* Still he was as
brave as he was blundering; and though left-handed, wielded his
cimeter to such purpose, that he each time re-established himself upon
his throne by dint of hard fighting. Instead, however, of learning
wisdom from adversity, he hardened his neck, and stiffened his left
arm in wilfulness. The evils of a public nature which he thus
brought upon himself and his kingdom may be learned by those who
will delve into the Arabian annals of Granada; the present legend
deals but with his domestic policy.
* The reader will recognize the sovereign connected with the
fortunes of the Abencerrages. His story appears to be a little
fictionized in the legend.
As this Mohamed was one day riding forth with a train of his
courtiers, by the foot of the mountain of Elvira, he met a band of
horsemen returning from a foray into the land of the Christians.
They were conducting a long string of mules laden with spoil, and many
captives of both sexes, among whom the monarch was struck with the
appearance of a beautiful damsel, richly attired, who sat weeping on a
low palfrey, and heeded not the consoling words of a duenna who rode
beside her.
The monarch was struck with her beauty, and, on inquiring of the
captain of the troop, found that she was the daughter of the alcayde
of a frontier fortress, that had been surprised and sacked in the
course of the foray. Mohamed claimed her as his royal share of the
booty, and had her conveyed to his harem in the Alhambra.
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