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 Por la ciudad de Granada, 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! 3. Descavalga de una mula, Subido se avia al Alhambra. 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. 1. 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. Woe is me, Alhama! 3. He quits his mule, and mounts his horse, To the Alhambra spurring in. Woe is me, Alhama! 4. Como en el Alhambra estuvo, Con anafiles de plata. Ay de mi, Alhama! 5. Y que atambores de guerra Ay de mi, Alhama! 6. Los Moros que el son oyeron, Un gran esquadron formavan. Ay de mi, Alhama! 4. When the Alhambra walls he gain'd, That the trumpet straight should sound With the silver clarion round. Woe is me, Alhama! 5. 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 ! 6. Then the Moors by this aware That bloody Mars recalled them there, One by one, and two by two, To a mighty squadron grew. Woe is me, Alhama! 7. Out then spake an aged Moor Woe is me, Alhama! |