iars； robbers； traitors； and poltroons。
His ambition was of a lofty kind： he sought to distinguish himself and his family by heroic and resounding deeds； and to increase the patrimony of his ancestors by the acquisition of castles； domains； vassals； and other princely possessions。 His recreations were all of a warlike nature； he delighted in geometry as applied to fortifications； and spent much time and treasure in erecting and repairing fortresses。 He relished music； but of a military kindthe sound of clarions and sackbuts； of drums and trumpets。 Like a true cavalier； he was a protector of the sex on all occasions； and an injured woman never applied to him in vain for redress。 His prowess was so well known； and his courtesy to the fair； that the ladies of the court； when they accompanied the queen to the wars； rejoiced to find themselves under his protection； for wherever his banner was displayed the Moors dreaded to adventure。 He was a faithful and devoted friend； but a formidable enemy； for he was slow to forgive； and his vengeance was persevering and terrible。
The death of this good and well…beloved cavalier spread grief and lamentation throughout all ranks。 His relations； dependants； and companions…in…arms put on mourning for his loss； and so numerous were they that half of Seville was clad in black。 None； however； deplored his death more deeply and sincerely than his friend and chosen companion Don Alonso de Aguilar。
The funeral ceremonies were of the most solemn and sumptuous kind。 The body of the marques was arrayed in a costly shirt； a doublet of brocade； a sayo or long robe of black velvet； a marlota or Moorish tunic of brocade reaching to the feet； and scarlet stockings。 His sword； superbly gilt； was girded to his side； as he used to wear it when in the field。 Thus magnificently attired； the body was enclosed in a coffin which was covered with black velvet and decorated with a cross of white damask。 It was then placed on a sumptuous bier in the centre of the great hall of the palace。 Here the duchess made great lamentation over the body of her lord； in which she was joined by her train of damsels and attendants； as well as by the pages and esquires and innumerable vassals。
In the close of the evening； just before the Ave Maria； the funeral train issued from the palace。 Ten banners were borne around the bier； the particular trophies of the marques won from the Moors by his valor in individual enterprises before King Ferdinand had commenced the war of Granada。 The procession was swelled by an immense train of bishops； priests； and friars of different orders； together with the civil and military authorities and all the chivalry of Seville； headed by the count of Cifuentes； at that time intendente or commander of the city。 It moved slowly and solemnly through the streets； stopping occasionally and chanting litanies and responses。 Two hundred and forty waxen tapers shed a light like the day about the bier。 The balconies and windows were crowded with ladies； who shed tears as the funeral train passed by； while the women of the lower classes were loud in their lamentations； as if bewailing the loss of a father or a brother。 On approaching the convent of St。 Augustine the monks came forth with the cross and tapers and eight censers and conducted the body into the church； where it lay in state until all the vigils were performed by the different orders； after which it was deposited in the family tomb of the Ponces in the same church； and the ten banners were suspended over the sepulchre。*
*Cura de los Palacios； c。104。
The tomb of the valiant Roderigo Ponce de Leon； with his banners mouldering above it； remained for ages an object of veneration with all who had read or heard of his virtues and achievements。 In the year 1810； however； the chapel was sacked by the French； its altars were overturned； and the sepulchres of the family of the Ponces shattered to pieces。 The present duchess of Benevente； the worthy descendant of this illustrious and heroic line； has since piously collected the ashes of her ancestors； restored the altar； and repaired the chapel。 The sepulchres； however； were utterly destroyed： an inscription in gold letters on the wall of the chapel to the right of the altar is all that denotes the place of sepulture of the brave Ponce de Leon。
THE LEGEND OF THE DEATH OF DON ALONSO DE AGUILAR。
To such as feel an interest in the fortune of the valiant Don Alonso de Aguilar； the chosen friend and companion…in…arms of Ponce de Leon； marques of Cadiz； and one of the most distinguished heroes of the war of Granada； a few particulars of his remarkable fate will not be unacceptable。
For several years after the conquest of Granada the country remained feverish and unquiet。 The zealous efforts of the Catholic clergy to effect the conversion of the infidels； and the coercion used for that purpose by government； exasperated the stubborn Moors of the mountains。 Several missionaries were maltreated； and in the town of Dayrin two of them were seized and exhorted； with many menaces； to embrace the Moslem faith； on their resolutely refusing they were killed with staves and stones by the Moorish women and children； and their bodies burnt to ashes。*
*Cura de los Palacios； c。 165。
Upon this event a body of Christian cavaliers assembled in Andalusia to the number of eight hundred； and； without waiting for orders from the king； revenged the death of these martyrs by plundering and laying waste the Moorish towns and villages。 The Moors fled to the mountains； and their cause was espoused by many of their nation who inhabited those rugged regions。 The storm of rebellion began to gather and mutter its thunders in the Alpuxarras。 They were echoed from the Serrania of Ronda； ever ready for rebellion； but the strongest hold of the insurgents was in the Sierra＇12＇Bermeja； or chain of Red Mountains； which lie near the sea； the savage rocks and precipices of which may be seen from Gibraltar。
When King Ferdinand heard of these tumults he issued a proclamation ordering all the Moors of the insurgent regions to leave them within ten days and repair to Castile； giving secret instructions； however； that those who should voluntarily embrace the Christian faith might be permitted to remain。 At the same time he ordered Don Alonso de Aguilar and the counts of Urena and Cifuentes to march against the rebels。
Don Alonso de Aguilar was at Cordova when he received the commands of the king。 〃What force is allotted us for this expedition？〃 said he。 On being told； he perceived that the number of troops was far from adequate。 〃When a man is dead；〃 said he； 〃we send four men into his house to bring forth the body。 We are now sent to chastise these Moors； who are alive； vigorous； in open rebellion； and ensconced in their castles； yet they do not give us man to man。〃 These words of the brave Alonso de Aguilar were afterward frequently repeated； but； though he saw the desperate nature of the enterprise； he did not hesitate to undertake it。
Don Alonso was at that time in the fifty…first year of his age a warrior in whom the fire of youth was yet unquenched； though tempered by experience。 The greater part of his life had been spent in camp and field until danger was as his habitual element。 His muscular frame had acquired the firmness of iron without the rigidity of age。 His armor and weapons seemed to have become a part of his nature； and he sat like a man of steel on his powerful war…horse。
He took with him on this expedition his son； Don Pedro de Cordova； a youth of bold and generous spirit； in the freshness of his days； and armed and arrayed with the bravery of a young Spanish cavalier。 When the populace of Cordova beheld the veteran father； the warrior of a thousand battles； leading forth his son to the field； they bethought themselves of the family appellation。 〃Behold；〃 cried they； 〃the eagle teaching his young to fly！ Long live the valiant line of Aguilar！〃*
*〃Aguilar；〃 the Spanish for eagle。
The prowess of Don Alonso and of his companions…in…arms was renowned throughout the Moorish towns。 At their approach； therefore； numbers of the Moors submitted； and hastened to Ronda to embrace Christianity。 Among the mountaineers； however； were many of the Gandules； a tribe from Africa； too proud of spirit to bend their necks to the yoke。 At their head was a Moor named El Feri of Ben Estepar； renowned for strength and courage。 At his instigation his followers gathered together their families and most precious effects； placed them on mules； and； driving before them their flocks and herds； abandoned their valleys and retired up the craggy passes of the Sierra＇13＇Bermeja。 On the summit was a fertile plain surrounded by rocks and precipices； which formed a natural fortress。 Here El Feri placed all the women and children and all the property。 By his orders his followers piled great stones on the rocks and cliffs which commanded the defiles and the steep sides of the mountain； and prepared to defend every pass that led to his place of refuge。
The Christian commanders arrived； and pitched their camp before the town of Monarda； a strong place； curiously fortified； and situated at the foot of the highest part of the Sierra ＇14＇Bermeja。 Here they remained for several days； unable to compel a surrender。 They were separated from the skirt of the mountain by a deep barranca； or ravine； at the bottom of which flowed a small stream。 The Moors commanded by El Feri drew down from their mountain…height； and remained on the opposite side of the brook to defend a pass which led up to their stronghold。
One afternoon a number of Christian soldiers in mere bravado seized a banner； crossed the brook； and； scrambling up the opposite bank； attacked the Moors。 They were followed by numbers of their companions； some in aid； some in emulation； but most in hope of booty。 A sharp action ensued on the mountain…side。 The Moors were greatly superior in number； and had the vantage…ground。 When the counts of Urena and Cifuentes beheld the skirmish； they asked Don Alonso de Aguilar his opinion。 〃My opinion；〃 said he； 〃was given at Cordova； and remains the same： this is a desperate enterprise。 However； the Moors are