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. (339) ROMANCE MUY DOLOROSO DEL SITIO Y TOMA DE ALHAMA. El qual dezia en Aravigo assi. I. PASSEAVASE el Rey Moro Ay de mi, Alhama! II. Cartas le fueron venidas Las cartas echò en el fuego, Ay de mi, Alhama! III. Descavalga de una mula, Por el Zacatin arriba 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 From Elvira's gates to those 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! IV. Como en el Alhambra estuvo, Con añafiles de plata. Ay de mi, Alhama! V. Y que atambores de guerra Ay de mi, Alhama! VI. 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! VII. Alli hablò un Moro viejo; Par que nos llamas, Rey? Ay de mi, Alhama! IV. When the Alhambra walls he gained, On the moment he ordained 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! VI. 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! VII. Out then spake an aged Moor Woe is me, Alhama! |