ce more become your enemy, and contest every point of precedence
with you."

The soul of the Christian prince was not sufficiently noble, however,
to prompt him to confide himself to the monarch who had uttered these
sentiments, and he escaped from the camp. Alphonso died soon after
this event, disinheriting his guilty son before he expired, A.D. 1284,
Heg. 683.

Sancho[4] reigned in his father's stead, however, notwithstanding this
prohibition, and international troubles convulsed Castile anew.

Mohammed seized this moment to enter Andalusia. He gained several
battles, and took some important places in that kingdom, and thus
victoriously terminated a long and glorious reign, A.D. 1302, Heg. 703.

{137}

This Mohammed _Emir al Mumenim_, the principal political events of
whose life have now been briefly narrated, was a munificent patron of
the fine arts. He added their charms to the attractions of a court
which poets, philosophers, and astronomers alike contributed to render
celebrated.

As an illustration of the scientific superiority that the Moors still
maintained over the Spaniards, the fact may be mentioned that Alphonso
the Sage, king of Castile, availed himself, in the arrangement of his
astronomical tables (still known as the _Alphonsine Tables_), of the
assistance of some contemporary Moslem _savans_.

Grenada began by this time to replace Cordova. Architecture, above
all, made great advances. It was during the reign of Mohammed II. that
the famous palace of the Alhambra was commenced, a part of which still
remains to astonish travellers, whom its name alone suffices to attract
to Grenada.

To prove to what a height of perfection the Moors had succeeded in
carrying the art, then so little known to Europeans, of uniting the
magnificent and the luxurious, a few details may perhaps be pardoned
concerning this {138} singular edifice, and as an illustration, also,
of the particular manners and customs of the Moors.

The Alhambra, as has been said, was at first only a vast fortress,
standing upon one of the two hills enclosed within the city of Grenada.
This hill, though environed on every side by the waters either of the
Darra or the Xenil, was defended, in addition, by a double enclosure of
walls. It was on the summit of this elevation, which overlooked the
whole city, and from which one might behold the most beautiful prospect
in the world, in the midst of an esplanade covered with trees and
fount