The fact that Muley-Abu-l-Hasen in vain invested the castle and town of Alhama[11] after its capture by the Marquis of Cadiz, and the direct reference in the ballad to its loss, ascribed to the wrath of Allah at the wickedness of the King, clearly exonerates Boabdil from the crime of his father.
“By thee were slain, in evil hour, The Abencerrage, Granada’s flower; And strangers were received by thee Of Córdova the Chivalry. Woe is me, Alhama!
“And for this, oh king! is sent On thee a double chastisement: Thee and thine, thy crown and realm, One last wreck shall overwhelm. Woe is me, Alhama!”
With the loss of the two “Keys” to Granada--Loja and Alhama--both being forthwith heavily garrisoned by the
[Illustration: HALL OF THE ABENCERRAGES.]
[Illustration: WOODEN DOOR, HALL OF THE ABENCERRAGES.]
Ornament over arches at the entrance to the Court of the Lions.]
Ornament on the walls, Hall of the Abencerrages.]
Ornament in panels on the walls, Court of the Mosque.]
Spandril of an arch of window, Hall of the Ambassadors.]
Brackets supporting ceiling of the portico, Court of the Lions.]
Small panel in jamb of a window, Hall of the Ambassadors.]
Small panel in jamb of a window, Hall of the Ambassadors.]
Small panel in jamb of a window, Hall of the Two Sisters.]
[Illustration: INTERIOR VIEW, TAKEN FROM THE HALL OF THE TWO SISTERS.]
[Illustration: CEILING OF THE HALL OF THE TWO SISTERS.]
[Illustration: HALL OF THE ABENCERRAGES.]
[Illustration: HALL OF THE ABENCERRAGES.]
[Illustration: CEILING OF THE HALL OF THE ABENCERRAGES.]
[Illustration: MOSAIC, FROM A FRAGMENT IN THE ALHAMBRA.]
[Illustration: MOSAIC, NORTH SIDE OF THE COURT OF THE LIONS.]
[Illustration: CHIEF GATE OF THE ALHAMBRA.]
Panel in the upper chamber of the House of Sanchez.]
Soffit of great arch at the entrance of the Court of the Fishpond.]
Spandril from niche of doorway at the entrance of the Hall of Ambassadors, from the Sala de la Barca.]
Lintel of a doorway, Court of the Mosque.]
Ornament on the Walls of the windows of “Lindaraja’s” Balcony.]
[Illustration: TRANSVERSAL SECTION OF THE ALHAMBRA.]
[Illustration: ELEVATION OF THE “WINE GATE.”]
[Illustration: PORCH OF THE GATE OF JUDGMENT.]
[Illustration: A SECTION OF THE GATE OF JUDGMENT.]