ar di quella vita,
Che ricever dovrei dal mio nemico.

_Metastasio._

We must now recall the reader's attention to that portion of the history
of the rebellious Moors, which is in some measure connected with our
tale. The forty chiefs, who had been elected in the revolt of the
Albaycin, succeeded, as we have already seen, in disseminating their
sentiments through many towns and villages in the jurisdiction of the
Alpujarras: their efforts, however, were almost invariably unsuccessful.
In most of their encounters, the Moors were either entirely worsted, or
compelled to seek for safety in flight; yet they persevered in their
designs. Defeats and repeated crosses, instead of subduing, tended only
to increase their courage, by adding to the desire of vengeance.

The rebels had already sustained some severe reverses; amongst which the
most prominent was the loss of the town of Guejar, which, after a
protracted and desperate resistance, had been taken by storm by the
combined forces of Count de Tendilla and the famous Gonzalo de Cordova.
Most of the Moors either perished in the defence, or were put to the
sword by the conquerors; whilst the Castle itself was given up to the
flames.

The Count de Lerin next possessed himself of the fortress and town of
Andarax; and, exasperated at the resistance of the inhabitants, who
continued to protract the defence, although without any chance of
success, he at length blew up the Mosque, where a considerable number
had fled for shelter, along with the women and children.

Thus of the three strong holds of the rebels, Lanjaron was the only one
that now remained unconquered, and this indeed appeared to offer a more
formidable resistance, chiefly on account of the garrison having el
Negro for a leader--a man of mean origin, but extraordinary courage and
resolution. These qualities, together with the services which he had
already rendered to the Moorish cause in the wars of Granada, had
acquired for him the confidence of his countrymen, who had accordingly
intrusted him with the command of this important post. He was a man of
severe habits, with a natural ferocity of character, which, although not
calculated to conciliate, nevertheless succeeded in commanding the
respect and obedience of his troops.

The castle of Lanjaron, situated in the vale of Lecrin, was considered a
post of the utmost consequence, not only from the strength of its
defences, bu