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.

I.

PASSEAVASE el Rey Moro
Por la ciudad de Granada,
Desde las puertas de Elvira
Hasta las de Bivarambla.

Ay de mi, Alhama!

II.

Cartas le fueron venidas

Que Alhama era ganada.
Las cartas echò en el fuego,
Y al mensagero matava.

Ay de mi, Alhama !

III.

Descavalga de una mula,
Y en un cavallo cavalga.
Por el Zacatin arriba

Subido se avia al Alhambra.

Ay de mi, Alhama !

IV.

Como en el Alhambra estuvo,
Al mismo punto mandava
Que se toquen las trompetas

Con añafiles de plata.

Ay de mi, Alhama!

V.

Y que atambores de guerra
Apriessa toquen alarma;
Por
que lo oygan sus Moros,
Los de la Vega y Granada.

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.

I.

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!

II.

Letters to the monarch tell
How Alhama's city fell:
In the fire the scroll he threw,

And the messenger he slew.

Woe is me, Alhama!

III.

He quits his mule, and mounts his horse,
And through the street directs his course;
Through the street of Zacatin

To the Alhambra spurring in.

Woe is me, Alhama!

IV.

When the Alhambra walls he gain'd,

On the moment he ordain'd

That the trumpet straight should sound

With the silver clarion round.

Woe is me, Alhama!

V.

And when the hollow drums of war

Beat the loud alarm afar,

That the Moors of town and plain
Might answer to the martial strain,
Woe is me, Alhama!

VOL. IV.-M

VI.

Then the Moors, by this aware
That bloody Mars recall'd them there,
One by one, and two by two,

To a mighty squadron grew.

Woe is me, Alhama!

VII.

Out then spake an aged Moor
In these words the king before,
"Wherefore call on us, oh King?
What may mean this gathering?"

Woe is me, Alhama!

VIII.

"Friends! ye have, alas. to know
Of a most disastrous blow,

That the Christians, stern and bold,
Have obtain'd Alhama's hold."

Woe is me, Alhama:

66

IX.

Qut then spake old Alfaqui,
With his beard so white to see,
"Good King! thou art justly served,

Good King! this thou hast deserved.

Woe is me, Alhama!

X.

By thee were slain, in evil hour,

The Abencerrage, Granada's flower;
And strangers were received by thee

Of Cordova the Chivalry.

Woe is me, Alhama!

XI.

"And for this, oh King! is sent

On thee a double chastisement :

Thee and thine, thy crown and realm,
One last wreck shall overwhelm.

Woe is me, Alhama!