With
the melancholy caprice of a broken spirit, or perhaps with some
superstitious feeling, he requested of the Catholic monarchs that no
one afterwards might be permitted to pass through it. His prayer,
according to ancient chronicles, was complied with, through the
sympathy of isabella, and the gate was walled up.*
* Ay una puerta en la Alhambra por la qual salio Chico Rey de los
Moros, quando si rindio prisionero al Rey de Espana D. Fernando, y
le entrego la ciudad con el castillo. Pidio esta principe como por
merced, y en memoria de tan importante conquista, al que quedasse
siempre cerrada esta puerta. Consintio en allo el Rey Fernando, y
des de aquel tiempo no solamente no se abrio la puerta sino tambien se
construyo junto a ella fuerte bastion.- MORERI'S Historical
Dictionary.
[There was a gate in the Alhambra by which Chico the King of the
Moors went out when he gave himself up as a prisoner to the King of
Spain, Don Ferdinand, and surrendered to him the city and the
castle. This prince asked as a favor, and in memory of such an
important conquest, that this portal always remain closed. King
Ferdinand consented to this, and from that time not only was the
gate not opened but also a strong bastion was constructed around it.]
I inquired for some time in vain for such a portal; at length my
humble attendant, Mateo Ximenes, said it must be one closed up with
stones, which, according to what he had heard from his father and
grandfather, was the gateway by which King Chico had left the
fortress.
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