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 Elzira's gates to those Of Bivarambla on he goes. Wo is me, Alhama! Letters to the monarch tell Wo is me, Alhama! 3. He quits his mule and mounts his horse, To the Alhambra spurring in. 4. Como en el Alhambra estuvo, Que se toquen las trompetas Ay de mi, Alhama! 5. Y que atambores de guerra 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 ! 4. When the Alhambra walls he gained, That the trumpet straight should sound Wo is me, Alhama! 5. And when the hollow drums of war Beat the loud alarm afar, That the Moors of town and plain 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. Wo is me, Alhama! 7. Out then spake an aged Moor 8. Aveys de saber, amigos, 9. Alli hablò un viejo Alfaqui, 10. Mataste los Bencerrages, De Cordova la nombrada. 11. Por esso mereces, Rey Una pena bien doblada; Que te pierdas tu y el reyno, Ay de mi, Alhama ! 8. "Friends! ye have, alas! to know "Of a most disastrous blow, "That the Christians, stern and bold, "Have obtained Alhama's hold." Wo is me, Alhama! 9. Out then spake old Alfaqui, With his beard so white to see, "Good King! thou art justly served, "Good King! this thou hast deserved. Wo is me, Alhama! 10. "By thee were slain, in evil hour, "The Abencerrage, Granada's flower; "And strangers were received by thee "Of Cordova the Chivalry. Wo is me, Alhama! 11. "And for this, oh King! is sent "On thee a double chastisement, "Thee and thine, thy crown and realm, "One last wreck shall overwhelm. Wo is me, Alhama! |