part05-第4章

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Granada。

　　I　have　thus　given　historic　authorities；　sufficient　to　show　the

portentous　mysteries　connected　with　the　House　of　the　Weathercock；

and　its　talismanic　horseman。

　　I　now　proceed　to　relate　still　more　surprising　things　about　Aben

Habuz　and　his　palace；　for　the　truth　of　which；　should　any　doubt　be

entertained；　I　refer　the　dubious　reader　to　Mateo　Ximenes　and　his

fellow…historiographers　of　the　Alhambra。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　Legend　of　the　Arabian　Astrologer。



　　IN　OLD　times；　many　hundred　years　ago；　there　was　a　Moorish　king　named

Aben　Habuz；　who　reigned　over　the　kingdom　of　Granada。　He　was　a

retired　conqueror；　that　is　to　say；　one　who　having　in　his　more　youthful

days　led　a　life　of　constant　foray　and　depredation；　now　that　he　was

grown　feeble　and　superannuated；　〃languished　for　repose；〃　and　desired

nothing　more　than　to　live　at　peace　with　all　the　world；　to　husband

his　laurels；　and　to　enjoy　in　quiet　the　possessions　he　had　wrested　from

his　neighbors。

　　It　so　happened；　however；　that　this　most　reasonable　and　pacific　old

monarch　had　young　rivals　to　deal　with；　princes　full　of　his　early

passion　for　fame　and　fighting；　and　who　were　disposed　to　call　him　to

account　for　the　scores　he　had　run　up　with　their　fathers。　Certain

distant　districts　of　his　own　territories；　also；　which　during　the

days　of　his　vigor　he　had　treated　with　a　high　hand；　were　prone；　now

that　he　languished　for　repose；　to　rise　in　rebellion　and　threaten　to

invest　him　in　his　capital。　Thus　he　had　foes　on　every　side；　and　as

Granada　is　surrounded　by　wild　and　craggy　mountains；　which　hide　the

approach　of　an　enemy；　the　unfortunate　Aben　Habuz　was　kept　in　a

constant　state　of　vigilance　and　alarm；　not　knowing　in　what　quarter

hostilities　might　break　out。

　　It　was　in　vain　that　he　built　watchtowers　on　the　mountains；　and

stationed　guards　at　every　pass　with　orders　to　make　fires　by　night

and　smoke　by　day；　on　the　approach　of　an　enemy。　His　alert　foes；

baffling　every　precaution；　would　break　out　of　some　unthought…of

defile；　ravage　his　lands　beneath　his　very　nose；　and　then　make　off　with

prisoners　and　booty　to　the　mountains。　Was　ever　peaceable　and　retired

conqueror　in　a　more　uncomfortable　predicament？

　　While　Aben　Habuz　was　harassed　by　these　perplexities　and

molestations；　an　ancient　Arabian　physician　arrived　at　his　court。　His

gray　beard　descended　to　his　girdle；　and　he　had　every　mark　of　extreme

age；　yet　he　had　travelled　almost　the　whole　way　from　Egypt　on　foot；

with　no　other　aid　than　a　staff；　marked　with　hieroglyphics。　His　fame

had　preceded　him。　His　name　was　Ibrahim　Ebn　Abu　Ayub；　he　was　said　to

have　lived　ever　since　the　days　of　Mahomet；　and　to　be　son　of　Abu

Ayub；　the　last　of　the　companions　of　the　Prophet。　He　had；　when　a　child；

followed　the　conquering　army　of　Amru　into　Egypt；　where　he　had　remained

many　years　studying　the　dark　sciences；　and　particularly　magic；　among

the　Egyptian　priests。

　　It　was；　moreover；　said　that　he　had　found　out　the　secret　of

prolonging　life；　by　means　of　which　he　had　arrived　to　the　great　age

of　upwards　of　two　centuries；　though；　as　he　did　not　discover　the　secret

until　well　stricken　in　years；　he　could　only　perpetuate　his　gray

hairs　and　wrinkles。

　　This　wonderful　old　man　was　honorably　entertained　by　the　king；　who；

like　most　superannuated　monarchs；　began　to　take　physicians　into

great　favor。　He　would　have　assigned　him　an　apartment　in　his　palace；

but　the　astrologer　preferred　a　cave　in　the　side　of　the　hill　which

rises　above　the　city　of　Granada；　being　the　same　on　which　the

Alhambra　has　since　been　built。　He　caused　the　cave　to　be　enlarged　so　as

to　form　a　spacious　and　lofty　hall；　with　a　circular　hole　at　the　top；

through　which；　as　through　a　well；　he　could　see　the　heavens　and

behold　the　stars　even　at　mid…day。　The　walls　of　this　hall　were

covered　with　Egyptian　hieroglyphics；　with　cabalistic　symbols；　and　with

the　figures　of　the　stars　in　their　signs。　This　hall　he　furnished　with

many　implements；　fabricated　under　his　directions　by　cunning　artificers

of　Granada；　but　the　occult　properties　of　which　were　known　only　to

himself。

　　In　a　little　while　the　sage　Ibrahim　became　the　bosom　counsellor　of

the　king；　who　applied　to　him　for　advice　in　every　emergency。　Aben　Habuz

was　once　inveighing　against　the　injustice　of　his　neighbors；　and

bewailing　the　restless　vigilance　he　had　to　observe　to　guard　himself

against　their　invasions；　when　he　had　finished；　the　astrologer　remained

silent　for　a　moment；　and　then　replied；　〃Know；　O　King；　that　when　I

was　in　Egypt　I　beheld　a　great　marvel　devised　by　a　pagan　priestess　of

old。　On　a　mountain；　above　the　city　of　Borsa；　and　overlooking　the　great

valley　of　the　Nile；　was　a　figure　of　a　ram；　and　above　it　a　figure　of

a　cock；　both　of　molten　brass；　and　turning　upon　a　pivot。　Whenever　the

country　was　threatened　with　invasion；　the　ram　would　turn　in　the

direction　of　the　enemy；　and　the　cock　would　crow；　upon　this　the

inhabitants　of　the　city　knew　of　the　danger；　and　of　the　quarter　from

which　it　was　approaching；　and　could　take　timely　means　to　guard　against

it。〃

　　〃God　is　great！〃　exclaimed　the　pacific　Aben　Habuz；　〃what　a　treasure

would　be　such　a　ram　to　keep　an　eye　upon　these　mountains　around　me；　and

then　such　a　cock；　to　crow　in　time　of　danger！　Allah　Akbar！　how　securely

I　might　sleep　in　my　palace　with　such　sentinels　on　the　top！〃

　　The　astrologer　waited　until　the　ecstasies　of　the　king　had

subsided；　and　then　proceeded：

　　〃After　the　victorious　Amru　（may　he　rest　in　peace！）　had　finished

his　conquest　of　Egypt；　I　remained　among　the　priests　of　the　land；

studying　the　rites　and　ceremonies　of　their　idolatrous　faith；　and

seeking　to　make　myself　master　of　the　hidden　knowledge　for　which　they

are　renowned。　I　was　one　day　seated　on　the　banks　of　the　Nile；

conversing　with　an　ancient　priest；　when　he　pointed　to　the　mighty

pyramids　which　rose　like　mountains　out　of　the　neighboring　desert。　'All

that　we　can　teach　thee；'　said　he；　'is　nothing　to　the　knowledge

locked　up　in　those　mighty　piles。　In　the　centre　of　the　central

pyramid　is　a　sepulchral　chamber；　in　which　is　inclosed　the　mummy　of　the

high…priest；　who　aided　in　rearing　that　stupendous　pile；　and　with　him

is　buried　a　wondrous　book　of　knowledge　containing　all　the　secrets　of

magic　and　art。　This　book　was　given　to　Adam　after　his　fall；　and　was

handed　down　from　generation　to　generation　to　King　Solomon　the　wise；

and　by　its　aid　he　built　the　temple　of　Jerusalem。　How　it　came　into

the　possession　of　the　builder　of　the　pyramids；　is　known　to　him　alone

who　knows　all　things。'

　　〃When　I　heard　these　words　of　the　Egyptian　priest；　my　heart　burned　to

get　possession　of　that　book。　I　could　command　the　services　of　many　of

the　soldiers　of　our　conquering　army；　and　of　a　number　of　the　native

Egyptians：　with　these　I　set　to　work；　and　pierced　the　solid　mass　of　the

pyramid；　until；　after　great　toil；　I　came　upon　one　of　its　interior

and　hidden　passages。　Following　this　up；　and　threading　a　fearful

labyrinth；　I　penetrated　into　the　very　heart　of　the　pyramid；　even　to

the　sepulchral　chamber；　where　the　mummy　of　the　high…priest　had　lain

for　ages。　I　broke　through　the　outer　cases　of　the　mummy；　unfolded　its

many　wrappers　and　bandages；　and　at　length　found　the　precious　volume　on

its　bosom。　I　seized　it　with　a　trembling　hand；　and　groped　my　way　out　of

the　pyramid；　leaving　the　mummy　in　its　dark　and　silent　sepulchre；　there

to　await　the　final　day　of　resurrection　and　judgment。〃

　　〃Son　of　Abu　Ayub；〃　exclaimed　Aben　Habuz；　〃thou　hast　been　a　great

traveller；　and　seen　marvellous　things；　but　of　what　avail　to　me　is

the　secret　of　the　pyramid；　and　the　volume　of　knowledge　of　the　wise

Solomon？〃

　　〃This　it　is；　O　king！　By　the　study　of　that　book　I　am　instructed　in

all　magic　arts；　and　can　command　the　assistance　of　genii　to

accomplish　my　plans。　The　mystery　of　the　Talisman　of　Borsa　is　therefore

familiar　to　me；　and　such　a　talisman　can　I　make；　nay；　one　of　greater

virtues。〃

　　〃O　wise　son　of　Abu　Ayub；〃　cried　Aben　Habuz；　〃better　were　such　a

talisman；　than　all　the　watchtowers　on　the　hills；　and　sentinels　upon

the　borders。　Give　me　a　safeguard；　and　the　riches　of　my　treasury　are　at

thy　command。〃

　　The　astrologer　immediately　set　to　work　to　gratify　the　wishes　of

the　monarch。　He　caused　a　great　tower　to　be　erected　upon　the　top　of　the

royal　palace；　which　stood　on　the　brow　of　the　hill　of　the　Albaycin。　The

tower　was　built　of　stones　brought　from　Egypt；　and　taken；　it　is　said；

from　one　of　the　pyramids。　In　the　upper　part　of　the　tower　was　a

circular　hall；　with　windows　looking　towards　every　point　of　the

compass；　and　before　each　window　was　a　table；　on　which　was　arranged；　as

on　a　chess…board；　a　mimic　army　of　horse　and　foot；　with　the　effigy　of

the　potentate　that　ruled　in　that　direction；　all　carved　of　wood。　To

each　of　these　tables　there　was　a　small　lance；　no　bigger　than　a　bodkin；

on　which　were　engraved　certain　Chaldaic　characters。　This　hall　was　kept

constantly　closed；　by　a　gate　of　brass；　with　a　great　lock　of　steel；　the

key　of　which　was　in　possession　of　the　king。

　　On　the　top　of　the　tower　was　a　bronze　figure　of　a　Moorish　horseman；

fixed　on　a　pivot；　with　a　shield　on　one　arm；　and　his　lance　elevated

perpendicularly。　The　face　of　this　horseman　was　towards　the　city；　as　if

keeping　guard　over　it；　but　if　any　foe　were　at　hand；　the　figure　would

turn　in　that　direction；　and　would　level　the　lance　as　if　for　action。

　　When　this　talisman　was　finished；　Aben　Habuz　was　all　impatient　to　try

its　virtues；　and　longed　as　ardently　for　an　invasion　as　he　had　ever

sighed　after　repose。　His　desire　was　soon　gratified。　Tidings　were

brought；　early　one　morning；　by　the　sentinel　appointed　to　watch　the

tower；　that　the　face　of　the　bronze　horseman　was　turned　towards　the

mountains　of　Elvira；　and　that　his　lance　pointed　directly　against　the

Pass　of　Lope。

　　〃Let　the　drums　and　trumpets　sound　to　arms；　and　all　Granada　be　put　on

the　alert；〃　said　Aben　Habuz。

　　〃O　king；〃　said　the　astrologer；　〃Let　not　your　city　be　disquieted；　nor

your　warriors　called　to　arms；　we　need　no　aid　of　force　to　deliver　you

from　your　enemies。　Dismiss　your　attendants；　and　let　us　proceed　alone

to　the　secret　hall　of　the　tower。〃

　　The　ancient　Aben　Habuz　mounted　the　staircase　of　the　tower；　leaning

on　the　arm　of　the　still　more　ancient　Ibrahim　Ebn　Abu　Ayub。　They

unlocked　the　brazen　door　and　entered。　The　window　that　looked　towards

the　Pass　of　Lope　was　open。　〃In　this　direction；〃　said　the　astrologer；

〃lies　the　danger；　approach；　O　king；　and　behold　the　mystery　of　the

table。〃

　　King　Aben　Habuz　approached　the　seeming　chess…board；　on　which　were

arranged　the　small　wooden　effigies；　when；　to　his　surprise；　he

perceived　that　they　were　all　in　motion。　The　horses　pranced　and

curveted；　the　warriors　brandished　their　weapons；　and　there　was　a　faint

sound　of　drums　and　trumpets；　and　the　clang　of　arms；　and　neighing　of

steeds；　but　all　no　louder；　nor　more　distinct；　than　the　hum　of　the　bee；

or　the　summer…fly；　in　the　drowsy　ear　of　him　who　lies　at　noontide　in

the　shade。

　　〃Behold；　O　king；〃　said　the　astro