In this historical outline, I trust I have shown enough to put the
fable concerning Boabdil and the Abencerrages in a true light. The
story of the accusation of his queen, and his cruelty to his sister,
are equally void of foundation. In his domestic relations he appears
to have been kind and affectionate. History gives him but one wife,
Morayma, the daughter of the veteran alcayde of Loxa, old Aliatar,
famous in song and story for his exploits in border warfare; and who
fell in that disastrous foray into the Christian lands in which
Boabdil was taken prisoner. Morayma was true to Boabdil throughout all
his vicissitudes. When he was dethroned by the Castilian monarchs, she
retired with him to the petty domain allotted him in the valleys of
the Alpuxarras. It was only when (dispossessed of this by the
jealous precautions and subtle chicanery of Ferdinand, and elbowed, as
it were, out of his native land) he was preparing to embark for
Africa, that her health and spirits, exhausted by anxiety and long
suffering, gave way, and she fell into a lingering illness, aggravated
by corroding melancholy. Boabdil was constant and affectionate to
her to the last; the sailing of the ships was delayed for several
weeks, to the great annoyance of the suspicious Ferdinand. At length
Morayma sank into the grave, evidently the victim of a broken heart,
and the event was reported to Ferdinand by his agent, as one
propitious to his purposes, removing the only obstacle to the
embarkation of Boabdil.
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