The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-01
GEL Ultimo suspiro del Moro"
BY p. c. oGLEsBY.


1T is related by Spanish and Arabian chroni-
clers that afte: the surrender of Granada
Boabdil, the Moorish king, while on the way
with his family and retainers to take up his
allotted residence in the valley of Purchena
having assembled in the skirts of the Alpuxar>
ra mountains an eminence which commanded
the last view OF Granada, he and his cavalcade
paused Involuntary for a last look upon the
splendid city which had been their home. AS
the Inflated monarch gazed upon the lovely
scene the grief which overcharged his heart
found vent in tears. From this circumstance
the hill was named by the Spaniards Ell Ulhmo
Slspiro del Nero; or, The Last Sigh of the
Moor.
The Faithful stood upon the hight.
Touched with the gloom Of gath'rlng night,
And with the diving of the day
Died every &oSlem hoLe away
AS Adam turned his lingering eyes
To look his last on Paradise
Thus did the exiled Mosiem band
Look for the last upon their land.
Granada, with its towers aud domes,
Its palaces and princely homes.
Before them lay in all It's splendors.
Red with the blood of its defenders;
Behind them Afric's torgid coast;
Before, the conQuering Christian host.
In that fair land by Allah given,
From lslams sons rudey riven-
A nation born mid wars alarms,
Its lullaby the clash of arms
The hardy warriors Of the East
Had from the tolls of battle ceased;
And having found from war release
To cultivate the arts of peace
Had there mighty empire reared.
Where il the West there first appeared
The quick ming touch of Eastern light,
Dispell!ng Europe's blacklist night.
There splendid cities they had founded,
BY wealth and luxury surrounded,
Adorned with nrt and beauty rare;-
And learning had its temples there;
The sciences of Eastern sageS-
The boarded wealth Of countless ages
And Eastern courtesy and grace
In Europe found dwelling place.
A gift from Allah, that fair land
HAD been adorned with lavish hand:
The chiefest gem in IsIams crown,
The world was filled with its renown.
The zenith of its glory gained.
BY arms acquired, by arms maintained,
Its valiant sons skilled in defense,
IL seemed secure of pernonence;
But though for centuries mistaken
Twas now at last by fate o'ertaken!
But as the lion. pressed by foes,
Fights bravely i'll his dying throes
Did Islam s sous their homes defend,
Nor deigned a servile knee TO bend
When overwhelmed by Christian might
While still an arm had strength to fight.
But Allah now his seal had set
And all the land with blood was wet;
Granada, with its orange groves,
The scene of Moslem hopes and loves
Which bloomed an earthly Paradise
Was now the Christian victor's prize;
And ended now was Islams sway,
Its splendid empire torn away,
And nevermore in sunny Spain
Its standard would be raised againl
O. thou. Boabdil, cursed of fate.
On whom misfortunes ever waitl
Vain are thy bosom S fruitless signs,
Vain are the teardrops in thine eyes;
WHY QOSt thou woman
For what as man thou couldst not kept
wanderer in foreign lands
And doomed to die on Afric's sands,
Fighting to save anothers throne
AS thou fought'st not to save thine own.
But through their o'ercharged bosoms' swell
The words ofresignation fell:
Allah is Allah! God is God!
We humby bow beneath thy rod:
There is no other; and toy will,
Which ever led must lead us still
Though heavy be thy Christening hand
Thy mysteries none understand
Though doubts and fears the soul assail,
The will of Allah must prevail.
Whatever is or what may be,
lie weaves the web of destiny
OF each and all, though small or great,
And God is God, and fate is fate
The light grows dim on Mecca s fanss;
Before the Cross the Crescent wanes,
And in the East, where wisdom dwelt,
The biZhting touch of time is felt.
The treasures OF Arab lore
That lit the world, are now no more,
aud cen the force of Isam's arms
NO more has power to wake alarms.
The day which dawned with Mannoud bright
Is Swallowed by the nearing night,
And Oriental power and prize
Recede before the restless tide
Which Occidental genius pours
Upon the East's devoted shores
Though man-made creeds may live their day
And for time hold potent sway.
Yet all must meet their final hour
And perish as the morning flower.
Thus Islams destiny is writ:
The shadows Of its twilight fit
Above the sleeping Orient.
Its glory aud its grandeur spent:
And when at last its day is zone,
AS in the ocean sinks the sun
Twill sink into oblivion.
Mnr,,a Hats Rnua, Hata