irresistible force. Despair has made cowards brave: shall it sink the
brave to cowards? Let us arouse the people; hitherto we have depended
too much upon the nobles. Let us collect our whole force, and march upon
this new city, while the soldiers of Spain are employed in their new
profession of architects and builders. Hear me, O God and prophet of the
Moslem! hear one who never was forsworn! If, Moors of Granada, ye adopt
my counsel, I cannot promise ye victory, but I promise ye never to live
without it: I promise ye, at least, your independence--for the dead know
no chains! If we cannot live, let us so die that we may leave to
remotest ages a glory that shall be more durable than kingdoms.
King of Granada! this is the counsel of Muza Ben Abil Gazan."

The prince ceased. But he, whose faintest word had once breathed fire
into the dullest, had now poured out his spirit upon frigid and lifeless
matter. No man answered--no man moved.

Boabdil alone, clinging to the shadow of hope, turned at last towards the
audience.

"Warriors and sages!" he said, "as Muza's counsel is your king's desire,
say but the word, and, ere the hour-glass shed its last sand, the blast
of our trumpet shall be ringing through the Vivarrambla."

"O king! fight not against the will of fate--God is great!" replied the
chief of the alfaquis.

"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.