40, c.

29.
Muley Abul Hassan remained unmoved amidst all this storm; his heart was hardened (observes Fray Antonio Agapida) like that of Pharaoh, to the end that through his blind violence and rage he might produce the deliverance of the land from its heathen bondage.

In fact, he was a bold and fearless warrior, and trusted soon to make this blow recoil upon the head of the enemy.

He had ascertained that the captors of Alhama were but a handful: they were in the centre of his dominions, within a short distance of his capital.

They were deficient in munitions of war and provisions for sustaining a siege.