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. Descavalga de una mula, Y en un cavallo cavalga. Por el Zacatin arriba Subido se avia al Alhambra. Ay de mi, Alhama! 4. Como en el Alhambra estuvo, Al mismo punto mandava Que se toquen las trompetas 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! 3. 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! 4. When the Alhambra walls he gain'd, On the moment he ordain'd That the trumpet straight should sound With the silver clarion round. 6. Los Moros que el son oyeron, Que al sangriento Marte llama, Uno a uno, y dos a dos, Un gran esquadron formavan. Ay de mi, Alhama! 7. Alli hablò un Moro viejo; Desta manera hablava :— Para que nos llamas, Rey? Para que es este llamada? Ay de mi, Alhama! 8. Aveys de saber, amigos, Una nueva desdichada : Que Cristianos, con braveza, Ya nos han tomado Alhama. Ay de mi, 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 In these words the king before, "Wherefore call on us, oh king? "What may mean this gathering?" Woe is me, Alhama! 8. "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! |