Leila

Leila by Edward Bulwer Lytton,
Complete

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Title: Leila or, The Siege of Granada, Complete
Author: Edward Bulwer Lytton

Release Date: January 2006 [EBook #9761] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on October 9,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, LEILA, BY
LYTTON ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger [[email protected]]

LEILA
OR,
THE SIEGE OF GRANADA
BY
EDWARD BULWER LYTTON
Complete

BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
THE ENCHANTER AND THE WARRIOR.

It was the summer of the year 1491, and the armies of Ferdinand and
Isabel invested the city of Granada.
The night was not far advanced; and the moon, which broke through
the transparent air of Andalusia, shone calmly over the immense and
murmuring encampment of the Spanish foe, and touched with a hazy
light the snow- capped summits of the Sierra Nevada, contrasting the
verdure and luxuriance which no devastation of man could utterly
sweep from the beautiful vale below.
In the streets of the Moorish city many a group still lingered. Some, as
if unconscious of the beleaguering war without, were listening in quiet
indolence to the strings of the Moorish lute, or the lively tale of an
Arabian improrvisatore; others were conversing with such eager and
animated gestures, as no ordinary excitement could wring from the
stately calm habitual to every oriental people. But the more public
places in which gathered these different groups, only the more
impressively heightened the desolate and solemn repose that brooded
over the rest of the city.
At this time, a man, with downcast eyes, and arms folded within the
sweeping gown which descended to his feet, was seen passing through
the streets, alone, and apparently unobservent of all around him. Yet
this indifference was by no means shared by the struggling crowds
through which, from time to time, he musingly swept.
"God is great!" said one man; "it is the Enchanter Almamen."
"He hath locked up the manhood of Boabdil el Chico with the key of
his spells," quoth another, stroking his beard; "I would curse him, if I
dared."
"But they say that he hath promised that when man fails, the genii will
fight for Granada," observed a third, doubtingly.
"Allah Akbar! what is, is! what shall be, shall be!" said a fourth, with
all the solemn sagacity of a prophet. Whatever their feelings, whether
of awe or execration, terror or hope, each group gave way as Almamen

passed, and hushed the murmurs not intended for his ear. Passing
through the Zacatin (the street which traversed the Great Bazaar), the
reputed enchanter ascended a narrow and winding street, and arrived at
last before the walls that encircled the palace and fortress of the
Alhambra.
The sentry at the gate saluted and admitted him in silence; and in a few
moments his form was lost in the solitude of groves, amidst which, at
frequent openings, the spray of Arabian fountains glittered in the
moonlight; while, above, rose the castled heights of the Alhambra; and
on the right those Vermilion Towers, whose origin veils itself in the
furthest ages of Phoenician enterprise.
Almamen paused, and surveyed the scene. "Was Aden more lovely?"
he muttered; "and shall so fair a spot be trodden by the victor Nazerene?
What matters? creed chases creed--race, race--until time comes back to
its starting-place, and beholds the reign restored to the eldest faith and
the eldest tribe. The horn of our strength shall be exalted."
At these thoughts the seer relapsed into silence, and gazed long and
intently upon the stars, as, more numerous and brilliant with every step
of the advancing night, their rays broke on the playful waters, and
tinged with silver the various and breathless foliage. So earnest was his
gaze, and