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 Aravizo assi. I. PASSEAVASE el Rey Moro Ay de mi, Alhama! II. Cartas le fueron venidas Las cartas echo en el fuego, Ay de mi, Alhama! III. 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. I. THE Moorish King rides up and down Of Bivarambla on he goes. Woe is me, Alhama! II. Letters to the monarch tell 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 ! |