stork flew away. My eyes followed it for a moment, it could hardly be longer than ten might be counted. I felt Darvell's weight, as it were, increase upon my shoulder, and, turning to look upon his face, perceived that he was dead. I was shocked with the sudden certainty which could not be mistaken his countenance in a few minutes became nearly black.. I should have attributed so rapid a change to poison, had I not been aware that he had no opportunity of receiving it unperceived. The day was declining, the body was rapidly altering, and nothing remained but to fulfil his request. With the aid of Suleiman's ataghan and my own sabre, we scooped a shallow grave upon the spot which Darvell had indicated: the earth easily gave way, having already received some Mahometan tenant. We dug as deeply as the time permitted us, and throwing the dry earth upon all that remained of the singular being so lately departed, we cut a few sods vf greener turf from the less withered soil around us, and laid them upou his sepulchre Between astonishment and grief, I was tearless. ROMANCE MUY DOLOROSO DEL SITIO Y TOMA DE ALHAMA. The effect of the original Ballad (which existed both in Spanish and Arabic) was such that it was forbidden to be sung by the Moors, on pain of death, within Granada. ROMANCE MUY DOLOROSO DEL SITIO Y TOMA DE ALHAMA, El qual dezia en Aravigo assi. 1. PASSEAVASE el Rey Moro Desde las puertas de Elvira Hasta las de Bivarambla. Ay de mi, Alhama! 2. Cartas le fueron venidas Que Alhama era ganada. Las cartas echò en el fuego, Y al mensagero matava. Ay de mi, Alhama! A VERY MOURNFUL BALLAD ON THE SIEGE AND CONQUEST OF ALHAMA, Which, in the Arabic language, is to the following purport. THE Moorish King rides up and down Through Granada's royal town, From Elvira's gates to those Of Bivarambla on he goes. Woe is me, Alhama! 2. Letters to the monarch tell How Alhama's city fell; In the fire the scroll he threw, And the messenger he slew. Vol. VIII. Woe is me, Alhama! I 3. Descavalga de una mula, Por el Zacatin arriba Subido se avia al Alhambra. Ay de mi, Alhama! 4. Como en el Alhambra estuvo, Al mismo punto mandava Con añafiles de plata. Ay de mi, Alhama! 5. Y que atambores de guerra Apriessa toquen alarma; Por que lo oygan sus Moros, Los de la Vega y Granada, Ay de mi, Alhama! |