so pleased withthe gallant and gentle appearance of the Moor, that they resolved not toharm, but to capture him, which, in his negligent mood, promised to bean easy task; rushing, therefore, from their concealment, they thoughtto surround and seize him. Never were men more mistaken. To gather uphis reins, wheel round his steed, brace his buckler, and couch hislance, was the work of an instant; and there he sat, fixed like a castlein his saddle, beside the fountain.The Christian cavaliers checked their steeds and reconnoitered himwarily, loth to come to an encounter, which must end in his destruction.The Moor now held a parley: "If you be true knights," said he, "and seekfor honorable fame, come on, singly, and I am ready to meet each insuccession; but if you be mere lurkers of the road, intent on spoil,come all at once, and do your worst!"The cavaliers communed for a moment apart, when one, advancing singly,exclaimed: "Although no law of chivalry obliges us to risk the loss of aprize, when clearly in our power, yet we willingly grant, as a courtesy,what we might refuse as a right. Valiant Moor! defend thyself!" Sosaying, he wheeled, took proper distance, couched his lance, and puttingspurs to his horse, made at the stranger. The latter met him in midcareer, transpierced him with his lance, and threw him headlong from hissaddle. A second and a third succeeded, but were unhorsed with equalfacility, and thrown to the earth, severely wounded. The remainingtwo, seeing their comrades thus roughly treated, forgot all compact ofcourtesy, and charged both at once upon the Moor. He parried the thrustof one, but was wounded by the other in the thigh, and, in the shock andconfusion, dropped his lance. Thus disarmed, and closely pressed, hepretended to fly, and was hotly pursued. Having drawn the two cavalierssome distance from the spot, he suddenly wheeled short about, withone of those dexterous movements for which the Moorish horsemen arerenowned; passed swiftly between them, swung himself down from hissaddle, so as to catch up his lance, then, lightly replacing himself,turned to renew the combat.Seeing him thus fresh for the encounter, as if just issued from histent, one of the cavaliers put his lips to his horn, and blew a blast,that soon brought the Alcayde and his four companions to the spot.The valiant Narvaez, seeing three of his cavaliers extended on theearth, and two others hotly engaged with the Moor, was struck withadmiration, and coveted a contest with so accomplished a warrior.Interfering in the fight, he called upon his followers to desist, andaddressing the Moor, with courteous words, invited him to a more equalcombat. The latter readily accepted the challenge. For some time, theircontest was fierce and doubtful; and the Alcayde had need of all hisskill and strength to ward off the blows of his antagonist. The Moor,however, was exhausted by previous fighting, and by loss of blood. Heno longer sat his horse firmly, nor managed him with his wonted skill.Collecting all his strength for a last assault, he rose in his stirrups,and made a violent thrust with his lance; the Alcayde received it uponhis shield, and at the same time wounded the Moor in the right arm; thenclosing, in the shock, he grasped him in his arms, dragged him from hissaddle, and fell with him to the earth: when putting his knee upon hisbreast, and his dagger to his throat, "Cavalier," exclaimed he, "renderthyself my prisoner, for thy life is in my hands!""Kill me, rather," replied the Moor, "for death would be less grievousthan loss of liberty." The Alcayde, however, with the clemency of thetruly brave, assisted the Moor to rise, ministered to his wounds withhis own hands, and had him conveyed with great care to the castle ofAllora. His wounds were slight, and in a few days were nearly cured; butthe deepest wound had been inflicted on his spirit. He was constantlyburied in a profound melancholy.The Alcayde, who had conceived a great regard for him, treated him moreas a friend than a captive, and tried in every way to cheer him, but invain; he was always sad and moody, and, when on the battlements ofthe castle, would keep his eyes turned to the south, with a fixed andwistful gaze."How is this?" exclaimed the Alcayde, reproachfully, "that you, who wereso hardy and fearless in the field, should lose all spirit in prison? Ifany secret grief preys on your heart, confide it to me, as to a friend,and I promise you, on the faith of a cavalier, that you shall have nocause to repent the disclosure."The Moorish knight kissed the hand of the Alcayde. "Noble cavalier,"said he "that I am cast down in spirit, is not from my wounds, which areslight, nor from my captivity, for your kindness has robbed it of allgloom; nor from my defeat, for to be conquered by so accomplished andrenowned a cavalier, is no disgrace. But to explain to you the cause ofmy grief, it is necessary to give you some particulars of my story; andthis I am moved to do, by the great sympathy you have manifested towardme, and the magnanimity that shines through all your actions.""Know, then, that my name is Abendaraez, and that I am of the noble butunfortunate line of the Abencerrages of Granada. You have doubtlessheard of the destruction that fell upon our race. Charged withtreasonable designs, of which they were entirely innocent, many ofthem were beheaded, the rest banished; so that not an Abencerrages waspermitted to remain in Granada, excepting my father and my uncle, whoseinnocence was proved, even to the satisfaction of their persecutors. Itwas decreed, however, that, should they have children, the sons shouldbe educated at a distance from Granada, and the daughters should bemarried out of the kingdom."Conformably to this decree, I was sent, while yet an infant, to bereared in the fortress of Cartama, the worthy Alcayde of which was anancient friend of my father. He had no children, and received me intohis family as his own child, treating me with the kindness and affectionof a father; and I grew up in the belief that he really was such. A fewyears afterward, his wife gave birth to a daughter, but his tendernesstoward me continued undiminished. I thus grew up with Xarisa, for sothe infant daughter of the Alcayde was called, as her own brother, andthought the growing passion which I felt for her, was mere fraternalaffection. I beheld her charms unfolding, as it were, leaf by leaf, likethe morning rose, each moment disclosing fresh beauty and sweetness."At this period, I overheard a conversation between the Alcayde and hisconfidential domestic, and found myself to be the subject. 'It is time,'said he, 'to apprise him of his parentage, that he may adopt a careerin life. I have deferred the communication as long as possible, throughreluctance to inform him that he is of a proscribed and an unluckyrace.'"This intelligence would have overwhelmed me at an earlier period, butthe intimation that Xarisa was not my sister, operated like magic, andin an instant transformed my brotherly affection into ardent love."I sought Xarisa, to impart to her the secret I had learned. I found herin the garden, in a bower of jessamines, arranging her beautiful hair bythe mirror of a crystal fountain. The radiance of her beauty dazzledme. I ran to her with open arms, and she received me with a sister'sembraces. When we had seated ourselves beside the fountain, she began toupbraid me for leaving her so long alone."In reply, I informed her of the conversation I had overheard. Therecital shocked and distressed her. 'Alas!' cried she, 'then is ourhappiness at an end!'"'How!' exclaimed I; 'wilt thou cease to love me, because I am not thybrother?'"'Not so,' replied she; 'but do you not know that when it is once knownwe are not brother and sister, we can no longer be permitted to be thusalways together?'"In fact, from that moment our intercourse took a new character. Wemet often at the fountain among the jessamines, but Xarisa no longeradvanced with open arms to meet me. She became reserved and silent, andwould blush, and cast down her eyes, when I seated myself beside her. Myheart became a prey to the thousand doubts and fears that ever attendupon true love. I was restless and uneasy, and looked back with regretto the unreserved intercourse that had existed between us, when wesupposed ourselves brother and sister; yet I would not have had therelationship true, for the world."While matters were in this state between us, an order came from theKing of Granada for the Alcayde to take command of the fortress of Coyn,which lies directly on the Christian frontier. He prepared to remove,with all his family, but signified that I should remain at Cartama. Iexclaimed against the separation, and declared that I could not beparted from Xarisa. 'That is the very cause,' said he, 'why I leave theebehind. It is time, Abendaraez, that thou shouldst know the secret ofthy birth; that thou art no son of mine, neither is Xarisa thy sister.''I know it all,' exclaimed I, 'and I love her with tenfold theaffection of a brother. You have brought us up together; you have madeus necessary to each other's happiness; our hearts have entwinedthemselves with our growth; do not now tear them asunder. Fill up themeasure of your kindness; be indeed a father to me, by giving me Xarisafor my wife.'"The brow of the Alcayde darkened as I spoke. 'Have I then beendeceived?' said he. 'Have those nurtured in my very bosom, beenconspiring against me? Is this your return for my paternaltenderness?--to beguile the affections of my child, and teach her todeceive her father? It was cause enough to refuse thee the hand of mydaughter, that thou wert of a proscribed race, who can never approachthe walls of Granada; this, however, I might have passed over; but neverwill I give my daughter to a man who has endeavored to win her from meby deception.'"All my attempts to vindicate myself and Xarisa were unavailing. Iretired in anguish from his presence, and seeking Xarisa, told her ofthis blow, which was worse than death to me. 'Xarisa,' said I, 'wepart for ever! I shall never see thee more! Thy father will guard theerigidly. Thy beauty and his wealth will soon attract some happier rival,and I shall be forgotten!'"Xarisa reproached me with my want of faith, and promised me eternalconstancy. I still doubted and desponded, until, moved by my anguish anddespair, she agreed to a secret union. Our espousals made, we parted,with a promise on her part to send me word from Coyn, should herfather absent himself from the fortress. The very day after our secretnuptials, I beheld the whole train of the Alcayde depart from Cartama,nor would he admit me to his presence, or permit me to bid farewellto Xarisa. I remained at Cartama, somewhat pacified in spirit by thissecret bond of union; but every thing around me fed my passion, andreminded me of Xarisa. I saw the windows at which I had so often beheldher. I wandered through the apartment she had inhabited; the chamber inwhich she had slept. I visited the bower of jessamines, and lingeredbeside the fountain in which she had delighted. Every thing recalled herto my imagination, and filled my heart with tender melancholy."At length, a confidential servant brought me word, that her fatherwas to depart that day for Granada, on a short absence, inviting me tohasten to Coyn, describing a secret portal at which I should apply, andthe signal by which I would obtain admittance."If ever you have loved, most valiant Alcayde, you may judge of thetransport of my bosom. That very night I arrayed myself in my mostgallant attire, to pay due honor to my bride; and arming myself againstany casual attack, issued forth privately from Cartama. You know therest, and by what sad fortune of war I found myself, instead of a happybridegroom, in the nuptial bower of Coyn, vanquished, wounded, and aprisoner, withing the walls of Allora. The term of absence of the fatherof Xarisa is nearly expired. Within three days he will return to Coyn,and our meeting will no longer be possible. Judge, then, whether Igrieve without cause, and whether I may not well be excused for showingimpatience under confinement."Don Rodrigo de Narvaez was greatly moved by this recital; for, thoughmore used to rugged war, than scenes of amorous softness, he was of akind and generous nature."Abendaraez," said he, "I did not seek thy confidence to gratify an idlecuriosity. It grieves me much that the good fortune which delivered theeinto my hands, should have marred so fair an enterprise. Give me thyfaith, as a true knight, to return prisoner to my castle, within threedays, and I will grant thee permission to accomplish thy nuptials."The Abencerrage would have thrown himself at his feet, to pour outprotestations of eternal gratitude, but the Alcayde prevented him.Calling in his cavaliers, he took the Abencerrage by the right hand, intheir presence, exclaiming solemnly, "You promise, on the faith of acavalier, to return to my castle of Allora within three days, and renderyourself my prisoner?" And the Abencerrage said, "I promise."Then said the Alcayde, "Go! and may good fortune attend you. Ifyou require any safeguard, I and my cavaliers are ready to be yourcompanions."The Abencerrage kissed the hand of the Alcayde, in gratefulacknowledgment. "Give me," said he, "my own armor, and my steed, andI require no guard. It is not likely that I shall again meet with sovalorous a foe."The shades of night had fallen, when the tramp of the dapple-gray steedsounded over the drawbridge, and immediately afterward the light clatterof hoofs along the road, bespoke the fleetness with which the youthfullover hastened to his bride. It was deep night when the Moor arrived atthe castle of Coyn. He silently and cautiously walked his panting steedunder its dark walls, and having nearly passed round them, came to theportal denoted by Xarisa. He paused and looked around to see that he wasnot observed, and then knocked three times with the butt of his lance.In a little while the portal was timidly unclosed by the duenna ofXarisa. "Alas! senor," said she, "what has detained you thus long? Everynight have I watched for you; and my lady is sick at heart with doubtand anxiety."The Abencerrage hung his lance, and shield, and scimitar against thewall, and then followed the duenna, with silent steps, up a windingstair-case, to the apartment of Xarisa. Vain would be the attempt todescribe the raptures of that meeting. Time flew too swiftly, and theAbencerrage had nearly forgotten, until too late, his promise to returna prisoner to the Alcayde of Allora. The recollection of it came to himwith a pang, and suddenly awoke him from his dream of bliss. Xarisasaw his altered looks, and heard with alarm his stifled sighs; but hercountenance brightened, when she heard the cause. "Let not thy spirit becast down," said she, throwing her white arms around him. "I have thekeys of my father's treasures; send ransom more than enough to satisfythe Christian, and remain with me.""No," said Abendaraez, "I have given my word to return in person, andlike a true knight, must fulfil my promise. After that, fortune must dowith me as it pleases.""Then," said Xarisa, "I will accompany thee. Never shall you return aprisoner, and I remain at liberty."The Abencerrage was transported with joy at this new proof of devotionin his beautiful bride. All preparations were speedily made for theirdeparture. Xarisa mounted behind the Moor, on his powerful steed; theyleft the castle walls before daybreak, nor did they pause, until theyarrived at the gate of the castle of Allora, which was flung wide toreceive them.Alighting in the court, the Abencerrage supported the steps of histrembling bride, who remained closely veiled, into the presence ofRodrigo de Narvaez. "Behold, valiant Alcayde!" said he, "the way inwhich an Abencerrage keeps his word. I promised to return to thee aprisoner, but I deliver two captives into your power. Behold Xarisa,and judge whether I grieved without reason, over the loss of such atreasure. Receive us as your own, for I confide my life and her honor toyour hands."The Alcayde was lost in admiration of the beauty of the lady, and thenoble spirit of the Moor. "I know not," said he, "which of you surpassesthe other; but I know that my castle is graced and honored by yourpresence. Enter into it, and consider it your own, while you deign toreside with me."For several days the lovers remained at Allora, happy in each other'slove, and in the friendship of the brave Alcayde. The latter wrote aletter, full of courtesy, to the Moorish king of Granada, relating thewhole event, extolling the valor and good faith of the Abencerrage, andcraving for him the royal countenance.The king was moved by the story, and was pleased with an opportunity ofshowing attention to the wishes of a gallant and chivalrous enemy; forthough he had often suffered from the prowess of Don Rodigro de Narvaez,he admired the heroic character he had gained throughout the land.Calling the Alcayde of Coyn into his presence, he gave him the letter toread. The Alcayde turned pale, and trembled with rage, on the perusal."Restrain thine anger," said the king; "there is nothing that theAlcayde of Allora could ask, that I would not grant, if in my power. Gothou to Allora; pardon thy children; take them to thy home. I receivethis Abencerrage into my favor, and it will be my delight to heapbenefits upon you all."The kindling ire of the Alcayde was suddenly appeased. He hastened toAllora; and folded his children to his bosom, who would have fallen athis feet. The gallant Rodrigo de Narvaez gave liberty to his prisonerwithout ransom, demanding merely a promise of his friendship. Heaccompanied the youthful couple and their father to Coyn, where theirnuptials were celebrated with great rejoicings. When the festivitieswere over, Don Rodrigo de Narvaez returned to his fortress of Allora.After his departure, the Alcayde of Coyn addressed his children: "Toyour hands," said he, "I confide the disposition of my wealth. One ofthe first things I charge you, is not to forget the ransom you owe tothe Alcayde of Allora. His magnanimity you can never repay, but you canprevent it from wronging him of his just dues. Give him, moreover, yourentire friendship, for he merits it fully, though of a different faith."The Abencerrage thanked him for his generous proposition, which so trulyaccorded with his own wishes. He took a large sum of gold, and enclosedit in a rich coffer; and, on his own part, sent six beautiful horses,superbly caparisoned; with six shields and lances, mounted and embossedwith gold. The beautiful Xarisa, at the same time, wrote a letter to theAlcayde, filled with expressions of gratitude and friendship, and senthim a box of fragrant cypress-wood, containing linen, of the finestquality, for his person. The valiant Alcayde disposed of the presentin a characteristic manner. The horses and armor he shared among thecavaliers who had accompanied him on the night of the skirmish. Thebox of cypress-wood and its contents he retained, for the sake of thebeautiful Xarisa; and sent her, by the hands of a messenger, the sumof gold paid as a ransom, entreating her to receive it as a weddingpresent. This courtesy and magnanimity raised the character of theAlcayde Rodrigo de Narvaez still higher in the estimation of the Moors,who extolled him as a perfect mirror of chivalric virtue; and from thattime forward, there was a continual exchange of good offices betweenthem.

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