“Alas!” said Abdelmelic, “if the voice of Muza and your own falls thus coldly upon us, how can ye stir the breadless and heartless multitude?” “Is such your general thought and your general will?” said Boabdil. An universal murmur answered, “Yes!” “Go then, Abdelmelic;” resumed the ill-starred king; “go with yon Spaniards to the Christian camp, and bring us back the best terms you can obtain. The crown has passed from the head of El Zogoybi; Fate sets her seal upon my brow. Unfortunate was the commencement of my reign--unfortunate its end. Break up the divan.” The words of Boabdil moved and penetrated an audience, never till then so alive to his gentle qualities, his learned wisdom, and his natural valour. Many flung themselves at his feet, with tears and sighs; and the crowd gathered round to touch the hem of his robe. Muza gazed at them in deep disdain, with folded arms and heaving breast. “Women, not men!” he exclaimed, “ye weep, as if ye had not blood still left to shed! Ye are reconciled to the loss of liberty, because ye are told ye shall lose nothing else. Fools and dupes! I see, from the spot where my spirit stands above ye, the dark and dismal future to which ye are crawling on your knees: bondage and rapine--the violence of lawless lust--the persecution of hostile faith--your gold wrung from ye by torture--your national name rooted from the soil. Bear this, and remember me! Farewell, Boabdil! you I pity not; for your gardens have yet a poison, and your armories a sword. Farewell, nobles and santons of Granada! I quit my country while it is yet free.” Scarcely had he ceased, ere he had disappeared from the hall. It was as the parting genius of Granada! CHAPTER IV. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SOLITARY HORSEMAN.