When
in 1248 the famous city of Seville surrendered to the Castilian
monarch, Alhamar returned sad and full of care to his dominions. He
saw the gathering ills that menaced the Moslem cause; and uttered an
ejaculation often used by him in moments of anxiety and trouble-
"How straitened and wretched would be our life, if our hope were not
so spacious and extensive." "Que angosta y miserable seria nuestra
vida, sino fuera tan dilatada y espaciosa nuestra esperanza!"
As he approached Granada on his return he beheld arches of triumph
which had been erected in honor of his martial exploits. The people
thronged forth to see him with impatient joy, for his benignant rule
had won all hearts. Wherever he passed he was hailed with acclamations
as "El Ghalib!" (the conqueror). Alhamar gave a melancholy shake of
the head on hearing the appellation. "Wa le ghalib il Allah!"
("There is no conqueror but God!"), exclaimed he. From that time
forward this exclamation became his motto, and the motto of his
descendants, and appears to this day emblazoned on his escutcheons
in the halls of the Alhambra.
Alhamar had purchased peace by submission to the Christian yoke; but
he was conscious that, with elements so discordant and motives for
hostility so deep and ancient, it could not be permanent. Acting,
therefore, upon the old maxim, "arm thyself in peace and clothe
thyself in summer," he improved the present interval of tranquillity
by fortifying his dominions, replenishing his arsenals, and
promoting those useful arts which give wealth and real power.
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