Ozmin really thought that his mistress wrote thus to amuse herself, and therefore answered her in a jesting manner. He even went further, for at the next interview he paid particular court to Elvira, who received his attentions in the most sensible manner, and returned them with usury. Daraxa, agreeably to her friend’s request, then interrogated him about his country and birth, and the present condition of his fortune. He replied, without hesitation, that he was a gentleman of Arragon, and that his name was Don Jaymé Vivez; that, having been taken by the Moors, and set at liberty by the capitulation of Baza, he was waiting in expectation of remittances from his family, to enable him to put himself into a condition to appear at Court. The story was simple and plausible, and sufficiently satisfactory to Donna Elvira, who, having inquired if there was a family in Arragon of the name of Vivez, learned, with extreme satisfaction, that it was one of the most illustrious in the kingdom. This intrigue became by degrees very distressing to our two lovers. Elvira was really in love, and became more troublesome to them in proportion as her love increased. Ozmin no sooner perceived that she was in earnest, than he completely altered his behaviour towards her, and only addressed her in a civil and polite manner; but Elvira’s passion increased without his assistance. Daraxa, well satisfied with Ozmin’s conduct, pitied her friend sincerely, and would gladly have undeceived her; but she feared that such behaviour on her part would have excited Elvira’s jealousy, the effects of which were too much to be feared in the present condition of her fortune. In the mean time Spring came on, and gave quite another face to the affairs at Court. Ferdinand resolved to open the campaign by the siege of Granada; and the Moors, who had foreseen that this would be the case, were preparing to do their best in defence of so important a place. They had in the city a garrison of fifteen thousand men, of the best troops of King Mahomet. The Catholic King was well aware of this, and therefore had taken the precaution to solicit, by his Ministers, as well as through the interposition of the Pope, the assistance of the other Christian Princes, to execute his design of chasing all the Infidels out of Spain. Many of these Princes had promised succours; and as soon as he was well assured that their troops were advancing to join him, he set forward himself at the head of his army, with the intention of surprising the Moors, and to give them no further time to fortify themselves.