第113章

Seeing that the dawn of Saturday was now breaking,the drums and trumpets and other music in the King's camp began to sound and the men to shout,so that it seemed as if the sky would fall to the earth;then the neighing and excitement of the horses,and the trumpeting of the elephants,it is impossible for any one to describe how it was.But even if told in simple truth it would hardly be believed the great fear and terror that struck those who heard it,so that even those very men that caused the noise were themselves frightened at it.And the enemy on their part made no less noise,so that if you asked anything you could not hear yourself speak and you had to ask by signs,since in no other manner could you make yourself understood.When all in the camp had gone to the front it was already two hours after sunrise,and the King ordered an advance of his two forward divisions,with command so to strike home that they should leave not one of the enemy alive;and this was forthwith done.They attacked the enemy so hotly that many of the King's troops found themselves on the tops of the trenches[554]that the Moors had constructed in the fields.The Moors were disposed as if they expected that the King would engage them all at once with all his forces,and so it appeared to the Ydallcao and to his officers;and for that reason he held ready all his artillery,waiting for the time when,owing to the adventurousness of their main body,his men must of necessity cause much slaughter in their ranks.Then he intended to bring up his artillery and destroy them.But as soon as he saw the manner of their attack the Ydallcao had to abandon the plan that had seemed to him best for their safety,and he commended the whole of the artillery at once to open fire;which discharge,as it was very great,did much damage to the enemy,killing many of the horse and foot and many elephants,and it compelled the King's troops to retire.As soon as the Moors saw their enemies beginning to leave the field they charged all amongst them,so that there did not remain one man in the saddle nor one who kept his face to the foe;but all the King's troops began to fly,and the Moors after them,slaughtering them for about half a league.When the King saw the way in which his troops fled he began to cry out that they were traitors,and that he would see who was his side;and that since they all had to die they should meet their fate boldly according to custom.[555]