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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!

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Letters to the monarch tell
How Alhama's city fell;
In the fire the scroll he threw,
And the messenger he slew.

Wo is me, 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.

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4.

Como en el Alhambra estuvo,
Al mismo punto mandava

Que se toquen las trompetas
Con anafiles 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!

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,
On the moment he ordained

That the trumpet straight should sound
With the silver clarion round.

Wo 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,
Wo 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.

Wo 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 ?"
Wo is me, Alhama!

8.

Aveys de saber, amigos,
Una nueva desdichada:
Que Cristianos, con braveza,
Ya nos han tomado Alhama.
Ay de mi, Alhama!

9.

Alli hablò un viejo Alfaqui,
De barba crecida y cana :-
Bien se te emplea, buen Rey,
Buen Rey; bien se te empleava.
Ay de mi, Alhama !

10.

Mataste los Bencerrages,
Que era la flor de Granada;
Cogiste los tornadizos

De Cordova la nombrada.
Ay de mi, Alhama!

11.

Por esso mereces, Rey

Una pena bien doblada;

Que te pierdas tu y el reyno,
Y que se pierda Granada.

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!

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