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key of which was in possession of the king。
On the top of the tower was a bronze figure of a Moorish horseman；
fixed on a pivot； with a shield on one arm； and his lance elevated
perpendicularly。 The face of this horseman was towards the city； as if
keeping guard over it； but if any foe were at hand； the figure would
turn in that direction； and would level the lance as if for action。
When this talisman was finished； Aben Habuz was all impatient to try
its virtues； and longed as ardently for an invasion as he had ever
sighed after repose。 His desire was soon gratified。 Tidings were
brought； early one morning； by the sentinel appointed to watch the
tower； that the face of the bronze horseman was turned towards the
mountains of Elvira； and that his lance pointed directly against the
Pass of Lope。
〃Let the drums and trumpets sound to arms； and all Granada be put on
the alert；〃 said Aben Habuz。
〃O king；〃 said the astrologer； 〃Let not your city be disquieted； nor
your warriors called to arms； we need no aid of force to deliver you
from your enemies。 Dismiss your attendants； and let us proceed alone
to the secret hall of the tower。〃
The ancient Aben Habuz mounted the staircase of the tower； leaning
on the arm of the still more ancient Ibrahim Ebn Abu Ayub。 They
unlocked the brazen door and entered。 The window that looked towards
the Pass of Lope was open。 〃In this direction；〃 said the astrologer；
〃lies the danger； approach； O king； and behold the mystery of the
table。〃
King Aben Habuz approached the seeming chess…board； on which were
arranged the small wooden effigies； when； to his surprise； he
perceived that they were all in motion。 The horses pranced and
curveted； the warriors brandished their weapons； and there was a faint
sound of drums and trumpets； and the clang of arms； and neighing of
steeds； but all no louder； nor more distinct； than the hum of the bee；
or the summer…fly； in the drowsy ear of him who lies at noontide in
the shade。
〃Behold； O king；〃 said the astrologer； 〃a proof that thy enemies are
even now in the field。 They must be advancing through yonder
mountains； by the Pass of Lope。 Would you produce a panic and
confusion amongst them； and cause them to retreat without loss of
life； strike these effigies with the but…end of this magic lance；
would you cause bloody feud and carnage； strike with the point。〃
A livid streak passed across the countenance of Aben Habuz； he
seized the lance with trembling eagerness； his gray beard wagged
with exultation as he tottered toward the table： 〃Son of Abu Ayub；〃
exclaimed he； in chuckling tone； 〃I think we will have a little
blood！〃
So saying； he thrust the magic lance into some of the pigmy
effigies； and belabored others with the but…end； upon which the former
fell as dead upon the board； and the rest turning upon each other
began； pell…mell； a chance…medley fight。
It was with difficulty the astrologer could stay the hand of the
most pacific of monarchs； and prevent him from absolutely
exterminating his foes； at length he prevailed upon him to leave the
tower； and to send out scouts to the mountains by the Pass of Lope。
They returned with the intelligence； that a Christian army had
advanced through the heart of the Sierra； almost within sight of
Granada； where a dissension had broken out among them； they had turned
their weapons against each other； and after much slaughter had
retreated over the border。
Aben Habuz was transported with joy on thus proving the efficacy
of the talisman。 〃At length；〃 said he； 〃I shall lead a life of
tranquillity； and have all my enemies in my power。 O wise son of Abu
Ayub； what can I bestow on thee in reward for such a blessing？〃
〃The wants of an old man and a philosopher； O king； are few and
simple； grant me but the means of fitting up my cave as a suitable
hermitage； and I am content。〃
〃How noble is the moderation of the truly wise！〃 exclaimed Aben
Habuz； secretly pleased at the cheapness of the recompense。 He
summoned his treasurer； and bade him dispense whatever sums might be
required by Ibrahim to complete and furnish his hermitage。
The astrologer now gave orders to have various chambers hewn out
of the solid rock； so as to form ranges of apartments connected with
his astrological hall； these he caused to be furnished with
luxurious ottomans and divans； and the walls to be hung with the
richest silks of Damascus。 〃I am an old man；〃 said he； 〃and can no
longer rest my bones on stone couches； and these damp walls require
covering。〃
He had baths too constructed； and provided with all kinds of
perfumes and aromatic oils： 〃For a bath；〃 said he； 〃is necessary to
counteract the rigidity of age； and to restore freshness and
suppleness to the frame withered by study。〃
He caused the apartments to be hung with innumerable silver and
crystal lamps； which he filled with a fragrant oil； prepared according
to a receipt discovered by him in the tombs of Egypt。 This oil was
perpetual in its nature； and diffused a soft radiance like the
tempered light of day。 〃The light of the sun；〃 said he； 〃is too garish
and violent for the eyes of an old man； and the light of the lamp is
more congenial to the studies of a philosopher。〃
The treasurer of King Aben Habuz groaned at the sums daily
demanded to fit up this hermitage； and he carried his complaints to
the king。 The royal word； however； had been given； Aben Habuz shrugged
his shoulders： 〃We must have patience；〃 said he； 〃this old man has
taken his idea of a philosophic retreat from the interior of the
pyramids； and of the vast ruins of Egypt； but all things have an
end； and so will the furnishing of his cavern。〃
The king was in the right； the hermitage was at length complete； and
formed a sumptuous subterranean palace。 The astrologer expressed
himself perfectly content； and； shutting himself up； remained for
three whole days buried in study。 At the end of that time he
appeared again before the treasurer。 〃One thing more is necessary；〃
said he； 〃one trifling solace for the intervals of mental labor。〃
〃O wise Ibrahim； I am bound to furnish every thing necessary for thy
solitude； what more dost thou require？〃
〃I would fain have a few dancing women。〃
〃Dancing women！〃 echoed the treasurer； with surprise。
〃Dancing women；〃 replied the sage； gravely； 〃and let them be young
and fair to look upon； for the sight of youth and beauty is
refreshing。 A few will suffice； for I am a philosopher of simple
habits and easily satisfied。〃
While the philosophic Ibrahim Ebn Abu Ayub passed his time thus
sagely in his hermitage； the pacific Aben Habuz carried on furious
campaigns in effigy in his tower。 It was a glorious thing for an old
man； like himself； of quiet habits； to have war made easy； and to be
enabled to amuse himself in his chamber by brushing away whole
armies like so many swarms of flies。
For a time he rioted in the indulgence of his humors； and even