diff options
60 files changed, 17 insertions, 30701 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..533c5d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50352 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50352) diff --git a/old/50352-0.txt b/old/50352-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 4b053f2..0000000 --- a/old/50352-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14104 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Spanish Papers, by Washington Irving - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Spanish Papers - -Author: Washington Irving - -Release Date: October 31, 2015 [EBook #50352] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPANISH PAPERS *** - - - - -Produced by Josep Cols Canals, Ramon Pajares Box and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by the Library of Congress.) - - - - - - -TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE - - * Italics are denoted by underscores as in _italics_. - * Small caps are represented in upper case as in SMALL CAPS. - * Original spelling was kept, but variant spellings were made - consistent when a predominant usage was found. - * Obvious printer errors have been silently corrected. - * The following changes were also made: - Page 29: cheek → check (to check the indulgence) - Page 31: potents → portents (with these signs and portents) - Page 459: señoria → señorio (the señorio of Serpa) - Page 516: Argoti → Argote (Argote de Molina) - Page 521: pundoner → pundonor (“pundonor,” or point of honor) - * The text of chapter headings and of Table of Contents entries - have been made consistent. - * All chapters end with ornated illustrations, even when they were - not present in the printed book. - - - - -[Illustration: The Court of Dolls. Alcazar. Seville.] - -PHILADELPHIA J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. - - - - - SPANISH PAPERS. - - - BY - WASHINGTON IRVING. - - - EDITED BY - - PIERRE M. IRVING. - - - PHILADELPHIA: - J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. - 1872. - - - - -Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by - -G. P. PUTNAM AND SON, - -In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern -District of New York. - - - - -[Illustration] - -PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. - - -A limited edition of the “Legends of the Conquest of Spain,” with -which this volume commences, was published in 1835. These Legends, -consisting of the “Legend of Don Roderick,” the “Legend of the -Subjugation of Spain,” the “Legend of Count Julian and his Family,” -formed No. III. of the “Crayon Miscellany.” For the Chronicles -which follow them, with the exception of “Abderahman” and “Spanish -Romance,” which have appeared in the “Knickerbocker Magazine,” I have -drawn upon the unpublished manuscripts of Mr. Irving, bequeathed -to me by his will. This portion of the volume is illustrative of -the wars between the Spaniards and the Moors, and consists of the -“Legend of Pelayo,” the “Chronicle of Count Fernan Gonzalez,” the -most illustrious hero of his epoch, who united the kingdoms of Leon -and Castile; and the “Chronicle of Fernando the Saint,” that renowned -champion of the faith, under whom the greater part of Spain was -rescued from the Moors. I have selected these themes from a mass -of unpublished manuscript that came into my hands at the death of -Mr. Irving, because they bore the impress of being most nearly, -though not fully, prepared for the press, and because they had for -him a special fascination, arising in part, perhaps, from his long -residence in that romantic country. “These old Morisco-Spanish -subjects”—is the language of one of his published letters—“have a -charm that makes me content to write about them at half price. They -have so much that is high-minded, and chivalrous, and quaint, and -picturesque, and at times half comic, about them.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CONTENTS. - - - - -THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK. - -CHAPTER I. PAGE - -Of the Ancient Inhabitants of Spain.—Of the Misrule of Witiza the -Wicked. 1 - -CHAPTER II. - -The Rise of Don Roderick.—His Government. 8 - -CHAPTER III. - -Of the Loves of Roderick and the Princess Elyata. 13 - -CHAPTER IV. - -Of Count Julian. 19 - -CHAPTER V. - -The Story of Florinda. 22 - -CHAPTER VI. - -Don Roderick receives an Extraordinary Embassy. 31 - -CHAPTER VII. - -Story of the Marvelous and Portentous Tower. 35 - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Count Julian.—His Fortunes in Africa.—He hears of the Dishonor of his -Child.—His Conduct thereupon. 45 - -CHAPTER IX. - -Secret Visit of Count Julian to the Arab Camp.—First Expedition of -Taric el Tuerto. 53 - -CHAPTER X. - -Letter of Muza to the Caliph.—Second Expedition of Taric el -Tuerto. 58 - -CHAPTER XI. - -Measures of Don Roderick on Hearing of the Invasion.—Expedition of -Ataulpho.—Vision of Taric. 64 - -CHAPTER XII. - -Battle of Calpe.—Fate of Ataulpho. 69 - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Terror of the Country.—Roderick rouses himself to Arms. 76 - -CHAPTER XIV. - -March of the Gothic Army.—Encampment on the Banks of the -Guadalete.—Mysterious Predictions of a Palmer.—Conduct of Pelistes -thereupon. 82 - -CHAPTER XV. - -Skirmishing of the Armies.—Pelistes and his Son.—Pelistes and the -Bishop. 88 - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Traitorous Message of Count Julian. 93 - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Last Day of the Battle. 97 - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -The Field of Battle after the Defeat.—The Fate of Roderick. 103 - -ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOREGOING LEGEND. - -The Tomb of Roderick. 108 - -The Cave of Hercules. 109 - - -LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN. - -CHAPTER I. - -Consternation of Spain.—Conduct of the Conquerors.—Missives between -Taric and Muza. 119 - -CHAPTER II. - -Capture of Granada.—Subjugation of the Alpuxarra Mountains. 125 - -CHAPTER III. - -Expedition of Magued against Cordova.—Defense of the Patriot -Pelistes. 132 - -CHAPTER IV. - -Defense of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes. 136 - -CHAPTER V. - -Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor Julian. 142 - -CHAPTER VI. - -How Taric el Tuerto captured the City of Toledo through the Aid -of the Jews, and how he found the famous Talismanic Table of -Solomon. 146 - -CHAPTER VII. - -Muza ben Nosier.—His Entrance into Spain and Capture of -Carmona. 153 - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Muza marches against the City of Seville. 158 - -CHAPTER IX. - -Muza besieges the City of Merida. 160 - -CHAPTER X. - -Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and the “Land of -Tadmir.” 168 - -CHAPTER XI. - -Muza arrives at Toledo.—Interview between him and Taric. 177 - -CHAPTER XII. - -Muza prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest.—Siege of -Saragossa.—Complete Subjugation of Spain. 182 - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Feud between the Arab Generals.—They are summoned to appear before -the Caliph at Damascus.—Reception of Taric. 187 - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Muza arrives at Damascus.—His Interview with the Caliph.—The Table of -Solomon.—A rigorous Sentence. 193 - -CHAPTER XV. - -Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of Spain. 198 - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Loves of Abdalasis and Exilona. 203 - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Fate of Abdalasis and Exilona.—Death of Muza. 208 - - -LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY. - -Legend of Count Julian and his Family. 217 - -Note to the preceding Legend. 232 - - -THE LEGEND OF PELAYO. - -CHAPTER I. - -Obscurity of the Ancient Chronicles.—The Loves of Doña Lucia and the -Duke Favila.—Birth of Pelayo, and what happened thereupon; His Early -Fortunes, and his Tutelage under the veteran Count Grafeses. 237 - -CHAPTER II. - -What happened to Pelayo at the Court of Witiza. 246 - -CHAPTER III. - -How Pelayo lived among the Mountains of Cantabria.—His Adventure -with the Needy Hidalgo of Gascony and the Rich Merchant of -Bordeaux.—Discourse of the Holy Hermit. 249 - -CHAPTER IV. - -Pilgrimage of Pelayo, and what befell him on his Return to -Spain. 261 - -CHAPTER V. - -The Battle of Covadonga. 268 - -CHAPTER VI. - -Pelayo becomes King of Leon.—His Death. 274 - - -ABDERAHMAN: THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE OMMIADES OF SPAIN. - -CHAPTER I. - -Of the Youthful Fortunes of Abderahman. 279 - -CHAPTER II. - -Landing of Abderahman in Spain.—Condition of the Country. 289 - -CHAPTER III. - -Triumphs of Abderahman.—The Palm-tree which he planted, and -the Verses he composed thereupon.—Insurrections.—His Enemies -subdued.—Undisputed Sovereign of the Moslems of Spain.—Begins the -famous Mosque in Cordova.—His Death. 293 - - -CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ, COUNT OF CASTILE. - -Introduction. 313 - -CHAPTER I. - -Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as Count of Castile.—His First -Campaign against the Moors.—Victory of San Quirce.—How the Count -disposed of the Spoils. 316 - -CHAPTER II. - -Of the Sally from Burgos, and Surprise of the Castle of -Lara.—Capitulation of the Town.—Visit to Alfonso the Great, King of -Leon. 321 - -CHAPTER III. - -Expedition against the Fortress of Muñon.—Desperate Defense of the -Moors.—Enterprise against Castro Xeriz. 326 - -CHAPTER IV. - -How the Count of Castile and the King of Leon make a Triumphant Foray -into the Moorish Country.—Capture of Salamanca.—Of the Challenge -brought by the Herald, and of the Count’s Defiance. 329 - -CHAPTER V. - -A Night Assault upon the Castle of Carazo.—The Moorish Maiden who -betrayed the Garrison. 331 - -CHAPTER VI. - -Death of Alfonso, King of Leon.—The Moors determined to strike a -fresh Blow at the Count, who summons all Castile to his Standard.—Of -his Hunt in the Forest while waiting for the Enemy, and of the Hermit -that he met with. 335 - -CHAPTER VII. - -The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares. 340 - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Of the Message sent by the Count to Sancho II., King of Navarre, and -the Reply.—Their Encounter in Battle. 343 - -CHAPTER IX. - -How the Count of Toulouse makes a Campaign against Castile, and how -he returns in his Coffin. 347 - -CHAPTER X. - -How the Count went to receive the Hand of a Princess, and was thrown -into a Dungeon.—Of the Stranger that visited him in his Chains, and -of the Appeal that he made to the Princess for his -Deliverance. 351 - -CHAPTER XI. - -Of the Meditations of the Princess, and their Result.—Her Flight from -the Prison with the Count, and Perils of the Escape.—The -Nuptials. 355 - -CHAPTER XII. - -King Garcia confined in Burgos by the Count.—The Princess intercedes -for his Release. 361 - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Of the Expedition against the ancient City of Sylo.—The unwitting -Trespass of the Count into a Convent, and his Compunction -thereupon. 363 - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Of the Moorish Host that came up from Cordova, and how the Count -repaired to the Hermitage of San Pedro, and prayed for Success -against them, and received Assurance of Victory in a Vision.—Battle -of Hazinas. 366 - -CHAPTER XV. - -The Count imprisoned by the King of Leon.—The Countess concerts his -Escape.—Leon and Castile united by the Marriage of the Prince Ordoño -with Urraca, the Daughter of the Count by his first Wife. 373 - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Moorish Incursion into Castile.—Battle of San Estevan.—Of Pascual -Vivas and the Miracle that befell him.—Death of Ordoño III. 378 - -CHAPTER XVII. - -King Sancho the Fat.—Of the Homage he exacted from Count Fernan -Gonzalez, and of the strange Bargain that he made with him for the -Purchase of his Horse and Falcon. 385 - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -Further of the Horse and Falcon. 389 - -CHAPTER XIX. - -The Last Campaign of Count Fernan.—His Death. 393 - - -CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT. - -CHAPTER I. - -The Parentage of Fernando.—Queen Berenguela.—The Laras.—Don Alvar -conceals the Death of King Henry.—Mission of Queen Berenguela to -Alfonso IX.—She renounces the Crown of Castile in favor of her son -Fernando. 401 - -CHAPTER II. - -King Alfonso of Leon ravages Castile.—Captivity of Don Alvar.—Death -of the Laras. 408 - -CHAPTER III. - -Marriage of King Fernando.—Campaign against the Moors.—Aben Mohamed, -King of Baeza, declares himself the Vassal of King Fernando.—They -march to Jaen.—Burning of the Tower.—Fernando commences the Building -of the Cathedral at Toledo. 415 - -CHAPTER IV. - -Assassination of Aben Mohamed.—His Head carried as a Present to -Abullale, the Moorish King of Seville.—Advance of the Christians into -Andalusia.—Abullale purchases a Truce. 420 - -CHAPTER V. - -Aben Hud.—Abullale purchases another Year’s Truce.—Fernando hears of -the Death of his Father, the King of Leon, while pressing the Siege -of Jaen.—He becomes Sovereign of the two Kingdoms of Leon and -Castile. 423 - -CHAPTER VI. - -Expedition of the Prince Alonzo against the Moors.—Encamps on the -Banks of the Guadalete.—Aben Hud marches out from Xerez and gives -Battle.—Prowess of Garcia Perez de Vargas.—Fight and Pursuit of the -Moors.—Miracle of the Blessed Santiago. 427 - -CHAPTER VII. - -A bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish Power. 435 - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A Spy in the Christian Camp.—Death of Aben Hud.—A vital Blow to -Moslem Power.—Surrender of Cordova to King Fernando. 439 - -CHAPTER IX. - -Marriage of King Fernando to the Princess Juana.—Famine at -Cordova.—Don Alvar Perez. 446 - -CHAPTER X. - -Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra.—Fortifies Granada and makes -it his Capital.—Attempts to Surprise the Castle of Martos.—Peril -of the Fortress.—A Woman’s Stratagem to save it.—Diego Perez, the -Smasher.—Death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro. 450 - -CHAPTER XI. - -Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of Murcia, becomes the Vassal of -King Fernando.—Aben Alhamar seeks to drive the Christians out of -Andalusia.—Fernando takes the Field against him.—Ravages of the -King.—His last Meeting with the Queen-Mother. 456 - -CHAPTER XII. - -King Fernando’s Expedition to Andalusia.—Siege of Jaen.—Secret -Departure of Aben Alhamar for the Christian Camp.—He acknowledges -himself the Vassal of the King, who enters Jaen in Triumph. 465 - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Axataf, King of Seville, exasperated at the Submission of the King of -Granada, rejects the Propositions of King Fernando for a Truce.—The -latter is encouraged by a Vision to undertake the Conquest of the -City of Seville.—Death of Queen Berenguela.—A Diplomatic -Marriage. 470 - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Investment of Seville.—All Spain aroused to Arms.—Surrender of -Alcala del Rio.—The Fleet of Admiral Ramon Bonifaz advances up the -Guadalquivir.—Don Pelayo Correa, Master of Santiago.—His Valorous -Deeds and the Miracles wrought in his Behalf. 475 - -CHAPTER XV. - -King Fernando changes his Camp.—Garci Perez and the seven -Moors. 482 - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Of the Raft built by the Moors, and how it was boarded by Admiral -Bonifaz.—Destruction of the Moorish Fleet.—Succor from -Africa. 488 - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Of the Stout Prior Ferran Ruyz, and how he rescued his Cattle from -the Moors.—Further Enterprises of the Prior, and of the Ambuscade -into which he Fell. 492 - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -Bravado of the Three Cavaliers.—Ambush at the Bridge over the -Guadayra.—Desperate Valor of Garci Perez.—Grand Attempt of Admiral -Bonifaz on the Bridge of Boats.—Seville dismembered from Triana. 496 - -CHAPTER XIX. - -Investment of Triana.—Garci Perez and the Infanzon. 504 - -CHAPTER XX. - -Capitulation of Seville.—Dispersion of the Moorish -Inhabitants.—Triumphant Entry of King Fernando. 508 - -CHAPTER XXI. - -Death of King Fernando. 514 - - -SPANISH ROMANCE. - -Spanish Romance. 519 - -Legend of Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa. 523 - - - - -[Illustration] - -PREFACE. - - -Few events in history have been so original and striking in their -main circumstances, and so overwhelming and enduring in their -consequences, as that of the conquest of Spain by the Saracens; yet -there are few where the motives, and characters, and actions of the -agents have been enveloped in more doubts and contradiction. As in -the memorable story of the “Fall of Troy,” we have to make out, as -well as we can, the veritable details through the mists of poetic -fiction; yet poetry has so combined itself with, and lent its magic -coloring to every fact, that to strip it away would be to reduce -the story to a meagre skeleton and rob it of all its charms. The -storm of Moslem invasion that swept so suddenly over the peninsula, -silenced for a time the faint voice of the Muse, and drove the sons -of learning from their cells. The pen was thrown aside to grasp and -sword and spear, and men were too much taken up with battling against -the evils which beset them on every side, to find time or inclination -to record them. - -When the nation had recovered in some degree from the effects -of this astounding blow, or rather had become accustomed to the -tremendous reverse which it produced, and sage men sought to inquire -and write the particulars, it was too late to ascertain them in their -exact verity. The gloom and melancholy that had overshadowed the -land had given birth to a thousand superstitious fancies; the woes -and terrors of the past were clothed with supernatural miracles and -portents, and the actors in the fearful drama had already assumed -the dubious characteristics of romance. Or if a writer from among -the conquerors undertook to touch upon the theme, it was embellished -with all the wild extravagances of an oriental imagination, which -afterwards stole into the graver works of the monkish historians. - -Hence, the earliest chronicles which treat of the downfall of Spain, -are apt to be tinctured with those saintly miracles which savor of -the pious labors of the cloister, or those fanciful fictions that -betray their Arabian authors. Yet from these apocryphal sources the -most legitimate and accredited Spanish histories have taken their -rise, as pure rivers may be traced up to the fens and mantled pools -of a morass. It is true, the authors, with cautious discrimination, -have discarded those particulars too startling for belief, and have -culled only such as, from their probability and congruity, might be -safely recorded as historical facts; yet, scarce one of these but has -been connected in the original with some romantic fiction, and, even -in its divorced state, bears traces of its former alliance. - -To discard, however, everything wild and marvelous in this portion -of Spanish history, is to discard some of its most beautiful, -instructive, and national features; it is to judge of Spain by the -standard of probability suited to tamer and more prosaic countries. -Spain is virtually a land of poetry and romance, where every-day life -partakes of adventure, and where the least agitation or excitement -carries everything up into extravagant enterprize and daring exploit. -The Spaniards, in all ages, have been of swelling and braggart -spirit, soaring in thought, pompous in word, and valiant, though -vainglorious, in deed. Their heroic aims have transcended the cooler -conceptions of their neighbors, and their reckless daring has borne -them on to achievements which prudent enterprise could never have -accomplished. Since the time, too, of the conquest and occupation -of their country by the Arabs, a strong infusion of oriental -magnificence has entered into the national character, and rendered -the Spaniard distinct from every other nation of Europe. - -In the following pages, therefore, the author has ventured to dip -more deeply into the enchanted fountains of old Spanish chronicle -than has usually been done by those who, in modern times, have -treated of the eventful period of the Conquest; but in so doing, he -trusts he will illustrate more fully the character of the people and -the times. He has thought proper to throw these records into the form -of legends, not claiming for them the authenticity of sober history, -yet giving nothing that has not historical foundation. All the facts -herein contained, however extravagant some of them may be deemed, -will be found in the works of sage and reverend chroniclers of yore, -growing side by side with long-acknowledged truths, and might be -supported by learned and imposing references in the margin. - - - - -[Illustration] - -LEGENDS OF THE CONQUEST OF SPAIN. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.[1] - - [1] Many of the facts in this legend are taken from an old - chronicle, written in quaint and antiquated Spanish, and - professing to be a translation from the Arabian chronicle of - the Moor Rasis, by Mohammed, a Moslem writer, and Gil Perez, a - Spanish priest. It is supposed to be a piece of literary mosaic - work, made up from both Spanish and Arabian chronicles; yet, - from this work most of the Spanish historians have drawn their - particulars relative to the fortunes of Don Roderick. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -Of the Ancient Inhabitants of Spain.—Of the Misrule of Witiza the -Wicked. - - -Spain, or Iberia as it was called in ancient days, has been a -country harassed from the earliest times by the invader. The -Celts, the Greeks, the Phœnicians, the Carthaginians, by turns or -simultaneously, infringed its territories, drove the native Iberians -from their rightful homes, and established colonies and founded -cities in the land. It subsequently fell into the all-grasping power -of Rome, remaining for some time a subjugated province; and when -that gigantic empire crumbled into pieces, the Suevi, the Alani, and -the Vandals, those barbarians of the North, overran and ravaged this -devoted country, and portioned out the soil among them. - -Their sway was not of long duration. In the fifth century the -Goths, who were then the allies of Rome, undertook the reconquest -of Iberia, and succeeded, after a desperate struggle of three -years’ duration. They drove before them the barbarous hordes, their -predecessors, intermarried and incorporated themselves with the -original inhabitants, and founded a powerful and splendid empire, -comprising the Iberian peninsula, the ancient Narbonnaise, afterwards -called Gallia Gothica, or Gothic Gaul, and a part of the African -coast called Tingitania. A new nation was, in a manner, produced -by this mixture of the Goths and Iberians. Sprang from a union of -warrior races, reared and nurtured amidst the din of arms, the Gothic -Spaniards, if they may so be termed, were a warlike, unquiet, yet -high-minded and heroic people. Their simple and abstemious habits, -their contempt for toil and suffering, and their love of daring -enterprise, fitted them for a soldier’s life. So addicted were they -to war that, when they had no external foes to contend with, they -fought with one another; and, when engaged in battle, says an old -chronicler, the very thunders and lightnings of heaven could not -separate them.[2] - - [2] Florain, _de Ocampo_, lib. 3, c. 12. Justin, _Abrev. Trog - Pomp._, lib. 44. Bleda, _Cronica_, lib. 2, c. 3. - -For two centuries and a half the Gothic power remained unshaken, and -the sceptre was wielded by twenty-five successive kings. The crown -was elective, in a council of palatines, composed of the bishops and -nobles, who, while they swore allegiance to the newly made sovereign, -bound him by a reciprocal oath to be faithful to his trust. Their -choice was made from among the people, subject only to one condition, -that the king should be of pure Gothic blood. But though the crown -was elective in principle, it gradually became hereditary from usage, -and the power of the sovereign grew to be almost absolute. The king -was commander-in-chief of the armies; the whole patronage of the -kingdom was in his hands; he summoned and dissolved the national -councils; he made and revoked laws according to his pleasure; and, -having ecclesiastical supremacy, he exercised a sway even over the -consciences of his subjects. - -The Goths, at the time of their inroad, were stout adherents of -the Arian doctrines; but after a time they embraced the Catholic -faith, which was maintained by the native Spaniards free from many -of the gross superstitions of the Church at Rome, and this unity of -faith contributed more than anything else to blend and harmonize -the two races into one. The bishops and other clergy were exemplary -in their lives, and aided to promote the influence of the laws and -maintain the authority of the state. The fruits of regular and secure -government were manifest in the advancement of agriculture, commerce, -and the peaceful arts; and in the increase of wealth, of luxury, -and refinement; but there was a gradual decline of the simple, -hardy, and warlike habits that had distinguished the nation in its -semi-barbarous days. - -Such was the state of Spain when, in the year of Redemption 701, -Witiza was elected to the Gothic throne. The beginning of his reign -gave promise of happy days to Spain. He redressed grievances, -moderated the tributes of his subjects, and conducted himself with -mingled mildness and energy in the administration of the laws. In a -little while, however, he threw off the mask, and showed himself in -his true nature—cruel and luxurious. - -Two of his relatives, sons of a preceding king, awakened his jealousy -for the security of his throne. One of them, named Favila, Duke of -Cantabria, he put to death, and would have inflicted the same fate -upon his son Pelayo, but that the youth was beyond his reach, being -preserved by Providence for the future salvation of Spain. The other -object of his suspicion was Theodofredo, who lived retired from -court. The violence of Witiza reached him even in his retirement. His -eyes were put out, and he was immured within a castle at Cordova. -Roderick, the youthful son of Theodofredo, escaped to Italy, where he -received protection from the Romans. - -Witiza, now considering himself secure upon the throne, gave the -reins to his licentious passions, and soon, by his tyranny and -sensuality, acquired the appellation of Witiza the Wicked. Despising -the old Gothic continence, and yielding to the example of the sect -of Mahomet, which suited his lascivious temperament, he indulged in -a plurality of wives and concubines, encouraging his subjects to do -the same. Nay, he even sought to gain the sanction of the Church to -his excesses, promulgating a law by which the clergy were released -from their vows of celibacy, and permitted to marry and to entertain -paramours. - -The sovereign Pontiff Constantine threatened to depose and -excommunicate him, unless he abrogated this licentious law; but -Witiza set him at defiance, threatening, like his Gothic predecessor -Alaric, to assail the eternal city with his troops, and make spoil of -her accumulated treasures.[3] “We will adorn our damsels,” said he, -“with the jewels of Rome, and replenish our coffers from the mint of -St. Peter.” - - [3] _Chron. de Luitprando_, 709. Abarca, _Anales de Aragon_ (el - Mahometismo, fol. 5). - -Some of the clergy opposed themselves to the innovating spirit of -the monarch, and endeavored from the pulpits to rally the people to -the pure doctrines of their faith; but they were deposed from their -sacred office, and banished as seditious mischief-makers. The church -of Toledo continued refractory; the Archbishop Sindaredo, it is true, -was disposed to accommodate himself to the corruptions of the times, -but the prebendaries battled intrepidly against the new laws of the -monarch, and stood manfully in defense of their vows of chastity. -“Since the church of Toledo will not yield itself to our will,” said -Witiza, “it shall have two husbands.” So saying, he appointed his own -brother Oppas, at that time archbishop of Seville, to take a seat -with Sindaredo in the episcopal chair of Toledo, and made him primate -of Spain. He was a priest after his own heart, and seconded him in -all his profligate abuses. - -It was in vain the denunciations of the Church were fulminated from -the chair of St. Peter. Witiza threw off all allegiance to the Roman -Pontiff, threatening with pain of death those who should obey the -papal mandates. “We will suffer no foreign ecclesiastic, with triple -crown,” said he, “to domineer over our dominions.” - -The Jews had been banished from the country during the preceding -reign, but Witiza permitted them to return, and even bestowed upon -their synagogues privileges of which he had despoiled the churches. -The children of Israel, when scattered throughout the earth by -the fall of Jerusalem, had carried with them into other lands the -gainful arcana of traffic, and were especially noted as opulent -money-changers, and curious dealers in gold and silver and precious -stones; on this occasion, therefore, they were enabled, it is said, -to repay the monarch for his protection by bags of money, and caskets -of sparkling gems, the rich product of their oriental commerce. - -The kingdom at this time enjoyed external peace, but there were -symptoms of internal discontent. Witiza took the alarm; he remembered -the ancient turbulence of the nation and its proneness to internal -feuds. Issuing secret orders, therefore, in all directions, he -dismantled most of the cities, and demolished the castles and -fortresses that might serve as rallying points for the factious. He -disarmed the people also, and converted the weapons of war into the -implements of peace. It seemed, in fact, as if the millennium were -dawning upon the land; for the sword was beaten into a ploughshare, -and the spear into a pruning-hook. - -While thus the ancient martial fire of the nation was extinguished, -its morals likewise were corrupted. The altars were abandoned, the -churches closed, wide disorder and sensuality prevailed throughout -the land, so that, according to the old chroniclers, within the -compass of a few short years, “Witiza the Wicked taught all Spain to -sin.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER II. - -The Rise of Don Roderick.—His Government. - - -Woe to the ruler who founds his hope of sway on the weakness or -corruption of the people. The very measures taken by Witiza to -perpetuate his power ensured his downfall. While the whole nation, -under his licentious rule, was sinking into vice and effeminacy, -and the arm of war was unstrung, the youthful Roderick, son of -Theodofredo, was training up for action in the stern but wholesome -school of adversity. He instructed himself in the use of arms; became -adroit and vigorous by varied exercises: learned to despise all -danger, and inured himself to hunger and watchfulness and the rigor -of the seasons. - -His merits and misfortunes procured him many friends among the -Romans; and when, being arrived at a fitting age, he undertook to -revenge the wrongs of his father and his kindred, a host of brave and -hardy soldiers flocked to his standard. With these he made his sudden -appearance in Spain. The friends of his house and the disaffected of -all classes hastened to join him, and he advanced rapidly and without -opposition, through an unarmed and enervated land. - -Witiza saw too late the evil he had brought upon himself. He made -a hasty levy, and took the field with a scantily equipped and -undisciplined host, but was easily routed and made prisoner, and the -whole kingdom submitted to Don Roderick. - -The ancient city of Toledo, the royal residence of the Gothic -kings, was the scene of high festivity and solemn ceremonial on -the coronation of the victor. Whether he was elected to the throne -according to the Gothic usage, or seized it by the right of conquest, -is a matter of dispute among historians, but all agree that the -nation submitted cheerfully to his sway, and looked forward to -prosperity and happiness under their newly elevated monarch. His -appearance and character seemed to justify the anticipation. He was -in the splendor of youth, and of a majestic presence. His soul was -bold and daring, and elevated by lofty desires. He had a sagacity -that penetrated the thoughts of men, and a magnificent spirit that -won all hearts. Such is the picture which ancient writers give of Don -Roderick, when, with all the stern and simple virtues unimpaired, -which he had acquired in adversity and exile, and flushed with the -triumph of a pious revenge, he ascended the Gothic throne. - -Prosperity, however, is the real touchstone of the human heart; no -sooner did Roderick find himself in possession of the crown, than the -love of power and the jealousy of rule were awakened in his breast. -His first measure was against Witiza who was brought in chains into -his presence. Roderick beheld the captive monarch with an unpitying -eye, remembering only his wrongs and cruelties to his father. “Let -the evils he has inflicted on others be visited upon his own head,” -said he; “as he did unto Theodofredo, even so be it done unto him.” -So the eyes of Witiza were put out, and he was thrown into the same -dungeon at Cordova in which Theodofredo had languished. There he -passed the brief remnant of his days in perpetual darkness, a prey to -wretchedness and remorse. - -Roderick now cast an uneasy and suspicious eye upon Evan and -Siseburto, the two sons of Witiza. Fearful lest they should foment -some secret rebellion, he banished them the kingdom. They took refuge -in the Spanish dominions in Africa, where they were received and -harbored by Requila, governor of Tangier, out of gratitude for favors -which he had received from their late father. There they remained, -to brood over their fallen fortunes, and to aid in working out the -future woes of Spain. - -Their uncle Oppas, bishop of Seville, who had been made copartner, -by Witiza, in the archiepiscopal chair at Toledo, would have -likewise fallen under the suspicion of the king; but he was a man of -consummate art, and vast exterior sanctity, and won upon the good -graces of the monarch. He was suffered, therefore, to retain his -sacred office at Seville; but the see of Toledo was given in charge -to the venerable Urbino, and the law of Witiza was revoked that -dispensed the clergy from their vows of celibacy. - -The jealousy of Roderick for the security of his crown was soon -again aroused, and his measures were prompt and severe. Having been -informed that the governors of certain castles and fortresses in -Castile and Andalusia had conspired against him, he caused them to -be put to death and their strongholds to be demolished. He now went -on to imitate the pernicious policy of his predecessor, throwing -down walls and towers, disarming the people, and thus incapacitating -them from rebellion. A few cities were permitted to retain their -fortifications, but these were intrusted to alcaids in whom he -had especial confidence; the greater part of the kingdom was left -defenseless; the nobles, who had been roused to temporary manhood -during the recent stir of war, sunk back into the inglorious state of -inaction which had disgraced them during the reign of Witiza—passing -their time in feasting and dancing to the sound of loose and wanton -minstrelsy.[4] It was scarcely possible to recognize in these idle -wassailers and soft voluptuaries the descendants of the stern -and frugal warriors of the frozen North—who had braved flood and -mountain, and heat and cold, and had battled their way to empire -across half a world in arms. - - [4] Mariana, _Hist. Esp._, lib. 6, c. 21. - -They surrounded their youthful monarch, it is true, with a blaze of -military pomp. Nothing could surpass the splendor of their arms, -which were embossed and enameled, and enriched with gold and jewels -and curious devices; nothing could be more gallant and glorious than -their array; it was all plume and banner and silken pageantry, the -gorgeous trappings for tilt and tourney and courtly revel; but the -iron soul of war was wanting. - -How rare it is to learn wisdom from the misfortunes of others. With -the fate of Witiza full before his eyes, Don Roderick indulged in the -same pernicious errors, and was doomed, in like manner, to prepare -the way for his own perdition. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER III. - -Of the Loves of Roderick and the Princess Elyata. - - -As yet the heart of Roderick, occupied by the struggles of his early -life, by warlike enterprises, and by the inquietudes of newly-gotten -power, had been insensible to the charms of women; but in the present -voluptuous calm the amorous propensities of his nature assumed their -sway. There are divers accounts of the youthful beauty who first -found favor in his eyes, and was elevated by him to the throne. -We follow in our legend the details of an Arabian chronicler,[5] -authenticated by a Spanish poet.[6] Let those who dispute our facts -produce better authority for their contradiction. - - [5] _Perdida de España_, por Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, lib. 1. - - [6] Lope de Vega. - -Among the few fortified places that had not been dismantled by Don -Roderick was the ancient city of Denia, situated on the Mediterranean -coast, and defended on a rock-built castle that overlooked the sea. - -The alcaide of the castle, with many of the people of Denia, was -one day on his knees in the chapel, imploring the Virgin to allay a -tempest which was strewing the coast with wrecks, when a sentinel -brought word that a Moorish cruiser was standing for the land. The -alcaide gave orders to ring the alarm-bells, light signal-fires on -the hill-tops, and rouse the country, for the coast was subject to -cruel maraudings from the Barbary cruisers. - -In a little while the horsemen of the neighborhood were seen pricking -along the beach, armed with such weapons as they could find, and the -alcaide and his scanty garrison descended from the hill. In the mean -time the Moorish bark came rolling and pitching towards the land. -As it drew near, the rich carving and gilding with which it was -decorated, its silken bandaroles and banks of crimson oars, showed -it to be no warlike vessel, but a sumptuous galiot destined for -state and ceremony. It bore the marks of the tempest; the masts were -broken, the oars shattered, and fragments of snowy sails and silken -awnings were fluttering in the blast. - -As the galiot grounded upon the sand, the impatient rabble rushed -into the surf to capture and make spoil; but were awed into -admiration and respect by the appearance of the illustrious company -on board. There were Moors of both sexes sumptuously arrayed, and -adorned with precious jewels, bearing the demeanor of persons -of lofty rank. Among them shone conspicuous a youthful beauty, -magnificently attired, to whom all seemed to pay reverence. - -Several of the Moors surrounded her with drawn swords, threatening -death to any that approached; others sprang from the bark, and -throwing themselves on their knees before the alcaide, implored him, -by his honor and courtesy as a knight, to protect a royal virgin from -injury and insult. - -“You behold before you,” said they, “the only daughter of the king -of Algiers, the betrothed bride of the son of the king of Tunis. We -were conducting her to the court of her expecting bridegroom, when a -tempest drove us from our course, and compelled us to take refuge on -your coast. Be not more cruel than the tempest, but deal nobly with -that which even sea and storm have spared.” - -The alcaide listened to their prayers. He conducted the princess and -her train to the castle, where every honor due to her rank was paid -her. Some of her ancient attendants interceded for her liberation, -promising countless sums to be paid by her father for her ransom; -but the alcaide turned a deaf ear to all their golden offers. “She -is a royal captive,” said he; “it belongs to my sovereign alone to -dispose of her.” After she had reposed, therefore, for some days at -the castle, and recovered from the fatigue and terror of the seas, he -caused her to be conducted, with all her train, in magnificent state -to the court of Don Roderick. - -The beautiful Elyata[7] entered Toledo more like a triumphant -sovereign than a captive. A chosen band of Christian horsemen, -splendidly armed, appeared to wait upon her as a mere guard of -honor. She was surrounded by the Moorish damsels of her train, and -followed by her own Moslem guards, all attired with the magnificence -that had been intended to grace her arrival at the court of Tunis. -The princess was arrayed in bridal robes, woven in the most costly -looms of the Orient; her diadem sparkled with diamonds and was -decorated with the rarest plumes of the bird of paradise, and even -the silken trappings of her palfrey, which swept the ground, were -covered with pearls and precious stones. As this brilliant cavalcade -crossed the bridge of the Tagus, all Toledo poured forth to behold -it, and nothing was heard throughout the city but praises of the -wonderful beauty of the princess of Algiers. King Roderick came -forth, attended by the chivalry of his court, to receive the royal -captive. His recent voluptuous life had disposed him for tender and -amorous affections, and at the first sight of the beautiful Elyata he -was enraptured with her charms. Seeing her face clouded with sorrow -and anxiety, he soothed her with gentle and courteous words, and, -conducting her to a royal palace, “Behold,” said he, “thy habitation, -where no one shall molest thee; consider thyself at home in the -mansion of thy father, and dispose of anything according to thy will.” - - [7] By some she is called Zara. - -Here the princess passed her time with the female attendants who had -accompanied her from Algiers; and no one but the king was permitted -to visit her, who daily became more and more enamored of his lovely -captive, and sought by tender assiduity to gain her affections. -The distress of the princess at her captivity was soothed by this -gentle treatment. She was of an age when sorrow cannot long hold sway -over the heart. Accompanied by her youthful attendants, she ranged -the spacious apartments of the palace, and sported among the groves -and alleys of its garden. Every day the remembrance of the paternal -home grew less and less painful, and the king became more and more -amiable in her eyes; and when at length he offered to share his heart -and throne with her, she listened with downcast looks and kindling -blushes, but with an air of resignation. - -One obstacle remained to the complete fruition of the monarch’s -wishes, and this was the religion of the princess. Roderick forthwith -employed the archbishop of Toledo to instruct the beautiful Elyata in -the mysteries of the Christian faith. The female intellect is quick -in perceiving the merits of new doctrines; the archbishop, therefore, -soon succeeded in converting, not merely the princess, but most of -her attendants, and a day was appointed for their public baptism. -The ceremony was performed with great pomp and solemnity, in the -presence of all the nobility and chivalry of the court. The princess -and her damsels, clad in white, walked on foot to the cathedral, -while numerous beautiful children, arrayed as angels, strewed their -path with flowers; and the archbishop meeting them at the portal, -received them, as it were, into the bosom of the church. The princess -abandoned her Moorish appellation of Elyata, and was baptized by -the name of Exilona, by which she was thenceforth called, and has -generally been known in history. - -The nuptials of Roderick and the beautiful convert took place shortly -afterwards, and were celebrated with great magnificence. There were -jousts, and tourneys, and banquets, and other rejoicings, which -lasted twenty days, and were attended by the principal nobles from -all parts of Spain. After these were over, such of the attendants -of the princess as refused to embrace Christianity, and desired -to return to Africa, were dismissed with munificent presents; and -an embassy was sent to the king of Algiers, to inform him of the -nuptials of his daughter, and to proffer him the friendship of King -Roderick.[8] - - [8] “Como esta Infanta era muy hermosa, y el Rey [Don Rodrigo] - dispuesto y gentil hombre, entro por medio el amor y aficion, y - junto con el regalo con que la avia mandado hospedar y servir ful - causa que el rey persuadio esta Infanta que si se tornava a su - ley de christiano la tomaria por muger, y que la haria señora de - sus Reynos. Con esta persuasion ella fue contenta, y aviendose - vuelto christiana, se caso con ella, y se celebraron sus bodas - con muchas fiestas y regozijos, como era razon.”—Abulcasim, - _Conq’st de Espan_, cap. 3. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IV. - -Of Count Julian. - - -For a time Don Roderick lived happily with his young and beautiful -queen, and Toledo was the seat of festivity and splendor. The -principal nobles throughout the kingdom repaired to his court to pay -him homage, and to receive his commands; and none were more devoted -in their reverence than those who were obnoxious to suspicion from -their connection with the late king. - -Among the foremost of these was Count Julian, a man destined to be -infamously renowned in the dark story of his country’s woes. He was -one of the proudest Gothic families, lord of Consuegra and Algeziras, -and connected by marriage with Witiza and the bishop Oppas—his -wife, the countess Frandina, being their sister. In consequence of -this connection, and of his own merits, he had enjoyed the highest -dignities and commands, being one of the Espatorios, or royal -sword-bearers—an office of the greatest confidence about the person -of the sovereign.[9] He had, moreover, been intrusted with the -military government of the Spanish possessions on the African coast -of the strait, which at that time were threatened by the Arabs of the -East, the followers of Mahomet, who were advancing their victorious -standard to the extremity of Western Africa. Count Julian established -his seat of government at Ceuta, the frontier bulwark, and one of the -far-famed gates of the Mediterranean Sea. Here he boldly faced, and -held in check, the torrent of Moslem invasion. - - [9] Condes Espatorios; so called from the drawn swords of ample - size and breadth with which they kept guard in the ante-chambers - of the Gothic kings. Comes Spathariorum, custodum corporis Regis - Profectus. Hunc et Propospatharium appellatum existimo.—_Patr. - Pant. de Offic. Goth._ - -Don Julian was a man of an active, but irregular genius, and a -grasping ambition; he had a love for power and grandeur, in which -he was joined by his haughty countess; and they could ill brook the -downfall of their house, as threatened by the fate of Witiza. They -had hastened therefore to pay their court to the newly elevated -monarch, and to assure him of their fidelity to his interests. - -Roderick was readily persuaded of the sincerity of Count Julian; he -was aware of his merits as a soldier and a governor, and continued -him in his important command; honoring him with many other marks of -implicit confidence. Count Julian sought to confirm this confidence -by every proof of devotion. It was a custom among the Goths to rear -many of the children of the most illustrious families in the royal -household. They served as pages to the king, and handmaids and -ladies of honor to the queen, and were instructed in all manner of -accomplishments befitting their gentle blood. When about to depart -for Ceuta, to resume his command, Don Julian brought his daughter -Florinda to present her to the sovereigns. She was a beautiful virgin -that had not as yet attained to womanhood. “I confide her to your -protection,” said he to the king, “to be unto her as a father; and -to have her trained in the paths of virtue. I can leave with you no -dearer pledge of my loyalty.” - -King Roderick received the timid and blushing maiden into his -parental care; promising to watch over her happiness with a parent’s -eye, and that she should be enrolled among the most cherished -attendants of the queen. With this assurance of the welfare of his -child, Count Julian departed, well pleased, for his government at -Ceuta. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER V. - -The Story of Florinda. - - -The beautiful daughter of Count Julian was received with great -favor by the queen Exilona and admitted among the noble damsels -that attended upon her person. Here she lived in honor and apparent -security, and surrounded by innocent delights. To gratify his queen, -Don Roderick had built for her rural recreation a palace without the -walls of Toledo, on the banks of the Tagus. It stood in the midst -of a garden, adorned after the luxurious style of the East. The air -was perfumed by fragrant shrubs and flowers; the groves resounded -with the song of the nightingale, while the gush of fountains -and water-falls, and the distant murmur of the Tagus, made it a -delightful retreat during the sultry days of summer. The charm of -perfect privacy also reigned throughout the place, for the garden -walls were high, and numerous guards kept watch without to protect it -from all intrusion. - -In this delicious abode, more befitting an oriental voluptuary -than a Gothic king, Don Roderick was accustomed to while away much -of that time which should have been devoted to the toilsome cares -of government. The very security and peace which he had produced -throughout his dominions by his precautions to abolish the means and -habitudes of war, had effected a disastrous change in his character. -The hardy and heroic qualities which had conducted him to the throne, -were softened in the lap of indulgence. Surrounded by the pleasures -of an idle and effeminate court, and beguiled by the example of his -degenerate nobles, he gave way to a fatal sensuality that had lain -dormant in his nature during the virtuous days of his adversity. The -mere love of female beauty had first enamored him of Exilona, and the -same passion, fostered by voluptuous idleness, now betrayed him into -the commission of an act fatal to himself and Spain. The following is -the story of his error as gathered from an old chronicle and legend. - -In a remote part of the palace was an apartment devoted to the queen. -It was like an eastern harem, shut up from the foot of man, and where -the king himself but rarely entered. It had its own courts, and -gardens, and fountains, where the queen was wont to recreate herself -with her damsels, as she had been accustomed to do in the jealous -privacy of her father’s palace. - -One sultry day the king, instead of taking his siesta, or mid-day -slumber, repaired to this apartment to seek the society of the queen. -In passing through a small oratory, he was drawn by the sound of -female voices to a casement overhung with myrtles and jessamines. It -looked into an interior garden or court, set out with orange-trees, -in the midst of which was a marble fountain, surrounded by a grassy -bank, enameled with flowers. - -It was the high noontide of a summer day when, in sultry Spain, the -landscape trembles to the eye, and all nature seeks repose, except -the grasshopper, that pipes his lulling note to the herdsman as he -sleeps beneath the shade. - -Around the fountain were several of the damsels of the queen, who, -confident of the sacred privacy of the place, were yielding in that -cool retreat to the indulgence prompted by the season and the hour. -Some lay asleep on the flowery bank; others sat on the margin of -the fountain, talking and laughing, as they bathed their feet in -its limpid waters, and King Roderick beheld delicate limbs shining -through the wave that might rival the marble in whiteness. - -Among the damsels was one who had come from the Barbary coast with -the queen. Her complexion had the dark tinge of Mauritania, but it -was clear and transparent, and the deep rich rose blushed through the -lovely brown. Her eyes were black and full of fire, and flashed from -under long silken eyelashes. - -A sportive contest arose among the maidens, as to the comparative -beauty of the Spanish and Moorish forms; but the Mauritanian damsel -revealed limbs of voluptuous symmetry that seemed to defy all rivalry. - -The Spanish beauties were on the point of giving up the contest, -when they bethought themselves of the young Florinda, the daughter -of Count Julian, who lay on the grassy bank, abandoned to a summer -slumber. The soft glow of youth and health mantled on her cheek; her -fringed eyelashes scarcely covered their sleeping orbs; her moist and -ruby lips were slightly parted, just revealing a gleam of her ivory -teeth, while her innocent bosom rose and fell beneath her bodice, -like the gentle swelling and sinking of a tranquil sea. There was a -breathing tenderness and beauty in the sleeping virgin, that seemed -to send forth sweetness like the flowers around her. - -“Behold,” cried her companions exultingly, “the champion of Spanish -beauty!” - -In their playful eagerness they half disrobed the innocent Florinda -before she was aware. She awoke in time, however, to escape from -their busy hands; but enough of her charms had been revealed to -convince the monarch that they were not to be rivaled by the rarest -beauties of Mauritania. - -From this day the heart of Roderick was inflamed with a fatal -passion. He gazed on the beautiful Florinda with fervid desire, and -sought to read in her looks whether there was levity or wantonness in -her bosom; but the eye of the damsel ever sunk beneath his gaze, and -remained bent on the earth in virgin modesty. - -In vain he called to mind the sacred trust reposed in him by Count -Julian, and the promise he had given to watch over his daughter with -paternal care; his heart was vitiated by sensual indulgence, and the -consciousness of power had rendered him selfish in his gratifications. - -Being one evening in the garden where the queen was diverting -herself with her damsels, and coming to the fountain where he had -beheld the innocent maidens at their sport, he could no longer -restrain the passion raging within his breast. Seating himself beside -the fountain, he called Florinda to draw forth a thorn which had -pierced his hand. The maiden knelt at his feet to examine his hand, -and the touch of her slender fingers thrilled through his veins. -As she knelt, too, her amber locks fell in rich ringlets about her -beautiful head, her innocent bosom palpitated beneath the crimson -bodice, and her timid blushes increased the effulgence of her charms. - -Having examined the monarch’s hand in vain, she looked up in his face -with artless perplexity. - -“Señor,” said she, “I can find no thorn nor any sign of wound.” - -Don Roderick grasped her hand and pressed it to his heart. “It is -here, lovely Florinda!” said he; “it is here! and thou alone canst -pluck it forth!” - -“My lord!” exclaimed the blushing and astonished maiden. - -“Florinda!” said Don Roderick, “dost thou love me?” - -“Señor,” said she, “my father taught me to love and reverence you. He -confided me to your care as one who would be as a parent to me, when -he should be far distant, serving your majesty with life and loyalty. -May God incline your majesty ever to protect me as a father.” So -saying, the maiden dropped her eyes to the ground, and continued -kneeling; but her countenance had become deadly pale, and as she -knelt she trembled. - -“Florinda,” said the king, “either thou dost not, or thou wilt not, -understand me. I would have thee love me, not as a father, nor as -a monarch, but as one who adores thee. Why dost thou start? No one -shall know our loves; and, moreover, the love of a monarch inflicts -no degradation like the love of a common man; riches and honors -attend upon it. I will advance thee to rank and dignity, and place -thee above the proudest females of my court. Thy father, too, shall -be more exalted and endowed than any noble in my realm.” - -The soft eye of Florinda kindled at these words. “Señor,” said she, -“the line I spring from can receive no dignity by means so vile; -and my father would rather die than purchase rank and power by -the dishonor of his child. But I see,” continued she, “that your -majesty speaks in this manner only to try me. You may have thought -me light and simple, and unworthy to attend upon the queen. I pray -your majesty to pardon me, that I have taken your pleasantry in such -serious part.” - -In this way the agitated maiden sought to evade the addresses of the -monarch, but still her cheek was blanched, and her lip quivered as -she spake. - -The king pressed her hand to his lips with fervor. “May ruin seize -me,” cried he, “If I speak to prove thee. My heart, my kingdom, are -at thy command. Only be mine, and thou shalt rule absolute mistress -of myself and my domains.” - -The damsel rose from the earth where she had hitherto knelt, and -her whole countenance glowed with virtuous indignation. “My lord,” -said she, “I am your subject, and in your power; take my life if -it be your pleasure, but nothing shall tempt me to commit a crime -which would be treason to the queen, disgrace to my father, agony -to my mother, and perdition to myself.” With these words she left -the garden, and the king, for the moment, was too much awed by her -indignant virtue to oppose her departure. - -We shall pass briefly over the succeeding events of the story of -Florinda, about which so much has been said and sung by chronicler -and bard; for the sober page of history should be carefully chastened -from all scenes that might inflame a wanton imagination—leaving them -to poems and romances, and such like highly seasoned works of fantasy -and recreation. - -Let it suffice to say that Don Roderick pursued his suit to the -beautiful Florinda, his passion being more and more inflamed by the -resistance of the virtuous damsel. At length, forgetting what was -due to helpless beauty, to his own honor as a knight, and his word -as a sovereign, he triumphed over her weakness by base and unmanly -violence. - -There are not wanting those who affirm that the hapless Florinda lent -a yielding ear to the solicitations of the monarch, and her name has -been treated with opprobrium in several of the ancient chronicles -and legendary ballads that have transmitted, from generation to -generation, the story of the woes of Spain. In very truth, however, -she appears to have been a guiltless victim, resisting as far as -helpless female could resist, the arts and intrigues of a powerful -monarch, who had naught to check the indulgence of his will, and -bewailing her disgrace with a poignancy that shows how dearly she had -prized her honor. - -In the first paroxysm of her grief she wrote a letter to her father, -blotted with her tears and almost incoherent from her agitation. -“Would to God, my father,” said she, “that the earth had opened and -swallowed me ere I had been reduced to write these lines. I blush to -tell thee, what it is not proper to conceal. Alas, my father! thou -hast intrusted thy lamb to the guardianship of the lion. Thy daughter -has been dishonored, the royal cradle of the Goths polluted, and our -lineage insulted and disgraced. Hasten, my father, to rescue your -child from the power of the spoiler, and to vindicate the honor of -your house.” - -When Florinda had written these lines she summoned a youthful esquire -who had been a page in the service of her father. “Saddle thy steed,” -said she, “and if thou dost aspire to knightly honor, or hope for -lady’s grace; if thou hast fealty for thy lord, or devotion to his -daughter, speed swiftly upon my errand. Rest not, halt not, spare not -the spur, but hie thee day and night until thou reach the sea; take -the first bark, and haste with sail and oar to Ceuta, nor pause until -thou give this letter to the count my father.” The youth put the -letter in his bosom. “Trust me, lady,” said he “I will neither halt, -nor turn aside, nor cast a look behind, until I reach Count Julian.” -He mounted his fleet steed, sped his way across the bridge, and soon -left behind him the verdant valley of the Tagus. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VI. - -Don Roderick receives an Extraordinary Embassy. - - -The heart of Don Roderick was not so depraved by sensuality, but that -the wrong he had been guilty of toward the innocent Florinda, and the -disgrace he had inflicted on her house, weighed heavy on his spirits, -and a cloud began to gather on his once clear and unwrinkled brow. - -Heaven at this time, say the old Spanish chronicles, permitted a -marvelous intimation of the wrath with which it intended to visit the -monarch and his people, in punishment of their sins; nor are we, say -the same orthodox writers, to startle and withhold our faith when we -meet in the page of discreet and sober history with these signs and -portents, which transcend the probabilities of ordinary life; for the -revolutions of empires and the downfalls of mighty kings are awful -events, that shake the physical as well as the moral world, and are -often announced by forerunning marvels and prodigious omens. - -With such like cautious preliminaries do the wary but credulous -historiographers of yore usher in a marvelous event of prophecy -and enchantment, linked in ancient story with the fortunes of Don -Roderick, but which modern doubters would fain hold up as an -apocryphal tradition of Arabian origin. - -Now, so it happened, according to the legend, that about this time, -as King Roderick was seated one day on his throne, surrounded by -his nobles, in the ancient city of Toledo, two men of venerable -appearance entered the hall of audience. Their snowy beards descended -to their breasts, and their gray hairs were bound with ivy. They were -arrayed in white garments of foreign or antiquated fashion, which -swept the ground, and were cintured with girdles, wrought with the -signs of the zodiac, from which were suspended enormous bunches of -keys of every variety of form. Having approached the throne and made -obeisance,—“Know, O king,” said one of the old men, “that in days of -yore, when Hercules of Lybia, surnamed the Strong, had set up his -pillars at the ocean strait, he erected a tower near to this ancient -city of Toledo. He built it of prodigious strength, and finished it -with magic art, shutting up within it a fearful secret, never to -be penetrated without peril and disaster. To protect this terrible -mystery he closed the entrance to the edifice with a ponderous door -of iron, secured by a great lock of steel, and he left a command that -every king who should succeed him should add another lock to the -portal; denouncing woe and destruction on him who should eventually -unfold the secret of the tower. - -“The guardianship of the portal was given to our ancestors, and has -continued in our family, from generation to generation, since the -days of Hercules. Several kings, from time to time, have caused the -gate to be thrown open, and have attempted to enter, but have paid -dearly for their temerity. Some have perished within the threshold; -others have been overwhelmed with horror at tremendous sounds, which -shook the foundations of the earth, and have hastened to reclose the -door and secure it with its thousand locks. Thus, since the days of -Hercules, the inmost recesses of the pile have never been penetrated -by mortal man, and a profound mystery continues to prevail over this -great enchantment. This, O king, is all we have to relate; and our -errand is to entreat thee to repair to the tower and affix thy lock -to the portal, as has been done by all thy predecessors.” Having thus -said, the ancient men made a profound reverence and departed from the -presence-chamber.[10] - - [10] _Perdida de España_, por Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, L. 1, - c. 6. _Cronica del Rey Don Rodrigo_, por el Moro Rasis, L. 1, c. - 1. Bleda, _Cron._ cap. vii. - -Don Roderick remained for some time lost in thought after the -departure of the men; he then dismissed all his court excepting the -venerable Urbino, at that time Archbishop of Toledo. The long white -beard of this prelate bespoke his advanced age, and his overhanging -eyebrows showed him a man full of wary counsel. - -“Father,” said the king, “I have an earnest desire to penetrate the -mystery of this tower.” The worthy prelate shook his hoary head. -“Beware, my son,” said he; “there are secrets hidden from man for -his good. Your predecessors for many generations have respected -this mystery, and have increased in might and empire. A knowledge -of it, therefore, is not material to the welfare of your kingdom. -Seek not then to indulge a rash and unprofitable curiosity, which is -interdicted under such awful menaces.” - -“Of what importance,” cried the king, “are the menaces of Hercules -the Libyan? was he not a pagan? and can his enchantments have aught -avail against a believer in our holy faith? Doubtless in this tower -are locked up treasures of gold and jewels, amassed in days of old, -the spoils of mighty kings, the riches of the pagan world. My coffers -are exhausted; I have need of supply; and surely it would be an -acceptable act in the eyes of Heaven to draw forth this wealth which -lies buried under profane and necromantic spells, and consecrate it -to religious purposes.” - -The venerable archbishop still continued to remonstrate, but Don -Roderick heeded not his counsel, for he was led on by his malignant -star. “Father,” said he, “it is in vain you attempt to dissuade me. -My resolution is fixed. To-morrow I will explore the hidden mystery, -or rather the hidden treasures, of this tower.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VII. - -Story of the Marvelous and Portentous Tower. - - -The morning sun shone brightly upon the cliff-built towers of Toledo, -when King Roderick issued out of the gate of the city at the head of -a numerous train of courtiers and cavaliers, and crossed the bridge -that bestrides the deep rocky bed of the Tagus. The shining cavalcade -wound up the road that leads among the mountains, and soon came in -sight of the necromantic tower. - -Of this renowned edifice marvels are related by the ancient Arabian -and Spanish chroniclers, “and I doubt much,” adds the venerable -Agapida, “whether many readers will not consider the whole as a -cunningly devised fable, sprung from an Oriental imagination; but it -is not for me to reject a fact which is recorded by all those writers -who are the fathers of our national history; a fact too, which is -as well attested as most of the remarkable events in the story of -Don Roderick. None but light and inconsiderate minds,” continues the -good friar, “do hastily reject the marvelous. To the thinking mind -the whole world is enveloped in mystery, and everything is full of -type and portent. To such a mind the necromantic tower of Toledo -will appear as one of those wondrous monuments of the olden time; -one of those Egyptian and Chaldaic piles, storied with hidden wisdom -and mystic prophecy, which have been devised in past ages, when man -yet enjoyed an intercourse with high and spiritual natures, and when -human foresight partook of divination.” - -This singular tower was round and of great height and grandeur, -erected upon a lofty rock, and surrounded by crags and precipices. -The foundation was supported by four brazen lions, each taller than -a cavalier on horseback. The walls were built of small pieces of -jasper and various colored marbles, not larger than a man’s hand; -so subtilely joined, however, that, but for their different hues, -they might be taken for one entire stone. They were arranged with -marvelous cunning, so as to represent battles and warlike deeds of -times and heroes long since passed away, and the whole surface was -so admirably polished that the stones were as lustrous as glass, and -reflected the rays of the sun with such resplendent brightness as to -dazzle all beholders.[11] - - [11] From the minute account of the good friar, drawn from the - ancient chronicles, it would appear that the walls of the tower - were pictured in mosaic work. - -King Roderick and his courtiers arrived wondering and amazed at the -foot of the rock. Here there was a narrow arched way cut through the -living stone, the only entrance to the tower. It was closed by a -massive iron gate, covered with rusty locks of divers workmanship and -in the fashion of different centuries, which had been affixed by the -predecessors of Don Roderick. On either side of the portal stood the -two ancient guardians of the tower, laden with the keys appertaining -to the locks. - -The king alighted, and approaching the portals, ordered the guardians -to unlock the gate. The hoary headed men drew back with terror. -“Alas!” cried they, “what is it your majesty requires of us? Would -you have the mischiefs of this tower unbound, and let loose to shake -the earth to its foundations?” - -The venerable Archbishop Urbino likewise implored him not to -disturb a mystery which had been held sacred from generation to -generation within the memory of man, and which even Cæsar himself, -when sovereign of Spain, had not ventured to invade. The youthful -cavaliers, however, were eager to pursue the adventure, and -encouraged him in his rash curiosity. - -“Come what come may,” exclaimed Don Roderick, “I am resolved to -penetrate the mystery of this tower.” So saying, he again commanded -the guardians to unlock the portal. The ancient men obeyed with -fear and trembling, but their hands shook with age, and when they -applied the keys the locks were so rusted by time, or of such strange -workmanship, that they resisted their feeble efforts, whereupon the -young cavaliers pressed forward and lent their aid. Still the locks -were so numerous and difficult, that with all their eagerness and -strength a great part of the day was exhausted before the whole of -them could be mastered. - -When the last bolt had yielded to the key, the guardians and the -reverend archbishop again entreated the king to pause and reflect. -“Whatever is within this tower,” said they, “is as yet harmless, and -lies bound under a mighty spell; venture not then to open a door -which may let forth a flood of evil upon the land.” But the anger -of the king was roused, and he ordered that the portal should be -instantly thrown open. In vain, however, did one after another exert -his strength, and equally in vain did the cavaliers unite their -forces, and apply their shoulders to the gate; though there was -neither bar nor bolt remaining, it was perfectly immovable. - -The patience of the king was now exhausted, and he advanced to -apply his hand; scarcely, however, did he touch the iron gate, -when it swung slowly open, uttering, as it were, a dismal groan, -as it turned reluctantly upon its hinges. A cold, damp wind issued -forth, accompanied by a tempestuous sound. The hearts of the ancient -guardians quaked within them, and their knees smote together; but -several of the youthful cavaliers rushed in, eager to gratify their -curiosity, or to signalize themselves in this redoubtable enterprise. -They had scarcely advanced a few paces, however, when they recoiled, -overcome by the baleful air, or by some fearful vision.[12] Upon -this, the king ordered that fires should be kindled to dispel the -darkness, and to correct the noxious and long-imprisoned air; he -then led the way into the interior; but, though stout of heart, he -advanced with awe and hesitation. - - [12] Bleda, _Cronica_, cap. 7. - -After proceeding a short distance, he entered a hall or ante-chamber, -on the opposite side of which was a door, and before it, on a -pedestal stood a gigantic figure, of the color of bronze and of a -terrible aspect. It held a huge mace, which it whirled incessantly, -giving such cruel and resounding blows upon the earth as to prevent -all further entrance. - -The king paused at sight of this appalling figure, for whether it -were a living being, or a statue of magic artifice, he could not -tell. On its breast was a scroll, whereon was inscribed, in large -letters, “I do my duty.”[13] After a little while, Roderick plucked -up heart, and addressed it with great solemnity. “Whatever thou be,” -said he, “know that I come not to violate this sanctuary, but to -inquire into the mystery it contains; I conjure thee, therefore, to -let me pass in safety.” - - [13] Bleda, _Cronica_ cap. 7. - -Upon this the figure paused with uplifted mace, and the king and his -train passed unmolested through the door. - -They now entered a vast chamber, of a rare and sumptuous -architecture, difficult to be described. The walls were incrusted -with the most precious gems, so joined together as to form one smooth -and perfect surface. The lofty dome appeared to be self-supported, -and was studded with gems, lustrous as the stars of the firmament. -There was neither wood, nor any other common or base material to be -seen throughout the edifice. There were no windows or other openings -to admit the day, yet a radiant light was spread throughout the place -which seemed to shine from the walls and to render every object -distinctly visible. - -In the centre of this hall stood a table of alabaster, of the rarest -workmanship, on which was inscribed, in Greek characters, that -Hercules Alcides, the Theban Greek, had founded this tower in the -year of the world three thousand and six. Upon the table stood a -golden casket, richly set round with precious stones, and closed -with a lock of mother-of-pearl, and on the lid were inscribed the -following words:— - -“In this coffer is contained the mystery of the tower. The hand of -none but a king can open it; but let him beware! for marvelous events -will be revealed to him, which are to take place before his death.” - -King Roderick boldly seized upon the casket. The venerable archbishop -laid his hand upon his arm, and made a last remonstrance. “Forbear, -my son,” said he; “desist while there is yet time. Look not into -the mysterious decrees of Providence. God has hidden them in mercy -from our sight, and it is impious to rend the veil by which they are -concealed.” - -“What have I to dread from a knowledge of the future?” replied -Roderick, with an air of haughty presumption. “If good be destined me -I shall enjoy it by anticipation; if evil, I shall arm myself to meet -it.” So saying, he rashly broke the lock. - -Within the coffer he found nothing but a linen cloth, folded -between two tablets of copper. On unfolding it, he beheld painted -on it figures of men on horseback, of fierce demeanor, clad in -turbans and robes of various colors, after the fashion of the Arabs, -with scimetars hanging from their necks, and cross-bows at their -saddle-backs, and they carried banners and pennons with divers -devices. Above them was inscribed, in Greek characters, “Rash -monarch! behold the men who are to hurl thee from thy throne, and -subdue thy kingdom!” - -At sight of these things the king was troubled in spirit, and -dismay fell upon his attendants. While they were yet regarding the -paintings, it seemed as if the figures began to move, and a faint -sound of warlike tumult arose from the cloth, with the clash of -cymbal and bray of trumpet, the neigh of steed and shout of army; -but all was heard indistinctly, as if afar off, or in a reverie or -dream. The more they gazed, the plainer became the motion, and the -louder the noise; and the linen cloth rolled forth, and amplified, -and spread out, as it were, a mighty banner, and filled the hall, -and mingled with the air, until its texture was no longer visible, -or appeared as a transparent cloud. And the shadowy figures became -all in motion, and the din and uproar became fiercer and fiercer; -and whether the whole were an animated picture, or a vision, or an -array of embodied spirits, conjured up by supernatural power, no one -present could tell. They beheld before them a great field of battle, -where Christians and Moslems were engaged in deadly conflict. -They heard the rush and tramp of steeds, the blast of trump and -clarion, the clash of cymbal, and the stormy din of a thousand drums. -There was the clash of swords, and maces, and battle-axes, with -the whistling of arrows and the hurtling of darts and lances. The -Christians quailed before the foe; the infidels pressed upon them and -put them to utter rout; the standard of the cross was cast down, the -banner of Spain was trodden under foot, the air resounded with shouts -of triumph, with yells of fury, and with the groans of dying men. -Amidst the flying squadrons King Roderick beheld a crowned warrior, -whose back was towards him, but whose armor and device were his own, -and who was mounted on a white steed that resembled his own war-horse -Orelia. In the confusion of the flight, the warrior was dismounted, -and was no longer to be seen, and Orelia galloped wildly through the -field of battle without a rider. - -Roderick stayed to see no more, but rushed from the fatal hall, -followed by his terrified attendants. They fled through the outer -chamber, where the gigantic figure with the whirling mace had -disappeared from his pedestal, and, on issuing into the open air, -they found the two ancient guardians of the tower lying dead at the -portal, as though they had been crushed by some mighty blow. All -nature, which had been clear and serene, was now in wild uproar. The -heavens were darkened by heavy clouds; loud bursts of thunder rent -the air, and the earth was deluged with rain and rattling hail. - -The king ordered that the iron portal should be closed, but the door -was immovable, and the cavaliers were dismayed by the tremendous -turmoil and the mingled shouts and groans that continued to prevail -within. The king and his train hastened back to Toledo, pursued -and pelted by the tempest. The mountains shook and echoed with the -thunder, trees were uprooted and blown down, and the Tagus raged -and roared and flowed above its banks. It seemed to the affrighted -courtiers as if the phantom legions of the tower had issued forth -and mingled with the storm; for amidst the claps of thunder and the -howling of the wind, they fancied they heard the sound of the drums -and trumpets, the shouts of armies, and the rush of steeds. Thus -beaten by tempest and overwhelmed with horror, the king and his -courtiers arrived at Toledo, clattering across the bridge of the -Tagus, and entering the gate in headlong confusion, as though they -had been pursued by an enemy. - -In the morning the heavens were again serene, and all nature was -restored to tranquillity. The king, therefore, issued forth with -his cavaliers, and took the road to the tower, followed by a great -multitude, for he was anxious once more to close the iron door, and -shut up those evils that threatened to overwhelm the land. But lo! on -coming in sight of the tower, a new wonder met their eyes. An eagle -appeared high in the air, seeming to descend from heaven. He bore in -his beak a burning brand, and, lighting on the summit of the tower, -fanned the fire with his wings. In a little while the edifice burst -forth into a blaze, as though it had been built of rosin, and the -flames mounted into the air with a brilliancy more dazzling than -the sun; nor did they cease until every stone was consumed, and the -whole was reduced to a heap of ashes. Then there came a vast flight -of birds, small of size and sable of hue, darkening the sky like a -cloud; and they descended, and wheeled in circles round the ashes, -causing so great a wind with their wings that the whole was borne -up into the air, and scattered throughout all Spain, and wherever -a particle of that ashes fell it was as a stain of blood. It is -furthermore recorded by ancient men and writers of former days, that -all those on whom this dust fell were afterwards slain in battle, -when the country was conquered by the Arabs, and that the destruction -of this necromantic tower was a sign and token of the approaching -perdition of Spain. - -“Let all those,” concludes the cautious friar, “who question the -verity of this most marvelous occurrence, consult those admirable -sources of our history, the chronicle of the Moor Rasis, and the work -entitled “The Fall of Spain,” written by the Moor Abulcasim Tarif -Abentarique. Let them consult, moreover, the venerable historian -Bleda, and the cloud of other Catholic Spanish writers who have -treated of this event, and they will find I have related nothing that -has not been printed and published under the inspection and sanction -of our holy mother Church. God alone knoweth the truth of these -things; I speak nothing but what has been handed down to me from -times of old.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Count Julian.—His Fortunes in Africa.—He hears of the Dishonor of his -Child.—His Conduct thereupon. - - -The course of our legendary narration now returns to notice the -fortunes of Count Julian, after his departure from Toledo, to resume -his government on the coast of Barbary. He left the Countess Frandina -at Algeziras, his paternal domain, for the province under his command -was threatened with invasion. In fact, when he arrived at Ceuta he -found his post in imminent danger from the all-conquering Moslems. -The Arabs of the East, the followers of Mahomet, having subjugated -several of the most potent Oriental kingdoms, had established their -seat of empire at Damascus, where at this time it was filled by -Waled Almanzor, surnamed “The Sword of God.” From thence the tide -of Moslem conquest had rolled on to the shores of the Atlantic, so -that all Almagreb, or Western Africa, had submitted to the standard -of the Prophet, with the exception of a portion of Tingitania, lying -along the straits,—being the province held by the Goths of Spain, -and commanded by Count Julian. The Arab invaders were a hundred -thousand strong, most of them veteran troops, seasoned in warfare -and accustomed to victory. They were led by an old Arab general, Muza -ben Nosier, to whom was confided the government of Almagreb,—most -of which he had himself conquered. The ambition of this veteran was -to make the Moslem conquest complete, by expelling the Christians -from the African shores; with this view his troops menaced the few -remaining Gothic fortresses of Tingitania, while he himself sat down -in person before the walls of Ceuta. The Arab chieftain had been -rendered confident by continual success, and thought nothing could -resist his arms and the sacred standard of the Prophet. Impatient of -the tedious delays of a siege, he led his troops boldly against the -rock-built towers of Ceuta, and attempted to take the place by storm. -The onset was fierce, and the struggle desperate: the swarthy sons -of the desert were light and vigorous, and of fiery spirit; but the -Goths, inured to danger on this frontier, retained the stubborn valor -of their race, so impaired among their brethren in Spain. They were -commanded, too, by one skilled in warfare and ambitious of renown. -After a vehement conflict, the Moslem assailants were repulsed from -all points, and driven from the walls. Don Julian sallied forth and -harassed them in their retreat, and so severe was the carnage that -the veteran Muza was fain to break up his camp and retire confounded -from the siege. - -The victory at Ceuta resounded throughout Tingitania, and spread -universal joy. On every side were heard shouts of exultation, mingled -with praises of Count Julian. He was hailed by the people, wherever -he went, as their deliverer, and blessings were invoked upon his -head. The heart of Count Julian was lifted up, and his spirit swelled -within him; but it was with noble and virtuous pride, for he was -conscious of having merited the blessings of his country. - -In the midst of his exultation, and while the rejoicings of the -people were yet sounding in his ears, the page arrived who bore the -letter from his unfortunate daughter. - -“What tidings from the king?” said the count, as the page knelt -before him. “None, my lord,” replied the youth; “but I bear a letter -sent in all haste by the Lady Florinda.” - -He took the letter from his bosom and presented it to his lord. As -Count Julian read it, his countenance darkened and fell. “This,” said -he, bitterly, “is my reward for serving a tyrant; and these are the -honors heaped on me by my country while fighting its battles in a -foreign land. May evil overtake me, and infamy rest upon my name, if -I cease until I have full measure of revenge.” - -Count Julian was vehement in his passions, and took no counsel in -his wrath. His spirit was haughty in the extreme, but destitute of -true magnanimity, and when once wounded, turned to gall and venom. -A dark and malignant hatred entered into his soul, not only against -Don Roderick, but against all Spain; he looked upon it as the scene -of his disgrace, a land in which his family was dishonored, and, in -seeking to revenge the wrongs he had suffered from his sovereign, he -meditated against his native country one of the blackest schemes of -treason that ever entered into the human heart. - -The plan of Count Julian was to hurl King Roderick from his -throne, and to deliver all Spain into the hands of the infidels. -In concerting and executing this treacherous plot, it seemed as if -his whole nature was changed; every lofty and generous sentiment -was stifled, and he stooped to the meanest dissimulation. His first -object was, to extricate his family from the power of the king and to -remove it from Spain before his treason should be known; his next, -to deprive the country of its remaining means of defense against an -invader. - -With these dark purposes at heart, but with an open and serene -countenance, he crossed to Spain and repaired to the court at Toledo. -Wherever he came he was hailed with acclamation as a victorious -general, and appeared in the presence of his sovereign radiant with -the victory at Ceuta. Concealing from King Roderick his knowledge of -the outrage upon his house, he professed nothing but the most devoted -loyalty and affection. - -The king loaded him with favors; seeking to appease his own -conscience by heaping honors upon the father in atonement of the -deadly wrong inflicted upon his child. He regarded Count Julian, -also, as a man able and experienced in warfare, and took his advice -in all matters relating to the military affairs of the kingdom. The -count magnified the dangers that threatened the frontier under his -command, and prevailed upon the king to send thither the best horses -and arms remaining from the time of Witiza, there being no need of -them in the centre of Spain, in its present tranquil state. The -residue, at his suggestion, was stationed on the frontiers of Gallia; -so that the kingdom was left almost wholly without defense against -any sudden irruption from the south. - -Having thus artfully arranged his plans, and all things being -prepared for his return to Africa, he obtained permission to -withdraw his daughter from the court, and leave her with her mother, -the Countess Frandina, who, he pretended, lay dangerously ill at -Algeziras. Count Julian issued out of the gate of the city, followed -by a shining band of chosen followers, while beside him, on a -palfrey, rode the pale and weeping Florinda. The populace hailed -and blessed him as he passed, but his heart turned from them with -loathing. As he crossed the bridge of the Tagus he looked back with -a dark brow upon Toledo, and raised his mailed hand and shook it at -the royal palace of King Roderick, which crested the rocky height. -“A father’s curse,” said he, “be upon thee and thine! may desolation -fall upon thy dwelling, and confusion and defeat upon thy realm!” - -In his journeyings through the country, he looked round him with -a malignant eye: the pipe of the shepherd and the song of the -husbandman were as discord to his soul; every sight and sound of -human happiness sickened him at heart; and, in the bitterness of his -spirit, he prayed that he might see the whole scene of prosperity -laid waste with fire and sword by the invader. - -The story of domestic outrage and disgrace had already been made -known to the Countess Frandina. When the hapless Florinda came in -presence of her mother, she fell on her neck, and hid her face in her -bosom, and wept; but the countess shed never a tear, for she was a -woman haughty of spirit and strong of heart. She looked her husband -sternly in the face. “Perdition light upon thy head,” said she, “if -thou submit to this dishonor. For my own part, woman as I am, I will -assemble the followers of my house, nor rest until rivers of blood -have washed away this stain.” - -“Be satisfied,” replied the count; “vengeance is on foot, and will be -sure and ample.” - -Being now in his own domains, surrounded by his relatives and -friends, Count Julian went on to complete his web of treason. In this -he was aided by his brother-in-law, Oppas, the Bishop of Seville,—a -man dark and perfidious as the night, but devout in demeanor, and -smooth and plausible in council. This artful prelate had contrived -to work himself into the entire confidence of the king, and had -even prevailed upon him to permit his nephews, Evan and Siseburto, -the exiled sons of Witiza, to return into Spain. They resided in -Andalusia, and were now looked to as fit instruments in the present -traitorous conspiracy. - -By the advice of the bishop, Count Julian called a secret meeting -of his relatives and adherents on a wild rocky mountain, not far -from Consuegra, and which still bears the Moorish appellation of -“La Sierra de Calderin,” or the Mountain of Treason.[14] When all -were assembled, Count Julian appeared among them, accompanied by the -bishop and by the Countess Frandina. Then gathering around him those -who were of his blood and kindred, he revealed the outrage that had -been offered to their house. He represented to them that Roderick was -their legitimate enemy; that he had dethroned Witiza, their relation, -and had now stained the honor of one of the most illustrious -daughters of their line. The Countess Frandina seconded his words. -She was a woman majestic in person and eloquent of tongue, and being -inspired by a mother’s feelings, her speech aroused the assembled -cavaliers to fury. - - [14] Bleda, cap. 5. - -The count took advantage of the excitement of the moment to unfold -his plan. The main object was to dethrone Don Roderick, and give -the crown to the sons of the late King Witiza. By this means they -would visit the sins of the tyrant upon his head, and, at the same -time, restore the regal honors to their line. For this purpose their -own force would be insufficient, but they might procure the aid of -Muza ben Nosier, the Arabian general in Mauritania, who would no -doubt gladly send a part of his troops into Spain to assist in the -enterprise. - -The plot thus suggested by Count Julian received the unholy -sanction of Bishop Oppas, who engaged to aid it secretly with all -his influence and means; for he had great wealth and possessions, -and many retainers. The example of the reverend prelate determined -all who might otherwise have wavered, and they bound themselves by -dreadful oaths to be true to the conspiracy. Count Julian undertook -to proceed to Africa, and seek the camp of Muza, to negotiate for his -aid, while the bishop was to keep about the person of King Roderick, -and lead him into the net prepared for him. - -All things being thus arranged, Count Julian gathered together his -treasure, and taking his wife and daughter and all his household, -abandoned the country he meant to betray,—embarking at Malaga for -Ceuta. The gate in the wall of that city, through which they went -forth, continued for ages to bear the name of Puerta de la Cava, or -the Gate of the Harlot; for such was the opprobrious and unmerited -appellation bestowed by the Moors on the unhappy Florinda.[15] - - [15] Bleda, cap. 4. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IX. - -Secret Visit of Count Julian to the Arab Camp.—First Expedition of -Taric el Tuerto. - - -When Count Julian had placed his family in security in Ceuta, -surrounded by soldiery devoted to his fortunes, he took with him -a few confidential followers and departed in secret for the camp -of the Arabian Emir, Muza ben Nosier. The camp was spread out in -one of those pastoral valleys which lie at the feet of the Barbary -Hills, with the great range of the Atlas Mountains towering in the -distance. In the motley army here assembled were warriors of every -tribe and nation, that had been united by pact or conquest in the -cause of Islam. There were those who had followed Muza from the -fertile regions of Egypt, across the deserts of Barca, and those who -had joined his standard from among the sunburnt tribes of Mauritania. -There were Saracen and Tartar, Syrian and Copt, and swarthy Moor; -sumptuous warriors from the civilized cities of the East, and the -gaunt and predatory rovers of the desert. The greater part of the -army, however, was composed of Arabs; but differing greatly from the -first rude hordes that enlisted under the banner of Mahomet. Almost -a century of continual wars with the cultivated nations of the East -had rendered them accomplished warriors; and the occasional sojourn -in luxurious countries and populous cities, had acquainted them with -the arts and habits of civilized life. Still the roving, restless, -and predatory habits of the genuine son of Ishmael prevailed, in -defiance of every change of clime or situation. - -Count Julian found the Arab conqueror Muza surrounded by somewhat -of Oriental state and splendor. He was advanced in life, but of a -noble presence, and concealed his age by tingeing his hair and beard -with henna. The count assumed an air of soldier-like frankness and -decision when he came into his presence. “Hitherto,” said he, “we -have been enemies; but I come to thee in peace, and it rests with -thee to make me the most devoted of thy friends. I have no longer -country or king. Roderick the Goth is an usurper, and my deadly -foe; he has wounded my honor in the tenderest point, and my country -affords me no redress. Aid me in my vengeance, and I will deliver all -Spain into thy hands,—a land far exceeding in fertility and wealth -all the vaunted regions thou hast conquered in Tingitania.” - -The heart of Muza leaped with joy at these words, for he was a bold -and ambitious conqueror, and, having overrun all western Africa, had -often cast a wistful eye to the mountains of Spain, as he beheld them -brightening beyond the waters of the strait. Still he possessed the -caution of a veteran, and feared to engage in an enterprise of such -moment, and to carry his arms into another division of the globe, -without the approbation of his sovereign. Having drawn from Count -Julian the particulars of his plan, and of the means he possessed to -carry it into effect, he laid them before his confidential counselors -and officers, and demanded their opinion. “These words of Count -Julian,” said he, “may be false and deceitful; or he may not possess -the power to fulfill his promises. The whole may be a pretended -treason to draw us on to our destruction. It is more natural that he -should be treacherous to us than to his country.” - -Among the generals of Muza, was a gaunt, swarthy veteran, scarred -with wounds,—a very Arab, whose great delight was roving and -desperate enterprise, and who cared for nothing beyond his steed, -his lance, and scimetar. He was a native of Damascus; his name was -Taric ben Zeyad, but, from having lost an eye, he was known among -the Spaniards by the appellation of Taric el Tuerto, or Taric the -one-eyed. - -The hot blood of this veteran Ishmaelite was in a ferment when he -heard of a new country to invade and vast regions to subdue, and -he dreaded lest the cautious hesitation of Muza should permit the -glorious prize to escape them. “You speak doubtingly,” said he, “of -the words of this Christian cavalier, but their truth is easily to be -ascertained. Give me four galleys and a handful of men, and I will -depart with this Count Julian, skirt the Christian coast, and bring -thee back tidings of the land, and of his means to put it in our -power.” - -The words of the veteran pleased Muza ben Nosier, and he gave his -consent; and Taric departed with four galleys, and five hundred -men, guided by the traitor Julian.[16] This first expedition of the -Arabs against Spain, took place, according to certain historians, in -the year of our Lord seven hundred and twelve; though others differ -on this point, as indeed they do upon almost every point in this -early period of Spanish history. The date to which the judicious -chroniclers incline, is that of seven hundred and ten, in the month -of July. It would appear from some authorities, also, that the -galleys of Taric cruised along the coasts of Andalusia and Lusitania, -under the feigned character of merchant barks, nor is this at all -improbable, while they were seeking merely to observe the land, and -get a knowledge of the harbors. Wherever they touched, Count Julian -dispatched emissaries to assemble his friends and adherents at an -appointed place. They gathered together secretly at Gezira Alhadra, -that is to say, the Green Island, where they held a conference with -Count Julian in presence of Taric ben Zeyad.[17] Here they again -avowed their readiness to flock to his standard whenever it should -be openly raised, and made known their various preparations for a -rebellion. Taric was convinced, by all that he had seen and heard, -that Count Julian had not deceived them, either as to his disposition -or his means to betray his country. Indulging his Arab inclinations, -he made an inroad into the land, collected great spoil and many -captives, and bore off his plunder in triumph to Muza, as a specimen -of the riches to be gained by the conquest of the Christian land.[18] - - [16] Beuter, _Cron. Gen. de España_, L. 1, c. 28. Marmol Descrip. - de Africa, L. 2, c. 10. - - [17] Bleda, _Cron._ c. 5. - - [18] Conde, _Hist. Dom. Arab._ part 1, c. 8. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER X. - -Letter of Muza to the Caliph.—Second Expedition of Taric el Tuerto. - - -In hearing the tidings brought by Taric el Tuerto, and beholding -the spoil he had collected, Muza wrote a letter to the Caliph Waled -Almanzor, setting forth the traitorous proffer of Count Julian, and -the probability, through his means, of making a successful invasion -of Spain. “A new land,” said he, “spreads itself out before our -delighted eyes, and invites our conquest: a land, too, that equals -Syria in the fertility of its soil and the serenity of its sky; -Yemen, or Arabia the Happy, in its delightful temperature; India, in -its flowers and spices; Hegiaz, in its fruits and flowers; Cathay, -in its precious minerals; and Aden, in the excellence of its ports -and harbors. It is populous also, and wealthy; having many splendid -cities and majestic monuments of ancient art. What is to prevent -this glorious land from becoming the inheritance of the faithful? -Already we have overcome the tribes of Berbery, of Zab, of Derar of -Zaara, Mazamuda and Sus, and the victorious standard of Islam floats -on the towers of Tangier. But four leagues of sea separate us from -the opposite coast. One word from my sovereign, and the conquerors -of Africa will pour their legions into Andalusia, rescue it from -the domination of the unbeliever, and subdue it to the law of the -Koran.”[19] - - [19] Conde, part 1, c. 8. - -The Caliph was overjoyed with the contents of the letter. “God is -great!” exclaimed he, “and Mahomet is his prophet! It has been -foretold by the ambassador of God that his law should extend to the -ultimate parts of the West, and be carried by the sword into new -and unknown regions. Behold another land is opened for the triumphs -of the faithful. It is the will of Allah, and be his sovereign will -obeyed.” So the Caliph sent missives to Muza, authorizing him to -undertake the conquest. - -Upon this there was a great stir of preparation, and numerous vessels -were assembled and equipped at Tangier to convey the invading -army across the straits. Twelve thousand men were chosen for this -expedition,—most of them light Arabian troops, seasoned in warfare, -and fitted for hardy and rapid enterprise. Among them were many -horsemen, mounted on fleet Arabian steeds. The whole was put under -the command of the veteran Taric el Tuerto, or the one-eyed, in -whom Muza reposed implicit confidence as in a second self. Taric -accepted the command with joy; his martial fire was roused at the -idea of having such an army under his sole command, and such a -country to overrun, and he secretly determined never to return unless -victorious. - -He chose a dark night to convey his troops across the Straits of -Hercules, and by break of day they began to disembark at Tarifa -before the country had time to take the alarm. A few Christians -hastily assembled from the neighborhood and opposed their landing, -but were easily put to flight. Taric stood on the sea-side, and -watched until the last squadron had landed, and all the horses, -armor, and munitions of war were brought on shore; he then gave -orders to set fire to the ships. The Moslems were struck with terror -when they beheld their fleet wrapped in flames and smoke, and sinking -beneath the waves. “How shall we escape,” exclaimed they, “if the -fortune of war should be against us?” “There is no escape for the -coward,” cried Taric; “the brave man thinks of none; your only chance -is victory.” “But how without ships shall we ever return to our -homes?” “Your homes,” replied Taric, “are before you; but you must -win them with your swords.” - -While Taric was yet talking with his followers, says one of the -ancient chroniclers, a Christian female was descried waving a white -pennon on a reed, in signal of peace. On being brought into the -presence of Taric, she prostrated herself before him. “Señor,” said -she, “I am an ancient woman; and it is now fully sixty years past -and gone since, as I was keeping vigils one winter’s night by the -fireside, I heard my father, who was an exceeding old man, read a -prophecy said to have been written by a holy friar; and this was the -purport of the prophecy, that a time would arrive when our country -would be invaded and conquered by a people from Africa of a strange -garb, a strange tongue, and a strange religion. They were to be led -by a strong and valiant captain, who would be known by these signs: -on his right shoulder he would have a hairy mole, and his right arm -would be much longer than the left, and of such length as to enable -him to cover his knee with his hand without bending his body.” - -Taric listened to the old beldame with grave attention, and when she -had concluded, he laid bare his shoulder, and lo! there was the mole -as it had been described; his right arm, also, was in verity found to -exceed the other in length, though not to the degree that had been -mentioned. Upon this the Arab host shouted for joy, and felt assured -of conquest. - -The discreet Antonio Agapida, though he records this circumstance as -it is set down in ancient chronicle, yet withholds his belief from -the pretended prophecy, considering the whole a cunning device of -Taric to increase the courage of his troops. “Doubtless,” says he, -“there was a collusion between this ancient sibyl and the crafty -son of Ishmael; for these infidel leaders were full of damnable -inventions to work upon the superstitious fancies of their followers, -and to inspire them with a blind confidence in the success of their -arms.” - -Be this as it may, the veteran Taric took advantage of the excitement -of his soldiery, and led them forward to gain possession of a -stronghold, which was in a manner the key to all the adjacent -country. This was a lofty mountain or promontory almost surrounded -by the sea, and connected with the main-land by a narrow isthmus. It -was called the rock of Calpe, and, like the opposite rock of Ceuta, -commanded the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Here, in old times, -Hercules had set up one of his pillars, and the city of Heraclea had -been built. - -As Taric advanced against this promontory, he was opposed by a -hasty levy of the Christians, who had assembled under the banner -of a Gothic noble of great power and importance, whose domains lay -along the mountainous coast of the Mediterranean. The name of this -Christian cavalier was Theodomir, but he has universally been called -Tadmir by the Arabian historians, and is renowned as being the first -commander that made any stand against the inroads of the Moslems. -He was about forty years of age; hardy, prompt, and sagacious; and -had all the Gothic nobles been equally vigilant and shrewd in their -defense, the banner of Islam would never have triumphed over the land. - -Theodomir had but seventeen hundred men under his command, and -these but rudely armed; yet he made a resolute stand against the -army of Taric, and defended the pass to the promontory with great -valor. He was at length obliged to retreat, and Taric advanced and -planted his standard on the rock of Calpe, and fortified it as -his stronghold, and as the means of securing an entrance into the -land. To commemorate his first victory, he changed the name of the -promontory, and called it Gibel Taric, or the Mountain of Taric, but -in process of time the name has gradually been altered to Gibraltar. - -In the mean time, the patriotic chieftain Theodomir, having collected -his routed forces, encamped with them on the skirts of the mountains, -and summoned the country round to join his standard. He sent off -missives in all speed to the king, imparting in brief and blunt -terms the news of the invasion, and craving assistance with equal -frankness. “Señor,” said he, in his letter, “the legions of Africa -are upon us, but whether they come from heaven or earth I know not. -They seem to have fallen from the clouds, for they have no ships. We -have been taken by surprise, overpowered by numbers, and obliged to -retreat; and they have fortified themselves in our territory. Send -us aid, Señor, with instant speed, or rather, come yourself to our -assistance.”[20] - - [20] Conde, part 1, c. 9. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XI. - -Measures of Don Roderick on Hearing of the Invasion.—Expedition of -Ataulpho.—Vision of Taric. - - -When Don Roderick heard that legions of turbaned troops had poured -into the land from Africa, he called to mind the visions and -predictions of the necromantic tower, and great fear came upon -him. But, though sunk from his former hardihood and virtue, though -enervated by indulgence, and degraded in spirit by a consciousness of -crime, he was resolute of soul, and roused himself to meet the coming -danger. He summoned a hasty levy of horse and foot, amounting to -forty thousand; but now were felt the effects of the crafty counsel -of Count Julian, for the best of the horses and armor intended for -the public service had been sent into Africa, and were really in -possession of the traitors. Many nobles, it is true, took the field -with the sumptuous array with which they had been accustomed to -appear at tournaments and jousts, but most of their vassals were -destitute of weapons, and cased in cuirasses of leather, or suits -of armor almost consumed by rust. They were without discipline or -animation; and their horses, like themselves, pampered by slothful -peace, were little fitted to bear the heat, the dust, and toil of -long campaigns. - -This army Don Roderick put under the command of his kinsman Ataulpho, -a prince of the royal blood of the Goths, and of a noble and generous -nature; and he ordered him to march with all speed to meet the foe, -and to recruit his forces on the way with the troops of Theodomir. - -In the mean time, Taric el Tuerto had received large reinforcements -from Africa, and the adherents of Count Julian and all those -discontented with the sway of Don Roderick had flocked to his -standard; for many were deceived by the representations of Count -Julian, and thought that the Arabs had come to aid him in placing the -sons of Witiza upon the throne. Guided by the count, the troops of -Taric penetrated into various parts of the country, and laid waste -the land; bringing back loads of spoil to their stronghold at the -rock of Calpe. - -The Prince Ataulpho marched with his army through Andalusia, and was -joined by Theodomir with his troops; he met with various detachments -of the enemy foraging the country, and had several bloody skirmishes; -but he succeeded in driving them before him, and they retreated to -the rock of Calpe, where Taric lay gathered up with the main body of -his army. - -The prince encamped not far from the bay which spreads itself out -before the promontory. In the evening he dispatched the veteran -Theodomir, with a trumpet, to demand a parley of the Arab chieftain, -who received the envoy in his tent, surrounded by his captains. -Theodomir was frank and abrupt in speech, for the most of his life -had been passed far from courts. He delivered, in round terms, the -message of the Prince Ataulpho; upbraiding the Arab general with his -wanton invasion of the land, and summoning him to surrender his army -or to expect no mercy. - -The single eye of Taric el Tuerto glowed like a coal of fire at this -message. “Tell your commander,” replied he, “that I have crossed the -strait to conquer Spain, nor will I return until I have accomplished -my purpose. Tell him I have men skilled in war, and armed in proof, -with whose aid I trust soon to give a good account of his rabble -host.” - -A murmur of applause passed through the assemblage of Moslem -captains. Theodomir glanced on them a look of defiance, but his eye -rested on a renegado Christian, one of his own ancient comrades, and -a relation of Count Julian. “As to you, Don Graybeard,” said he, -“you who turn apostate in your declining age, I here pronounce you a -traitor to your God, your king, and country; and stand ready to prove -it this instant upon your body, if field be granted me.” - -The traitor knight was stung with rage at these words, for truth -rendered them piercing to the heart. He would have immediately -answered to the challenge, but Taric forbade it, and ordered that -the Christian envoy should be conducted from the camp. “’Tis well,” -replied Theodomir; “God will give me the field which you deny. Let -yon hoary apostate look to himself to-morrow in the battle, for I -pledge myself to use my lance upon no other foe until it has shed -his blood upon the native soil he has betrayed.” So saying, he left -the camp, nor could the Moslem chieftains help admiring the honest -indignation of this patriot knight, while they secretly despised his -renegado adversary. - -The ancient Moorish chroniclers relate many awful portents and -strange and mysterious visions, which appeared to the commanders -of either army during this anxious night. Certainly it was a night -of fearful suspense, and Moslem and Christian looked forward with -doubt to the fortune of the coming day. The Spanish sentinel walked -his pensive round, listening occasionally to the vague sounds from -the distant rock of Calpe, and eying it as the mariner eyes the -thunder-cloud, pregnant with terror and destruction. The Arabs, -too, from their lofty cliffs, beheld the numerous camp-fires of the -Christians gradually lighted up, and saw that they were a powerful -host; at the same time the night breeze brought to their ears the -sullen roar of the sea which separated them from Africa. When they -considered their perilous situation,—an army on one side, with a -whole nation aroused to reinforce it, and on the other an impassable -sea,—the spirits of many of the warriors were cast down, and they -repented the day when they had ventured into this hostile land. - -Taric marked their despondency, but said nothing. Scarce had the -first streak of morning light trembled along the sea, however, when -he summoned his principal warriors to his tent. “Be of good cheer,” -said he; “Allah is with us and has sent his Prophet to give assurance -of his aid. Scarce had I retired to my tent last night, when a man -of a majestic and venerable presence stood before me. He was taller -by a palm than the ordinary race of men, his flowing beard was of -a golden hue, and his eyes were so bright that they seemed to send -forth flashes of fire. I have heard the Emir Bahamet, and other -ancient men, describe the Prophet, whom they had seen many times -while on earth, and such was his form and lineament. ‘Fear nothing, O -Taric, from the morrow,’ said he; ‘I will be with thee in the fight. -Strike boldly, then, and conquer. Those of thy followers who survive -the battle will have this land for an inheritance; for those who fall -a mansion in Paradise is prepared, and immortal houries await their -coming.’ He spake and vanished; I heard a strain of celestial melody, -and my tent was filled with the odors of Arabia the Happy.” “Such,” -say the Spanish chroniclers, “was another of the arts by which this -arch son of Ishmael sought to animate the hearts of his followers; -and the pretended vision has been recorded by the Arabian writers as -a veritable occurrence. Marvelous, indeed, was the effect produced by -it upon the infidel soldiery, who now cried out with eagerness to be -led against the foe.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XII. - -Battle of Calpe.—Fate of Ataulpho. - - -The gray summits of the rock of Calpe brightened with the first rays -of morning, as the Christian army issued forth from its encampment. -The Prince Ataulpho rode from squadron to squadron, animating his -soldiers for the battle. “Never should we sheathe our swords,” said -he, “while these infidels have a footing in the land. They are pent -up within you rocky mountain; we must assail them in their rugged -hold. We have a long day before us; let not the setting sun shine -upon one of their host who is not a fugitive, a captive, or a corpse.” - -The words of the prince were received with shouts, and the army moved -towards the promontory. As they advanced, they heard the clash of -cymbals and the bray of trumpets, and the rocky bosom of the mountain -glittered with helms and spears and scimetars; for the Arabs, -inspired with fresh confidence by the words of Taric, were sallying -forth, with flaunting banners, to the combat. - -The gaunt Arab chieftain stood upon a rock as his troops marched -by; his buckler was at his back, and he brandished in his hand a -double-pointed spear. Calling upon the several leaders by their -names, he exhorted them to direct their attacks against the Christian -captains, and especially against Ataulpho; “for the chiefs being -slain,” said he, “their followers will vanish from before us like the -morning mist.” - -The Gothic nobles were easily to be distinguished by the splendor of -their arms, but the Prince Ataulpho was conspicuous above all the -rest for the youthful grace and majesty of his appearance and the -bravery of his array. He was mounted on a superb Andalusian charger, -richly caparisoned with crimson velvet, embroidered with gold. His -surcoat was of like color and adornment, and the plumes that waved -above his burnished helmet were of the purest white. Ten mounted -pages, magnificently attired, followed him to the field, but their -duty was not so much to fight as to attend upon their lord, and to -furnish him with steed or weapon. - -The Christian troops, though irregular and undisciplined, were full -of native courage; for the old warrior spirit of their Gothic sires -still glowed in their bosoms. There were two battalions of infantry, -but Ataulpho stationed them in the rear; “for God forbid,” said he, -“that foot-soldiers should have the place of honor in the battle, -when I have so many valiant cavaliers.” As the armies drew nigh to -each other, however, it was discovered that the advance of the Arabs -was composed of infantry. Upon this the cavaliers checked their -steeds, and requested that the foot soldiery might advance and -disperse this losel crew, holding it beneath their dignity to contend -with pedestrian foes. The prince, however, commanded them to charge; -upon which, putting spurs to their steeds, they rushed upon the foe. - -The Arabs stood the shock manfully, receiving the horses upon the -points of their lances; many of the riders were shot down with bolts -from cross-bows, or stabbed with the poniards of the Moslems. The -cavaliers succeeded, however, in breaking into the midst of the -battalion and throwing it into confusion, cutting down some with -their swords, transpiercing others with their spears, and trampling -many under the hoofs of their horses. At this moment they were -attacked by a band of Spanish horsemen, the recreant partisans of -Count Julian. Their assault bore hard upon their countrymen, who were -disordered by the contest with the foot-soldiers, and many a loyal -Christian knight fell beneath the sword of an unnatural foe. - -The foremost among these recreant warriors was the renegado cavalier -whom Theodomir had challenged in the tent of Taric. He dealt his -blows about him with a powerful arm and with malignant fury, for -nothing is more deadly than the hatred of an apostate. In the midst -of his career he was espied by the hardy Theodomir, who came spurring -to the encounter. “Traitor,” cried he, “I have kept my vow. This -lance has been held sacred from all other foes to make a passage -for thy perjured soul.” The renegade had been renowned for prowess -before he became a traitor to his country, but guilt will sap the -courage of the stoutest heart. When he beheld Theodomir rushing upon -him, he would have turned and fled; pride alone withheld him; and, -though an admirable master of defense, he lost all skill to ward the -attack of his adversary. At the first assault the lance of Theodomir -pierced him through and through; he fell to the earth, gnashed his -teeth as he rolled in the dust, but yielded his breath without -uttering a word. - -The battle now became general, and lasted throughout the morning with -varying success. The stratagem of Taric, however, began to produce -its effect. The Christian leaders and most conspicuous cavaliers were -singled out and severally assailed by overpowering numbers. They -fought desperately, and performed miracles of prowess, but fell, -one by one, beneath a thousand wounds. Still the battle lingered on -throughout a great part of the day, and as the declining sun shone -through the clouds of dust, it seemed as if the conflicting hosts -were wrapped in smoke and fire. - -The Prince Ataulpho saw that the fortune of battle was against him. -He rode about the field, calling out the names of the bravest of his -knights, but few answered to his call; the rest lay mangled on the -field. With this handful of warriors he endeavored to retrieve the -day, when he was assailed by Tenderos, a partisan of Count Julian, -at the head of a body of recreant Christians. At the sight of this -new adversary, fire flashed from the eyes of the prince, for -Tenderos had been brought up in his father’s palace. “Well dost thou, -traitor!” cried he, “to attack the son of thy lord, who gave thee -bread; thou, who hast betrayed thy country and thy God!” - -So saying, he seized a lance from one of his pages, and charged -furiously upon the apostate; but Tenderos met him in mid career, and -the lance of the prince was shivered upon his shield. Ataulpho then -grasped his mace, which hung at his saddle-bow, and a doubtful fight -ensued. Tenderos was powerful of frame and superior in the use of -his weapons, but the curse of treason seemed to paralyze his arm. He -wounded Ataulpho slightly between the greaves of his armor, but the -prince dealt a blow with his mace that crushed through helm and skull -and reached the brain; and Tenderos fell dead to earth, his armor -rattling as he fell. - -At the same moment, a javelin hurled by an Arab transpierced the -horse of Ataulpho, which sunk beneath him. The prince seized the -reins of the steed of Tenderos, but the faithful animal, as though -he knew him to be the foe of his late lord, reared and plunged and -refused to let him mount. The prince, however, used him as a shield -to ward off the press of foes, while with his sword he defended -himself against those in front of him. Taric ben Zeyad arrived at -the scene of conflict, and paused for a moment in admiration of the -surpassing prowess of the prince; recollecting, however, that his -fall would be a death-blow to his army, he spurred upon him, and -wounded him severely with his scimetar. Before he could repeat his -blow, Theodomir led up a body of Christian cavaliers to the rescue, -and Taric was parted from his prey by the tumult of the fight. The -prince sank to the earth, covered with wounds and exhausted by the -loss of blood. A faithful page drew him from under the hoofs of -the horses, and, aided by a veteran soldier, an ancient vassal of -Ataulpho, conveyed him to a short distance from the scene of battle, -by the side of a small stream that gushed out from among rocks. They -stanched the blood that flowed from his wounds, and washed the dust -from his face, and laid him beside the fountain. The page sat at his -head, and supported it on his knees, and the veteran stood at his -feet, with his brow bent and his eyes full of sorrow. The prince -gradually revived, and opened his eyes. “How fares the battle?” said -he. “The struggle is hard,” replied the soldier, “but the day may yet -be ours.” - -The prince felt that the hour of his death was at hand, and ordered -that they should aid him to rise upon his knees. They supported him -between them, and he prayed fervently for a short time, when, finding -his strength declining, he beckoned the veteran to sit down beside -him on the rock. Continuing to kneel, he confessed himself to that -ancient soldier, having no priest or friar to perform that office -in this hour of extremity. When he had so done, he sunk again upon -the earth and pressed it with his lips, as if he would take a fond -farewell of his beloved country. The page would then have raised his -head, but found that his lord had yielded up the ghost. - -A number of Arab warriors, who came to the fountain to slake their -thirst, cut off the head of the prince, and bore it in triumph to -Taric, crying, “Behold the head of the Christian leader.” Taric -immediately ordered that the head should be put upon the end of a -lance, together with the surcoat of the prince, and borne about the -field of battle, with the sound of trumpets, atabals, and cymbals. - -When the Christians beheld the surcoat, and knew the features of -the prince, they were struck with horror, and heart and hand failed -them. Theodomir endeavored in vain to rally them; they threw by their -weapons and fled; and they continued to fly, and the enemy to pursue -and slay them, until the darkness of the night. The Moslems then -returned and plundered the Christian camp, where they found abundant -spoil. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Terror of the Country.—Roderick rouses himself to Arms. - - -The scattered fugitives of the Christian army spread terror -throughout the land. The inhabitants of the towns and villages -gathered around them as they applied at their gates for food, or laid -themselves down, faint and wounded, beside the public fountains. When -they related the tale of their defeat, old men shook their heads and -groaned, and the women uttered cries and lamentations. So strange and -unlooked-for a calamity filled them with consternation and despair; -for it was long since the alarm of war had sounded in their land, and -this was a warfare that carried chains and slavery, and all kinds of -horrors in its train. - -Don Roderick was seated with his beauteous queen, Exilona, in the -royal palace which crowned the rocky summit of Toledo, when the -bearer of ill tidings came galloping over the bridge of the Tagus. -“What tidings from the army?” demanded the king, as the panting -messenger was brought into his presence. “Tidings of great woe,” -exclaimed the soldier. “The prince has fallen in battle. I saw his -head and surcoat upon a Moorish lance, and the army was overthrown -and fled.” - -At hearing these words, Roderick covered his face with his hands, -and for some time sat in silence; and all his courtiers stood mute -and aghast, and no one dared to speak a word. In that awful space -of time, passed before his thoughts all his errors and his crimes, -and all the evils that had been predicted in the necromantic tower. -His mind was filled with horror and confusion, for the hour of his -destruction seemed at hand; but he subdued his agitation by his -strong and haughty spirit; and when he uncovered his face, no one -could read on his brow the trouble and agony of his heart. Still -every hour brought fresh tidings of disaster. Messenger after -messenger came spurring into the city, distracting it with new -alarms. The infidels, they said, were strengthening themselves in -the land; host after host were pouring in from Africa; the seaboard -of Andalusia glittered with spears and scimetars. Bands of turbaned -horsemen had overrun the plains of Sidonia, even to the banks of the -Guadiana. Fields were laid waste, towns and cities plundered, the -inhabitants carried into captivity, and the whole country lay in -smoking desolation. - -Roderick heard all these tidings with an undaunted aspect, nor did -he ever again betray sign of consternation; but the anxiety of his -soul was evident in his warlike preparations. He issued orders that -every noble and prelate of his kingdom should put himself at the head -of his retainers and take the field, and that every man capable of -bearing arms should hasten to his standard, bringing whatever horse -and mule and weapon he possessed; and he appointed the plain of -Cordova for the place where the army was to assemble. Throwing by, -then, all the trappings of his late slothful and voluptuous life, and -arming himself for warlike action, he departed from Toledo at the -head of his guard, composed of the flower of the youthful nobility. -His queen, Exilona, accompanied him, for she craved permission to -remain in one of the cities of Andalusia, that she might be near her -lord in this time of peril. - -Among the first who appeared to hail the arrival of the king at -Cordova, was the Bishop Oppas, the secret partisan of the traitor -Julian. He brought with him his two nephews, Evan and Siseburto, -the sons of the late King Witiza, and a great host of vassals and -retainers, all well armed and appointed; for they had been furnished -by Count Julian with a part of the arms sent by the king to Africa. -The bishop was smooth of tongue and profound in his hypocrisy; his -pretended zeal and devotion, and the horror with which he spoke of -the treachery of his kinsman, imposed upon the credulous spirit of -the king, and he was readily admitted into his most secret councils. - -The alarm of the infidel invasion had spread throughout the land, and -roused the Gothic valor of the inhabitants. On receiving the orders -of Roderick, every town and hamlet, every mountain and valley, had -sent forth its fighting men, and the whole country was on the march -towards Andalusia. In a little while there were gathered together, on -the plain of Cordova, near fifty thousand horsemen and a countless -host of foot-soldiers. The Gothic nobles appeared in burnished -armor, curiously inlaid and adorned, with chains and jewels of gold, -and ornaments of precious stones, and silken scarfs, and surcoats -of brocade, or velvet richly embroidered; betraying the luxury and -ostentation into which they had declined from the iron hardihood of -their warlike sires. As to the common people, some had lances and -shields and swords and cross-bows, but the greater part were unarmed, -or provided merely with slings, and clubs studded with nails, and -with the iron implements of husbandry; and many had made shields for -themselves from the doors and windows of their habitations. They -were a prodigious host, and appeared, say the Arabian chroniclers, -like an agitated sea; but, though brave in spirit, they possessed no -knowledge of warlike art, and were ineffectual through lack of arms -and discipline. - -Several of the most ancient and experienced cavaliers, beholding the -state of the army, advised Don Roderick to await the arrival of more -regular troops, which were stationed in Iberia, Cantabria, and Gallia -Gothica; but this counsel was strenuously opposed by the Bishop -Oppas; who urged the king to march immediately against the infidels. -“As yet,” said he, “their number is but limited; but every day new -hosts arrive, like flocks of locusts, from Africa. They will augment -faster than we; they are living, too, at our expense, and while we -pause, both armies are consuming the substance of the land.” - -King Roderick listened to the crafty counsel of the bishop, and -determined to advance without delay. He mounted his war-horse Orelia, -and rode among his troops assembled on that spacious plain, and -wherever he appeared he was received with acclamations; for nothing -so arouses the spirit of the soldier as to behold his sovereign in -arms. He addressed them in words calculated to touch their hearts and -animate their courage. “The Saracens,” said he, “are ravaging our -land, and their object is our conquest. Should they prevail, your -very existence as a nation is at an end. They will overturn your -altars, trample on the cross, lay waste your cities, carry off your -wives and daughters, and doom yourselves and sons to hard and cruel -slavery. No safety remains for you but in the prowess of your arms. -For my own part, as I am your king, so will I be your leader, and -will be the foremost to encounter every toil and danger.” - -The soldiery answered their monarch with loud acclamations, and -solemnly pledged themselves to fight to the last gasp in defense of -their country and their faith. The king then arranged the order of -their march; all those who were armed with cuirasses and coats of -mail were placed in the front and rear; the centre of the army was -composed of a promiscuous throng, without body-armor and but scantily -provided with weapons. - -When they were about to march, the king called to him a noble -cavalier named Ramiro, and, delivering him the royal standard, -charged him to guard it well for the honor of Spain; scarcely, -however, had the good knight received it in his hand, when he fell -dead from his horse, and the staff of the standard was broken in -twain. Many ancient courtiers who were present looked upon this as -an evil omen, and counseled the king not to set forward on his march -that day; but, disregarding all auguries and portents, he ordered -the royal banner to be put upon a lance, and gave it in charge of -another standard-bearer; then commanding the trumpets to be sounded, -he departed at the head of his host to seek the enemy. - -The field where this great army assembled was called, from the solemn -pledge given by the nobles and the soldiers, _El campo de la verdad_; -or, The Field of Truth—a name, says the sage chronicler Abulcasim, -which it bears even to the present day.[21] - - [21] _La Perdida de España_, cap. 9. Bleda, L. 2, c. 8. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIV. - -March of the Gothic Army.—Encampment on the Banks of the -Guadalete.—Mysterious Predictions of a Palmer.—Conduct of Pelistes -thereupon. - - -The hopes of Andalusia revived as this mighty host stretched in -lengthening lines along its fertile plains; from morn until night it -continued to pour along, with sound of drum and trumpet; it was led -on by the proudest nobles and bravest cavaliers of the land, and, had -it possessed arms and discipline, might have undertaken the conquest -of the world. - -After a few days’ march, Don Roderick arrived in sight of the -Moslem army, encamped on the banks of the Guadalete,[22] where that -beautiful stream winds through the fertile land of Xeres. The infidel -host was far inferior in number to the Christians, but then it was -composed of hardy and dexterous troops, seasoned to war and admirably -armed. The camp shone gloriously in the setting sun, and resounded -with the clash of cymbal, the note of the trumpet, and the neighing -of fiery Arabian steeds. There were swarthy troops from every nation -of the African coast, together with legions from Syria and Egypt, -while the light Bedouins were careering about the adjacent plain. -What grieved and incensed the spirits of the Christian warriors, -however, was to behold, a little apart from the Moslem host, an -encampment of Spanish cavaliers, with the banner of Count Julian -waving above their tents. They were ten thousand in number, valiant -and hardy men, the most experienced of Spanish soldiery, most of -them having served in the African wars; they were well armed and -appointed, also, with the weapons of which the count had beguiled his -sovereign; and it was a grievous sight to behold such good soldiers -arrayed against their country and their faith. - - [22] This name was given to it subsequently by the Arabs. It - signifies the River of Death. _Vide_ Pedraza, _Hist. Granad._ p. - 3, c. 1. - -The Christians pitched their tents about the hour of vespers, at -a short league distant from the enemy, and remained gazing with -anxiety and awe upon this barbaric host that had caused such terror -and desolation in the land; for the first sight of a hostile -encampment in a country disused to war is terrible to the newly -enlisted soldier. A marvelous occurrence is recorded by the Arabian -chroniclers as having taken place in the Christian camp; but discreet -Spanish writers relate it with much modification, and consider it -a stratagem of the wily Bishop Oppas, to sound the loyalty of the -Christian cavaliers. - -As several leaders of the army were seated with the bishop in his -tent, conversing on the dubious fortunes of the approaching contest, -an ancient pilgrim appeared at the entrance. He was bowed down with -years, his snowy beard descended to his girdle, and he supported -his tottering steps with a palmer’s staff. The cavaliers rose and -received him with great reverence as he advanced within the tent. -Holding up his withered hand, “Woe, woe to Spain!” exclaimed he, “for -the vial of the wrath of Heaven is about to be poured out. Listen, -warriors, and take warning. Four months since, having performed my -pilgrimage to the sepulchre of our Lord in Palestine, I was on my -return towards my native land. Wearied and wayworn, I lay down one -night to sleep beneath a palm-tree, by the side of a fountain, when -I was awakened by a voice saying unto me, in soft accents, ‘Son of -sorrow, why sleepest thou?’ I opened my eyes, and beheld one of a -fair and beauteous countenance, in shining apparel, and with glorious -wings, standing by the fountain; and I said, ‘Who art thou who -callest upon me in this deep hour of the night?’ - -“‘Fear not,’ replied the stranger; ‘I am an angel from heaven, sent -to reveal unto thee the fate of thy country. Behold, the sins of -Roderick have come up before God, and his anger is kindled against -him, and He has given him up to be invaded and destroyed. Hasten then -to Spain, and seek the camp of thy countrymen. Warn them that such -only shall be saved as shall abandon Roderick; but those who adhere -to him shall share his punishment, and shall fall under the sword of -the invader.’” - -The pilgrim ceased, and passed forth from the tent; certain of -the cavaliers followed him to detain him, that they might converse -further with him about these matters, but he was nowhere to be found. -The sentinel before the tent said, “I saw no one come forth, but it -was as if a blast of wind passed by me, and there was a rustling as -of dry leaves.” - -The cavaliers remained looking upon each other with astonishment. The -Bishop Oppas sat with his eyes fixed upon the ground, and shadowed -by his overhanging brow. At length, breaking silence, in a low and -faltering voice, “Doubtless,” said he, “this message is from God; -and since He has taken compassion upon us, and given us notice -of his impending judgment, it behooves us to hold grave council, -and determine how best we may accomplish his will and avert his -displeasure.” - -The chiefs still remained silent, as men confounded. Among them was -a veteran noble named Pelistes. He had distinguished himself in the -African wars, fighting side by side with Count Julian; but the latter -had never dared to tamper with his faith, for he knew his stern -integrity. Pelistes had brought with him to the camp his only son, -who had never drawn a sword except in tourney. When the young man saw -that the veterans held their peace, the blood mantled in his cheek, -and, overcoming his modesty, he broke forth with a generous warmth: -“I know not, cavaliers,” said he, “what is passing in your minds, -but I believe this pilgrim to be an envoy from the devil; for none -else could have given such dastard and perfidious counsel. For my -own part, I stand ready to defend my king, my country, and my faith; -I know no higher duty than this, and if God thinks fit to strike me -dead in the performance of it, his sovereign will be done!” - -When the young man had risen to speak, his father had fixed his eyes -upon him with a grave and stern demeanor, leaning upon a two-handed -sword. As soon as the youth had finished, Pelistes embraced him with -a father’s fondness. “Thou hast spoken well, my son,” said he; “if -I held my peace at the counsel of this losel pilgrim, it was but -to hear thy opinion, and to learn whether thou wert worthy of thy -lineage and of the training I had given thee. Hadst thou counseled -otherwise than thou hast done,—hadst thou shown thyself craven and -disloyal,—so help me God, I would have struck off thy head with this -weapon which I hold in my hand. But thou hast counseled like a loyal -and a Christian knight, and I thank God for having given me a son -worthy to perpetuate the honors of my line. As to this pilgrim, be -he saint or be he devil, I care not; this much I promise, that if I -am to die in defense of my country and my king, my life shall be a -costly purchase to the foe. Let each man make the same resolve, and -I trust we shall yet prove the pilgrim a lying prophet.” The words -of Pelistes roused the spirits of many of the cavaliers; others, -however, remained full of anxious foreboding; and when this fearful -prophecy was rumored about the camp, as it presently was by the -emissaries of the bishop, it spread awe and dismay among the soldiery. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XV. - -Skirmishing of the Armies.—Pelistes and his Son.—Pelistes and the -Bishop. - - -On the following day the two armies remained regarding each other -with wary but menacing aspect. About noontide King Roderick sent -forth a chosen force of five hundred horse and two hundred foot, -the best armed of his host, to skirmish with the enemy, that, by -gaining some partial advantage, they might raise the spirits of the -army. They were led on by Theodomir, the same Gothic noble who had -signalized himself by first opposing the invasion of the Moslems. - -The Christian squadrons paraded with flying pennons in the valley -which lay between the armies. The Arabs were not slow in answering -their defiance. A large body of horsemen sallied forth to the -encounter, together with three hundred of the followers of Count -Julian. There was hot skirmishing about the field and on the banks -of the river; many gallant feats were displayed on either side, -and many valiant warriors were slain. As the night closed in, the -trumpets from either camp summoned the troops to retire from the -combat. In this day’s action the Christians suffered greatly in -the loss of their distinguished cavaliers; for it is the noblest -spirits who venture most, and lay themselves open to danger; and the -Moslem soldiers had instructions to single out the leaders of the -adverse host. All this is said to have been devised by the perfidious -Bishop Oppas, who had secret communications with the enemy, while he -influenced the councils of the king; and who trusted that by this -skirmishing warfare the flower of the Christian troops would be cut -off, and the rest disheartened. - -On the following morning a larger force was ordered out to skirmish, -and such of the soldiery as were unarmed were commanded to stand -ready to seize the horses and strip off the armor of the killed and -wounded. Among the most illustrious of the warriors who fought that -day was Pelistes, the Gothic noble who had so sternly checked the -tongue of the Bishop Oppas. He led to the field a large body of his -own vassals and retainers, and of cavaliers trained up in his house, -who had followed him to the wars in Africa, and who looked up to -him more as a father than a chieftain. Beside him was his only son, -who now for the first time was fleshing his sword in battle. The -conflict that day was more general and bloody than the day preceding; -the slaughter of the Christian warriors was immense, from their -lack of defensive armor; and as nothing could prevent the flower -of the Gothic chivalry from spurring to the combat, the field was -strewed with the bodies of the youthful nobles. None suffered more, -however, than the warriors of Pelistes. Their leader himself was -bold and hardy, and prone to expose himself to danger; but years -and experience had moderated his early fire; his son, however, was -eager to distinguish himself in this, his first essay, and rushed -with impetuous ardor into the hottest of the battle. In vain his -father called to caution him; he was ever in the advance, and seemed -unconscious of the perils that surrounded him. The cavaliers and -vassals of his father followed him with devoted zeal, and many of -them paid for their loyalty with their lives. When the trumpets -sounded in the evening for retreat, the troops of Pelistes were -the last to reach the camp. They came slowly and mournfully, and -much decreased in number. Their veteran commander was seated on his -war-horse, but the blood trickled from the greaves of his armor. -His valiant son was borne on the shields of his vassals; when they -laid him on the earth near to where the king was standing, they -found that the heroic youth had expired of his wounds. The cavaliers -surrounded the body, and gave utterance to their grief, but the -father restrained his agony, and looked on with the stern resignation -of a soldier. - -Don Roderick surveyed the field of battle with a rueful eye, for it -was covered with the mangled bodies of his most illustrious warriors; -he saw, too, with anxiety, that the common people, unused to war -and unsustained by discipline, were harassed by incessant toils and -dangers, and were cooling in their zeal and courage. - -The crafty Bishop Oppas marked the internal trouble of the king, and -thought a favorable moment had arrived to sway him to his purpose. -He called to his mind the various portents and prophecies which had -forerun their present danger. “Let not my lord the king,” said he, -“make light of these mysterious revelations, which appear to be so -disastrously fulfilling. The hand of Heaven appears to be against -us. Destruction is impending over our heads. Our troops are rude and -unskillful, but slightly armed, and much cast down in spirit. Better -is it that we should make a treaty with the enemy, and by granting -part of his demands, prevent the utter ruin of our country. If such -counsel be acceptable to my lord the king, I stand ready to depart -upon an embassy to the Moslem camp.” - -Upon hearing these words, Pelistes, who had stood in mournful -silence, regarding the dead body of his son, burst forth with honest -indignation. “By this good sword,” said he, “the man who yields such -dastard counsel deserves death from the hand of his countrymen rather -than from the foe; and, were it not for the presence of the king, may -I forfeit salvation if I would not strike him dead upon the spot.” - -The bishop turned an eye of venom upon Pelistes. “My lord,” said he, -“I, too, bear a weapon, and know how to wield it. Were the king not -present you would not dare to menace, nor should you advance one step -without my hastening to meet you.” - -The king interposed between the jarring nobles, and rebuked the -impetuosity of Pelistes, but at the same time rejected the counsel of -the bishop. “The event of this conflict,” said he, “is in the hand of -God; but never shall my sword return to its scabbard while an infidel -invader remains within the land.” - -He then held a council with his captains, and it was determined to -offer the enemy general battle on the following day. A herald was -dispatched defying Taric ben Zeyad to the contest, and the defiance -was gladly accepted by the Moslem chieftain.[23] Don Roderick then -formed the plan of action, and assigned to each commander his several -station, after which he dismissed his officers, and each one sought -his tent, to prepare by diligence or repose for the next day’s -eventful contest. - - [23] Bleda, _Cronica_. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Traitorous Message of Count Julian. - - -Taric Ben Zeyad had been surprised by the valor of the Christian -cavaliers in the recent battles, and at the number and apparent -devotion of the troops which accompanied the king to the field. The -confident defiance of Don Roderick increased his surprise. When -the herald had retired, he turned an eye of suspicion on Count -Julian. “Thou hast represented thy countrymen,” said he, “as sunk in -effeminacy and lost to all generous impulse; yet I find them fighting -with the courage and the strength of lions. Thou hast represented thy -king as detested by his subjects and surrounded by secret treason; -but I behold his tents whitening the hills and dales, while thousands -are hourly flocking to his standard. Woe unto thee if thou hast dealt -deceitfully with us, or betrayed us with guileful words.” - -Don Julian retired to his tent in great trouble of mind, and fear -came upon him that the Bishop Oppas might play him false; for it is -the lot of traitors ever to distrust each other. He called to him the -same page who had brought him the letter from Florinda, revealing -the story of her dishonor. - -“Thou knowest, my trusty page,” said he, “that I have reared thee in -my household, and cherished thee above all thy companions. If thou -hast loyalty and affection for thy lord, now is the time to serve -him. Hie thee to the Christian camp, and find thy way to the tent -of the Bishop Oppas. If any one ask thee who thou art, tell them -thou art of the household of the bishop, and bearer of missives from -Cordova. When thou art admitted to the presence of the bishop, show -him this ring, and he will commune with thee in secret. Then tell him -Count Julian greets him as a brother, and demands how the wrongs of -his daughter Florinda are to be redressed. Mark well his reply, and -bring it word for word. Have thy lips closed, but thine eyes and ears -open; and observe everything of note in the camp of the king. So, -speed thee on thy errand—away, away!” - -The page hastened to saddle a Barbary steed, fleet as the wind, and -of a jet black color, so as not to be easily discernible in the -night. He girded on a sword and dagger, slung an Arab bow with a -quiver of arrows at his side, and a buckler at his shoulder. Issuing -out of the camp, he sought the banks of the Guadalete, and proceeded -silently along its stream, which reflected the distant fires of the -Christian camp. As he passed by the place which had been the scene -of the recent conflict, he heard from time to time the groan of some -expiring warrior who had crawled among the reeds on the margin -of the river, and sometimes his steed stepped cautiously over the -mangled bodies of the slain. The young page was unused to the sights -of war, and his heart beat quick within him. He was hailed by the -sentinels as he approached the Christian camp, and, on giving the -reply taught him by Count Julian, was conducted to the tent of the -Bishop Oppas. - -The bishop had not yet retired to his couch. When he beheld the ring -of Count Julian, and heard the words of his message, he saw that the -page was one in whom he might confide. “Hasten back to thy lord,” -said he, “and tell him to have faith in me and all shall go well. As -yet I have kept my troops out of the combat. They are all fresh, well -armed, and well appointed. The king has confided to myself, aided by -the princes Evan and Siseburto, the command of a wing of the army. -To-morrow, at the hour of noon, when both armies are in the heat of -action, we will pass over with our forces to the Moslems. But I claim -the compact made with Taric ben Zeyad, that my nephews be placed in -dominion over Spain, and tributary only to the Caliph of Damascus.” -With this traitorous message the page departed. He led his black -steed by the bridle, to present less mark for observation, as he went -stumbling along near the expiring fires of the camp. On passing the -last outpost, where the guards were half slumbering on their arms, he -was overheard and summoned, but leaped lightly into the saddle and -put spurs to his steed. An arrow whistled by his ear, and two more -stuck in the target which he had thrown upon his back. The clatter -of swift hoofs echoed behind him, but he had learnt of the Arabs to -fight and fly. Plucking a shaft from his quiver, and turning and -rising in the stirrups as his courser galloped at fall speed, he drew -the arrow to the head and launched it at his pursuer. The twang of -the bow-string was followed by the crash of armor, and a deep groan, -as the horseman tumbled to the earth. The page pursued his course -without further molestation, and arrived at the Moslem camp before -the break of day. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Last Day of the Battle. - - -A light had burned throughout the night in the tent of the king, and -anxious thoughts and dismal visions troubled his repose. If he fell -into a slumber, he beheld in his dreams the shadowy phantoms of the -necromantic tower, or the injured Florinda, pale and disheveled, -imprecating the vengeance of Heaven upon his head. In the mid-watches -of the night, when all was silent except the footstep of the -sentinel pacing before his tent, the king rose from his couch, and -walking forth, looked thoughtfully upon the martial scene before -him. The pale crescent of the moon hung over the Moorish camp, and -dimly lighted up the windings of the Guadalete. The heart of the -king was heavy and oppressed; but he felt only for himself, says -Antonio Agapida; he thought nothing of the perils impending over the -thousands of devoted subjects in the camp below him; sleeping, as it -were, on the margin of their graves. The faint clatter of distant -hoofs, as if in rapid flight, reached the monarch’s ear, but the -horsemen were not to be descried. At that very hour, and along the -shadowy banks of that river, here and there gleaming with the scanty -moonlight, passed the fugitive messenger of Count Julian, with the -plan of the next day’s treason. - -The day had not yet dawned when the sleepless and impatient monarch -summoned his attendants and arrayed himself for the field. He then -sent for the venerable Bishop Urbino, who had accompanied him to -the camp, and, laying aside his regal crown, he knelt with head -uncovered, and confessed his sins before the holy man. After this -a solemn mass was performed in the royal tent, and the eucharist -administered to the monarch. When these ceremonies were concluded, -he besought the archbishop to depart forthwith for Cordova, there -to await the issue of the battle, and to be ready to bring forward -reinforcements and supplies. The archbishop saddled his mule and -departed just as the faint blush of morning began to kindle in the -east. Already the camp resounded with the thrilling call of the -trumpet, the clank of armor, and the tramp and neigh of steeds. -As the archbishop passed through the camp, he looked with a -compassionate heart on this vast multitude, of whom so many were soon -to perish. The warriors pressed to kiss his hand, and many a cavalier -full of youth and fire received his benediction, who was to lie stiff -and cold before the evening. - -When the troops were marshaled for the field, Don Roderick prepared -to sally forth in the state and pomp with which the Gothic kings -were wont to go to battle. He was arrayed in robes of gold brocade; -his sandals were embroidered with pearls and diamonds; he had a -sceptre in his hand, and he wore a regal crown resplendent with -inestimable jewels. Thus gorgeously appareled, he ascended a lofty -chariot of ivory, the axle-trees of which were of silver, and the -wheels and pole covered with plates of burnished gold. Above his head -was a canopy of cloth of gold, embossed with armorial devices, and -studded with precious stones.[24] This sumptuous chariot was drawn -by milk-white horses, with caparisons of crimson velvet, embroidered -with pearls. A thousand youthful cavaliers surrounded the car, all of -the noblest blood and bravest spirit; all knighted by the king’s own -hand, and sworn to defend him to the last. - - [24] Entrand. _Chron. an. Chris._ 714. - -When Roderick issued forth in this resplendent state, says an Arabian -writer, surrounded by his guards in gilded armor and waving plumes -and scarfs and surcoats of a thousand dyes, it was as if the sun were -emerging in the dazzling chariot of the day from amidst the glorious -clouds of morning. - -As the royal car rolled along in front of the squadrons, the -soldiers shouted with admiration. Don Roderick waved his sceptre and -addressed them from his lofty throne, reminding them of the horror -and desolation which had already been spread through the land by -the invaders. He called upon them to summon up the ancient valor -of their race, and avenge the blood of their brethren. “One day of -glorious fighting,” said he, “and this infidel horde will be driven -into the sea or will perish beneath your swords. Forward bravely to -the fight; your families are behind you praying for your success; the -invaders of your country are before you; God is above to bless his -holy cause, and your king leads you to the field.” The army shouted -with one accord, “Forward to the foe, and death be his portion who -shuns the encounter!” - -The rising sun began to shine along the glistening waters of the -Guadalete as the Moorish army, squadron after squadron, came sweeping -down a gentle declivity to the sound of martial music. Their turbans -and robes, of various dyes and fashions, gave a splendid appearance -to their host; as they marched, a cloud of dust arose and partly hid -them from the sight, but still there would break forth flashes of -steel and gleams of burnished gold, like rays of vivid lightning; -while the sound of drum and trumpet, and the clash of Moorish cymbal, -were as the warlike thunder within that stormy cloud of battle. - -As the armies drew near each other, the sun disappeared among -gathering clouds, and the gloom of the day was increased by the -columns of dust which rose from either host. At length the trumpets -sounded for the encounter. The battle commenced with showers of -arrows, stones, and javelins. The Christian foot-soldiers fought to -disadvantage, the greater part being destitute of helm or buckler. A -battalion of light Arabian horsemen, led by a Greek renegado named -Maguel el Rumi, careered in front of the Christian line, launching -their darts, and then wheeling off beyond the reach of the missiles -hurled after them. Theodomir now brought up his seasoned troops into -the action, seconded by the veteran Pelistes, and in a little while -the battle became furious and promiscuous. It was glorious to behold -the old Gothic valor shining forth in this hour of fearful trial. -Wherever the Moslems fell, the Christians rushed forward, seized upon -their horses, and stripped them of their armor and their weapons. -They fought desperately and successfully, for they fought for their -country and their faith. The battle raged for several hours; the -field was strewn with slain, and the Moors, overcome by the multitude -and fury of their foes, began to falter. - -When Taric beheld his troops retreating before the enemy, he threw -himself before them, and, rising in his stirrups, “O Moslems! -conquerors of Africa!” cried he, “whither would you fly? The sea is -behind you, the enemy before; you have no hope but in your valor and -the help of God! Do as I do, and the day is ours!” - -With these words he put spurs to his horse and sprung among the -enemy, striking to right and left, cutting down and destroying, while -his steed, fierce as himself, trampled upon the foot-soldiers, and -tore them with his teeth. At this moment a mighty shout arose in -various parts of the field; the noontide hour had arrived. The Bishop -Oppas, with the two princes, who had hitherto kept their bands out of -the fight, suddenly went over to the enemy, and turned their weapons -upon their astonished countrymen. From that moment the fortune of -the day was changed, and the field of battle became a scene of -wild confusion and bloody massacre. The Christians knew not whom to -contend with, or whom to trust. It seemed as if madness had seized -upon their friends and kinsmen, and that their worst enemies were -among themselves. - -The courage of Don Roderick rose with his danger. Throwing off the -cumbrous robes of royalty, and descending from his car, he sprang -upon his steed Orelia, grasped his lance and buckler, and endeavored -to rally his retreating troops. He was surrounded and assailed by a -multitude of his own traitorous subjects, but defended himself with -wondrous prowess. The enemy thickened around him; his loyal band of -cavaliers were slain, bravely fighting in his defense; the last that -was seen of the king was in the midst of the enemy, dealing death at -every blow. - -A complete panic fell upon the Christians; they threw away their -arms and fled in all directions. They were pursued with dreadful -slaughter, until the darkness of the night rendered it impossible to -distinguish friend from foe. Taric then called off his troops from -the pursuit, and took possession of the royal camp; and the couch -which had been pressed so uneasily on the preceding night by Don -Roderick, now yielded sound repose to his conqueror.[25] - - [25] This battle is called indiscriminately by historians the - battle of Guadalete, or of Xeres, from the neighborhood of that - city. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -The Field of Battle after the Defeat.—The Fate of Roderick. - - -On the morning after the battle, the Arab leader, Taric ben Zeyad, -rode over the bloody field of the Guadalete, strewed with the ruins -of those splendid armies which had so lately passed like glorious -pageants along the river banks. There Moor and Christian, horseman -and horse, lay gashed with hideous wounds; and the river, still red -with blood, was filled with the bodies of the slain. The gaunt Arab -was as a wolf roaming through the fold he had laid waste. On every -side his eye reveled on the ruin of the country, on the wrecks of -haughty Spain. There lay the flower of her youthful chivalry, mangled -and destroyed, and the strength of her yeomanry prostrated in the -dust. The Gothic noble lay confounded with his vassals, the peasant -with the prince—all ranks and dignities were mingled in one bloody -massacre. - -When Taric had surveyed the field, he caused the spoils of the dead -and the plunder of the camp to be brought before him. The booty was -immense. There were massy chains and rare jewels of gold, pearls and -precious stones, rich silks and brocades, and all other luxurious -decorations in which the Gothic nobles had indulged in the latter -times of their degeneracy. A vast amount of treasure was likewise -found, which had been brought by Roderick for the expenses of the war. - -Taric then ordered that the bodies of the Moslem warriors should -be interred; as for those of the Christians, they were gathered -in heaps, and vast pyres of wood were formed, on which they were -consumed. The flames of these pyres rose high in the air, and were -seen afar off in the night; and when the Christians beheld them from -the neighboring hills, they beat their breasts and tore their hair, -and lamented over them as over the funeral fires of their country. -The carnage of that battle infected the air for two whole months, and -bones were seen lying in heaps upon the field for more than forty -years; nay, when ages had passed and gone, the husbandman, turning up -the soil, would still find fragments of Gothic cuirasses and helms, -and Moorish scimetars, the relics of that dreadful fight. - -For three days the Arabian horsemen pursued the flying Christians, -hunting them over the face of the country, so that but a scanty -number of that mighty host escaped to tell the tale of their disaster. - -Taric ben Zeyad considered his victory incomplete so long as the -Gothic monarch survived; he proclaimed great rewards, therefore, to -whomsoever should bring Roderick to him, dead or alive. A diligent -search was accordingly made in every direction, but for a long -time in vain; at length a soldier brought to Taric the head of a -Christian warrior, on which was a cap decorated with feathers and -precious stones. The Arab leader received it as the head of the -unfortunate Roderick, and sent it, as a trophy of his victory, to -Muza ben Nosier, who, in like manner, transmitted it to the Caliph -at Damascus. The Spanish historians, however, have always denied its -identity. - -A mystery has ever hung, and ever must continue to hang, over the -fate of King Roderick, in that dark and doleful day of Spain. Whether -he went down amidst the storm of battle, and atoned for his sins -and errors by a patriot grave, or whether he survived to repent of -them in hermit exile, must remain matter of conjecture and dispute. -The learned Archbishop Rodrigo, who has recorded the events of this -disastrous field, affirms that Roderick fell beneath the vengeful -blade of the traitor Julian, and thus expiated with his blood his -crime against the hapless Florinda; but the archbishop stands alone -in his record of the fact. It seems generally admitted that Orelia, -the favorite war-horse of Don Roderick, was found entangled in a -marsh on the borders of the Guadalete, with the sandals and mantle -and royal insignia of the king lying close by him. The river at this -place ran broad and deep, and was encumbered with the dead bodies -of warriors and steeds; it has been supposed, therefore, that he -perished in the stream; but his body was not found within its waters. - -When several years had passed away, and men’s minds, being restored -to some degree of tranquillity, began to occupy themselves about the -events of this dismal day, a rumor arose that Roderick had escaped -from the carnage on the banks of the Guadalete, and was still alive. -It was said that having from a rising ground caught a view of the -whole field of battle, and seen that the day was lost, and his army -flying in all directions, he likewise sought his safety in flight. -It is added that the Arab horsemen, while scouring the mountains in -quest of fugitives, found a shepherd arrayed in the royal robes, -and brought him before the conqueror, believing him to be the king -himself. Count Julian soon dispelled the error. On being questioned, -the trembling rustic declared that while tending his sheep in the -folds of the mountains, there came a cavalier on a horse wearied and -spent and ready to sink beneath the spur. That the cavalier with -an authoritative voice and menacing air commanded him to exchange -garments with him, and clad himself in his rude garb of sheep-skin, -and took his crook and his scrip of provisions, and continued up the -rugged defiles of the mountains leading towards Castile, until he was -lost to view.[26] - - [26] Bleda, _Cron._ L. 2, c. 9. Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, L. - 1, c. 10. - -This tradition was fondly cherished by many, who clung to the -belief in the existence of their monarch as their main hope for the -redemption of Spain. It was even affirmed that he had taken refuge, -with many of his host, in an island of the “Ocean sea,” from whence -he might yet return once more to elevate his standard, and battle for -the recovery of his throne. - -Year after year, however, elapsed, and nothing was heard of Don -Roderick; yet, like Sebastian of Portugal and Arthur of England, his -name continued to be a rallying-point for popular faith, and the -mystery of his end to give rise to romantic fables. At length, when -generation after generation had sunk into the grave, and near two -centuries had passed and gone, traces were said to be discovered that -threw a light on the final fortunes of the unfortunate Roderick. At -that time Don Alphonso the Great, king of Leon, had wrested the city -of Viseo in Lusitania from the hands of the Moslems. As his soldiers -were ranging about the city and its environs, one of them discovered -in a field, outside of the walls, a small chapel or hermitage, with -a sepulchre in front, on which was inscribed this epitaph in Gothic -characters:— - - HIC REQUIESCIT RUDERICUS, - ULTIMUS REX GOTHORUM.[27] - - [27] Here lies Roderick, - The last King of the Goths. - - -It has been believed by many that this was the veritable tomb of -the monarch, and that in this hermitage he had finished his days in -solitary penance. The warrior, as he contemplated the supposed tomb -of the once haughty Roderick, forgot all his faults and errors, and -shed a soldier’s tear over his memory; but when his thoughts turned -to Count Julian, his patriotic indignation broke forth, and with his -dagger he inscribed a rude malediction on the stone. - -“Accursed,” said he, “be the impious and headlong vengeance of the -traitor Julian. He was a murderer of his king, a destroyer of his -kindred, a betrayer of his country. May his name be bitter in every -mouth, and his memory infamous to all generations.” - -Here ends the legend of Don Roderick. - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOREGOING LEGEND. - - - - -THE TOMB OF RODERICK. - - -The venerable Sebastiano, Bishop of Salamanca, declares that the -inscription on the tomb at Viseo in Portugal existed in his time, and -that he had seen it. A particular account of the exile and hermit -life of Roderick is furnished by Berganza, on the authority of -Portuguese chronicles. - -“Algunos historiadores Portugueses asseguran, que el Rey Rodrigo, -perdida la battalla, huyo a tierra de Merida, y se recogio en el -monasterio de Cauliniano, en donde, arrepentido de sus culpas, -procuro confessarlas con muchas lagrimas. Deseando mas retiro, y -escogiendo por compañero a un monge llamado Roman, y elevando la -Imagen de Nazareth, que Cyriaco monge de nacion griego avra traido -de Jerusalem al monasterio de Cauliniano, se subio á un monte muy -aspero, que estaba sobre el mar, junto al lugar de Pederneyra. Vivio -Rodrigo en compania de el monge en el hueco de una gruta por espacio -de un año; despues se passo á la ermita de san Miguel, que estaba -cerca de Viseo, en donde murio y fue sepultado. - -“Puedese ver esta relacion en las notas de Don Thomas Tamayo sobre -Paulo deacano. El chronicon de san Millan, que llega hasta el año -883, deze que, hasta su tiempo, si ignora el fin del Rey Rodrigo. -Pocos años despues el Rey Don Alonzo el Magno, aviéndo ganado la -ciudad de Viseo, encontro en una iglesia el epitafio que en romance -dize—aqui yaze, Rodrigo, ultimo Rey de los Godos.”—_Berganza_, L. i. -c. 13. - - - - -THE CAVE OF HERCULES. - - -As the story of the necromantic tower is one of the most famous as -well as least credible points in the history of Don Roderick, it may -be well to fortify or buttress it by some account of another marvel -of the city of Toledo. This ancient city, which dates its existence -almost from the time of the flood, claiming as its founder Tubal, the -son of Japhet, and grandson of Noah,[28] has been the warrior hold of -many generations and a strange diversity of races. It bears traces of -the artifices and devices of its various occupants, and is full of -mysteries and subjects for antiquarian conjecture and perplexity. It -is built upon a high rocky promontory, with the Tagus brawling round -its base, and is overlooked by cragged and precipitous hills. These -hills abound with clefts and caverns; and the promontory itself, on -which the city is built, bears traces of vaults and subterraneous -habitations, which are occasionally discovered under the ruins of -ancient houses, or beneath the churches and convents. - - [28] Salazar, _Hist. Gran. Cardinal. Prologo_, vol. i. plan 1. - -These are supposed by some to have been the habitations or retreats -of the primitive inhabitants; for it was the custom of the ancients, -according to Pliny, to make caves in high and rocky places, and live -in them through fear of floods; and such a precaution, says the -worthy Don Pedro de Roxas, in his history of Toledo, was natural -enough among the first Toledans, seeing that they founded their city -shortly after the deluge, while the memory of it was still fresh in -their minds. - -Some have supposed these secret caves and vaults to have been places -of concealment of the inhabitants and their treasure during times of -war and violence; or rude temples for the performance of religious -ceremonies in times of persecution. There are not wanting other, and -grave writers, who give them a still darker purpose. In these caves, -say they, were taught the diabolical mysteries of magic; and here -were performed those infernal ceremonies and incantations horrible -in the eyes of God and man. “History,” says the worthy Don Pedro de -Roxas, “is full of accounts that the magi taught and performed their -magic and their superstitious rites in profound caves and secret -places; because as this art of the devil was prohibited from the very -origin of Christianity, they always sought for hidden places in which -to practice it.” In the time of the Moors this art, we are told, -was publicly taught at their universities, the same as astronomy, -philosophy, and mathematics, and at no place was it cultivated with -more success than at Toledo. Hence this city has ever been darkly -renowned for mystic science; insomuch that the magic art was called -by the French, and by other nations, the Arte Toledana. - -Of all the marvels, however, of this ancient, picturesque, romantic, -and necromantic city, none in modern times surpass the Cave of -Hercules, if we may take the account of Don Pedro de Roxas for -authentic. The entrance to this cave is within the church of San -Gines, situated in nearly the highest part of the city. The portal is -secured by massy doors, opening within the walls of the church, but -which are kept rigorously closed. The cavern extends under the city -and beneath the bed of the Tagus to the distance of three leagues -beyond. It is, in some places, of rare architecture, built of small -stones curiously wrought, and supported by columns and arches. - -In the year 1546 an account of this cavern was given to the -archbishop and Cardinal Don Juan Martinez Siliceo, who, desirous -of examining it, ordered the entrance to be cleaned. A number of -persons, furnished with provisions, lanterns, and cords, then went -in, and, having proceeded about half a league, came to a place where -there was a kind of chapel or temple, having a table or altar, with -several statues of bronze in niches or on pedestals. - -While they were regarding this mysterious scene of ancient worship -or incantation, one of the statues fell, with a noise that echoed -through the cavern, and smote the hearts of the adventurers with -terror. Recovering from their alarm, they proceeded onward, but were -soon again dismayed by a roaring and rushing sound that increased as -they advanced. It was made by a furious and turbulent stream, the -dark waters of which were too deep and broad and rapid to be crossed. -By this time their hearts were so chilled with awe, and their -thoughts so bewildered, that they could not seek any other passage -by which they might advance; so they turned back and hastened out of -the cave. It was nightfall when they sallied forth, and they were so -much affected by the terror they had undergone, and by the cold and -damp air of the cavern, to which they were the more sensible from its -being in the summer, that all of them fell sick and several of them -died. Whether the archbishop was encouraged to pursue his research -and gratify his curiosity, the history does not mention. - -Alonzo Telles de Meneses, in his history of the world, records that -not long before his time a boy of Toledo, being threatened with -punishment by his master, fled and took refuge in this cave. Fancying -his pursuer at his heels, he took no heed of the obscurity or -coldness of the cave, but kept groping and blundering forward, until -he came forth at three leagues’ distance from the city. - -Another and very popular story of this cave, current among the common -people, was, that in its remote recesses lay concealed a great -treasure of gold, left there by the Romans. Whoever would reach this -precious hoard must pass through several caves or grottoes; each -having its particular terror, and all under the guardianship of a -ferocious dog, who has the key of all the gates, and watches day and -night. At the approach of any one, he shows his teeth, and makes a -hideous growling; but no adventurer after wealth has had courage to -brave a contest with this terrific cerberus. - -The most intrepid candidate on record was a poor man who had lost -his all, and had those grand incentives to desperate enterprise, -a wife and a large family of children. Hearing the story of this -cave, he determined to venture alone in search of the treasure. He -accordingly entered, and wandered many hours, bewildered, about the -cave. Often would he have returned, but the thoughts of his wife and -children urged him on. At length he arrived near to the place where -he supposed the treasure lay hidden; but here, to his dismay, he -beheld the floor of the cavern strewn with human bones, doubtless the -remains of adventurers like himself, who had been torn to pieces. - -Losing all courage, he now turned and sought his way out of the cave. -Horrors thickened upon him as he fled. He beheld direful phantoms -glaring and gibbering around him, and heard the sound of pursuit -in the echoes of his footsteps. He reached his home overcome with -affright; several hours elapsed before he could recover speech to -tell his story, and he died on the following day. - -The judicious Don Pedro de Roxas holds the account of the buried -treasure for fabulous, but the adventure of this unlucky man for very -possible—being led on by avarice, or rather the hope of retrieving a -desperate fortune. He, moreover, pronounces his dying shortly after -coming forth as very probable; because the darkness of the cave, its -coldness, the fright at finding the bones, the dread of meeting the -imaginary dog, all joining to operate upon a man who was past the -prime of his days, and enfeebled by poverty and scanty food, might -easily cause his death. - -Many have considered this cave as intended originally for a sally -or retreat from the city in case it should be taken; an opinion -rendered probable, it is thought, by its grandeur and great extent. - -The learned Salazar de Mendoza, however, in his history of the -grand cardinal of Spain, affirms it as an established fact, that -it was first wrought out of the rock by Tubal, the son of Japhet, -and grandson of Noah, and afterwards repaired and greatly augmented -by Hercules the Egyptian, who made it his habitation after he had -erected his pillars at the Straits of Gibraltar. Here, too, it -is said, he read magic to his followers, and taught them those -supernatural arts by which he accomplished his vast achievements. -Others think that it was a temple dedicated to Hercules, as was the -case, according to Pomponius Mela, with the great cave in the rock of -Gibraltar; certain it is, that it has always borne the name of “The -Cave of Hercules.” - -There are not wanting some who have insinuated that it was a work -dating from the time of the Romans, and intended as a cloaca or sewer -of the city; but such a groveling insinuation will be treated with -proper scorn by the reader, after the nobler purposes to which he has -heard this marvelous cavern consecrated. - -From all the circumstances here adduced from learned and reverend -authors, it will be perceived that Toledo is a city fruitful of -marvels, and that the necromantic tower of Hercules has more solid -foundation than most edifices of similar import in ancient history. - -The writer of these pages will venture to add the result of his -personal researches respecting the far-famed cavern in question. -Rambling about Toledo in the year 1826, in company with a small knot -of antiquity hunters, among whom were an eminent British painter,[29] -and an English nobleman,[30] who has since distinguished himself -in Spanish historical research, we directed our steps to the church -of San Gines, and inquired for the portal of the secret cavern. The -sacristan was a voluble and communicative man, and one not likely to -be niggard of his tongue about anything he knew, or slow to boast of -any marvel pertaining to his church; but he professed utter ignorance -of the existence of any such portal. He remembered to have heard, -however, that immediately under the entrance to the church there was -an arch of mason work, apparently the upper part of some subterranean -portal; but that all had been covered up and a pavement laid down -thereon; so that whether it led to the magic cave or the necromantic -tower remains a mystery, and so must remain until some monarch or -archbishop shall again have courage and authority to break the spell. - - [29] Mr. D. W—kie. - - [30] Lord Mah—n. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -LEGEND - -OF THE - -SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -LEGEND - -OF - -THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN.[31] - - [31] In this legend most of the facts respecting the Arab inroads - into Spain are on the authority of Arabian writers, who had - the most accurate means of information. Those relative to the - Spaniards are chiefly from old Spanish chronicles. It is to be - remarked that the Arab accounts have most the air of verity, - and the events as they relate them are in the ordinary course - of common life. The Spanish accounts, on the contrary, are full - of the marvelous; for there were no greater romancers than the - monkish chroniclers. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -Consternation of Spain.—Conduct of the Conquerors.—Missives between -Taric and Muza. - - -The overthrow of King Roderick and his army on the banks of the -Guadalete, threw open all southern Spain to the inroads of the -Moslems. The whole country fled before them; villages and hamlets -were hastily abandoned; the inhabitants placed their aged and infirm, -their wives and children, and their most precious effects, on mules -and other beasts of burden, and, driving before them their flocks -and herds, made for distant parts of the land, for the fastnesses of -the mountains, and for such of the cities as yet possessed walls and -bulwarks. Many gave out, faint and weary, by the way, and fell into -the hands of the enemy; others, at the distant sight of a turban or -a Moslem standard, or on hearing the clangor of a trumpet, abandoned -their flocks and herds and hastened their flight with their families. -If their pursuers gained upon them, they threw by their household -goods and whatever was of burden, and thought themselves fortunate -to escape, naked and destitute, to a place of refuge. Thus the roads -were covered with scattered flocks and herds, and with spoil of all -kinds. - -The Arabs, however, were not guilty of wanton cruelty or ravage; -on the contrary, they conducted themselves with a moderation but -seldom witnessed in more civilized conquerors. Taric el Tuerto, -though a thorough man of the sword, and one whose whole thoughts were -warlike, yet evinced wonderful judgment and discretion. He checked -the predatory habits of his troops with a rigorous hand. They were -forbidden, under pain of severe punishment, to molest any peaceable -and unfortified towns, or any unarmed and unresisting people, who -remained quiet in their homes. No spoil was permitted to be made, -excepting in fields of battle, in camps of routed foes, or in cities -taken by the sword. - -Taric had little need to exercise his severity; his orders were -obeyed through love, rather than fear, for he was the idol of his -soldiery. They admired his restless and daring spirit, which nothing -could dismay. His gaunt and sinewy form, his fiery eye, his visage -seamed with scars, were suited to the hardihood of his deeds; and -when mounted on his foaming steed, careering the field of battle with -quivering lance or flashing scimetar, his Arabs would greet him with -shouts of enthusiasm. But what endeared him to them more than all was -his soldier-like contempt of gain. Conquest was his only passion: -glory the only reward he coveted. As to the spoil of the conquered, -he shared it freely among his followers, and squandered his own -portion with open-handed generosity. - -While Taric was pushing his triumphant course through Andalusia, -tidings of his stupendous victory on the banks of the Guadalete -were carried to Muza ben Nosier. Messenger after messenger arrived, -vying who should most extol the achievements of the conqueror and -the grandeur of the conquest. “Taric,” said they, “has overthrown -the whole force of the unbelievers in one mighty battle. Their king -is slain; thousands and tens of thousands of their warriors are -destroyed; the whole land lies at our mercy; and city after city is -surrendering to the victorious arms of Taric.” - -The heart of Muza ben Nosier sickened at these tidings, and, instead -of rejoicing at the success of the cause of Islam, he trembled with -jealous fear lest the triumphs of Taric in Spain should eclipse his -own victories in Africa. He dispatched missives to the Caliph Waled -Almanzor, informing him of these new conquests, but taking the -whole glory to himself, and making no mention of the services of -Taric; or at least, only mentioning him incidentally as a subordinate -commander. “The battles,” said he, “have been terrible as the day of -judgment; but by the aid of Allah we have gained the victory.” - -He then prepared in all haste to cross over into Spain and assume the -command of the conquering army; and he wrote a letter in advance to -interrupt Taric in the midst of his career. “Wherever this letter may -find thee,” said he, “I charge thee halt with thy army and await my -coming. Thy force is inadequate to the subjugation of the land, and -by rashly venturing, thou mayst lose everything. I will be with thee -speedily, with a reinforcement of troops competent to so great an -enterprise.” - -The letter overtook the veteran Taric while in the full glow of -triumphant success, having overrun some of the richest part of -Andalusia, and just received the surrender of the city of Ecija. -As he read the letter the blood mantled in his sunburnt cheek and -fire kindled in his eye, for he penetrated the motives of Muza. He -suppressed his wrath, however, and turning with a bitter expression -of forced composure to his captains, “Unsaddle your steeds,” said he, -“and plant your lances in the earth; set up your tents and take your -repose, for we must await the coming of the Wali with a mighty force -to assist us in our conquest.” - -The Arab warriors broke forth with loud murmurs at these words. -“What need have we of aid,” cried they, “when the whole country is -flying before us; and what better commander can we have than Taric to -lead us on to victory?” - -Count Julian, also, who was present, now hastened to give his -traitorous counsel. - -“Why pause,” cried he, “at this precious moment? The great army -of the Goths is vanquished, and their nobles are slaughtered or -dispersed. Follow up your blow before the land can recover from its -panic. Overrun the provinces, seize upon the cities, make yourself -master of the capital, and your conquest is complete.”[32] - - [32] Conde, p. 1, c. 10. - -The advice of Julian was applauded by all the Arab chieftains, who -were impatient of any interruption in their career of conquest. Taric -was easily persuaded to what was the wish of his heart. Disregarding -the letter of Muza, therefore, he prepared to pursue his victories. -For this purpose he ordered a review of his troops on the plain -of Ecija. Some were mounted on steeds which they had brought from -Africa; the rest he supplied with horses taken from the Christians. -He repeated his general orders, that they should inflict no wanton -injury, nor plunder any place that offered no resistance. They were -forbidden, also, to encumber themselves with booty, or even with -provisions; but were to scour the country with all speed, and seize -upon all its fortresses and strongholds. - -He then divided his host into three several armies. One he placed -under the command of the Greek renegado, Maguel el Rumi, a man of -desperate courage; and sent it against the ancient city of Cordova. -Another was sent against the city of Malaga, and was led by Zayd -ben Kesadi, aided by the Bishop Oppas. The third was led by Taric -himself, and with this he determined to make a wide sweep through the -kingdom.[33] - - [33] _Chronica de España_, de Alonzo el Sabio. P. 3, c. 1. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER II. - -Capture of Granada.—Subjugation of the Alpuxarra Mountains. - - -The terror of the arms of Taric ben Zeyad went before him; and, -at the same time, the report of his lenity to those who submitted -without resistance. Wherever he appeared, the towns, for the most -part, sent forth some of their principal inhabitants to proffer a -surrender; for they were destitute of fortifications, and their -fighting men had perished in battle. They were all received into -allegiance to the Caliph, and were protected from pillage or -molestation. - -After marching some distance through the country, he entered one -day a vast and beautiful plain, interspersed with villages, adorned -with groves and gardens, watered by winding rivers, and surrounded -by lofty mountains. It was the famous vega, or plain of Granada, -destined to be for ages the favorite abode of the Moslems. When -the Arab conquerors beheld this delicious vega, they were lost in -admiration; for it seemed as if the Prophet had given them a paradise -on earth, as a reward for their services in his cause. - -Taric approached the city of Granada, which had a formidable aspect, -seated on lofty hills and fortified with Gothic walls and towers, -and with the red castle or citadel, built in times of old by the -Phœnicians or the Romans. As the Arab chieftain eyed the place, he -was pleased with its stern warrior look, contrasting with the smiling -beauty of its vega, and the freshness and voluptuous abundance of its -hills and valleys. He pitched his tents before its walls, and made -preparations to attack it with all his force. - -The city, however, bore but the semblance of power. The flower of -its youth had perished in the battle of the Guadalete; many of the -principal inhabitants had fled to the mountains, and few remained -in the city excepting old men, women, and children, and a number of -Jews, which last were well disposed to take part with the conquerors. -The city, therefore, readily capitulated, and was received into -vassalage on favorable terms. The inhabitants were to retain their -property, their laws, and their religion; their churches and priests -were to be respected; and no other tribute was required of them than -such as they had been accustomed to pay to their Gothic kings. - -On taking possession of Granada, Taric garrisoned the towers and -castles, and left as alcayde or governor a chosen warrior named Betiz -Aben Habuz, a native of Arabia Felix, who had distinguished himself -by his valor and abilities. This alcayde subsequently made himself -king of Granada, and built a palace on one of its hills; the remains -of which may be seen at the present day[34]. - - [34] The house shown as the ancient residence of Aben Habuz is - called _la Casa del Gallo_, or the house of the weathercock; so - named, says Pedraza, in his history of Granada, from a bronze - figure of an Arab horseman, armed with lance and buckler, which - once surmounted it, and which varied with every wind. On this - warlike weathercock was inscribed, in Arabic characters,— - - “Dice el sabio Aben Habuz - Que asi se defiende el Andaluz.” - - (In this way, says Aben Habuz the Wise, - The Andalusian his foe defies.) - - The Casa del Gallo, even until within twenty years, possessed - two great halls beautifully decorated with morisco reliefs. - It then caught fire and was so damaged as to require to be - nearly rebuilt. It is now a manufactory of coarse canvas, and - has nothing of the Moorish character remaining. It commands a - beautiful view of the city and the vega. - -Even the delights of Granada had no power to detain the active and -ardent Taric. To the east of the city he beheld a lofty chain of -mountains, towering to the sky, and crowned with shining snow. These -were the “Mountains of the Sun and Air;” and the perpetual snows -on their summits gave birth to streams that fertilized the plains. -In their bosoms, shut up among cliffs and precipices, were many -small valleys of great beauty and abundance. The inhabitants were a -bold and hardy race, who looked upon their mountains as everlasting -fortresses that could never be taken. The inhabitants of the -surrounding country had fled to these natural fastnesses for refuge, -and driven thither their flocks and herds. - -Taric felt that the dominion he had acquired of the plains would be -insecure until he had penetrated and subdued these haughty mountains. -Leaving Aben Habuz, therefore, in command of Granada, he marched -with his army across the vega, and entered the folds of the sierra, -which stretch towards the south. The inhabitants fled with affright -on hearing the Moorish trumpets, or beholding the approach of the -turbaned horsemen, and plunged deeper into the recesses of their -mountains. As the army advanced, the roads became more and more -rugged and difficult; sometimes climbing great rocky heights, and at -other times descending abruptly into deep ravines, the beds of winter -torrents. The mountains were strangely wild and sterile; broken into -cliffs and precipices of variegated marble. At their feet were little -valleys, enameled with groves and gardens, interlaced with silver -streams, and studded with villages and hamlets,—but all deserted -by their inhabitants. No one appeared to dispute the inroad of the -Moslems, who continued their march with increasing confidence, their -pennons fluttering from rock and cliff, and the valleys echoing to -the din of trumpet, drum, and cymbal. At length they came to a defile -where the mountains seemed to have been rent asunder to make way for -a foaming torrent. The narrow and broken road wound along the dizzy -edge of precipices, until it came to where a bridge was thrown across -the chasm. It was a fearful and gloomy pass; great beetling cliffs -overhung the road, and the torrent roared below. This awful defile -has ever been famous in the warlike history of those mountains, by -the name, in former times, of the Barranco de Tocos, and at present -of the Bridge of Tablete. The Saracen army entered fearlessly into -the pass; a part had already crossed the bridge, and was slowly -toiling up the rugged road on the opposite side, when great shouts -arose, and every cliff appeared suddenly peopled with furious foes. -In an instant a deluge of missiles of every sort was rained upon -the astonished Moslems. Darts, arrows, javelins, and stones, came -whistling down, singling out the most conspicuous cavaliers; and -at times great masses of rock, bounding and thundering along the -mountain side, crushed whole ranks at once, or hurled horses and -riders over the edge of the precipices. - -It was in vain to attempt to brave this mountain warfare. The enemy -were beyond the reach of missiles, and safe from pursuit; and the -horses of the Arabs were here an incumbrance rather than an aid. -The trumpets sounded a retreat, and the army retired in tumult and -confusion, harassed by the enemy until extricated from the defile. -Taric, who had beheld cities and castles surrendering without a -blow, was enraged at being braved by a mere horde of mountain boors, -and made another attempt to penetrate the mountains, but was again -waylaid and opposed with horrible slaughter. - -The fiery son of Ishmael foamed with rage at being thus checked -in his career and foiled in his revenge. He was on the point of -abandoning the attempt, and returning to the vega, when a Christian -boor sought his camp, and was admitted to his presence. The miserable -wretch possessed a cabin and a little patch of ground among the -mountains, and offered, if these should be protected from ravage, to -inform the Arab commander of a way by which troops of horse might -be safely introduced into the bosom of the sierra, and the whole -subdued. The name of this caitiff was Fandino, and it deserves to be -perpetually recorded with ignominy. His case is an instance how much -it is in the power, at times, of the most insignificant being to do -mischief, and how all the valor of the magnanimous and the brave may -be defeated by the treason of the selfish and the despicable. - -Instructed by this traitor, the Arab commander caused ten thousand -foot-soldiers and four thousand horsemen, commanded by a valiant -captain, named Ibrahim Albuxarra, to be conveyed by sea to the little -port of Adra, at the Mediterranean foot of the mountains. Here they -landed, and, guided by the traitor, penetrated to the heart of the -sierra, laying everything waste. The brave mountaineers, thus hemmed -in between two armies, destitute of fortresses and without hope of -succor, were obliged to capitulate; but their valor was not without -avail, for never, even in Spain, did vanquished people surrender -on prouder or more honorable terms. We have named the wretch who -betrayed his native mountains; let us equally record the name of -him whose pious patriotism saved them from desolation. It was the -reverend Bishop Centerio. While the warriors rested on their arms -in grim and menacing tranquillity among the cliffs, this venerable -prelate descended to the Arab tents in the valley, to conduct the -capitulation. In stipulating for the safety of his people, he did not -forget that they were brave men, and that they still had weapons in -their hands. He obtained conditions accordingly. It was agreed that -they should be permitted to retain their houses, lands, and personal -effects; that they should be unmolested in their religion, and their -temples and priests respected; and that they should pay no other -tribute than such as they had been accustomed to render to their -kings. Should they prefer to leave the country and remove to any part -of Christendom, they were to be allowed to sell their possessions, -and to take with them the money, and all their other effects.[35] - - [35] Pedraza, _Hist. Granad._ p. 3, c. 2. Bleda, _Cronica_, L 2 - c. 10. - -Ibrahim Albuxarra remained in command of the territory, and the whole -sierra, or chain of mountains, took his name, which has since been -slightly corrupted into that of the Alpuxarras. The subjugation of -this rugged region, however, was for a long time incomplete; many of -the Christians maintained a wild and hostile independence, living in -green glens and scanty valleys among the heights; and the sierra of -the Alpuxarras has in all ages been one of the most difficult parts -of Andalusia to be subdued. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER III. - -Expedition of Magued against Cordova.—Defense of the Patriot Pelistes. - - -While the veteran Taric was making this wide circuit through the -land, the expedition under Magued the renegado proceeded against the -city of Cordova. The inhabitants of that ancient place had beheld -the great army of Don Roderick spreading like an inundation over -the plain of the Guadalquivir, and had felt confident that it must -sweep the infidel invaders from the land. What then was their dismay -when scattered fugitives, wild with horror and affright, brought -them tidings of the entire overthrow of that mighty host, and the -disappearance of the king! In the midst of their consternation, the -Gothic noble Pelistes arrived at their gates, haggard with fatigue -of body and anguish of mind, and leading a remnant of his devoted -cavaliers, who had survived the dreadful battle of the Guadalete. -The people of Cordova knew the valiant and steadfast spirit of -Pelistes, and rallied round him as a last hope. “Roderick is fallen,” -cried they, “and we have neither king nor captain; be unto us as a -sovereign; take command of our city, and protect us in this hour of -peril!” - -The heart of Pelistes was free from ambition, and was too much -broken by grief to be flattered by the offer of command; but he -felt above everything for the woes of his country, and was ready to -assume any desperate service in her cause. “Your city,” said he, “is -surrounded by walls and towers, and may yet check the progress of -the foe. Promise to stand by me to the last, and I will undertake -your defense.” The inhabitants all promised implicit obedience and -devoted zeal; for what will not the inhabitants of a wealthy city -promise and profess in a moment of alarm? The instant, however, -that they heard of the approach of the Moslem troops, the wealthier -citizens packed up their effects and fled to the mountains, or to the -distant city of Toledo. Even the monks collected the riches of their -convents and churches, and fled. Pelistes, though he saw himself thus -deserted by those who had the greatest interest in the safety of the -city, yet determined not to abandon its defense. He had still his -faithful though scanty band of cavaliers, and a number of fugitives -of the army, in all amounting to about four hundred men. He stationed -guards, therefore, at the gates and in the towers, and made every -preparation for a desperate resistance. - -In the mean time, the army of Moslems and apostate Christians -advanced, under the command of the Greek renegado Magued, and guided -by the traitor Julian. While they were yet at some distance from -the city, their scouts brought to them a shepherd, whom they had -surprised on the banks of the Guadalquivir. The trembling hind was -an inhabitant of Cordova, and revealed to them the state of the place -and the weakness of its garrison. - -“And the walls and gates,” said Magued, “are they strong and well -guarded?” - -“The walls are high and of wondrous strength,” replied the shepherd, -“and soldiers hold watch at the gates by day and night. But there -is one place where the city may be secretly entered. In a part of -the wall, not far from the bridge, the battlements are broken, and -there is a breach at some height from the ground. Hard by stands a -fig-tree, by the aid of which the wall may easily be scaled.” - -Having received this information, Magued halted with his army, and -sent forward several renegado Christians, partisans of Count Julian, -who entered Cordova as if flying before the enemy. On a dark and -tempestuous night, the Moslems approached to the end of the bridge -which crosses the Guadalquivir, and remained in ambush. Magued took -a small party of chosen men, and, guided by the shepherd, forded the -stream, and groped silently along the wall to the place where stood -the fig-tree. The traitors, who had fraudulently entered the city, -were ready on the wall to render assistance. Magued ordered his -followers to make use of the long folds of their turbans instead of -cords, and succeeded without difficulty in clambering into the breach. - -Drawing their scimetars, they now hastened to the gate which opened -towards the bridge; the guards, suspecting no assault from within, -were taken by surprise and easily overpowered; the gate was thrown -open, and the army that had remained in ambush rushed over the -bridge, and entered without opposition. - -The alarm had by this time spread throughout the city; but already -a torrent of armed men was pouring through the streets. Pelistes -sallied forth with his cavaliers and such of the soldiery as he could -collect, and endeavored to repel the foe; but every effort was in -vain. The Christians were slowly driven from street to street and -square to square, disputing every inch of ground; until, finding -another body of the enemy approaching to attack them in rear, they -took refuge in a convent, and succeeded in throwing to and barring -the ponderous doors. The Moors attempted to force the gates, but -were assailed with such showers of missiles from the windows and -battlements that they were obliged to retire. Pelistes examined the -convent, and found it admirably calculated for defense. It was of -great extent, with spacious courts and cloisters. The gates were -massive, and secured with bolts and bars; the walls were of great -thickness; the windows high and grated; there was a great tank -or cistern of water, and the friars, who had fled from the city, -had left behind a good supply of provisions. Here, then, Pelistes -proposed to make a stand, and to endeavor to hold out until succor -should arrive from some other city. His proposition was received with -shouts by his loyal cavaliers, not one of whom but was ready to lay -down his life in the service of his commander. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IV. - -Defense of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes. - - -For three long and anxious months did the good knight Pelistes -and his cavaliers defend their sacred asylum against the repeated -assaults of the infidels. The standard of the true faith was -constantly displayed from the loftiest tower, and a fire blazed there -throughout the night, as signals of distress to the surrounding -country. The watchman from his turret kept a wary lookout over the -land, hoping in every cloud of dust to descry the glittering helms of -Christian warriors. The country, however, was forlorn and abandoned, -or if perchance a human being was perceived, it was some Arab -horseman, careering the plain of the Guadalquivir as fearlessly as if -it were his native desert. - -By degrees the provisions of the convent were consumed, and the -cavaliers had to slay their horses, one by one, for food. They -suffered the wasting miseries of famine without a murmur, and always -met their commander with a smile. Pelistes, however, read their -sufferings in their wan and emaciated countenances, and felt more for -them than for himself. He was grieved at heart that such loyalty and -valor should only lead to slavery or death, and resolved to make one -desperate attempt for their deliverance. Assembling them one day in -the court of the convent, he disclosed to them his purpose. - -“Comrades and brothers in arms,” said he, “it is needless to conceal -danger from brave men. Our case is desperate; our countrymen either -know not or heed not our situation, or have not the means to help us. -There is but one chance of escape; it is full of peril, and, as your -leader, I claim the right to brave it. To-morrow, at break of day, I -will sally forth and make for the city gates at the moment of their -being opened; no one will suspect a solitary horseman; I shall be -taken for one of those recreant Christians who have basely mingled -with the enemy. If I succeed in getting out of the city I will hasten -to Toledo for assistance. In all events I shall be back in less than -twenty days. Keep a vigilant lookout toward the nearest mountain. If -you behold five lights blazing upon its summit, be assured I am at -hand with succor, and prepare yourselves to sally forth upon the city -as I attack the gates. Should I fail in obtaining aid, I will return -to die with you.” - -When he had finished, his warriors would fain have severally -undertaken the enterprise, and they remonstrated against his exposing -himself to such peril; but he was not to be shaken from his purpose. -On the following morning, ere the break of day, his horse was led -forth, caparisoned, into the court of the convent, and Pelistes -appeared in complete armor. Assembling his cavaliers in the chapel, -he prayed with them for some time before the altar of the holy -Virgin. Then rising and standing in the midst of them, “God knows, -my companions,” said he, “whether we have any longer a country; if -not, better were we in our graves. Loyal and true have ye been to me, -and loyal have ye been to my son, even to the hour of his death; and -grieved am I that I have no other means of proving my love for you, -than by adventuring my worthless life for your deliverance. All I ask -of you before I go, is a solemn promise to defend yourselves to the -last like brave men and Christian cavaliers, and never to renounce -your faith, or throw yourselves on the mercy of the renegado Magued, -or the traitor Julian.” They all pledged their words, and took a -solemn oath to the same effect before the altar. - -Pelistes then embraced them one by one, and gave them his -benediction, and as he did so his heart yearned over them, for -he felt towards them, not merely as a companion in arms and as a -commander, but as a father; and he took leave of them as if he had -been going to his death. The warriors, on their part, crowded round -him in silence, kissing his hands and the hem of his surcoat, and -many of the sternest shed tears. - -The gray of the dawning had just streaked the east, when Pelistes -took lance in hand, hung his shield about his neck, and mounting his -steed, issued quietly forth from a postern of the convent. He paced -slowly though the vacant streets, and the tramp of his steed echoed -afar in that silent hour; but no one suspected a warrior, moving -thus singly and tranquilly in an armed city, to be an enemy. He -arrived at the gate just at the hour of opening; a foraging party -was entering with cattle and with beasts of burden, and he passed -unheeded through the throng. As soon as he was out of sight of the -soldiers who guarded the gate, he quickened his pace, and at length, -galloping at full speed, succeeded in gaining the mountains. Here he -paused, and alighted at a solitary farm-house to breathe his panting -steed; but had scarce put foot to ground when he heard the distant -sound of pursuit, and beheld a horseman spurring up the mountain. - -Throwing himself again upon his steed, he abandoned the road and -galloped across the rugged heights. The deep dry channel of a torrent -checked his career, and his horse stumbling upon the margin, rolled -with his rider to the bottom. Pelistes was sorely bruised by the -fall, and his whole visage was bathed in blood. His horse, too, was -maimed and unable to stand, so that there was no hope of escape. The -enemy drew near, and proved to be no other than Magued the renegado -general, who had perceived him as he issued forth from the city and -had followed singly in pursuit. “Well met, señor alcaid!” exclaimed -he, “and overtaken in good time. Surrender yourself my prisoner.” - -Pelistes made no other reply than by drawing his sword, bracing his -shield, and preparing for defense. Magued, though an apostate, and a -fierce warrior, possessed some sparks of knightly magnanimity. Seeing -his adversary dismounted, he disdained to take him at a disadvantage, -but, alighting, tied his horse to a tree. - -The conflict that ensued was desperate and doubtful, for seldom had -two warriors met so well matched or of equal prowess. Their shields -were hacked to pieces, the ground was strewed with fragments of their -armor, and stained with their blood. They paused repeatedly to take -breath, regarding each other with wonder and admiration. Pelistes, -however, had been previously injured by his fall, and fought to great -disadvantage. The renegado perceived it, and sought not to slay him, -but to take him alive. Shifting his ground continually, he wearied -his antagonist, who was growing weaker and weaker from the loss of -blood. At length Pelistes seemed to summon up all his remaining -strength to make a signal blow; it was skillfully parried, and he -fell prostrate upon the ground. The renegado ran up, and putting his -foot upon his sword, and the point of his scimetar to his throat, -called upon him to ask his life; but Pelistes lay without sense, and -as one dead. Magued then unlaced the helmet of his vanquished enemy, -and seated himself on a rock beside him, to recover breath. In this -situation the warriors were found by certain Moorish cavaliers, who -marveled much at the traces of that stern and bloody combat. - -Finding there was yet life in the Christian knight, they laid him -upon one of their horses, and aiding Magued to remount his steed, -proceeded slowly to the city. As the convoy passed by the convent, -the cavaliers looked forth and beheld their commander borne along -bleeding and a captive. Furious at the sight, they sallied forth -to the rescue, but were repulsed by a superior force and driven -back to the great portal of the church. The enemy entered pell-mell -with them, fighting from aisle to aisle, from altar to altar, and -in the courts and cloisters of the convent. The greater part of -the cavaliers died bravely, sword in hand; the rest were disabled -with wounds and made prisoners. The convent, which was lately -their castle, was now made their prison, and in after-times, in -commemoration of this event, was consecrated by the name of St. -George of the Captives. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER V. - -Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor Julian. - - -The loyalty and prowess of the good knight Pelistes had gained him -the reverence even of his enemies. He was for a long time disabled -by his wounds, during which he was kindly treated by the Arab -chieftains, who strove by every courteous means to cheer his sadness -and make him forget that he was a captive. When he was recovered from -his wounds they gave him a magnificent banquet, to testify their -admiration of his virtues. - -Pelistes appeared at the banquet clad in sable armor, and with a -countenance pale and dejected, for the ills of his country evermore -preyed upon his heart. Among the assembled guests was Count Julian, -who held a high command in the Moslem army, and was arrayed in -garments of mingled Christian and morisco fashion. Pelistes had been -a close and bosom friend of Julian in former times, and had served -with him in the wars in Africa, but when the count advanced to accost -him with his wonted amity, he turned away in silence and deigned -not to notice him, neither, during the whole of the repast, did he -address to him ever a word, but treated him as one unknown. - -When the banquet was nearly at a close, the discourse turned upon -the events of the war, and the Moslem chieftains, in great courtesy, -dwelt upon the merits of many of the Christian cavaliers who had -fallen in battle, and all extolled the valor of those who had -recently perished in the defense of the convent. Pelistes remained -silent for a time, and checked the grief which swelled within his -bosom as he thought of his devoted cavaliers. At length, lifting up -his voice, “Happy are the dead,” said he, “for they rest in peace, -and are gone to receive the reward of their piety and valor! I could -mourn over the loss of my companions in arms, but they have fallen -with honor and are spared the wretchedness I feel in witnessing the -thraldom of my country. I have seen my only son, the pride and hope -of my age, cut down at my side; I have beheld kindred, friends, and -followers falling one by one around me, and have become so seasoned -to those losses that I have ceased to weep. Yet there is one man over -whose loss I will never cease to grieve. He was the loved companion -of my youth, and the steadfast associate of my graver years. He -was one of the most loyal of Christian knights. As a friend, he -was loving and sincere; as a warrior, his achievements were above -all praise. What has become of him, alas, I know not! If fallen in -battle, and I knew where his bones were laid, whether bleaching on -the plains of Xeres or buried in the waters of the Guadalete, I -would seek them out and enshrine them as the relics of a sainted -patriot. Or if, like many of his companions in arms, he should be -driven to wander in foreign lands, I would join him in his hapless -exile, and we would mourn together over the desolation of our -country!” - -Even the hearts of the Arab warriors were touched by the lament of -the good Pelistes, and they said—“Who was this peerless friend in -whose praise thou art so fervent?” - -“His name,” replied Pelistes, “was Count Julian.” - -The Moslem warriors started with surprise. “Noble cavalier,” -exclaimed they, “has grief disordered thy senses? Behold thy friend -living and standing before thee, and yet thou dost not know him! -This, this is Count Julian!” - -Upon this, Pelistes turned his eyes upon the count, and regarded -him for a time with a lofty and stern demeanor; and the countenance -of Julian darkened, and was troubled, and his eye sank beneath the -regard of that loyal and honorable cavalier. And Pelistes said, “In -the name of God, I charge thee, man unknown! to answer. Dost thou -presume to call thyself Count Julian?” - -The count reddened with anger at these words. “Pelistes,” said he, -“what means this mockery? thou knowest me well; thou knowest me for -Count Julian.” - -“I know thee for a base impostor!” cried Pelistes. “Count Julian was -a noble Gothic knight; but thou appearest in mongrel Moorish garb. -Count Julian was a Christian, faithful and devout; but I behold in -thee a renegado and an infidel. Count Julian was ever loyal to his -king, and foremost in his country’s cause; were he living, he would -be the first to put shield on neck and lance in rest, to clear the -land of her invaders; but thou art a hoary traitor; thy hands are -stained with the royal blood of the Goths, and thou hast betrayed thy -country and thy God. Therefore, I again repeat, man unknown! if thou -sayest thou art Count Julian, thou liest! My friend, alas, is dead; -and thou art some fiend from hell, which hast taken possession of his -body to dishonor his memory and render him an abhorrence among men!” -So saying, Pelistes turned his back upon the traitor, and went forth -from the banquet; leaving Count Julian overwhelmed with confusion, -and an object of scorn to all the Moslem cavaliers. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VI. - -How Taric el Tuerto captured the City of Toledo through the aid of -the Jews, and how he found the famous Talismanic Table of Solomon. - - -While these events were passing in Cordova, the one-eyed Arab -general, Taric el Tuerto, having subdued the city and vega of -Granada, and the Mountains of the Sun and Air, directed his march -into the interior of the kingdom, to attack the ancient city of -Toledo, the capital of the Gothic kings. So great was the terror -caused by the rapid conquests of the invaders, that at the very rumor -of their approach many of the inhabitants, though thus in the very -citadel of the kingdom, abandoned it and fled to the mountains with -their families. Enough remained, however, to have made a formidable -defense; and, as the city was seated on a lofty rock, surrounded -by massive walls and towers, and almost girdled by the Tagus, it -threatened a long resistance. The Arab warriors pitched their tents -in the vega, on the borders of the river, and prepared for a tedious -siege. - -One evening, as Taric was seated in his tent, meditating on the -mode in which he should assail this rock-built city, certain of the -patrols of the camp brought a stranger before him. “As we were going -our rounds,” said they, “we beheld this man lowered down with cords -from a tower, and he delivered himself into our hands, praying to -be conducted to thy presence, that he might reveal to thee certain -things important for thee to know.” - -Taric fixed his eye upon the stranger; he was a Jewish rabbi, with a -long beard which spread upon his gabardine, and descended even to his -girdle. “What hast thou to reveal?” said he to the Israelite. “What -I have to reveal,” replied the other, “is for thee alone to hear; -command, then, I entreat thee, that these men withdraw.” When they -were alone he addressed Taric in Arabic: “Know, leader of the host of -Islam,” said he, “that I am sent to thee on the part of the children -of Israel, resident in Toledo. We have been oppressed and insulted -by the Christians in the time of their prosperity, and now that they -are threatened with siege, they have taken from us all our provisions -and our money; they have compelled us to work like slaves, repairing -their walls; and they oblige us to bear arms and guard a part of the -towers. We abhor their yoke, and are ready, if thou wilt receive us -as subjects, and permit us the free enjoyment of our religion and our -property, to deliver the towers we guard into thy hands, and to give -thee safe entrance into the city.” - -The Arab chief was overjoyed at this proposition, and he rendered -much honor to the rabbi, and gave orders to clothe him in a costly -robe, and to perfume his beard with essences of a pleasant odor, so -that he was the most sweet-smelling of his tribe; and he said, “Make -thy words good, and put me in possession of the city, and I will -do all and more than thou hast required, and will bestow countless -wealth upon thee and thy brethren.” - -Then a plan was devised between them by which the city was to be -betrayed and given up. “But how shall I be secured,” said he, “that -all thy tribe will fulfill what thou hast engaged, and that this is -not a stratagem to get me and my people into your power?” - -“This shall be thy assurance,” replied the rabbi; “ten of the -principal Israelites will come to this tent and remain as hostages.” - -“It is enough,” said Taric; and he made oath to accomplish all -that he had promised; and the Jewish hostages came and delivered -themselves into his hands. - -On a dark night a chosen band of Moslem warriors approached the part -of the walls guarded by the Jews, and were secretly admitted into -a postern gate and concealed within a tower. Three thousand Arabs -were at the same time placed in ambush among rocks and thickets, -in a place on the opposite side of the river, commanding a view of -the city. On the following morning Taric ravaged the gardens of the -valley, and set fire to the farm-houses, and then, breaking up his -camp, marched off as if abandoning the siege. - -The people of Toledo gazed with astonishment from their walls at the -retiring squadrons of the enemy, and scarcely could credit their -unexpected deliverance; before night there was not a turban nor a -hostile lance to be seen in the vega. They attributed it all to -the special intervention of their patron saint, Leocadia; and the -following day being Palm Sunday, they sallied forth in procession, -man, woman, and child, to the church of that blessed saint, which is -situated without the walls, that they might return thanks for her -marvelous protection. - -When all Toledo had thus poured itself forth, and was marching with -cross and relic and solemn chant towards the chapel, the Arabs who -had been concealed in the tower rushed forth, and barred the gates of -the city. While some guarded the gates, others dispersed themselves -about the streets, slaying all who made resistance; and others -kindled a fire and made a column of smoke on the top of the citadel. -At sight of this signal, the Arabs in ambush beyond the river rose -with a great shout, and attacked the multitude who were thronging to -the church of St. Leocadia. There was a great massacre, although the -people were without arms and made no resistance; and it is said in -ancient chronicles that it was the apostate Bishop Oppas who guided -the Moslems to their prey, and incited them to this slaughter. The -pious reader, says Fray Antonio Agapida, will be slow to believe such -turpitude; but there is nothing more venomous than the rancor of an -apostate priest; for the best things in this world, when corrupted, -become the worst and most baneful. - -Many of the Christians had taken refuge within the church, and -had barred the doors, but Oppas commanded that fire should be set -to the portals, threatening to put every one within to the sword. -Happily the veteran Taric arrived just in time to stay the fury of -this reverend renegado. He ordered the trumpets to call off the -troops from the carnage, and extended grace to all the surviving -inhabitants. They were permitted to remain in quiet possession of -their homes and effects, paying only a moderate tribute; and they -were allowed to exercise the rites of their religion in the existing -churches, to the number of seven, but were prohibited from erecting -any others. Those who preferred to leave the city were suffered to -depart in safety, but not to take with them any of their wealth. - -Immense spoil was found by Taric in the alcazar, or royal castle, -situated on a rocky eminence in the highest part of the city. Among -the regalia treasured up in a secret chamber were twenty-five regal -crowns of fine gold, garnished with jacinths, amethysts, diamonds, -and other precious stones. These were the crowns of the different -Gothic kings who had reigned in Spain; it having been the usage -on the death of each king to deposit his crown in this treasury, -inscribing on it his name and age.[36] - - [36] Conde, _Hist. de los Arabes en España_, c. 12. - -When Taric was thus in possession of the city, the Jews came to -him in procession, with songs and dances and the sound of timbrel -and psaltery, hailing him as their lord, and reminding him of his -promises. - -The son of Ishmael kept his word with the children of Israel; they -were protected in the possession of all their wealth and the exercise -of their religion, and were, moreover, rewarded with jewels of gold -and jewels of silver and much moneys.[37] - - [37] The stratagem of the Jews of Toledo is recorded briefly by - Bishop Lucas de Tuy, in his chronicle, but is related at large in - the chronicle of the Moor Rasis. - -A subsequent expedition was led by Taric against Guadalaxara, which -surrendered without resistance; he moreover captured the city of -Medina Celi, where he found an inestimable table which had formed -a part of the spoil taken at Rome by Alaric, at the time that the -sacred city was conquered by the Goths. It was composed of one -single and entire emerald, and possessed talismanic powers; for -traditions affirm that it was the work of genii, and had been wrought -by them for King Solomon the Wise, the son of David. This marvelous -relic was carefully preserved by Taric, as the most precious of -all his spoils, being intended by him as a present to the caliph; -and in commemoration of it the city was called by the Arabs Medina -Almeyda,—that is to say, “The City of the Table.”[38] - - [38] According to Arabian legends, this table was a mirror - revealing all great events; insomuch that by looking on it the - possessor might behold battles and sieges and feats of chivalry, - and all actions worthy of renown; and might thus ascertain the - truth of all historic transactions. It was a mirror of history - therefore; and had very probably aided King Solomon in acquiring - that prodigious knowledge and wisdom for which he was renowned. - -Having made these and other conquests of less importance, and having -collected great quantities of gold and silver, and rich stuffs and -precious stones, Taric returned with his booty to the royal city of -Toledo. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VII. - -Muza ben Nosier.— His Entrance into Spain and Capture of Carmona. - - -Let us leave for a season the bold Taric in his triumphant progress -from city to city, while we turn our eyes to Muza ben Nosier, the -renowned emir of Almagreb, and the commander-in-chief of the Moslem -forces of the West. When that jealous chieftain had dispatched his -letter commanding Taric to pause and await his coming, he immediately -made every preparation to enter Spain with a powerful reinforcement, -and to take command of the conquering army. He left his eldest son, -Abdalasis, in Cairvan, with authority over Almagreb, or Western -Africa. This Abdalasis was in the flower of his youth, and beloved by -the soldiery for the magnanimity and the engaging affability which -graced his courage. - -Muza ben Nosier crossed the Strait of Hercules with a chosen force -of ten thousand horse and eight thousand foot, Arabs and Africans. -He was accompanied by his two sons, Meruan and Abdelola, and by -numerous illustrious Arabian cavaliers of the tribe of the Koreish. -He landed his shining legions on the coast of Andalusia, and pitched -his tents near to the Guadiana. There first he received intelligence -of the disobedience of Taric to his orders, and that, without waiting -his arrival, the impetuous chieftain had continued his career, and -with his light Arab squadrons had overrun and subdued the noblest -provinces and cities of the kingdom. - -The jealous spirit of Muza was still more exasperated by these -tidings; he looked upon Taric no longer as a friend and coadjutor, -but as an invidious rival, the decided enemy of his glory, and he -determined on his ruin. His first consideration, however, was to -secure to himself a share in the actual conquest of the land before -it should be entirely subjugated. - -Taking guides, therefore, from among his Christian captives, he set -out to subdue such parts of the country as had not been visited by -Taric. The first place which he assailed was the ancient city of -Carmona; it was not of great magnitude, but was fortified with high -walls and massive towers, and many of the fugitives of the late army -had thrown themselves into it. - -The Goths had by this time recovered from their first panic; they had -become accustomed to the sight of Moslem troops, and their native -courage had been roused by danger. Shortly after the Arabs had -encamped before their walls, a band of cavaliers made a sudden sally -one morning before the break of day, fell upon the enemy by surprise, -killed above three hundred of them in their tents, and effected their -retreat into the city; leaving twenty of their number dead, covered -with honorable wounds, and in the very centre of the camp. - -On the following day they made another sally, and fell on a different -quarter of the encampment; but the Arabs were on their guard, and met -them with superior numbers. After fighting fiercely for a time, they -were routed, and fled full speed for the city, with the Arabs hard -upon their traces. The guards within feared to open the gate, lest -with their friends they should admit a torrent of enemies. Seeing -themselves thus shut out, the fugitives determined to die like brave -soldiers rather than surrender. Wheeling suddenly round, they opened -a path through the host of their pursuers, fought their way back to -the camp, and raged about it with desperate fury until they were all -slain, after having killed above eight hundred of the enemy.[39] - - [39] Abulcasim, _Perdida de España_, L. 1, c. 13. - -Muza now ordered that the place should be taken by storm. The Moslems -assailed it on all sides, but were vigorously resisted; many were -slain by showers of stones, arrows, and boiling pitch, and many -who had mounted with scaling-ladders were thrown headlong from the -battlements. The alcayde, Galo, aided solely by two men, defended -a tower and a portion of the wall, killing and wounding with a -cross-bow more than eighty of the enemy. The attack lasted above -half a day, when the Moslems were repulsed with the loss of fifteen -hundred men. - -Muza was astonished and exasperated at meeting with such formidable -resistance from so small a city; for it was one of the few places, -during that memorable conquest, where the Gothic valor shone forth -with its proper lustre. While the Moslem army lay encamped before -the place, it was joined by Magued the renegado, and Count Julian -the traitor, with one thousand horsemen; most of them recreant -Christians, base betrayers of their country, and more savage in their -warfare than the Arabs of the desert. To find favor in the eyes of -Muza, and to evince his devotion to the cause, the count undertook, -by wily stratagem, to put this gallant city in his power. - -One evening, just at twilight, a number of Christians, habited as -travelling merchants, arrived at one of the gates, conducting a -train of mules laden with arms and warlike munitions. “Open the gate -quickly,” cried they; “we bring supplies for the garrison, but the -Arabs have discovered and are in pursuit of us.” The gate was thrown -open, the merchants entered with their beasts of burden, and were -joyfully received. Meat and drink were placed before them, and after -they had refreshed themselves they retired to the quarters allotted -to them. - -These pretended merchants were Count Julian and a number of his -partisans. At the hour of midnight they stole forth silently, and -assembling together, proceeded to what is called the Gate of Cordova. -Here setting suddenly upon the unsuspecting guards, they put them to -the edge of the sword, and throwing open the gates, admitted a great -body of the Arabs. The inhabitants were roused from their sleep by -sound of drum and trumpet and the clattering of horses. The Arabs -scoured the streets; a horrible massacre was commenced, in which -none were spared but such of the females as were young and beautiful, -and fitted to grace the harems of the conquerors. The arrival of Muza -put an end to the pillage and the slaughter, and he granted favorable -terms to the survivors. Thus the valiant little city of Carmona, -after nobly resisting the open assaults of the infidels, fell a -victim to the treachery of apostate Christians.[40] - - [40] _Cron. gen. de España_, por Alonzo el Sabio. P. 3, c. 1. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Muza marches against the City of Seville. - - -After the capture of Carmona, Muza descended into a noble plain, -covered with fields of grain, with orchards and gardens, through -which glided the soft-flowing Guadalquivir. On the borders of the -river stood the ancient city of Seville, surrounded by Roman walls, -and defended by its golden tower. Understanding from his spies that -the city had lost the flower of its youth in the battle of the -Guadalete, Muza anticipated but a faint resistance. A considerable -force, however, still remained within the place, and what they wanted -in numbers they made up in resolution. For some days they withstood -the assaults of the enemy, and defended their walls with great -courage. Their want of warlike munitions, however, and the superior -force and skill of the besieging army, left them no hope of being -able to hold out long. There were two youthful cavaliers of uncommon -valor in the city. They assembled the warriors and addressed them. -“We cannot save the city,” said they; “but at least we may save -ourselves, and preserve so many strong arms for the service of our -country. Let us cut our way through the infidel force, and gain some -secure fortress, from whence we may return with augmented numbers for -the rescue of the city.” - -The advice of the young cavaliers was adopted. In the dead of -the night the garrison assembled, to the number of about three -thousand,—the most part mounted on horseback. Suddenly sallying from -one of the gates, they rushed in a compact body upon the camp of the -Saracens, which was negligently guarded, for the Moslems expected no -such act of desperation. The camp was a scene of great carnage and -confusion; many were slain on both sides; the two valiant leaders of -the Christians fell covered with wounds, but the main body succeeded -in forcing their way through the centre of the army, and in making -their retreat to Beja in Lusitania. - -Muza was at a loss to know the meaning of this desperate sally. In -the morning he perceived the gates of the city wide open. A number of -ancient and venerable men presented themselves at his tent, offering -submission and imploring mercy, for none were left in the place but -the old, the infirm, and the miserable. Muza listened to them with -compassion, and granted their prayer, and the only tribute he exacted -was three measures of wheat and three of barley from each house or -family. He placed a garrison of Arabs in the city, and left there -a number of Jews to form a body of population. Having thus secured -two important places in Andalusia, he passed the boundaries of the -province, and advanced with great martial pomp into Lusitania. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IX. - -Muza besieges the City of Merida. - - -The army of Muza was now augmented to about eighteen thousand -horsemen, but he took with him but few foot-soldiers, leaving them -to garrison the conquered towns. He met with no resistance on his -entrance into Lusitania. City after city laid its keys at his feet -and implored to be received in peaceful vassalage. One city alone -prepared for vigorous defense, the ancient Merida, a place of great -extent, uncounted riches, and prodigious strength. A noble Goth named -Sacarus was the governor,—a man of consummate wisdom, patriotism, and -valor. Hearing of the approach of the invaders, he gathered within -the walls all the people of the surrounding country, with their -horses and mules, their flocks and herds, and most precious effects. -To insure for a long time a supply of bread, he filled the magazines -with grain, and erected wind-mills on the churches. This done, he -laid waste the surrounding country to a great extent, so that a -besieging army would have to encamp in a desert. - -When Muza came in sight of this magnificent city, he was struck -with admiration. He remained for some time gazing in silence upon -its mighty walls and lordly towers, its vast extent, and the stately -palaces and temples with which it was adorned. “Surely,” cried he, at -length, “all the people of the earth have combined their power and -skill to embellish and aggrandize this city. Allah Achbar! Happy will -he be who shall have the glory of making such a conquest!” - -Seeing that a place so populous and so strongly fortified would -be likely to maintain a long and formidable resistance, he sent -messengers to Africa to his son Abdalasis, to collect all the forces -that could be spared from the garrisons of Mauritania, and to hasten -and reinforce him. - -While Muza was forming his encampment, deserters from the city -brought him word that a chosen band intended to sally forth at -midnight and surprise his camp. The Arab commander immediately took -measures to receive them with a counter surprise. Having formed his -plan, and communicated it to his principal officers, he ordered -that, throughout the day, there should be kept up an appearance of -negligent confusion in his encampment. The outposts were feebly -guarded; fires were lighted in various places, as if preparing for -feasting; bursts of music and shouts of revelry resounded from -different quarters, and the whole camp seemed to be rioting in -careless security on the plunder of the land. As the night advanced, -the fires were gradually extinguished, and silence ensued, as if the -soldiery had sunk into deep sleep after the carousal. - -In the mean time, bodies of troops had been secretly and silently -marched to reinforce the outposts; and the renegado Magued, with a -numerous force, had formed an ambuscade in a deep stone quarry by -which the Christians would have to pass. These preparations being -made, they awaited the approach of the enemy in breathless silence. - -About midnight the chosen force intended for the sally assembled, -and the command was confided to Count Tendero, a Gothic cavalier -of tried prowess. After having heard a solemn mass and received -the benediction of the priest, they marched out of the gate with -all possible silence. They were suffered to pass the ambuscade in -the quarry without molestation; as they approached the Moslem camp -everything appeared quiet, for the foot-soldiers were concealed in -slopes and hollows, and every Arab horseman lay in his armor beside -his steed. The sentinels on the outposts waited until the Christians -were close at hand, and then fled in apparent consternation. - -Count Tendero gave the signal for assault, and the Christians rushed -confidently forward. In an instant an uproar of drums, trumpets, -and shrill war-cries burst forth from every side. An army seemed to -spring up from the earth; squadrons of horse came thundering on them -in front while the quarry poured forth legions of armed warriors in -their rear. - -The noise of the terrific conflict that took place was heard on the -city walls, and answered by shouts of exultation, for the Christians -thought it rose from the terror and confusion of the Arab camp. In -a little while, however, they were undeceived by fugitives from the -fight, aghast with terror and covered with wounds. “Hell itself,” -cried they, “is on the side of these infidels; the earth casts forth -warriors and steeds to aid them. We have fought, not with men, but -devils!” - -The greater part of the chosen troops who had sallied were cut to -pieces in that scene of massacre, for they had been confounded by -the tempest of battle which suddenly broke forth around them. Count -Tendero fought with desperate valor, and fell covered with wounds. -His body was found the next morning, lying among the slain, and -transpierced with half a score of lances. The renegado Magued cut -off his head and tied it to the tail of his horse, and repaired with -this savage trophy to the tent of Muza; but the hostility of the Arab -general was of a less malignant kind. He ordered that the head and -body should be placed together upon a bier, and treated with becoming -reverence. - -In the course of the day a train of priests and friars came forth -from the city to request permission to seek for the body of the -count. Muza delivered it to them, with many soldier-like encomiums on -the valor of that good cavalier. The priests covered it with a pall -of cloth of gold, and bore it back in melancholy procession to the -city where it was received with loud lamentations. - -The siege was now pressed with great vigor, and repeated assaults -were made, but in vain. Muza saw, at length, that the walls were too -high to be scaled, and the gates too strong to be burst open without -the aid of engines, and he desisted from the attack until machines -for the purpose could be constructed. The governor suspected from -this cessation of active warfare that the enemy flattered themselves -to reduce the place by famine; he caused, therefore, large baskets -of bread to be thrown from the wall, and sent a messenger to Muza -to inform him that if his army should be in want of bread he would -supply it, having sufficient corn in his granaries for a ten years’ -siege.[41] - - [41] Bleda, _Cronica_, L. 2, c. 11. - -The citizens, however, did not possess the undaunted spirit of -their governor. When they found that the Moslems were constructing -tremendous engines for the destruction of their walls, they lost all -courage, and, surrounding the governor in a clamorous multitude, -compelled him to send forth persons to capitulate. - -The ambassadors came into the presence of Muza with awe, for they -expected to find a fierce and formidable warrior in one who had -filled the land with terror; but, to their astonishment, they beheld -an ancient and venerable man, with white hair, a snowy beard, and -a pale, emaciated countenance. He had passed the previous night -without sleep, and had been all day in the field; he was exhausted, -therefore, by watchfulness and fatigue, and his garments were covered -with dust. - -“What a devil of a man is this,” murmured the ambassadors, one to -another, “to undertake such a siege when on the verge of the grave. -Let us defend our city the best way we can; surely we can hold out -longer than the life of this graybeard.” - -They returned to the city, therefore, scoffing at an invader who -seemed fitter to lean on a crutch than wield a lance; and the terms -offered by Muza, which would otherwise have been thought favorable, -were scornfully rejected by the inhabitants. A few days put an end to -this mistaken confidence. Abdalasis, the son of Muza, arrived from -Africa at the head of his reinforcement; he brought seven thousand -horsemen and a host of Barbary archers, and made a glorious display -as he marched into the camp. The arrival of this youthful warrior -was hailed with great acclamations, so much had he won the hearts of -the soldiery by the frankness, the suavity, and generosity of his -conduct. Immediately after his arrival a grand assault was made upon -the city, and several of the huge battering engines being finished, -they were wheeled up and began to thunder against the walls. - -The unsteady populace were again seized with terror, and, surrounding -their governor with fresh clamors, obliged him to send forth -ambassadors a second time to treat of a surrender. When admitted to -the presence of Muza, the ambassadors could scarcely believe their -eyes, or that this was the same withered, white-headed old man of -whom they had lately spoken with scoffing. His hair and beard were -tinged of a ruddy brown; his countenance was refreshed by repose -and flushed with indignation, and he appeared a man in the matured -vigor of his days. The ambassadors were struck with awe. “Surely,” -whispered they, one to the other, “this must be either a devil or a -magician, who can thus make himself old and young at pleasure!” - -Muza received them haughtily. “Hence,” said he, “and tell your people -I grant them the same terms I have already proffered, provided the -city be instantly surrendered; but, by the head of Mahomet, if there -be any further delay, not one mother’s son of ye shall receive mercy -at my hands!” - -The deputies returned into the city pale and dismayed. “Go forth! -go forth!” cried they, “and accept whatever terms are offered; of -what avail is it to fight against men who can renew their youth at -pleasure? Behold, we left the leader of the infidels an old and -feeble man, and to-day we find him youthful and vigorous.”[42] - - [42] _Conde_, p. 1, c. 13. Ambrosio de Morales. N. B.—In the - chronicle of Spain, composed by order of Alonzo the Wise, this - anecdote is given as having happened at the siege of Seville. - -The place was, therefore, surrendered forthwith, and Muza entered it -in triumph. His terms were merciful. Those who chose to remain were -protected in persons, possessions, and religion; he took the property -of those only who abandoned the city or had fallen in battle; -together with all arms and horses, and the treasures and ornaments -of the churches. Among these sacred spoils was found a cup made of -a single pearl, which a king of Spain, in ancient times, had brought -from the temple of Jerusalem when it was destroyed by Nabuchodonosor. -This precious relic was sent by Muza to the caliph, and was placed in -the principal mosque of the city of Damascus.[43] - - [43] Marmol, _Descrip. de Africa_, T. 1, L. 2. - -Muza knew how to esteem merit even in an enemy. When Sacarus, the -Governor of Merida, appeared before him, he lauded him greatly for -the skill and courage he had displayed in the defense of his city; -and, taking off his own scimetar, which was of great value, girded -it upon him with his own hands. “Wear this,” said he, “as a poor -memorial of my admiration; a soldier of such virtue and valor is -worthy of far higher honors.” - -He would have engaged the governor in his service, or have persuaded -him to remain in the city, as an illustrious vassal of the caliph, -but the noble-minded Sacarus refused to bend to the yoke of the -conquerors; nor could he bring himself to reside contentedly in his -country, when subjected to the domination of the infidels. Gathering -together all those who chose to accompany him into exile, he embarked -to seek some country where he might live in peace and in the free -exercise of his religion. What shore these ocean pilgrims landed upon -has never been revealed; but tradition vaguely gives us to believe -that it was some unknown island far in the bosom of the Atlantic.[44] - - [44] Abulcasim, _Perdida de España_, L. 1, c. 13. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER X. - -Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and the “Land of Tadmir.” - - -After the capture of Merida, Muza gave a grand banquet to his -captains and distinguished warriors in that magnificent city. At -this martial feast were many Arab cavaliers who had been present in -various battles, and they vied with each other in recounting the -daring enterprises in which they had been engaged, and the splendid -triumphs they had witnessed. While they talked with ardor and -exultation, Abdalasis, the son of Muza, alone kept silence, and sat -with a dejected countenance. At length, when there was a pause, he -turned to his father and addressed him with modest earnestness. “My -lord and father,” said he, “I blush to hear your warriors recount -the toils and dangers they have passed while I have done nothing -to entitle me to their companionship. When I return to Egypt and -present myself before the caliph, he will ask me of my services in -Spain; what battle I have gained; what town or castle I have taken. -How shall I answer him? If you love me, then, as your son, give me -a command, intrust to me an enterprise, and let me acquire a name -worthy to be mentioned among men.” - -The eyes of Muza kindled with joy at finding Abdalasis thus ambitious -of renown in arms. “Allah be praised!” exclaimed he, “the heart of my -son is in the right place. It is becoming in youth to look upward and -be aspiring. Thy desire, Abdalasis, shall be gratified.” - -An opportunity at that very time presented itself to prove the -prowess and discretion of the youth. During the siege of Merida, -the Christian troops which had taken refuge at Beja had reinforced -themselves from Peñaflor, and suddenly returning, had presented -themselves before the gates of the city of Seville.[45] Certain of -the Christian inhabitants threw open the gates and admitted them. The -troops rushed to the alcazar, took it by surprise, and put many of -the Moslem garrison to the sword; the residue made their escape, and -fled to the Arab camp before Merida, leaving Seville in the hands of -the Christians. - - [45] Espinosa, _Antq. y Grand. de Seville_, L. 2, c. 3. - -The veteran Muza, now that the siege of Merida was at an end, was -meditating the recapture and punishment of Seville at the very time -when Abdalasis addressed him. “Behold, my son,” exclaimed he, “an -enterprise worthy of thy ambition! Take with thee all the troops -thou hast brought from Africa; reduce the city of Seville again to -subjection, and plant thy standard upon its alcazar. But stop not -there: carry thy conquering sword into the southern parts of Spain; -thou wilt find there a harvest of glory yet to be reaped.” - -Abdalasis lost no time in departing upon this enterprise. He took -with him Count Julian, Magued el Rumi, and the Bishop Oppas, that -he might benefit by their knowledge of the country. When he came in -sight of the fair city of Seville, seated like a queen in the midst -of its golden plain, with the Guadalquivir flowing beneath its walls, -he gazed upon it with the admiration of a lover, and lamented in his -soul that he had to visit it as an avenger. His troops, however, -regarded it with wrathful eyes, thinking only of its rebellion and of -the massacre of their countrymen in the alcazar. - -The principal people of the city had taken no part in this gallant -but fruitless insurrection; and now, when they beheld the army of -Abdalasis encamped upon the banks of the Guadalquivir, would fain -have gone forth to make explanations, and intercede for mercy. The -populace, however, forbade any one to leave the city, and, barring -the gates, prepared to defend themselves to the last. - -The place was attacked with resistless fury. The gates were soon -burst open; the Moslems rushed in, panting for revenge. They confined -not their slaughter to the soldiery in the alcazar, but roamed -through every street, confounding the innocent with the guilty in one -bloody massacre, and it was with the utmost difficulty that Abdalasis -could at length succeed in staying their sanguinary career.[46] - - [46] Conde, P. 1, c. 14. - -The son of Muza proved himself as mild in conquest as he had been -intrepid in assault. The moderation and benignity of his conduct -soothed the terrors of the vanquished, and his wise precautions -restored tranquillity. Having made proper regulations for the -protection of the inhabitants, he left a strong garrison in the place -to prevent any future insurrection, and then departed on the further -prosecution of his enterprise. - -Wherever he went his arms were victorious; and his victories were -always characterized by the same magnanimity. At length he arrived -on the confines of that beautiful region, comprising lofty and -precipitous mountains and rich and delicious plains, afterwards known -by the name of the kingdom of Murcia. All this part of the country -was defended by the veteran Theodomir, who, by skillful management, -had saved a remnant of his forces after the defeat on the banks of -the Guadalete. - -Theodomir was a stanch warrior, but a wary and prudent man. He -had experienced the folly of opposing the Arabs in open field, -where their cavalry and armor gave them such superiority; on their -approach, therefore, he assembled all his people capable of bearing -arms, and took possession of the cliffs and mountain passes. “Here,” -said he, “a simple goat-herd, who can hurl down rocks and stones, -is as good as a warrior armed in proof.” In this way he checked -and harassed the Moslem army in all its movements,—showering down -missiles upon it from overhanging precipices, and waylaying it in -narrow and rugged defiles, where a few raw troops could make stand -against a host. - -Theodomir was in a fair way to baffle his foes, and oblige them -to withdraw from his territories; unfortunately, however, the wary -veteran had two sons with him, young men of hot and heady valor, -who considered all this prudence of their father as savoring of -cowardice, and who were anxious to try their prowess in the open -field. “What glory,” said they, “is to be gained by destroying an -enemy in this way, from the covert of rocks and thickets?” - -“You talk like young men,” replied the veteran. “Glory is a prize one -may fight for abroad, but safety is the object when the enemy is at -the door.” - -One day, however, the young men succeeded in drawing down their -father into the plain. Abdalasis immediately seized on the -opportunity, and threw himself between the Goths and their mountain -fastnesses. Theodomir saw too late the danger into which he was -betrayed. “What can our raw troops do,” said he, “against those -squadrons of horse that move like castles? Let us make a rapid -retreat to Orihuela, and defend ourselves from behind its walls.” - -“Father,” said the eldest son, “it is too late to retreat; remain -here with the reserve while my brother and I advance. Fear nothing; -am not I your son, and would I not die to defend you?” - -“In truth,” replied the veteran, “I have my doubts whether you are my -son. But if I remain here, and you should all be killed, where then -would be my protection? Come,” added he, turning to the second son, -“I trust that thou art virtually my son, let us hasten to retreat -before it is too late.” - -“Father,” replied the youngest, “I have not a doubt that I am -honestly and thoroughly your son, and as such I honor you; but I owe -duty likewise to my mother, and when I sallied to the war she gave me -her blessing as long as I should act with valor, but her curse should -I prove craven and fly the field. Fear nothing, father; I will defend -you while living, and even after you are dead. You shall never fail -of an honorable sepulture among your kindred.” - -“A pestilence on ye both,” cried Theodomir, “for a brace of -misbegotten madmen! What care I, think ye, where ye lay my body -when I am dead? One day’s existence in a hovel is worth an age of -interment in a marble sepulchre. Come, my friends,” said he, turning -to his principal cavaliers, “let us leave these hot-headed striplings -and make our retreat; if we tarry any longer the enemy will be upon -us.” - -Upon this, the cavaliers and proud hidalgoes drew up scornfully and -tossed their heads: “What do you see in us,” said they, “that you -think we will show our backs to the enemy? Forward! was ever the good -old Gothic watchword, and with that will we live and die!” - -While time was lost in these disputes, the Moslem army kept advancing -until retreat was no longer practicable. The battle was tumultuous -and bloody. Theodomir fought like a lion, but it was all in vain; -he saw his two sons cut down, and the greater part of their rash -companions, while his raw mountain troops fled in all directions. - -Seeing there was no longer any hope, he seized the bridle of a -favorite page who was near him, and who was about spurring for the -mountains. “Part not from me,” said he, “but do thou, at least, -attend to my counsel, my son; and of a truth I believe thou art my -son, for thou art the offspring of one of my handmaids who was kind -unto me.” And indeed the youth marvelously resembled him. Turning -then the reins of his own steed, and giving him the spur, he fled -amain from the field, followed by the page; nor did he stop until he -arrived within the walls of Orihuela. - -Ordering the gates to be barred and bolted, he prepared to receive -the enemy. There were but few men in the city capable of bearing -arms, most of the youth having fallen in the field. He caused the -women, therefore, to clothe themselves in male attire, to put on hats -and helmets, to take long reeds in their hands instead of lances, and -to cross their hair upon their chins in semblance of beards. With -these troops he lined the walls and towers. - -It was about the hour of twilight that Abdalasis approached with his -army, but he paused when he saw the walls so numerously garrisoned. -Then Theodomir took a flag of truce in his hand, and put a herald’s -tabard on the page, and they two sallied forth to capitulate, and -were graciously received by Abdalasis. - -“I come,” said Theodomir, “on the behalf of the commander of this -city, to treat for terms worthy of your magnanimity and of his -dignity. You perceive that the city is capable of withstanding a -long siege, but he is desirous of sparing the lives of his soldiers. -Promise that the inhabitants shall be at liberty to depart unmolested -with their property, and the city will be delivered up to you -to-morrow morning without a blow; otherwise we are prepared to fight -until not a man be left.” - -Abdalasis was well pleased to get so powerful a place upon such easy -terms, but stipulated that the garrison should lay down their arms. -To this Theodomir readily assented, with the exception, however, of -the governor and his retinue, which was granted out of consideration -for his dignity. The articles of capitulation were then drawn out, -and when Abdalasis had affixed his name and seal, Theodomir took the -pen and wrote his signature. “Behold in me,” said he, “the governor -of the city!” - -Abdalasis was pleased with the hardihood of the commander of the -place in thus venturing personally into his power, and entertained -the veteran with still greater honor. When Theodomir returned to the -city, he made known the capitulation, and charged the inhabitants to -pack up their effects during the night and be ready to sally forth -during the morning. - -At the dawn of day the gates were thrown open, and Abdalasis looked -to see a great force issuing forth, but to his surprise beheld merely -Theodomir and his page in battered armor, followed by a multitude of -old men, women, and children. - -Abdalasis waited until the whole had come forth, then turning to -Theodomir, “Where,” cried he, “are the soldiers whom I saw last -evening lining the walls and towers?” - -“Soldiers have I none,” replied the veteran. “As to my garrison, -behold it before you. With these women did I man my walls, and this -my page is my herald, guard, and retinue.” - -Upon this the Bishop Oppas and Count Julian exclaimed that the -capitulation was a base fraud and ought not to be complied with; but -Abdalasis relished the stratagem of the old soldier, and ordered -that the stipulations of the treaty should be faithfully performed. -Nay, so high an opinion did he conceive of the subtle wisdom of this -commander that he permitted him to remain in authority over the -surrounding country on his acknowledging allegiance and engaging to -pay tribute to the caliph; and all that part of Spain, comprising -the beautiful provinces of Murcia and Valencia, was long after known -by the Arabic name of its defender, and is still recorded in Arabian -chronicles as “The land of Tadmir.”[47] - - [47] Conde, p. 1. _Cronica del Moro Rasis._—_Cron. gen. España_, - por Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3, c. 1. - -Having succeeded in subduing this rich and fruitful region, and -having gained great renown for his generosity as well as valor, -Abdalasis returned with the chief part of his army to the city of -Seville. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XI. - -Muza arrives at Toledo.—Interview between him and Taric. - - -When Muza ben Nosier had sent his son Abdalasis to subdue Seville, he -departed for Toledo to call Taric to account for his disobedience to -his orders; for, amidst all his own successes, the prosperous career -of that commander preyed upon his mind. What can content the jealous -and ambitious heart? As Muza passed through the land, towns and -cities submitted to him without resistance; he was lost in wonder at -the riches of the country and the noble monuments of art with which -it was adorned; when he beheld the bridges, constructed in ancient -times by the Romans, they seemed to him the work, not of men, but -of genii. Yet all these admirable objects only made him repine the -more that he had not had the exclusive glory of invading and subduing -the land; and exasperated him the more against Taric, for having -apparently endeavored to monopolize the conquest. - -Taric heard of his approach, and came forth to meet him at Talavera, -accompanied by many of the most distinguished companions of his -victories, and with a train of horses and mules laden with spoils, -with which he trusted to propitiate the favor of his commander. -Their meeting took place on the banks of the rapid river Tietar, -which rises in the mountains of Placencia and throws itself into the -Tagus. Muza, in former days, while Taric had acted as his subordinate -and indefatigable officer, had cherished and considered him as a -second self; but now that he had started up to be a rival, he could -not conceal his jealousy. When the veteran came into his presence, -he regarded him for a moment with a stern and indignant aspect. -“Why hast thou disobeyed my orders?” said he. “I commanded thee to -await my arrival with reinforcements, but thou hast rashly overrun -the country, endangering the loss of our armies and the ruin of our -cause.” - -“I have acted,” replied Taric, “in such manner as I thought would -best serve the cause of Islam, and in so doing I thought to fulfill -the wishes of Muza. Whatever I have done has been as your servant; -behold your share as commander-in-chief of spoils which I have -collected.” So saying he produced an immense treasure in silver and -gold, and costly stuffs and precious stones, and spread it before -Muza. - -The anger of the Arab commander was still more kindled at the sight -of this booty, for it proved how splendid had been the victories -of Taric; but he restrained his wrath for the present, and they -proceeded together in moody silence to Toledo. When he entered this -royal city, however, and ascended to the ancient palace of the Gothic -kings, and reflected that all this had been a scene of triumph to -his rival, he could no longer repress his indignation. He demanded of -Taric a strict account of all the riches he had gathered in Spain, -even of the presents he had reserved for the caliph, and, above all, -he made him yield up his favorite trophy, the talismanic table of -Solomon. When all this was done, he again upbraided him bitterly with -his disobedience of orders, and with the rashness of his conduct. -“What blind confidence in fortune hast thou shown,” said he, “in -overrunning such a country and assailing such powerful cities with -thy scanty force! What madness to venture everything upon a desperate -chance, when thou knewest I was coming with a force to make the -victory secure. All thy success has been owing to mere luck, not to -judgment nor generalship.” - -He then bestowed high praises upon the other chieftains for their -services in the cause of Islam, but they answered not a word, and -their countenances were gloomy and discontented; for they felt the -injustice done to their favorite leader. As to Taric, though his eye -burned like fire, he kept his passion within bounds. “I have done the -best I could to serve God and the caliph,” said he emphatically; “my -conscience acquits me, and I trust my sovereign will do the same.” - -“Perhaps he may,” replied Muza, bitterly; “but, in the mean time, I -cannot confide his interests to a desperado who is heedless of orders -and throws everything at hazard. Such a general is unworthy to be -intrusted with the fate of armies.” - -So saying, he divested Taric of his command, and gave it to Magued -the renegado. The gaunt Taric still maintained an air of stern -composure. His only words were, “The caliph will do me justice!” Muza -was so transported with passion at this laconic defiance that he -ordered him to be thrown into prison, and even threatened his life. - -Upon this, Magued el Rumi, though he had risen by the disgrace -of Taric, had the generosity to speak out warmly in his favor. -“Consider,” said he, to Muza, “what may be the consequences of this -severity. Taric has many friends in the army; his actions, too, have -been signal and illustrious, and entitle him to the highest honors -and rewards, instead of disgrace and imprisonment.” - -The anger of Muza, however, was not to be appeased; and he trusted -to justify his measures by dispatching missives to the caliph, -complaining of the insubordination of Taric, and his rash and -headlong conduct. The result proved the wisdom of the caution -given by Magued. In the course of a little while Muza received a -humiliating letter from the caliph, ordering him to restore Taric to -the command of the soldiers “whom he had so gloriously conducted;” -and not to render useless “one of the best swords in Islam!”[48] - - [48] Conde, pt. 1. c. 15. - -It is thus the envious man brings humiliation and reproach upon -himself, in endeavoring to degrade a meritorious rival. When the -tidings came of the justice rendered by the caliph to the merits of -the veteran, there was general joy throughout the army, and Muza read -in the smiling countenances of every one around him a severe censure -upon his conduct. He concealed, however, his deep humiliation, and -affected to obey the orders of his sovereign with great alacrity; -he released Taric from prison, feasted him at his own table, and -then publicly replaced him at the head of his troops. The army -received its favorite veteran with shouts of joy, and celebrated with -rejoicings the reconciliation of the commanders; but the shouts of -the soldiery were abhorrent to the ears of Muza. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XII. - -Muza prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest.—Siege of Saragossa.—Complete -Subjugation of Spain. - - -The dissensions, which for a time had distracted the conquering -army, being appeased, and the Arabian generals being apparently once -more reconciled, Muza, as commander in-chief, proceeded to complete -the enterprise by subjugating the northern parts of Spain. The same -expeditious mode of conquest that had been sagaciously adopted by -Taric was still pursued. The troops were lightly armed, and freed -from every superfluous incumbrance. Each horseman, beside his arms, -carried a small sack of provisions, a copper vessel in which to -cook them, and a skin which served him for surcoat and for bed. The -infantry carried nothing but their arms. To each regiment or squadron -was allowed a limited number of sumpter-mules and attendants, barely -enough to carry their necessary baggage and supplies; nothing was -permitted that could needlessly diminish the number of fighting men, -delay their rapid movements, or consume their provisions. Strict -orders were again issued, prohibiting, on pain of death, all plunder -excepting the camp of an enemy, or cities given up to pillage.[49] - - [49] Conde, pt. 1, c. 15. - -The armies now took their several lines of march. That under Taric -departed towards the northeast; beating up the country towards the -source of the Tagus, traversing the chain of Iberian or Arragonian -Mountains, and pouring down into the plains and valleys watered by -the Ebro. It was wonderful to see, in so brief a space of time, such -a vast and difficult country penetrated and subdued, and the invading -army, like an inundating flood, pouring its streams into the most -remote recesses. - -While Taric was thus sweeping the country to the northeast, Muza -departed in an opposite direction; yet purposing to meet him, and -to join their forces in the north. Bending his course westwardly, -he made a circuit behind the mountains, and then, advancing into -the open country, displayed his banners before Salamanca, which -surrendered without resistance. From hence he continued on towards -Astorga, receiving the terrified submission of the land; then turning -up the Valley of the Douro, he ascended the course of that famous -river towards the east; crossed the Sierra de Moncayo, and, arriving -on the banks of the Ebro, marched down along its stream, until he -approached the strong city of Saragossa, the citadel of all that part -of Spain. In this place had taken refuge many of the most valiant -of the Gothic warriors—the remnants of armies, and fugitives from -conquered cities. It was one of the last rallying-points of the land. -When Muza arrived, Taric had already been for some time before the -place, laying close siege; the inhabitants were pressed by famine, -and had suffered great losses in repeated combats; but there was a -spirit and obstinacy in their resistance surpassing anything that had -yet been witnessed by the invaders. - -Muza now took command of the siege, and ordered a general assault -upon the walls. The Moslems planted their scaling-ladders, and -mounted with their accustomed intrepidity, but were vigorously -resisted; nor could all their efforts obtain them a footing upon -the battlements. While they were thus assailing the walls, Count -Julian ordered a heap of combustibles to be placed against one of -the gates, and set on fire. The inhabitants attempted in vain, from -the barbican, to extinguish the flames. They burned so fiercely -that in a little while the gate fell from the hinges. Count Julian -galloped into the city, mounted upon a powerful charger, himself and -his steed all covered with mail. He was followed by three hundred of -his partisans, and supported by Magued the renegado, with a troop of -horse. - -The inhabitants disputed every street and public square; they made -barriers of dead bodies, fighting behind these ramparts of their -slaughtered countrymen. Every window and roof was filled with -combatants; the very women and children joined in the desperate -fight, throwing down stones and missiles of all kinds, and scalding -water upon the enemy. - -The battle raged until the hour of vespers, when the principal -inhabitants held a parley, and capitulated for a surrender. Muza -had been incensed at their obstinate resistance, which had cost the -lives of so many of his soldiers; he knew, also, that in the city -were collected the riches of many of the towns of eastern Spain. He -demanded, therefore, beside the usual terms, a heavy sum to be paid -down by the citizens, called the contribution of blood; as by this -they redeemed themselves from the edge of the sword. The people were -obliged to comply. They collected all the jewels of their richest -families, and all the ornaments of their temples, and laid them at -the feet of Muza; and placed in his power many of their noblest -youths as hostages. A strong garrison was then appointed, and thus -the fierce city of Saragossa was subdued to the yoke of the conqueror. - -The Arab generals pursued their conquests even to the foot of the -Pyrenees; Taric then descended along the course of the Ebro, and -continued along the Mediterranean coast; subduing the famous city -of Valencia, with its rich and beautiful domains, and carrying the -success of his arms even to Denia. - -Muza undertook with his host a wider range of conquest. He overcame -the cities of Barcelona, Gerona, and others that lay on the skirts -of the eastern mountains; then crossing into the land of the Franks, -he captured the city of Narbonne—in a temple of which he found seven -equestrian images of silver, which he brought off as trophies of -his victory.[50] Returning into Spain, he scoured its northern -regions along Gallicia and the Asturias; passed triumphantly through -Lusitania, and arrived once more in Andalusia, covered with laurels -and enriched with immense spoils. - - [50] Conde, pt. 1, c. 16. - -Thus was completed the subjugation of unhappy Spain. All its cities, -and fortresses, and strongholds, were in the hands of the Saracens, -excepting some of the wild mountain tracts that bordered the Atlantic -and extended towards the north. Here, then, the story of the conquest -might conclude, but that the indefatigable chronicler, Fray Antonio -Agapida, goes on to record the fate of those persons who were most -renowned in the enterprise. We shall follow his steps, and avail -ourselves of his information, laboriously collected from various -sources; and, truly, the story of each of the actors in this great -historical drama bears with it its striking moral, and is full of -admonition and instruction. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Feud between the Arab Generals.—They are summoned to appear before -the Caliph at Damascus.—Reception of Taric. - - -The heart of Muza ben Nosier was now lifted up, for he considered -his glory complete. He held a sway that might have gratified the -ambition of the proudest sovereign, for all western Africa and the -newly acquired peninsula of Spain were obedient to his rule; and he -was renowned throughout all the lands of Islam as the great conqueror -of the West. But sudden humiliation awaited him in the very moment of -his highest triumph. - -Notwithstanding the outward reconciliation of Muza and Taric, a deep -and implacable hostility continued to exist between them; and each -had busy partisans who distracted the armies by their feuds. Letters -were incessantly dispatched to Damascus by either party, exalting -the merits of their own leader and decrying his rival. Taric was -represented as rash, arbitrary, and prodigal, and as injuring the -discipline of the army, by sometimes treating it with extreme rigor -and at other times giving way to licentiousness and profusion. Muza -was lauded as prudent, sagacious, dignified, and systematic in his -dealings. The friends of Taric, on the other hand, represented him -as brave, generous, and high-minded; scrupulous in reserving to his -sovereign his rightful share of the spoils, but distributing the rest -bounteously among his soldiers, and thus increasing their alacrity -in the service. “Muza, on the contrary,” said they, “is grasping and -insatiable; he levies intolerable contributions and collects immense -treasure, but sweeps it all into his own coffers.” - -The caliph was at length wearied out by these complaints, and feared -that the safety of the cause might be endangered by the dissensions -of the rival generals. He sent letters, therefore, ordering them -to leave suitable persons in charge of their several commands, and -appear, forthwith, before him at Damascus. - -Such was the greeting from his sovereign that awaited Muza on his -return from the conquest of northern Spain. It was a grievous blow to -a man of his pride and ambition; but he prepared instantly to obey. -He returned to Cordova, collecting by the way all the treasures he -had deposited in various places. At that city he called a meeting of -his principal officers, and of the leaders of the faction of apostate -Christians, and made them all do homage to his son Abdalasis, as emir -or governor of Spain. He gave this favorite son much sage advice for -the regulation of his conduct, and left with him his nephew, Ayub, -a man greatly honored by the Moslems for his wisdom and discretion; -exhorting Abdalasis to consult him on all occasions, and consider him -as his bosom counselor. He made a parting address to his adherents, -full of cheerful confidence; assuring them that he would soon return, -loaded with new favors and honors by his sovereign, and enabled to -reward them all for their faithful services. - -When Muza sallied forth from Cordova, to repair to Damascus, his -cavalagada appeared like the sumptuous pageant of some oriental -potentate; for he had numerous guards and attendants splendidly armed -and arrayed, together with four hundred hostages, who were youthful -cavaliers of the noblest families of the Goths, and a great number -of captives of both sexes, chosen for their beauty, and intended as -presents for the caliph. Then there was a vast train of beasts of -burden, laden with the plunder of Spain; for he took with him all the -wealth he had collected in his conquests, and all the share that had -been set apart for his sovereign. With this display of trophies and -spoils, showing the magnificence of the land he had conquered, he -looked forward with confidence to silence the calumnies of his foes. - -As he traversed the valley of the Guadalquivir he often turned and -looked back wistfully upon Cordova; and, at the distance of a league, -when about to lose sight of it, he checked his steed upon the summit -of a hill, and gazed for a long time upon its palaces and towers. “O -Cordova!” exclaimed he, “great and glorious art thou among cities, -and abundant in all delights. With grief and sorrow do I part from -thee, for sure I am it would give me length of days to abide within -thy pleasant walls!” When he had uttered these words, say the -Arabian chronicles, he resumed his wayfaring; but his eyes were bent -upon the ground, and frequent sighs bespoke the heaviness of his -heart. - -Embarking at Cadiz, he passed over to Africa with all his people and -effects, to regulate his government in that country. He divided the -command between his sons, Abdelola and Meruan, leaving the former -in Tangier and the latter in Cairvan. Thus having secured, as he -thought, the power and prosperity of his family, by placing all his -sons as his lieutenants in the country he had conquered, he departed -for Syria, bearing with him the sumptuous spoils of the West. - -While Muza was thus disposing of his commands, and moving cumbrously -under the weight of wealth, the veteran Taric was more speedy and -alert in obeying the summons of the caliph. He knew the importance, -where complaints were to be heard, of being first in presence of the -judge; besides, he was ever ready to march at a moment’s warning, -and had nothing to impede him in his movements. The spoils he had -made in his conquests had either been shared among his soldiers, or -yielded up to Muza, or squandered away with open-handed profusion. He -appeared in Syria with a small train of war-worn followers, and had -no other trophies to show than his battered armor and a body seamed -with scars. He was received, however, with rapture by the multitude, -who crowded to behold one of those conquerors of the West, whose -wonderful achievements were the theme of every tongue. They were -charmed with his gaunt and martial air, his hard, sunburnt features, -and his scathed eye. “All hail,” cried they, “to the Sword of Islam, -the terror of the unbelievers! Behold the true model of a warrior, -who despises gain, and seeks for nought but glory!” - -Taric was graciously received by the caliph, who asked tidings of his -victories. He gave a soldier-like account of his actions, frank and -full, without any feigned modesty, yet without vainglory. “Commander -of the Faithful,” said he, “I bring thee no silver, nor gold, nor -precious stones, nor captives, for what spoils I did not share with -my soldiers I gave up to Muza as my commander. How I have conducted -myself the honorable warriors of thy host will tell thee; nay, let -our enemies, the Christians, be asked if I have ever shown myself -cowardly, or cruel, or rapacious.” - -“What kind of people are these Christians?” demanded the caliph. - -“The Spaniards,” replied Taric, “are lions in their castles, eagles -in their saddles, but mere women when on foot. When vanquished they -escape like goats to the mountains, for they need not see the ground -they tread on.” - -“And tell me of the Moors of Barbary.” - -“They are like Arabs in the fierceness and dexterity of their attacks -and in their knowledge of the stratagems of war; they resemble them, -too, in feature, in fortitude, and hospitality; but they are the most -perfidious people upon earth, and never regard promise or plighted -faith.” - -“And the people of Afranc; what sayest thou of them?” - -“They are infinite in number, rapid in the onset, fierce in battle, -but confused and headlong in flight.” - -“And how fared it with thee among these people? Did they sometimes -vanquish thee?” - -“Never, by Allah!” cried Taric, with honest warmth; “never did a -banner of mine fly the field. Though the enemy were two to one, my -Moslems never shunned the combat!” - -The caliph was well pleased with the martial bluntness of the -veteran, and showed him great honor; and wherever Taric appeared he -was the idol of the populace. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Muza arrives at Damascus.—His Interview with the Caliph.—The Table of -Solomon.—A rigorous Sentence. - - -Shortly after the arrival of Taric el Tuerto at Damascus, the caliph -fell dangerously ill, insomuch that his life was despaired of. During -his illness, tidings were brought that Muza ben Nosier had entered -Syria with a vast cavalcade, bearing all the riches and trophies -gained in the western conquests. Now Suleiman ben Abdelmelec, brother -to the caliph, was successor to the throne, and he saw that his -brother had not long to live, and wished to grace the commencement of -his reign by this triumphant display of the spoils of Christendom; he -sent messengers, therefore, to Muza, saying, “The caliph is ill and -cannot receive thee at present; I pray thee tarry on the road until -his recovery.” Muza, however, paid no attention to the messages of -Suleiman, but rather hastened his march to arrive before the death of -the caliph. And Suleiman treasured up his conduct in his heart. - -Muza entered the city in a kind of triumph, with a long train of -horses and mules and camels laden with treasure, and with the four -hundred sons of Gothic nobles as hostages, each decorated with a -diadem and a girdle of gold; and with one hundred Christian damsels, -whose beauty dazzled all beholders. As he passed through the streets -he ordered purses of gold to be thrown among the populace, who rent -the air with acclamations. “Behold,” cried they, “the veritable -conqueror of the unbelievers! Behold the true model of a conqueror, -who brings home wealth to his country!” And they heaped benedictions -on the head of Muza. - -The Caliph Waled Almanzor rose from his couch of illness to receive -the emir, who, when he repaired to the palace, filled one of its -great courts with treasures of all kinds; the halls, too, were -thronged with youthful hostages, magnificently attired, and with -Christian damsels, lovely as the houris of paradise. When the caliph -demanded an account of the conquest of Spain, he gave it with great -eloquence; but, in describing the various victories, he made no -mention of the name of Taric, but spoke as if everything had been -effected by himself. He then presented the spoils of the Christians -as if they had been all taken by his own hands; and when he delivered -to the caliph the miraculous table of Solomon, he dwelt with -animation on the virtues of that inestimable talisman. - -Upon this, Taric, who was present, could no longer hold his peace. -“Commander of the Faithful,” said he, “examine this precious table, -if any part be wanting.” The caliph examined the table, which was -composed of a single emerald, and he found that one foot was -supplied by a foot of gold. The caliph turned to Muza and said, -“Where is the other foot of the table?” Muza answered, “I know not; -one foot was wanting when it came into my hands.” Upon this, Taric -drew from beneath his robe a foot of emerald of like workmanship to -the others, and fitting exactly to the table, “Behold, O Commander of -the Faithful!” cried he, “a proof of the real finder of the table; -and so is it with the greater part of the spoils exhibited by Muza -as trophies of his achievements. It was I who gained them, and who -captured the cities in which they were found. If you want proof, -demand of these Christian cavaliers here present, most of whom I -captured; demand of those Moslem warriors who aided me in my battles.” - -Muza was confounded for a moment, but attempted to vindicate himself. -“I spake,” said he, “as the chief of your armies, under whose orders -and banners this conquest was achieved. The actions of the soldier -are the actions of the commander. In a great victory it is not -supposed that the chief of the army takes all the captives, or kills -all the slain, or gathers all the booty, though all are enumerated -in the records of his triumph.” The caliph, however, was wroth, and -heeded not his words. “You have vaunted your own deserts,” said he, -“and have forgotten the deserts of others; nay, you have sought to -debase another who has loyally served his sovereign; the reward -of your envy and covetousness be upon your head!” So saying, he -bestowed a great part of the spoils upon Taric and the other chiefs, -but gave nothing to Muza; and the veteran retired amidst the sneers -and murmurs of those present. - -In a few days the Caliph Waled died, and was succeeded by his brother -Suleiman. The new sovereign cherished deep resentment against Muza -for having presented himself at court contrary to his command, and he -listened readily to the calumnies of his enemies—for Muza had been -too illustrious in his deeds not to have many enemies. All now took -courage when they found he was out of favor, and they heaped slanders -on his head; charging him with embezzling much of the share of the -booty belonging to the sovereign. The new caliph lent a willing ear -to the accusation, and commanded him to render up all that he had -pillaged from Spain. The loss of his riches might have been borne -with fortitude by Muza, but the stigma upon his fame filled his heart -with bitterness. “I have been a faithful servant to the throne from -my youth upwards,” said he, “and now am I degraded in my old age. I -care not for wealth, I care not for life, but let me not be deprived -of that honor which God has bestowed upon me!” - -The Caliph was still more exasperated at his repining, and stripped -him of his commands, confiscated his effects, fined him two -hundred thousand _pesants_ of gold, and ordered that he should be -scourged and exposed to the noontide sun, and afterwards thrown -into prison.[51] The populace, also; reviled and scoffed at him in -his misery, and as they beheld him led forth to the public gaze, -and fainting in the sun, they pointed at him with derision, and -exclaimed, “Behold the envious man and the impostor; this is he who -pretended to have conquered the land of the unbelievers!” - - [51] Conde, pt. 1, c. 17. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XV. - -Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of Spain. - - -While these events were happening in Syria, the youthful Abdalasis, -the son of Muza, remained as emir or governor of Spain. He was of a -generous and benignant disposition, but he was open and confiding, -and easily led away by the opinions of those he loved. Fortunately -his father had left with him, as a bosom counselor, the discreet -Ayub, the nephew of Muza; aided by his advice, he for some time -administered the public affairs prudently and prosperously. - -Not long after the departure of his father, he received a letter from -him, written while on his journey to Syria; it was to the following -purport:— - -“Beloved son; honor of thy lineage; Allah guard thee from all harm -and peril! Listen to the words of thy father. Avoid all treachery, -though it should promise great advantage, and trust not in him who -counsels it, even though he should be a brother. The company of -traitors put far from thee; for how canst thou be certain that he who -has proved false to others will prove true to thee? Beware, O my son, -of the seductions of love. It is an idle passion, which enfeebles -the heart and blinds the judgment; it renders the mighty weak, and -makes slaves of princes. If thou shouldst discover any foible of a -vicious kind springing up in thy nature, pluck it forth, whatever -pang it cost thee. Every error, while new, may easily be weeded out, -but if suffered to take root, it flourishes and bears seed, and -produces fruit an hundred-fold. Follow these counsels, O son of my -affections, and thou shalt live secure.” - -Abdalasis meditated upon this letter, for some part of it seemed to -contain a mystery which he could not comprehend. He called to him his -cousin and counselor, the discreet Ayub. “What means my father,” said -he, “in cautioning me against treachery and treason? Does he think my -nature so base that it could descend to such means?” - -Ayub read the letter attentively. “Thy father,” said he, “would put -thee on thy guard against the traitors Julian and Oppas, and those -of their party who surround thee. What love canst thou expect from -men who have been unnatural to their kindred, and what loyalty from -wretches who have betrayed their country?” - -Abdalasis was satisfied with the interpretation, and he acted -accordingly. He had long loathed all communion with these men, for -there is nothing which the open, ingenuous nature so much abhors -as duplicity and treason. Policy, too, no longer required their -agency; they had rendered their infamous service, and had no longer a -country to betray; but they might turn and betray their employers. -Abdalasis, therefore, removed them to a distance from his court, and -placed them in situations where they could do no harm, and he warned -his commanders from being in any wise influenced by their counsels or -aided by their arms. - -He now confided entirely in his Arabian troops, and in the Moorish -squadrons from Africa, and with their aid he completed the conquest -of Lusitania to the ultimate parts of the Algarbe, or west, even -to the shores of the great Ocean sea.[52] From hence he sent his -generals to overrun all those vast and rugged sierras, which rise -like ramparts along the ocean borders of the peninsula; and they -carried the standard of Islam in triumph even to the Mountains of -Biscay, collecting all manner of precious spoil. - - [52] Algarbe, or Algarbia, in Arabic signifies the west, as - Axarkia is the east, Algufia the north, and Aquibla the south. - This will serve to explain some of the geographical names on the - peninsula which are of Arabian origin. - -“It is not enough, O Abdalasis,” said Ayub, “that we conquer and rule -this country with the sword; if we wish our dominion to be secure, we -must cultivate the arts of peace, and study to secure the confidence -and promote the welfare of the people we have conquered.” Abdalasis -relished counsel which accorded so well with his own beneficent -nature. He endeavored, therefore, to allay the ferment and confusion -of the conquest; forbade, under rigorous punishment, all wanton -spoil or oppression, and protected the native inhabitants in the -enjoyment and cultivation of their lands, and the pursuit of all -useful occupations. By the advice of Ayub, also, he encouraged great -numbers of industrious Moors and Arabs to emigrate from Africa, and -gave them houses and lands; thus introducing a peaceful and Mahometan -population in the conquered provinces. - -The good effect of the counsels of Ayub were soon apparent. Instead -of a sudden but transient influx of wealth, made by the ruin of -the land, which left the country desolate, a regular and permanent -revenue sprang up, produced by reviving prosperity, and gathered -without violence. Abdalasis ordered it to be faithfully collected, -and deposited in coffers by public officers appointed in each -province for the purpose; and the whole was sent by ten deputies to -Damascus to be laid at the feet of the caliph; not as the spoils -of a vanquished country, but as the peaceful trophies of a wisely -administered government. - -The common herd of warlike adventurers, the mere men of the sword, -who had thronged to Spain for the purpose of ravage and rapine, -were disappointed at being thus checked in their career, and at -seeing the reign of terror and violence drawing to a close. What -manner of leader is this, said they, who forbids us to make spoil -of the enemies of Islam, and to enjoy the land we have wrested from -the unbelievers? The partisans of Julian, also, whispered their -calumnies. “Behold,” said they, “with what kindness he treats the -enemies of your faith; all the Christians who have borne arms against -you, and withstood your entrance into the land, are favored and -protected; but it is enough for a Christian to have befriended the -cause of the Moslems to be singled out by Abdalasis for persecution, -and to be driven with scorn from his presence.” - -These insinuations fermented the discontent of the turbulent and -rapacious among the Moslems, but all the friends of peace and order -and good government applauded the moderation of the youthful emir. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Loves of Abdalasis and Exilona. - - -Abdalasis had fixed his seat of government at Seville, as permitting -easy and frequent communications with the coast of Africa. His palace -was of noble architecture, with delightful gardens extending to the -banks of the Guadalquivir. In a part of this palace resided many of -the most beautiful Christian females, who were detained as captives, -or rather hostages, to insure the tranquillity of the country. Those -who were of noble rank were entertained in luxury and magnificence; -slaves were appointed to attend upon them, and they were arrayed in -the richest apparel and decorated with the most precious jewels. -Those of tender age were taught all graceful accomplishments; and -even where tasks were imposed, they were of the most elegant and -agreeable kind. They embroidered, they sang, they danced, and passed -their times in pleasing revelry. Many were lulled by this easy and -voluptuous existence; the scenes of horror through which they had -passed were gradually effaced from their minds, and a desire was -often awakened of rendering themselves pleasing in the eyes of their -conquerors. - -After his return from his campaign in Lusitania and during the -intervals of public duty, Abdalasis solaced himself in the repose -of this palace, and in the society of these Christian captives. He -remarked one among them who ever sat apart, and neither joined in the -labors nor sports of her companions. - -She was lofty in her demeanor, and the others always paid her -reverence; yet sorrow had given a softness to her charms, and -rendered her beauty touching to the heart. Abdalasis found her one -day in the garden with her companions; they had adorned their heads -with flowers, and were singing the songs of their country, but she -sat by herself and wept. The youthful emir was moved by her tears, -and accosted her in gentle accents. “O fairest of women!” said he, -“why dost thou weep, and why is thy heart troubled?” “Alas!” replied -she, “have I not cause to weep, seeing how sad is my condition, and -how great the height from which I have fallen? In me you behold the -wretched Exilona, but lately the wife of Roderick and the Queen of -Spain, now a captive and a slave!” and, having said these words, she -cast her eyes upon the earth, and her tears began to flow afresh. - -The generous feelings of Abdalasis were aroused at the sight of -beauty and royalty in tears. He gave orders that Exilona should be -entertained in a style befitting her former rank; he appointed a -train of female attendants to wait upon her, and a guard of honor to -protect her from all intrusion. All the time that he could spare from -public concerns was passed in her society; and he even neglected -his divan, and suffered his counselors to attend in vain, while he -lingered in the apartments and gardens of the palace, listening to -the voice of Exilona. - -The discreet Ayub saw the danger into which he was falling. “O -Abdalasis,” said he, “remember the words of thy father. ‘Beware, my -son,’ said he, ‘of the seductions of love. It renders the mighty -weak, and makes slaves of princes!’” A blush kindled on the cheek of -Abdalasis, and he was silent for a moment. “Why,” said he, at length, -“do you seek to charge me with such weakness? It is one thing to be -infatuated by the charms of a woman, and another to be touched by -her misfortunes. It is the duty of my station to console a princess -who has been reduced to the lowest humiliation by the triumphs -of our arms. In doing so I do but listen to the dictates of true -magnanimity.” - -Ayub was silent, but his brow was clouded, and for once Abdalasis -parted in discontent from his counselor. In proportion as he was -dissatisfied with others or with himself, he sought the society of -Exilona, for there was a charm in her conversation that banished -every care. He daily became more and more enamored, and Exilona -gradually ceased to weep, and began to listen with secret pleasure -to the words of her Arab lover. When, however, he sought to urge his -passion, she recollected the light estimation in which her sex was -held by the followers of Mahomet, and assumed a countenance grave and -severe. - -“Fortune,” said she, “has cast me at thy feet; behold I am thy -captive and thy spoil. But though my person is in thy power, my soul -is unsubdued; and know that, should I lack force to defend my honor, -I have resolution to wash out all stain upon it with my blood. I -trust, however, in thy courtesy as a cavalier to respect me in my -reverses, remembering what I have been, and that though the crown -has been wrested from my brow, the royal blood still warms within my -veins.”[53] - - [53] Faxardo, _Corona Gothica_, T. 1, p. 492.—Joan. _Mar. de Reb. - Hisp._ L. 6, c. 27. - -The lofty spirit of Exilona, and her proud repulse, served but to -increase the passion of Abdalasis. He besought her to unite her -destiny with his, and share his state and power, promising that she -should have no rival nor copartner in his heart. Whatever scruples -the captive queen might originally have felt to a union with one of -the conquerors of her lord, and an enemy of her adopted faith, they -were easily vanquished, and she became the bride of Abdalasis. He -would fain have persuaded her to return to the faith of her fathers; -but though of Moorish origin, and brought up in the doctrines of -Islam, she was too thorough a convert to Christianity to consent, and -looked back with disgust upon a religion that admitted a plurality of -wives. - -When the sage Ayub heard of the resolution of Abdalasis to espouse -Exilona he was in despair. “Alas, my cousin!” said he, “what -infatuation possesses thee? Hast thou then entirely forgotten the -letter of thy father? ‘Beware, my son,’ said he, ‘of love; it is an -idle passion, which enfeebles the heart and blinds the judgment.’” -But Abdalasis interrupted him with impatience. “My father,” said he, -“spake but of the blandishments of wanton love; against these I am -secured by my virtuous passion for Exilona.” - -Ayub would fain have impressed upon him the dangers he ran of -awakening suspicion in the caliph, and discontent among the Moslems, -by wedding the queen of the conquered Roderick, and one who was -an enemy to the religion of Mahomet; but the youthful lover only -listened to his passion. Their nuptials were celebrated at Seville -with great pomp and rejoicings, and he gave his bride the name of -Omalisam; that is to say, she of the precious jewels;[54] but she -continued to be known among the Christians by the name of Exilona. - - [54] Conde, pt. 1, c. 17. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Fate of Abdalasis and Exilona.—Death of Muza. - - -Possession, instead of cooling the passion of Abdalasis, only added -to its force; he became blindly enamored of his beautiful bride, and -consulted her will in all things; nay, having lost all relish for -the advice of the discreet Ayub, he was even guided by the counsels -of his wife in the affairs of government. Exilona, unfortunately, -had once been a queen, and she could not remember her regal glories -without regret. She saw that Abdalasis had great power in the -land,—greater even than had been possessed by the Gothic kings,—but -she considered it as wanting in true splendor until his brow should -be encircled with the outward badge of royalty. One day when they -were alone in the palace of Seville, and the heart of Abdalasis was -given up to tenderness, she addressed him in fond yet timid accents. -“Will not my lord be offended,” said she, “if I make an unwelcome -request?” Abdalasis regarded her with a smile. “What canst thou ask -of me, Exilona,” said he, “that it would not be a happiness for me to -grant?” Then Exilona produced a crown of gold, sparkling with jewels, -which had belonged to the king, Don Roderick, and said, “Behold, -thou art king in authority; be so in thy outward state. There is -majesty and glory in a crown; it gives a sanctity to power.” Then -putting the crown upon his head, she held a mirror before him that -he might behold the majesty of his appearance. Abdalasis chid her -fondly, and put the crown away from him, but Exilona persisted in her -prayer. “Never,” said she, “has there been a king in Spain that did -not wear a crown.” So Abdalasis suffered himself to be beguiled by -the blandishments of his wife, and to be invested with the crown and -sceptre and other signs of royalty.[55] - - [55] _Chron. gen._ de Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3. Joan _Mar. de Reb. - Hisp._ lib. 6, c. 27. Conde, pt. 1, c. 19. - -It is affirmed by ancient and discreet chroniclers, that Abdalasis -only assumed this royal state in the privacy of his palace, and to -gratify the eye of his youthful bride; but where was a secret ever -confined within the walls of a palace? The assumption of the insignia -of the ancient Gothic kings was soon rumored about, and caused the -most violent suspicions. The Moslems had already felt jealous of -the ascendency of this beautiful woman, and it was now confidently -asserted that Abdalasis, won by her persuasions, had secretly turned -Christian. - -The enemies of Abdalasis, those whose rapacious spirits had been kept -in check by the beneficence of his rule, seized upon this occasion to -ruin him. They sent letters to Damascus, accusing him of apostacy, -and of an intention to seize upon the throne in right of his wife, -Exilona, as widow of the late king Roderick. It was added, that the -Christians were prepared to flock to his standard as the only means -of regaining ascendency in their country. - -These accusations arrived at Damascus just after the accession of -the sanguinary Suleiman to the throne, and in the height of his -persecution of the unfortunate Muza. The caliph waited for no proofs -in confirmation; he immediately sent private orders that Abdalasis -should be put to death, and that the same fate should be dealt to his -two brothers who governed in Africa, as a sure means of crushing the -conspiracy of this ambitious family. - -The mandate for the death of Abdalasis was sent to Abhilbar ben -Obeidah and Zeyd ben Nabegat, both of whom had been cherished friends -of Muza, and had lived in intimate favor and companionship with -his son. When they read the fatal parchment, the scroll fell from -their trembling hands. “Can such hostility exist against the family -of Muza?” exclaimed they. “Is this the reward for such great and -glorious services?” The cavaliers remained for some time plunged in -horror and consternation. The order, however, was absolute, and left -them no discretion. “Allah is great,” said they, “and commands us to -obey our sovereign.” So they prepared to execute the bloody mandate -with the blind fidelity of Moslems. - -It was necessary to proceed with caution. The open and magnanimous -character of Abdalasis had won the hearts of a great part of the -soldiery, and his magnificence pleased the cavaliers who formed his -guard; it was feared, therefore, that a sanguinary opposition would -be made to any attempt upon his person. The rabble, however, had been -imbittered against him from his having restrained their depredations, -and because they thought him an apostate in his heart, secretly bent -upon betraying them to the Christians. While, therefore, the two -officers made vigilant dispositions to check any movement on the part -of the soldiery, they let loose the blind fury of the populace by -publishing the fatal mandate. In a moment the city was in a ferment, -and there was a ferocious emulation who should be first to execute -the orders of the caliph. - -Abdalasis was at this time at a palace in the country not far from -Seville, commanding a delightful view of the fertile plain of the -Guadalquivir. Hither he was accustomed to retire from the tumult -of the court, and to pass his time among groves and fountains and -the sweet repose of gardens, in the society of Exilona. It was the -dawn of day, the hour of early prayer, when the furious populace -arrived at this retreat. Abdalasis was offering up his orisons in -a small mosque which he had erected for the use of the neighboring -peasantry. Exilona was in a chapel in the interior of the palace, -where her confessor, a holy friar, was performing mass. They were -both surprised at their devotions, and dragged forth by the hands of -the rabble. A few guards, who attended at the palace, would have made -defense, but they were overawed by the sight of the written mandate -of the caliph. - -The captives were borne in triumph to Seville. All the beneficent -virtues of Abdalasis were forgotten; nor had the charms of Exilona -any effect in softening the hearts of the populace. The brutal -eagerness to shed blood, which seems inherent in human nature, was -awakened; and woe to the victims when that eagerness is quickened by -religious hate. The illustrious couple, adorned with all the graces -of youth and beauty, were hurried to a scaffold in the great square -of Seville, and there beheaded amidst the shouts and execrations of -an infatuated multitude. Their bodies were left exposed upon the -ground, and would have been devoured by dogs, had they not been -gathered at night by some friendly hand, and poorly interred in one -of the courts of their late dwelling. - -Thus terminated the loves and lives of Abdalasis and Exilona, in -the year of the Incarnation seven hundred and fourteen. Their names -were held sacred as martyrs to the Christian faith; but many read in -their untimely fate a lesson against ambition and vainglory; having -sacrificed real power and substantial rule to the glittering bauble -of a crown. - -The head of Abdalasis was embalmed and inclosed in a casket, and sent -to Syria to the cruel Suleiman. The messenger who bore it overtook -the caliph as he was performing a pilgrimage to Mecca. Muza was among -the courtiers in his train, having been released from prison. On -opening the casket and regarding its contents, the eyes of the tyrant -sparkled with malignant satisfaction. Calling the unhappy father to -his side, “Muza,” said he, “dost thou know this head?” The veteran -recognized the features of his beloved son, and turned his face -away with anguish. “Yes! well do I know it,” replied he; “and may -the curse of God light upon him who has destroyed a better man than -himself.” - -Without adding another word, he retired to Mount Deran, a prey to -devouring melancholy. He shortly after received tidings of the death -of his two sons, whom he had left in the government of western -Africa, and who had fallen victims to the jealous suspicions of the -Caliph. His advanced age was not proof against these repeated blows, -and this utter ruin of his late prosperous family, and he sank into -his grave sorrowing and broken-hearted. - -Such was the lamentable end of the conqueror of Spain; whose great -achievements were not sufficient to atone, in the eye of his -sovereign, for a weakness to which all men ambitious of renown are -subject; and whose triumphs eventually brought persecution upon -himself and untimely death upon his children. - -Here ends the legend of the Subjugation of Spain. - - - - -[Illustration] - -LEGEND - -OF - -COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -LEGEND - -OF - -COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY. - - -In the preceding legends is darkly shadowed out a true story of the -woes of Spain. It is a story full of wholesome admonition, rebuking -the insolence of human pride and the vanity of human ambition, and -showing the futility of all greatness that is not strongly based on -virtue. We have seen, in brief space of time, most of the actors in -this historic drama disappearing, one by one, from the scene, and -going down, conqueror and conquered, to gloomy and unhonored graves. -It remains to close this eventful history by holding up, as a signal -warning, the fate of the traitor whose perfidious scheme of vengeance -brought ruin on his native land. - -Many and various are the accounts given in ancient chronicles of -the fortunes of Count Julian and his family, and many are the -traditions on the subject still extant among the populace of Spain, -and perpetuated in those countless ballads sung by peasants and -muleteers, which spread a singular charm over the whole of this -romantic land. - -He who has travelled in Spain in the true way in which the country -ought to be travelled,—sojourning in its remote provinces, rambling -among the rugged defiles and secluded valleys of its mountains, and -making himself familiar with the people in their out-of-the-way -hamlets and rarely-visited neighborhoods,—will remember many a group -of travellers and muleteers, gathered of an evening around the door -or the spacious hearth of a mountain venta, wrapped in their brown -cloaks, and listening with grave and profound attention to the long -historic ballad of some rustic troubadour, either recited with the -true _ore rotundo_ and modulated cadences of Spanish elocution, -or chanted to the tinkling of a guitar. In this way he may have -heard the doleful end of Count Julian and his family recounted in -traditionary rhymes, that have been handed down from generation to -generation. The particulars, however, of the following wild legend -are chiefly gathered from the writings of the pseudo Moor Rasis; -how far they may be safely taken as historic facts it is impossible -now to ascertain; we must content ourselves, therefore, with their -answering to the exactions of poetic justice. - -As yet everything had prospered with Count Julian. He had gratified -his vengeance; he had been successful in his treason, and had -acquired countless riches from the ruin of his country. But it -is not outward success that constitutes prosperity. The tree -flourishes with fruit and foliage while blasted and withering at the -heart. Wherever he went, Count Julian read hatred in every eye. The -Christians cursed him as the cause of all their woe; the Moslems -despised and distrusted him as a traitor. Men whispered together as -he approached, and then turned away in scorn; and mothers snatched -away their children with horror if he offered to caress them. He -withered under the execration of his fellow-men, and last, and worst -of all, he began to loathe himself. He tried in vain to persuade -himself that he had but taken a justifiable vengeance; he felt that -no personal wrong can justify the crime of treason to one’s country. - -For a time he sought in luxurious indulgence to soothe or forget -the miseries of the mind. He assembled round him every pleasure -and gratification that boundless wealth could purchase, but all in -vain. He had no relish for the dainties of his board; music had no -charm wherewith to lull his soul, and remorse drove slumber from -his pillow. He sent to Ceuta for his wife Frandina, his daughter -Florinda, and his youthful son Alarbot; hoping in the bosom of his -family to find that sympathy and kindness which he could no longer -meet with in this world. Their presence, however, brought him no -alleviation. Florinda, the daughter of his heart, for whose sake -he had undertaken this signal vengeance, was sinking a victim to -its effects. Wherever she went, she found herself a byword of shame -and reproach. The outrage she had suffered was imputed to her -as wantonness, and her calamity was magnified into a crime. The -Christians never mentioned her name without a curse, and the Moslems, -the gainers by her misfortune, spake of her only by the appellation -of Cava, the vilest epithet they could apply to woman. - -But the opprobrium of the world was nothing to the upbraiding of -her own heart. She charged herself with all the miseries of these -disastrous wars—the deaths of so many gallant cavaliers, the conquest -and perdition of her country. The anguish of her mind preyed upon -the beauty of her person. Her eye, once soft and tender in its -expression, became wild and haggard; her cheek lost its bloom, and -became hollow and pallid, and at times there was desperation in -her words. When her father sought to embrace her she withdrew with -shuddering from his arms, for she thought of his treason and the -ruin it had brought upon Spain. Her wretchedness increased after her -return to her native country, until it rose to a degree of frenzy. -One day when she was walking with her parents in the garden of their -palace, she entered a tower, and, having barred the door, ascended to -the battlements. From thence she called to them in piercing accents, -expressive of her insupportable anguish and desperate determination. -“Let this city,” said she, “be henceforth called Malacca, in memorial -of the most wretched of women, who therein put an end to her days.” -So saying, she threw herself headlong from the tower, and was dashed -to pieces. The city, adds the ancient chronicler, received the name -thus given it, though afterwards softened to Malaga, which it still -retains in memory of the tragical end of Florinda. - -The Countess Frandina abandoned this scene of woe, and returned to -Ceuta, accompanied by her infant son. She took with her the remains -of her unfortunate daughter, and gave them honorable sepulture in -a mausoleum of the chapel belonging to the citadel. Count Julian -departed for Carthagena, where he remained plunged in horror at this -doleful event. - -About this time, the cruel Suleiman, having destroyed the family of -Muza, had sent an Arab general, named Alahor, to succeed Abdalasis -as emir or governor of Spain. The new emir was of a cruel and -suspicious nature, and commenced his sway with a stern severity that -soon made those under his command look back with regret to the easy -rule of Abdalasis. He regarded with an eye of distrust the renegado -Christians who had aided in the conquest, and who bore arms in the -service of the Moslems; but his deepest suspicions fell upon Count -Julian. “He has been a traitor to his own countrymen,” said he; “how -can we be sure that he will not prove traitor to us?” - -A sudden insurrection of the Christians who had taken refuge in -the Asturian Mountains, quickened his suspicions, and inspired him -with fears of some dangerous conspiracy against his power. In the -height of his anxiety, he bethought him of an Arabian sage named -Yuza, who had accompanied him from Africa. This son of science was -withered in form, and looked as if he had outlived the usual term -of mortal life. In the course of his studies and travels in the -East, he had collected the knowledge and experience of ages; being -skilled in astrology, and, it is said, in necromancy, and possessing -the marvelous gift of prophecy or divination. To this expounder of -mysteries Alahor applied to learn whether any secret treason menaced -his safety. - -The astrologer listened with deep attention and overwhelming brow to -all the surmises and suspicion of the emir, then shut himself up to -consult his books and commune with those supernatural intelligences -subservient to his wisdom. At an appointed hour the emir sought him -in his cell. It was filled with the smoke of perfumes; squares and -circles and various diagrams were described upon the floor, and -the astrologer was poring over a scroll of parchment, covered with -cabalistic characters. He received Alahor with a gloomy and sinister -aspect; pretending to have discovered fearful portents in the -heavens, and to have had strange dreams and mystic visions. - -“O emir,” said he, “be on your guard! treason is around you and in -your path; your life is in peril. Beware of Count Julian and his -family.” - -“Enough,” said the emir. “They shall all die! Parents and -children—all shall die!” - -He forthwith sent a summons to Count Julian to attend him in Cordova. -The messenger found him plunged in affliction for the recent death -of his daughter. The count excused himself, on account of this -misfortune, from obeying the commands of the emir in person, but -sent several of his adherents. His hesitation, and the circumstance -of his having sent his family across the straits to Africa, were -construed by the jealous mind of the emir into proofs of guilt. He no -longer doubted his being concerned in the recent insurrections, and -that he had sent his family away preparatory to an attempt by force -of arms, to subvert the Moslem domination. In his fury he put to -death Siseburto and Evan, the nephews of Bishop Oppas and sons of the -former king, Witiza, suspecting them of taking part in the treason. -Thus did they expiate their treachery to their country in the fatal -battle of the Guadalete. - -Alahor next hastened to Carthagena to seize upon Count Julian. So -rapid were his movements that the count had barely time to escape -with fifteen cavaliers, with whom he took refuge in the strong castle -of Marcuello, among the mountains of Aragon. The emir, enraged to -be disappointed of his prey, embarked at Carthagena and crossed the -straits to Ceuta, to make captives of the Countess Frandina and her -son. - -The old chronicle from which we take this part of our legend, -presents a gloomy picture of the countess in the stern fortress to -which she had fled for refuge—a picture heightened by supernatural -horrors. These latter the sagacious reader will admit or object -according to the measure of his faith and judgment; always -remembering that in dark and eventful times, like those in question, -involving the destinies of nations, the downfall of kingdoms, and -the crimes of rulers and mighty men, the hand of fate is sometimes -strangely visible, and confounds the wisdom of the worldly wise by -intimations and portents above the ordinary course of things. With -this proviso, we make no scruple to follow the venerable chronicler -in his narration. - -Now so it happened that the Countess Frandina was seated late at -night in her chamber, in the citadel of Ceuta, which stands on a -lofty rock, overlooking the sea. She was revolving in gloomy thought -the late disasters of her family, when she heard a mournful noise -like that of the sea-breeze moaning about the castle walls. Raising -her eyes, she beheld her brother, the Bishop Oppas, at the entrance -of the chamber. She advanced to embrace him, but he forbade her with -a motion of his hand, and she observed that he was ghastly pale, and -that his eyes glared as with lambent flames. - -“Touch me not, sister,” said he, with a mournful voice, “lest thou -be consumed by the fire which rages within me. Guard well thy son, -for bloodhounds are upon his track. His innocence might have secured -him the protection of Heaven, but our crimes have involved him in -our common ruin.” He ceased to speak, and was no longer to be seen. -His coming and going were alike without noise, and the door of the -chamber remained fast bolted. - -On the following morning a messenger arrived with tidings that the -Bishop Oppas had been made prisoner in battle by the insurgent -Christians of the Asturias, and had died in fetters in a tower of the -mountains. The same messenger brought word that the Emir Alahor had -put to death several of the friends of Count Julian; had obliged him -to fly for his life to a castle in Aragon, and was embarking with a -formidable force for Ceuta. - -The Countess Frandina, as has already been shown, was of courageous -heart, and danger made her desperate. There were fifty Moorish -soldiers in the garrison; she feared that they would prove -treacherous, and take part with their countrymen. Summoning her -officers, therefore, she informed them of their danger, and commanded -them to put those Moors to death. The guards sallied forth to obey -her orders. Thirty-five of the Moors were in the great square, -unsuspicious of any danger, when they were severally singled out by -their executioners, and, at a concerted signal, killed on the spot. -The remaining fifteen took refuge in a tower. They saw the armada -of the emir at a distance, and hoped to be able to hold out until -its arrival. The soldiers of the countess saw it also, and made -extraordinary efforts to destroy these internal enemies before they -should be attacked from without. They made repeated attempts to storm -the tower, but were as often repulsed with severe loss. They then -undermined it, supporting its foundations by stanchions of wood. -To these they set fire, and withdrew to a distance, keeping up a -constant shower of missiles to prevent the Moors from sallying forth -to extinguish the flames. The stanchions were rapidly consumed, and -when they gave way the tower fell to the ground. Some of the Moors -were crushed among the ruins; others were flung to a distance and -dashed among the rocks; those who survived were instantly put to the -sword. - -The fleet of the emir arrived at Ceuta about the hour of vespers. -He landed, but found the gates closed against him. The countess -herself spoke to him from a tower, and set him at defiance. The emir -immediately lay siege to the city. He consulted the astrologer Yuza, -who told him that for seven days his star would have the ascendant -over that of the youth Alarbot, but after that time the youth would -be safe from his power, and would effect his ruin. - -Alahor immediately ordered the city to be assailed on every side, -and at length carried it by storm. The countess took refuge with her -forces in the citadel, and made desperate defense; but the walls -were sapped and mined, and she saw that all resistance would soon -be unavailing. Her only thoughts now were to conceal her child. -“Surely,” said she, “they will not think of seeking him among the -dead.” She led him, therefore, into the dark and dismal chapel. “Thou -art not afraid to be alone in this darkness, my child?” said she. - -“No, mother,” replied the boy; “darkness gives silence and sleep.” -She conducted him to the tomb of Florinda. “Fearest thou the dead, my -child?” “No, mother; the dead can do no harm, and what should I fear -from my sister?” - -The countess opened the sepulchre. “Listen, my son,” said she. “There -are fierce and cruel people who have come hither to murder thee. -Stay here in company with thy sister, and be quiet as thou dost value -thy life!” The boy, who was of a courageous nature, did as he was -bidden, and remained there all that day, and all the night, and the -next day until the third hour. - -In the mean time the walls of the citadel were sapped, the troops of -the emir poured in at the breach, and a great part of the garrison -was put to the sword. The countess was taken prisoner, and brought -before the emir. She appeared in his presence with a haughty -demeanor, as if she had been a queen receiving homage; but when he -demanded her son, she faltered and turned pale, and replied, “My son -is with the dead.” - -“Countess,” said the emir, “I am not to be deceived; tell me where -you have concealed the boy, or tortures shall wring from you the -secret.” - -“Emir,” replied the countess, “may the greatest torments be my -portion, both here and hereafter, if what I speak be not the truth. -My darling child lies buried with the dead.” - -The emir was confounded by the solemnity of her words; but the -withered astrologer Yuza, who stood by his side regarding the -countess from beneath his bushed eyebrows, perceived trouble in her -countenance and equivocation in her words. “Leave this matter to me,” -whispered he to Alahor; “I will produce the child.” - -He ordered strict search to be made by the soldiery, and he obliged -the countess to be always present. When they came to the chapel, her -cheek turned pale and her lip quivered. “This,” said the subtile -astrologer, “is the place of concealment!” - -The search throughout the chapel, however, was equally vain, and the -soldiers were about to depart, when Yuza remarked a slight gleam of -joy in the eye of the countess. “We are leaving our prey behind,” -thought he; “the countess is exulting.” - -He now called to mind the words of her asseveration, that her child -was with the dead. Turning suddenly to the soldiers, he ordered them -to search the sepulchres. “If you find him not,” said he, “drag forth -the bones of that wanton Cava, that they may be burned, and the ashes -scattered to the winds.” - -The soldiers searched among the tombs, and found that of Florinda -partly open. Within lay the boy in the sound sleep of childhood, and -one of the soldiers took him gently in his arms to bear him to the -emir. - -When the countess beheld that her child was discovered, she rushed -into the presence of Alahor, and, forgetting all her pride, threw -herself upon her knees before him. - -“Mercy! mercy!” cried she in piercing accents, “mercy on my son—my -only child! O emir! listen to a mother’s prayer and my lips shall -kiss thy feet. As thou art merciful to him so may the most high God -have mercy upon thee, and heap blessings on thy head.” - -“Bear that frantic woman hence,” said the emir, “but guard her well.” - -The countess was dragged away by the soldiery, without regard to her -struggles and her cries, and confined in a dungeon of the citadel. - -The child was now brought to the emir. He had been awakened by -the tumult, but gazed fearlessly on the stern countenances of the -soldiers. Had the heart of the emir been capable of pity, it would -have been touched by the tender youth and innocent beauty of the -child; but his heart was as the nether millstone, and he was bent -upon the destruction of the whole family of Julian. Calling to him -the astrologer, he gave the child into his charge with a secret -command. The withered son of the desert took the boy by the hand and -led him up the winding staircase of a tower. When they reached the -summit, Yuza placed him on the battlements. - -“Cling not to me, my child,” said he; “there is no danger.” “Father, -I fear not,” said the undaunted boy; “yet it is a wondrous height!” - -The child looked around with delighted eyes. The breeze blew his -curling locks from about his face, and his cheek glowed at the -boundless prospect; for the tower was reared upon that lofty -promontory on which Hercules founded one of his pillars. The surges -of the sea were heard far below, beating upon the rocks, the sea-gull -screamed and wheeled about the foundations of the tower, and the -sails of lofty caraccas were as mere specks on the bosom of the deep. - -“Dost thou know yonder land beyond the blue water?” said Yuza. - -“It is Spain,” replied the boy; “it is the land of my father and my -mother.” - -“Then stretch forth thy hands and bless it, my child,” said the -astrologer. - -The boy let go his hold of the wall; and, as he stretched forth his -hands, the aged son of Ishmael, exerting all the strength of his -withered limbs, suddenly pushed him over the battlements. He fell -headlong from the top of that tall tower, and not a bone in his -tender frame but was crushed upon the rocks beneath. - -Alahor came to the foot of the winding stairs. - -“Is the boy safe?” cried he. - -“He is safe,” replied Yuza; “come and behold the truth with thine own -eyes.” - -The emir ascended the tower and looked over the battlements, and -beheld the body of the child, a shapeless mass on the rocks far -below, and the sea-gulls hovering about it; and he gave orders that -it should be thrown into the sea, which was done. - -On the following morning the countess was led forth from her dungeon -into the public square. She knew of the death of her child, and that -her own death was at hand, but she neither wept nor supplicated. Her -hair was disheveled, her eyes were haggard with watching, and her -cheek was as the monumental stone; but there were the remains of -commanding beauty in her countenance and the majesty of her presence -awed even the rabble into respect. - -A multitude of Christian prisoners were then brought forth, and -Alahor cried out: “Behold the wife of Count Julian! behold one of -that traitorous family which has brought ruin upon yourselves and -upon your country!” And he ordered that they should stone her to -death. But the Christians drew back with horror from the deed, and -said, “In the hand of God is vengeance; let not her blood be upon -our heads.” Upon this the emir swore with horrid imprecations that -whoever of the captives refused should himself be stoned to death. So -the cruel order was executed, and the Countess Frandina perished by -the hands of her countrymen. Having thus accomplished his barbarous -errand, the emir embarked for Spain, and ordered the citadel of Ceuta -to be set on fire, and crossed the straits at night by the light of -its towering flames. - -The death of Count Julian, which took place not long after, closed -the tragic story of his family. How he died remains involved in -doubt. Some assert that the cruel Alahor pursued him to his retreat -among the mountains, and, having taken him prisoner, beheaded him; -others that the Moors confined him in a dungeon, and put an end to -his life with lingering torments; while others affirm that the tower -of the castle of Marcuello, near Huesca, in Aragon, in which he -took refuge, fell on him and crushed him to pieces. All agree that -his latter end was miserable in the extreme and his death violent. -The curse of Heaven, which had thus pursued him to the grave, was -extended to the very place which had given him shelter; for we are -told that the castle is no longer inhabited on account of the strange -and horrible noises that are heard in it; and that visions of armed -men are seen above it in the air; which are supposed to be the -troubled spirits of the apostate Christians who favored the cause of -the traitor. - -In after times a stone sepulchre was shown, outside of the chapel -of the castle, as the tomb of Count Julian; but the traveller and -the pilgrim avoided it, or bestowed upon it a malediction; and the -name of Julian has remained a byword and a scorn in the land for the -warning of all generations. Such ever be the lot of him who betrays -his country. - -Here end the legends of the Conquest of Spain. - - WRITTEN IN THE ALHAMBRA, _June 10, 1829_. - - -NOTE TO THE PRECEDING LEGEND. - -El licenciado Ardevines (lib. 2, c. 8) dize que dichos Duendos -caseros, o los del aire, hazen aparacer exercitos y peleas, como lo -que se cuenta por tradicion (y aun algunos personas lo deponen como -testigos de vista) de la torre y castello de Marcuello, lugar al -pie de las montañas de Aragon (aora inhabitable, por las grandes y -espantables ruidos, que en el se oyen) donde se retraxo el Conde Don -Julian, causa de la perdicion de España; sobre el qual castillo, deze -se ven en el aire ciertas visiones, como de soldados, que el vulgo -dize son los cavalleros y gente que le favorecian. - -Vide “El Ente Dislucidado,” por Fray Antonio de Fuentalapeña, -Capuchin. Seccion 3, Subseccion 5, Instancia 8, Num. 644. - -As readers unversed in the Spanish language may wish to know the -testimony of the worthy and discreet Capuchin friar, Antonio de -Fuentalapeña, we subjoin a translation of it:— - -“The licentiate Ardevines (book ii., chap. 8) says that the said -house fairies (or familiar spirits), or those of the air, cause the -apparitions of armies and battles,—such as those which are related -in tradition (and some persons even depose to the truth of them as -eye-witnesses), of the town and castle of Marcuello, a fortress at -the foot of the mountains of Aragon (at present uninhabitable, on -account of the great and frightful noises heard in it), the place of -retreat of Count Don Julian, the cause of the perdition of Spain. It -is said that certain apparitions of soldiers are seen in the air, -which the vulgar say are those of the courtiers and people who aided -him.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE LEGEND OF PELAYO. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[THE “Legend of Pelayo,” a fragment of which was printed in “The -Spirit of the Fair,” in 1864, and another, entitled “Pelayo and the -Merchant’s Daughter,” in “The Knickerbocker,” in 1840, is now first -published entire.—ED.] - - - - -[Illustration] - -THE LEGEND OF PELAYO. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -Obscurity of the Ancient Chronicles.—The Loves of Doña Lucia and the -Duke Favila.—Birth of Pelayo, and what happened thereupon; His Early -Fortunes, and His Tutelage under the veteran Count Grafeses. - - -It is the common lamentation of Spanish historians that, in the -obscure and melancholy space of time which succeeded the perdition -of their country, its history is a mere wilderness of dubious facts, -wild exaggerations, and evident fables. Many learned men in cells -and cloisters have passed their lives in the weary and fruitless -task of attempting to correct incongruous events and reconcile -absolute contradictions. The worthy Jesuit Pedro Abarca confesses -that for more than forty years, during which he had been employed -in theological controversies, he had never found any questions so -obscure and inexplicable as those rising out of this portion of -Spanish history; and that the only fruit of an indefatigable, prolix, -and even prodigious study of the subject, was a melancholy and -mortifying indecision.[56] - - [56] Abarca, _Anales de Aragon_. Ante regno, § 2. - -Let us console ourselves, therefore, in our attempts to thread this -mazy labyrinth with the reflection that, if we occasionally err and -become bewildered, we do but share the errors and perplexities of our -graver and more laborious predecessors; and that, if we occasionally -stray into the flowery by-ways of fanciful tradition, we are as -likely to arrive at the truth as those who travel by more dry and -dusty but not more authenticated paths. - -We premise these suggestions before proceeding to cull, from the -midst of the fables and extravagances of ancient chronicles, a few -particulars of the story of Pelayo, the deliverer of Spain; whose -name, like that of William Wallace, the hero of Scotland, will ever -be linked with the glory of his country; but linked, like his, by a -band in which fact and fiction are indissolubly mingled. - -In the ensuing pages it is our intention to give little more than -an abstract of an old chronicle teeming with extravagances, yet -containing facts of admitted credibility, and presenting pictures of -Spanish life, partly sylvan, partly chivalrous, which have all the -quaint merit of the curious delineations in old tapestry. - -The origin of Pelayo is wrapped in great obscurity, though all -writers concur in making him of royal Gothic lineage. The chronicle -in question makes Pelayo the offspring of a love affair in the court -of Ezica, one of the last of the Gothic kings, who held his seat of -government at Toledo. Among the noble damsels brought up in the -royal household was the beautiful Lucia, niece and maid of honor to -the queen. A mutual passion subsisted between her and Favila, the -youthful Duke of Cantabria, one of the most accomplished cavaliers of -the kingdom. The duke, however, had a powerful rival in the Prince -Witiza, son to the king, and afterwards known, for the profligacy -of his reign, by the name of Witiza the Wicked. The prince, to rid -himself of a favored rival, procured the banishment of Favila to -his estates in Cantabria; not, however, before he had been happy in -his loves in stolen interviews with the fair Lucia. The cautious -chronicler, however, lets us know that a kind of espousal took place, -by the lovers plighting their faith with solemn vows before an image -of the Virgin, and as the image gave no sign of dissent by way of -forbidding the bans, the worthy chronicler seems to consider them as -good as man and wife. - -After the departure of the duke, the prince renewed his suit with -stronger hope of success, but met with a repulse which converted his -love into implacable and vengeful hate. - -The beautiful Lucia continued in attendance on the queen, but soon -became sensible of the consequences of her secret and informal -nuptials so tacitly sanctioned by the Virgin. In the process of time, -with great secrecy, she gave birth to a male child, whom she named -Pelayo. For fifteen days the infant was concealed in her apartment, -and she trusted all was safe, when, to her great terror, she learned -that her secret had been betrayed to Prince Witiza, and that search -was to be made for the evidence of her weakness. - -The dread of public scorn and menace of a cruel death overcame even -the feelings of a mother. Through means of a trusty female of her -chamber she procured a little ark, so constructed as to be impervious -to water. She then arrayed her infant in costly garments, wrapping it -in a mantle of rich brocade, and when about to part with it, kissed -it many times, and laid it in her lap, and wept over it. At length -the child was borne away by the Dueña of her chamber and a faithful -handmaid. It was dark midnight when they conveyed it to the borders -of the Tagus, where it washes the rocky foundations of Toledo. -Covering it from the dew and night air, they committed the ark to the -eddying current, which soon swept it from the shore. As it glided -down the rapid stream, says the ancient chronicle, they could mark -its course even in the darkness of the night; for it was surrounded -by a halo of celestial light.[57] They knew not how to account for -this prodigy, says the same authentic writer, until they remembered -that the mother had blessed the child with the sign of the cross, -and had baptized it with her own hand. Others, however, explain this -marvel differently; for in this child, say they, was centred the -miraculous light which was afterwards to shine forth with comfort and -deliverance in the darkest hour of Spain. - - [57] El Moro Rasis, _La Destruycion de España_. Rojas, _Hist. - Toledo_, pt. 2, L. 4, cl. - -The chronicle quoted by Fray Antonio Agapida goes on to state -what befell the fair Lucia after the departure of the child. Her -apartments were searched at early dawn, but no proof appeared -to substantiate the charges made against her. The Prince Witiza -persisted in accusing her publicly of having brought disgrace upon -her line by her frailty. A cavalier of the court, suborned by him, -supported the accusation by an oath, and offered to maintain the -truth of it by his sword. A month was granted by the king for the -afflicted lady to find a champion, and a day appointed for the lists; -if none appeared, or if her champion were overcome, she was to be -considered guilty and put to death. The day arrived, the accusing -knight was on the ground in complete armor, proclamation was made, -but no one stepped forward to defend the lady. At length a trumpet -sounded; an unknown knight, with visor closed, entered the lists. -The combat was long and doubtful, for it would appear as if the Holy -Virgin was not perfectly satisfied with the nature of the espousals -which had taken place before her image. At length the accusing knight -was overcome and slain, to the great joy of the court and all the -spectators, and the beautiful Lucia was pronounced as immaculate as -the Virgin, her protectress. - -The unknown champion of course proved to be the Duke of Cantabria. -He obtained a pardon of the king for returning from banishment -without the royal permission; what is more, he obtained permission -formally to espouse the lady whose honor he had so gallantly -established. Their nuptials were solemnized in due form and with -great magnificence, after which he took his blooming bride to his -castle in Cantabria, to be out of reach of the persecutions of the -Prince Witiza. - -Having made this brief abstract of what occupies many a wordy page in -the ancient chronicle, we return to look after the fortunes of the -infant Pelayo, when launched upon the waves in the darkness of the -night. - -The ark containing this future hope of Spain, continues the old -chronicle, floated down the current of the Golden Tagus, where that -renowned river winds through the sylvan solitudes of Estremadura. All -night, and throughout the succeeding day and the following night, it -made its tranquil way: the stream ceased its wonted turbulence and -dimpled round it; the swallow circled round it with lively chirp and -sportive wing, the breezes whispered musically among the reeds, which -bowed their tall heads as it passed; such was the bland influence of -the protection of the Virgin. - -Now, so it happened that at this time there lived in a remote part of -Estremadura an ancient cavalier, a hale and hearty bachelor, named -the Count Grafeses. He had been a warrior in his youth, but now, -in a green and vigorous old age, had retired from camp and court -to a domain on the banks of the Tagus, inherited from his Gothic -ancestors. His great delight was in the chase, which he followed -successfully in the vast forests of Estremadura. Every morning heard -the woods resounding with the melody of hound and horn; and the heads -of stags, of wolves, and wild boars vied in his castle hall with the -helms and bucklers and lances, and the trophies of his youthful and -martial days. - -The jovial count was up at early dawn pursuing a boar in the thick -forest bordering the Tagus, when he beheld the little ark floating -down the stream. He ordered one of his huntsmen to strip and enter -the river and bring the ark to land. On opening it, he was surprised -to behold within an infant wrapped in costly robes, but pale and -wan, and apparently almost exhausted. Beside it was a purse of gold, -and on its bosom a cross of rubies and a parchment scroll, on which -was written, “Let this infant be honorably entertained; he is of -illustrious lineage; his name is Pelayo.” - -The good count shrewdly surmised the cause of this perilous exposure -of a helpless infant. He had a heart kind and indulgent toward the -weaker sex, as the heart of a genial old bachelor is prone to be; and -while he looked with infinite benevolence upon the beauteous child, -felt a glow of compassion for the unknown mother. Commanding his -huntsman to be silent as to what he had witnessed, he took the infant -in his arms and returned with it to his castle. - -Now, so it happened that the wife of his steward had, about a week -before, been delivered of a child which lived out a very few days, -leaving the mother in great affliction. The count gave her the -infant, and the money found with it, and told her the story of the -ark, with a strong injunction of secrecy, entreating her to take -charge of the child and rear it as her own. The good woman doubted -the story, and strongly suspected her master of having fallen into -an error in his old age; she received the infant, however, as a gift -from Heaven, sent to console her in her affliction, and pressed it -with tears to her bosom, for she thought of the child she had lost. - -Pelayo, therefore, was reared on the banks of the Tagus as the -offspring of the steward and his wife, and the adopted son of the -count. That veteran cavalier bore in mind, however, that his youthful -charge was of illustrious lineage, and took delight in accomplishing -him in all things befitting a perfect hidalgo. He placed him astride -of a horse almost as soon as he could walk; a lance and cross-bow -were his earliest playthings, and he was taught to hunt the small -game of the forest until strong enough to accompany the count in -his more rugged sports. Thus he was inured to all kinds of hardy -exercises, and rendered heedless of danger and fatigue. Nor was -the discipline of his mind neglected. Under the instructions of a -neighboring friar, he learned to read in a manner that surprised the -erudition of his foster-father; for he could con more correctly all -the orisons of the Virgin, and listened to mass, and attended all the -ceremonies of the Church, with a discretion truly exemplary. Some -ancient chroniclers have gone so far as to say that he even excelled -in clerkly craft; but this is most likely a fond exaggeration. - -Time glided by. King Ezica was gathered to his fathers, and his son -Witiza reigned in his stead. All the chivalry of the kingdom was -summoned to Toledo to give splendor to his coronation. The good old -count prepared, among the rest, to appear at a court from which he -had long been absent. His ancient serving-men were arrayed in the -antiquated garbs in which they had figured in his days of youthful -gallantry, and his household troops in the battered armor which had -seen hard service in the field, but which had long rusted in the -armory. He determined to take with him his adopted son Pelayo, now -seven years of age. A surcoat was made for him from the mantle of -rich brocade in which he had been found wrapped in the ark. A palfrey -was also caparisoned for him in warlike style. It was a rare sight, -says the old chronicler, to see the antiquated chivalry of the good -Count Grafeses parading across the bridge of the Tagus, or figuring -in the streets of Toledo, in contrast to the silken and shining -retinues of the more modern courtiers; but the veteran was hailed -with joy by many of the ancient nobles, his early companions in arms. -The populace, too, when they beheld the youthful Pelayo ambling by -his side on his gentle palfrey, were struck with the chivalrous -demeanor of the boy, and the perfect manner in which he managed his -steed. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER II. - -What happened to Pelayo at the Court of Witiza. - - -Among the nobles, continues the old chronicle, who appeared in Toledo -to do homage to the new king was Favila, Duke of Cantabria. He left -his wife in their castle among the mountains,—for the fair Lucia was -still in the meridian of her beauty, and he feared lest the sight of -her might revive the passion of Witiza. They had no other fruit of -their union but a little daughter of great beauty, called Lucinda, -and they still mourned in secret the loss of their first-born. The -duke was related to Count Grafeses; and when he first beheld Pelayo -his heart throbbed, he knew not why, and he followed him with his -eyes in all his youthful sports. The more he beheld him the more his -heart yearned toward him, and he entreated the count to grant him the -youth for a time as a page, to be reared by him in all the offices of -chivalry, as was the custom in the houses of warlike nobles in those -days. - -The count willingly complied with his request, knowing the great -prowess of the Duke of Cantabria, who was accounted a mirror of -knightly virtue. “For my own part,” said he, “I am at present but -little capable of instructing the boy; for many years have passed -since I gave up the exercise of arms, and little am I worth at -present excepting to blow the horn and follow the hound.” - -When the ceremonies of the coronation were over, therefore, the Duke -of Cantabria departed for his castle, accompanied by the young Pelayo -and the count, for the good old cavalier could not yet tear himself -from his adopted child. - -As they drew near the castle, the duchess came forth with a grand -retinue; for they were as petty sovereigns in their domains. The duke -presented Pelayo to her as her page, and the youth knelt to kiss her -hand, but she raised him and kissed him on the forehead; and as she -regarded him the tears stood in her eyes. - -“God bless thee, gentle page,” said she, “and preserve thee to the -days of manhood; for thou hast in thee the promise of an accomplished -cavalier; joyful must be the heart of the mother who can boast of -such a son!” - -On that day, when the dinner was served with becoming state, Pelayo -took his place among the other pages in attendance, who were all -children of nobles; but the duchess called him to her as her peculiar -page. He was arrayed in his surcoat of brocade, made from the mantle -in which he had been folded in the ark, and round his neck hung the -cross of rubies. - -As the duchess beheld these things, she turned pale and trembled. -“What is the name of thy son,” said she to Count Grafeses. “His -name,” replied the count, “is Pelayo.” “Tell me of a truth,” demanded -she, still more earnestly, “is this indeed thy son?” The count was -not prepared for so direct a question. “Of a truth,” said he, “he -is but the son of my adoption; yet is he of noble lineage.” The -duchess again addressed him with tenfold solemnity. “On thy honor as -a knight, do not trifle with me; who are the parents of this child?” -The count, moved by her agitation, briefly told the story of the ark. -When the duchess heard it she gave a great sigh and fell as one dead. -On reviving, she embraced Pelayo with mingled tears and kisses, and -proclaimed him as her long-lost son. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER III. - -How Pelayo lived among the Mountains of Cantabria.—His Adventure -with the Needy Hidalgo of Gascony and the Rich Merchant of -Bordeaux.—Discourse of the Holy Hermit. - - -The authentic Agapida passes over many pages of the ancient chronicle -narrating the early life of Pelayo, presenting nothing of striking -importance. His father, the Duke of Cantabria, was dead, and he was -carefully reared by his widowed mother at a castle in the Pyrenees, -out of the reach of the dangers and corruptions of the court. Here -that hardy and chivalrous education was continued which had been -commenced by his veteran foster-father on the banks of the Tagus. The -rugged mountains around abounded with the bear, the wild boar, and -the wolf, and in hunting these he prepared himself for the conflicts -of the field. - -The old chronicler records an instance of his early prowess in the -course of one of his hunting expeditions on the immediate borders of -France. The mountain passes and the adjacent lands were much infested -and vexed by marauders from Gascony. The Gascons, says the worthy -Agapida, were a people ready to lay their hands upon everything -they met. They used smooth words when necessary, but force when they -dared. Though poor, they were proud: there was not one who did not -plume himself upon being a hijo de algo, or son of somebody. Whenever -Pelayo, therefore, hunted on the borders infested by these, he was -attended by a page conducting his horse, with his buckler and lance, -to be at hand in case of need. - -At the head of a band of fourteen of these self-styled hidalgos of -Gascony was a broken-down cavalier by the name of Arnaud. He and -four of his comrades were well armed and mounted, the rest were mere -scamper-grounds on foot, armed with darts and javelins. This band was -the terror of the border; here to-day, gone to-morrow; sometimes in -one pass of the mountains, sometimes in another; sometimes they made -descents into Spain, harassing the roads and marauding the country, -and were over the mountains again and into France before a force -could be sent against them. - -It so happened that while Pelayo with a number of his huntsmen was -on the border, this Gascon cavalier and his crew were on the maraud. -They had heard of a rich merchant of Bordeaux who was to pass through -the mountains on his way to one of the ports of Biscay, with which -several of his vessels traded, and that he would carry with him much -money for the purchase of merchandise. They determined to ease him -of his money-bags; for, being hidalgos who lived by the sword, they -considered all peaceful men of trade as lawful spoil, sent by Heaven -for the supply of men of valor and gentle blood. - -As they waylaid a lonely defile they beheld the merchant approaching. -He was a fair and portly man, whose looks bespoke the good cheer of -his native city. He was mounted on a stately and well-fed steed; -beside him on palfreys paced his wife, a comely dame, and his -daughter, a damsel of marriageable age, and fair to look upon. A -young man, his nephew, who acted as his clerk, rode with them, and a -single domestic followed. - -When the travellers had advanced within the defile, the bandoleros -rushed from behind a rock and set upon them. The nephew fought -valiantly and was slain; the servant fled; the merchant, though -little used to the exercise of arms, and of unwieldy bulk, made -courageous defense, having his wife and daughter and his money-bags -at hazard. He was wounded in two places and overpowered. - -The freebooters were disappointed at not finding the booty they -expected, and putting their swords to the breast of the merchant, -demanded where was the money with which he was to traffic in Biscay. -The trembling merchant informed them that a trusty servant was -following him at no great distance with a stout hackney laden with -bags of money. Overjoyed at this intelligence, they bound their -captives to trees and awaited the arrival of the treasure. - -In the mean time Pelayo was on a hill near a narrow pass, awaiting -a wild boar which his huntsmen were to rouse. While thus posted the -merchant’s servant, who had escaped, came running in breathless -terror, but fell on his knees before Pelayo and craved his life in -the most piteous terms, supposing him another of the robbers. It -was some time before he could be persuaded of his mistake and made -to tell the story of the robbery. When Pelayo heard the tale, he -perceived that the robbers in question must be the Gascon hidalgos -upon the scamper. Taking his armor from the page, he put on his -helmet, slung his buckler round his neck, took lance in hand, and -mounting his horse, compelled the trembling servant to guide him to -the scene of the robbery. At the same time he dispatched his page to -summon as many of his huntsmen as possible to his assistance. - -When the robbers saw Pelayo advancing through the forest, the sun -sparkling upon his rich armor, and saw that he was attended but by a -single page, they considered him a new prize, and Arnaud and two of -his companions mounting their horses advanced to meet him. Pelayo put -himself in a narrow pass between two rocks, where he could only be -attacked in front, and, bracing his buckler and lowering his lance, -awaited their coming. - -“Who and what are ye,” cried he, “and what seek ye in this land?” - -“We are huntsmen,” cried Arnaud, “in quest of game; and lo! it runs -into our toils.” - -“By my faith,” said Pelayo, “thou wilt find the game easier roused -than taken; have at thee for a villain.” - -So saying, he put spurs to his horse and charged upon him. Arnaud -was totally unprepared for so sudden an assault, having scarce -anticipated a defense. He hastily couched his lance, but it merely -glanced on the shield of Pelayo, who sent his own through the middle -of his breast, and threw him out of his saddle to the earth. One of -the other robbers made at Pelayo and wounded him slightly in the -side, but received a blow on the head which cleft his skull-cap and -sank into his brain. His companion, seeing him fall, galloped off -through the forest. - -By this time three or four of the robbers on foot had come up, and -assailed Pelayo. He received two of their darts on his buckler, a -javelin razed his cuirass, and his horse received two wounds. Pelayo -then rushed upon them and struck one dead; the others, seeing several -huntsmen advancing, took to flight; two were overtaken and made -prisoners, the rest escaped by clambering among rocks and precipices. - -The good merchant of Bordeaux and his family beheld this scene with -trembling and amazement. They almost looked upon Pelayo as something -more than mortal, for they had never witnessed such feats of arms. -Still they considered him as a leader of some rival band of robbers, -and when he came up and had the bands loosened by which they were -fastened to the trees, they fell at his feet and implored for mercy. -It was with difficulty he could pacify their fears; the females were -soonest reassured, especially the daughter, for the young maid was -struck with the gentle demeanor and noble countenance of Pelayo, and -said to herself, Surely nothing wicked can dwell in so heavenly a -form. - -Pelayo now ordered that the wounds of the merchant should be dressed, -and his own examined. When his cuirass was taken off, his wound was -found to be but slight; but his men were so exasperated at seeing -his blood, that they would have put the two captive Gascons to death -had he not forbade them. He now sounded his hunting horn, which -echoed from rock to rock, and was answered by shouts and horns from -various parts of the mountains. The merchant’s heart misgave him; he -again thought he was among robbers; nor were his fears allayed when -he beheld in a little while more than forty men assembling together -from various parts of the forest, clad in hunting-dresses, with -boar-spears, darts, and hunting-swords, and each leading a hound by -a long cord. All this was a new and a wild world to the astonished -merchant, nor was his uneasiness abated when he beheld his servant -arrive leading the hackney laden with money. Certainly, said he to -himself, this will be too tempting a spoil for these wild men of the -mountains. - -The huntsmen brought with them a boar, which they had killed, and -being hungry from the chase, they lighted a fire at the foot of a -tree, and each cutting such portion of the boar as he liked best, -roasted it at the fire, and ate it with bread taken from his wallet. -The merchant, his wife, and daughter looked at all this and wondered, -for they had never beheld so savage a repast. Pelayo then inquired of -them if they did not desire to eat. They were too much in awe of him -to decline, though they felt a loathing at the idea of this hunter’s -fare. Linen cloths were therefore spread under the shade of a great -oak, to screen them from the sun; and when they had seated themselves -round it, they were served, to their astonishment, not with the -flesh of the boar, but with dainty viands, such as the merchant -had scarcely hoped to find out of the walls of his native city of -Bordeaux. - -While they were eating, the young damsel, the daughter of the -merchant, could not keep her eyes from Pelayo. Gratitude for his -protection, admiration of his valor, had filled her heart; and when -she regarded his noble countenance, now that he had laid aside his -helmet, she thought she beheld something divine. The heart of the -tender Donzella, says the old historian, was kind and yielding; and -had Pelayo thought fit to ask the greatest boon that love and beauty -could bestow,—doubtless meaning her own fair hand,—she would not have -had the cruelty to say him nay. Pelayo, however, had no such thought. -The love of woman had never yet entered in his heart: and though he -regarded the damsel as the fairest maiden he had ever beheld, her -beauty caused no perturbation in his breast. - -When the repast was over, Pelayo offered to conduct the merchant -and his family through the passes of the mountains, which were yet -dangerous from the scattered band of Gascons. The bodies of the slain -marauders were buried, and the corpse of the nephew of the merchant -was laid upon one of the horses captured in the battle. They then -formed their cavalcade and pursued their way slowly up one of the -steep and winding defiles of the Pyrenees. - -Towards sunset they arrived at the dwelling of a holy hermit. It was -hewn out of the solid rock, a cross was over the door, and before it -was a spreading oak, with a sweet spring of water at its foot. Here -the body of the merchant’s nephew was buried, close by the wall of -this sacred retreat, and the hermit performed a mass for the repose -of his soul. Pelayo then obtained leave from the holy father that -the merchant’s wife and daughter should pass the night within his -cell; and the hermit made beds of moss for them and gave them his -benediction; but the damsel found little rest, so much were her -thoughts occupied by the youthful cavalier who had delivered her from -death or dishonor. - -When all were buried in repose, the hermit came to Pelayo, who was -sleeping by the spring under the tree, and he awoke him and said, -“Arise my son, and listen to my words.” Pelayo arose and seated -himself on a rock, and the holy man stood before him, and the beams -of the moon fell on his silver hair and beard, and he said: “This is -no time to be sleeping; for know that thou art chosen for a great -work. Behold the ruin of Spain is at hand, destruction shall come -over it like a cloud, and there shall be no safeguard. For it is the -will of Heaven that evil shall for a time have sway, and whoever -withstands it shall be destroyed. But tarry thou not to see these -things, for thou canst not relieve them. Depart on a pilgrimage, and -visit the sepulchre of our blessed Lord in Palestine, and purify -thyself by prayer, and enrol thyself in the order of chivalry, and -prepare for the work of the redemption of thy country. When thou -shalt return, thou wilt find thyself a stranger in the land. Thy -residence will be in wild dens and caves of the earth, which thy -young foot has never trodden. Thou wilt find thy countrymen harboring -with the beasts of the forest and the eagles of the mountains. The -land which thou leavest smiling with cornfields, and covered with -vines and olives, thou wilt find overrun with weeds and thorns and -brambles; and wolves will roam where there have been peaceful flocks -and herds. But thou wilt weed out the tares, and destroy the wolves, -and raise again the head of thy suffering country.” - -Much further discourse had Pelayo with this holy man, who revealed to -him many of the fearful events that were to happen, and counseled him -the way in which he was to act. - -When the morning sun shone upon the mountains, the party assembled -round the door of the hermitage, and made a repast by the fountain -under the tree. Then, having received the benediction of the hermit, -they departed, and travelled through the forests and defiles of the -mountain, in the freshness of the day; and when the merchant beheld -his wife and daughter thus secure by his side, and the hackney laden -with his treasure following close behind him, his heart was light in -his bosom, and he carolled as he went. But Pelayo rode in silence, -for his mind was deeply moved by the revelations and the counsel of -the hermit; and the daughter of the merchant ever and anon regarded -him with eyes of tenderness and admiration, and deep sighs spoke the -agitation of her bosom. - -At length they came to where the forests and the rocks terminated, -and a secure road lay before them; and here Pelayo paused to take his -leave, appointing a number of his followers to attend and guard them -to the nearest town. - -When they came to part, the merchant and his wife were loud in their -thanks and benedictions; but for some time the daughter spake never -a word. At length she raised her eyes, which were filled with tears, -and looked wistfully at Pelayo, and her bosom throbbed, and after -a struggle between strong affection and virgin modesty her heart -relieved itself by words. - -“Señor,” said she, “I know that I am humble and unworthy of the -notice of so noble a cavalier, but suffer me to place this ring on -a finger of your right hand, with which you have so bravely rescued -us from death; and when you regard it, you shall consider it as a -memorial of your own valor, and not of one who is too humble to be -remembered by you.” With these words she drew a ring from off her -finger and put it upon the finger of Pelayo; and having done this, -she blushed and trembled at her own boldness, and stood as one -abashed, with her eyes cast down upon the earth. - -Pelayo was moved at her words, and at the touch of her fair hand, and -at her beauty as she stood thus troubled and in tears before him; -but as yet he knew nothing of woman, and his heart was free from the -snares of love. “Amiga” (friend), said he, “I accept thy present, and -will wear it in remembrance of thy goodness.” The damsel was cheered -by these words, for she hoped she had awakened some tenderness in his -bosom; but it was no such thing, says the ancient chronicler, for his -heart was ignorant of love, and was devoted to higher and more sacred -matters; yet certain it is, that he always guarded well that ring. - -They parted, and Pelayo and his huntsmen remained for some time on -a cliff on the verge of the forest, watching that no evil befell -them about the skirts of the mountain; and the damsel often turned -her head to look at him, until she could no longer see him for the -distance and the tears that dimmed her eyes. - -And, for that he had accepted her ring, she considered herself -wedded to him in her heart, and never married; nor could be brought -to look with eyes of affection upon any other man, but for the true -love which she bore Pelayo she lived and died a virgin. And she -composed a book, continues the old chronicler, which treated of love -and chivalry, and the temptations of this mortal life,—and one part -discoursed of celestial things,—and it was called the “Contemplations -of Love;” because at the time she wrote it she thought of Pelayo, -and of his having received her jewel, and called her by the gentle -name of “Amiga;” and often thinking of him, and of her never having -beheld him more, in tender sadness she would take the book which she -had written, and would read it for him, and, while she repeated the -words of love which it contained, she would fancy them uttered by -Pelayo, and that he stood before her.[58] - - [58] El Moro Rasis, _Destruycion de España_, pt. 2, c. 101. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IV. - -Pilgrimage of Pelayo, and what befell him on his Return to Spain. - - -Pelayo, according to the old chronicle before quoted, returned to his -home deeply impressed with the revelations made to him by the saintly -hermit, and prepared to set forth upon the pilgrimage to the Holy -Sepulchre. Some historians have alleged that he was quickened to this -pious expedition by fears of violence from the wicked King Witiza; -but at this time Witiza was in his grave, and Roderick swayed the -Gothic sceptre; the sage Agapida is therefore inclined to attribute -the pilgrimage to the mysterious revelation already mentioned. - -Having arranged the concerns of his household, chosen the best suit -of armor from his armory, and the best horse from his stable, and -supplied himself with jewels and store of gold for his expenses, he -took leave of his mother and his sister Lucinda, as if departing -upon a distant journey in Spain, and, attended only by his page, set -out upon his holy wayfaring. Descending from the rugged Pyrenees, he -journeyed through the fair plains of France to Marseilles, where, -laying by his armor, and leaving his horses in safe keeping, he -put on a pilgrim’s garb, with staff and scrip and cockle-shell, -and embarked on board of a galley bound for Sicily. From Messina -he voyaged in a small bark to Rhodes; thence in a galliot, with a -number of other pilgrims, to the Holy Land. Having passed a year of -pious devotion at the Holy Sepulchre, and visited all the places -rendered sacred by the footsteps of our Lord, and of his mother the -ever-blessed Virgin, and having received the order of knighthood, he -turned his steps toward his native land. - -The discreet Agapida here pauses and forbears to follow the ancient -chronicler further in his narration, for an interval of obscurity -now occurs in the fortunes of Pelayo. Some who have endeavored to -ascertain and connect the links of his romantic and eventful story, -have represented him as returning from his pilgrimage in time to -share in the last struggle of his country, and as signalizing himself -in the fatal battle on the banks of the Guadalete. Others declare -that by the time he arrived in Spain the perdition of the country was -complete; that infidel chieftains bore sway in the palaces of his -ancestors; that his paternal castle was a ruin, his mother in her -grave, and his sister Lucinda carried away into captivity. - -Stepping lightly over this disputed ground, the cautious Agapida -resumes the course of the story where Pelayo discovers the residence -of his sister in the city of Gijon, on the Atlantic coast, at the -foot of the Asturian Mountains. It was a formidable fortress, chosen -by Taric as a military post, to control the seaboard, and hold in -check the Christian patriots who had taken refuge in the neighboring -mountains. The commander of this redoubtable fortress was a renegado -chief, who has been variously named by historians, and who held -the sister of Pelayo a captive; though others affirm that she had -submitted to become his wife, to avoid a more degrading fate. -According to the old chronicle already cited, Pelayo succeeded by -artifice in extricating her from his hands, and bearing her away to -the mountains. They were hotly pursued, but Pelayo struck up a steep -and rugged defile, where scarcely two persons could pass abreast, and -partly by his knowledge of the defiles, partly by hurling down great -masses of rock to check his pursuers, effected the escape of his -sister and himself to a secure part of the mountains. Here they found -themselves in a small green meadow, blocked up by a perpendicular -precipice, whence fell a stream of water with great noise into a -natural basin or pool, the source of the river Deva. Here was the -hermitage of one of those holy men who had accompanied the Archbishop -Urbano in his flight from Toledo, and had established a sanctuary -among these mountains. He received the illustrious fugitives with -joy, especially when he knew their rank and story, and conducted them -to his retreat. A kind of ladder led up to an aperture in the face of -the rock, about two pike lengths from the ground. Within was a lofty -cavern capable of containing many people, with an inner cavern of -still greater magnitude. The outer cavern served as a chapel, having -an altar, a crucifix, and an image of the blessed Mary. - -This wild retreat had never been molested; not a Moslem turban had -been seen within the little valley. The cavern was well known to the -Gothic inhabitants of the mountains and the adjacent valleys. They -called it the cave of Santa Maria; but it is more commonly known to -fame by the name of Covadonga. It had many times been a secure place -of refuge to suffering Christians, being unknown to their foes, and -capable of being made a natural citadel. The entrance was so far -from the ground that, when the ladder was removed, a handful of men -could defend it from all assault. The small meadow in front afforded -pasturage and space for gardens; and the stream that fell from the -rock was from a never-failing spring. The valley was high in the -mountains; so high that the crow seldom winged its flight across it, -and the passes leading to it were so steep and dangerous that single -men might set whole armies at defiance. - -Such was one of the wild fastnesses of the Asturias, which formed -the forlorn hope of unhappy Spain. The anchorite, too, was one -of those religious men permitted by the conquerors, from their -apparently peaceful and inoffensive lives, to inhabit lonely chapels -and hermitages, but whose cells formed places of secret resort and -council for the patriots of Spain, and who kept up an intercourse and -understanding among the scattered remnants of the nation. The holy -man knew all the Christians of the Asturias, whether living in the -almost inaccessible caves and dens of the cliffs, or in the narrow -valleys imbedded among the mountains. He represented them to Pelayo -as brave and hardy, and ready for any desperate enterprise that might -promise deliverance; but they were disheartened by the continued -subjection of their country, and on the point, many of them, of -descending into the plains and submitting, like the rest of their -countrymen, to the yoke of the conquerors. - -When Pelayo considered all these things, he was persuaded the time -was come for effecting the great purpose of his soul. “Father,” said -he, “I will no longer play the fugitive, nor endure the disgrace of -my country and my line. Here in this wilderness will I rear once more -the royal standard of the Goths, and attempt, with the blessing of -God, to shake off the yoke of the invader.” - -The hermit hailed his words with transport, as prognostics of the -deliverance of Spain. Taking staff in hand, he repaired to the -nearest valley inhabited by Christian fugitives. “Hasten in every -direction,” said he, “and proclaim far and wide among the mountains -that Pelayo, a descendant of the Gothic kings, has unfurled his -banner at Covadonga as a rallying-point for his countrymen.” - -The glad tidings ran like wildfire throughout all the regions of the -Asturias. Old and young started up at the sound, and seized whatever -weapons were at hand. From mountain cleft and secret glen issued -forth stark and stalwart warriors, grim with hardship, and armed -with old Gothic weapons that had rusted in caves since the battle of -the Guadalete. Others turned their rustic implements into spears and -battle-axes, and hastened to join the standard of Pelayo. Every day -beheld numbers of patriot warriors arriving in the narrow valley, or -rather glen, of Covadonga, clad in all the various garbs of ancient -Spain,—for here were fugitives from every province, who had preferred -liberty among the sterile rocks of the mountains to ease and slavery -in the plains. In a little while Pelayo found himself at the head -of a formidable force, hardened by toil and suffering, fired with -old Spanish pride, and rendered desperate by despair. With these he -maintained a warlike sway among the mountains. Did any infidel troops -attempt to penetrate to their stronghold, the signal fires blazed -from height to height, the steep passes and defiles bristled with -armed men, and rocks were hurled upon the heads of the intruders. - -By degrees the forces of Pelayo increased so much in number, and -in courage of heart, that he sallied forth occasionally from the -mountains, swept the sea-coast, assailed the Moors in their towns -and villages, put many of them to the sword, and returned laden with -spoil to the mountains. - -His name now became the terror of the infidels, and the hope and -consolation of the Christians. The heart of old Gothic Spain was once -more lifted up, and hailed his standard as the harbinger of happier -days. Her scattered sons felt again as a people, and the spirit of -empire arose once more among them. Gathering together from all parts -of the Asturias in the Valley of Cangas, they resolved to elect their -champion their sovereign. Placing the feet of Pelayo upon a shield, -several of the starkest warriors raised him aloft, according to -ancient Gothic ceremonial, and presented him as king. The multitude -rent the air with their transports, and the mountain cliffs, which so -long had echoed nothing but lamentations, now resounded with shouts -of joy.[59] Thus terminated the interregnum of Christian Spain, which -had lasted since the overthrow of King Roderick and his host on the -banks of the Guadalete, and the new king continued with augmented -zeal his victorious expeditions against the infidels. - - [59] Morales, _Cronicon de España_, L. 13, c. 2. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER V. - -The Battle of Covadonga. - - -Tidings soon spread throughout Spain that the Christians of the -Asturias were in arms and had proclaimed a king among the mountains. -The veteran chief, Taric el Tuerto, was alarmed for the safety of -the seaboard, and dreaded lest this insurrection should extend into -the plains. He despatched, therefore, in all haste, a powerful force -from Cordova, under the command of Ibrahim Alcamar, one of his most -experienced captains, with orders to penetrate the mountains and -crush this dangerous rebellion. The perfidious Bishop Oppas, who had -promoted the perdition of Spain, was sent with this host, in the hope -that through his artful eloquence Pelayo might be induced to lay down -his arms and his newly assumed sceptre. - -The army made rapid marches, and in a few days arrived among the -narrow valleys of the Asturias. The Christians had received notice -of their approach, and fled to their fastnesses. The Moors found the -valleys silent and deserted; there were traces of men, but not a man -was to be seen. They passed through the most wild and dreary defiles, -among impending rocks,—here and there varied by small green strips -of mountain meadow,—and directed their march for the lofty valley, or -rather glen, of Covadonga, whither they learnt from their scouts that -Pelayo had retired. - -The newly elected king, when he heard of the approach of this mighty -force, sent his sister, and all the women and children, to a distant -and secret part of the mountain. He then chose a thousand of his best -armed and most powerful men, and placed them within the cave. The -lighter armed and less vigorous he ordered to climb to the summit of -the impending rocks, and conceal themselves among the thickets with -which they were crowned. This done, he entered the cavern and caused -the ladder leading to it to be drawn up. - -In a little while the bray of distant trumpets, and the din of -atabals resounded up the glen, and soon the whole gorge of the -mountain glistened with armed men; squadron after squadron of swarthy -Arabs spurred into the valley, which was soon whitened by their -tents. The veteran Ibrahim Alcamar, trusting that he had struck -dismay into the Christians by this powerful display, sent the crafty -Bishop Oppas to parley with Pelayo, and persuade him to surrender. - -The bishop advanced on his steed until within a short distance of -the cave, and Pelayo appeared at its entrance with lance in hand. -The silver-tongued prelate urged him to submit to the Moslem power, -assuring him that he would be rewarded with great honors and estates. -He represented the mildness of the conquerors to all who submitted to -their sway, and the hopelessness of resistance. “Remember,” said he, -“how mighty was the power of the Goths, who vanquished both Romans -and Barbarians, yet how completely was it broken down and annihilated -by these people. If the whole nation in arms could not stand before -them, what canst thou do with thy wretched cavern and thy handful -of mountaineers? Be counseled then, Pelayo; give up this desperate -attempt; accept the liberal terms offered thee; abandon these sterile -mountains, and return to the plains to live in wealth and honor under -the magnanimous rule of Taric.” - -Pelayo listened to the hoary traitor with mingled impatience and -disdain. “Perdition has come upon Spain,” replied he, “through the -degeneracy of her sons, the sins of her rulers,—like the wicked King -Witiza thy brother,—and the treachery of base men like thee. But when -punishment is at an end, mercy and forgiveness succeed. The Goths -have reached the lowest extreme of misery; it is for me to aid their -fortune in the turn, and soon I trust will it arise to its former -grandeur. As to thee, Don Oppas, thou shalt stand abhorred among men, -false to thy country, traitorous to thy king, a renegado Christian, -and an apostate priest.” - -So saying he turned his back upon the bishop and retired into his -cave. - -Oppas returned pale with shame and malice to Alcamar. “These people,” -said he, “are stiff-necked in their rebellion; their punishment -should be according to their obstinacy, and should serve as a terror -to evil doers; not one of them should be permitted to survive.” - -Upon this Alcamar ordered a grand assault upon the cavern; and the -slingers and the cross-bow men advanced in great force, and with a -din of atabals and trumpets that threatened to rend the very rocks. -They discharged showers of stones and arrows at the mouth of the -cavern, but their missiles rebounded from the face of the rock, and -many of them fell upon their own heads. This is recorded as a miracle -by pious chroniclers of yore, who affirm that the stones and arrows -absolutely turned in the air and killed those who had discharged them. - -When Alcamar and Oppas saw that the attack was ineffectual, they -brought up fresh forces and made preparations to scale the mouth of -the cavern. At this moment, says the old chronicle, a banner was put -in the hand of Pelayo, bearing a white cross on a blood-red field, -and inscribed on it in Chaldean characters was the name of Jesus. -And a voice spake unto him and said, “Arouse thy strength; go forth -in the name of Jesus Christ, and thou shalt conquer.” Who gave -the banner and uttered the words has never been known; the whole, -therefore, stands recorded as a miracle. - -Then Pelayo elevated the banner. “Behold,” said he, “a sign from -Heaven,—a sacred cross sent to lead us on to victory.” - -Upon this the people gave a great shout of joy; and when the Saracens -heard that shout within the entrails of the mountain their hearts -quaked, for it was like the roar of a volcano giving token of an -eruption. - -Before they could recover from their astonishment, the Christians -issued in a torrent from the cave, all fired with rage and holy -confidence. By their impetuous assault they bore back the first rank -of their adversaries and forced it upon those behind, and as there -was no space in that narrow valley to display a front of war, or for -many to fight at a time, the numbers of the foe but caused their -confusion. The horse trampled on the foot, and the late formidable -host became a mere struggling and distracted multitude. In the front -was carnage and confusion, in the rear terror and fright; wherever -the sacred standard was borne, the infidels appeared to fall before -it, as if smitten by some invisible hand rather than by the Christian -band. - -Early in the fight Pelayo encountered Ibrahim Alcamar. They fought -hand to hand on the border of the pool from which springs the river -Deva, and the Saracen was slain upon the margin of that pool, and his -blood mingled with its waters. - -When the Bishop Oppas beheld this he would have fled, but the valley -was closed up by the mass of combatants, and Pelayo overtook him and -defied him to the fight. But the bishop, though armed, was as craven -as he was false, and yielding up his weapons implored for mercy. So -Pelayo spared his life, but sent him bound to the cavern. - -The whole Moorish host now took to headlong flight. Some attempted to -clamber to the summit of the mountains, but they were assailed by -the troops stationed there by Pelayo, who showered down darts and -arrows and great masses of rock, making fearful havoc. - -The great body of the army fled by the road leading along the ledge -or shelf overhanging the deep ravine of the Deva; but as they -crowded in one dense multitude upon the projecting precipice, the -whole mass suddenly gave way, and horse and horseman, tree and rock, -were precipitated in one tremendous ruin into the raging river. -Thus perished a great part of the flying army. The venerable Bishop -Sebastiano, who records this event with becoming awe, as another -miracle wrought in favor of the Christians, assures us that, in his -time, many years afterwards, when during the winter season the Deva -would swell and rage and tear away its banks, spears and scimetars -and corselets, and the mingled bones of men and steeds, would be -uncovered, being the wrecks and relics of the Moslem host, thus -marvelously destroyed.[60] - - [60] Judicio Domini actum est, ut ipsius montis pars se a - fundamentis evolvens, sexaginta tria millia caldeorum stupenter - in fulmina projecit, atque eos omnes opressit. Ubi usque - nunc ipse fluvius dum tempore hyemali alveum suum implet, - ripasque dissoluit, signa armorum et ossa eorum evidentissime - ostendit.—_Sebastianus Salmanticensis Episc._ - -NOTE.—To satisfy all doubts with respect to the miraculous banner of -Pelayo, that precious relic is still preserved in the sacred chamber -of the church of Oviedo, richly ornamented with gold and precious -stones. It was removed to that place by order of Alonzo the Third, -from the church of Santa Cruz, near Cangas, which was erected by -Favila, the son and successor of Pelayo, in memory of this victory. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VI. - -Pelayo becomes King of Leon.—His Death. - - -When Pelayo beheld his enemies thus scattered and destroyed, he saw -that Heaven was on his side, and proceeded to follow up his victory. -Rearing the sacred banner, he descended through the valleys of -the Asturias, his army augmenting, like a mountain torrent, as it -rolled along; for the Christians saw in the victory of Covadonga a -miraculous interposition of Providence in behalf of ruined Spain, and -hastened from all parts to join the standard of the deliverer. - -Emboldened by numbers, and by the enthusiasm of his troops, Pelayo -directed his march towards the fortress of Gijon. The renegado -Magued, however, did not await his coming. His heart failed him -on hearing of the defeat and death of Alcamar, the destruction of -the Moslem army, and the augmenting force of the Christians; and, -abandoning his post, he marched towards Leon with the greatest -part of his troops. Pelayo received intelligence of his movements, -and advancing rapidly through the mountains, encountered him in -the Valley of Ollalas. A bloody battle ensued on the banks of the -river which flows through that valley. The sacred banner was again -victorious; Magued was slain by the hand of Pelayo, and so great was -the slaughter of his host, that for two days the river ran red with -the blood of the Saracens. - -From hence, Pelayo proceeded rapidly to Gijon, which he easily -carried by assault. The capture of this important fortress gave him -the command of the seaboard, and of the skirts of the mountains. -While reposing himself after his victories, the Bishop Oppas was -brought in chains before him, and the Christian troops called -loudly for the death of that traitor and apostate. But Pelayo -recollected that he had been a sacred dignitary of the Church, and -regarded him as a scourge in the hand of Heaven for the punishment -of Spain. He would not, therefore, suffer violent hands to be laid -upon him, but contented himself with placing him where he could no -longer work mischief. He accordingly ordered him to be confined in -one of the towers of Gijon, with nothing but bread and water for -his subsistence. There he remained a prey to the workings of his -conscience, which filled his prison with horrid spectres of those who -had perished through his crimes. He heard wailings and execrations in -the sea-breeze that howled round the tower, and in the roaring of the -waves that beat against its foundations; and in a little time he was -found dead in his dungeon, hideously distorted, as if he had died in -agony and terror.[61] - - [61] _La Destruycion de España_, part 3. - -The sacred banner that had been elevated at Covadonga never sank nor -receded, but continued to be the beacon of deliverance to Spain. -Pelayo went on from conquest to conquest, increasing and confirming -his royal power. Having captured the city of Leon, he made it the -capital of his kingdom, and took there the title of the King of Leon. -He moreover adopted the device of the city for his arms—a blood-red -lion rampant, in a silver field. This long continued to be the arms -of Spain, until in after times the lion was quartered with the -castle, the device of Burgos, capital of Old Castile. - -We forbear to follow this patriot prince through the rest of -his glorious career. Suffice it to say that he reigned long and -prosperously; extending on all sides the triumphs of his arms; -establishing on solid foundations the reviving empire of Christian -Spain; and that, after a life of constant warfare, he died in peace -in the city of Cangas, and lies buried with his queen, Gaudiosa, in -the church of Santa Eulalia, near to that city. - -Here ends the legend of Pelayo. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -ABDERAHMAN: - -THE - -FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE OMMIADES IN SPAIN. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[THE Memoir of Abderahman, the founder of the dynasty of the Ommiades -in Spain, was published in the “Knickerbocker Magazine” in 1840. In -introducing it to that periodical, the author, after stating that -he had conformed to the facts furnished by the Arabian chronicles, -as cited by Conde, remarks: “The story of Abderahman has almost -the charm of romance; but it derives a higher interest from the -heroic, yet gentle virtues which it illustrates, and from recording -the fortunes of the founder of that splendid dynasty which shed -such a lustre upon Spain during the domination of the Arabs.” The -accomplished Ford says of the history of Abderahman: “No fiction of -romance ever surpassed the truth of his eventful life.” - -The present Memoir is not an exact reprint of the article in the -“Knickerbocker,” but is given as altered from that, in 1847, when the -author was thinking of preparing for the press the “Chronicle of the -Ommiades,” embracing the whole line which he had “roughly sketched -out at Madrid in 1827, just after he had finished Columbus.”—ED.] - - - - -[Illustration] - -ABDERAHMAN. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -Of the Youthful Fortunes of Abderahman. - - -“Blessed be God!” exclaims an Arabian historian; “in his hands alone -is the destiny of princes. He overthrows the mighty, and humbles the -haughty to the dust; and he raises up the persecuted and afflicted -from the very depths of despair!” - -The illustrious house of Omeya, one of the two lines descended from -Mahomet, had swayed the sceptre at Damascus for nearly a century, -when a rebellion broke out, headed by Abu al Abbas Safah, who -aspired to the throne of the caliphs, as being descended from Abbas, -the uncle of the prophet. The rebellion was successful. Meruan, -the last caliph of the house of Omeya, was defeated and slain. A -general proscription of the Ommiades took place. Many of them fell -in battle; many were treacherously slain in places where they had -taken refuge; above seventy, most noble and distinguished, were -murdered at a banquet to which they had been invited, and their dead -bodies, covered with cloths, were made to serve as tables for the -horrible festivity. Others were driven forth, forlorn and desolate -wanderers in various parts of the earth, and pursued with relentless -hatred; for it was the determination of the usurper that not one of -the persecuted family should escape. Abu al Abbas took possession -of three stately palaces, and delicious gardens, and founded the -powerful dynasty of the Abbassides, which, for several centuries, -maintained dominion in the East. - -“Blessed be God!” again exclaims the Arabian historian; “it was -written in his eternal decrees that, notwithstanding the fury of the -Abbassides, the noble stock of Omeya should not be destroyed. One -fruitful branch remained to flourish with glory and greatness in -another land.” - -When the sanguinary proscription of the Ommiades took place, two -young princes of that line, brothers, by the names of Solyman and -Abderahman, were spared for a time. Their personal graces, noble -demeanor, and winning affability, had made them many friends, while -their extreme youth rendered them objects of but little dread to the -usurper. Their safety, however, was but transient. In a little while -the suspicions of Abu al Abbas were aroused. The unfortunate Solyman -fell beneath the scimetar of the executioner. His brother Abderahman -was warned of his danger in time. Several of his friends hastened -to him, bringing him jewels, a disguise, and a fleet horse. “The -emissaries of the caliph,” said they, “are in search of thee; thy -brother lies weltering in his blood; fly to the desert! There is no -safety for thee in the habitations of man!” - -Abderahman took the jewels, clad himself in the disguise, and -mounting the steed, fled for his life. As he passed, a lonely -fugitive, by the palaces of his ancestors, in which his family had -long held sway, their very walls seemed disposed to betray him, as -they echoed the swift clattering of his steed. - -Abandoning his native country, Syria, where he was liable at each -moment to be recognized and taken, he took refuge among the Bedouin -Arabs, a half-savage race of shepherds. His youth, his inborn majesty -and grace, and the sweetness and affability that shone forth in his -azure eyes, won the hearts of these wandering men. He was but twenty -years of age, and had been reared in the soft luxury of a palace; but -he was tall and vigorous, and in a little while hardened himself so -completely to the rustic life of the fields, that it seemed as though -he had passed all his days in the rude simplicity of a shepherd’s -cabin. - -His enemies, however, were upon his traces, and gave him but little -rest. By day he scoured the plains with the Bedouins, hearing in -every blast the sound of pursuit, and fancying in every distant cloud -of dust a troop of the caliph’s horsemen. His night was passed in -broken sleep and frequent watchings, and at the earliest dawn he was -the first to put the bridle to his steed. - -Wearied by these perpetual alarms, he bade farewell to his friendly -Bedouins, and leaving Egypt behind, sought a safer refuge in Western -Africa. The province of Barca was at that time governed by Aben -Habib, who had risen to rank and fortune under the fostering favor of -the Ommiades. “Surely,” thought the unhappy prince, “I shall receive -kindness and protection from this man; he will rejoice to show his -gratitude for the benefits showered upon him by my kindred.” - -Abderahman was young, and as yet knew little of mankind. None are so -hostile to the victim of power as those whom he has befriended. They -fear being suspected of gratitude by his persecutors, and involved in -his misfortunes. - -The unfortunate Abderahman had halted for a few days to repose -himself among a horde of Bedouins, who had received him with their -characteristic hospitality. They would gather round him in the -evenings to listen to his conversation, regarding with wonder this -gently spoken stranger from the more refined country of Egypt. The -old men marveled to find so much knowledge and wisdom in such early -youth, and the young men, won by his frank and manly carriage, -entreated him to remain among them. - -In the mean time the Wali Aben Habib, like all the governors of -distant posts, had received orders from the caliph to be on the -watch for the fugitive prince. Hearing that a young man answering -the description had entered the province alone, from the frontiers -of Egypt, on a steed worn down by travel, he sent forth horsemen -in his pursuit, with orders to bring him to him dead or alive. The -emissaries of the wali traced him to his resting-place, and coming -upon the encampment in the dead of the night, demanded of the Arabs -whether a young man, a stranger from Syria, did not sojourn among -their tribe. The Bedouins knew by the description that the stranger -must be their guest, and feared some evil was intended him. “Such a -youth,” said they, “has indeed sojourned among us; but he has gone, -with some of our young men, to a distant valley to hunt the lion.” -The emissaries inquired the way to the place, and hastened on to -surprise their expected prey. - -The Bedouins repaired to Abderahman, who was still sleeping. “If thou -hast aught to fear from man in power,” said they, “arise and fly; for -the horsemen of the wali are in quest of thee! We have sent them off -for a time on a wrong errand, but they will soon return.” - -“Alas! whither shall I fly?” cried the unhappy prince; “my enemies -hunt me like the ostrich of the desert. They follow me like the wind, -and allow me neither safety nor repose!” - -Six of the bravest youths of the tribe stepped forward. “We have -steeds,” said they, “that can outstrip the wind, and hands that can -hurl the javelin. We will accompany thee in thy flight, and will -fight by thy side while life lasts, and we have weapons to wield.” - -Abderahman embraced them with tears of gratitude. They mounted their -steeds, and made for the most lonely parts of the desert. By the -faint light of the stars, they passed through dreary wastes, and over -hills of sand. The lion roared and the hyena howled unheeded, for -they fled from man, more cruel and relentless, when in pursuit of -blood, than the savage beasts of the desert. - -At sunrise they paused to refresh themselves beside a scanty well, -surrounded by a few palm-trees. One of the young Arabs climbed a -tree, and looked in every direction, but not a horseman was to be -seen. - -“We have outstripped pursuit,” said the Bedouins; “whither shall we -conduct thee? Where is thy home, and the land of thy people?” - -“Home have I none!” replied Abderahman, mournfully, “nor family, nor -kindred! My native land is to me a land of destruction, and my people -seek my life!” - -The hearts of the youthful Bedouins were touched with compassion at -these words, and they marveled that one so young and gentle should -have suffered such great sorrow and persecution. - -Abderahman sat by the well and mused for a time. At length, breaking -silence, “In the midst of Mauritania,” said he, “dwells the tribe -of Zeneta. My mother was of that tribe; and perhaps when her son -presents himself, a persecuted wanderer, at their door, they will not -turn him from the threshold.” - -“The Zenetes,” replied the Bedouins, “are among the bravest and -most hospitable of the people of Africa. Never did the unfortunate -seek refuge among them in vain, nor was the stranger repulsed from -their door.” So they mounted their steeds with renewed spirits, and -journeyed with all speed to Tahart, the capital of the Zenetes. - -When Abderahman entered the place, followed by his six rustic Arabs, -all wayworn and travel-stained, his noble and majestic demeanor shone -through the simple garb of a Bedouin. A crowd gathered around him -as he alighted from his weary steed. Confiding in the well-known -character of the tribe, he no longer attempted concealment. - -“You behold before you,” said he, “one of the proscribed house of -Omeya. I am that Abderahman upon whose head a price has been set, and -who has been driven from land to land. I come to you as my kindred. -My mother was of your tribe, and she told me with her dying breath -that in all time of need I would find a home and friends among the -Zenetes.” - -The words of Abderahman went straight to the hearts of his hearers. -They pitied his youth and his great misfortunes, while they were -charmed by his frankness, and by the manly graces of his person. The -tribe was of a bold and generous spirit, and not to be awed by the -frown of power. “Evil be upon us and upon our children,” said they, -“if we deceive the trust thou hast placed in us!” - -One of the noblest, Xeques, then took Abderahman to his house, and -treated him as his own child; and the principal people of the tribe -strove who most should cherish him and do him honor—endeavoring to -obliterate by their kindness the recollection of his past misfortunes. - -Abderahman had resided some time among the hospitable Zenetes, when -one day two strangers of venerable appearance, attended by a small -retinue, arrived at Tahart. They gave themselves out as merchants, -and from the simple style in which they travelled, excited no -attention. In a little while they sought out Abderahman, and, taking -him apart, “Hearken,” said they, “Abderahman, of the royal line of -Omeya. We are ambassadors, sent on the part of the principal Moslems -of Spain, to offer thee, not merely an asylum, for that thou hast -already among these brave Zenetes, but an empire! Spain is a prey -to distracting factions, and can no longer exist as a dependence -upon a throne too remote to watch over its welfare. It needs to be -independent of Asia and Africa, and to be under the government of a -good prince, who shall reside within it and devote himself entirely -to its prosperity; a prince with sufficient title to silence all -rival claims and bring the warring parties into unity and peace; -and, at the same time, with sufficient ability and virtue to insure -the welfare of his dominions. For this purpose the eyes of all the -honorable leaders in Spain have been turned to thee as a descendant -of the royal line of Omeya, and an offset from the same stock -as our holy prophet. They have heard of thy virtues, and of thy -admirable constancy under misfortunes; and invite thee to accept the -sovereignty of one of the noblest countries in the world. Thou wilt -have some difficulties to encounter from hostile men; but thou wilt -have on thy side the bravest captains that have signalized themselves -in the conquest of the unbelievers.” - -The ambassadors ceased, and Abderahman remained for a time lost -in wonder and admiration. “God is great!” exclaimed he, at length; -“there is but one God, who is God, and Mahomet is his prophet! -Illustrious ambassadors, you have put new life into my soul, for you -have shown me something to live for. In the few years that I have -lived, troubles and sorrows have been heaped upon my head, and I -have become inured to hardships and alarms. Since it is the wish of -the valiant Moslems of Spain, I am willing to become their leader -and defender, and devote myself to their cause, be it happy or -disastrous.” - -The ambassadors now cautioned him to be silent as to their errand, -and to depart secretly for Spain. “The seaboard of Africa,” said -they, “swarms with your enemies, and a powerful faction in Spain -would intercept you on landing, did they know your name and rank, and -the object of your coming.” - -But Abderahman replied: “I have been cherished in adversity by these -brave Zenetes; I have been protected and honored by them when a price -was set upon my head, and to harbor me was great peril. How can I -keep my good fortune from my benefactors, and desert their hospitable -roofs in silence? He is unworthy of friendship who withholds -confidence from his friend.” - -Charmed with the generosity of his feelings, the ambassadors made -no opposition to his wishes. The Zenetes proved themselves worthy -of his confidence. They hailed with joy the great change in his -fortunes. The warriors and the young men pressed forward to follow -and aid them with horse and weapon; “for the honor of a noble house -and family,” said they, “can be maintained only by lances and -horsemen.” In a few days he set forth with the ambassadors, at the -head of nearly a thousand horsemen, skilled in war, and exercised -in the desert, and a large body of infantry, armed with lances. The -venerable Xeque, with whom he had resided, blessed him, and shed -tears over him at parting, as though he had been his own child; and -when the youth passed over the threshold, the house was filled with -lamentations. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER II. - -Landing of Abderahman in Spain.—Condition of the Country. - - -Abderahman Ben Omeya arrived in safety on the coast of Andalusia -and landed at Almunecar, or Malaga, with his little band of warlike -Zenetes. Spain was at that time in great confusion. Upwards of -forty years had elapsed since the Conquest. The civil wars in Syria -and Egypt, and occasional revolts in Africa, had caused frequent -overflowings of different tribes into Spain, which was a place of -common refuge. Hither, too, came the fragments of defeated armies, -desperate in fortune, with weapons in their hands. These settled -themselves in various parts of the peninsula, which thus became -divided between the Arabs of Yemen, the Egyptians, the Syrians, -and the Alabdarides. The distractions in its Eastern and African -provinces prevented the main government at Damascus from exercising -any control over its distant and recently acquired territory in -Spain, which soon became broken up into factions and a scene of -all kinds of abuses. Every sheik and wali considered the town or -province committed to his charge an absolute property, and practiced -the most arbitrary extortions. These excesses at length became -insupportable, and at a convocation of the principal leaders it was -determined, as a means of ending these dissensions, to unite all -the Moslem provinces of the peninsula under one emir, or general -governor. Yusuf el Fehri, an ancient man of honorable lineage, being -of the tribe of Koreish, and a descendant of Ocba, the conqueror of -Africa, was chosen for this station. He began his reign with policy, -and endeavored to conciliate all parties. At the head of the Egyptian -faction was a veteran warrior, named Samael, to whom Yusuf gave the -government of Toledo, and to his son that of Saragossa. At the head -of the Alabdarides was Amer ben Amru, Emir of the Seas; his office -being suppressed, Yusuf gave him in place thereof the government of -the noble city of Seville. Thus he proceeded, distributing honors -and commands, and flattered himself that he secured the loyalty and -good-will of every one whom he benefited. - -Who shall pretend, says the Arabian sage, to content the human heart -by benefits, when even the bounties of Allah are ineffectual? In -seeking to befriend all parties, Yusuf created for himself inveterate -enemies. Amer ben Amru, powerful from his wealth and connections, -and proud of his descent from Mosab, the standard-bearer of the -prophet in the battle of Beder, was indignant that Samael and his -son, with whom he was at deadly feud, should be appointed to such -important commands. He demanded one of those posts for himself, and -was refused. An insurrection and a civil war was the consequence; -and the country was laid waste with fire and sword. The inhabitants -of the villages fled to the cities for refuge; flourishing towns -disappeared from the face of the earth, or were reduced to heaps of -rubbish. - -In these dismal times, say the Arabian chroniclers, the very heavens -gave omens of the distress and desolation of the earth. At Cordova -two pale and livid suns were seen shedding a baleful light. In the -north appeared a flaming scythe, and the heavens were red as blood. -These were regarded as presages of direful calamities and bloody wars. - -At the time of the landing of Abderahman in Spain, Yusuf had captured -Saragossa, in which was Amer ben Amru, with his son and secretary, -and loading them with chains and putting them on camels, he set out -on his return to Cordova. He had halted one day in a valley called -Wadaramla, and was reposing with his family in his tent, while his -people and the prisoners made a repast in the open air. The heart -of the old emir was lifted up, for he thought there was no one -to dispute with him the domination of Spain. In the midst of his -exultation some horsemen were seen spurring up the valley, bearing -the standard of the Wali Samael. - -That officer arrived, covered with dust and exhausted with fatigue. -He brought tidings of the arrival of Abderahman, and that the whole -seaboard was flocking to his standard. Messenger after messenger -arrived confirming the fearful tidings, and adding that this -descendant of the Omeyas had been secretly invited to Spain by Amru -and his party. - -Yusuf waited not to ascertain the truth of this accusation. In a -transport of fury he ordered that Amru, his son, and secretary should -be cut to pieces. His orders were instantly executed; and this -cruelty, adds the Arabian chronicler, lost him the favor of Allah; -for from that time success deserted his standard. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER III. - -Triumphs of Abderahman.—The Palm-tree which he planted, and -the Verses he composed thereupon.—Insurrections.—His Enemies -subdued.—Undisputed Sovereign of the Moslems of Spain.—Begins the -famous Mosque in Cordova.—His Death. - - -Abderahman had indeed been hailed with joy on his landing. The old -people hoped to find tranquillity under the sway of one supreme -chieftain, descended from their ancient caliphs; the young men were -rejoiced to have a youthful warrior to lead them on to victories; -and the populace, charmed with his freshness and manly beauty, his -majestic yet gracious and affable demeanor, shouted, “Long live -Abderahman, Miramamolin of Spain!” - -In a few days the youthful sovereign saw himself at the head of more -than twenty thousand men, from the neighborhood of Elvira, Almeria, -Malaga, Xeres, and Sidonia. Fair Seville threw open its gates at -his approach, and celebrated his arrival with public rejoicings. He -continued his march into the country, vanquished one of the sons of -Yusuf before the gates of Cordova, and obliged him to take refuge -within its walls, where he held him in close siege. Hearing, however, -of the approach of Yusuf, the father, with a powerful army, he -divided his forces, and leaving ten thousand men to press the siege, -he hastened with the other ten to meet the coming foe. - -Yusuf had indeed mustered a formidable force, from the east and -south of Spain, and accompanied by his veteran general, Samael, -came with confident boasting to drive this intruder from the land. -His confidence increased on beholding the small army of Abderahman. -Turning to Samael, he repeated, with a scornful sneer, a verse from -an Arabian poetess, which says:— - -“How hard is our lot! We come, a thirsty multitude, and lo! but this -cup of water to share among us!” - -There was indeed a fearful odds. On the one side were two veteran -generals, grown gray in victory, with a mighty host of warriors, -seasoned in the wars of Spain. On the other side was a mere youth, -scarce attained to manhood, with a hasty levy of half-disciplined -troops; but the youth was a prince, flushed with hope, and aspiring -after fame and empire, and surrounded by a devoted band of warriors -from Africa, whose example infused zeal into the little army. - -The encounter took place at daybreak. The impetuous valor of the -Zenetes carried everything before it. The cavalry of Yusuf was broken -and driven back upon the infantry, and before noon the whole host -was put to headlong flight. Yusuf and Samael were born along in the -torrent of the fugitives, raging and storming, and making ineffectual -efforts to rally them. They were separated widely in the confusion -of the flight, one taking refuge in the Algarves, the other in the -kingdom of Murcia. They afterward rallied, reunited their forces, -and made another desperate stand near to Almunecar. The battle was -obstinate and bloody, but they were again defeated, and driven, -with a handful of followers, to take refuge in the rugged mountains -adjacent to Elvira. - -The spirit of the veteran Samael gave way before these fearful -reverses. “In vain, O Yusuf!” said he, “do we contend with the -prosperous star of this youthful conqueror; the will of Allah be -done! Let us submit to our fate, and sue for favorable terms while we -have yet the means of capitulation.” - -It was a hard trial for the proud spirit of Yusuf, that had once -aspired to uncontrolled sway; but he was compelled to capitulate. -Abderahman was as generous as brave. He granted the two gray-headed -generals the most honorable conditions, and even took the veteran -Samael into favor, employing him, as a mark of confidence, to visit -the eastern provinces of Spain, and restore them to tranquillity. -Yusuf, having delivered up Elvira and Granada, and complied with -other articles of his capitulation, was permitted to retire to -Murcia, and rejoin his son Muhamad. A general amnesty to all chiefs -and soldiers who should yield up their strongholds and lay down their -arms completed the triumph of Abderahman, and brought all hearts into -obedience. Thus terminated this severe struggle for the domination of -Spain; and thus the illustrious family of Omeya, after having been -cast down and almost exterminated in the East, took new root, and -sprang forth prosperously in the West. - -Wherever Abderahman appeared, he was received with rapturous -acclamations. As he rode through the cities, the populace rent -the air with shouts of joy; the stately palaces were crowded with -spectators, eager to gain a sight of his graceful form and beaming -countenance; and when they beheld the mingled majesty and benignity -of their new monarch, and the sweetness and gentleness of his whole -conduct, they extolled him as something more than mortal,—as a -beneficent genius, sent for the happiness of Spain. - -In the interval of peace which now succeeded, Abderahman occupied -himself in promoting the useful and elegant arts, and in introducing -into Spain the refinements of the East. Considering the building -and ornamenting of cities as among the noblest employments of the -tranquil hours of princes, he bestowed great pains upon beautifying -the city of Cordova and its environs. He reconstructed banks and -dykes to keep the Guadalquivir from overflowing its borders, and on -the vast terraces thus formed he planted delightful gardens. In the -midst of these he erected a lofty tower, commanding a view of the -vast and fruitful valley, enlivened by the windings of the river. -In this tower would he pass hours of meditation, gazing on the soft -and varied landscape, and inhaling the bland and balmy airs of that -delightful region. At such times his thoughts would recur to the -past, and the misfortunes of his youth; the massacre of his family -would rise to view, mingled with tender recollections of his native -country, from which he was exiled. In these melancholy musings, he -would sit with his eyes fixed upon a palm-tree which he had planted -in the midst of his garden. It is said to have been the first ever -planted in Spain, and to have been the parent stock of all the -palm-trees which grace the southern provinces of the peninsula. The -heart of Abderahman yearned toward this tree; it was the offspring -of his native country, and like him an exile. In one of his moods -of tenderness he composed verses upon it, which have since become -famous throughout the world. The following is a rude but literal -translation:— - -“Beauteous palm! thou also wert hither brought a stranger; but thy -roots have found a kindly soil, thy head is lifted to the skies, and -the sweet airs of Algarve fondle and kiss thy branches. - -“Thou hast known, like me, the storms of adverse fortune. Bitter -tears wouldst thou shed, couldst thou feel my woes. Repeated griefs -have overwhelmed me. With early tears I bedewed the palms on the -banks of the Euphrates; but neither tree nor river heeded my sorrows, -when driven by cruel fate and the ferocious Abu al Abbas, from the -scenes of my childhood and the sweet objects of my affection. - -“To thee no remembrance remains of my beloved country; I, unhappy! -can never recall it without tears!” - -The generosity of Abderahman to his vanquished foe was destined to -be abused. The veteran Yusuf, in visiting certain of the cities -which he had surrendered, found himself surrounded by zealous -partisans, ready to peril life in his service. The love of command -revived in his bosom, and he repented the facility with which he -had suffered himself to be persuaded to submission. Flushed with -new hopes of success, he caused arms to be secretly collected and -deposited in various villages, most zealous in their professions of -devotion, and raising a considerable body of troops, seized upon -the castle of Almodovar. The rash rebellion was short-lived. At the -first appearance of an army sent by Abderahman, and commanded by -Abdelmelee, governor of Seville, the villages which had so recently -professed loyalty to Yusuf, hastened to declare their attachment to -the monarch, and to give up the concealed arms. Almodovar was soon -retaken, and Yusuf, driven to the environs of Lorea, was surrounded -by the cavalry of Abdelmelee. The veteran endeavored to cut a passage -through the enemy, but after fighting with desperate fury, and with -a force of arm incredible in one of his age, he fell beneath blows -from weapons of all kinds, so that after the battle his body could -scarcely be recognized, so numerous were the wounds. His head was cut -off and sent to Cordova, where it was placed in an iron cage, over -the gate of the city. - -The old lion was dead, but his whelps survived. Yusuf had left three -sons, who inherited his warlike spirit, and were eager to revenge his -death. Collecting a number of the scattered adherents of their house, -they surprised and seized upon Toledo during the absence of Temam, -its wali or commander. In this old warrior city, built upon a rock, -and almost surrounded by the Tagus, they set up a kind of robber -hold, scouring the surrounding country, levying tribute, seizing upon -horses, and compelling the peasantry to join their standard. Every -day cavalcades of horses and mules, laden with spoil, with flocks of -sheep and droves of cattle, came pouring over the bridges on either -side of the city, and thronging in at the gates,—the plunder of the -surrounding country. Those of the inhabitants who were still loyal to -Abderahman dared not lift up their voices, for men of the sword bore -sway. At length one day, when the sons of Yusuf, with their choicest -troops, were out on a maraud, the watchmen on the towers gave the -alarm. A troop of scattered horsemen were spurring wildly toward the -gates. The banners of the sons of Yusuf were descried. Two of them -spurred into the city, followed by a handful of warriors, covered -with confusion and dismay. They had been encountered and defeated by -the Wali Temam, and one of the brothers had been slain. - -The gates were secured in all haste, and the walls were scarcely -manned when Temam appeared before them with his troops, and summoned -the city to surrender. A great internal commotion ensued between the -loyalists and the insurgents; the latter, however, had weapons in -their hands, and prevailed; and for several days, trusting to the -strength of their rock-built fortress, they set the wali at defiance. -At length some of the loyal inhabitants of Toledo, who knew all its -secret and subterraneous passages, some of which, if chroniclers -may be believed, have existed since the days of Hercules, if not -of Tubal Cain, introduced Temam, and a chosen band of his warriors, -into the very centre of the city, where they suddenly appeared as -if by magic. A panic seized upon the insurgents. Some sought safety -in submission, some in concealment, some in flight. Casim, one of -the sons of Yusuf, escaped in disguise; the youngest, unharmed, was -taken, and was sent captive to the king, accompanied by the head of -his brother, who had been slain in battle. - -When Abderahman beheld the youth laden with chains, he remembered his -own sufferings in his early days, and had compassion on him; but, to -prevent him from doing further mischief, he imprisoned him in a tower -of the wall of Cordova. - -In the mean time, Casim, who had escaped, managed to raise another -band of warriors. Spain, in all ages a guerilla country, prone to -partisan warfare and petty maraud, was at that time infested by bands -of licentious troops, who had sprung up in the civil contests; their -only object pillage, their only dependence the sword, and ready to -flock to any new and desperate standard that promised the greatest -license. With a ruffian force thus levied, Casim scoured the country, -took Sidonia by storm, and surprised Seville while in a state of -unsuspecting security. - -Abderahman put himself at the head of his faithful Zenetes, and took -the field in person. By the rapidity of his movements the rebels were -defeated, Sidonia and Seville speedily retaken, and Casim was made -prisoner. The generosity of Abderahman was again exhibited toward -this unfortunate son of Yusuf. He spared his life, and sent him to be -confined in a tower at Toledo. - -The veteran Samael had taken no part in these insurrections, but had -attended faithfully to the affairs intrusted to him by Abderahman. -The death of his old friend and colleague Yusuf, however, and the -subsequent disasters of his family, filled him with despondency. -Fearing the inconstancy of fortune, and the dangers incident to -public employ, he entreated the king to be permitted to retire to -his house in Seguenza, and indulge a privacy and repose suited to -his advanced age. His prayer was granted. The veteran laid by his -arms, battered in a thousand conflicts; hung his sword and lance -against the wall, and, surrounded by a few friends, gave himself up -apparently to the sweets of quiet and unambitious leisure. - -Who can count, however, upon the tranquil content of a heart nurtured -amid the storms of war and ambition? Under the ashes of this outward -humility were glowing the coals of faction. In his seemingly -philosophical retirement, Samael was concerting with his friends new -treason against Abderahman. His plot was discovered; his house was -suddenly surrounded by troops; and he was conveyed to a tower at -Toledo, where, in the course of a few months, he died in captivity. - -The magnanimity of Abderahman was again put to the proof by a new -insurrection at Toledo. Hixem ben Adra, a relation of Yusuf, seized -upon the Alcazar, or citadel, slew several of the royal adherents -of the king, liberated Casim from his tower, and, summoning all the -banditti of the country, soon mustered a force of ten thousand men. -Abderahman was quickly before the walls of Toledo, with the troops of -Cordova and his devoted Zenetes. The rebels were brought to terms, -and surrendered the city on promise of general pardon, which was -extended even to Hixem and Casim. When the chieftains saw Hixem and -his principal confederates in the power of Abderahman, they advised -him to put them all to death. “A promise given to traitors and -rebels,” said they, “is not binding when it is to the interest of the -state that it should be broken.” - -“No!” replied Abderahman, “if the safety of my throne were at stake, -I would not break my word.” So saying, he confirmed the amnesty, and -granted Hixem ben Adra a worthless life, to be employed in further -treason. - -Scarcely had Abderahman returned from this expedition, when a -powerful army, sent by the caliph, landed from Africa on the coast -of the Algarves. The commander, Aly ben Mogueth, Emir of Cairvan, -elevated a rich banner which he had received from the hands of the -caliph. Wherever he went, he ordered the caliph of the East to be -proclaimed by sound of trumpet, denouncing Abderahman as a usurper, -the vagrant member of a family proscribed and execrated in all the -mosques of the East. - -One of the first to join his standard was Hixem ben Adra, so -recently pardoned by Abderahman. He seized upon the citadel of -Toledo, and repairing to the camp of Aly, offered to deliver the city -into his hands. - -Abderahman, as bold in war as he was gentle in peace, took the -field with his wonted promptness; overthrew his enemies with great -slaughter; drove some to the sea-coast to regain their ships, and -others to the mountains. The body of Aly was found on the field of -battle. Abderahman caused the head to be struck off, and conveyed -to Cairvan, where it was affixed at night to a column in the public -square, with this inscription,—“Thus Abderahman, the descendant of -the Omeyas, punishes the rash and arrogant.” - -Hixem ben Adra escaped from the field of battle, and excited further -troubles, but was eventually captured by Abdelmelee, who ordered his -head to be struck off on the spot, lest he should again be spared -through the wonted clemency of Abderahman. - -Notwithstanding these signal triumphs, the reign of Abderahman was -disturbed by further insurrections, and by another descent from -Africa, but he was victorious over them all; striking the roots -of his power deeper and deeper into the land. Under his sway, the -government of Spain became more regular and consolidated, and -acquired an independence of the empire of the East. The caliph -continued to be considered as first pontiff and chief of the -religion, but he ceased to have any temporal power over Spain. - -Having again an interval of peace, Abderahman devoted himself to -the education of his children. Suleiman, the eldest, he appointed -wali, or governor, of Toledo; Abdallah, the second, was intrusted -with the command of Merida; but the third son, Hixem, was the delight -of his heart, the son of Howara, his favorite sultana whom he loved -throughout life with the utmost tenderness. With this youth, who was -full of promise, he relaxed from the fatigues of government; joining -in his youthful sports amidst the delightful gardens of Cordova, and -teaching him the gentle art of falconry, of which the king was so -fond that he received the name of the Falcon of Coraixi. - -While Abderahman was thus indulging in the gentle propensities of his -nature, mischief was secretly at work. Muhamad, the youngest son of -Yusuf, had been for many years a prisoner in the tower of Cordova. -Being passive and resigned, his keepers relaxed their vigilance, and -brought him forth from his dungeon. He went groping about, however, -in broad daylight, as if still in the darkness of his tower. His -guards watched him narrowly, lest this should be a deception, but -were at length convinced that the long absence of light had rendered -him blind. They now permitted him to descend frequently to the -lower chambers of the tower, and to sleep there occasionally during -the heats of summer. They even allowed him to grope his way to the -cistern, in quest of water for his ablutions. - -A year passed in this way, without anything to excite suspicion. -During all this time, however, the blindness of Muhamad was entirely -a deception; and he was concerting a plan of escape, through the -aid of some friends of his father, who found means to visit him -occasionally. One sultry evening in midsummer the guards had gone -to bathe in the Guadalquivir, leaving Muhamad alone, in the lower -chambers of the tower. No sooner were they out of sight and hearing, -than he hastened to a window of the staircase, leading down to the -cistern, lowered himself as far as his arms would reach, and dropped -without injury to the ground. Plunging into the Guadalquivir, he -swam across to a thick grove on the opposite side, where his friends -were waiting to receive him. Here, mounting a horse which they had -provided for an event of the kind, he fled across the country, by -solitary roads, and made good his escape to the mountains of Jaen. - -The guardians of the tower dreaded for some time to make known -his flight to Abderahman. When at length it was told to him, he -exclaimed,—“All is the work of eternal wisdom; it is intended to -teach us that we cannot benefit the wicked without injuring the good. -The flight of that blind man will cause much trouble and bloodshed.” - -His predictions were verified. Muhamad reared the standard of -rebellion in the mountains; the seditious and discontented of all -kinds hastened to join it, together with soldiers of fortune, or -rather wandering banditti, and he had soon six thousand men, well -armed, hardy in habits, and desperate in character. His brother Casim -also reappeared about the same time, in the mountains of Ronda, at -the head of a daring band, that laid all the neighboring valleys -under contribution. - -Abderahman summoned his alcaids from their various military posts, -to assist in driving the rebels from their mountain fastnesses into -the plains. It was a dangerous and protracted toil, for the mountains -were frightfully wild and rugged. He entered them with a powerful -host, driving the rebels from height to height, and valley to valley, -and harassing them by a galling fire from thousands of cross-bows. At -length a decisive battle took place near the river Guadalemar. The -rebels were signally defeated; four thousand fell in action; many -were drowned in the river, and Muhamad, with a few horsemen, escaped -to the mountains of the Algarves. Here he was hunted by the alcaids -from one desolate retreat to another; his few followers grew tired of -sharing the disastrous fortunes of a fated man, one by one deserted -him, and he himself deserted the remainder, fearing they might give -him up, to purchase their own pardon. - -Lonely and disguised, he plunged into the depths of the forests, or -lurked in dens and caverns like a famished wolf, often casting back -his thoughts with regret to the time of his captivity in the gloomy -tower of Cordova. Hunger at length drove him to Alarcon, at the -risk of being discovered. Famine and misery, however, had so wasted -and changed him, that he was not recognized. He remained nearly a -year in Alarcon, unnoticed and unknown, yet constantly tormenting -himself with the dread of discovery, and with groundless fears -of the vengeance of Abderahman. Death at length put an end to his -wretchedness. - -A milder fate attended his brother Casim. Being defeated in the -mountains of Murcia, he was conducted in chains to Cordova. On coming -into the presence of Abderahman, his once fierce and haughty spirit, -broken by distress, gave way; he threw himself on the earth, kissed -the dust beneath the feet of the king, and implored his clemency. -The benignant heart of Abderahman was filled with melancholy, rather -than exultation, at beholding this wreck of the once haughty family -of Yusuf a suppliant at his feet, and suing for mere existence. He -thought upon the mutability of Fortune, and felt how insecure are -all her favors. He raised the unhappy Casim from the earth, ordered -his irons to be taken off, and, not content with mere forgiveness, -treated him with honor, and gave him possessions in Seville, where he -might live in state conformable to the ancient dignity of his family. -Won by this great and persevering magnanimity, Casim ever after -remained one of the most devoted of his subjects. - -All the enemies of Abderahman were at length subdued; he reigned -undisputed sovereign of the Moslems of Spain; and so benign was his -government, that every one blessed the revival of the illustrious -line of Omeya. He was at all times accessible to the humblest of his -subjects; the poor man ever found in him a friend, and the oppressed -a protector. He improved the administration of justice, established -schools for public instruction, encouraged poets and men of letters, -and cultivated the sciences. He built mosques in every city that he -visited; inculcated religion by example as well as by precept; and -celebrated all the festivals prescribed by the Koran with the utmost -magnificence. - -As a monument of gratitude to God for the prosperity with which he -had been favored, he undertook to erect a mosque in his favorite -city of Cordova that should rival in splendor the great mosque -of Damascus, and excel the one recently erected in Bagdad by the -Abbassides, the supplanters of his family. - -It is said that he himself furnished the plan for this famous -edifice, and even worked on it, with his own hands, one hour in each -day, to testify his zeal and humility in the service of God, and to -animate his workmen. He did not live to see it completed, but it was -finished according to his plans by his son Hixem. When finished, it -surpassed the most splendid mosques of the East. It was six hundred -feet in length, and two hundred and fifty in breadth. Within were -twenty-eight aisles, crossed by nineteen, supported by a thousand and -ninety-three columns of marble. There were nineteen portals, covered -with plates of bronze, of rare workmanship. The principal portal -was covered with plates of gold. On the summit of the grand cupola -were three gilt balls, surmounted by a golden pomegranate. At night -the mosque was illuminated with four thousand seven hundred lamps, -and great sums were expended in amber and aloes, which were burnt -as perfumes. The mosque remains to this day shorn of its ancient -splendor, yet still one of the grandest Moslem monuments in Spain. - -Finding himself advancing in years, Abderahman assembled in his -capital of Cordova the principal governors and commanders of his -kingdom, and in presence of them all, with great solemnity, nominated -his son Hixem as the successor to the throne. All present made an -oath of fealty to Abderahman during his life, and to Hixem after -his death. The prince was younger than his brothers, Suleiman and -Abdallah; but he was the son of Howara, the tenderly beloved sultana -of Abderahman, and her influence, it is said, gained him this -preference. - -Within a few months afterward Abderahman fell grievously sick at -Merida. Finding his end approaching, he summoned Hixem to his -bedside. “My son,” said he, “the angel of death is hovering over -me; treasure up, therefore, in thy heart this dying counsel, which -I give through the great love I bear thee. Remember that all empire -is from God, who gives and takes it away, according to his pleasure. -Since God, through his divine goodness, has given us regal power -and authority, let us do his holy will, which is nothing else than -to do good to all men, and especially to those committed to our -protection. Render equal justice, my son, to the rich and the poor, -and never suffer injustice to be done within thy dominion, for it is -the road to perdition. Be merciful and benignant to those dependent -upon thee. Confide the government of thy cities and provinces to men -of worth and experience; punish without compassion those ministers -who oppress thy people with exorbitant exactions. Pay thy troops -punctually; teach them to feel a certainty in thy promises; command -them with gentleness but firmness, and make them in truth the -defenders of the state, not its destroyers. Cultivate unceasingly -the affections of thy people; for in their good-will consists the -security of the state, in their distrust its peril, in their hatred -its certain ruin. Protect the husbandmen, who cultivate the earth and -yield us necessary sustenance; never permit their fields and groves -and gardens to be disturbed. In a word, act in such wise that thy -people may bless thee, and may enjoy, under the shadow of thy wing, a -secure and tranquil life. In this consists good government; if thou -dost practice it, thou wilt be happy among thy people, and renowned -throughout the world.” - -Having given this excellent counsel, the good King Abderahman blessed -his son Hixem, and shortly after died, being but in the sixtieth year -of age. He was interred with great pomp; but the highest honors that -distinguished his funeral were the tears of real sorrow shed upon his -grave. He left behind him a name for valor, justice, and magnanimity, -and forever famous as being the founder of the glorious line of the -Ommiades in Spain. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ, - -COUNT OF CASTILE. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ, - -COUNT OF CASTILE. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -At the time of the general wreck of Spain by the sudden tempest of -Arab invasion, many of the inhabitants took refuge in the mountains -of the Asturias, burying themselves in narrow valleys difficult -of access, wherever a constant stream of water afforded a green -bosom of pasture-land and scanty fields for cultivation. For mutual -protection they gathered together in small villages called castros, -or castrellos, with watch-towers and fortresses on impending cliffs, -in which they might shelter and defend themselves in case of sudden -inroad. Thus arose the kingdom of the Asturias, subject to Pelayo and -the kings his successors, who gradually extended their dominions, -built towns and cities, and after a time fixed their seat of -government at the city of Leon. - -An important part of the region over which they bore sway was ancient -Cantabria, extending from the Bay of Biscay to the Duero, and -called Castile from the number of castles with which it was studded. -They divided it into seigniories, over which they placed civil and -military governors called counts—a title said to be derived from the -Latin _comes_, a companion, the person enjoying it being admitted to -the familiar companionship of the king, entering into his councils in -time of peace, and accompanying him to the field in time of war. The -title of count was therefore more dignified than that of duke in the -time of the Gothic kings. - -The power of these counts increased to such a degree that four of -them formed a league to declare themselves independent of the crown -of Leon. Ordoño II., who was then king, received notice of it, and -got them into his power by force, as some assert, but as others -maintain, by perfidious artifice. At any rate, they were brought to -court, convicted of treason, and publicly beheaded. The Castilians -flew to arms to revenge their deaths. Ordoño took the field with a -powerful army, but his own death defeated all his plans. - -The Castilians now threw off allegiance to the kingdom of Leon, and -elected two judges to rule over them—one in a civil, the other in -a military capacity. The first who filled those stations were Nuño -Rasura and Lain Calvo, two powerful nobles, the former descended from -Diego Porcello, a count of Lara; the latter, ancestor of the renowned -Cid Campeador. - -Nuño Rasura, the civil and political judge, was succeeded by his son -Gonzalez Nuño, who married Doña Ximena, a daughter of one of the -counts of Castile put to death by Ordoño II. From this marriage came -Fernan Gonzalez, the subject of the following chronicle. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER I. - -Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as Count of Castile. His First -Campaign against the Moors.—Victory of San Quirce.—How the Count -disposed of the Spoils. - - -The renowned Fernan Gonzalez, the most complete hero of his time, -was born about the year 887. Historians trace his descent to Nuño -Belchidez, nephew of the Emperor Charlemagne, and Doña Sula Bella, -granddaughter to the Prince Don Sancho, rightful sovereign of Spain, -but superseded by Roderick, the last of the Gothic kings. - -Fernan Gonzalez was hardily educated among the mountains in a strong -place called Maron, in the house of Martin Gonzalez, a gallant and -veteran cavalier. From his earliest years he was inured to all -kinds of toils and perils, taught to hunt, to hawk, to ride the -great horse, to manage sword, lance, and buckler; in a word, he was -accomplished in all the noble exercises befitting a cavalier. - -His father Gonzalvo Nuñez died in 903, and his elder brother -Rodrigo in 904, without issue; and such was the admiration already -entertained of Fernan Gonzalez by the hardy mountaineers and old -Castilian warriors, that though scarce seventeen years of age he was -unanimously elected to rule over them. His title is said to have been -Count, Duke, and Consul, under the seigniory of Alonzo the Great, -King of Leon. A cortes, or assemblage of the nobility and chivalry of -Castile and of the mountains, met together at the recently built city -of Burgos to do honor to his installation. Sebastian, the renowned -Bishop of Oca, officiated. - -In those stern days of Spain, the situation of a sovereign was not -that of silken ease and idle ceremonial. When he put the rich crown -upon his head, he encircled it likewise with shining steel. With the -sceptre were united the lance and shield, emblems of perpetual war -against the enemies of the faith. The cortes took this occasion to -pass the following laws for the government of the realm:— - -1. Above all things the people should observe the law of God, the -canons and statutes of the holy fathers, the liberty and privileges -of the Church, and the respect due to its ministers. - -2. No person should prosecute another out of Castile at any tribunal -of justice or of arms, under pain of being considered a stranger. - -3. All Jews and Moors who refused to acknowledge the Christian faith -should depart from Castile within two months. - -4. That cavaliers of noble blood should treat their tenants and -vassals with love and gentleness. - -5. That he who slew another, or committed any other grave offense, -should make equal measure of atonement. - -6. That no one should take the property of another; but, if oppressed -by poverty, should come to the count, who ought to be as a father to -all. - -7. That all should unite and be of one heart, and aid one another in -defense of their faith and of their country. - -Such were the ordinances of the ancient Cortes of Burgos; brief -and simple, and easy to be understood; not, as at the present day, -multifarious and perplexed, to the confusion and ruin of clients and -the enrichment of lawyers. - -Scarce was the installation ended, and while Burgos was yet abandoned -to festivity, the young count, with the impatient ardor of youth, -caused the trumpets to sound through the streets a call to arms. A -captain of the Moorish king of Toledo was ravaging the territory of -Castile at the head of seven thousand troops, and against him the -youthful count determined to make his first campaign. In the spur of -the moment but one hundred horsemen and fifteen hundred foot-soldiers -could be collected; but with this slender force the count prepared -to take the field. Ruy Velasquez, a valiant cavalier, remonstrated -against such rashness, but in vain. “I owe,” said the count, “a -death to the grave; the debt can never be paid so honorably as in -the service of God and my country. Let every one, therefore, address -himself heart and hand to this enterprise; for if I come face to -face with this Moor, I will most assuredly give him battle.” So -saying, he knelt before Bishop Sebastian of Salamanca and craved his -benediction. The reverend prelate invoked on his head the blessing -and protection of Heaven, for his heart yearned toward him; but when -he saw the youthful warrior about to depart, he kindled as it were -with a holy martial fire, and ordering his steed to be saddled he -sallied forth with him to the wars. - -The little army soon came upon traces of the enemy in fields laid -waste, and the smoking ruins of villages and hamlets. The count sent -out scouts to clamber every height and explore every defile. From the -summit of a hill they beheld the Moors encamped in a valley which was -covered with the flocks and herds swept from the neighboring country. -The camp of the marauders was formidable as to numbers, with various -standards floating in the breeze; for in this foray were engaged the -Moorish chiefs of Saragossa, Denia, and Seville, together with many -valiant Moslems who had crossed the straits from Africa to share in -what they considered a holy enterprise. The scouts observed, however, -that the most negligent security reigned throughout the camp; some -reposing, others feasting and reveling, all evidently considering -themselves safe from any attack. - -Upon hearing this the count led his men secretly and silently to -the assault, and came upon the Moors in the midst of their revelry, -before they had time to buckle on their armor. The infidels, however, -made a brave though confused resistance; the camp was strewn with -their dead; many were taken prisoners, and the rest began to falter. -The count killed their captain-general with his own hand, in single -fight, as he was bravely rallying his troops. Upon seeing him fall, -the Moors threw down their weapons and fled. - -Immense booty was found in the Moorish camp,—partly the rich arms -and equipments of the infidel warriors, partly the plunder of the -country. An ordinary victor would have merely shared the spoils -with his soldiery, but the count was as pious as he was brave, and, -moreover, had by his side the venerable Bishop of Salamanca as -counselor. Contenting himself, therefore, with distributing one third -among his soldiery, he shared the rest with God, devoting a large -part to the Church, and to the relief of souls in purgatory—a pious -custom, which he ever after observed. He moreover founded a church on -the field of battle, dedicated to St. Quirce, on whose festival (the -16th July) this victory was obtained. To this church was subsequently -added a monastery where a worthy fraternity of monks were maintained -in the odor of sanctity, to perpetuate the memory of this victory. -All this was doubtless owing to the providential presence of the -good bishop on this occasion; and this is one instance of the great -benefit derived from those priests and monks and other purveyors of -the Church, who hovered about the Christian camps throughout all -these wars with the infidels. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER II. - -Of the Sally from Burgos and Surprise of the Castle of -Lara.—Capitulation of the Town.—Visit to Alfonso the Great, King of -Leon. - - -Count Fernan Gonzalez did not remain idle after the victory of -San Quirce. There was at this time an old castle, strong but much -battered in the wars, which protected a small town, the remains of -the once flourishing city of Lara. It was the ancient domain of his -family, but was at present in possession of the Moors. In sooth it -had repeatedly been taken and retaken; for in those iron days no -castle nor fortress remained long under the same masters. One year -it was in the hands of the Christians; the next, of the Moors. Some -of these castles, with their dependent towns, were sacked, burnt, -and demolished; others remained silent and deserted, their original -owners fearing to reside in them; and their ruined towers were only -tenanted by bats and owls and screaming birds of prey. Lara had lain -for a time in ruins after being captured by the Moors, but had been -rebuilt by them with diminished grandeur, and they held a strong -garrison in the castle, whence they sallied forth occasionally to -ravage the lands of the Christians. The Moorish chieftain of Lara, -as has been observed, was among the associated marauders who had been -routed in the battle of San Quirce; and the Count Fernan Gonzalez -thought this a favorable time to strike for the recovery of his -family domain, now that the infidel possessor was weakened by defeat -and could receive no succor. - -Appointing Rodrigo Velasquez and the Count Don Vela Alvarez to act as -governors of Castile during his absence, the count sallied forth from -Burgos with a brilliant train of chivalry. Among the distinguished -cavaliers who attended him were Martin Gonzalez, Don Gustios -Gonzalez, Don Velasco, and Don Lope de Biscaya, which last brought -a goodly band of stout Biscayans. The alferez, or standard-bearer, -was Orbita Velasquez, who had distinguished himself in the battle -of San Quirce. He bore as a standard a great cross of silver, which -shone gloriously in front of the host, and is preserved, even to the -present day, in the church of San Pedro de Arlanza. One hundred and -fifty noble cavaliers, well armed and mounted, with many esquires and -pages of the lance, and three thousand foot-soldiers, all picked men, -formed this small but stout-hearted army. - -The count led his troops with such caution that they arrived in the -neighborhood of Lara without being discovered. It was the vigil of -St. John; the country was wrapped in evening shadows, and the count -was enabled to approach near to the place to make his observations. -He perceived that his force was too inconsiderable to invest the town -and fortress. Besides, about two leagues distant was the gaunt and -rock-built castle of Carazo, a presidio or stronghold of the Moors, -whence he might be attacked in the rear, should he linger before the -fortress. It was evident, therefore, that whatever was to be effected -must be done promptly and by sudden surprise. Revolving these things -in his mind he put his troops in ambush in a deep ravine where they -took their rest, while he kept watch upon the castle; maturing his -plans against the morrow. In this way he passed his midsummer’s -night, the vigil of the blessed St. John. - -The festival of St. John is observed as well by Mahometans as -Christians. During the night the bonfires blazed on the hill-tops and -the sound of music and festivity was heard from within the town. When -the rising sun shone along the valley of the Arlanza the Moors in the -castle, unsuspicious of any lurking danger, threw open the gates and -issued forth to recreate themselves in the green fields and along -the banks of the river. When they had proceeded to a considerable -distance, and a hill shut them from view, the count with his eager -followers issued silently but swiftly from their hiding-place and -made directly for the castle. On the way they met with another band -of Moors who had likewise come forth for amusement. The count struck -the leader to the earth with one blow of his lance; the rest were -either slain or taken prisoners; so that not one escaped to give the -alarm. - -Those of the garrison who had remained in the castle, seeing a -Christian force rushing up to the very walls, hastened to close the -gates, but it was too late. The count and his cavaliers burst them -open and put every one to the sword who made opposition. Leaving -Don Velasco and a number of soldiers to guard the castle, the count -hastened with the rest in pursuit of the Moors who were solemnizing -the day on the banks of the Arlanza. Some were reclining on the -grass, others were amusing themselves with music and the popular -dance of the Zambra, while their arms lay scattered among the herbage. - -At sight of the Christians, they snatched up their weapons and made -a desperate though vain resistance. Within two hours almost all -were either slain or captured; a few escaped to the neighboring -mountains of Carazo. The town, seeing the castle in the hands of -the Christians, and the garrison routed and destroyed, readily -capitulated; and the inhabitants were permitted to retain unmolested -possession of their houses, on agreeing to pay to the count the same -tribute which had been exacted from them by the Moorish king. Don -Velasco was left alcaid of the fortress, and the count returned, -covered with glory, to his capital of Burgos. - -The brilliant victories and hardy deeds of arms with which the -youthful Count of Castile had commenced his reign excited the -admiration of Alonzo the Great, King of Leon, and he sent missives -urging him to appear at his royal court. The count accordingly -set forth with a cavalcade of his most approved knights and many -of his relatives, sumptuously armed and arrayed and mounted on -steeds richly caparisoned. It was a pageant befitting a young and -magnificent chief, in the freshness and pleasance of his years. - -The king came out of the city to meet him, attended by all the pomp -and grandeur of his court. The count alighted, and approached to kiss -the king’s hand; but Alfonso alighted also, and embraced him with -great affection, and the friendship of these illustrious princes -continued without interruption throughout the life of the king. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER III. - -Expedition against the Fortress of Muñon.—Desperate Defense of the -Moors.—Enterprise against Castro Xeriz. - - -Many are the doughty achievements recorded in ancient chronicles -of this most valorous cavalier; among others is his expedition, -with a chosen band, against the castle of Muñon, a place of great -importance, which stood at no great distance from Burgos. He sallied -from his capital in an opposite direction, to delude the Moorish -scouts; but making a sudden turn, came upon the fortress by surprise, -broke down the gates, and forced his way in at the head of his -troops, having nothing but a dagger in his hand, his lance and sword -having been broken in the assault. The Moors fought desperately from -court to tower, from tower to wall; and when they saw all resistance -vain, many threw themselves from the battlements into the ditch -rather than be made captives. Leaving a strong garrison in the place, -the count returned to Burgos. - -His next enterprise was against Castro Xeriz, a city with a strong -castle, which had been a thorn in the side of Castile—the Moorish -garrison often sweeping the road between Burgos and Leon, carrying -off travellers, capturing cattle, and plundering convoys of -provisions and merchandise. The count advanced against this place in -open day, ravaging the country and announcing his approach by clouds -of smoke from the burning habitations of the Moors. Abdallah, the -alcaid of the fortress, would have made peace, but the count refused -all terms. “God,” said he, “has appointed me to rescue his holy -inheritance from the power of infidels; nothing is to be negotiated -but by the edge of the sword.” - -Abdallah then made a sally with a chosen band of his cavaliers. They -at first careered lightly with their Arabian steeds and launched -their Moorish darts, but the Christians closed in the old Gothic -style, fighting hand to hand. Abdallah fell by the sword of the -count, and his followers fled with loosened reins back to the city. -The Christians followed hard upon them, strewing the ground with -dead. At the gate of the city they were met by Almondir, the son -of Abdallah, who disputed the gateway and the street inch by inch, -until the whole place ran with blood. The Moors, driven from the -streets, took refuge in the castle, where Almondir inspirited them -to a desperate defense, until a stone struck him as he stood on the -battlements, and he fell to the earth dead. Having no leader to -direct them, the Moors surrendered. When the town was cleared of the -dead and order restored, the count divided the spoils—allotting the -houses among his followers, and peopling the place with Christians. -He gave the command of it to Layn Bermudez, with the title of count. -From him descended an illustrious line of cavaliers termed de Castro, -whose male line became extinct in Castile, but continued to flourish -in Portugal. The place is said to have been called Castro Xeriz, in -consequence of the blood shed in this conflict—xeriz, in the Arabic -language signifying bloody.[62] - - [62] Sandoval, p. 301. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IV. - -How the Count of Castile and the King of Leon make a Triumphant Foray -into the Moorish Country.—Capture of Salamanca.—Of the Challenge -brought by the Herald, and of the Count’s Defiance. - - -Count Fernan Gonzalez was restless, daring, and impetuous; he -seldom suffered lance to rest on wall or steed in stable, and no -Moorish commander could sleep in quiet who held town or tower in his -neighborhood. King Alonzo the Great became emulous of sharing in his -achievements, and they made a campaign together against the Moors. -The count brought a splendid array of Castilian chivalry into the -field, together with a host of Montaneses, hardy and vigorous troops -from the Asturias, excellent for marauding warfare. The King of Leon -brought his veteran bands, seasoned to battle. With their united -forces they ravaged the Moorish country, marking their way with -havoc and devastation; arrived before Salamanca, they took that city -by storm after a brave defense, and gave it up to be sacked by the -soldiery. After which such of the Moors as chose to remain in it were -suffered to retain their possessions as vassals to the king. Having -accomplished this triumphant foray, they returned, each one to his -capital. - -The Count of Castile did not repose long in his palace. One day a -Moorish herald magnificently dressed, rode into the city of Burgos, -bringing Fernan Gonzalez a cartel of defiance. It was from a vaunting -Moor named Acefali, who had entered the territories of Castile -with a powerful force of horse and foot, giving out that he had -come to measure strength and prowess with the count in battle. Don -Fernan Gonzalez replied to the defiance with weapon in hand at the -head of his warriors. A pitched battle ensued, which lasted from -early morn until evening twilight. In the course of the fight the -count was in imminent peril, his horse being killed under him and -himself surrounded, but he was rescued by his cavaliers. After great -bloodshed, the Moors were routed and pursued beyond the borders. The -spoil gained in this battle was devoutly expended in repairing the -churches of Castile and the Montaneses. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER V. - -A Night Assault upon the Castle of Carazo.—The Moorish Maiden who -betrayed the Garrison. - - -In those warlike times of Spain every one lived with sword in hand; -there was scarcely a commanding cliff or hill-top but had its -castle. Moors and Christians regarded each other from rival towers -and battlements perched on opposite heights, and were incessantly -contending for the dominion of the valleys. - -We have seen that Count Fernan Gonzalez had regained possession of -the ancient town and fortress of Lara, the domain of his ancestors; -but it will be recollected that within two leagues’ distance stood -the Moorish presidio of Carazo. It was perched like an eagle’s -nest on the summit of a mountain, and the cragged steepness of -its position, and its high and thick walls seemed to render it -proof against all assault. The Moors who garrisoned it were fierce -marauders, who used to sweep down like birds of prey from their lofty -nest, pounce upon the flocks and dwellings of the Christians, make -hasty ravages, and bear away their spoils to the mountain-top. There -was no living with safety or tranquillity within the scope of their -maraudings. - -Intelligence of their misdeeds was brought to the count at Burgos. -He determined to have that castle of Carazo, whatever might be the -cost: for this purpose he called a council of his chosen cavaliers. -He did not conceal the peril of the enterprise, from the crag-built -situation of the castle, its great strength, and the vigilance -and valor of its garrison. Still the Castilian cavaliers offered -themselves to carry the fortress or die. - -The count sallied secretly from Burgos with a select force, and -repaired in the night-time to Lara, that the Moors might have no -intimation nor suspicion of his design. In the midst of the next -night, the castle gate was quietly opened and they issued forth as -silently as possible, pursuing their course in the deep shadows of -the valley until they came to the foot of the mountain of Carazo. -Here they remained in ambush, and sent forth scouts. As the latter -prowled about the day began to dawn, and they heard a female voice -singing above them on the side of the mountain. It was a Moorish -damsel coming down, with a vessel upon her head. She descended to -a fountain which gushed forth beneath a grove of willows, and as -she sang she began to fill her vessel with water. The spies issued -from their concealment, seized her, and carried her to Count Fernan -Gonzalez. - -Overcome by terror or touched by conviction, the Moorish damsel -threw herself on her knees before the count, declared her wish to -turn Christian, and offered, in proof of her sincerity, to put him -in a way of gaining possession of the castle. Being encouraged to -proceed, she told him that there was to be a marriage feast that day -in the castle, and of course a great deal of revelry, which would -put the garrison off its guard. She pointed out a situation where -he might lie in ambush with his troops in sight of the tower, and -promised when a favorable moment presented for an attack to give a -signal with a light. - -The count regarded her for a time with a fixed and earnest gaze, -but saw no faltering nor change of countenance. The case required -bold measures, combined with stratagem; so he confided in her, and -permitted her to return to the castle. All day he lay in ambush -with his troops, each man his hand upon his weapon to guard against -surprise. The distant sound of revelry from the castle, with now -and then the clash of cymbals, the bray of trumpets, and a strain -of festive music, showed the gayety that reigned within. Night came -on; lights gleamed from walls and windows, but none resembling the -appointed signal. It was almost midnight, and the count began to fear -the Moorish damsel had deceived him, when to his great joy he saw the -signal-light gleaming from one of the towers. - -He now sallied forth with his men, and all, on foot, clambered up the -steep and rugged height. They had almost attained the foot of the -towers when they were descried by a sentinel who cried with a loud -voice, “The foe! the foe! to arms! to arms!” The count, followed by -his hardy cavaliers, rushed forward to the gate, crying, “God and -Saint Millan!” The whole castle was instantly in an uproar. The -Moors were bewildered by the sudden surprise and the confusion of a -night assault. They fought bravely, but irregularly. The Christians -had but one plan and one object. After a hard struggle and great -bloodshed, they forced the gate and made themselves masters of the -castle. - -The count remained several days, fortifying the place and garrisoning -it, that it might not fall again into the possession of the Moors. -He bestowed magnificent rewards on the Moorish damsel who had thus -betrayed her countrymen; she embraced the Christian faith, to which -she had just given such a signal proof of devotion, though it is not -said whether the count had sufficient confidence in her conversion -and her newly moulted piety to permit her to remain in the fortress -she had betrayed. - -Having completed his arrangements, the count departed on his return, -and encountered on the road his mother Doña Nuña Fernandez, who, -exulting in his success, had set out to visit him at Carazo. The -mother and son had a joyful meeting, and gave the name of Contreras -to the place of their encounter. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VI. - -Death of Alfonso, King of Leon.—The Moors determined to strike a -fresh Blow at the Count, who summons all Castile to his Standard.—Of -his Hunt in the Forest while waiting for the Enemy, and of the Hermit -that he met with. - - -Alfonso the Great was now growing old and infirm, and his queen and -sons, taking advantage of his age and feebleness, endeavored by -harsh treatment to compel him to relinquish the crown. Count Fernan -Gonzalez interceded between them, but in vain; and Alfonso was at -length obliged to surrender his crown to his oldest son, Don Garcia. -The aged monarch then set out upon a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. -Iago; but, falling ill of his mortal malady, sent for the count to -come to him to his death-bed at Zamora. The count hastened thither -with all zeal and loyalty. He succeeded in effecting a reconciliation -between Alfonso and his son Don Garcia in his dying moments, and was -with the monarch when he quietly breathed his last. The death of -the king gave fresh courage to the Moors, and they thought this a -favorable moment to strike a blow at the rising power of the count. -Abderahman was at this time king of Cordova and Miramamolin, or -sovereign of the Moors in Spain. He had been enraged at the capture -of the castle of Carazo, and the other victories of the count; and -now that the latter had no longer the King of Leon to back him, it -was thought he might, by a vigorous effort, be completely crushed. -Abderahman accordingly assembled at Cordova a great army of Moorish -warriors, both those of Spain and Africa, and sent them, under the -command of Almanzor, to ravage the country of Count Fernan Gonzalez. -This Almanzor was the most valiant Moorish general in Spain, and one -on whom Abderahman depended as upon his right hand. - -On hearing of the impending danger, Count Fernan Gonzalez summoned -all men of Castile capable of bearing arms to repair to his standard -at Muñon. His force when assembled was but small, but composed of -the bravest chivalry of Castile, any one knight of which he esteemed -equal to ten Moors. One of the most eminent of his cavaliers was -Don Gonzalo Gustios, of Lara, who brought seven valiant sons to the -field—the same afterwards renowned in Spanish story as the seven -princes of Lara. With Don Gonzalo came also his wife’s brother, Ruy -or Rodrigo Velasquez, a cavalier of great prowess. - -In the mean time tidings continued to arrive of the great force of -the enemy, which was said to cover the country with its tents. The -name of the Moorish general, Almanzor, likewise inspired great alarm. -One of the count’s cavaliers, therefore, Gonzalo Diaz, counseled him -not to venture upon an open battle against such fearful odds; but -rather to make a tula, or ravaging inroad into the country of the -Moors, by way of compelling them to make a truce. The count, however, -rejected his advice. “As to their numbers,” said he, “one lion is -worth ten sheep, and thirty wolves could kill thirty thousand lambs. -As to that Moor, Almanzor, be assured we shall vanquish him, and the -greater his renown the greater will be the honor of the victory.” - -The count now marched his little army to Lara, where he paused to -await the movements of the enemy. While his troops were lying there -he mounted his horse one day and went forth with a few attendants to -hunt in the forests which bordered the river Arlanza. In the course -of the chase he roused a monstrous boar and pursued it among rocks -and brakes until he became separated from his attendants. Still -following the track of the boar, he came to the foot of a rocky -precipice, up which the animal mounted by a rugged and narrow path, -where the horse could not follow. The count alighted, tied his horse -to an oak, and clambered up the path, assisting himself at times -with his boar-spear. The path led to a close thicket of cedars, -surrounding a small edifice partly built of stone and partly hewn out -of the solid rock. The boar had taken refuge within, and had taken -his stand behind what appeared to be a mass of stone. The count was -about to launch his javelin when he beheld a cross of stone standing -on what he now perceived was an altar, and he knew that he was in a -holy place. Being as pious as he was brave, the good count now knelt -before the altar and asked pardon of God for the sin he had been on -the point of committing; and when he had finished this prayer, he -added another for victory over the foe. - -While he was yet praying, there entered a venerable monk, Fray -Pelayo by name, who, seeing him to be a Christian knight, gave him -his benediction. He informed the count that he resided in this -hermitage in company with two other monks—Arsenio and Silvano. The -count marveled much how they could live there in a country overrun -by enemies, and which had for a long time, and but recently, been in -the power of the infidels. The hermit replied that in the service of -God they were ready to endure all hardships. It is true they suffered -much from cold and hunger, being obliged to live chiefly on herbs -and roots; but by secret paths and tracks they were in communication -with other hermitages scattered throughout the country, so that they -were enabled to aid and comfort each other. They could also secretly -sustain in the faith the Christians who were held in subjection by -the Moors, and afford them places of refuge and concealment in cases -of extremity. - -The count now opened his heart to the good hermit, revealing his name -and rank, and the perils impending over him from the invasion of the -infidel. As the day was far spent, Fray Pelayo prevailed upon him to -pass the night in the hermitage, setting before him barley bread and -such simple fare as his cell afforded. - -Early in the morning the count went forth and found the hermit -seated beneath a tree on a rock, whence he could look far and wide -out of the forest and over the surrounding country. The hermit then -accosted him as one whose holy and meditative life and mortifications -of the flesh had given to look into the future almost with the eye -of prophecy. “Of a truth, my son,” said he, “there are many trials -and hardships in store for thee; but be of good cheer, thou wilt -conquer these Moors, and wilt increase thy power and possessions.” -He now revealed to the count certain signs and portents which would -take place during battle. “When thou shalt see these,” said he, “be -assured that Heaven is on thy side, and thy victory secure.” The -count listened with devout attention. “If these things do indeed come -to pass,” said he, “I will found a church and convent in this place, -to be dedicated to St. Peter, the patron saint of this hermitage; -and when I die my body shall be interred here.” Receiving then the -benediction of the holy friar he departed. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VII. - -The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares. - - -When Count Fernan Gonzalez returned to his troops he found them in -great alarm at his absence, fearing some evil had befallen him; but -he cheered them with an account of his adventure and of the good -fortune predicted by the hermit. - -It was in the month of May, on the day of the Holy Cross, that the -Christian and Moslem armies came in sight of each other. The Moors -advanced with a great sound of trumpets, atabals, and cymbals, and -their mighty host extended over hill and valley. When they saw how -small was the force of the Christians they put up derisive shouts, -and rushed forward to surround them. - -Don Fernan Gonzalez remained calm and unmoved upon a rising ground, -for the hour was at hand when the sign of victory promised by the -hermit was to take place. Near by him was a youthful cavalier, Pedro -Gonzalez by name, native of La Puente de Hitero, of fiery courage -but vainglorious temper. He was cased in shining armor, and mounted -on a beautiful horse impatient of spirit as himself, and incessantly -foaming and champing on the bit and pawing the earth. As the Moors -drew near, while there was yet a large space between them and the -Christians, this fiery cavalier could no longer contain himself, but -giving reins to his steed set off headlong to encounter the foe; when -suddenly the earth opened, man and horse rushed downward into an -abyss, and the earth closed as before. - -A cry of horror ran through the Christian ranks, and a panic was -like to seize upon them, but Don Fernan Gonzalez rode in front of -them, exclaiming, “This is the promised sign of victory. Let us -see how Castilians defend their lord, for my standard shall be -borne into the thickest of the fight.” So saying, he ordered Orbita -Fernandez to advance his standard; and when his troops saw the silver -cross glittering on high and borne toward the enemy, they shouted, -“Castile! Castile!” and rushed forward to the fight. Immediately -around the standard fought Don Gonzalo Gustios and his seven sons, -and he was, say the old chroniclers, like a lion leading his whelps -into the fight. Wherever they fought their way, they might be traced -by the bodies of bleeding and expiring infidels. Few particulars of -this battle remain on record; but it is said the Moors were as if -struck with sudden fear and weakness, and fled in confusion. Almanzor -himself escaped by the speed of his horse, attended by a handful of -his cavaliers. - -In the camp of the Moors was found vast booty in gold and silver, and -other precious things, with sumptuous armor and weapons. When the -spoil was divided and the troops were refreshed, Don Fernan Gonzalez -went with his cavaliers in pious procession to the hermitage of San -Pedro. Here he gave much silver and gold to the worthy Fray Pelayo, -to be expended in masses for the souls of the Christian warriors -who had fallen in battle, and in prayers for further victories over -the infidels; after which he returned in triumph to his capital of -Burgos.[63] - - [63] It does not appear that Count Fernan Gonzalez kept his - promise of founding a church and monastery on the site of the - hermitage. The latter edifice remained to after ages. “It - stands,” says Sandoval, “on a precipice overhanging the river - Arlanza, insomuch that it inspires dread to look below. It is - extremely ancient; large enough to hold a hundred persons. Within - the chapel is an opening like a chasm, leading down to a cavern - larger than the church, formed in the solid rock, with a small - window which overlooks the river. It was here the Christians used - to conceal themselves.” - - As a corroboration of the adventure of the Count of Castile, - Sandoval assures us that in his day the oak still existed to - which Don Fernan Gonzalez tied his horse, when he alighted to - scramble up the hill in pursuit of the boar. The worthy Fray - Agapida, however, needed no corroboration of the kind, swallowing - the whole story with the ready credence of a pious monk. The - action here recorded was known by the name of the battle of the - Ford of Cascajares. - - Sandoval gives a different account of the fate of the hermits. - He says that Almanzor, in a rage at their prognostics, overthrew - their chapel, and, without alighting from his horse, ordered the - three monks to be beheaded in his presence. “This martyrdom,” he - adds, “is represented in an ancient painting of the chapel which - still exists.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VIII. - -Of the Message sent by the Count to Sancho II., King of Navarre; and -the Reply.—Their Encounter in Battle. - - -The good Count of Castile was so inspirited by this signal victory -over the Moors, and their great general Almanzor, that he determined, -now that he had a breathing-spell from infidel warfare, to redress -certain grievances sustained from one of his Christian neighbors. -This was Don Sancho II., King of Navarre, surnamed Abarca, either -from the abarcas or shepherd shoes which he had worn in early life, -when brought up in secrecy and indigence, during the overthrow of -his country by the Moors, or from making his soldiers wear shoes of -the kind in crossing the snowy Pyrenees. It was a name by which the -populace delighted to call him. - -This prince had recovered all Navarre from the infidels, and even -subjected to his crown all Biscay, or Cantabria, and some territory -beyond the Pyrenees, on the confines of France. Not content with -these acquisitions, he had made occasional inroads into Castile, in -consequence of a contest respecting the territories of Navarre and -Rioxa, to which he laid claim. These incursions he repeated whenever -he had peace or truce with the Moors.[64] - - [64] Sandoval. _The Five Bishops._ Mariana, lib. 8, c. 5, p. 367. - _Cron. Gen. de España_, part 3, c. 18, fol. 53. - -Count Fernan Gonzalez, having now time, as has been observed, to -attend to these matters, sent an ambassador to King Sancho, charged -with a courteous but resolute message. “I come, Señor,” said the -ambassador to the king, “by command of the Count Fernan Gonzalez of -Castile, and this is what I am told to say. You have done him much -wrong in times past, by leaguing with the infidels and making inroads -into his territories while he was absent or engaged in war. If you -will amend your ways in this respect, and remedy the past, you will -do him much pleasure; but if you refuse, he sends you his defiance.” - -King Sancho Abarca was lost in astonishment and indignation at -receiving such a message from a count of Castile. “Return to the -count,” said he, “and tell him I will amend nothing; that I marvel -at his insolence, and hold him for a madman for daring to defy me. -Tell him he has listened to evil counsel, or a few trifling successes -against the Moors have turned his brain; but it will be very -different when I come to seek him, for there is not town or tower -from which I will not drag him forth.”[65] - - [65] _Cron. Gen. de España_, ut supra. - -The ambassador returned with this reply, nor did he spare the least -of its scorn and bitterness. Upon this the count assembled his -cavaliers and councilors, and represented the case. He exhorted them -to stand by him in seeking redress for this insult and injury to -their country and their chieftain. “We are not equal in numbers to -the enemy, but we are valiant men, united and true to each other, and -one hundred good lances, all in the hands of chosen cavaliers, all of -one heart and mind, are worth three hundred placed by chance in the -hands of men who have no common tie.” The cavaliers all assured him -they would follow and obey him as loyal subjects of a worthy lord, -and would prove their fealty in the day of battle. - -A little army of staunch Castilians was soon assembled, the silver -cross was again reared on high by the standard-bearer Orbita -Velasquez, and the count advanced resolutely a day’s journey into the -kingdom of Navarre, for his maxim was to strike quickly and sudden. -King Sancho wondered at his daring, but hastened to meet him with a -greatly superior force. The armies came in sight of each other at a -place called the Era de Gollanda. - -The count now addressed his men. “The enemy,” said he, “are more -numerous than we; they are vigorous of body and light of foot, and -are dexterous in throwing darts. They will have the advantage if they -attack us; but if we attack them and close manfully, we shall get the -field of them before they have time to hurl their darts and wound -us. For my part, I shall make for the king. If I can but revenge the -wrongs of Castile upon his person I care not how soon I die.” - -As the armies drew near each other the Castilians, true to the -orders of their chieftain, put up the war-cry, “Castile! Castile!” -and rushing forward, broke through the squadrons of Navarre. Then -followed a fight so pitiless and deadly, says an old chronicler, that -the strokes of their weapons resounded through the whole country. -The count sought King Sancho throughout the whole field; they met -and recognized each other by their armorial bearings and devices. -They fought with fury, until both fell from their horses as if dead. -The Castilians cut their way through the mass of the enemy, and -surrounded their fallen chief. Some raised him from the earth while -others kept off the foe. At first they thought him dead, and were -loud in their lamentations; but when the blood and dust were wiped -from his face he revived and told them not to heed him, for his -wounds were nothing; but to press on and gain the victory, for he had -slain the King of Navarre. - -At hearing this they gave a great shout and returned to the fight; -but those of Navarre, seized with terror at the fall of their king, -turned their backs and fled. - -The count then caused the body of the king to be taken from among -the slain and to be conducted, honorably attended, to Navarre. Thus -fell Sancho Abarca, King of Navarre, and was succeeded by his son Don -Garcia, surnamed the Trembler. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IX. - -How the Count of Toulouse makes a Campaign against Castile, and how -he returns in his Coffin. - - -While the Count Fernan Gonzalez was yet ill of his wounds in his -capital, and when his soldiers had scarce laid by their cuirasses and -hung up their shields and lances, there was a fresh alarm of war. The -Count of Toulouse and Poictiers, the close friend and ally of King -Sancho Abarca, had come from France with a host to his assistance, -but finding him defeated and slain, raised his standard to make a -campaign, in his revenge, against the Castilians. The Navarrese all -gathered round him, and now an army was on foot more powerful than -the one which had recently been defeated. - -Count Fernan Gonzalez, wounded as he was, summoned his troops to -march against this new enemy; but the war-worn Castilians, vexed at -being thus called again to arms before they had time to breathe, -began to murmur. “This is the life of the very devil,” said they, “to -go about day and night, without a moment’s rest. This lord of ours -is assuredly Satan himself, and we are lesser devils in his employ, -always busy entrapping the souls of men. He has no pity for us, so -battered and worn, nor for himself, so badly wounded. It is necessary -that some one should talk with him, and turn him from this madness.” - -Accordingly a hardy cavalier, Nuño Laynez, remonstrated with the -count against further fighting until he should be cured of his wounds -and his people should have time to repose; for mortal men could not -support this kind of life. “Nor is this urged through cowardice,” -added he, “for your men are ready to fight for and defend you as they -would their own souls.” - -“Well have you spoken, Nuño Laynez,” replied the count; “yet for all -this I am not minded to defer this fight. A day lost never returns. -An opportunity foregone can never be recalled. The warrior who -indulges in repose will never leave the memory of great deeds behind -him. His name dies when his soul leaves the body. Let us, therefore, -make the most of the days and hours allotted us, and crown them with -such glorious deeds that the world shall praise us in all future -time.” - -When Nuño Laynez repeated these generous words to the cavaliers, the -blood glowed in their veins, and they prepared themselves manfully -for the field; nor did the count give them time to cool before he -put himself at their head and marched to meet the enemy. He found -them drawn up on the opposite side of a river which was swollen and -troubled by recent rains. Without hesitation he advanced to ford -it, but his troops were galled by flights of darts and arrows as -they crossed, and received with lances on the water’s edge; the -bodies of many floated down the turbid stream, and many perished on -the banks. They made good their crossing, however, and closed with -the enemy. The fight was obstinate and the Castilians were hardly -pressed, being so inferior in number. Don Fernan Gonzalez galloped -along the front of the enemy. “Where is the Count of Toulouse?” cried -he; “let him come forth and face me,—me, Fernan Gonzalez of Castile, -who defy him to single combat!” The count answered promptly to the -defiance. No one from either side presumed to interfere while the two -counts encountered, man to man and horse to horse, like honorable -and generous cavaliers. They rushed upon each other with the full -speed of their horses; the lance of Don Fernan pierced through all -the armor and accoutrements of the Count of Toulouse and bore him -out of the saddle, and before he touched the earth his soul had -already parted from his body. The men of Toulouse, seeing their chief -fall dead, fled amain, but were pursued, and three hundred of them -taken.[66] - - [66] _Cron. Gen. de España._ - -The field being won, Count Fernan Gonzalez alighted and took off the -armor of the Count of Toulouse, with his own hands, and wrapped him -in a xemete, or Moorish mantle, of great value, which he had gained -when he conquered Almanzor. He ordered a coffin to be made, and -covered with cloth of gold, and studded with silver nails, and he -put therein the body of the count, and delivered it to the captive -cavaliers, whom he released and furnished with money for their -expenses, making them swear not to leave the body of the count until -they had conducted it to Toulouse. So the count, who had come from -France in such chivalrous state, at the head of an array of shining -warriors, returned in his coffin with a mourning train of vanquished -cavaliers, while Count Fernan Gonzalez conducted his victorious -troops in triumph back to Burgos. - -This signal victory took place in the year of our Redemption 926, in -the beginning of the reign of Alfonso the Monk on the throne of Leon -and the Asturias.[67] - - [67] Mariana, lib. 8, c. 5, p. 367. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER X. - -How the Count went to receive the Hand of a Princess, and was thrown -into a Dungeon.—Of the Stranger that visited him in his Chains, and -of the Appeal that he made to the Princess for his Deliverance. - - -Garcia II., who had succeeded to the throne of Navarre on the death -of his father, was brave of soul, though surnamed El Tembloso, or -The Trembler. He was so called because he was observed to tremble -on going into battle; but, as has been said of others, it was only -the flesh that trembled, foreseeing the dangers into which the -spirit would carry it. This king was deeply grieved at the death of -his father, slain by Count Fernan Gonzalez, and would have taken -vengeance by open warfare, but he was counseled by his mother, -the Queen Teresa, to pursue a subtler course. At her instigation -overtures were made to the count to settle all the feuds between -Navarre and Castile by a firm alliance, and to this end it was -proposed that the count should take to wife Doña Sancha, the sister -of King Garcia and daughter of King Sancho Abarca. The count accepted -gladly the proffered alliance, for he had heard of the great merit -and beauty of the princess, and was pleased with so agreeable a -mode of putting an end to all their contests. A conference was -accordingly appointed between the count and King Garcia, to take -place at Ciruena, each to be attended only by five cavaliers. - -The count was faithful to his compact, and appeared at the appointed -place with five of the bravest of his cavaliers; but the king arrived -with five-and-thirty chosen men, all armed _cap-a-pie_. The count, -suspecting treachery, retreated with his cavaliers into a neighboring -hermitage, and, barricading the door, defended himself throughout -the day until nightfall. Seeing there was no alternative, he at -length capitulated and agreed to surrender himself a prisoner, and -pay homage to the king, on the latter assuring him, under oath, that -his life should be secure. King Garcia the Trembler, having in this -wily manner gained possession of the count, threw him in irons and -conducted him prisoner to Navarre, where he confined him in a strong -castle called Castro Viejo. At his intercession, however, his five -cavaliers were released, and carried back to Castile the doleful -tidings of his captivity. - -Now it came to pass that a brave Norman count, who was performing a -pilgrimage to St. Iago of Compostella, heard that the Count Fernan -Gonzalez, whose renown had spread far and wide, lay in chains in -Castro Viejo. Having a vehement desire to see the man of whom fame -had spoken so loudly, he repaired to the castle, and bribed his way -to the prison of the count. When he entered and beheld so noble a -cavalier in a solitary dungeon and in chains, he was sore at heart. -The count looked up with wonder as this stranger stood before him in -pilgrim garb and with sorrowful aspect, but when he learned his name -and rank, and the object of his visit, he gave him the right hand of -friendship. - -The pilgrim count left the castle more enamored than ever of the -character of Count Fernan Gonzalez. At a festival of the court he -beheld the Princess Sancha, who had served as a lure to draw the good -count into the power of his enemies, and he found her of surpassing -beauty, and of a gentle and loving demeanor; so he determined to seek -an opportunity to speak with her in private, for surely, thought he, -in such a bosom must dwell the soft pity of womanhood. Accordingly, -one day as the princess was walking in the garden with her ladies, -he presented himself before her in his pilgrim’s garb, and prayed -to speak with her apart, as if on some holy mission. And when they -were alone, “How is this, Princess,” said he, “that you are doing -such great wrong to Heaven, to yourself, and to all Christendom?” The -princess started, and said, “What wrong have I done?” Then replied -the pilgrim count, “Behold, for thy sake the noblest of cavaliers, -the pride of Spain, the flower of chivalry, the hope of Christendom, -lies in a dungeon, fettered with galling chains. What lady but would -be too happy to be honored with the love of Count Fernan Gonzalez; -and thou hast scorned it! How will it tell for thy fame in future -times, that thou wast made a snare to capture an honorable knight; -that the gentlest, the bravest, the most generous of cavaliers was -inveigled by the love of thee to be thrown into a dungeon? How hast -thou reversed the maxims of chivalry! Beauty has ever been the friend -of valor; but thou hast been its foe! The fair hands of lovely dames -have ever bestowed laurels and rewards on those gallant knights -who sought and deserved their loves; thou hast bestowed chains and -a dungeon. Behold, the Moors rejoice in his captivity, while all -Christians mourn. Thy name will be accursed throughout the land like -that of Cava; but shouldst thou have the heroism to set him free, -thou wilt be extolled above all Spanish ladies. Hadst thou but seen -him as I have done,—alone, abandoned, enchained; yet so noble, so -courteous, so heroic in his chains, that kings upon their thrones -might envy the majesty of his demeanor. If thou couldst feel love for -man, thou shouldst do it for this knight; for I swear to thee on this -cross which I bear, that never was there king or emperor in the world -so worthy of woman’s love.” When the pilgrim count had thus spoken, -he left the princess to meditate upon his words. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XI. - -Of the Meditations of the Princess, and their Result.—Her Flight from -the Prison with the Count, and Perils of the Escape.—The Nuptials. - - -The Princess Sancha remained for some time in the garden, revolving -in her mind all that she had just heard, and tenderness for the Count -Fernan Gonzalez began to awaken in her bosom; for nothing so touches -the heart of woman as the idea of valor suffering for her sake. -The more the princess meditated the more she became enamored. She -called to mind all she had heard of the illustrious actions of the -count. She thought upon the pictures just drawn of him in prison—so -noble, so majestic in his chains. She remembered the parting words -of the pilgrim count—“Never was there king nor emperor so worthy -of a woman’s love.” “Alas!” cried she, “was there ever a lady more -unfortunate than I? All the love and devotion of this noble cavalier -I might have had, and behold it has been made a mockery. Both he and -myself have been wronged by the treachery of my brother.” - -At length the passion of the princess arose to such a height that -she determined to deliver the count from the misery of which she had -been made the instrument. So she found means one night to bribe -the guards of his prison, and made her way to his dungeon. When the -count saw her, he thought it a beautiful vision, or some angel sent -from heaven to comfort him, for certainly her beauty surpassed the -ordinary loveliness of woman. - -“Noble cavalier,” said the princess, “this is no time for idle words -and ceremonies. Behold before you the Princess Doña Sancha; the word -which my brother brake I am here to fulfill. You came to receive my -hand, and, instead, you were thrown in chains. I come to yield you -that hand, and to deliver you from those chains. Behold, the door of -your prison is open, and I am ready to fly with you to the ends of -the earth. Swear to me one word, and when you have sworn it, I know -your loyalty too well to doubt that you will hold your oath sacred. -Swear that if I fly with you, you will treat me with the honor of a -knight; that you will make me your wife, and never leave me for any -other woman.” - -The count swore all this on the faith of a Christian cavalier; and -well did he feel disposed to keep his oath, for never before had he -beheld such glorious beauty. - -So the princess led the way, and her authority and her money had -conquered the fidelity of the guards, so that they permitted the -count to sally forth with her from the prison. - -It was a dark night, and they left the great road and climbed a -mountain. The count was so fettered by his chains that he moved with -difficulty, but the princess helped and sometimes almost carried -him; for what will not delicate woman perform when her love and -pity are fully aroused. Thus they toiled on their way until the day -dawned, when they hid themselves in the cliffs of the mountain, among -rocks and thickets. While thus concealed they beheld an archpriest -of the castle, mounted on a mule with a falcon on his fist, hawking -about the lower part of the mountain. The count knew him to be a base -and malignant man, and watched his movements with great anxiety. He -had two hounds beating about the bushes, which at length got upon -the traces of the count and princess, and discovering them, set up a -violent barking. Alighting from his mule, the archpriest clambered -up to where the fugitives were concealed. He knew the count, and saw -that he had escaped. “Aha! traitor,” cried he, drawing his sword, -“think not to escape from the power of the king.” The count saw that -resistance was in vain, for he was without weapon and in chains, -and the archpriest was a powerful man, exceeding broad across the -shoulders; he sought, therefore, to win him by fair words, promising -that if he would aid him to escape he would give him a city in -Castile, for him and his heirs forever. But the archpriest was more -violent than ever, and held his sword at the breast of the count to -force him back to the castle. Upon this the princess rushed forward, -and with tears in her eyes implored him not to deliver the count into -the hands of his enemies. But the heart of the priest was inflamed -by the beauty of the princess, and thinking her at his mercy, -“Gladly,” said he, “will I assist the count to escape, but upon one -condition.” Then he whispered a proposal which brought a crimson glow -of horror and indignation into the cheeks of the princess, and he -would have laid his hand upon her, but he was suddenly lifted from -the earth by the strong grasp of the count, who bore him to the edge -of a precipice and flung him headlong down; and his neck was broken -in the fall. - -The count then took the mule of the archpriest, his hawk, and his -hounds, and after keeping in the secret parts of the mountain all -day, he and the princess mounted the mule at night, and pursued their -way, by the most rugged and unfrequented passes, toward Castile. - -As the day dawned they found themselves in an open plain at the foot -of the mountains, and beheld a body of horsemen riding toward them, -conducting a car, in which sat a knight in armor, bearing a standard. -The princess now gave all up for lost. “These,” said she, “are sent -by my brother in pursuit of us; how can we escape, for this poor -animal has no longer strength nor speed to bear us up the mountains?” -Upon this Count Fernan alighted, and drawing the sword of the -archpriest, placed himself in a narrow pass. “Do you,” said he to the -princess, “turn back and hasten to the mountains, and dearly shall it -cost him who attempts to follow you.” “Not so,” replied the princess; -“for the love of me hast thou been brought from thine own domain and -betrayed into all these dangers, and I will abide to share them with -thee.” - -The count would have remonstrated, when to his astonishment he saw, -as the car drew near, that the knight seated in it was clad in his -own armor, with his own devices, and held his own banner in his hand. -“Surely,” said he, crossing himself, “this is enchantment;” but on -looking still nearer, he recognized among the horsemen Nuño Sandias -and Nuño Laynez, two of his most faithful knights. Then his heart -leaped for joy. “Fear nothing,” cried he to the princess; “behold my -standard, and behold my vassals. Those whom you feared as enemies -shall kneel at your feet and kiss your hand in homage.” - -Now so it appears that the tidings of the captivity of the count -had spread mourning and consternation throughout Castile, and the -cavaliers assembled together to devise means for his deliverance. And -certain of them had prepared this effigy of the count, clad in his -armor and bearing his banner and devices, and having done homage and -sworn fealty to it as they would have done to the count himself, they -had placed it in this car and set forth with it as a leader, making -a vow, in the spirit of ancient chivalry, never to return to their -homes until they should have delivered the count from his captivity. - -When the cavaliers recognized the count, they put up shouts of -joy, and kissed his hands and the hands of the princess in token -of devoted loyalty. And they took off the fetters of the count and -placed him in the car and the princess beside him, and returned -joyfully to Castile. - -Vain would be the attempt to describe the transports of the -multitude as Count Fernan Gonzalez entered his noble capital of -Burgos. The Princess Sancha, also, was hailed with blessings wherever -she passed, as the deliverer of their lord and the savior of Castile, -and shortly afterwards her nuptials with the count were celebrated -with feasting and rejoicing and tilts and tournaments, which lasted -for many days. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XII. - -King Garcia confined in Burgos by the Count.—The Princess intercedes -for his Release. - - -The rejoicings for the marriage of Count Fernan Gonzalez with the -beautiful Princess Sancha were scarcely finished when King Garcia the -Trembler came with a powerful army to revenge his various affronts. -The count sallied forth to meet him, and a bloody and doubtful battle -ensued. The Navarrese at length were routed, and the king was wounded -and taken prisoner in single combat by Count Fernan, who brought him -to Burgos and put him in close confinement. - -The Countess Doña Sancha was now almost as much afflicted at the -captivity of her brother as she had been at that of the count, and -interceded with her husband for his release. The count, however, -retained too strong a recollection of the bad faith of King Garcia -and of his own treacherous and harsh imprisonment to be easily moved, -and the king was kept in duress for a considerable time. The countess -then interested the principal cavaliers in her suit, reminding them -of the services she had rendered them in aiding the escape of their -lord. Through their united intercessions the count was induced to -relent; so King Garcia the Trembler was released and treated with -great honor, and sent back to his dominions with a retinue befitting -his rank. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Of the Expedition against the ancient City of Sylo.—The unwitting -Trespass of the Count into a Convent, and his Compunction thereupon. - - -Volumes would it take to follow the Count Fernan Gonzalez in his -heroic achievements against the infidels,—achievements which give to -sober history almost the air of fable. I forbear to dwell at large -upon one of his campaigns, wherein he scoured the Valley of Laguna; -passed victoriously along the banks of the Douro, building towers and -castles to keep the country in subjection; how he scaled the walls of -the castle of Ormaz, being the first to mount, sword in hand; how by -the valor of his arm he captured the city of Orma; how he took the -town of Sandoval, the origin of the cavaliers of Sandoval, who were -anciently called Salvadores; how he made an inroad even to Madrid, -then a strongly fortified village, and having taken and sacked it, -returned in triumph to Burgos. - -But it would be wronging the memory of this great and good cavalier -to pass in silence over one of his exploits in which he gave a -singular instance of his piety. This was in an expedition against -the ancient city of Sylo. It was not a place of much value in itself, -being situated in a cold and sterile country, but it had become a -stronghold of the Moors, whence they carried on their warfare. This -place the count carried by assault, entering it in full armor, on his -steed, overturning and slaying all who opposed him. In the fury of -his career he rode into a spacious edifice which he supposed to be a -mosque, with the pious intention of slaying every infidel he might -find within. On looking round, however, great was his astonishment -at beholding images of saints, the blessed cross of our Saviour, and -various other sacred objects, which announced a church devoted to -the veritable faith. Struck with remorse, he sprang from his horse, -threw himself upon his knees, and with many tears implored pardon of -God for the sin he had unknowingly committed. While he was yet on his -knees, several monks of the order of St. Dominic approached, meagre -in looks and squalid in attire, but hailing him with great joy as -their deliverer. In sooth this was a convent of San Sebastian, the -fraternity of which had remained captives among the Moors, supporting -themselves poorly by making baskets, but permitted to continue in the -exercise of their religion. - -Still filled with pious compunction for the trespass he had made, -the count ordered that the shoes should be taken from his horse and -nailed upon the door of the church; for never, said he, shall they -tread any other ground after having trodden this holy place. From -that day, we are told, it has been the custom to nail the shoes of -horses on the portal of that convent—a custom which has extended to -many other places. - -The worthy Fray Prudencio de Sandoval records a marvelous memento of -the expedition of the count against this city, which remained, he -says, until his day. Not far from the place, on the road which passes -by Lara, is to be seen the print of his horse’s hoofs in a solid -rock, which has received the impression as though it had been made -in softened wax.[68] It is to be presumed that the horse’s hoofs had -been gifted with miraculous hardness in reward to the count for his -pious oblation of the shoes. - - [68] Sandoval, p. 313. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Of the Moorish Host that came up from Cordova, and how the Count -repaired to the Hermitage of San Pedro, and prayed for Success -against them, and received Assurance of Victory in a Vision.—Battle -of Hazinas. - - -The worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, from whose manuscripts this memoir -is extracted, passes by many of the striking and heroic deeds of the -count, which crowd the pages of ancient chroniclers; but the good -friar ever is sure to dwell with delight upon any of those miraculous -occurrences which took place in Spain in those days, and which -showed the marked interposition of Heaven in behalf of the Christian -warriors in their battles with the infidels. Such was the renowned -battle of Hazinas, which, says Agapida, for its miraculous events is -worthy of eternal blazon. - -Now so it was that the Moorish king of Cordova had summoned all the -faithful, both of Spain and Africa, to assist him in recovering the -lands wrested from him by the unbelievers, and especially by Count -Fernan Gonzalez in his late victories; and such countless legions of -turbaned warriors were assembled that it was said they covered the -plains of Andalusia like swarms of locusts. - -Hearing of their threatening approach, the count gathered together -his forces at Piedrafita, while the Moors encamped in Hazinas. When, -however, he beheld the mighty host arrayed against him, his heart -for once was troubled with evil forebodings, and calling to mind the -cheering prognostications of the friar Pelayo on a like occasion, he -resolved to repair again to that holy man for counsel. Leaving his -camp, therefore, secretly, he set out, accompanied by two cavaliers, -to seek the chapel which he had ordered to be built at the hermitage -of San Pedro, on the mountain overhanging the river Arlanza, but when -arrived there he heard to his great grief that the worthy friar was -dead. - -Entering the chapel, however, he knelt down at the altar and prayed -for success in the coming fight; humbly representing that he had -never, like many of the kings and nobles of Spain, done homage to the -infidels and acknowledged them for sovereigns. The count remained a -long time at prayer, until sleep gradually stole over him; and as he -lay slumbering before the altar the holy Fray Pelayo appeared before -him in a vision, clad in garments as white as snow. “Why sleepest -thou, Fernan Gonzalez?” said he; “arise, and go forth, and know that -thou shalt conquer those Moors. For, inasmuch as thou art a faithful -vassal of the Most High, he has commanded the Apostle San Iago and -myself, with many angels, to come to thy aid, and we will appear in -the battle clad in white armor, with each of us a red cross upon our -pennon. Therefore arise, I say, and go hence with a valiant heart.” - -The count awoke, and while he was yet musing upon the vision he heard -a voice saying, “Arise, and get thee hence; why dost thou linger? -Separate thy host into three divisions: enter the field of battle by -the east, with the smallest division, and I will be with thee; and -let the second division enter by the west, and that shall be aided by -San Iago; and let the third division enter by the north. Know that I -am San Millan who come to thee with this message.” - -The count departed joyfully from the chapel, and returned to his -army; and when he told his troops of this, his second visit to the -hermitage, and of the vision he had had, and how the holy friar San -Pelayo had again assured him of victory, their hearts were lifted -up, and they rejoiced to serve under a leader who had such excellent -counselors in war. - -In the evening preceding the battle Don Fernan Gonzalez divided his -forces as he had been ordered. The first division was composed of two -hundred horsemen and six thousand infantry; hardy mountaineers, light -of foot and of great valor. In the advance were Don Gustios Gonzalez -of Salas, and his seven sons and two nephews, and his brother Ruy -Velasquez, and a valiant cavalier named Gonzalo Diaz. - -The second division was led by Don Lope de Biscaya, with the people -of Burueba and Trevino, and Old Castile and Castro and the Asturias. -Two hundred horsemen and six thousand infantry. - -The third division was led by the count himself, and with him went -Ruy Cavia, and Nuño Cavia and the Velascos, whom the count that -day dubbed knights, and twenty esquires of the count, whom he had -likewise knighted. His division consisted of four hundred and fifty -horse and fifteen hundred foot; and he told his men that if they -should not conquer the Moors on the following day, they should draw -off from the battle when he gave the word. Late at night, when all -the camp, excepting the sentinels and guards, were buried in sleep, -a light suddenly illumined the heavens, and a great serpent was seen -in the air, wounded and covered with blood, and vomiting flames, and -making a loud hissing that awakened all the soldiers. They rushed -out of their tents, and ran hither and thither, running against each -other in their affright. Count Fernan Gonzalez was awakened by their -outcries, but before he came forth the serpent had disappeared. He -rebuked the terrors of his people, representing to them that the -Moors were great necromancers, and by their arts could raise devils -to their aid; and that some Moorish astrologer had doubtless raised -this spectrum to alarm them; but he bade them be of good heart, since -they had San Iago on their side, and might set Moor, astrologer, and -devil at defiance. - -In the first day’s fight Don Fernan fought hand to hand with a -powerful Moor, who had desired to try his prowess with him. It was -an obstinate contest, in which the Moor was slain; but the count -so badly wounded that he fell to the earth, and had not his men -surrounded and defended him, he would have been slain or captured. -The battle lasted all day long, and Gustios Gonzalez and his kindred -warriors showed prodigies of valor. Don Fernan, having had his wounds -stanched, remounted his horse and galloped about, giving courage -to his men; but he was covered with dust and blood, and so hoarse -that he could no longer be heard. The sun went down, the Moors kept -on fighting, confiding in their great numbers. The count, seeing -the night approaching, ordered the trumpets to be sounded, and, -collecting his troops, made one general charge on the Moors, and -drove them from the field. He then drew off his men to their tents, -where the weary troops found refreshment and repose, though they -slept all night upon their arms. - -On the second day the count rose before the dawn, and having attended -mass like a good Christian, attended next to his horses, like a -good cavalier, seeing with his own eyes that they were well fed -and groomed, and prepared for the field. The battle this day was -obstinate as the day before, with great valor and loss on either side. - -On the third day the count led forth his forces at an early hour, -raising his silver standard of the cross, and praying devoutly for -aid. Then lowering their lances, the Castilians shouted San Iago! San -Iago! and rushed to the attack. - -Don Gustios Gonzalo de Salas, the leader of one of the divisions, -made a lane into the centre of the Moorish host, dealing death on -either side. He was met by a Moorish cavalier of powerful frame. -Covering themselves with their shields, they attacked each other with -great fury; but the days of Gustios Gonzalo were numbered, and the -Moor slew him, and with him fell a nephew of Count Fernan, and many -of his principal cavaliers. - -Count Fernan Gonzalez encountered the Moor who had just slain his -friend. The infidel would have avoided him, having heard that never -man escaped alive from a conflict with him; but the count gave him -a furious thrust with his lance, which stretched him dead upon the -field. - -The Moors, however, continued to press the count sorely, and their -numbers threatened to overwhelm him. Then he put up a prayer for -the aid promised in his vision, and of a sudden the Apostle San -Iago appeared, with a great and shining company of angels in white, -bearing the device of a red cross, and all rushing upon the Moors. -The Moors were dismayed at the sight of this reinforcement to the -enemy. The Christians, on the other hand, recovered their forces, -knowing the Apostle San Iago to be at hand. They charged the Moors -with new vigor, and put them to flight, and pursued them for two -days, killing and making captive. They then returned and gathered -together the bodies of the Christians who had been slain, and buried -them in the chapel of San Pedro of Arlanza and in other hermitages. -The bodies of the Moors were piled up and covered with earth, forming -a mound which is still to be seen on the field of battle. - -Some have ascribed to the signal worn in this battle by the celestial -warriors the origin of the Cross of Calatrava. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XV. - -The Count imprisoned by the King of Leon.—The Countess concerts his -Escape.—Leon and Castile united by the Marriage of the Prince Ordoño -with Urraca, the Daughter of the Count by his first Wife. - - -Not long after this most renowned and marvelous battle, a Moorish -captain named Aceyfa became a vassal of the Count Don Fernan. Under -his protection, and that of a rich and powerful Castilian cavalier -named Diego Muñon, he rebuilt Salamanca and Ledesma, and several -places on the river Tormes, which had been desolated and deserted in -times past. - -Ramiro the Second, who was at this time King of Leon, was alarmed at -seeing a strong line of Moorish fortresses erected along the borders -of his territories, and took the field with an army to drive the Moor -Aceyfa from the land. The proud spirit of Count Fernan Gonzalez was -aroused at this attack upon his Moorish vassal, which he considered -an indignity offered to himself; so being seconded by Don Diego -Muñon, he marched forth with his chivalry to protect the Moor. In the -present instance he had trusted to his own head, and had neglected -to seek advice of saint or hermit; so his army was defeated by King -Ramiro, and himself and Don Diego Muñon taken prisoner. The latter -was sent in chains to the castle of Gordon; but the count was carried -to Leon, where he was confined in a tower of the wall, which to this -day is pointed out as his prison.[69] - - [69] In the _Cronica General de España_, this imprisonment is - said to have been by King Sancho the Fat; but the cautious - Agapida goes according to his favorite Sandoval in attributing - it to King Ramiro, and in so doing he is supported by the - _Chronicle_ of Bleda, L. 3, c. 19. - -All Castile was thrown into grief and consternation by this event, -and lamentations were heard throughout the land, as though the count -had been dead. The countess, however, did not waste time in idle -tears, for she was a lady of most valiant spirit. She forthwith -assembled five hundred cavaliers, chosen men of tried loyalty and -devotion to the count. They met in the chapel of the palace, and took -an oath upon the Holy Evangelists to follow the countess through all -difficulties and dangers, and to obey implicitly all her commands -for the rescue of their lord. With this band the countess departed -secretly at nightfall, and travelled rapidly until morning, when they -left the roads, and took to the mountains, lest their march should -be discovered. Arrived near to Leon, she halted her band in a thick -wood in the mountain of Samosa where she ordered them to remain -in secrecy. Then clothing herself as a pilgrim with her staff and -pannier, she sent word to King Ramiro that she was on a pilgrimage to -San Iago, and entreated that she might have permission to visit her -husband in his prison. King Ramiro not merely granted her request, -but sallied forth above a league from the city with a great retinue -to do her honor. So the countess entered a second time the prison -where the count lay in chains, and stood before him as his protecting -angel. At sight of him in this miserable and dishonored state, -however, the valor of spirit which had hitherto sustained her gave -way, and tears flowed from her eyes. The count received her joyfully, -and reproached her with her tears; “for it becomes us,” said he, “to -submit to what is imposed upon us by God.” - -The countess now sent to entreat the king that while she remained -with the count his chains should be taken off. The king again granted -her request; and the count was freed from his irons and an excellent -bed prepared in his prison. - -The countess remained with him all night and concerted his escape. -Before it was daylight she gave him her pilgrim’s dress and staff, -and the count went forth from the chamber disguised as his wife. The -porter at the outer portal, thinking it to be the countess, would -have waited for orders from the king; but the count, in a feigned -voice, entreated not to be detained, lest he should not be able to -perform his pilgrimage. The porter, mistrusting no deceit, opened the -door. The count issued forth, repaired to a place pointed out by the -countess, where the two cavaliers awaited him with a fleet horse. -They all sallied quietly forth from the city at the opening of the -gates, until they found themselves clear of the walls, when they put -spurs to their horses and made their way to the mountain of Samosa. -Here the count was received with shouts of joy by the cavaliers whom -the countess had left there in concealment. - -As the day advanced the keeper of the prison entered the apartment of -Don Fernan, but was astonished to find there the beautiful countess -in place of her warrior husband. He conducted her before the king, -accusing her of the fraud by which she had effected the escape of -the count. King Ramiro was greatly incensed, and he demanded of the -countess how she dared to do such an act. “I dared,” replied she, -“because I saw my husband in misery, and felt it my duty to relieve -him; and I dared because I was the daughter of a king, and the wife -of a distinguished cavalier; as such I trust to your chivalry to -treat me.” - -The king was charmed with her intrepidity. “Señora,” said he, “you -have acted well and like a noble lady, and it will redound to your -laud and honor.” So he commanded that she should be conducted to her -husband in a manner befitting a lady of high and noble rank; and -the count was overjoyed to receive her in safety, and they returned -to their dominions and entered Burgos at the head of their train of -cavaliers, amidst the transports and acclamations of their people. -And King Ramiro sought the amity of Count Fernan Gonzalez, and -proposed that they should unite their houses by some matrimonial -alliance which should serve as a bond of mutual security. The count -gladly listened to his proposals. He had a fair daughter named -Urraca, by his first wife, who was now arrived at a marriageable -age; so it was agreed that nuptials should be solemnized between her -and the Prince Ordoño, son of King Ramiro; and all Leon and Castile -rejoiced at this union, which promised tranquillity to the land. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Moorish Incursion into Castile.—Battle of San Estevan.—Of Pascual -Vivas and the Miracle that Befell him.—Death of Ordoño III. - - -For several succeeding years of the career of this most redoubtable -cavalier, the most edifying and praiseworthy traces which remain, -says Fray Antonio Agapida, are to be found in the archives of various -monasteries, consisting of memorials of pious gifts and endowments -made by himself and his countess, Doña Sancha. - -In the process of time King Ramiro died, and was succeeded by his son -Ordoño III., the same who had married Urraca, the daughter of Count -Fernan. He was surnamed the Fierce, either from his savage temper or -savage aspect. He had a step-brother named Don Sancho, nephew, by -the mother’s side, of King Garcia of Navarre, surnamed the Trembler. -This Don Sancho rose in arms against Ordoño at the very outset of his -reign, seeking to deprive him of his crown. He applied for assistance -to his uncle Garcia and to Count Fernan Gonzalez, and it is said -both favored his pretensions. Nay, the count soon appeared in the -field in company with King Garcia the Trembler, in support of Prince -Sancho. It may seem strange that he should take up arms against his -own son-in-law; and so it certainly appeared to Ordoño III., for he -was so incensed against the count that he repudiated his wife Urraca -and sent her back to her father, telling him that since he would not -acknowledge him as king, he should not have him for son-in-law. - -The kingdom now became a prey to civil wars; the restless part of -the subjects of King Ordoño rose in rebellion, and everything was in -confusion. King Ordoño succeeded, however, in quelling the rebellion, -and defended himself so ably against King Garcia and Count Fernan -Gonzalez, that they returned home without effecting their object. - -About this time, say the records of Compostella, the sinful -dissensions of the Christians brought on them a visible and awful -scourge from Heaven. A great flame, or, as it were, a cloud of fire, -passed throughout the land, burning towns, destroying men and beasts, -and spreading horror and devastation even over the sea. It passed -over Zamora, consuming a great part of the place; it scorched Castro -Xerez likewise, and Brebiesco and Pan Corvo in its progress, and in -Burgos one hundred houses were consumed. - -“These,” says the worthy Agapida, “were fiery tokens of the -displeasure of Heaven at the sinful conduct of the Christians in -warring upon each other, instead of joining their arms like brethren -in the righteous endeavor to extirpate the vile sect of Mahomet.” - -While the Christians were thus fighting among themselves, the -Moors, taking advantage of their discord, came with a great army, -and made an incursion into Castile as far as Burgos. King Ordoño -and Count Fernan Gonzalez, alarmed at the common danger, came to a -reconciliation, and took arms together against the Moors; though it -does not appear that the king received again his repudiated wife -Urraca. These confederate princes gave the Moors a great battle near -to San Estevan. “This battle,” says Fray Antonio Agapida, “is chiefly -memorable for a miracle which occurred there,” and which is recorded -by the good friar with an unction and perfect credence worthy of a -monkish chronicler. - -The Christians were incastellated at San Estevan de Gormaz, which is -near the banks of the Douro. The Moors had possession of the fortress -of Gormaz, about a league further up the river on a lofty and rocky -height. - -The battle commenced at the dawn of day. Count Fernan Gonzalez, -however, before taking the field, repaired with his principal -cavaliers to the church, to attend the first morning’s mass. Now, at -this time, there was in the service of the count a brave cavalier -named Pascual Vivas, who was as pious as he was brave, and would pray -with as much fervor and obstinacy as he would fight. This cavalier -made it a religious rule with himself, or rather had made a solemn -vow, that, whenever he entered a church in the morning, he would on -no account leave it until all the masses were finished. - -On the present occasion the firmness of this brave but pious cavalier -was put to a severe proof. When the first mass was finished, the -count and his cavaliers rose and sallied from the church in clanking -armor, and soon after the sound of trumpet and quick tramp of steed -told that they were off to the encounter. Pascual Vivas, however, -remained kneeling all in armor before the altar, waiting, according -to custom, until all the masses should be finished. The masses that -morning were numerous, and hour after hour passed away; yet still the -cavalier remained kneeling all in armor, with weapon in hand, yet so -zealous in his devotion that he never turned his head. - -All this while the esquire of the cavalier was at the door of the -church, holding his war-horse, and the esquire beheld with surprise -the count and his warriors depart, while his lord remained in the -chapel; and, from the height on which the chapel stood, he could see -the Christian host encounter the Moors at the ford of the river, -and could hear the distant sound of trumpets and din of battle; and -at the sound the war-horse pricked his ears and snuffed the air -and pawed the earth, and showed all the eagerness of a noble steed -to be among the armed men, but still Pascual Vivas came not out of -the chapel. The esquire was wroth, and blushed for his lord, for he -thought it was through cowardice and not piety that he remained in -the chapel while his comrades were fighting in the field. - -At length the masses were finished, and Pascual Vivas was about to -sally forth when horsemen came riding up the hill with shouts of -victory, for the battle was over and the Moors completely vanquished. - -When Pascual Vivas heard this he was so troubled in mind that he -dared not leave the chapel nor come into the presence of the count, -for he said to himself, “Surely I shall be looked upon as a recreant -knight, who have hidden myself in the hour of danger.” Shortly, -however, came some of his fellow-cavaliers, summoning him to the -presence of the count; and as he went with a beating heart, they -lauded him for the valor he had displayed and the great services he -had rendered, saying that to the prowess of his arm they owed the -victory. The good knight, imagining they were scoffing at him, felt -still more cast down in spirit, and entered the presence of the count -covered with confusion. Here again he was received with praises and -caresses, at which he was greatly astonished, but still thought it -all done in mockery. When the truth came to be known, however, all -present were filled with wonder, for it appeared as if this cavalier -had been, at the same moment, in the chapel and in the field; for -while he remained on his knees before the altar, with his steed -pawing the earth at the door, a warrior exactly resembling him, with -the same arms, device, and steed, had appeared in the hottest of -the fight, penetrating and overthrowing whole squadrons of Moors; -that he had cut his way to the standard of the enemy, killed the -standard-bearer, and carried off the banner in triumph; that his -pourpoint and coat of mail were cut to pieces, and his horse covered -with wounds; yet still he fought on, and through his valor chiefly -the victory was obtained. - -What more moved astonishment was that for every wound received by -the warrior and his steed in the field, there appeared marks on the -pourpoint and coat of mail and upon the steed of Pascual Vivas, so -that he had the semblance of having been in the severest press of the -battle. - -The matter was now readily explained by the worthy friars who -followed the armies in those days, and who were skillful in -expounding the miracles daily occurring in those holy wars. A -miraculous intervention had been vouchsafed to Pascual Vivas. That -his piety in remaining at his prayers might not put him to shame -before sinful men, an angel bearing his form and semblance had taken -his place in battle, and fought while he prayed. - -The matter being thus explained, all present were filled with pious -admiration, and Pascual Vivas, if he ceased to be extolled as a -warrior, came near being canonized as a saint.[70] - - [70] Exactly the same kind of miracle is recorded as happening in - the same place to a cavalier of the name of Don Fernan Antolenez, - in the service of the Count Garcia Fernandez. Fray Antonio - Agapida has no doubt that the same miracle did actually happen to - both cavaliers; “for in those days,” says he, “there was such a - demand for miracles that the same had frequently to be repeated;” - witness the repeated appearance of Santiago in precisely the same - manner, to save Christian armies from imminent danger of defeat, - and achieve wonderful victories over the infidels, as we find - recorded throughout the Spanish chronicles. - -King Ordoño III. did not long survive this battle. Scarce had he -arrived at Zamora on his way homeward, when he was seized with a -mortal malady of which he died. He was succeeded by his brother Don -Sancho, the same who had formerly endeavored to dispossess him of his -throne. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVII. - -King Sancho the Fat.—Of the Homage he exacted from Count Fernan -Gonzalez, and of the strange Bargain that he made with him for the -purchase of his Horse and Falcon. - - -King Sancho I., on ascending the throne, held a cortes at Leon, -where all the great men of the kingdom and the princes who owed -allegiance to him were expected to attend and pay homage. As the -court of Leon was excessively tenacious of its claim to sovereignty -over Castile, the absence of Count Fernan Gonzalez was noticed with -great displeasure by the king, who sent missives to him commanding -his attendance. The count being proud of heart, and standing much -upon the independence of Castile, was unwilling to kiss the hand of -any one in token of vassalage. He was at length induced to stifle his -repugnance and repair to the court, but he went in almost regal style -and with a splendid retinue, more like a sovereign making a progress -through his dominions. - -As he approached the city of Leon, King Sancho came forth in great -state to receive him, and they met apparently as friends, but there -was enmity against each other in their hearts. - -The rich and gallant array with which Count Fernan made his entry -in Leon was the theme of every tongue; but nothing attracted more -notice than a falcon, thoroughly trained, which he carried on his -hand, and an Arabian horse of wonderful beauty, which he had gained -in his wars with the Moors. King Sancho was seized with a vehement -desire to possess this horse and falcon, and offered to purchase -them of the count. Don Fernan haughtily declined to enter into -traffic; but offered them to the monarch as a gift. The king was -equally punctilious in refusing to accept a favor; but as monarchs do -not easily forego anything on which they have set their hearts, it -became evident to Count Fernan that it was necessary, for the sake -of peace, to part with his horse and falcon. To save his dignity, -however, he asked a price corresponding to his rank; for it was -beneath a cavalier, he said, to sell his things cheap, like a mean -man. He demanded, therefore, one thousand marks of silver for the -horse and falcon,—to be paid on a stipulated day; if not paid on that -day the price to be doubled on the next, and on each day’s further -delay the price should in like manner be doubled. To these terms the -king gladly consented, and the terms were specified in a written -agreement, which was duly signed and witnessed. The king thus gained -the horse and falcon, but it will be hereinafter shown that this -indulgence of his fancy cost him dear. - -This eager desire for an Arabian steed appears the more singular -in Sancho the First, from his being so corpulent that he could -not sit on horseback. Hence he is commonly known in history by the -appellation of King Sancho the Fat. His unwieldy bulk, also, may be -one reason why he soon lost the favor of his warrior subjects, who -looked upon him as a mere trencherman and bed-presser, and not fitted -to command men who lived in the saddle, and had rather fight than -either eat or sleep. - -King Sancho saw that he might soon have hard fighting to maintain -his throne; and how could he figure as a warrior who could not mount -on horseback. In his anxiety he repaired to his uncle Garcia, king -of Navarre, surnamed the Trembler, who was an exceeding meagre man, -and asked counsel of him what he should do to cure himself of this -troublesome corpulency. Garcia the Trembler was totally at a loss for -a recipe, his own leanness being a gift of Nature; he advised him, -however, to repair to Abderahman, the Miramamolin of Spain and King -of Cordova, with whom he was happily at peace, and consult with him, -and seek advice of the Arabian physicians resident at Cordova—the -Moors being generally a spare and active people, and the Arabian -physicians skillful above all others in the treatment of diseases. - -King Sancho the Fat, therefore, sent amicable messages beforehand to -the Moorish miramamolin, and followed them as fast as his corpulency -would permit; and he was well received by the Moorish sovereign, -and remained for a long time at Cordova, diligently employed in -decreasing his rotundity. - -While the corpulent king was thus growing leaner, discontent broke -out among his subjects at home; and, Count Fernan Gonzalez taking -advantage of it, stirred up an insurrection, and placed upon the -throne of Leon Ordoño the Fourth, surnamed the Bad, who was a kinsman -of the late King Ordoño III., and he moreover gave him his daughter -for wife—his daughter Urraca, the repudiated wife of the late king. - -If the good Count Fernan Gonzalez supposed he had fortified himself -by this alliance, and that his daughter was now fixed for the second -time, and more firmly than ever, on the throne of Leon, he was -grievously deceived; for Sancho I. returned from Cordova at the head -of a powerful host of Moors, and was no longer to be called the Fat, -for he had so well succeeded under the regimen prescribed by the -miramamolin and his Arabian physicians, that he could vault into the -saddle with merely putting his hand upon the pommel. - -Ordoño IV. was a man of puny heart; no sooner did he hear of the -approach of King Sancho, and of his marvelous leanness and agility, -than he was seized with terror, and, abandoning his throne and -his twice-repudiated spouse Urraca, he made for the mountains of -Asturias, or, as others assert, was overtaken by the Moors and killed -with lances. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -Further of the Horse and Falcon. - - -King Sancho I., having reëstablished himself on the throne, and -recovered the good-will of his subjects by his leanness and -horsemanship, sent a stern message to Count Fernan Gonzalez to come -to his cortes, or resign his countship. The count was exceedingly -indignant at this order, and feared, moreover, that some indignity -or injury would be offered him should he repair to Leon. He made the -message known to his principal cavaliers, and requested their advice. -Most of them were of opinion that he should not go to the cortes. -Don Fernan declared, however, that he would not act disloyally in -omitting to do that which the counts of Castile had always performed, -although he felt that he incurred the risk of death or imprisonment. -Leaving his son, Garcia Fernandez, therefore, in charge of his -councilors, he departed for Leon with only seven cavaliers. - -As he approached the gates of that city, no one came forth to greet -him, as had always been the custom. This he considered an evil -sign. Presenting himself before the king, he would have kissed his -hand, but the monarch withheld it. He charged the count with being -vainglorious and disloyal; with having absented himself from the -cortes and conspired against his throne;—for all which he should make -atonement, and should give hostages or pledges for his good faith -before he left the court. - -The count in reply accounted for absenting himself from the cortes -by the perfidious treatment he had formerly experienced at Leon. As -to any grievances the king might have to complain of, he stood ready -to redress them, provided the king would make good his own written -engagement, signed with his own hand and sealed with his own seal, to -pay for the horse and falcon which he had purchased of the count on -his former visit to Leon. Three years had now elapsed since the day -appointed for the payment, and in the mean time the price had gone on -daily doubling, according to stipulation. - -They parted mutually indignant; and, after the count had retired to -his quarters, the king, piqued to maintain his royal word, summoned -his major-domo, and ordered him to take a large amount of treasure -and carry it to the Count of Castile in payment of his demand. So -the major-domo repaired to the count with a great sack of money to -settle with him for the horse and hawk; but when he came to cast up -the account, and double it each day that had intervened since the -appointed day of payment, the major-domo, though an expert man at -figures, was totally confounded, and, returning to the king, assured -him that all the money in the world would not suffice to pay the -debt. King Sancho was totally at a loss how to keep his word, and pay -off a debt which was more than enough to ruin him. Grievously did he -repent his first experience in traffic, and found that it is not safe -even for a monarch to trade in horses. - -In the mean time the count was suffered to return to Castile; but -he did not let the matter rest here; for, being sorely incensed -at the indignities he had experienced, he sent missives to King -Sancho, urging his demand of payment for the horse or falcon—menacing -otherwise to make seizures by way of indemnification. Receiving no -satisfactory reply, he made a foray into the kingdom of Leon, and -brought off great spoil of sheep and cattle. - -King Sancho now saw that the count was too bold and urgent a creditor -to be trifled with. In his perplexity he assembled the estates of -his kingdom, and consulted them upon this momentous affair. His -counselors, like himself, were grievously perplexed between the -sanctity of the royal word and the enormity of the debt. After much -deliberation they suggested a compromise—the Count Fernan Gonzalez -to relinquish the debt, and in lieu thereof to be released from his -vassalage. - -The count agreed right gladly to this compromise, being thus relieved -from all tribute and imposition, and from the necessity of kissing -the hand of any man in the world as his sovereign. Thus did King -Sancho pay with the sovereignty of Castile for a horse and falcon, -and thus were the Castilians relieved, by a skillful bargain in -horse-dealing, from all subjection to the kingdom of Leon.[71] - - [71] _Cronica_ de Alonzo el Sabio, pt. 3 c. 19. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIX. - -The Last Campaign of Count Fernan.—His Death. - - -The good Count Fernan Gonzalez was now well stricken in years. The -fire of youth was extinct, the pride and ambition of manhood were -over; instead of erecting palaces and lofty castles, he began now -to turn his thoughts upon the grave and to build his last earthly -habitation, the sepulchre. - -Before erecting his own, he had one built of rich and stately -workmanship for his first wife, the object of his early love, and -had her remains conveyed to it and interred with great solemnity. -His own sepulchre, according to ancient promise, was prepared at the -chapel and hermitage of San Pedro at Arlanza, where he had first -communed with the holy Friar Pelayo. When it was completed, he merely -inscribed upon it the word “Obijt,” leaving the rest to be supplied -by others after his death. - -When the Moors perceived that Count Fernan Gonzalez, once so -redoubtable in arms, was old and infirm, and given to build tombs -instead of castles, they thought it a favorable time to make an -inroad into Castile. They passed the border, therefore, in great -numbers, laying everything waste and bearding the old lion in his -very den. - -The veteran had laid by sword and buckler, and had almost given up -the world; but the sound of Moorish drum and trumpet called him back -even from the threshold of the sepulchre. Buckling on once more -his armor and bestriding his war-steed, he summoned around him his -Castilian cavaliers, seasoned like him in a thousand battles, and -accompanied by his son Garcia Fernandez, who inherited all the valor -of his father, issued forth to meet the foe; followed by the shouts -and blessings of the populace, who joyed to see him once more in arms -and glowing with his ancient fire. - -The Moors were retiring from an extensive ravage, laden with booty -and driving before them an immense cavalgada, when they descried a -squadron of cavaliers, armed all in steel, emerging from a great -cloud of dust, and bearing aloft the silver cross, the well-known -standard of Count Fernan Gonzalez. That veteran warrior came on, as -usual, leading the way, sword in hand. The very sight of his standard -had struck dismay into the enemy; they soon gave way before one of -his vigorous charges, nor did he cease to pursue them until they -took shelter within the very walls of Cordova. Here he wasted the -surrounding country with fire and sword, and after thus braving the -Moor in his very capital, returned triumphant to Burgos. - -“Such,” says Fray Antonio Agapida, “was the last campaign in -this life of this most valorous cavalier;” and now, abandoning -all further deeds of mortal enterprise in arms to his son Garcia -Fernandez, he addressed all his thoughts, as he said, to prepare for -his campaign in the skies. He still talked as a veteran warrior, -whose whole life had been passed in arms, but his talk was not of -earthly warfare nor of earthly kingdoms. He spoke only of the kingdom -of heaven, and what he must do to make a successful inroad and gain -an eternal inheritance in that blessed country. - -He was equally indefatigable in preparing for his spiritual as for -his mortal campaign. Instead, however, of mailed warriors tramping -through his courts, and the shrill neigh of steed or clang of trumpet -echoing among their walls, there were seen holy priests and barefoot -monks passing to and fro, and the halls resounded with the sacred -melody of litany and psalm. So pleased was Heaven with the good -works of this pious cavalier, and especially with rich donations to -churches and monasteries which he made under the guidance of his -spiritual counselors, that we are told it was given to him to foresee -in vision the day and hour when he should pass from this weary life -and enter the mansions of eternal rest. - -Knowing that the time approached, he prepared for his end like a -good Christian. He wrote to the kings of Leon and Navarre in terms -of great humility, craving their pardon for all past injuries and -offenses, and entreating them, for the good of Christendom, to live -in peace and amity, and make common cause for the defense of the -faith. - -Ten days before the time which Heaven had appointed for his death he -sent for the abbot of the chapel and convent of Arlanza, and bending -his aged knees before him, confessed all his sins. This done, as in -former times he had shown great state and ceremony in his worldly -pageants, so now he arranged his last cavalgada to the grave. He -prayed the abbot to return to his monastery and have his sepulchre -prepared for his reception, and that the abbots of St. Sebastian -and Silos and Quirce, with a train of holy friars, might come at -the appointed day for his body; that thus, as he commended his soul -to Heaven through the hands of his confessor, he might, through the -hands of these pious men, resign his body to the earth. - -When the abbot had departed, the count desired to be left alone; and -clothing himself in a coarse friar’s garb, he remained in fervent -prayer for the forgiveness of his sins. As he had been a valiant -captain all his life against the enemies of the faith, so was he in -death against the enemies of the soul. He died in the full command of -all his faculties, making no groans nor contortions, but rendering up -his spirit with the calmness of a heroic cavalier. - -We are told that when he died voices were heard from heaven in -testimony of his sanctity while the tears and lamentations of all -Spain proved how much he was valued and beloved on earth. His remains -were conveyed, according to his request, to the monastery of St. -Pedro de Arlanza by a procession of holy friars with solemn chant -and dirge. In the church of that convent they still repose; and two -paintings are to be seen in the convent,—one representing the count -valiantly fighting with the Moors, the other conversing with St. -Pelayo and St. Millan, as they appeared to him in vision before the -battle of Hazinas. - -The cross which he used as his standard is still treasured up in the -sacristy of the convent. It is of massive silver, two ells in length, -with our Saviour sculptured upon it, and above the head, in Gothic -letters, I. N. R. I. Below is Adam awaking from the grave, with the -words of St. Paul, “Awake, thou who sleepest, and arise from the -tomb, for Christ shall give thee life.” - -This holy cross still has the form at the lower end by which the -standard-bearer rested it in the pommel of his saddle. - -“Inestimable,” adds Fray Antonio Agapida, “are the relics and remains -of saints and sainted warriors.” In after times, when Fernando the -Third, surnamed the Saint, went to the conquest of Seville, he took -with him a bone of this thrice-blessed and utterly renowned cavalier, -together with his sword and pennon, hoping through their efficacy -to succeed in his enterprise,—nor was he disappointed; but what is -marvelous to hear, but which we have on the authority of the good -Bishop Sandoval, on the day on which King Fernando the Saint entered -Seville in triumph, great blows were heard to resound within the -sepulchre of the count at Arlanza, as if veritably his bones which -remained behind exulted in the victory gained by those which had been -carried to the wars. Thus were marvelously fulfilled the words of -the holy psalm,—“Exaltabant ossa humilitata.”[72] - -Here ends the chronicle of the most valorous and renowned Don Fernan -Gonzalez, Count of Castile. _Laus Deo._ - - [72] Sandoval, p. 334. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -The Parentage of Fernando.—Queen Berenguela.—The Laras.—Don Alvar -conceals the Death of King Henry.—Mission of Queen Berenguela to -Alfonso IX.—She renounces the Crown of Castile in favor of her son -Fernando. - - -Fernando III., surnamed the Saint, was the son of Alfonso III. King -of Leon, and of Berenguela, a princess of Castile; but there were -some particulars concerning his parentage which it is necessary -clearly to state before entering upon his personal history. - -Alfonso III. of Leon, and Alfonso IX. King of Castile, were cousins, -but there were dissensions between them. The King of Leon, to -strengthen himself, married his cousin, the Princess Theresa, -daughter of his uncle, the King of Portugal. By her he had two -daughters. The marriage was annulled by Pope Celestine III. on -account of their consanguinity, and, on their making resistance, -they were excommunicated and the kingdom laid under an interdict. -This produced an unwilling separation in 1195. Alfonso III. did not -long remain single. Fresh dissensions having broken out between him -and his cousin Alfonso IX. of Castile, they were amicably adjusted -by his marrying the Princess Berenguela, daughter of that monarch. -This second marriage, which took place about three years after the -divorce, came likewise under the ban of the Church, and for the same -reason, the near propinquity of the parties. Again the commands -of the Pope were resisted, and again the refractory parties were -excommunicated and the kingdom laid under an interdict. - -The unfortunate king of Leon was the more unwilling to give up the -present marriage, as the Queen Berenguela had made him the happy -father of several children, one of whom he hoped might one day -inherit the two crowns of Leon and Castile. - -The intercession and entreaties of the bishops of Castile so far -mollified the rigor of the Pope, that a compromise was made; the -legitimacy of the children by the present marriage was not to be -affected by the divorce of the parents, and Fernando, the eldest, -the subject of the present chronicle, was recognized as successor to -his father to the throne of Leon. The divorced Queen Berenguela left -Fernando in Leon, and returned in 1204 to Castile, to the court of -her father, Alfonso III. Here she remained until the death of her -father in 1214, who was succeeded by his son, Enrique, or Henry I. -The latter being only in his eleventh year, his sister, the ex-Queen -Berenguela, was declared regent. She well merited the trust, for -she was a woman of great prudence and wisdom, and a resolute and -magnanimous spirit. - -At this time the house of Lara had risen to great power. There were -three brothers of that turbulent and haughty race, Don Alvar Nuñez, -Don Fernan Nuñez, and Don Gonzalo Nuñez. The Laras had caused great -trouble in the kingdom during the minority of Prince Henry’s father, -by arrogating to themselves the regency; and they now attempted, in -like manner, to get the guardianship of the son, declaring it an -office too important and difficult to be intrusted to a woman. Having -a powerful and unprincipled party among the nobles, and using great -bribery among persons in whom Berenguela confided, they carried their -point; and the virtuous Berenguela, to prevent civil commotions, -resigned the regency into the hands of Don Alvar Nuñez de Lara, the -head of that ambitious house. First, however, she made him kneel -and swear that he would conduct himself toward the youthful king, -Enrique, as a thorough friend and a loyal vassal, guarding his person -from all harm; that he would respect the property of individuals, -and undertake nothing of importance without the counsel and consent -of Queen Berenguela. Furthermore, that he would guard and respect -the hereditary possessions of Queen Berenguela, left to her by her -father, and would always serve her as his sovereign, the daughter of -his deceased king. All this Don Alvar Nuñez solemnly swore upon the -sacred evangelists and the holy cross. - -No sooner, however, had he got the young king in his power, than -he showed the ambition, rapacity, and arrogance of his nature. He -prevailed upon the young king to make him a count; he induced him to -hold cortes without the presence of Queen Berenguela; issuing edicts -in the king’s name, he banished refractory nobles, giving their -offices and lands to his brothers; he levied exactions on rich and -poor, and, what is still more flagrant, he extended these exactions -to the Church. In vain did Queen Berenguela remonstrate; in vain did -the Dean of Toledo thunder forth an excommunication; he scoffed at -them both, for in the king’s name he persuaded himself he had a tower -of strength. He even sent a letter to Queen Berenguela in the name of -the young king, demanding of her the castles, towns, and ports which -had been left to her by her father. The queen was deeply grieved at -this letter, and sent a reply to the king that, when she saw him -face to face, she would do with those possessions whatever he should -command, as her brother and sovereign. - -On receiving this message, the young king was shocked and distressed -that such a demand should have been made in his name; but he was -young and inexperienced, and could not openly contend with a man of -Don Alvar’s overbearing character. He wrote secretly to the queen, -however, assuring her that the demand had been made without his -knowledge, and saying how gladly he would come to her if he could, -and be relieved from the thraldom of Don Alvar. - -In this way the unfortunate prince was made an instrument in the -hands of this haughty and arrogant nobleman of inflicting all kinds -of wrongs and injuries upon his subjects. Don Alvar constantly kept -him with him, carrying him from place to place of his dominions, -wherever his presence was necessary to effect some new measure of -tyranny. He even endeavored to negotiate a marriage between the young -king and some neighboring princess, in order to retain an influence -over him, but in this he was unsuccessful. - -For three years had he maintained this iniquitous sway, until one -day in 1217, when the young king was with him at Palencia, and was -playing with some youthful companions in the court-yard of the -episcopal palace, a tile, either falling from the roof of a tower, or -sportively thrown by one of his companions, struck him in the head, -and inflicted a wound of which he presently died. - -This was a fatal blow to the power of Don Alvar. To secure himself -from any sudden revulsion in the popular mind, he determined to -conceal the death of the king as long as possible, and gave out that -he had retired to the fortress of Tariego, whither he had the body -conveyed, as if still living. He continued to issue dispatches from -time to time in the name of the king, and made various excuses for -his non-appearance in public. - -Queen Berenguela soon learned the truth. According to the laws of -Castile she was heiress to the crown, but she resolved to transfer it -to her son Fernando, who, being likewise acknowledged successor to -the crown of Leon, would unite the two kingdoms under his rule. To -effect her purpose she availed herself of the cunning of her enemy, -kept secret her knowledge of the death of her brother, and sent -two of her confidential cavaliers, Don Lope Diaz de Haro, Señor of -Biscay, and Don Gonzalo Ruyz Giron, and Don Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, -to her late husband, Alfonso IX., King of Leon, who, with her son -Fernando, was then at Toro, entreating him to send the latter to her -to protect her from the tyranny of Don Alvar. The prudent mother, -however, forbore to let King Alfonso know of her brother’s death, -lest it might awaken in him ambitious thoughts about the Castilian -crown. - -This mission being sent, she departed with the cavaliers of her party -for Palencia. The death of the King Enrique being noised about, she -was honored as Queen of Castile, and Don Tello, the bishop, came -forth in procession to receive her. The next day she proceeded to the -castle of Duenas, and, on its making some show of resistance, took it -by force. - -The cavaliers who were with the queen endeavored to effect a -reconciliation between her and Don Alvar, seeing that the latter -had powerful connections, and through his partisans and retainers -held possession of the principal towns and fortresses; that haughty -nobleman, however, would listen to no proposals unless the Prince -Fernando was given into his guardianship, as had been the Prince -Enrique. - -In the mean time the request of Queen Berenguela had been granted by -her late husband, the King of Leon, and her son Fernando hastened to -meet her. The meeting took place at the castle of Otiella, and happy -was the anxious mother once more to embrace her son. At her command -the cavaliers in her train elevated him on the trunk of an elm-tree -for a throne, and hailed him king with great acclamations. - -They now proceeded to Valladolid, which at that time was a great and -wealthy town. Here the nobility and chivalry of Estremadura and other -parts hastened to pay homage to the queen. A stage was erected in the -market-place, where the assembled states acknowledged her for queen -and swore fealty to her. She immediately, in presence of her nobles, -prelates, and people, renounced the crown in favor of her son. The -air rang with the shouts of “Long live Fernando, King of Castile!” -The bishops and clergy then conducted the king in state to the -church. This was on the 31st of August, 1217, and about three months -from the death of King Enrique. - -Fernando was at this time about eighteen years of age, an -accomplished cavalier, having been instructed in everything befitting -a prince and a warrior. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER II. - -King Alfonso of Leon ravages Castile.—Captivity of Don Alvar.—Death -of the Laras. - - -King Alfonso of Leon was exceedingly exasperated at the furtive -manner in which his son Fernando had left him, without informing -him of King Henry’s death. He considered, and perhaps with reason, -the transfer of the crown of Castile by Berenguela to her son, as a -manœuvre to evade any rights or claims which he, King Alfonso, might -have over her, notwithstanding their divorce; and he believed that -both mother and son had conspired to deceive and outwit him; and, -what was especially provoking, they had succeeded. It was natural -for King Alfonso to have become by this time exceedingly irritable -and sensitive; he had been repeatedly thwarted in his dearest -concerns; excommunicated out of two wives by the Pope, and now, as he -conceived, cajoled out of a kingdom. - -In his wrath he flew to arms,—a prompt and customary recourse of -kings in those days when they had no will to consult but their own; -and notwithstanding the earnest expostulations and entreaties of -holy men, he entered Castile with an army, ravaging the legitimate -inheritance of his son, as if it had been the territory of an enemy. -He was seconded in his outrages by Count Alvar Nuñez de Lara and his -two bellicose brothers, who hoped still to retain power by rallying -under his standard. - -There were at this time full two thousand cavaliers with the youthful -king, resolute men, well armed and well appointed, and they urged him -to lead them against the King of Leon. Queen Berenguela, however, -interposed and declared her son should never be guilty of the impiety -of taking up arms against his father. By her advice King Fernando -sent an embassy to his father, expostulating with him, and telling -him that he ought to be thankful to God that Castile was in the hands -of a son disposed at all times to honor and defend him, instead of a -stranger who might prove a dangerous foe. - -King Alfonso, however, was not so to be appeased. By the ambassadors -he sent proposals to Queen Berenguela that they reënter into wedlock, -for which he would procure a dispensation from the Pope; they would -then be jointly sovereigns of both Castile and Leon, and the Prince -Fernando, their son, should inherit both crowns. But the virtuous -Berenguela recoiled from this proposal of a second nuptials. “God -forbid,” replied she, “that I should return to a sinful marriage; and -as to the crown of Castile, it now belongs to my son, to whom I have -given it with the sanction of God and the good men of this realm.” - -King Alfonso was more enraged than ever by this reply, and, being -incited and aided by Count Alvar and his faction, he resumed his -ravages, laying waste the country and burning the villages. He would -have attacked Duenas, but found that place strongly garrisoned by -Diego Lopez de Haro and Ruy Diaz de los Cameros; he next marched upon -Burgos, but that place was equally well garrisoned by Lope Diez de -Faro and other stout Castilian cavaliers; so perceiving his son to -be more firmly seated upon the throne than he had imagined, and that -all his own menaces and ravages were unavailing, he returned deeply -chagrined to his kingdom. - -King Fernando, in obedience to the dictates of his mother as well -as of his own heart, abstained from any acts of retaliation on his -father; but he turned his arms against Muñon and Lerma and Lara, -and other places which either belonged to, or held out for, Count -Alvar, and, having subdued them, proceeded to Burgos, the capital -of his kingdom, where he was received by the bishop and clergy with -great solemnity, and whither the nobles and chivalry from all parts -of Castile hastened to rally round his throne. The turbulent Count -Alvar Nuñez de Lara and his brothers retaining other fortresses too -strong to be easily taken, refused all allegiance, and made ravaging -excursions over the country. The prudent and provident Berenguela, -therefore, while at Burgos, seeing that the troubles and contentions -of the kingdom would cause great expense and prevent much revenue, -gathered together all her jewels of gold and silver and precious -stones, and all her plate and rich silks, and other precious things, -and caused them to be sold, and gave the money to her son to defray -the cost of these civil wars. - -King Fernando and his mother departed shortly afterwards for -Palencia; on their way they had to pass by Herrera, which at that -time was the stronghold of Count Alvar. When the king came in sight, -Count Fernan Nuñez, with his battalions, was on the banks of the -river, but drew within the walls. As the king had to pass close by -with his retinue, he ordered his troops to be put in good order and -gave it in charge to Alonzo Tellez and Suer Tellez and Alvar Ruyz to -protect the flanks. - -As the royal troops drew near, Count Alvar, leaving his people in -the town, sallied forth with a few cavaliers to regard the army as -it passed. Affecting great contempt for the youthful king and his -cavaliers, he stood drawn up on a rising ground with his attendants, -looking down upon the troops with scornful aspect, and rejecting all -advice to retire into the town. - -As the king and his immediate escort came nigh, their attention was -attracted to this little body of proud warriors drawn up upon a bank -and regarding them so loftily; and Alonzo Tellez and Suer Tellez -looking more closely, recognized Don Alvar, and putting spurs to -their horses, dashed up the bank, followed by several cavaliers. Don -Alvar repented of his vain confidence too late, and seeing great -numbers urging toward him, turned his reins and retreated toward -the town. Still his stomach was too high for absolute flight, and -the others, who spurred after him at full speed, overtook him. -Throwing himself from his horse, he covered himself with his shield -and prepared for defense. Alonzo Tellez, however, called to his men -not to kill the count, but to take him prisoner. He was accordingly -captured, with several of his followers, and borne off to the king -and queen. The count had everything to apprehend from their vengeance -for his misdeeds. They used no personal harshness, however, but -demanded from him that he should surrender all the castles and strong -places held by the retainers and partisans of his brothers and -himself, that he should furnish one hundred horsemen to aid in their -recovery, and should remain a prisoner until those places were all in -the possession of the crown. - -Captivity broke the haughty spirit of Don Alvar. He agreed to those -conditions, and until they should be fulfilled was consigned to -the charge of Gonsalvo Ruyz Giron, and confined in the castle of -Valladolid. The places were delivered up in the course of a few -months, and thus King Fernando became strongly possessed of his -kingdom. - -Stripped of power, state, and possessions, Count Alvar and his -brothers, after an ineffectual attempt to rouse the King of Leon to -another campaign against his son, became savage and desperate, and -made predatory excursions, pillaging the country, until Count Alvar -fell mortally ill of hydropsy. Struck with remorse and melancholy, he -repaired to Toro and entered the chivalrous order of Santiago, that -he might gain the indulgences granted by the Pope to those who die in -that order, and hoping, says an ancient chronicler, to oblige God, -as it were, by that religious ceremony, to pardon his sins.[73] His -illness endured seven months, and he was reduced to such poverty that -at his death there was not money enough left by him to convey his -body to Ucles, where he had requested to be buried, nor to pay for -tapers for his funeral. When Queen Berenguela heard this, she ordered -that the funeral should be honorably performed at her own expense, -and sent a cloth of gold to cover the bier.[74] - - [73] _Cronica Gotica_, por Don Alonzo Nuñez de Castro, p. 17. - - [74] _Cronica General de España_, pt. 3, p. 370. - -The brother of Count Alvar, Don Fernando, abandoned his country -in despair and went to Marocco, where he was well received by the -miramamolin, and had lands and revenues assigned to him. He became a -great favorite among the Moors, to whom he used to recount his deeds -in the civil wars of Castile. At length he fell dangerously ill, -and caused himself to be taken to a suburb inhabited by Christians. -There happened to be there at that time one Don Gonsalvo, a knight -of the order of the Hospital of St. John de Acre, and who had been -in the service of Pope Innocent III. Don Fernando, finding his end -approaching, entreated of the knight his religious habit, that he -might die in it. His request was granted, and thus Count Fernando -died in the habit of a Knight Hospitaliere of St. John de Acre, in -Elbora, a suburb of Marocco. His body was afterwards brought to -Spain, and interred in a town on the banks of the Pisuerga, in which -repose likewise the remains of his wife and children. - -The Count Gonsalvo Nuñez de Lara, the third of these brothers, also -took refuge among the Moors. He was seized with violent disease in -the city of Baeza, where he died. His body was conveyed to Campos a -Zalmos, which appertained to the Friars of the Temple, where the holy -fraternity gave it the rites of sepulture with all due honor. Such -was the end of these three brothers of the once proud and powerful -house of Lara, whose disloyal deeds had harassed their country and -brought ruin upon themselves. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER III. - -Marriage of King Fernando.—Campaign against the Moors.—Aben Mohamed, -King of Baeza, declares himself the Vassal of King Fernando.—They -march to Jaen.—Burning of the Tower.—Fernando commences the Building -of the Cathedral at Toledo. - - -King Fernando, aided by the sage counsels of his mother, reigned for -some time in peace and quietness, administering his affairs with -equity and justice. The good Queen Berenguela now began to cast about -her eyes in search of a suitable alliance for her son, and had many -consultations with the Bishop Maurice of Burgos, and other ghostly -counselors, thereupon. They at length agreed upon the Princess -Beatrix, daughter of the late Philip, Emperor of Germany, and the -Bishop Maurice and Padre Fray Pedro de Arlanza were sent as envoys to -the Emperor Frederick II., cousin of the princess, to negotiate the -terms. An arrangement was happily effected, and the princess set out -for Spain. In passing through France she was courteously entertained -at Paris by King Philip, who made her rich presents. On the borders -of Castile she was met at Vittoria by the Queen Berenguela, with a -great train of prelates, monks, and masters of the religious orders, -and of abbesses and nuns, together with a glorious train of chivalry. -In this state she was conducted to Burgos, where the king and all his -court came forth to receive her, and their nuptials were celebrated -with great pomp and rejoicing. - -King Fernando lived happily with his fair Queen Beatrix, and his -kingdom remained in peace; but by degrees he became impatient of -quiet, and anxious to make war upon the Moors. Perhaps he felt called -upon to make some signal essay in arms at present, having, the day -before his nuptials, been armed a knight in the monastery of Las -Huelgas, and in those iron days knighthood was not a matter of mere -parade and ceremony, but called for acts of valor and proofs of stern -endurance. - -The discreet Berenguela endeavored to dissuade her son from taking -the field, considering him not of sufficient age. In all things else -he was ever obedient to her counsels, and even to her inclinations, -but it was in vain that she endeavored to persuade him from making -war upon the infidels. “God,” would he say, “had put into his hands -not merely a sceptre to govern, but a sword to avenge his country.” - -It was fortunate for the good cause, moreover, add the Spanish -chroniclers, that while the queen-mother was endeavoring to throw -a damper on the kindling fire of her son, a worthy prelate was at -hand to stir it up into a blaze. This was the illustrious historian -Rodrigo, Archbishop of Toledo, who now preached a crusade against the -Moors, promising like indulgences with those granted to the warriors -for the Holy Sepulchre. The consequence was a great assemblage of -troops from all parts at Toledo. - -King Fernando was prevented for a time from taking the field in -person, but sent in advance Don Lope Diaz de Haro and Ruy Gonsalvo de -Giron and Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, with five hundred cavaliers well -armed and mounted. The very sight of them effected a conquest over -Aben Mohamed, the Moorish king of Baeza, insomuch that he sent an -embassy to King Fernando, declaring himself his vassal. - -When King Fernando afterwards took the field, he was joined by this -Moorish ally at the Navas or plains of Tolosa; who was in company -with him when the king marched to Jaen, to the foot of a tower, and -set fire to it, whereupon those Moors who remained in the tower were -burned to death, and those who leaped from the walls were received on -the points of lances. - -Notwithstanding the burnt-offering of this tower, Heaven did not -smile upon the attempt of King Fernando to reduce the city of Jaen. -He was obliged to abandon the siege, but consoled himself by laying -waste the country. He was more successful elsewhere. He carried the -strong town of Priego by assault, and gave the garrison their lives -on condition of yielding up all their property, and paying, moreover, -eighty thousand maravedis of silver. For the payment of this sum they -were obliged to give as hostages fifty-five damsels of great beauty, -and fifty cavaliers of rank, besides nine hundred of the common -people. The king divided his hostages among his bravest cavaliers -and the religious orders; but his vassal, the Moorish king of Baeza, -obtained the charge of the Moorish damsels. - -The king then attacked Loxa, and his men scaled the walls and burnt -the gates, and made themselves masters of the place. He then led his -army into the Vega of Granada, the inhabitants of which submitted to -become his vassals, and gave up all the Christian captives in that -city, amounting to thirteen hundred. - -Aben Mohamed, king of Baeza, then delivered to King Fernando the -towers of Martos and Andujar, and the king gave them to Don Alvar -Perez de Castro, and placed with him Don Gonzalo Ybañez, Master of -Calatrava, and Tello Alonzo Meneses, son of Don Alonzo Tellez, and -other stout cavaliers, fitted to maintain frontier posts. These -arrangements being made, and having ransacked every mountain and -valley, and taken many other places not herein specified, King -Fernando returned in triumph to Toledo, where he was joyfully -received by his mother Berenguela and his wife Beatrix. - -Clerical historians do not fail to record with infinite satisfaction -a signal instance of the devout and zealous spirit which King -Fernando had derived from his constant communion with the reverend -fathers of the Church. As the king was one day walking with his -ghostly adviser the archbishop, in the principal church of Toledo, -which was built in the Morisco fashion, having been a mosque of the -infidels, it occurred, or more probably was suggested to him, that, -since God had aided him to increase his kingdom, and had given him -such victories over the enemies of his holy faith, it became him to -rebuild his holy temple, which was ancient and falling to decay, and -to adorn it richly with the spoils taken from the Moors. The thought -was promptly carried into effect. The king and the archbishop laid -the first stone with great solemnity, and in the fullness of time -accomplished that mighty cathedral of Toledo, which remains the -wonder and admiration of after ages. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IV. - -Assassination of Aben Mohamed.—His Head carried as a Present to -Abullale, the Moorish King of Seville.—Advance of the Christians into -Andalusia.—Abullale purchases a Truce. - - -The worthy Fray Antonio Agapida records various other victories and -achievements of King Fernando in a subsequent campaign against the -Moors of Andalusia; in the course of which his camp was abundantly -supplied with grain by his vassal Aben Mohamed, the Moorish king -of Baeza. The assistance rendered by that Moslem monarch to the -Christian forces in their battles against those of his own race and -his own faith, did not meet with the reward it merited. “Doubtless,” -says Antonio Agapida, “because he halted half way in the right path, -and did not turn thorough renegado.” It appears that his friendship -for the Christians gave great disgust to his subjects, and some of -them rose upon him, while he was sojourning in the city of Cordova, -and sought to destroy him. Aben Mohamed fled by a gate leading to the -gardens, to take shelter in the tower of Almodovar; but the assassins -overtook him, and slew him on a hill near the tower. They then cut -off his head and carried it as a present to Abullale, the Moorish -king of Seville, expecting to be munificently rewarded; but that -monarch gave command that their heads should be struck off and their -bodies thrown to the dogs, as traitors to their liege lords.[75] - - [75] _Cron. Gen. de España_, pt. 4, fol. 373. - -King Fernando was grieved when he heard of the assassination of his -vassal, and feared the death of Aben Mohamed might lead to a rising -of the Moors. He sent notice to Andujar, to Don Alvar Perez de Castro -and Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, to be on their guard; but the Moors, -fearing punishment for some rebellious movements, abandoned the town, -and it fell into the hands of the king. The Moors of Martos did the -like. The Alcazar of Baeza yielded also to the king, who placed in it -Don Lope Diaz de Haro with five hundred men. - -Abullale, the Moorish sovereign of Seville, was alarmed at seeing -the advances which the Christians were making in Andalusia; and -attempted to wrest from their hands these newly acquired places. He -marched upon Martos, which was not strongly walled. The Countess Doña -Yrenia, wife to Don Alvar Perez de Castro, was in this place, and her -husband was absent. Don Tello Alonzo, with a Spanish force, hastened -to her assistance. Finding the town closely invested, he formed his -men into a troop, and endeavored to cut his way through the enemy. -A rude conflict ensued, the cavaliers fought their way forward, and -Christian and Moor arrived pell-mell at the gate of the town. Here -the press was excessive. Fernan Gomez de Pudiello, a stout cavalier, -who bore the pennon of Don Tello Alonzo, was slain, and the same fate -would have befallen Don Tello himself, but that a company of esquires -sallied from the town to his rescue. - -King Abullale now encircled the town, and got possession of the -Peña, or rock, which commands it, killing two hundred Christians who -defended it. - -Provisions began to fail the besieged, and they were reduced to -slay their horses for food, and even to eat the hides. Don Gonsalvo -Ybañez, master of Calatrava, who was in Baeza, hearing of the -extremity of the place, came suddenly with seventy men and effected -an entrance. The augmentation of the garrison only served to increase -the famine, without being sufficient in force to raise the siege. At -length word was brought to Don Alvar Perez de Castro, who was with -the king at Guadalaxara, of the imminent danger to which his wife was -exposed. He instantly set off for her relief, accompanied by several -cavaliers of note, and a strong force. They succeeded in getting into -Martos, recovered the Peña, or rock, and made such vigorous defense -that Abullale abandoned the siege in despair. In the following year -King Fernando led his host to take revenge upon this Moorish king of -Seville; but the latter purchased a truce for one year with three -hundred maravedis of silver.[76] - - [76] _Cron. Gen. de España_, pt. 4, c. ii. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER V. - -Aben Hud.—Abullale purchases another Year’s Truce.—Fernando hears of -the Death of his Father, the King of Leon, while pressing the Siege -of Jaen.—He becomes Sovereign of the Two Kingdoms of Leon and Castile. - - -About this time a valiant sheik, named Aben Abdallah Mohammed ben -Hud, but commonly called Aben Hud, was effecting a great revolution -in Moorish affairs. He was of the lineage of Aben Alfange, and -bitterly opposed to the sect of Almohades, who for a long time had -exercised a tyrannical sway. Stirring up the Moors of Murcia to rise -upon their oppressors, he put himself at their head, massacred all -the Almohades that fell into his hands, and made himself sheik or -king of that region. He purified the mosques with water, after the -manner in which Christians purify their churches, as though they had -been defiled by the Almohades. Aben Hud acquired a name among those -of his religion for justice and good faith as well as valor; and -after some opposition, gained sway over all Andalusia. This brought -him in collision with King Fernando... - - ☞ (Something is wanting here.)[77] - - [77] The hiatus, here noted by the author, has evidently arisen - from the loss of a leaf of his manuscript. The printed line which - precedes the parenthesis concludes page 32 of the manuscript; - the line which follows it begins page 34. The intermediate page - is wanting. I presume the author did not become conscious of - his loss until he had resorted to his manuscript for revision, - and that he could not depend upon his memory to supply what was - wanting without a fresh resort to authorities not at hand. Hence - a postponement and ultimate omission. The missing leaf would - scarce have filled half a page of print, and, it would seem from - the context, must have related the invasion of Andalusia by - Fernando and the ravages committed by his armies.—ED. - -laying waste fields of grain. The Moorish sovereign of Seville -purchased another year’s truce of him for three hundred thousand -maravedis of silver. Aben Hud, on the other hand, collected a great -force and marched to oppose him, but did not dare to give him battle. -He went, therefore, upon Merida, and fought with King Alfonso of -Leon, father of King Fernando, where, however, he met with complete -discomfiture. - -On the following year King Fernando repeated his invasion of -Andalusia, and was pressing the siege of the city of Jaen, which -he assailed by means of engines discharging stones, when a courier -arrived in all speed from his mother, informing him that his father -Alfonso was dead, and urging him to proceed instantly to Leon, to -enforce his pretensions to the crown. King Fernando accordingly -raised the siege of Jaen, sending his engines to Martos, and repaired -to Castile, to consult with his mother, who was his counselor on all -occasions. - -It appeared that in his last will King Alfonso had named his two -daughters joint heirs to the crown. Some of the Leonese and Gallegos -were disposed to place the Prince Alonzo, brother to King Fernando, -on the throne; but he had listened to the commands of his mother, -and had resisted all suggestions of the kind; the larger part of -the kingdom, including the most important cities, had declared for -Fernando. - -Accompanied by his mother, King Fernando proceeded instantly into the -kingdom of Leon with a powerful force. Wherever they went the cities -threw open their gates to them. The princesses Doña Sancha and Doña -Dulce, with their mother Theresa, would have assembled a force to -oppose them, but the prelates were all in favor of King Fernando. On -his approach to Leon, the bishops and clergy and all the principal -inhabitants came forth to receive him, and conducted him to the -cathedral, where he received their homage, and was proclaimed king, -with the _Te Deums_ of the choir and the shouts of the people. - -Doña Theresa, who, with her daughters, was in Galicia, finding the -kingdom thus disposed of, sent to demand provision for herself -and the two princesses, who in fact were step-sisters of King -Fernando. Queen Berenguela, though she had some reason not to feel -kindly disposed towards Doña Theresa, who she might think had been -exercising a secret influence over her late husband, yet suppressed -all such feelings, and undertook to repair in person to Galicia, and -negotiate this singular family question. She had an interview with -Queen Theresa at Valencia de Merlio in Galicia, and arranged a noble -dower for her, and an annual revenue to each of her daughters of -thirty thousand maravedis of gold. The king then had a meeting with -his sisters at Benevente, where they resigned all pretensions to the -throne. All the fortified places which held for them were given up, -and thus Fernando became undisputed sovereign of the two kingdoms of -Castile and Leon. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VI. - -Expedition of the Prince Alonzo against the Moors.—Encamps on the -Banks of the Guadalete.—Aben Hud marches out from Xerez and gives -Battle.—Prowess of Garcia Perez de Vargas.—Flight and Pursuit of the -Moors.—Miracle of the Blessed Santiago. - - -King Fernando III. having, through the sage counsel and judicious -management of his mother, made this amicable arrangement with his -step-sisters, by which he gained possession of their inheritance, -now found his territories to extend from the Bay of Biscay to the -vicinity of the Guadalquivir, and from the borders of Portugal to -those of Aragon and Valencia; and in addition to his titles of King -of Castile and Leon, called himself King of Spain by seigniorial -right. Being at peace with all his Christian neighbors, he now -prepared to carry on with more zeal and vigor than ever his holy wars -against the infidels. While making a progress, however, through his -dominions, administering justice, he sent his brother, the Prince -Alonzo, to make an expedition into the country of the Moors, and to -attack the newly-risen power of Aben Hud. - -As the Prince Alonzo was young and of little experience, the king -sent Don Alvar Perez de Castro, the Castilian, with him as captain, -he being stout of heart, strong of hand, and skilled in war. The -prince and his captain went from Salamanca to Toledo, where they -recruited their force with a troop of cavalry. Thence they proceeded -to Andujar, where they sent out corredores, or light foraging troops, -who laid waste the country, plundering and destroying and bringing -off great booty. Thence they directed their ravaging course toward -Cordova, assaulted and carried Palma, and put all its inhabitants to -the sword. Following the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir, they -scoured the vicinity of Seville, and continued onward for Xerez, -sweeping off cattle and sheep from the pastures of Andalusia; driving -on long cavalgadas of horses and mules laden with spoil; until the -earth shook with the tramping of their feet, and their course was -marked by clouds of dust and the smoke of burning villages. - -In this desolating foray they were joined by two hundred horse and -three hundred foot, Moorish allies, or rather vassals, being led by -the son of Aben Mohamed, the king of Baeza. - -Arrived within sight of Xerez, they pitched their tents on the banks -of the Guadalete—that fatal river, sadly renowned in the annals of -Spain for the overthrow of Roderick and the perdition of the kingdom. - -Here a good watch was set over the captured flocks and herds which -covered the adjacent meadows, while the soldiers, fatigued with -ravage, gave themselves up to repose on the banks of the river, or -indulged in feasting and revelry, or gambled with each other for -their booty. - -In the mean time Aben Hud, hearing of this inroad, summoned all his -chivalry of the seaboard of Andalusia to meet him in Xerez. They -hastened to obey his call; every leader spurred for Xerez with his -band of vassals. Thither came also the king of the Azules, with seven -hundred horsemen, Moors of Africa, light, vigorous and active; and -the city was full of troops. - -The camp of Don Alonzo had a formidable appearance at a distance, -from the flocks and herds which surrounded it, the vast number of -sumpter mules, and the numerous captives; but when Aben Hud came to -reconnoitre it, he found that its aggregate force did not exceed -three thousand five hundred men—a mere handful in comparison to his -army, and those encumbered with cattle and booty. He anticipated, -therefore, an easy victory. He now sallied forth from the city, and -took his position in the olive-fields between the Christians and the -city; while the African horsemen were stationed on each wing, with -instructions to hem in the Christians on either side, for he was only -apprehensive of their escaping. It is even said that he ordered great -quantities of cords to be brought from the city, and osier bands to -be made by the soldiery, wherewith to bind the multitude of prisoners -about to fall into their hands. His whole force he divided into seven -battalions, each containing from fifteen hundred to two thousand -cavalry. With these he prepared to give battle. - -When the Christians thus saw an overwhelming force in front, cavalry -hovering on either flank, and the deep waters of the Guadalete behind -them, they felt the perils of their situation. - -In this emergency Alvar Perez de Castro showed himself the able -captain that he had been represented. Though apparently deferring -to the prince in council, he virtually took the command, riding -among the troops lightly armed, with truncheon in hand, encouraging -every one by word and look and fearless demeanor. To give the most -formidable appearance to their little host, he ordered that as many -as possible of the foot-soldiers should mount upon the mules and -beasts of burden, and form a troop to be kept in reserve. Before -the battle he conferred the honor of knighthood on Garcia Perez de -Vargas, a cavalier destined to gain renown for hardy deeds of arms. - -When the troops were all ready for the field, the prince exhorted -them as good Christians to confess their sins and obtain absolution. -There was a goodly number of priests and friars with the army, as -there generally was with all the plundering expeditions of this -holy war, but there were not enough to confess all the army; those, -therefore, who could not have a priest or monk for the purpose, -confessed to each other. - -Among the cavaliers were two noted for their valor; but who, though -brothers-in-law, lived in mortal feud. One was Diego Perez, vassal -to Alvar Perez and brother to him who had just been armed knight; -the other was Pero Miguel, both natives of Toledo. Diego Perez was -the one who had given cause of offense. He now approached his -adversary and asked his pardon for that day only; that, in a time -of such mortal peril there might not be enmity and malice in their -hearts. The priests added their exhortations to this request, but -Pero Miguel sternly refused to pardon. When this was told to the -prince and Don Alvar, they likewise entreated Don Miguel to pardon -his brother-in-law. “I will,” replied he, “if he will come to my arms -and embrace me as a brother.” But Diego Perez declined the fraternal -embrace, for he saw danger in the eye of Pero Miguel, and he knew his -savage strength and savage nature, and suspected that he meant to -strangle him. So Pero Miguel went into battle without pardoning his -enemy who had implored forgiveness. - -At this time, say the old chroniclers, the shouts and yells of the -Moorish army, the sound of their cymbals, kettle-drums, and other -instruments of warlike music, were so great that heaven and earth -seemed commingled and confounded. In regarding the battle about to -overwhelm him, Alvar Perez saw that the only chance was to form the -whole army into one mass, and by a headlong assault to break the -centre of the enemy. In this emergency he sent word to the prince, -who was in the rear with the reserve and had five hundred captives -in charge, to strike off the heads of the captives and join him with -the whole reserve. This bloody order was obeyed. The prince came -to the front, all formed together in one dense column, and then, -with the war-cry “Santiago! Santiago! Castile! Castile!” charged -upon the centre of the enemy. The Moors’ line was broken by the -shock, squadron after squadron was thrown into confusion, Moors and -Christians were intermingled, until the field became one scene of -desperate, chance-medley fighting. Every Christian cavalier fought as -if the salvation of the field depended upon his single arm. Garcia -Perez de Vargas, who had been knighted just before the battle, proved -himself worthy of the honor. He had three horses killed under him, -and engaged in a desperate combat with the King of the Azules, whom -at length he struck dead from his horse. This king had crossed from -Africa on a devout expedition in the cause of the Prophet Mahomet. -“Verily,” says Antonio Agapida, “he had his reward.” - -Diego Perez was not behind his brother in prowess; and Heaven favored -him in that deadly fight, notwithstanding that he had not been -pardoned by his enemy. In the heat of the battle he had broken both -sword and lance; whereupon, tearing off a great knotted limb from an -olive-tree, he laid about him with such vigor and manhood that he who -got one blow in the head from that war-club never needed another. Don -Alvar Perez, who witnessed his feats, was seized with delight. At -each fresh blow that cracked a Moslem skull he would cry out, “Assi! -Assi! Diego, Machacha! Machacha!” (So! So! Diego, smash them! smash -them!) and from that day forward that strong-handed cavalier went by -the name of Diego Machacha, or Diego the Smasher, and it remained -the surname of several of his lineage. - -At length the Moors gave way and fled for the gates of Xerez; being -hotly pursued they stumbled over the bodies of the slain, and thus -many were taken prisoners. At the gates the press was so great that -they killed each other in striving to enter; and the Christian sword -made slaughter under the walls. - -The Christians gathered spoils of the field, after this victory, -until they were fatigued with collecting them, and the precious -articles found in the Moorish tents were beyond calculation. Their -camp-fires were supplied with the shafts of broken lances, and they -found ample use for the cords and osier bands which the Moors had -provided to bind their expected captives. - -It was a theme of much marvel and solemn meditation that of all -the distinguished cavaliers who entered into this battle, not one -was lost, excepting the same Pero Miguel who refused to pardon his -adversary. What became of him no one could tell. The last that was -seen of him he was in the midst of the enemy, cutting down and -overturning, for he was a valiant warrior and of prodigious strength. -When the battle and pursuit were at an end, and the troops were -recalled by sound of trumpet, he did not appear. His tent remained -empty. The field of battle was searched, but he was nowhere to be -found. Some supposed that, in his fierce eagerness to make havoc -among the Moors, he had entered the gates of the city and there been -slain; but his fate remained a mere matter of conjecture, and the -whole was considered an awful warning that no Christian should go -into battle without pardoning those who asked forgiveness. - -“On this day,” says the worthy Agapida, “it pleased Heaven to work -one of its miracles in favor of the Christian host; for the blessed -Santiago appeared in the air on a white horse, with a white banner in -one hand and a sword in the other, accompanied by a band of cavaliers -in white. This miracle,” he adds, “was beheld by many men of verity -and worth,” probably the monks and priests who accompanied the army; -“as well as by numbers of the Moors, who declared that the greatest -slaughter was effected by those sainted warriors.” - -It may be as well to add that Fray Antonio Agapida is supported in -this marvelous fact by Rodrigo, Archbishop of Toledo, one of the most -learned and pious men of the age, who lived at the time and records -it in his chronicle. It is a matter, therefore, placed beyond the -doubts of the profane. - -NOTE BY THE EDITOR.—A memorandum at the foot of this page of the -author’s manuscript, reminds him to “notice death of Queen Beatrix -about this time,” but the text continues silent on the subject. -According to Mariana, she died in the city of Toro in 1235, before -the siege of Cordova. Another authority gives the 5th of November, -1236, as the date of the decease, which would be some months after -the downfall of that renowned city. Her body was interred in the -nunnery of Las Huelgas at Burgos, and many years afterwards removed -to Seville, where reposed the remains of her husband. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VII. - -A bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish Power. - - -About this time certain Christian cavaliers of the frontiers received -information from Moorish captives that the noble city of Cordova was -negligently guarded, so that the suburbs might easily be surprised. -They immediately concerted a bold attempt, and sent to Pedro and -Alvar Perez, who were at Martos, entreating them to aid them with -their vassals. Having collected a sufficient force, and prepared -scaling ladders, they approached the city on a dark night in January, -amid showers of rain and howling blasts, which prevented their -footsteps being heard. Arrived at the foot of the ramparts, they -listened, but could hear no sentinel. The guards had shrunk into the -watch-towers for shelter from the pelting storm, and the garrison was -in profound sleep, for it was the midwatch of the night. - -Some, disheartened by the difficulties of the place, were for -abandoning the attempt, but Domingo Muñoz, their adalid, or guide, -encouraged them. Silently fastening ladders together, so as to be of -sufficient length, they placed them against one of the towers. The -first who mounted were Alvar Colodro and Benito de Banos, who were -dressed as Moors and spoke the Arabic language. The tower which they -scaled is to this day called the tower of Alvar Colodro. Entering -it suddenly but silently, they found four Moors asleep, whom they -seized and threw over the battlements, and the Christians below -immediately dispatched them. By this time a number more of Christians -had mounted the ladder, and sallying forth, sword in hand, upon -the wall, they gained possession of several towers and of the gate -of Martos. Throwing open the gate, Pero Ruyz Tabur galloped in at -the head of a squadron of horse, and by the dawn of day the whole -suburbs of Cordova, called the Axarquia, were in their possession; -the inhabitants having hastily gathered such of their most valuable -effects as they could carry with them, and taken refuge in the city. - -The cavaliers now barricaded every street of the suburbs excepting -the principal one, which was broad and straight; the Moors, however, -made frequent sallies upon them, or showered down darts and arrows -and stones from the walls and towers of the city. The cavaliers soon -found that they had got into warm quarters, which it would cost them -blood and toil to maintain. They sent off messengers, therefore, to -Don Alvar Perez, then at Martos, and to King Fernando, at Benevente, -craving instant aid. The messenger to the king travelled day and -night, and found the king at table; when, kneeling down, he presented -the letter with which he was charged. - -No sooner had the king read the letter than he called for horse and -weapon. All Benevente instantly resounded with the clang of arms and -tramp of steed; couriers galloped off in every direction, rousing -the towns and villages to arms, and ordering every one to join the -king on the frontier. “Cordova! Cordova!” was the war-cry,—that proud -city of the infidels! that seat of Moorish power! The king waited not -to assemble a great force, but, within an hour after receiving the -letter, was on the road with a hundred good cavaliers. - -It was the depth of winter; the rivers were swollen with rain. The -royal party were often obliged to halt on the bank of some raging -stream until its waters should subside. The king was all anxiety -and impatience. Cordova! Cordova! was the prize to be won, and the -cavaliers might be driven out of the suburbs before he could arrive -to their assistance. - -Arrived at Cordova, he proceeded to the bridge of Alcolea, where he -pitched his tents and displayed the royal standard. - -Before the arrival of the king, Alvar Perez had hastened from the -castle of Martos with a body of troops, and thrown himself into the -suburbs. Many warriors, both horse and foot, had likewise hastened -from the frontiers and from the various towns to which the king -had sent his mandates. Some came to serve the king, others out of -devotion to the holy faith, some to gain renown, and not a few to aid -in plundering the rich city of Cordova. There were many monks, also, -who had come for the glory of God and the benefit of their convents. - -When the Christians in the suburbs saw the royal standard floating -above the camp of the king, they shouted for joy, and in the -exultation of the moment, forgot all past dangers and hardships. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER VIII. - -A Spy in the Christian Camp.—Death of Aben Hud.—A Vital Blow to -Moslem Power.—Surrender of Cordova to King Fernando. - - -Aben Hud, the Moorish chief, who had been defeated by Alvar Perez -and Prince Alonzo before Xerez, was at this time in Ecija with a -large force, and disposed to hasten to the aid of Cordova, but his -recent defeat had made him cautious. He had in his camp a Christian -cavalier, Don Lorenzo Xuarez by name, who had been banished from -Castile by King Fernando. This cavalier offered to go as a spy into -the Christian camp, accompanied by three Christian horsemen, and to -bring accounts of its situation and strength. His offer was gladly -accepted, and Aben Hud promised to do nothing with his forces until -his return. - -Don Lorenzo set out privately with his companions, and when he came -to the end of the bridge he alighted and took one of the three with -him, leaving the other two to guard the horses. He entered the camp -without impediment, and saw that it was small and of but little -force; for, though recruits had repaired from all quarters, they had -as yet arrived in but scanty numbers. - -As Don Lorenzo approached the camp he saw a montero who stood -sentinel. “Friend,” said he, “do me the kindness to call to me some -person who is about the king, as I have something to tell him of -great importance.” The sentinel went in and brought out Don Otiella. -Don Lorenzo took him aside and said, “Do you not know me? I am Don -Lorenzo. I pray you tell the king that I entreat permission to enter -and communicate matters touching his safety.” - -Don Otiella went in and awoke the king, who was sleeping, and -obtained permission for Don Lorenzo to enter. When the king beheld -him he was wroth at his presuming to return from exile; but Don -Lorenzo replied,—“Señor, your majesty banished me to the land of the -Moors to do me harm, but I believe it was intended by Heaven for the -welfare both of your majesty and myself.” Then he apprised the king -of the intention of Aben Hud to come with a great force against him, -and of the doubts and fears he entertained lest the army of the king -should be too powerful. Don Lorenzo, therefore, advised the king -to draw off as many troops as could be spared from the suburbs of -Cordova, and to give his camp as formidable an aspect as possible; -and that he would return and give Aben Hud such an account of the -power of the royal camp as would deter him from the attack. “If,” -continued Don Lorenzo, “I fail in diverting him from his enterprise, -I will come off with all my vassals and offer myself, and all I can -command, for the service of your majesty, and hope to be accepted for -my good intentions. As to what takes place in the Moorish camp, from -hence, in three days, I will send your majesty letters by this my -squire.” - -The king thanked Don Lorenzo for his good intentions, and pardoned -him, and took him as his vassal; and Don Lorenzo said: “I beseech -your majesty to order that for three or four nights there be made -great fires in various parts of the camp, so that in case Aben Hud -should send scouts by night, there may be the appearance of a great -host.” The king promised it should be done, and Don Lorenzo took his -leave; rejoining his companions at the bridge, they mounted their -horses and travelled all night and returned to Ecija. - -When Don Lorenzo appeared in presence of Aben Hud he had the air of -one fatigued and careworn. To the inquiries of the Moor he returned -answers full of alarm, magnifying the power and condition of the -royal forces. “Señor,” added he, “if you would be assured of the -truth of what I say, send out your scouts, and they will behold the -Christian tents whitening all the banks of the Guadalquivir, and -covering the country as the snow covers the mountains of Granada; -or at night they will see fires on hill and dale illumining all the -land.” - -This intelligence redoubled the doubts and apprehensions of Aben -Hud. On the following day two Moorish horsemen arrived in all haste -from Zaen, king of Valencia, informing him that King James of Aragon -was coming against that place with a powerful army, and offering him -the supremacy of the place if he would hasten with all speed to its -relief. - -Aben Hud, thus perplexed between two objects, asked advice of his -counselors, among whom was the perfidious Don Lorenzo. They observed -that the Christians, though they had possession of the suburbs of -Cordova, could not for a long time master the place. He would have -time, therefore, to relieve Valencia, and then turn his arms and -those of King Zaen against the host of King Fernando. - -Aben Hud listened to their advice, and marched immediately for -Almeria, to take thence his ships to guard the port of Valencia. -While at Almeria a Moor named Aben Arramin, and who was his especial -favorite, invited him to a banquet. The unsuspecting Aben Hud threw -off his cares for the time, and giving loose to conviviality in -the house of his favorite, drank freely of the winecup that was -insidiously pressed upon him, until he became intoxicated. He was -then suffocated by the traitor in a trough of water, and it was given -out that he had died of apoplexy. - -At the death of Aben Hud, his host fell asunder, and every one hied -him to his home, whereupon Don Lorenzo and the Christians who were -with him hastened to King Fernando, by whom they were graciously -received and admitted into his royal service. - -The death of Aben Hud was a vital blow to Moslem power, and spread -confusion throughout Andalusia. When the people of Cordova heard of -it, and of the dismemberment of his army, all courage withered from -their hearts. Day after day the army of King Fernando was increasing -the roads were covered with foot-soldiers hastening to his standard; -every hidalgo who could bestride a horse spurred to the banks of the -Guadalquivir to be present at the downfall of Cordova. The noblest -cavaliers of Castile were continually seen marching into the camp -with banners flying and long trains of retainers. - -The inhabitants held out as long as there was help or hope; but they -were exhausted by frequent combats and long and increasing famine, -and now the death of Aben Hud cut off all chance of succor. With sad -and broken spirits, therefore, they surrendered their noble city -to King Fernando, after a siege of six months and six days. The -surrender took place on Sunday, the twenty-ninth day of July, the -feast of the glorious Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, in the year of -the Incarnation one thousand two hundred and thirty-six. - -The inhabitants were permitted to march forth in personal safety, -but to take nothing with them. “Thus,” exclaims the pious Agapida, -“was the city of Cordova, the queen of the cities of Andalusia, which -so long had been the seat of the power and grandeur of the Moors, -cleansed from all the impurities of Mahomet and restored to the -dominion of the true faith.” - -King Fernando immediately ordered the cross to be elevated on the -tower of the principal mosque, and beside it the royal standard; -while the bishops, the clergy, and all the people chanted _Te Deum -Laudamus_, as a song of triumph for this great victory of the -faith.[78] - - [78] _Cron. Gen. de España_, pt. 4. Bleda, lib. 4, c. 10. - -The king, having now gained full possession of the city, began to -repair, embellish, and improve it. The grand mosque, the greatest -and most magnificent in Spain, was now converted into a holy -Catholic church. The bishops and other clergy walked round it in -solemn procession, sprinkling holy water in every nook and corner, -and performing all other rites and ceremonies necessary to purify -and sanctify it. They erected an altar in it, also, in honor of the -Virgin, and chanted masses with great fervor and unction. In this way -they consecrated it to the true faith, and made it the cathedral of -the city. - -In this mosque were found the bells of the church of San Iago in -Gallicia, which the Alhagib Almanzor, in the year of our Redemption -nine hundred and seventy-five, had brought off in triumph and placed -here, turned with their mouths upward to serve as lamps, and remain -shining mementos of his victory. King Fernando ordered that these -bells should be restored to the church of San Iago; and as Christians -had been obliged to bring those bells hither on their shoulders, so -infidels were compelled in like manner to carry them back. Great -was the popular triumph when these bells had their tongues restored -to them, and were once more enabled to fill the air with their holy -clangor. - -Having ordered all things for the security and welfare of the city, -the king placed it under the government of Don Tello Alonzo de -Meneses; he appointed Don Alvar Perez de Castro, also, general of -the frontier, having his stronghold in the castle of the rock of -Martos. The king then returned, covered with glory, to Toledo. - -The fame of the recovery of the renowned city of Cordova, which -for five hundred and twenty-two years had been in the power of -the infidels, soon spread throughout the kingdom, and people came -crowding from every part to inhabit it. The gates which lately had -been thronged with steel-clad warriors were now besieged by peaceful -wayfarers of all kinds, conducting trains of mules laden with their -effects and all their household wealth; and so great was the throng -that in a little while there were not houses sufficient to receive -them. - -King Fernando, having restored the bells to San Iago, had others -suspended in the tower of the mosque, whence the muezzin had been -accustomed to call the Moslems to their worship. “When the pilgrims,” -says Fray Antonio Agapida, “who repaired to Cordova, heard the holy -sound of these bells chiming from the tower of the cathedral, their -hearts leaped for joy, and they invoked blessings on the head of the -pious King Fernando.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER IX. - -Marriage of King Fernando to the Princess Juana.—Famine at -Cordova.—Don Alvar Perez. - - -When Queen Berenguela beheld King Fernando returning in triumph from -the conquest of Cordova, her heart was lifted up with transport, for -there is nothing that more rejoices the heart of a mother than the -true glory of her son. The queen, however, as has been abundantly -shown, was a woman of great sagacity and forecast. She considered -that upwards of two years had elapsed since the death of the Queen -Beatrix, and that her son was living in widowhood. It is true he was -of quiet temperament, and seemed sufficiently occupied by the cares -of government and the wars for the faith; so that apparently he had -no thought of further matrimony; but the shrewd mother considered -likewise that he was in the prime and vigor of his days, renowned in -arms, noble and commanding in person, and gracious and captivating -in manners, and surrounded by the temptations of a court. True, he -was a saint in spirit, but after all in flesh he was a man, and -might be led away into those weaknesses very incident to, but highly -unbecoming of, the exalted state of princes. The good mother was -anxious, therefore, that he should enter again into the secure and -holy state of wedlock. - -King Fernando, a mirror of obedience to his mother, readily concurred -with her views in the present instance, and left it to her judgment -and discretion to make a choice for him. The choice fell upon the -Princess Juana, daughter of the Count of Pothier, and a descendant -of Louis the Seventh of France. The marriage was negotiated by Queen -Berenguela with the Count of Pothier; and the conditions being -satisfactorily arranged, the princess was conducted in due state -to Burgos, where the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp and -ceremony. - -The king, as well as his subjects, was highly satisfied with the -choice of the sage Berenguela, for the bride was young, beautiful, -and of stately form, and conducted herself with admirable suavity and -grace. - -After the rejoicings were over, King Fernando departed with his -bride, and visited the principal cities and towns of Castile and -Leon; receiving the homage of his subjects, and administering justice -according to the primitive forms of those days, when sovereigns -attended personally to the petitions and complaints of their -subjects, and went about hearing causes and redressing grievances. - -In the course of his progress, hearing while at Toledo of a severe -famine which prevailed at Cordova, he sent a large supply of money to -that city, and at the same time issued orders to various parts, to -transport thither as much grain as possible. The calamity, however, -went on increasing. The conquest of Cordova had drawn thither great -multitudes, expecting to thrive on the well-known fertility and -abundance of the country. But the Moors, in the agitation of the -time, had almost ceased to cultivate their fields; the troops helped -to consume the supplies on hand; there were few hands to labor and -an infinity of mouths to eat, and the cry of famine went on daily -growing more intense. - -Upon this, Don Alvar Perez, who had command of the frontier, set off -to represent the case in person to the king; for one living word from -the mouth is more effective than a thousand dead words from the pen. -He found the king at Valladolid, deeply immersed in the religious -exercises of Holy Week, and much did it grieve this saintly monarch, -say his chroniclers, to be obliged even for a moment to quit the holy -quiet of the church for the worldly bustle of the palace, to lay by -the saint and enact the sovereign. Having heard the representations -of Don Alvar Perez, he forthwith gave him ample funds wherewith to -maintain his castles, his soldiers, and even the idlers who thronged -about the frontier, and who would be useful subjects when the times -should become settled. Satisfied, also, of the zeal and loyalty of -Alvar Perez, which had been so strikingly displayed in the present -instance, he appointed him adelantado of the whole frontier of -Andalusia—an office equivalent to that at present called viceroy. -Don Alvar hastened back to execute his mission and enter upon his -new office. He took his station at Martos, in its rock-built castle, -which was the key of all that frontier, whence he could carry relief -to any point of his command, and could make occasional incursions -into the territories. The following chapter will show the cares and -anxieties which awaited him in his new command. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER X. - -Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra.—Fortifies Granada and makes -it his Capital.—Attempts to surprise the Castle of Martos.—Peril -of the Fortress.—A Woman’s Stratagem to save it.—Diego Perez, the -Smasher.—Death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro. - - -On the death of Aben Hud, the Moorish power in Spain was broken up -into factions, as has already been mentioned, but these factions -were soon united under one head, who threatened to be a formidable -adversary to the Christians. This was Mohammed ben Alhamar, or Aben -Alhamar, as he is commonly called in history. He was a native of -Arjona, of noble descent, being of the Beni Nasar, or race of Nasar, -and had been educated in a manner befitting his rank. Arrived at -manly years, he had been appointed alcayde of Arjona and Jaen, and -had distinguished himself by the justice and benignity of his rule. -He was intrepid, also, and ambitious, and during the late dissensions -among the Moslems had extended his territories, making himself master -of many strong places. - -On the death of Aben Hud, he made a military circuit through the -Moorish territories, and was everywhere hailed with acclamations -as the only one who could save the Moslem power in Spain from -annihilation. At length he entered Granada amidst the enthusiastic -shouts of the populace. Here he was proclaimed king, and found -himself at the head of the Moslems of Spain, being the first of -his illustrious line that ever sat upon a throne. It needs nothing -more to give lasting renown to Aben Alhamar than to say he was the -founder of the Alhambra, that magnificent monument which to this day -bears testimony to Moorish taste and splendor. As yet, however, Aben -Alhamar had not time to indulge in the arts of peace. He saw the -storm of war that threatened his newly-founded kingdom, and prepared -to buffet with it. The territories of Granada extended along the -coast from Algeziras almost to Murcia, and inland as far as Jaen and -Huescar. All the frontiers he hastened to put in a state of defense, -while he strongly fortified the city of Granada, which he made his -capital. - -By the Mahometan law every citizen is a soldier, and to take arms in -defense of the country and the faith is a religious and imperative -duty. Aben Alhamar, however, knew the unsteadiness of hastily levied -militia, and organized a standing force to garrison his forts and -cities, the expense of which he defrayed from his own revenues. The -Moslem warriors from all parts now rallied under his standard, and -fifty thousand Moors, abandoning Valencia on the conquest of that -country by the king of Aragon, hastened to put themselves under the -dominion of Aben Alhamar. - -Don Alvar Perez, on returning to his post, had intelligence of all -these circumstances, and perceived that he had not sufficient force -to make head against such a formidable neighbor, and that in fact the -whole frontier, so recently wrested from the Moors, was in danger of -being reconquered. With his old maxim, therefore, “There is more life -in one word from the mouth than in a thousand words from the pen,” he -determined to have another interview with King Fernando, and acquaint -him with the imminent dangers impending over the frontier. - -He accordingly took his departure with great secrecy, leaving his -countess and her women and donzellas in his castle of the rock of -Martos, guarded by his nephew Don Tello and forty chosen men. - -The departure of Don Alvar Perez was not so secret, however, but that -Aben Alhamar had notice of it by his spies, and he resolved to make -an attempt to surprise the castle of Martos, which, as has been said, -was the key to all this frontier. - -Don Tello, who had been left in command of the fortress, was a young -galliard, full of the fire of youth, and he had several hardy and -adventurous cavaliers with him, among whom was Diego Perez de Vargas, -surnamed Machacha, or the Smasher, for his exploits at the battle -of Xerez in smashing the heads of the Moors with the limb of an -olive-tree. These hot-blooded cavaliers, looking out like hawks from -their mountain hold, were seized with an irresistible inclination to -make a foray into the lands of their Moorish neighbors. On a bright -morning they accordingly set forth, promising the donzellas of the -castle to bring them jewels and rich silks, the spoils of Moorish -women. - -The cavaliers had not been long gone when the castle was alarmed by -the sound of trumpets, and the watchman from the tower gave notice -of a cloud of dust, with Moorish banners and armor gleaming through -it. It was, in fact, the Moorish king, Aben Alhamar, who pitched his -tents before the castle. - -Great was the consternation that reigned within the walls, for all -the men were absent, excepting one or two necessary for the service -of the castle. The dames and donzellas gave themselves up to despair, -expecting to be carried away captive, perhaps to supply some Moorish -harem. The countess, however, was of an intrepid spirit and ready -invention. Summoning her dueñas and damsels, she made them arrange -their hair, and dress themselves like men, take weapons in hand, -and show themselves between the battlements. The Moorish king was -deceived, and supposed the fort well garrisoned. He was deterred, -therefore, from attempting to take it by storm. In the mean time she -dispatched a messenger by the postern-gate, with orders to speed -swiftly in quest of Don Tello, and tell him the peril of the fortress. - -At hearing these tidings, Don Tello and his companions turned their -reins and spurred back for the castle, but on drawing nigh, they -saw from a hill that it was invested by a numerous host who were -battering the walls. It was an appalling sight,—to cut their way -through such a force seemed hopeless,—yet their hearts were wrung -with anguish when they thought of the countess and her helpless -donzellas. Upon this, Diego Perez de Vargas, surnamed Machacha, -stepped forward and proposed to form a forlorn hope, and attempt to -force a passage to the castle. “If any of us succeed,” said he, “we -may save the countess and the rock; if we fall, we shall save our -souls and act the parts of good cavaliers. This rock is the key of -all the frontier, on which the king depends to get possession of the -country. Shame would it be if Moors should capture it; above all if -they should lead away our honored countess and her ladies captive -before our eyes, while our lances remain unstained by blood and we -unscarred with a wound. For my part, I would rather die than see -it. Life is but short; we should do in it our best. So, in a word, -cavaliers, if you refuse to join me I will take my leave of you and -do what I can with my single arm.” - -“Diego Perez,” cried Don Tello, “you have spoken my very wishes; -I will stand by you until the death, and let those who are good -cavaliers and hidalgos follow our example.” - -The other cavaliers caught fire at these words; forming a solid -squadron, they put spurs to their horses and rushed down upon the -Moors. The first who broke into the ranks of the enemy was Diego -Perez, the Smasher, and he opened a way for the others. Their only -object was to cut their way to the fortress; so they fought and -pressed forward. The most of them got to the rock; some were cut off -by the Moors, and died like valiant knights, fighting to the last -gasp. - -When the Moorish king saw the daring of these cavaliers, and that -they had succeeded in reinforcing the garrison, he despaired of -gaining the castle without much time, trouble, and loss of blood. He -persuaded himself, therefore, that it was not worth the price, and, -striking his tents, abandoned the siege. Thus the rock of Martos was -saved by the sagacity of the countess and the prowess of Diego Perez -de Vargas, surnamed the Smasher. - -In the mean time, Don Alvar Perez de Castro arrived in presence of -the king at Hutiel. King Fernando received him with benignity, but -seemed to think his zeal beyond his prudence; leaving so important a -frontier so weakly guarded, sinking the viceroy in the courier, and -coming so far to give by word of mouth what might easily have been -communicated by letter. He felt the value, however, of his loyalty -and devotion, but, furnishing him with ample funds, requested him to -lose no time in getting back to his post. The count set out on his -return, but it is probable the ardor and excitement of his spirit -proved fatal to him, for he was seized with a violent fever when on -the journey, and died in the town of Orgaz. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XI. - -Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of Murcia, becomes the Vassal of -King Fernando.—Aben Alhamar seeks to drive the Christians out of -Andalusia.—Fernando takes the Field against him.—Ravages of the -King.—His Last Meeting with the Queen-Mother. - - -The death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro caused deep affliction to -King Fernando, for he considered him the shield of the frontier. -While he was at Cordova, or at his rock of Martos, the king felt -as assured of the safety of the border as though he had been there -himself. As soon as he could be spared from Castile and Leon, he -hastened to Cordova, to supply the loss the frontier had sustained -in the person of his vigilant lieutenant. One of his first measures -was to effect a truce of one year with the king of Granada,—a measure -which each adopted with great regret, compelled by his several -policy: King Fernando to organize and secure his recent conquests; -Aben Alhamar to regulate and fortify his newly founded kingdom. -Each felt that he had a powerful enemy to encounter and a desperate -struggle before him. - -King Fernando remained at Cordova until the spring of the following -year (1241), regulating the affairs of that noble city, assigning -houses and estates to such of his cavaliers as had distinguished -themselves in the conquest, and, as usual, making rich donations -of towns and great tracts of land to the Church and to different -religious orders. Leaving his brother Alfonso with a sufficient force -to keep an eye upon the king of Granada and hold him in check, King -Fernando departed for Castile, making a circuit by Jaen and Baeza -and Andujar, and arriving in Toledo on the fourth of April. Here -he received important propositions from Aben Hudiel, the Moorish -king of Murcia. The death of Aben Hud had left that kingdom a scene -of confusion. The alcaydes of the different cities and fortresses -were at strife with each other, and many refused allegiance to Aben -Hudiel. The latter, too, was in hostility with Aben Alhamar, the king -of Granada, and he feared he would take advantage of his truce with -King Fernando, and the distracted state of the kingdom of Murcia, -to make an inroad. Thus desperately situated, Aben Hudiel had sent -missives to King Fernando, entreating his protection, and offering to -become his vassal. - -The king of Castile gladly closed with this offer. He forthwith sent -his son and heir, the Prince Alfonso, to receive the submission -of the king of Murcia. As the prince was young and inexperienced -in these affairs of state, he sent with him Don Pelayo de Correa, -the Grand Master of Santiago, a cavalier of consummate wisdom and -address, and also Rodrigo Gonzalez Giron. The prince was received -in Murcia with regal honors; the terms were soon adjusted by which -the Moorish king acknowledged vassalage to King Fernando, and ceded -to him one half of his revenues, in return for which the king -graciously took him under his protection. The alcaydes of Alicant, -Elche, Oriola, and several other places, agreed to this covenant of -vassalage, but it was indignantly spurned by the Wali of Lorca; he -had been put in office by Aben Hud; and, now that potentate was no -more, he aspired to exercise an independent sway, and had placed -alcaydes of his own party in Mula and Carthagena. - -As the Prince Alfonso had come to solemnize the act of homage and -vassalage proposed by the Moorish king, and not to extort submission -from his subjects by force of arms, he contented himself with making -a progress through the kingdom and receiving the homage of the -acquiescent towns and cities, after which he rejoined his father in -Castile. - -It is conceived by the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, as well as -by other monkish chroniclers, that this important acquisition of -territory by the saintly Fernando was a boon from Heaven in reward -of an offering which he made to God of his daughter Berenguela, -whom early in this year he dedicated as a nun in the convent of Las -Huelgas, in Burgos—of which convent the king’s sister Constanza was -abbess.[79] - - [79] _Cronica del Rey Santo_, cap. 13. - -About this time it was that King Fernando gave an instance of his -magnanimity and his chivalrous disposition. We have seen the deadly -opposition he had experienced from the haughty house of Lara, and -the ruin which the three brothers brought upon themselves by their -traitorous hostility. The anger of the king was appeased by their -individual ruin; he did not desire to revenge himself upon their -helpless families, nor to break down and annihilate a house lofty -and honored in the traditions of Spain. One of the brothers, Don -Fernando, had left a daughter, Doña Sancha Fernandez de Lara; there -happened at this time to be in Spain a cousin-german of the king, -a prince of Portugal, Don Fernando by name, who held the señorio -of Serpa. Between this prince and Doña Sancha the king effected a -marriage, whence has sprung one of the most illustrious branches of -the ancient house of Lara.[80] The other daughters of Don Fernando -retained large possessions in Castile; and one of his sons will be -found serving valiantly under the standard of the king. - - [80] _Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey_, p. 554. - -In the mean time the truce with Aben Alhamar, the king of Granada, -had greatly strengthened the hands of that monarch. He had received -accessions of troops from various parts, had fortified his capital -and his frontiers, and now fomented disturbances in the neighboring -kingdom of Murcia,—encouraging the refractory cities to persist in -their refusal of vassalage,—hoping to annex that kingdom to his own -newly consolidated dominions. - -The Wali of Lorca and his partisans, the alcaydes of Mula and -Carthagena, thus instigated by the king of Granada, now increased in -turbulence, and completely overawed the feeble-handed Aben Hudiel. -King Fernando thought this a good opportunity to give his son and -heir his first essay in arms. He accordingly dispatched the prince a -second time to Murcia, accompanied as before by Don Pelayo de Correa, -the Grand Master of Santiago; but he sent him now with a strong -military force, to play the part of a conqueror. The conquest, as may -be supposed, was easy; Mula, Lorca, and Carthagena soon submitted, -and the whole kingdom was reduced to vassalage—Fernando henceforth -adding to his other titles King of Murcia. “Thus,” says Fray Antonio -Agapida, “was another precious jewel wrested from the kingdom of -Antichrist, and added to the crown of this saintly monarch.” - -But it was not in Murcia alone that King Fernando found himself -called to contend with his new adversary the king of Granada. That -able and active monarch, strengthened as has been said during the -late truce, had made bold forays in the frontiers recently conquered -by King Fernando, and had even extended them to the neighborhood -of Cordova. In all this he had been encouraged by some degree of -negligence and inaction on the part of King Fernando’s brother -Alfonso, who had been left in charge of the frontier. The prince took -the field against Aben Alhamar, and fought him manfully; but the -Moorish force was too powerful to be withstood, and the prince was -defeated. - -Tidings of this was sent to King Fernando, and of the great danger of -the frontier, as Aben Alhamar, flushed with success, was aiming to -drive the Christians out of Andalusia. King Fernando immediately set -off for the frontier, accompanied by the Queen Juana. He did not wait -to levy a powerful force, but took with him a small number—knowing -the loyalty of his subjects and their belligerent propensities, and -that they would hasten to his standard the moment they knew he was in -the field and exposed to danger. His force accordingly increased as -he advanced. At Andujar he met his brother Alfonso with the relics -of his lately defeated army,—all brave and expert soldiers. He had -now a commanding force, and leaving the queen with a sufficient -guard at Andujar, he set off with his brother Alonzo and Don Nuño -Gonzalez de Lara, son of the Count Gonzalo, to scour the country -about Arjona, Jaen, and Alcaudete. The Moors took refuge in their -strong places, whence they saw with aching hearts the desolation of -their country—olive plantations on fire, vineyards laid waste, groves -and orchards cut down, and all the other modes of ravage practiced in -these unsparing wars. - -The king of Granada did not venture to take the field; and King -Fernando, meeting no enemy to contend with, while ravaging the -lands of Alcaudete, detached a part of his force under Don Rodrigo -Fernandez de Castro, a son of the brave Alvar Perez lately deceased, -and he associated with him Nuño Gonzalez, with orders to besiege -Arjona. This was a place dear to Aben Alhamar, the King of Granada, -being his native place, where he had first tasted the sweets of -power. Hence he was commonly called the king of Arjona. - -The people of the place, though they had quailed before King -Fernando, despised his officers and set them at defiance. The king -himself, however, made his appearance on the following day with the -remainder of his forces, whereupon Arjona capitulated. - -While his troops were reposing from their fatigues, the king made -some further ravages, and reduced several small towns to obedience. -He then sent his brother Don Alfonso with sufficient forces to -carry fire and sword into the Vega of Granada. In the mean time he -returned to Andujar to the Queen Juana. He merely came, say the -old chroniclers, for the purpose of conducting her to Cordova; -fulfilling, always, his duty as a cavalier, without neglecting that -of a king. - -The moment he had left her in her palace at Cordova, he hastened -back to join his brother in harassing the territories of Granada. He -came in time; for Aben Alhamar, enraged at seeing the destruction of -the Vega, made such a vigorous sally that had Prince Alfonso been -alone in command, he might have received a second lesson still more -disastrous than the first. The presence of the king, however, put new -spirits and valor into the troops: the Moors were driven back to the -city, and the Christians pursued them to the very gates. As the king -had not sufficient forces with him to attempt the capture of this -place, he contented himself with the mischief he had done, and, with -some more which he subsequently effected, he returned to Cordova to -let his troops rest from their fatigues. - -While the king was in this city a messenger arrived from his mother, -the Queen Berenguela, informing him of her intention of coming to -pay him a visit. A long time had elapsed since they had seen each -other, and her extreme age rendered her anxious to embrace her son. -The king, to prevent her from taking so long a journey, set off to -meet her, taking with him his Queen Juana. The meeting took place in -Pezuelo near Burgos,[81] and was affecting on both sides, for never -did son and mother love and honor each other more truly. In this -interview, the queen represented her age and increasing weakness, -and her incapacity to cope with the fatigues of public affairs, of -which she had always shared the burden with the king; she therefore -signified her wish to retire to her convent, to pass the remnant of -her days in holy repose. King Fernando, who had ever found in his -mother his ablest counselor and best support, entreated her not to -leave his side in these arduous times, when the King of Granada on -one side, and the King of Seville on the other, threatened to put -all his courage and resources to the trial. A long and earnest, yet -tender and affectionate, conversation succeeded between them, which -resulted in the queen-mother’s yielding to his solicitations. The -illustrious son and mother remained together six weeks, enjoying each -other’s society, after which they separated—the king and queen for -the frontier, and the queen-mother for Toledo. They were never to -behold each other again upon earth, for the king never returned to -Castile. - - [81] Some chronicles, through mistake, make it Pezuelo near - Ciudal Real, in the mountains on the confines of Granada. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XII. - -King Fernando’s Expedition to Andalusia.—Siege of Jaen.—Secret -Departure of Aben Alhamar for the Christian Camp.—He Acknowledges -himself the Vassal of the King, who enters Jaen in Triumph. - - -It was in the middle of August, 1245, that King Fernando set out on -his grand expedition to Andalusia, whence he was never to return. -All that autumn he pursued the same destructive course as in his -preceding campaigns, laying waste the country with fire and sword in -the vicinity of Jaen and to Alcala la Real. The town, too, of Illora, -built on a lofty rock and fancying itself secure, was captured and -given a prey to flames, which was as a bale-fire to the country. -Thence he descended into the beautiful Vega of Granada, ravaging that -earthly paradise. Aben Alhamar sallied forth from Granada with what -forces he could collect, and a bloody battle ensued about twelve -miles from Granada. A part of the troops of Aben Alhamar were hasty -levies, inhabitants of the city, and but little accustomed to combat; -they lost courage, gave way, and threw the better part of the troops -in disorder; a retreat took place which ended in a headlong flight, -in which there was great carnage.[82] - - [82] Conde, tom. iii. c. 5. - -Content for the present with the ravage he had made and the victory -he had gained, King Fernando now drew off his troops and repaired -to his frontier hold of Martos, where they might rest after their -fatigues in security. - -Here he was joined by Don Pelayo Perez Correa, the Grand Master -of Santiago. This valiant cavalier, who was as sage and shrewd in -council as he was adroit and daring in the field, had aided the -youthful Prince Alfonso in completing the tranquilization of Murcia, -and leaving him in the quiet administration of affairs in that -kingdom, had since been on a pious and political mission to the court -of Rome. He arrived most opportunely at Martos, to aid the king with -his counsels, for there was none in whose wisdom and loyalty the king -had more confidence. - -The grand master listened to all the plans of the king for the -humiliation of the haughty King of Granada; he then gravely but most -respectfully objected to the course the king was pursuing. He held -the mere ravaging the country of little ultimate benefit. It harassed -and irritated, but did not destroy the enemy, while it fatigued and -demoralized the army. To conquer the country, they must not lay waste -the field, but take the towns; so long as the Moors retained their -strongholds, so long they had dominion over the land. He advised, -therefore, as a signal blow to the power of the Moorish king, the -capture of the city of Jaen. This was a city of immense strength, -the bulwark of the kingdom; it was well supplied with provisions -and the munitions of war; strongly garrisoned and commanded by Abu -Omar, native of Cordova, a general of cavalry, and one of the bravest -officers of Aben Alhamar. King Fernando had already besieged it in -vain, but the reasoning of the grand master had either convinced his -reason or touched his pride. He set himself down before the walls of -Jaen declaring he would never raise the siege until he was master -of the place. For a long time the siege was carried on in the depth -of winter, in defiance of rain and tempests. Aben Alhamar was in -despair: he could not relieve the place; he could not again venture -on a battle with the king after his late defeat. He saw that Jaen -must fall, and feared it would be followed by the fall of Granada. He -was a man of ardent spirit and quick and generous impulses. Taking a -sudden resolution, he departed secretly for the Christian camp, and -made his way to the presence of King Fernando. “Behold before you,” -said he, “the King of Granada. Resistance I find unavailing; I come, -trusting to your magnanimity and good faith, to put myself under your -protection and acknowledge myself your vassal.” So sayings, he knelt -and kissed the king’s hand in token of homage. - -“King Fernando,” say the old chroniclers, “was not to be outdone in -generosity. He raised his late enemy from the earth, embraced him as -a friend, and left him in the sovereignty of his dominions; the good -king, however, was as politic as he was generous. He received Aben -Alhamar as a vassal; conditioned for the delivery of Jaen into his -hands; for the yearly payment of one half of his revenues; for his -attendance at the cortes as one of the nobles of the empire, and his -aiding Castile in war with a certain number of horsemen.” - -In compliance with these conditions, Jaen was given up to the -Christian king, who entered it in triumph about the end of -February.[83] His first care was to repair in grand procession, -bearing the holy cross, to the principal mosque, which was purified -and sanctified by the Bishop of Cordova, and erected into a cathedral -and dedicated to the most holy Virgin Mary. - - [83] _Notas para la Vida_, etc., p. 562. - -He remained some time in Jaen, giving repose to his troops, -regulating the affairs of this important place, disposing of houses -and estates among his warriors who had most distinguished themselves, -and amply rewarding the priests and monks who had aided him with -their prayers. - -As to Aben Alhamar, he returned to Granada, relieved from -apprehension of impending ruin to his kingdom, but deeply humiliated -at having to come under the yoke of vassalage. He consoled himself -by prosecuting the arts of peace, improving the condition of his -people, building hospitals, founding institutions of learning, and -beautifying his capital with those magnificent edifices which remain -the admiration of posterity; for now it was that he commenced to -build the Alhambra. - -NOTE.—There is some dispute among historians as to the duration of -the siege and the date of the surrender of Jaen. Some make the -siege endure eight months, from August into the middle of April. The -authentic Agapida adopts the opinion of the author of _Notas para -la Vida del Santo Rey_, etc., who makes the siege begin on the 31st -December and end about 26th February. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIII. - -Axataf, King of Seville, exasperated at the Submission of the King of -Granada, rejects the Propositions of King Fernando for a Truce.—The -latter is encouraged by a Vision to undertake the Conquest of the -City of Seville.—Death of Queen Berenguela.—A Diplomatic Marriage. - - -King Fernando, having reduced the fair kingdom of Granada to -vassalage, and fortified himself in Andalusia by the possession of -the strong city of Jaen, bethought him now of returning to Castile. -There was but one Moorish potentate in Spain whose hostilities he -had to fear: this was Axataf, the King of Seville. He was the son -of Aben Hud, and succeeded to a portion of his territories. Warned -by the signal defeat of his father at Xerez, he had forborne to -take the field against the Christians, but had spared no pains and -expense to put the city of Seville in the highest state of defense; -strengthening its walls and towers, providing it with munitions -of war of all kinds, and exercising his people continually in the -use of arms. King Fernando was loth to leave this great frontier -in its present unsettled state, with such a powerful enemy in the -neighborhood, who might take advantage of his absence to break into -open hostility; still it was his policy to let the sword rest in -the sheath until he had completely secured his new possessions. He -sought, therefore, to make a truce with King Axataf, and, to enforce -his propositions, it is said he appeared with his army before Seville -in May, 1246.[84] His propositions were rejected, as it were, at the -very gate. It appears that the King of Seville was exasperated rather -than dismayed by the submission of the King of Granada. He felt that -on himself depended the last hope of Islamism in Spain; he trusted -on aid from the coast of Barbary, with which his capital had ready -communication by water; and he resolved to make a bold stand in the -cause of his faith. - - [84] _Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey_, p. 572. - -King Fernando retired indignant from before Seville, and repaired to -Cordova, with the pious determination to punish the obstinacy and -humble the pride of the infidel, by planting the standard of the -cross on the walls of his capital. Seville once in his power, the -rest of Andalusia would soon follow, and then his triumph over the -sect of Mahomet would be complete. Other reasons may have concurred -to make him covet the conquest of Seville. It was a city of great -splendor and wealth, situated in the midst of a fertile country, in a -genial climate, under a benignant sky; and having by its river, the -Guadalquivir, an open highway for commerce, it was the metropolis of -all Morisma—a world of wealth and delight within itself. - -These were sufficient reasons for aiming at the conquest of this -famous city, but these were not sufficient to satisfy the holy friars -who have written the history of this monarch, and who have found a -reason more befitting his character of saint. Accordingly we are -told, by the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, that at a time when the -king was in deep affliction for the death of his mother, the Queen -Berenguela, and was praying with great fervor, there appeared before -him Saint Isidro, the great Apostle of Spain, who had been Archbishop -of Seville in old times, before the perdition of Spain by the Moors. -As the monarch gazed in reverend wonder at the vision, the saint laid -on him a solemn injunction to rescue from the empire of Mahomet his -city of Seville. “Que asi la llamo por suya en la patria, suya en la -silla, y suya en la proteccion.” “Such,” says Agapida, “was the true -reason why this pious king undertook the conquest of Seville;” and in -this assertion he is supported by many Spanish chroniclers; and by -the traditions of the Church—the vision of San Isidro being read to -this day among its services.[85] - - [85] Rodriguez, _Memorias del Santo Rey_, c. lviii. - -The death of Queen Berenguela, to which we have just adverted, -happened some months after the conquest of Jaen and submission of -Granada. The grief of the king on hearing the tidings, we are told, -was past description. For a time it quite overwhelmed him. “Nor is -it much to be marveled at,” says an old chronicler; “for never did -monarch lose a mother so noble and magnanimous in all her actions. -She was indeed accomplished in all things, an example of every -virtue, the mirror of Castile and Leon and all Spain, by whose -counsel and wisdom the affairs of many kingdoms were governed. This -noble queen,” continues the chronicler, “was deplored in all the -cities, towns, and villages of Castile and Leon; by all people, great -and small, but _especially by poor cavaliers_, to whom she was ever a -benefactress.”[86] - - [86] _Cronica del Rey Don Fernando_, c. XIII. - -Another heavy loss to King Fernando, about this time, was that of -the Archbishop of Toledo, Don Rodrigo, the great adviser of the king -in all his expeditions, and the prelate who first preached the grand -crusade in Spain. He lived a life of piety, activity, and zeal, and -died full of years, of honors, and of riches—having received princely -estates and vast revenues from the king in reward of his services in -the cause. - -These private afflictions for a time occupied the royal mind; the -king was also a little disturbed by some rash proceedings of his son, -the hereditary Prince Alfonso, who, being left in the government of -Murcia, took a notion of imitating his father in his conquests, and -made an inroad into the Moorish kingdom of Valencia, at that time in -a state of confusion. This brought on a collision with King Jayme -of Aragon, surnamed the Conqueror, who had laid his hand upon all -Valencia, as his by right of arms. There was thus danger of a rupture -with Aragon, and of King Fernando having an enemy on his back, while -busied in his wars in Andalusia. Fortunately King Jayme had a fair -daughter, the Princess Violante; and the grave diplomatists of the -two courts determined that it were better the two children should -marry, than the two fathers should fight. To this arrangement King -Fernando and King Jayme gladly assented. They were both of the same -faith; both proud of the name of Christian; both zealous in driving -Mahometanism out of Spain, and in augmenting their empires with -its spoils. The marriage was accordingly solemnized in Valladolid -in the month of November in this same year; and now the saintly -King Fernando turned his whole energies to this great and crowning -achievement, the conquest of Seville, the emporium of Mahometanism in -Spain. - -Foreseeing, as long as the mouth of the Guadalquivir was open, the -city could receive reinforcements and supplies from Africa, the king -held consultations with a wealthy man of Burgos, Ramon Bonifaz, or -Boniface, by name,—some say a native of France,—one well experienced -in maritime affairs, and capable of fitting out and managing a fleet. -This man he constituted his admiral, and sent him to Biscay to -provide and arm a fleet of ships and galleys, with which to attack -Seville by water, while the king should invest it by land. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIV. - -Investment of Seville.—All Spain aroused to Arms.—Surrender of -Alcala Del Rio.—The Fleet of Admiral Ramon Bonifaz advances up the -Guadalquivir.—Don Pelayo Correa, Master of Santiago.—His Valorous -Deeds and the Miracles wrought in his Behalf. - - -When it was bruited abroad that King Fernando the Saint intended to -besiege the great city of Seville, all Spain was roused to arms. -The masters of the various military and religious orders, the ricos -hombres, the princes, cavaliers, hidalgos, and every one of Castile -and Leon capable of bearing arms, prepared to take the field. Many of -the nobility of Catalonia and Portugal repaired to the standard of -the king, as did other cavaliers of worth and prowess from lands far -beyond the Pyrenees. - -Prelates, priests, and monks likewise thronged to the army,—some to -take care of the souls of those who hazarded their lives in this holy -enterprise, others with a zealous determination to grasp buckler and -lance, and battle with the arm of flesh against the enemies of God -and the Church. - -At the opening of spring the assembled host issued forth in shining -array from the gates of Cordova. After having gained possession of -Carmona, and Lora and Alcolea, and of other neighboring places,—some -by voluntary surrender others by force of arms,—the king crossed -the Guadalquivir, with great difficulty and peril, and made himself -master of several of the most important posts in the neighborhood -of Seville. Among these was Alcala del Rio, a place of great -consequence, through which passed all the succors from the mountains -to the city. This place was bravely defended by Axataf in person, -the commander of Seville. He remained in Alcala with three hundred -Moorish cavaliers, making frequent sallies upon the Christians, and -effecting great slaughter. At length he beheld all the country around -laid waste, the grain burnt or trampled down, the vineyards torn up, -the cattle driven away and the villages consumed; so that nothing -remained to give sustenance to the garrison or the inhabitants. Not -daring to linger there any longer, he departed secretly in the night -and retired to Seville, and the town surrendered to King Fernando. - -While the king was putting Alcala del Rio in a state of defense. -Admiral Ramon Bonifaz arrived at the mouth of the Guadalquivir with a -fleet of thirteen large ships and several small vessels and galleys. -While he was yet hovering about the land, he heard of the approach -of a great force of ships from Tangier, Ceuta, and Seville, and of -an army to assail him from the shores. In this peril he sent in all -speed for succor to the king; when it reached the sea-coast the -enemy had not yet appeared; wherefore, thinking it a false alarm, -the reinforcement returned to the camp. Scarcely, however, had it -departed when the Africans came swarming over the sea, and fell upon -Ramon Bonifaz with a greatly superior force. The admiral, in no way -dismayed, defended himself vigorously—sunk several of the enemy, took -a few prizes, and put the rest to flight, remaining master of the -river. The king had heard of the peril of the fleet, and, crossing -the ford of the river, had hastened to its aid; but when he came -to the sea-coast, he found it victorious, at which he was greatly -rejoiced, and commanded that it should advance higher up the river. - -It was on the twentieth of the month of August that King Fernando -began formally the siege of Seville, having encamped his troops, -small in number, but of stout hearts and valiant hands, near to the -city on the banks of the river. From hence Don Pelayo Correa, the -valiant Master of Santiago, with two hundred and sixty horsemen, many -of whom were warlike friars, attempted to cross the river at the ford -below Aznal Farache. Upon this, Aben Amaken, Moorish king of Niebla, -sallied forth with a great host to defend the pass, and the cavaliers -were exposed to imminent peril, until the king sent one hundred -cavaliers to their aid, led on by Rodrigo Flores and Alonzo Tellez -and Fernan Diañez. - -Thus reinforced, the Master of Santiago scoured the opposite side of -the river, and with his little army of scarce four hundred horsemen, -mingled monks and soldiers, spread dismay throughout the country. -They attacked the town of Gelbes, and, after a desperate combat, -entered it, sword in hand, slaying or capturing the Moors, and making -rich booty. They made repeated assaults upon the castle of Triana, -and had bloody combats with its garrison, but could not take the -place. This hardy band of cavaliers had pitched their tents and -formed their little camp on the banks of the river, below the castle -of Aznal Farache. This fortress was situated on an eminence above the -river, and its massive ruins, remaining at the present day, attest -its formidable strength. - -When the Moors from the castle towers looked down upon this little -camp of Christian cavaliers, and saw them sallying forth and -careering about the country, and returning in the evenings with -cavalgadas of sheep and cattle, and mules laden with spoil, and -long trains of captives, they were exceedingly wroth, and they -kept a watch upon them, and sallied forth every day to fight with -them, and to intercept stragglers from their camp, and to carry off -their horses. Then the cavaliers concerted together, and they lay -in ambush one day in the road by which the Moors were accustomed to -sally forth, and when the Moors had partly passed their ambush, they -rushed forth and fell upon them, and killed and captured above three -hundred, and pursued the remainder to the very gates of the castle. -From that time the Moors were so disheartened that they made no -further sallies. - -Shortly after, the Master of Santiago receiving secret intelligence -that a Moorish sea-captain had passed from Seville to Triana, on -his way to succor the castle of Aznal Farache, placed himself, with -a number of chosen cavaliers, in ambuscade at a pass by which the -Moors were expected to come. After waiting a long time, their scouts -brought word that the Moors had taken another road, and were nearly -at the foot of the hill on which stood the castle. “Cavaliers,” cried -the master, “it is not too late; let us first use our spurs and then -our weapons, and if our steeds prove good, the day will yet be ours.” -So saying, he put spurs to his horse, and the rest following his -example, they soon came in sight of the Moors. The latter, seeing -the Christians coming after them full speed, urged their horses up -the hill towards the castle, but the Christians overtook them and -slew seven of those in the rear. In the skirmish, Garci Perez struck -the Moorish captain from his horse with a blow of his lance. The -Christians rushed forward to take him prisoner. On seeing this, the -Moors turned back, threw themselves between their commander and his -assailants, and kept the latter in check while he was conveyed into -the castle. Several of them fell, covered with wounds; the residue, -seeing their chieftain safe, turned their reins and galloped for the -castle, just entering in time to have the gates closed upon their -pursuers. - -Time and space permit not to recount the many other valorous deeds -of Don Pelayo Correa, the good Master of Santiago, and his band -of cavaliers and monks. His little camp became a terror to the -neighborhood, and checked the sallies of the Moorish mountaineers -from the Sierra Morena. In one of his enterprises he gained a signal -advantage over the foe, but the approach of night threatened to -defraud him of his victory. Then the pious warrior lifted up his -voice and supplicated the Virgin Mary in those celebrated words: -“Santa Maria deten tu dia” (Holy Mary, detain thy day), for it -was one of the days consecrated to the Virgin. The blessed Virgin -listened to the prayer of her valiant votary; the daylight continued -in a supernatural manner, until the victory of the good Master of -Santiago was completed. In honor of this signal favor, he afterwards -erected a temple to the Virgin by the name of Nuestra Señora de -Tentudia.[87] - - [87] Zuniga, _Annales de Sevilla_, L. 1. - -If any one should doubt this miracle, wrought in favor of this -pious warrior and his soldiers of the cowl, it may be sufficient to -relate another, which immediately succeeded, and which shows how -peculiarly he was under the favor of Heaven. After the battle was -over, his followers were ready to faint with thirst, and could find -no stream or fountain; and when the good master saw the distress of -his soldiers, his heart was touched with compassion, and, bethinking -himself of the miracle performed by Moses, in an impulse of holy zeal -and confidence, and in the name of the blessed Virgin, he struck -a dry and barren rock with his lance, and instantly there gushed -forth a fountain of water, at which all his Christian soldiery drank -and were refreshed.[88] So much at present for the good Master of -Santiago, Don Pelayo Correa. - - [88] Jacob Paranes, _Lib. de los Maestros de St. Iago._ _Corona - Gothica_, T. 3, § xiii. Zuniga, _Annales de Sevilla_. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XV. - -King Fernando changes his Camp.—Garci Perez and the seven Moors. - - -King Fernando the Saint soon found his encampment on the banks of -the Guadalquivir too much exposed to the sudden sallies and insults -of the Moors. As the land was level, they easily scoured the fields, -carried off horses and stragglers from the camp, and kept it in -continual alarm. He drew off, therefore, to a securer place, called -Tablada, the same where at present is situated the hermitage of -Nuestra Señora de el Balme. Here he had a profound ditch digged all -round the camp, to shut up the passes from the Moorish cavalry. He -appointed patrols of horsemen also, completely armed, who continually -made the rounds of the camp, in successive bands, at all hours of -the day and night.[89] In a little while his army was increased by -the arrival of troops from all parts,—nobles, cavaliers, and rich -men, with their retainers,—nor were there wanting holy prelates, -who assumed the warrior, and brought large squadrons of well-armed -vassals to the army. Merchants and artificers now daily arrived, -and wandering minstrels, and people of all sorts, and the camp -appeared like a warlike city, where rich and sumptuous merchandise -was mingled with the splendor of arms; and the various colors of the -tents and pavilions, and the fluttering standards and pennons bearing -the painted devices of the proudest houses of Spain, were gay and -glorious to behold. - - [89] _Corona Gothica_, T. 3, § viii. - -When the king had established the camp in Tablada he ordered that -every day the foragers should sally forth in search of provisions and -provender, guarded by strong bodies of troops. The various chiefs of -the army took turns to command the guard who escorted the foragers. -One day it was the turn of Garci Perez, the same cavalier who had -killed the king of the Azules. He was a hardy, iron warrior, seasoned -and scarred in warfare, and renowned among both Moors and Christians -for his great prowess, his daring courage, and his coolness in the -midst of danger. Garci Perez had lingered in the camp until some time -after the foragers had departed, who were already out of sight. He at -length set out to join them, accompanied by another cavalier. They -had not proceeded far before they perceived seven Moorish genetes, or -light-horsemen, directly in their road. When the companion of Garci -Perez beheld such a formidable array of foes, he paused and said: -“Señor Perez, let us return; the Moors are seven and we but two, -and there is no law in the _duello_ which obliges us to make front -against such fearful odds.” - -To this Garci Perez replied: “Señor, forward, always forward; let us -continue on our road; those Moors will never wait for us.” The other -cavalier, however, exclaimed such rashness, and turning the reins -of his horse, returned as privately as possible to the camp, and -hastened to his tent. - -All this happened within sight of the camp. The king was at the door -of his royal tent, which stood on a rising ground and overlooked the -place where this occurred. When the king saw one cavalier return and -the other continue, notwithstanding that there were seven Moors in -the road, he ordered that some horsemen should ride forth to his aid. - -Upon this Don Lorenzo Xuarez, who was with the king and had seen -Garci Perez sally forth from the camp, said: “Your majesty may leave -that cavalier to himself; that is Garci Perez, and he has no need -of aid against seven Moors. If the Moors know him they will not -meddle with him; and if they do, your majesty will see what kind of a -cavalier he is.” - -They continued to watch the cavalier, who rode on tranquilly as if in -no apprehension. When he drew nigh to the Moors, who were drawn up on -each side of the road, he took his arms from his squire and ordered -him not to separate from him. As he was lacing his _morion_, an -embroidered cap which he wore on his head fell to the ground without -his perceiving it. Having laced the capellina, he continued on his -way, and his squire after him. When the Moors saw him near by they -knew by his arms that it was Garci Perez, and bethinking them of his -great renown for terrible deeds in arms, they did not dare to attack -him, but went along the road even with him, he on one side, they on -the other, making menaces. - -Garci Perez went on his road with great serenity, without making any -movement. When the Moors saw that he heeded not their menaces, they -turned round and went back to about the place where he dropped his -cap. - -Having arrived at some distance from the Moors, he took off his arms -to return them to his squire, and unlacing the capellina, found that -the cap was wanting. He asked the squire for it, but the latter -knew nothing about it. Seeing that it had fallen, he again demanded -his arms of the squire and returned in search of it, telling his -squire to keep close behind him and look out well for it. The squire -remonstrated. “What, señor,” said he, “will you return and place -yourself in such great peril for a mere capa? Have you not already -done enough for your honor, in passing so daringly by seven Moors, -and have you not been singularly favored by fortune in escaping -unhurt, and do you seek again to tempt fortune for a cap?” - -“Say no more,” replied Garci Perez; “that cap was worked for me by -a fair lady; I hold it of great value. Besides, dost thou not see -that I have not a head to be without a cap?” alluding to the baldness -of his head, which had no hair in front. So saying, he tranquilly -returned towards the Moors. When Don Lorenzo Xuarez saw this, he -said to the king: “Behold! your majesty, how Garci Perez turns upon -the Moors; since they will not make an attack, he means to attack -them. Now your majesty will see the noble valor of this cavalier, -if the Moors dare to await him.” When the Moors beheld Garci Perez -approaching they thought he meant to assault them, and drew off, not -daring to encounter him. When Don Lorenzo saw this he exclaimed,— - -“Behold! your majesty, the truth of what I told you. These Moors -dare not wait for him. I knew well the valor of Garci Perez, and it -appears the Moors are aware of it likewise.” - -In the mean time Garci Perez came to the place where the capa had -fallen, and beheld it upon the earth. Then he ordered his squire to -dismount and pick it up, and putting it deliberately on his head, he -continued on his way to the foragers. - -When he returned to the camp from guarding the foragers, Don Lorenzo -asked him, in presence of the king, who was the cavalier who had -set out with him from the camp, but had turned back on sight of the -Moors; he replied that he did not know him, and he was confused, for -he perceived that the king had witnessed what had passed, and he was -so modest withal, that he was ever embarrassed when his deeds were -praised in his presence. - -Don Lorenzo repeatedly asked him who was the recreant cavalier, -but he always replied that he did not know, although he knew full -well and saw him daily in the camp. But he was too generous to say -anything that should take away the fame of another, and he charged -his squire that never, by word or look, he should betray the secret; -so that, though inquiries were often made, the name of that cavalier -was never discovered. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVI. - -Of the Raft built by the Moors, and how it was boarded by Admiral -Bonifaz.—Destruction of the Moorish Fleet.—Succor from Africa. - - -While the army of King Fernando the Saint harassed the city by land -and cut off its supplies, the bold Bonifaz, with his fleet, shut up -the river, prevented all succor from Africa, and menaced to attack -the bridge between Triana and Seville, by which the city derived its -sustenance from the opposite country. The Moors saw their peril. If -this pass were destroyed, famine must be the consequence, and the -multitude of their soldiers, on which at present they relied for -safety, would then become the cause of their destruction. - -So the Moors devised a machine by which they hoped to sweep the -river and involve the invading fleet in ruin. They made a raft so -wide that it reached from one bank to the other, and they placed -all around it pots and vessels filled with resin, pitch, tar, and -other combustibles, forming what is called Greek fire, and upon it -was a great number of armed men; and on each shore—from the castle -of Triana on the one side, and from the city on the other—sallied -forth legions of troops, to advance at the same time with the raft. -The raft was preceded by several vessels well armed, to attack the -Christian ships, while the soldiers on the raft should hurl on board -their pots of fire; and at length, setting all the combustibles in -a blaze, should send the raft flaming into the midst of the hostile -fleet, and wrap it in one general conflagration. - -When everything was prepared, the Moors set off by land and water, -confident of success. But they proceeded in a wild, irregular manner, -shouting and sounding drums and trumpets, and began to attack the -Christian ships fiercely, but without concert, hurling their pots of -fire from a distance, filling the air with smoke, but falling short -of their enemy. The tumultuous uproar of their preparations had put -all the Christians on their guard. The bold Bonifaz waited not to be -assailed; he boarded the raft, attacked vigorously its defenders, -put many of them to the sword, and drove the rest into the water, -and succeeded in extinguishing the Greek fire. He then encountered -the ships of war, grappling them and fighting hand to hand from ship -to ship. The action was furious and bloody, and lasted all the day. -Many were cut down in flight, many fell into the water, and many in -despair threw themselves in and were drowned. - -The battle had raged no less fiercely upon the land. On the side of -Seville, the troops had issued from the camp of King Fernando, while -on the opposite shore the brave Master of Santiago, Don Pelayo Perez -Correa, with his warriors and fighting friars, had made sharp work -with the enemy. In this way a triple battle was carried on; there was -the rush of squadrons, the clash of arms, and the din of drums and -trumpets on either bank, while the river was covered with vessels, -tearing each other to pieces as it were, their crews fighting in the -midst of flames and smoke, the waves red with blood and filled with -the bodies of the slain. At length the Christians were victorious; -most of the enemies’ vessels were taken or destroyed, and on either -shore the Moors, broken and discomfited, fled,—those on the one side -for the gates of Seville, and those on the other for the castle of -Triana,—pursued with great slaughter by the victors. - -Notwithstanding the great destruction of their fleet, the Moors soon -renewed their attempts upon the ships of Ramon Bonifaz, for they knew -that the salvation of the city required the freedom of the river. -Succor arrived from Africa, of ships, with troops and provisions; -they rebuilt the fire-ships which had been destroyed, and incessant -combats, feints, and stratagems took place daily, both on land and -water. The admiral stood in great dread of the Greek fire used by -the Moors. He caused large stakes of wood to be placed in the river, -to prevent the passage of the fire-ships. This for some time was of -avail; but the Moors, watching an opportunity when the sentinels -were asleep, came and threw cables round the stakes, and fastening -the other ends to their vessels, made all sail, and, by the help -of wind and oars, tore away the stakes and carried them off with -shouts of triumph. The clamorous exultation of the Moors betrayed -them. The Admiral Bonifaz was aroused. With a few of the lightest of -his vessels he immediately pursued the enemy. He came upon them so -suddenly that they were too much bewildered either to fight or fly. -Some threw themselves into the waves in affright; others attempted to -make resistance and were cut down. The admiral took four barks laden -with arms and provisions, and with these returned in triumph to his -fleet.[90] - - [90] _Cronica Gotica_, L. 3, § 13. _Cronica General_, pt. 4. - _Cronica de Santo Rey_, c. 55. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVII. - -Of the Stout Prior Ferran Ruyz, and how he rescued his Cattle from -the Moors.—Further Enterprises of the Prior, and of the Ambuscade -into which he Fell. - - -It happened one day that a great part of the cavaliers of the army -were absent, some making cavalgadas about the country, others -guarding the foragers, and others gone to receive the Prince Alfonso, -who was on his way to the camp from Murcia. At this time ten Moorish -cavaliers, of the brave lineage of the Azules, finding the Christian -camp but thinly peopled, came prowling about, seeking where they -might make a bold inroad. As they were on the lookout they came to -that part of the camp where were the tents of the stout Friar Ferran -Ruyz, prior of the hospital. The stout prior, and his fighting -brethren, were as good at foraging as fighting. Around their quarters -there were several sleek cows grazing, which they had carried off -from the Moors. When the Azules saw these, they thought to make a -good prize, and to bear off the prior’s cattle as a trophy. Careering -lightly round, therefore, between the cattle and the camp, they began -to drive them towards the city. The alarm was given in the camp, -and six sturdy friars sallied forth, on foot, with two cavaliers, -in pursuit of the marauders. The prior himself was roused by the -noise; when he heard that the beeves of the Church were in danger -his ire was kindled; and buckling on his armor, he mounted his steed -and galloped furiously to the aid of his valiant friars, and the -rescue of his cattle. The Moors attempted to urge on the lagging -and full-fed kine, but finding the enemy close upon them, they were -obliged to abandon their spoil among the olive-trees, and to retreat. -The prior then gave the cattle in charge to a squire, to drive them -back to the camp. He would have returned himself, but his friars had -continued on for some distance. The stout prior, therefore, gave -spurs to his horse and galloped beyond them, to turn them back. -Suddenly great shouts and cries arose before and behind him, and -an ambuscade of Moors, both horse and foot, came rushing out of a -ravine. The stout Prior of San Juan saw that there was no retreat; -and he disdained to render himself a prisoner. Commending himself to -his patron saint, and bracing his shield, he charged bravely among -the Moors, and began to lay about him with a holy zeal of spirit -and a vigorous arm of flesh. Every blow that he gave was in the -name of San Juan, and every blow laid an infidel in the dust. His -friars, seeing the peril of their leader, came running to his aid, -accompanied by a number of cavaliers. They rushed into the fight, -shouting, “San Juan! San Juan!” and began to deal such sturdy blows -as savored more of the camp than of the cloister. Great and fierce -was this struggle between cowl and turban. The ground was strewn -with bodies of the infidels; but the Christians were a mere handful -among a multitude. A burly friar, commander of Sietefilla, was struck -to the earth, and his shaven head cleft by a blow of a scimetar; -several squires and cavaliers, to the number of twenty, fell covered -with wounds; yet still the stout prior and his brethren continued -fighting with desperate fury, shouting incessantly, “San Juan! San -Juan!” and dealing their blows with as good heart as they had ever -dealt benedictions on their followers. - -The noise of this skirmish, and the holy shouts of the fighting -friars, resounded through the camp. The alarm was given, “The Prior -of San Juan is surrounded by the enemy! To the rescue! to the -rescue!” The whole Christian host was in agitation, but none were so -alert as those holy warriors of the Church, Don Garcia, Bishop of -Cordova, and Don Sancho, Bishop of Coria. Hastily summoning their -vassals, horse and foot, they bestrode their steeds, with cuirass -over cassock, and lance instead of crosier, and set off at full -gallop to the rescue of their brother saints. When the Moors saw the -warrior bishops and their retainers scouring to the field, they gave -over the contest, and leaving the prior and his companions, they drew -off towards the city. Their retreat was soon changed to a headlong -flight; for the bishops, not content with rescuing the prior, -continued in pursuit of his assailants. The Moorish foot-soldiers -were soon overtaken and either slaughtered or made prisoners: nor -did the horsemen make good their retreat into the city, until -the powerful arm of the Church had visited their rear with pious -vengeance.[91] Nor did the chastisement of Heaven end here. The stout -prior of the hospital, being once aroused, was full of ardor and -enterprise. Concerting with the Prince Don Enrique, and the Masters -of Calatrava and Alcantara, and the valiant Lorenzo Xuarez, they made -a sudden assault by night on the suburb of Seville called Benaljofar, -and broke their way into it with fire and sword. The Moors were -roused from their sleep by the flames of their dwellings and the -shouts of the Christians. There was hard and bloody fighting. The -prior of the hospital, with his valiant friars, was in the fiercest -of the action, and their war-cry of “San Juan! San Juan!” was heard -in all parts of the suburb. Many houses were burnt, many sacked, many -Moors slain or taken prisoners, and the Christian knights and warrior -friars, having gathered together a great cavalgada of the flocks and -herds which were in the suburb, drove it off in triumph to the camp, -by the light of the blazing dwellings. - - [91] _Cronica General_, pt. 4, p. 338. - -A like inroad was made by the prior and the same cavaliers, a few -nights afterwards, into the suburb called Macarena, which they laid -waste in like manner, bearing off wealthy spoils. Such was the pious -vengeance which the Moors brought upon themselves by meddling with -the kine of the stout prior of the hospital. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -Bravado of the Three Cavaliers.—Ambush at the Bridge over the -Guadayra.—Desperate Valor of Garci Perez.—Grand Attempt of Admiral -Bonifaz on the Bridge of Boats.—Seville dismembered from Triana. - - -Of all the Christian cavaliers who distinguished themselves in this -renowned siege of Seville, there was none who surpassed in valor the -bold Garci Perez de Vargas. This hardy knight was truly enamored -of danger, and like a gamester with his gold, he seemed to have no -pleasure of his life except in putting it in constant jeopardy. -One of the greatest friends of Garci Perez was Don Lorenzo Xuarez -Gallinato, the same who had boasted of the valor of Garci Perez at -the time that he exposed himself to be attacked by seven Moorish -horsemen. They were not merely companions, but rivals in arms; for in -this siege it was the custom among the Christian knights to vie with -each other in acts of daring enterprise. - -One morning, as Garci Perez, Don Lorenzo Xuarez, and a third -cavalier, named Alfonso Tello, were on horseback, patrolling the -skirts of the camp, a friendly contest rose between them as to -who was most adventurous in arms. To settle the question, it was -determined to put the proof to the Moors, by going alone and -striking the points of their lances in the gate of the city. - -No sooner was this mad bravado agreed upon than they turned the reins -of their horses and made for Seville. The Moorish sentinels, from and -towers of the gate, saw three Christian knights advancing over the -plain, and supposed them to be messengers or deserters from the army. -When the cavaliers drew near, each struck his lance against the gate, -and wheeling round, put spurs to his horse and retreated. The Moors, -considering this a scornful defiance, were violently exasperated, and -sallied forth in great numbers to revenge the insult. They soon were -hard on the traces of the Christian cavaliers. The first who turned -to fight with them was Alfonso Tello, being of a fiery and impatient -spirit. The second was Garci Perez; the third was Don Lorenzo, who -waited until the Moors came up with them, when he braced his shield, -couched his lance, and took the whole brunt of their charge. A -desperate fight took place, for though the Moors were overwhelming -in number, the cavaliers were three of the most valiant warriors in -Spain. The conflict was beheld from the camp. The alarm was given; -the Christian cavaliers hastened to the rescue of their companions -in arms; squadron after squadron pressed to the field, the Moors -poured out reinforcements from the gate; in this way a general battle -ensued, which lasted a great part of the day, until the Moors were -vanquished and driven within their walls. - -There was one of the gates of Seville, called the gate of the -Alcazar, which led out to a small bridge over the Guadayra. Out of -this gate the Moors used to make frequent sallies, to fall suddenly -upon the Christian camp, or to sweep off the flocks and herds about -its outskirts, and then to scour back to the bridge, beyond which it -was dangerous to pursue them. - -The defense of this part of the camp was intrusted to those two -valiant compeers in arms, Garci Perez de Vargas and Don Lorenzo -Xuarez; and they determined to take ample revenge upon the Moors for -all the depredations they had committed. They chose, therefore, about -two hundred hardy cavaliers, the flower of those seasoned warriors on -the opposite side of the Guadalquivir, who formed the little army of -the good Master of Santiago. When they were all assembled together, -Don Lorenzo put them in ambush, in the way by which the Moors were -accustomed to pass in their maraudings, and he instructed them, in -pursuing the Moors, to stop at the bridge, and by no means to pass -beyond it; for between it and the city there was a great host of the -enemy, and the bridge was so narrow that to retreat over it would -be perilous in the extreme. This order was given to all, but was -particularly intended for Garci Perez, to restrain his daring spirit, -which was ever apt to run into peril. - -They had not been long in ambush when they heard the distant tramp -of the enemy upon the bridge, and found that the Moors were upon -the forage. They kept concealed, and the Moors passed by them in -careless and irregular manner, as men apprehending no danger. Scarce -had they gone by when the cavaliers rushed forth, charged into the -midst of them, and threw them all into confusion. Many were killed or -overthrown in the shock, the rest took to flight, and made at full -speed for the bridge. Most of the Christian soldiers, according to -orders, stopped at the bridge; but Don Lorenzo, with a few of his -cavaliers, followed the enemy half way across, making great havoc in -that narrow pass. Many of the Moors, in their panic, flung themselves -from the bridge, and perished in the Guadayra; others were cut down -and trampled under the hoofs of friends and foes. Don Lorenzo, in -the heat of the fight, cried aloud incessantly, defying the Moors, -and proclaiming his name,—“Turn hither! turn hither! ’Tis I, Lorenzo -Xuarez!” But few of the Moors cared to look him in the face. - -Don Lorenzo now returned to his cavaliers, but on looking round, -Garci Perez was not to be seen. All were dismayed, fearing some evil -fortune had befallen him; when, on casting their eyes beyond the -bridge, they saw him on the opposite side, surrounded by Moors and -fighting with desperate valor. - -“Garci Perez has deceived us,” said Don Lorenzo, “and has passed the -bridge, contrary to agreement. But to the rescue, comrades! never -let it be said that so good a cavalier as Garci Perez was lost for -want of our assistance.” So saying, they all put spurs to their -horses, rushed again upon the bridge, and broke their way across, -cutting down and overturning the Moors, and driving great numbers to -fling themselves into the river. When the Moors who had surrounded -Garci Perez saw this band of cavaliers rushing from the bridge, they -turned to defend themselves. The contest was fierce, but broken; -many of the Moors took refuge in the river, but the Christians -followed and slew them among the waves. They continued fighting for -the remainder of the day, quite up to the gate of the Alcazar; and -if the chronicles of the times speak with their usual veracity, full -three thousand infidels bit the dust on that occasion. When Don -Lorenzo returned to the camp, and was in presence of the king and -of numerous cavaliers, great encomiums were passed upon his valor; -but he modestly replied that Garci Perez had that day made them good -soldiers by force. - -From that time forward the Moors attempted no further inroads into -the camp, so severe a lesson had they received from these brave -cavaliers.[92] - - [92] _Cronica General de España_, pt. 4. _Cronica del Rey - Fernando el Santo_, c. 60. _Corona Gothica_, T. 3, p. 126. - -The city of Seville was connected with the suburb of Triana by a -strong bridge of boats, fastened together by massive chains of iron. -By this bridge a constant communication was kept up between Triana -and the city, and mutual aid and support passed and repassed. While -this bridge remained, it was impossible to complete the investment of -the city, or to capture the castle of Triana. - -The bold Admiral Bonifaz at length conceived a plan to break this -bridge asunder, and thus to cut off all communication between the -city and Triana. No sooner had this idea entered his mind than he -landed, and proceeded with great speed to the royal tent, to lay it -before the king. Then a consultation was summoned by the king of -ancient mariners and artificers of ships, and other persons learned -in maritime affairs; and after Admiral Bonifaz had propounded his -plan, it was thought to be good, and all preparations were made -to carry it into effect. The admiral took two of his largest and -strongest ships, and fortified them at the prows with solid timber -and with plates of iron; and he put within them a great number of -chosen men, well armed and provided with everything for attack and -defense. Of one he took the command himself. It was the third day of -May, the day of the most Holy Cross, that he chose for this grand and -perilous attempt; and the pious King Fernando, to insure success, -ordered that a cross should be carried as a standard at the masthead -of each ship. - -On the third of May, towards the hour of noon, the two ships -descended the Guadalquivir for some distance, to gain room to come -up with the greater violence. Here they waited the rising of the -tide, and as soon as it was in full force, and a favorable wind -had sprung up from the sea, they hoisted anchor, spread all sail, -and put themselves in the midst of the current. The whole shores -were lined on each side with Christian troops, watching the event -with great anxiety. The king and the Prince Alfonso, with their -warriors, on the one side had drawn close to the city to prevent the -sallying forth of the Moors, while the good Master of Santiago, Don -Pelayo Perez Correa, kept watch upon the gates of Triana. The Moors -crowded the tops of their towers, their walls and house-tops, and -prepared engines and weapons of all kinds to overwhelm the ships with -destruction. - -Twice the bold admiral set all sail and started on his career, and -twice the wind died away before he had proceeded half his course. -Shouts of joy and derision rose from the walls and towers of Seville, -while the warriors in the ships began to fear that their attempt -would be unsuccessful. At length a fresh and strong wind arose -that swelled every sail and sent the ships ploughing up the waves -of the Guadalquivir. A dead silence prevailed among the hosts on -either bank, even the Moors remained silent, in fixed and breathless -suspense. When the ships arrived within reach of the walls of the -city and the suburbs, a tremendous attack was commenced from every -wall and tower; great engines discharged stones and offensive weapons -of all kinds, and flaming pots of Greek fire. On the tower of gold -were stationed catapults and vast cross-bows that were worked with -cranks, and from hence an iron shower was rained upon the ships. The -Moors in Triana were equally active; from every wall and turret, from -house-tops, and from the banks of the river, an incessant assault was -kept up with catapults, cross-bows, slings, darts, and everything -that could annoy. Through all this tempest of war, the ships kept -on their course. The first ship which arrived struck the bridge on -the part towards Triana. The shock resounded from shore to shore, -the whole fabric trembled, the ship recoiled and reeled, but the -bridge was unbroken; and shouts of joy rose from the Moors on each -side of the river. Immediately after came the ship of the admiral. -It struck the bridge just about the centre with a tremendous crash. -The iron chains which bound the boats together snapped as if they -had been flax. The boats were crushed and shattered and flung wide -asunder, and the ship of the admiral proceeded in triumph through -the open space. No sooner did the king and the Prince Alfonso see -the success of the admiral, than they pressed with their troops -closely round the city, and prevented the Moors from sallying forth; -while the ships, having accomplished their enterprise, extricated -themselves from their dangerous situation, and returned in triumph to -their accustomed anchorage. This was the fatal blow that dismembered -Seville from Triana, and insured the downfall of the city. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XIX. - -Investment of Triana.—Garci Perez and the Infanzon. - - -On the day after the breaking of the bridge, the king, the Prince -Alfonso, the Prince Enrique, the various masters of the orders, and -a great part of the army, crossed the Guadalquivir and commenced an -attack on Triana, while the bold Admiral Bonifaz approached with his -ships and assaulted the place from the water. But the Christian army -was unprovided with ladders or machines for the attack, and fought to -great disadvantage. The Moors, from the safe shelter of their walls -and towers, rained a shower of missiles of all kinds. As they were -so high above the Christians, their arrows, darts, and lances came -with the greater force. They were skillful with the cross-bow, and -had engines of such force that the darts which they discharged would -sometimes pass through a cavalier all armed, and bury themselves in -the earth.[93] - - [93] _Cronica General_, pt. 4, 341. - -The very women combated from the walls, and hurled down stones that -crushed the warriors beneath. - -While the army was closely investing Triana, and fierce encounters -were daily taking place between Moor and Christian, there arrived at -the camp a youthful Infanzon, or noble, of proud lineage. He brought -with him a shining train of vassals, all newly armed and appointed, -and his own armor, all fresh and lustrous, showed none of the dents -and bruises and abuses of the war. As this gay and gorgeous cavalier -was patrolling the camp, with several cavaliers, he beheld Garci -Perez pass by, in armor and accoutrements all worn and soiled by the -hard service he had performed, and he saw a similar device to his -own, of white waves, emblazoned on the scutcheon of this unknown -warrior. Then the nobleman was highly ruffled and incensed, and he -exclaimed, “How is this? who is this sorry cavalier that dares to -bear these devices? By my faith, he must either give them up or show -his reasons for usurping them.” The other cavaliers exclaimed, “Be -cautious how you speak; this is Garci Perez; a braver cavalier wears -not sword in Spain. For all he goes thus modestly and quietly about, -he is a very lion in the field, nor does he assume anything that he -cannot well maintain. Should he hear this which you have said, trust -us he would not rest quiet until he had terrible satisfaction.” - -Now so it happened that certain mischief-makers carried word to Garci -Perez of what the nobleman had said, expecting to see him burst into -fierce indignation, and defy the other to the field. But Garci Perez -remained tranquil, and said not a word. - -Within a day or two after, there was a sally from the castle of -Triana and a hot skirmish between the Moors and Christians; and Garci -Perez and the Infanzon, and a number of cavaliers, pursued the Moors -up to the barriers of the castle. Here the enemy rallied and made a -fierce defense, and killed several of the cavaliers. But Garci Perez -put spurs to his horse, and couching his lance, charged among the -thickest of the foes, and followed by a handful of his companions, -drove the Moors to the very gates of Triana. The Moors seeing how -few were their pursuers turned upon them, and dealt bravely with -sword and lance and mace, while stones and darts and arrows were -rained down from the towers above the gates. At length the Moors -took refuge within the walls, leaving the field to the victorious -cavaliers. Garci Perez drew off coolly and calmly amidst a shower of -missiles from the wall. He came out of the battle with his armor all -battered and defaced; his helmet bruised, the crest broken off, and -his buckler so dented and shattered that the device could scarcely be -perceived. On returning to the barrier, he found there the Infanzon, -with his armor all uninjured, and his armorial bearing as fresh as if -just emblazoned, for the vaunting warrior had not ventured beyond the -barrier. Then Garci Perez drew near to the Infanzon, and eying him -from head to foot, “Señor cavalier,” said he, “you may well dispute -my right to wear this honorable device in my shield, since you see I -take so little care of it that it is almost destroyed. You, on the -other hand, are worthy of bearing it. You are the guardian angel of -honor, since you guard it so carefully as to put it to no risk. I -will only observe to you that the sword kept in the scabbard rusts, -and the valor that is never put to the proof becomes sullied.”[94] - - [94] _Cronica General_, pt. 4. _Corona Gothica_, T. 3, § 16. - -At these words the Infanzon was deeply humiliated, for he saw -that Garci Perez had heard of his empty speeches, and he felt how -unworthily he had spoken of so valiant and magnanimous a cavalier. -“Señor cavalier,” said he, “pardon my ignorance and presumption; you -alone are worthy of bearing those arms, for you derive not nobility -from them, but ennoble them by your glorious deeds.” - -Then Garci Perez blushed at the praises he had thus drawn upon -himself, and he regretted the harshness of his words towards the -Infanzon, and he not merely pardoned him all that had passed, but -gave him his hand in pledge of amity, and from that time they were -close friends and companions in arms.[95] - - [95] _Cronica General_, pt. 4. _Cronica del Rey Santo._ _Corona - Gothica_, T. 3, § 16. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XX. - -Capitulation of Seville.—Dispersion of the Moorish -Inhabitants.—Triumphant Entry of King Fernando. - - -About this time there arrived in Seville a Moorish alfaqui, named -Orias, with a large company of warriors, who came to this war as if -performing a pilgrimage, for it was considered a holy war no less -by infidels than Christians. This Orias was of a politic and crafty -nature, and he suggested to the commander of Seville a stratagem by -which they might get Prince Alfonso in their power, and compel King -Fernando to raise the siege by way of ransom. The counsel of Orias -was adopted, after a consultation with the principal cavaliers, -and measures taken to carry it into execution; a Moor was sent, -therefore, as if secretly and by stealth, to Prince Alfonso, and -offered to put him in possession of two towers of the wall, if he -would come in person to receive them, which towers once in his -possession, it would be easy to overpower the city. - -Prince Alfonso listened to the envoy with seeming eagerness, but -suspected some deceit, and thought it unwise to put his person in -such jeopardy. Lest, however, there should be truth in his proposals, -a party of chosen cavaliers were sent as if to take possession of -the towers, and with them was Don Pero Nuñez de Guzman, disguised as -the prince. - -When they came to the place where the Moors had appointed to meet -them, they beheld a party of infidels, strongly armed, who advanced -with sinister looks, and attempted to surround Don Nuñez, but he, -being on his guard, put spurs to his horse, and, breaking through the -midst of them, escaped. His companions followed his example, all but -one, who was struck from his horse and cut to pieces by the Moors.[96] - - [96] _Cronica General_, pt. 4, p. 424. - -Just after this event there arrived a great reinforcement to the camp -from the city of Cordova, bringing provisions and various munitions -of war. Finding his army thus increased, the king had a consultation -with Admiral Bonifaz, and determined completely to cut off all -communication between Seville and Triana, for the Moors still crossed -the river occasionally by fording. When they were about to carry -their plan into effect, the crafty Alfaqui Orias crossed to Triana, -accompanied by a number of Ganzules. He was charged with instructions -to the garrison, and to concert some mode of reuniting their forces, -or of effecting some blow upon the Christian camp; for unless they -could effect a union and coöperation, it would be impossible to make -much longer resistance. - -Scarce had Orias passed, when the Christian sentinels gave notice. -Upon this, a detachment of the Christian army immediately crossed -and took possession of the opposite shore, and Admiral Bonifaz -stationed his fleet in the middle of the river. Thus the return of -Orias was prevented, and all intercourse between the places, even -by messenger, completely interrupted. The city and Triana were now -severally attacked, and unable to render each other assistance. The -Moors were daily diminishing in number; many slain in battle, many -taken captive, and many dying of hunger and disease. The Christian -forces were daily augmenting, and were animated by continual success, -whereas mutiny and sedition began to break out among the inhabitants -of the city. The Moorish commander Axataf, therefore, seeing all -further resistance vain, sent ambassadors to capitulate with King -Fernando. It was a hard and humiliating struggle to resign this fair -city, the queen of Andalusia, the seat of Moorish sway and splendor, -and which had been under Moorish domination ever since the Conquest. - -The valiant Axataf endeavored to make various conditions; that King -Fernando should raise the siege on receiving the tribute which had -hitherto been paid to the miramamolin. This being peremptorily -refused, he offered to give up a third of the city, and then half, -building at his own cost a wall to divide the Moorish part from the -Christian. King Fernando, however, would listen to no such terms. -He demanded the entire surrender of the place, with the exception -of the persons and effects of the inhabitants, and permitting the -commander to retain possession of St. Lucar, Aznal Farache, and -Niebla. The commander of Seville saw the sword suspended over his -head, and had to submit; the capitulations of the surrender were -signed, when Axataf made one last request, that he might be permitted -to demolish the grand mosque and the principal tower (or Giralda) of -the city.[97] He felt that these would remain perpetual monuments of -his disgrace. The Prince Alfonso was present when this last demand -was made, and his father looked at him significantly, as if he -desired the reply to come from his lips. The prince rose indignantly -and exclaimed, that if there should be a single tile missing from -the temple or a single brick from the tower, it should be paid by so -many lives that the streets of Seville should run with blood. The -Moors were silenced by this reply, and prepared with heavy hearts to -fulfill the capitulation. One month was allowed them for the purpose, -the alcazar or citadel of Seville being given up to the Christians as -a security. - - [97] _Mariana_, L. 13, c. 7. - -On the twenty-third day of November this important fortress was -surrendered, after a siege of eighteen months. A deputation of the -principal Moors came forth and presented King Fernando with the keys -of the city; at the same time the aljamia, or council of the Jews, -presented him with the key of Jewry, the quarter of the city which -they inhabited. This key was notable for its curious workmanship. It -was formed of all kinds of metals. The guards of it were wrought into -letters, bearing the following signification,—“God will open—the -king will enter.” On the ring was inscribed in Hebrew,—“The King of -kings will enter; all the world will behold him.” This key is still -preserved in the cathedral of Seville, in the place where repose the -remains of the sainted King Fernando.[98] - - [98] In Castile, whenever the kings entered any place where - there was a synagogue, the Jews assembled in council and paid to - the Monteros, or bull-fighters, twelve maravedis each, to guard - them, that they should receive no harm from the the Christians; - being held in such contempt and odium, that it was necessary they - should be under the safeguard of the king, not to be injured or - insulted.[A] - - [A] Zuniga, _Annales de Sevilla_. - -During the month of grace the Moors sold such of their effects as -they could not carry with them, and the king provided vessels for -such as chose to depart for Africa. Upwards of one hundred thousand, -it is said, were thus convoyed by Admiral Bonifaz, while upwards of -two hundred thousand dispersed themselves throughout such of the -territory of Andalusia as still remained in possession of the Moors. - -When the month was expired, and the city was evacuated by its Moorish -inhabitants, King Fernando the Saint entered in solemn triumph, in a -grand religious and military procession. There were all the captains -and cavaliers of the army, in shining armor, with the prelates, and -masters of the religious and military orders, and the nobility of -Castile, Leon, and Aragon, in their richest apparel. The streets -resounded with the swelling notes of martial music and with the -joyous acclamations of the multitude. - -In the midst of the procession was the venerable effigy of the most -Holy Mary, on a triumphal car of silver, wrought with admirable -skill; and immediately after followed the pious king, with a drawn -sword in his hand, and on his left was Prince Alfonso and the other -princes. - -The procession advanced to the principal mosque, which had been -purified and consecrated as a Christian temple, where the triumphal -car of the Holy Virgin was placed at the grand altar. Here the pious -king knelt and returned thanks to Heaven and the Virgin for this -signal victory, and all present chanted _Te Deum Laudamus_. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -CHAPTER XXI. - -Death of King Fernando. - - -When King Fernando had regulated everything for the good government -and prosperity of Seville, he sallied forth with his conquering army -to subdue the surrounding country. He soon brought under subjection -Xerez, Medina Sidonia, Alua, Bepel, and many other places near the -sea-coast; some surrendered voluntarily, others were taken by force; -he maintained a strict peace with his vassal the King of Granada, -but finding not sufficient scope for his arms in Spain, and being -inflamed with a holy zeal in the cause of the faith, he determined to -pass over into Africa, and retaliate upon the Moslems their daring -invasion of his country. For this purpose he ordered a powerful -armada to be prepared in the ports of Cantabria, to be put under the -command of the bold Admiral Bonifaz. - -In the midst of his preparations, which spread consternation -throughout Mauritania, the pious king fell dangerously ill at Seville -of a dropsy. When he found his dying hour approaching, he made -his death-bed confession, and requested the holy Sacrament to be -administered to him. A train of bishops and other clergy, among whom -was his son Philip, Archbishop of Seville, brought the Sacrament -into his presence. The king rose from his bed, threw himself on -his knees, with a rope round his neck and a crucifix in his hand, -and poured forth his soul in penitence and prayer. Having received -the _viatica_ and the holy Sacrament, he commanded all ornaments -of royalty to be taken from his chamber. He assembled his children -round his bedside, and blessed his son the Prince Alfonso, as his -first-born and the heir of his throne, giving him excellent advice -for the government of his kingdom, and charging him to protect the -interests of his brethren. The pious king afterwards fell into an -ecstasy or trance, in which he beheld angels watching round his bed -to bear his soul to heaven. He awoke from this in a state of heavenly -rapture, and, asking for a candle, he took it in his hand and made -his ultimate profession of the faith. He then requested the clergy -present to repeat the litanies, and to chant the _Te Deum Laudamus_. -In chanting the first verse of the hymn, the king gently inclined -his head, with perfect serenity of countenance, and rendered up his -spirit. “The hymn,” says the ancient chronicle, “which was begun on -earth by men, was continued by the voices of angels, which were heard -by all present.” These doubtless were the angels which the king in -his ecstasy had beheld around his couch, and which now accompanied -him, in his glorious ascent to heaven, with songs of holy triumph. -Nor was it in his chamber alone that these voices were heard, but in -all the royal alcazars of Seville, the sweetest voices were heard in -the air and seraphic music, as of angelic choirs, at the moment that -the sainted king expired.[99] He died on the 30th of May, the vespers -of the Holy Trinity, in the year of the Incarnation one thousand -two hundred and forty-two, aged seventy-three years—having reigned -thirty-five years over Castile and twenty over Leon. - - [99] Pablo de Espinosa, _Grandesas de Sevilla_, fol. 146. - _Cronica del Santo Rey_, c. 78. _Corona Gothica_, T. 3, p. 166. - -Two days after his death he was interred in his royal chapel in the -Holy Church, in a sepulchre of alabaster, which still remains. It is -asserted by grave authors that at the time of putting his body in the -sepulchre, the choir of angels again was heard chanting his eulogium, -and filling the air with sweet melody in praise of his virtues.[100] - - [100] Argote de Molina, _Nobleza de Andaluzia_, L. 1, c. 21. - Tomas Bocio, _Signales de la Iglesia_, L. 20. Don Rodrigo - Sanchez, Bishop of Palencia, pt. 3, c. 40. - -When Alhamar, the Moorish king of Granada, heard of his death, he -caused great demonstrations of mourning to be made throughout his -dominions. During his life he sent yearly a number of Moors with one -hundred wax tapers, to assist at his exequies, which ceremony was -observed by his successors, until the time of the conquest of Granada -by Fernando the Catholic.[101] - - [101] Pablo de Espinosa, fol. 146. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -SPANISH ROMANCE. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - -SPANISH ROMANCE. - - - _To the Editor of “The Knickerbocker”:—_ - -Sir,—I have already given you a legend or two, drawn from ancient -Spanish sources, and may occasionally give you a few more. I love -these old Spanish themes, especially when they have a dash of the -Morisco in them, and treat of the times when the Moslems maintained -a foothold in the peninsula. They have a high, spicy, oriental -flavor, not to be found in any other themes that are merely European. -In fact, Spain is a country that stands alone in the midst of -Europe—severed in habits, manners, and modes of thinking from all -its continental neighbors. It is a romantic country; but its romance -has none of the sentimentality of modern European romance; it is -chiefly derived from the brilliant regions of the East, and from the -high-minded school of Saracenic chivalry. - -The Arab invasion and conquest brought a higher civilization, and -a nobler style of thinking into Gothic Spain. The Arabs were a -quick-witted, sagacious, proud-spirited, and poetical people, and -were imbued with oriental science and literature. Wherever they -established a seat of power, it became a rallying-place for the -learned and ingenious; and they softened and refined the people -whom they conquered. By degrees, occupancy seemed to give them a -hereditary right to their foothold in the land; they ceased to be -looked upon as invaders, and were regarded as rival neighbors. The -peninsula, broken up into a variety of states, both Christian and -Moslem, became for centuries a great campaigning ground, where the -art of war seemed to be the principal business of man, and was -carried to the highest pitch of romantic chivalry. The original -ground of hostility, a difference of faith, gradually lost its -rancor. Neighboring states, of opposite creeds, were occasionally -linked together in alliances, offensive and defensive; so that the -Cross and Crescent were to be seen side by side, fighting against -some common enemy. In times of peace, too, the noble youth of either -faith resorted to the same cities, Christian or Moslem, to school -themselves in military science. Even in the temporary truces of -sanguinary wars, the warriors who had recently striven together in -the deadly conflicts of the field, laid aside their animosity, met at -tournaments, jousts, and other military festivities, and exchanged -the courtesies of gentle and generous spirits. Thus the opposite -races became frequently mingled together in peaceful intercourse, or -if any rivalry took place, it was in those high courtesies and nobler -acts which bespeak the accomplished cavalier. Warriors of opposite -creeds became ambitious of transcending each other in magnanimity -as well as valor. Indeed, the chivalric virtues were refined upon to -a degree sometimes fastidious and constrained, but at other times -inexpressibly noble and affecting. The annals of the times teem with -illustrious instances of high-wrought courtesy, romantic generosity, -lofty disinterestedness, and punctilious honor, that warm the very -soul to read them. These have furnished themes for national plays -and poems, or have been celebrated in those all-pervading ballads, -which are as the life-breath of the people, and thus have continued -to exercise an influence on the national character which centuries -of vicissitude and decline have not been able to destroy; so that, -with all their faults, and they are many, the Spaniards, even at -the present day, are, on many points, the most high-minded and -proud-spirited people of Europe. It is true, the romance of feeling -derived from the sources I have mentioned has, like all other -romance, its affectations and extremes. It renders the Spaniard at -times pompous and grandiloquent; prone to carry the “pundonor,” or -point of honor, beyond the bounds of sober sense and sound morality; -disposed, in the midst of poverty, to affect the “grande caballero,” -and to look down with sovereign disdain upon arts “mechanical,” and -all the gainful pursuits of plebeian life; but this very inflation -of spirit, while it fills his brain with vapors, lifts him above a -thousand meannesses; and though it often keeps him in indigence, ever -protects him from vulgarity. - -In the present day when popular literature is running into the -low levels of life, and luxuriating on the vices and follies of -mankind; and when the universal pursuit of gain is trampling down the -early growth of poetic feeling, and wearing out the verdure of the -soul, I question whether it would not be of service for the reader -occasionally to turn to these records of prouder times and loftier -modes of thinking, and to steep himself to the very lips in old -Spanish romance. - -For my own part, I have a shelf or two of venerable, parchment-bound -tomes, picked up here and there about the peninsula, and filled with -chronicles, plays, and ballads about Moors and Christians, which -I keep by me as mental tonics, in the same way that a provident -house-wife has her cupboard of cordials. Whenever I find my mind -brought below par, by the common-place of every-day life, or jarred -by the sordid collisions of the world, or put out of tune by the -shrewd selfishness of modern utilitarianism, I resort to these -venerable tomes, as did the worthy hero of La Mancha to his books -of chivalry, and refresh and tone up my spirit by a deep draught -of their contents. They have some such effect upon me as Falstaff -ascribes to a good Sherris sack, “warming the blood, and filling the -brain with fiery and delectable shapes.” - -I here subjoin, Mr. Editor, a small specimen of the cordials I have -mentioned, just drawn from my Spanish cupboard, which I recommend to -your palate. If you find it to your taste, you may pass it on to your -readers. - - Your correspondent and well-wisher, - - GEOFFREY CRAYON. - - - - -[Illustration] - -LEGEND OF DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA. - - -In the cloisters of the ancient Benedictine convent of San Domingo, -at Silos, in Castile, are the mouldering yet magnificent monuments -of the once powerful and chivalrous family of Hinojosa. Among these -reclines the marble figure of a knight, in complete armor, with the -hands pressed together, as if in prayer. On one side of his tomb -is sculptured, in relief, a band of Christian cavaliers capturing -a cavalcade of male and female Moors; on the other side, the same -cavaliers are represented kneeling before an altar. The tomb, like -most of the neighboring monuments, is almost in ruins, and the -sculpture is nearly unintelligible, excepting to the keen eye of the -antiquary. The story connected with the sepulchre, however, is still -preserved in the old Spanish chronicles, and is to the following -purport:— - - -In old times, several hundred years ago, there was a noble Castilian -cavalier, named Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa, lord of a border -castle, which had stood the brunt of many a Moorish foray. He -had seventy horsemen as his household troops, all of the ancient -Castilian proof; stark warriors, hard riders, and men of iron: with -these he scoured the Moorish lands, and made his name terrible -throughout the borders. His castle hall was covered with banners -and scimetars and Moslem helms, the trophies of his prowess. Don -Munio was, moreover, a keen huntsman; and rejoiced in hounds of all -kinds, steeds for the chase, and hawks for the towering sport of -falconry. When not engaged in warfare, his delight was to beat up -the neighboring forests; and scarcely ever did he ride forth without -hound and horn, a boar-spear in his hand, or a hawk upon his fist, -and an attendant train of huntsmen. - -His wife, Doña Maria Palacin, was of a gentle and timid nature, -little fitted to be the spouse of so hardy and adventurous a knight; -and many a tear did the poor lady shed when he sallied forth upon his -daring enterprises, and many a prayer did she offer up for his safety. - -As this doughty cavalier was one day hunting, he stationed himself -in a thicket, on the borders of a green glade of the forest, and -dispersed his followers to rouse the game and drive it towards his -stand. He had not been here long when a cavalcade of Moors, of both -sexes, came pranking over the forest lawn. They were unarmed, and -magnificently dressed in robes of tissue and embroidery, rich shawls -of India, bracelets and anklets of gold, and jewels that sparkled in -the sun. - -At the head of this gay cavalcade rode a youthful cavalier, superior -to the rest in dignity and loftiness of demeanor, and in splendor -of attire; beside him was a damsel, whose veil, blown aside by the -breeze, displayed a face of surpassing beauty, and eyes cast down in -maiden modesty, yet beaming with tenderness and joy. - -Don Munio thanked his stars for sending him such a prize, and exulted -at the thought of bearing home to his wife the glittering spoils of -these infidels. Putting his hunting-horn to his lips, he gave a blast -that rung through the forest. His huntsmen came running from all -quarters, and the astonished Moors were surrounded and made captives. - -The beautiful Moor wrung her hands in despair, and her female -attendants uttered the most piercing cries. The young Moorish -cavalier alone retained self-possession. He inquired the name of the -Christian knight who commanded this troop of horsemen. When told -that it was Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa, his countenance lighted -up. Approaching that cavalier, and kissing his hand, “Don Munio -Sancho,” said he, “I have heard of your fame as a true and valiant -knight, terrible in arms, but schooled in the noble virtues of -chivalry. Such do I trust to find you. In me you behold Abadil, son -of a Moorish alcaid. I am on the way to celebrate my nuptials with -this lady; chance has thrown us in your power, but I confide in your -magnanimity. Take all our treasure and jewels; demand what ransom you -think proper for our persons, but suffer us not to be insulted or -dishonored.” - -When the good knight heard this appeal, and beheld the beauty of the -youthful pair, his heart was touched with tenderness and courtesy. -“God forbid,” said he, “that I should disturb such happy nuptials. My -prisoners in troth shall ye be, for fifteen days, and immured within -my castle, where I claim, as conqueror, the right of celebrating your -espousals.” - -So saying, he dispatched one of his fleetest horsemen in advance, to -notify Doña Maria Palacin of the coming of this bridal party; while -he and his huntsmen escorted the cavalcade, not as captors, but as -a guard of honor. As they drew near to the castle, the banners were -hung out, and the trumpets sounded from the battlements; and on -their nearer approach, the drawbridge was lowered, and Doña Maria -came forth to meet them, attended by her ladies and knights, her -pages and her minstrels. She took the young bride, Allifra, in her -arms, kissed her with the tenderness of a sister, and conducted her -into the castle. In the mean time, Don Munio sent forth missives in -every direction, and had viands and dainties of all kinds collected -from the country round; and the wedding of the Moorish lovers was -celebrated with all possible state and festivity. For fifteen days -the castle was given up to joy and revelry. There were tiltings and -jousts at the ring, and bull-fights, and banquets, and dances to the -sound of minstrelsy. When the fifteen days were at an end, he made -the bride and bridegroom magnificent presents, and conducted them and -their attendants safely beyond the borders. Such, in old times, were -the courtesy and generosity of a Spanish cavalier. - -Several years after this event, the king of Castile summoned his -nobles to assist him in a campaign against the Moors. Don Munio -Sancho was among the first to answer to the call, with seventy -horsemen, all stanch and well-tried warriors. His wife, Doña Maria, -hung about his neck. “Alas, my lord!” exclaimed she, “how often wilt -thou tempt thy fate, and when will thy thirst for glory be appeased?” - -“One battle more,” replied Don Munio, “one battle more, for the honor -of Castile, and I here make a vow that when this is over, I will -lay by my sword, and repair with my cavaliers in pilgrimage to the -Sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem.” The cavaliers all joined with -him in the vow, and Doña Maria felt in some degree soothed in spirit; -still, she saw with a heavy heart the departure of her husband, and -watched his banner with wistful eyes, until it disappeared among the -trees of the forest. - -The king of Castile led his army to the plains of Salmanara, where -they encountered the Moorish host, near to Ucles. The battle was long -and bloody; the Christians repeatedly wavered, and were as often -rallied by the energy of their commanders. Don Munio was covered with -wounds, but refused to leave the field. The Christians at length -gave way, and the king was hardly pressed, and in danger of being -captured. - -Don Munio called upon his cavaliers to follow him to the rescue. “Now -is the time,” cried he, “to prove your loyalty. Fall to, like brave -men! We fight for the true faith, and if we lose our lives here, we -gain a better life hereafter.” - -Rushing with his men between the king and his pursuers, they checked -the latter in their career, and gave time for their monarch to -escape; but they fell victims to their loyalty. They all fought -to the last gasp. Don Munio was singled out by a powerful Moorish -knight, but having been wounded in the right arm, he fought to -disadvantage, and was slain. The battle being over, the Moor paused -to possess himself of the spoils of this redoubtable Christian -warrior. When he unlaced the helmet, however, and beheld the -countenance of Don Munio, he gave a great cry; and smote his breast. -“Woe is me?” cried he, “I have slain my benefactor! the flower of -knightly virtue! the most magnanimous of cavaliers!” - -While the battle had been raging on the plain of Salmanara, Doña -Maria Palacin remained in her castle, a prey to the keenest anxiety. -Her eyes were ever fixed on the road that led from the country of the -Moors, and often she asked the watchman of the tower, “What seest -thou?” - -One evening, at the shadowy hour of twilight, the warden sounded his -horn. “I see,” cried he, “a numerous train winding up the valley. -There are mingled Moors and Christians. The banner of my lord is in -the advance. Joyful tidings!” exclaimed the old seneschal; “my lord -returns in triumph, and brings captives!” Then the castle courts -rang with shouts of joy; and the standard was displayed, and the -trumpets were sounded, and the drawbridge was lowered, and Doña Maria -went forth with her ladies, and her knights, and her pages, and her -minstrels, to welcome her lord from the wars. But as the train drew -nigh, she beheld a sumptuous bier, covered with black velvet, and on -it lay a warrior, as if taking his repose; he lay in his armor, with -his helmet on his head, and his sword in his hand, as one who had -never been conquered, and around the bier were the escutcheons of the -house of Hinojosa. - -A number of Moorish cavaliers attended the bier, with emblems of -mourning and with dejected countenances; and their leader cast -himself at the feet of Doña Maria, and hid his face in his hands. She -beheld in him the gallant Abadil, whom she had once welcomed with his -bride to her castle, but who now came with the body of her lord, whom -he had unknowingly slain in battle! - - -The sepulchre erected in the cloisters of the Convent of San Domingo -was achieved at the expense of the Moor Abadil, as a feeble testimony -of his grief for the death of the good knight Don Munio, and his -reverence for his memory. The tender and faithful Doña Maria soon -followed her lord to the tomb. On one of the stones of a small arch, -beside his sepulchre, is the following simple inscription: “_Hic -jacet Maria Palacin, uxor Munonis Sancij De Hinojosa_:” Here lies -Maria Palacin, wife of Munio Sancho de Hinojosa. - -The legend of Don Munio Sancho does not conclude with his death. -On the same day on which the battle took place on the plain of -Salmanara, a chaplain of the Holy Temple at Jerusalem, while standing -at the outer gate, beheld a train of Christian cavaliers advancing, -as if in pilgrimage. The chaplain was a native of Spain, and as the -pilgrims approached, he knew the foremost to be Don Munio Sancho de -Hinojosa, with whom he had been well acquainted in former times. -Hastening to the patriarch, he told him of the honorable rank of the -pilgrims at the gate. The patriarch, therefore, went forth with a -grand procession of priests and monks, and received the pilgrims with -all due honor. There were seventy cavaliers, beside their leader, -all stark and lofty warriors. They carried their helmets in their -hands, and their faces were deadly pale. They greeted no one, nor -looked either to the right or to the left, but entered the chapel, -and kneeling before the Sepulchre of our Saviour, performed their -orisons in silence. When they had concluded, they rose as if to -depart, and the patriarch and his attendants advanced to speak to -them, but they were no more to be seen. Every one marveled what could -be the meaning of this prodigy. The patriarch carefully noted down -the day, and sent to Castile to learn tidings of Don Munio Sancho -de Hinojosa. He received for reply, that on the very day specified -that worthy knight, with seventy of his followers, had been slain in -battle. These, therefore, must have been the blessed spirits of those -Christian warriors, come to fulfill their vow of a pilgrimage to the -Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Such was Castilian faith in the olden -time, which kept its word, even beyond the grave. - -If any one should doubt of the miraculous apparition of these phantom -knights, let him consult the “History of the Kings of Castile and -Leon,” by the learned and pious Fray Prudencio de Sandoval, Bishop of -Pamplona, where he will find it recorded in the History of the King -Don Alonzo VI., on the hundred and second page. It is too precious a -legend to be lightly abandoned to the doubter. - - -THE END. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Spanish Papers, by Washington Irving - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPANISH PAPERS *** - -***** This file should be named 50352-0.txt or 50352-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/5/50352/ - -Produced by Josep Cols Canals, Ramon Pajares Box and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by the Library of Congress.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/50352-0.zip b/old/50352-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b460448..0000000 --- a/old/50352-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h.zip b/old/50352-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 76fe026..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/50352-h.htm b/old/50352-h/50352-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 158c134..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/50352-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16597 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title>Spanish Papers, by Washington Irving—A Project Gutenberg eBook</title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - - body { margin: 0 auto; max-width: 34em; } - p { margin: 0.75em 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1.5em; } - - h1, h2, h3 { text-align: center; clear: both; font-weight: normal; } - h1 { font-size: 250%; } - h2 { margin: 4em 0 1em 0; font-size: 130%; line-height: 200%; } - h2.nobreak { page-break-before: avoid; } - .fauxh2 { margin: 3em 0 1em 0; font-size: 130%; text-indent: 0; text-align:center; line-height: 175%; } - h3 { margin: 3em 0 1em 0; font-size: 130%; line-height: 175%; } - .subh3 { margin: 0 0 2.5em 0; font-size: 110%; text-indent: 0; text-align: center; } - .subhang { margin: 0 0 2.5em 0; font-size: 110%; text-align: justify; - padding-left: 1.5em; text-indent: -1.5em; } - - .p1 { margin-top: 1em; } - .p2 { margin-top: 2em; } - .p4 { margin-top: 4em; } - .pd1 { padding-top: 1em; } - .pd4 { padding-top: 4em; } - - .xs { font-size: x-small; } - .small { font-size: small; } - .large { font-size: large; } - .xl { font-size: x-large; } - - .ti-03 { text-indent: -0.3em; } - .ti-06 { text-indent: -0.6em; } - .ti0 { text-indent: 0; } - - .g1 { letter-spacing: 0.1em; margin-right: -0.1em; } - - hr { clear: both; width: 33%; text-align: center; margin: 3em auto; } - hr.chap { width: 20%; } - hr.sep { width: 6%; margin: 1em auto; } - - .front { margin: 3em 0; page-break-before: always; } - .front p { margin: 0; text-indent: 0; text-align: left; - font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 90%; } - .tit { margin: 3em auto 0 auto; page-break-before: always; } - .tit p { text-indent: 0; text-align: center; } - .aftit { margin: 3em auto; page-break-before: always; } - .aftit p { text-indent: 0; text-align: center; } - .newpage { margin: 3em auto; page-break-before: always; } - - .chapter { page-break-before: always; margin: 3em 0 1em 0; } - .smcap { font-variant: small-caps; font-style: normal; } - .centra { margin-top: 1.5em; text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } - .mano { vertical-align: middle; } - .firma { margin: 1em 2em 0 0; text-align: right; font-size: larger; } - .fin { margin-top: 3em; font-size: 90%; text-align: center; text-indent: 0; } - - table { margin: 0 auto; } - .tdc { text-align: center; padding-top: 0.75em; } - .tdl { text-align: justify; padding-left: 1.5em; text-indent: -1.5em; padding-right: 1em; } - .tdr { text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom; } - - .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - position: absolute; - right: 91%; - font-size: small; - font-variant: normal; - font-style: normal; - font-weight: normal; - letter-spacing: normal; - text-align: right; - color: #B0B0B0; - text-indent: 0; - } - - /* Images */ - .figcenter { margin: 3em auto; text-align: center; page-break-inside: avoid; } - .figsep { margin: 0 auto; text-align: center; page-break-inside: avoid; } - .caption { margin: 0.75em 0 0 0; padding: 0 1em; font-weight: normal; font-size: smaller; - text-indent: 0; text-align: center; } - .screenonly { display: block; } - img.thick { border: solid thick silver; padding: .5em; } - - /* Dropcaps */ - div.drop-cap { float: left; margin: 0.3em 0.2em 0 0; text-align: left; } - p.drop-cap { padding: 0; } - p.drop-cap:first-letter { color: transparent; visibility: hidden; margin-left: -1em; } - - /* Footnotes */ - .footnotes { margin: 3em 0; border: medium solid #C0C0C0; } - .footnote { margin: 1em 2em; font-size: 90%; } - .footnote p { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0; } - .footnote .label { padding-right: .5em; } - .fnanchor { vertical-align: top; text-decoration: none; font-size: 0.75em; - font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; } - .footnote .p-15 { margin-top: -1.25em; } - .footnote .p1 { margin-top: 1em; } - .footnote .ti1 { text-indent: 1.5em; } - - .m25 { margin-left: 25%; } - .m30 { margin-left: 30%; } - - /* Transcriber's notes */ - .transnote { border: thin solid gray; background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: sans-serif; - font-size: smaller; margin: 3em 0; padding: 1em 2em 1em 1em; - page-break-before: always; } - #tnote li { margin-top: 0.5em; } - .tnotetit { font-weight: bold; text-align: center; text-indent: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; } - .cambios { margin: 1em auto; } - .cambios td { padding: 0 0.5em; vertical-align: bottom; } - .cambios .tdr { text-align: right; } - .cambiado { text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray; } - - @media handheld - { - p { margin: 0; } - - hr { clear: both; width: 34%; margin-left: 33%; } - hr.chap { display: none; visibility: hidden; } - hr.sep { width: 6%; margin-left: 47%; } - - .chapter { margin: 0 0 1em 0; } - .screenonly { display: none; } - div.drop-cap { float: left; } - .pagenum { display: none; } - .footnotes { margin: 3em 0; border: none; } - .footnote { margin: 1em 0; } - } - - </style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Spanish Papers, by Washington Irving - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Spanish Papers - -Author: Washington Irving - -Release Date: October 31, 2015 [EBook #50352] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPANISH PAPERS *** - - - - -Produced by Josep Cols Canals, Ramon Pajares Box and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by the Library of Congress.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="front"> - <p><a href="#tnote">Transcriber's note</a></p> - <p><a href="#ToC">Table of Contents</a></p> - <hr class="chap" /> -</div> - -<div class="screenonly"> - <div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" - alt="Book cover" /> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="aftit"> - <div class="figcenter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</span></p> - <img class="thick" - src="images/frontispiece.jpg" - alt="Ilustration: Frontispiece" - title="SPANISH PAPERS - The Court of Dolls. Alcazar. Seville. - PHILADELPHIA - J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO." /> - <p class="caption">The Court of Dolls. Alcazar. Seville.</p> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="tit"> - <hr class="chap" /> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span></p> - - <h1 class="g1">SPANISH PAPERS.</h1> - - <p class="xl p1"> - <span class="small">BY</span><br /> - WASHINGTON IRVING.</p> - - <p class="small p2">EDITED BY<br /> - <span class="large">PIERRE M. IRVING.</span></p> - - <p class="p4"> - <span class="small g1">PHILADELPHIA:</span><br /> - <span class="large g1">J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.</span><br /> - <span class="large">1872.</span> - </p> - <hr class="chap" /> -</div> - - -<div class="aftit"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span></p> - <p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by<br /> - <span class="smcap">G. P. Putnam and Son</span>,<br /> - In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern District - of New York.</p> - <hr class="chap" /> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-1.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak">PREFACE BY THE EDITOR.</h2> - <hr class="sep" /> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti0"><span class="smcap">A limited</span> -edition of the “Legends of the Conquest of Spain,” with -which this volume commences, was published in 1835. These Legends, -consisting of the “Legend of Don Roderick,” the “Legend of the -Subjugation of Spain,” the “Legend of Count Julian and his Family,” -formed No. III. of the “Crayon Miscellany.” For the Chronicles -which follow them, with the exception of “Abderahman” and “Spanish -Romance,” which have appeared in the “Knickerbocker Magazine,” I have -drawn upon the unpublished manuscripts of Mr. Irving, bequeathed -to me by his will. This portion of the volume is illustrative of -the wars between the Spaniards and the Moors, and consists of the -“Legend of Pelayo,” the “Chronicle of Count Fernan Gonzalez,” the -most illustrious hero of his epoch, who united the kingdoms of Leon -and Castile; and the “Chronicle of Fernando the Saint,” that renowned -champion of the faith, under whom the greater part of Spain was -rescued from the Moors. I have selected these themes from a mass -of unpublished manuscript that came into my hands at -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span> the death of -Mr. Irving, because they bore the impress of being most nearly, -though not fully, prepared for the press, and because they had for -him a special fascination, arising in part, perhaps, from his long -residence in that romantic country. “These old Morisco-Spanish -subjects”—is the language of one of his published letters—“have a -charm that makes me content to write about them at half price. They -have so much that is high-minded, and chivalrous, and quaint, and -picturesque, and at times half comic, about them.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-1.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter" id="ToC"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-2.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS.</h2> - <hr class="sep" /> -</div> - -<table summary="table of contents"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td class="tdr"><span class="xs">PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Ancient Inhabitants of Spain.— Of the Misrule of Witiza the Wicked.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Rise of Don Roderick.— His Government.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER III.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Loves of Roderick and the Princess Elyata.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of Count Julian.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER V.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Story of Florinda.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Don Roderick receives an Extraordinary Embassy.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Story of the Marvelous and Portentous Tower.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</span>CHAPTER VIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Count Julian.— His Fortunes in Africa.— He hears of the Dishonor - of his Child.— His Conduct thereupon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Secret Visit of Count Julian to the Arab Camp.— First Expedition - of Taric el Tuerto.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER X.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Letter of Muza to the Caliph.— Second Expedition of Taric el - Tuerto.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_58">58</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Measures of Don Roderick on Hearing of the Invasion.— Expedition - of Ataulpho.— Vision of Taric.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Battle of Calpe.— Fate of Ataulpho.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Terror of the Country.— Roderick rouses himself to Arms.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">March of the Gothic Army.— Encampment on the Banks of the - Guadalete.— Mysterious Predictions of a Palmer.—Conduct of Pelistes - thereupon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Skirmishing of the Armies.— Pelistes and his Son.— Pelistes - and the Bishop.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Traitorous Message of Count Julian.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</span>CHAPTER XVII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Last Day of the Battle.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Field of Battle after the Defeat.— The Fate of Roderick.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOREGOING LEGEND.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl pd1">The Tomb of Roderick.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108a">108</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Cave of Hercules.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_109a">109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Consternation of Spain.— Conduct of the Conquerors.— Missives - between Taric and Muza.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Capture of Granada.— Subjugation of the Alpuxarra Mountains.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER III.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Expedition of Magued against Cordova.— Defense of the Patriot - Pelistes.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Defense of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER V.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor Julian.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</span>CHAPTER VI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">How Taric el Tuerto captured the City of Toledo through the Aid - of the Jews, and how he found the famous Talismanic Table of Solomon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Muza ben Nosier.— His Entrance into Spain and Capture of Carmona.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Muza marches against the City of Seville.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_158">158</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Muza besieges the City of Merida.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER X.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and the “Land of Tadmir.”</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Muza arrives at Toledo.— Interview between him and Taric.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Muza prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest.— Siege of Saragossa.— - Complete Subjugation of Spain.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_182">182</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Feud between the Arab Generals.— They are summoned to appear before - the Caliph at Damascus.— Reception of Taric.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</span>CHAPTER XIV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Muza arrives at Damascus.— His Interview with the Caliph.— The Table - of Solomon.— A rigorous Sentence.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of Spain.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_198">198</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Loves of Abdalasis and Exilona.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Fate of Abdalasis and Exilona.— Death of Muza.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl pd1">Legend of Count Julian and his Family.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Note to the preceding Legend.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_232a">232</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>THE LEGEND OF PELAYO.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Obscurity of the Ancient Chronicles.— The Loves of Doña Lucia - and the Duke Favila.— Birth of Pelayo, and what happened thereupon; His Early - Fortunes, and his Tutelage under the veteran Count Grafeses.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_237">237</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">What happened to Pelayo at the Court of Witiza.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</span>CHAPTER III.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">How Pelayo lived among the Mountains of Cantabria.— His - Adventure with the Needy Hidalgo of Gascony and the Rich Merchant of - Bordeaux.— Discourse of the Holy Hermit.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Pilgrimage of Pelayo, and what befell him on his Return to Spain.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER V.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Battle of Covadonga.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Pelayo becomes King of Leon.— His Death.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>ABDERAHMAN: THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE OMMIADES OF SPAIN.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Youthful Fortunes of Abderahman.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Landing of Abderahman in Spain.— Condition of the Country.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER III.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Triumphs of Abderahman.— The Palm-tree which he planted, - and the Verses he composed thereupon.— Insurrections.— His Enemies - subdued.— Undisputed Sovereign of the Moslems of Spain.— Begins the - famous Mosque in Cordova.— His Death.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii">[Pg - xiii]</span><big>CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ,<br />COUNT OF CASTILE.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl pd1">Introduction.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_313">313</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as Count of Castile.— His - First Campaign against the Moors.— Victory of San Quirce.— How the Count - disposed of the Spoils.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Sally from Burgos, and Surprise of the Castle of - Lara.—Capitulation of the Town.— Visit to Alfonso the Great, King of Leon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER III.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Expedition against the Fortress of Muñon.— Desperate Defense - of the Moors.— Enterprise against Castro Xeriz.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_326">326</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">How the Count of Castile and the King of Leon make a Triumphant - Foray into the Moorish Country.— Capture of Salamanca.— Of the Challenge - brought by the Herald, and of the Count’s Defiance.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER V.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A Night Assault upon the Castle of Carazo.— The Moorish Maiden - who betrayed the Garrison.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_331">331</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Death of Alfonso, King of Leon.— The Moors determined to strike a - fresh Blow at the Count, who <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</span> - summons all Castile to his Standard.— Of his Hunt in the Forest while waiting for - the Enemy, and of the Hermit that he met with.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_340">340</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Message sent by the Count to Sancho II., King of Navarre, - and the Reply.— Their Encounter in Battle.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_343">343</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">How the Count of Toulouse makes a Campaign against Castile, and - how he returns in his Coffin.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_347">347</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER X.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">How the Count went to receive the Hand of a Princess, and was - thrown into a Dungeon.— Of the Stranger that visited him in his Chains, and - of the Appeal that he made to the Princess for his Deliverance.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Meditations of the Princess, and their Result.— Her - Flight from the Prison with the Count, and Perils of the Escape.— The - Nuptials.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_355">355</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">King Garcia confined in Burgos by the Count.— The Princess - intercedes for his Release.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_361">361</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Expedition against the ancient City of Sylo.—The unwitting - Trespass of the Count into a Convent, and his Compunction thereupon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</span>CHAPTER XIV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Moorish Host that came up from Cordova, and how the Count - repaired to the Hermitage of San Pedro, and prayed for Success against them, and - received Assurance of Victory in a Vision.— Battle of Hazinas.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_366">366</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Count imprisoned by the King of Leon.— The Countess concerts his - Escape.— Leon and Castile united by the Marriage of the Prince Ordoño - with Urraca, the Daughter of the Count by his first Wife.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_373">373</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Moorish Incursion into Castile.— Battle of San Estevan.— Of - Pascual Vivas and the Miracle that befell him.— Death of Ordoño III.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_378">378</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">King Sancho the Fat.— Of the Homage he exacted from Count - Fernan Gonzalez, and of the strange Bargain that he made with him for the - Purchase of his Horse and Falcon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_385">385</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Further of the Horse and Falcon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_389">389</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Last Campaign of Count Fernan.— His Death.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_393">393</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER I.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">The Parentage of Fernando.— Queen Berenguela.— The Laras.— - Don Alvar conceals the Death of King<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi">[Pg - xvi]</span> Henry.— Mission of Queen Berenguela to Alfonso IX.— She renounces - the Crown of Castile in favor of her son Fernando.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_401">401</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER II.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">King Alfonso of Leon ravages Castile.— Captivity of Don Alvar.— - Death of the Laras.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_408">408</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER III.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Marriage of King Fernando.— Campaign against the Moors.— Aben - Mohamed, King of Baeza, declares himself the Vassal of King Fernando.— They - march to Jaen.— Burning of the Tower.— Fernando commences the Building - of the Cathedral at Toledo.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_415">415</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Assassination of Aben Mohamed.— His Head carried as a Present - to Abullale, the Moorish King of Seville.— Advance of the Christians into - Andalusia.— Abullale purchases a Truce.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER V.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Aben Hud.— Abullale purchases another Year’s Truce.— Fernando - hears of the Death of his Father, the King of Leon, while pressing the Siege - of Jaen.— He becomes Sovereign of the two Kingdoms of Leon and Castile.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Expedition of the Prince Alonzo against the Moors.— Encamps - on the Banks of the Guadalete.— Aben Hud marches out from Xerez and gives - Battle.— Prowess of Garcia Perez de Vargas.— Fight and Pursuit of the - Moors.— Miracle of the Blessed Santiago.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</span>CHAPTER VII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish Power.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_435">435</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER VIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">A Spy in the Christian Camp.— Death of Aben Hud.— A vital Blow - to Moslem Power.— Surrender of Cordova to King Fernando.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_439">439</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER IX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Marriage of King Fernando to the Princess Juana.— Famine at - Cordova.— Don Alvar Perez.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_446">446</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER X.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra.— Fortifies Granada - and makes it his Capital.— Attempts to Surprise the Castle of Martos.— Peril - of the Fortress.— A Woman’s Stratagem to save it.— Diego Perez, the - Smasher.— Death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_450">450</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of Murcia, becomes the Vassal of - King Fernando.— Aben Alhamar seeks to drive the Christians out of Andalusia.— - Fernando takes the Field against him.— Ravages of the King.— His last Meeting - with the Queen-Mother.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_456">456</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">King Fernando’s Expedition to Andalusia.— Siege of Jaen.— Secret - Departure of Aben Alhamar for the Christian Camp.— He acknowledges himself the - Vassal of the King, who enters Jaen in Triumph.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_465">465</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii">[Pg xviii]</span>CHAPTER XIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Axataf, King of Seville, exasperated at the Submission of the King of - Granada, rejects the Propositions of King Fernando for a Truce.— The latter is encouraged - by a Vision to undertake the Conquest of the City of Seville.— Death of Queen Berenguela.— - A Diplomatic Marriage.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_470">470</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XIV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Investment of Seville.— All Spain aroused to Arms.— Surrender of - Alcala del Rio.— The Fleet of Admiral Ramon Bonifaz advances up the Guadalquivir.— - Don Pelayo Correa, Master of Santiago.— His Valorous Deeds and the Miracles wrought - in his Behalf.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XV.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">King Fernando changes his Camp.— Garci Perez and the seven Moors.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_482">482</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Raft built by the Moors, and how it was boarded by Admiral - Bonifaz.— Destruction of the Moorish Fleet.— Succor from Africa.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_488">488</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Of the Stout Prior Ferran Ruyz, and how he rescued his Cattle from - the Moors.— Further Enterprises of the Prior, and of the Ambuscade into which he Fell.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_492">492</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Bravado of the Three Cavaliers.— Ambush at the Bridge over the - Guadayra.—Desperate Valor of Garci Perez.—Grand Attempt of Admiral Bonifaz on - the Bridge of Boats.— Seville dismembered from Triana.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_496">496</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xix">[Pg xix]</span>CHAPTER XIX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Investment of Triana.— Garci Perez and the Infanzon.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_504">504</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XX.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Capitulation of Seville.— Dispersion of the Moorish Inhabitants.— - Triumphant Entry of King Fernando.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_508">508</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc">CHAPTER XXI.</td> - <td class="tdr"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Death of King Fernando.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_514">514</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><hr class="sep" /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="tdc"><big>SPANISH ROMANCE.</big></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl pd1">Spanish Romance.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_519">519</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdl">Legend of Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa.</td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_523">523</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-9.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxi">[Pg xxi]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-3.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak">PREFACE.</h2> - <hr class="sep" /> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-f.png" alt="Illustrated F" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Few</span> -events in history have been so original and striking in their -main circumstances, and so overwhelming and enduring in their -consequences, as that of the conquest of Spain by the Saracens; yet -there are few where the motives, and characters, and actions of the -agents have been enveloped in more doubts and contradiction. As in -the memorable story of the “Fall of Troy,” we have to make out, as -well as we can, the veritable details through the mists of poetic -fiction; yet poetry has so combined itself with, and lent its magic -coloring to every fact, that to strip it away would be to reduce -the story to a meagre skeleton and rob it of all its charms. The -storm of Moslem invasion that swept so suddenly over the peninsula, -silenced for a time the faint voice of the Muse, and drove the sons -of learning from their cells. The pen was thrown aside to grasp and -sword and spear, and men were too much taken up with battling against -the evils which beset them on every side, to find time or inclination -to record them.</p> - -<p>When the nation had recovered in some degree -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxii">[Pg xxii]</span> from the effects -of this astounding blow, or rather had become accustomed to the -tremendous reverse which it produced, and sage men sought to inquire -and write the particulars, it was too late to ascertain them in their -exact verity. The gloom and melancholy that had overshadowed the -land had given birth to a thousand superstitious fancies; the woes -and terrors of the past were clothed with supernatural miracles and -portents, and the actors in the fearful drama had already assumed -the dubious characteristics of romance. Or if a writer from among -the conquerors undertook to touch upon the theme, it was embellished -with all the wild extravagances of an oriental imagination, which -afterwards stole into the graver works of the monkish historians.</p> - -<p>Hence, the earliest chronicles which treat of the downfall of Spain, -are apt to be tinctured with those saintly miracles which savor of -the pious labors of the cloister, or those fanciful fictions that -betray their Arabian authors. Yet from these apocryphal sources the -most legitimate and accredited Spanish histories have taken their -rise, as pure rivers may be traced up to the fens and mantled pools -of a morass. It is true, the authors, with cautious discrimination, -have discarded those particulars too startling for belief, and have -culled only such as, from their probability and congruity, might be -safely recorded as historical facts; yet, scarce one of these but has -been connected in the original with some romantic fiction, and, even -in its divorced state, bears traces of its former alliance.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxiii">[Pg xxiii]</span></p> - -<p>To discard, however, everything wild and marvelous in this portion -of Spanish history, is to discard some of its most beautiful, -instructive, and national features; it is to judge of Spain by the -standard of probability suited to tamer and more prosaic countries. -Spain is virtually a land of poetry and romance, where every-day life -partakes of adventure, and where the least agitation or excitement -carries everything up into extravagant enterprize and daring exploit. -The Spaniards, in all ages, have been of swelling and braggart -spirit, soaring in thought, pompous in word, and valiant, though -vainglorious, in deed. Their heroic aims have transcended the cooler -conceptions of their neighbors, and their reckless daring has borne -them on to achievements which prudent enterprise could never have -accomplished. Since the time, too, of the conquest and occupation -of their country by the Arabs, a strong infusion of oriental -magnificence has entered into the national character, and rendered -the Spaniard distinct from every other nation of Europe.</p> - -<p>In the following pages, therefore, the author has ventured to dip -more deeply into the enchanted fountains of old Spanish chronicle -than has usually been done by those who, in modern times, have -treated of the eventful period of the Conquest; but in so doing, he -trusts he will illustrate more fully the character of the people and -the times. He has thought proper to throw these records into the form -of legends, not claiming for them the authenticity -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxiv">[Pg xxiv]</span> of sober history, -yet giving nothing that has not historical foundation. All the facts -herein contained, however extravagant some of them may be deemed, -will be found in the works of sage and reverend chroniclers of yore, -growing side by side with long-acknowledged truths, and might be -supported by learned and imposing references in the margin.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxvi">[Pg xxvi]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-4.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak"><big>LEGENDS OF THE CONQUEST OF SPAIN.</big></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-2.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-21.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <p class="fauxh2">THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.<a id="FNanchor_1" - href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> - <hr class="sep" /> - <h3 class="p1">CHAPTER I.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Ancient Inhabitants of Spain.— Of the - Misrule of Witiza the Wicked.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-s.png" alt="Illustrated S" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Spain,</span> -or Iberia as it was called in ancient days, has been a -country harassed from the earliest times by the invader. The -Celts, the Greeks, the Phœnicians, the Carthaginians, by turns or -simultaneously, infringed its territories, drove the native Iberians -from their rightful homes, and established colonies and founded -cities in the land. It subsequently fell into the all-grasping power -of Rome, remaining for some time a subjugated province; and when -that gigantic empire crumbled into pieces, the Suevi, the Alani, and -the Vandals, those barbarians of the North, overran and ravaged this -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span> -devoted country, and portioned out the soil among them.</p> - -<p>Their sway was not of long duration. In the fifth century the -Goths, who were then the allies of Rome, undertook the reconquest -of Iberia, and succeeded, after a desperate struggle of three -years’ duration. They drove before them the barbarous hordes, their -predecessors, intermarried and incorporated themselves with the -original inhabitants, and founded a powerful and splendid empire, -comprising the Iberian peninsula, the ancient Narbonnaise, afterwards -called Gallia Gothica, or Gothic Gaul, and a part of the African -coast called Tingitania. A new nation was, in a manner, produced -by this mixture of the Goths and Iberians. Sprang from a union of -warrior races, reared and nurtured amidst the din of arms, the -Gothic Spaniards, if they may so be termed, were a warlike, unquiet, -yet high-minded and heroic people. Their simple and abstemious -habits, their contempt for toil and suffering, and their love of -daring enterprise, fitted them for a soldier’s life. So addicted -were they to war that, when they had no external foes to contend -with, they fought with one another; and, when engaged in battle, -says an old chronicler, the very thunders and lightnings of heaven -could not separate them.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" -class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> - -<p>For two centuries and a half the Gothic power remained unshaken, and -the sceptre was wielded by twenty-five successive kings. The crown -was elective, in a council of palatines, composed of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span> the bishops and -nobles, who, while they swore allegiance to the newly made sovereign, -bound him by a reciprocal oath to be faithful to his trust. Their -choice was made from among the people, subject only to one condition, -that the king should be of pure Gothic blood. But though the crown -was elective in principle, it gradually became hereditary from usage, -and the power of the sovereign grew to be almost absolute. The king -was commander-in-chief of the armies; the whole patronage of the -kingdom was in his hands; he summoned and dissolved the national -councils; he made and revoked laws according to his pleasure; and, -having ecclesiastical supremacy, he exercised a sway even over the -consciences of his subjects.</p> - -<p>The Goths, at the time of their inroad, were stout adherents of -the Arian doctrines; but after a time they embraced the Catholic -faith, which was maintained by the native Spaniards free from many -of the gross superstitions of the Church at Rome, and this unity of -faith contributed more than anything else to blend and harmonize -the two races into one. The bishops and other clergy were exemplary -in their lives, and aided to promote the influence of the laws and -maintain the authority of the state. The fruits of regular and secure -government were manifest in the advancement of agriculture, commerce, -and the peaceful arts; and in the increase of wealth, of luxury, -and refinement; but there was a gradual decline of the simple, -hardy, and warlike habits that had distinguished the nation in its -semi-barbarous days.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p> - -<p>Such was the state of Spain when, in the year of Redemption 701, -Witiza was elected to the Gothic throne. The beginning of his reign -gave promise of happy days to Spain. He redressed grievances, -moderated the tributes of his subjects, and conducted himself with -mingled mildness and energy in the administration of the laws. In a -little while, however, he threw off the mask, and showed himself in -his true nature—cruel and luxurious.</p> - -<p>Two of his relatives, sons of a preceding king, awakened his jealousy -for the security of his throne. One of them, named Favila, Duke of -Cantabria, he put to death, and would have inflicted the same fate -upon his son Pelayo, but that the youth was beyond his reach, being -preserved by Providence for the future salvation of Spain. The other -object of his suspicion was Theodofredo, who lived retired from -court. The violence of Witiza reached him even in his retirement. His -eyes were put out, and he was immured within a castle at Cordova. -Roderick, the youthful son of Theodofredo, escaped to Italy, where he -received protection from the Romans.</p> - -<p>Witiza, now considering himself secure upon the throne, gave -the reins to his licentious passions, and soon, by his tyranny and -sensuality, acquired the appellation of Witiza the Wicked. Despising -the old Gothic continence, and yielding to the example of the sect -of Mahomet, which suited his lascivious temperament, he indulged in -a plurality of wives and concubines, encouraging his subjects to do -the same. Nay, he even sought <span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg -5]</span> to gain the sanction of the Church to his excesses, -promulgating a law by which the clergy were released from their vows -of celibacy, and permitted to marry and to entertain paramours.</p> - -<p>The sovereign Pontiff Constantine threatened to depose and -excommunicate him, unless he abrogated this licentious law; but -Witiza set him at defiance, threatening, like his Gothic predecessor -Alaric, to assail the eternal city with his troops, and make spoil -of her accumulated treasures.<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" -class="fnanchor">[3]</a> “We will adorn our damsels,” said he, “with -the jewels of Rome, and replenish our coffers from the mint of St. -Peter.”</p> - -<p>Some of the clergy opposed themselves to the innovating spirit of -the monarch, and endeavored from the pulpits to rally the people to -the pure doctrines of their faith; but they were deposed from their -sacred office, and banished as seditious mischief-makers. The church -of Toledo continued refractory; the Archbishop Sindaredo, it is true, -was disposed to accommodate himself to the corruptions of the times, -but the prebendaries battled intrepidly against the new laws of the -monarch, and stood manfully in defense of their vows of chastity. -“Since the church of Toledo will not yield itself to our will,” said -Witiza, “it shall have two husbands.” So saying, he appointed his own -brother Oppas, at that time archbishop of Seville, to take a seat -with Sindaredo in the episcopal chair of Toledo, and made him primate -of Spain. He was a priest after his own heart, and seconded him in -all his profligate abuses.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span></p> - -<p>It was in vain the denunciations of the Church were fulminated from -the chair of St. Peter. Witiza threw off all allegiance to the Roman -Pontiff, threatening with pain of death those who should obey the -papal mandates. “We will suffer no foreign ecclesiastic, with triple -crown,” said he, “to domineer over our dominions.”</p> - -<p>The Jews had been banished from the country during the preceding -reign, but Witiza permitted them to return, and even bestowed upon -their synagogues privileges of which he had despoiled the churches. -The children of Israel, when scattered throughout the earth by -the fall of Jerusalem, had carried with them into other lands the -gainful arcana of traffic, and were especially noted as opulent -money-changers, and curious dealers in gold and silver and precious -stones; on this occasion, therefore, they were enabled, it is said, -to repay the monarch for his protection by bags of money, and caskets -of sparkling gems, the rich product of their oriental commerce.</p> - -<p>The kingdom at this time enjoyed external peace, but there -were symptoms of internal discontent. Witiza took the alarm; he -remembered the ancient turbulence of the nation and its proneness to -internal feuds. Issuing secret orders, therefore, in all directions, -he dismantled most of the cities, and demolished the castles and -fortresses that might serve as rallying points for the factious. -He disarmed the people also, and converted the weapons of war into -the implements of peace. It seemed, in fact, as if the millennium -were dawning upon the land; for the sword was beaten <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> into a ploughshare, and the -spear into a pruning-hook.</p> - -<p>While thus the ancient martial fire of the nation was extinguished, -its morals likewise were corrupted. The altars were abandoned, the -churches closed, wide disorder and sensuality prevailed throughout -the land, so that, according to the old chroniclers, within the -compass of a few short years, “Witiza the Wicked taught all Spain to -sin.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-3.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> - <p class="subh3">The Rise of Don Roderick.— His Government.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">Woe</span> -to the ruler who founds his hope of sway on the weakness or -corruption of the people. The very measures taken by Witiza to -perpetuate his power ensured his downfall. While the whole nation, -under his licentious rule, was sinking into vice and effeminacy, -and the arm of war was unstrung, the youthful Roderick, son of -Theodofredo, was training up for action in the stern but wholesome -school of adversity. He instructed himself in the use of arms; became -adroit and vigorous by varied exercises: learned to despise all -danger, and inured himself to hunger and watchfulness and the rigor -of the seasons.</p> - -<p>His merits and misfortunes procured him many friends among the -Romans; and when, being arrived at a fitting age, he undertook to -revenge the wrongs of his father and his kindred, a host of brave and -hardy soldiers flocked to his standard. With these he made his sudden -appearance in Spain. The friends of his house and the disaffected of -all classes hastened to join him, and he advanced rapidly and without -opposition, through an unarmed and enervated land.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> - -<p>Witiza saw too late the evil he had brought upon himself. He made -a hasty levy, and took the field with a scantily equipped and -undisciplined host, but was easily routed and made prisoner, and the -whole kingdom submitted to Don Roderick.</p> - -<p>The ancient city of Toledo, the royal residence of the Gothic -kings, was the scene of high festivity and solemn ceremonial on -the coronation of the victor. Whether he was elected to the throne -according to the Gothic usage, or seized it by the right of conquest, -is a matter of dispute among historians, but all agree that the -nation submitted cheerfully to his sway, and looked forward to -prosperity and happiness under their newly elevated monarch. His -appearance and character seemed to justify the anticipation. He was -in the splendor of youth, and of a majestic presence. His soul was -bold and daring, and elevated by lofty desires. He had a sagacity -that penetrated the thoughts of men, and a magnificent spirit that -won all hearts. Such is the picture which ancient writers give of Don -Roderick, when, with all the stern and simple virtues unimpaired, -which he had acquired in adversity and exile, and flushed with the -triumph of a pious revenge, he ascended the Gothic throne.</p> - -<p>Prosperity, however, is the real touchstone of the human heart; -no sooner did Roderick find himself in possession of the crown, -than the love of power and the jealousy of rule were awakened in -his breast. His first measure was against Witiza who was brought in -chains into his presence. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg -10]</span> Roderick beheld the captive monarch with an unpitying -eye, remembering only his wrongs and cruelties to his father. “Let -the evils he has inflicted on others be visited upon his own head,” -said he; “as he did unto Theodofredo, even so be it done unto him.” -So the eyes of Witiza were put out, and he was thrown into the same -dungeon at Cordova in which Theodofredo had languished. There he -passed the brief remnant of his days in perpetual darkness, a prey to -wretchedness and remorse.</p> - -<p>Roderick now cast an uneasy and suspicious eye upon Evan and -Siseburto, the two sons of Witiza. Fearful lest they should foment -some secret rebellion, he banished them the kingdom. They took refuge -in the Spanish dominions in Africa, where they were received and -harbored by Requila, governor of Tangier, out of gratitude for favors -which he had received from their late father. There they remained, -to brood over their fallen fortunes, and to aid in working out the -future woes of Spain.</p> - -<p>Their uncle Oppas, bishop of Seville, who had been made copartner, -by Witiza, in the archiepiscopal chair at Toledo, would have -likewise fallen under the suspicion of the king; but he was a man of -consummate art, and vast exterior sanctity, and won upon the good -graces of the monarch. He was suffered, therefore, to retain his -sacred office at Seville; but the see of Toledo was given in charge -to the venerable Urbino, and the law of Witiza was revoked that -dispensed the clergy from their vows of celibacy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p> - -<p>The jealousy of Roderick for the security of his crown was soon -again aroused, and his measures were prompt and severe. Having been -informed that the governors of certain castles and fortresses in -Castile and Andalusia had conspired against him, he caused them -to be put to death and their strongholds to be demolished. He -now went on to imitate the pernicious policy of his predecessor, -throwing down walls and towers, disarming the people, and thus -incapacitating them from rebellion. A few cities were permitted to -retain their fortifications, but these were intrusted to alcaids in -whom he had especial confidence; the greater part of the kingdom -was left defenseless; the nobles, who had been roused to temporary -manhood during the recent stir of war, sunk back into the inglorious -state of inaction which had disgraced them during the reign of -Witiza—passing their time in feasting and dancing to the sound of -loose and wanton minstrelsy.<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" -class="fnanchor">[4]</a> It was scarcely possible to recognize in -these idle wassailers and soft voluptuaries the descendants of the -stern and frugal warriors of the frozen North—who had braved flood -and mountain, and heat and cold, and had battled their way to empire -across half a world in arms.</p> - -<p>They surrounded their youthful monarch, it is true, with a blaze -of military pomp. Nothing could surpass the splendor of their arms, -which were embossed and enameled, and enriched with gold and jewels -and curious devices; nothing could be more gallant and glorious than -their <span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> array; it -was all plume and banner and silken pageantry, the gorgeous trappings -for tilt and tourney and courtly revel; but the iron soul of war was -wanting.</p> - -<p>How rare it is to learn wisdom from the misfortunes of others. -With the fate of Witiza full before his eyes, Don Roderick indulged -in the same pernicious errors, and was doomed, in like manner, to -prepare the way for his own perdition.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Loves of Roderick and the Princess Elyata.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">As yet</span> -the heart of Roderick, occupied by the struggles of his early life, -by warlike enterprises, and by the inquietudes of newly-gotten power, -had been insensible to the charms of women; but in the present -voluptuous calm the amorous propensities of his nature assumed their -sway. There are divers accounts of the youthful beauty who first -found favor in his eyes, and was elevated by him to the throne. -We follow in our legend the details of an Arabian chronicler,<a -id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> -authenticated by a Spanish poet.<a id="FNanchor_6"></a><a -href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> Let those who dispute our -facts produce better authority for their contradiction.</p> - -<p>Among the few fortified places that had not been dismantled by Don -Roderick was the ancient city of Denia, situated on the Mediterranean -coast, and defended on a rock-built castle that overlooked the sea.</p> - -<p>The alcaide of the castle, with many of the people of Denia, was -one day on his knees in the chapel, imploring the Virgin to allay a -tempest which was strewing the coast with wrecks, when -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> a sentinel -brought word that a Moorish cruiser was standing for the land. The -alcaide gave orders to ring the alarm-bells, light signal-fires on -the hill-tops, and rouse the country, for the coast was subject to -cruel maraudings from the Barbary cruisers.</p> - -<p>In a little while the horsemen of the neighborhood were seen pricking -along the beach, armed with such weapons as they could find, and the -alcaide and his scanty garrison descended from the hill. In the mean -time the Moorish bark came rolling and pitching towards the land. -As it drew near, the rich carving and gilding with which it was -decorated, its silken bandaroles and banks of crimson oars, showed -it to be no warlike vessel, but a sumptuous galiot destined for -state and ceremony. It bore the marks of the tempest; the masts were -broken, the oars shattered, and fragments of snowy sails and silken -awnings were fluttering in the blast.</p> - -<p>As the galiot grounded upon the sand, the impatient rabble rushed -into the surf to capture and make spoil; but were awed into -admiration and respect by the appearance of the illustrious company -on board. There were Moors of both sexes sumptuously arrayed, and -adorned with precious jewels, bearing the demeanor of persons -of lofty rank. Among them shone conspicuous a youthful beauty, -magnificently attired, to whom all seemed to pay reverence.</p> - -<p>Several of the Moors surrounded her with drawn swords, threatening -death to any that approached; others sprang from the bark, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span> -throwing themselves on their knees before the alcaide, implored him, -by his honor and courtesy as a knight, to protect a royal virgin from -injury and insult.</p> - -<p>“You behold before you,” said they, “the only daughter of the king -of Algiers, the betrothed bride of the son of the king of Tunis. We -were conducting her to the court of her expecting bridegroom, when a -tempest drove us from our course, and compelled us to take refuge on -your coast. Be not more cruel than the tempest, but deal nobly with -that which even sea and storm have spared.”</p> - -<p>The alcaide listened to their prayers. He conducted the princess and -her train to the castle, where every honor due to her rank was paid -her. Some of her ancient attendants interceded for her liberation, -promising countless sums to be paid by her father for her ransom; -but the alcaide turned a deaf ear to all their golden offers. “She -is a royal captive,” said he; “it belongs to my sovereign alone to -dispose of her.” After she had reposed, therefore, for some days at -the castle, and recovered from the fatigue and terror of the seas, he -caused her to be conducted, with all her train, in magnificent state -to the court of Don Roderick.</p> - -<p>The beautiful Elyata<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" -class="fnanchor">[7]</a> entered Toledo more like a triumphant -sovereign than a captive. A chosen band of Christian horsemen, -splendidly armed, appeared to wait upon her as a mere guard of -honor. She was surrounded by the Moorish <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> damsels of her train, and followed by her -own Moslem guards, all attired with the magnificence that had been -intended to grace her arrival at the court of Tunis. The princess -was arrayed in bridal robes, woven in the most costly looms of the -Orient; her diadem sparkled with diamonds and was decorated with the -rarest plumes of the bird of paradise, and even the silken trappings -of her palfrey, which swept the ground, were covered with pearls -and precious stones. As this brilliant cavalcade crossed the bridge -of the Tagus, all Toledo poured forth to behold it, and nothing -was heard throughout the city but praises of the wonderful beauty -of the princess of Algiers. King Roderick came forth, attended by -the chivalry of his court, to receive the royal captive. His recent -voluptuous life had disposed him for tender and amorous affections, -and at the first sight of the beautiful Elyata he was enraptured -with her charms. Seeing her face clouded with sorrow and anxiety, he -soothed her with gentle and courteous words, and, conducting her to a -royal palace, “Behold,” said he, “thy habitation, where no one shall -molest thee; consider thyself at home in the mansion of thy father, -and dispose of anything according to thy will.”</p> - -<p>Here the princess passed her time with the female attendants -who had accompanied her from Algiers; and no one but the king was -permitted to visit her, who daily became more and more enamored -of his lovely captive, and sought by tender assiduity to gain her -affections. The distress of the princess at her captivity was -soothed <span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> by this -gentle treatment. She was of an age when sorrow cannot long hold sway -over the heart. Accompanied by her youthful attendants, she ranged -the spacious apartments of the palace, and sported among the groves -and alleys of its garden. Every day the remembrance of the paternal -home grew less and less painful, and the king became more and more -amiable in her eyes; and when at length he offered to share his heart -and throne with her, she listened with downcast looks and kindling -blushes, but with an air of resignation.</p> - -<p>One obstacle remained to the complete fruition of the monarch’s -wishes, and this was the religion of the princess. Roderick forthwith -employed the archbishop of Toledo to instruct the beautiful Elyata in -the mysteries of the Christian faith. The female intellect is quick -in perceiving the merits of new doctrines; the archbishop, therefore, -soon succeeded in converting, not merely the princess, but most of -her attendants, and a day was appointed for their public baptism. -The ceremony was performed with great pomp and solemnity, in the -presence of all the nobility and chivalry of the court. The princess -and her damsels, clad in white, walked on foot to the cathedral, -while numerous beautiful children, arrayed as angels, strewed their -path with flowers; and the archbishop meeting them at the portal, -received them, as it were, into the bosom of the church. The princess -abandoned her Moorish appellation of Elyata, and was baptized by -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> name of -Exilona, by which she was thenceforth called, and has generally been -known in history.</p> - -<p>The nuptials of Roderick and the beautiful convert took place -shortly afterwards, and were celebrated with great magnificence. -There were jousts, and tourneys, and banquets, and other rejoicings, -which lasted twenty days, and were attended by the principal -nobles from all parts of Spain. After these were over, such of the -attendants of the princess as refused to embrace Christianity, -and desired to return to Africa, were dismissed with munificent -presents; and an embassy was sent to the king of Algiers, to -inform him of the nuptials of his daughter, and to proffer him the -friendship of King Roderick.<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" -class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-8.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of Count Julian.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-f.png" alt="Illustrated F" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">For</span> -a time Don Roderick lived happily with his young and beautiful -queen, and Toledo was the seat of festivity and splendor. The -principal nobles throughout the kingdom repaired to his court to pay -him homage, and to receive his commands; and none were more devoted -in their reverence than those who were obnoxious to suspicion from -their connection with the late king.</p> - -<p>Among the foremost of these was Count Julian, a man destined to -be infamously renowned in the dark story of his country’s woes. -He was one of the proudest Gothic families, lord of Consuegra and -Algeziras, and connected by marriage with Witiza and the bishop -Oppas—his wife, the countess Frandina, being their sister. In -consequence of this connection, and of his own merits, he had enjoyed -the highest dignities and commands, being one of the Espatorios, -or royal sword-bearers—an office of the greatest confidence about -the person of the sovereign.<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" -class="fnanchor">[9]</a> He had, moreover, been intrusted with -the military government <span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg -20]</span> of the Spanish possessions on the African coast of the -strait, which at that time were threatened by the Arabs of the -East, the followers of Mahomet, who were advancing their victorious -standard to the extremity of Western Africa. Count Julian established -his seat of government at Ceuta, the frontier bulwark, and one of the -far-famed gates of the Mediterranean Sea. Here he boldly faced, and -held in check, the torrent of Moslem invasion.</p> - -<p>Don Julian was a man of an active, but irregular genius, and a -grasping ambition; he had a love for power and grandeur, in which -he was joined by his haughty countess; and they could ill brook the -downfall of their house, as threatened by the fate of Witiza. They -had hastened therefore to pay their court to the newly elevated -monarch, and to assure him of their fidelity to his interests.</p> - -<p>Roderick was readily persuaded of the sincerity of Count Julian; -he was aware of his merits as a soldier and a governor, and continued -him in his important command; honoring him with many other marks of -implicit confidence. Count Julian sought to confirm this confidence -by every proof of devotion. It was a custom among the Goths to rear -many of the children of the most illustrious families in the royal -household. They served as pages to the king, and handmaids and -ladies of honor to the queen, and were instructed in all manner of -accomplishments befitting their gentle blood. When about to depart -for Ceuta, to resume his command, Don Julian brought his <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> daughter Florinda to -present her to the sovereigns. She was a beautiful virgin that had -not as yet attained to womanhood. “I confide her to your protection,” -said he to the king, “to be unto her as a father; and to have her -trained in the paths of virtue. I can leave with you no dearer pledge -of my loyalty.”</p> - -<p>King Roderick received the timid and blushing maiden into his -parental care; promising to watch over her happiness with a parent’s -eye, and that she should be enrolled among the most cherished -attendants of the queen. With this assurance of the welfare of his -child, Count Julian departed, well pleased, for his government at -Ceuta.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> - <p class="subh3">The Story of Florinda.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -beautiful daughter of Count Julian was received with great -favor by the queen Exilona and admitted among the noble damsels -that attended upon her person. Here she lived in honor and apparent -security, and surrounded by innocent delights. To gratify his queen, -Don Roderick had built for her rural recreation a palace without the -walls of Toledo, on the banks of the Tagus. It stood in the midst -of a garden, adorned after the luxurious style of the East. The air -was perfumed by fragrant shrubs and flowers; the groves resounded -with the song of the nightingale, while the gush of fountains -and water-falls, and the distant murmur of the Tagus, made it a -delightful retreat during the sultry days of summer. The charm of -perfect privacy also reigned throughout the place, for the garden -walls were high, and numerous guards kept watch without to protect it -from all intrusion.</p> - -<p>In this delicious abode, more befitting an oriental voluptuary -than a Gothic king, Don Roderick was accustomed to while away much -of that time which should have been devoted to the toilsome cares of -government. The very security <span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg -23]</span> and peace which he had produced throughout his dominions -by his precautions to abolish the means and habitudes of war, had -effected a disastrous change in his character. The hardy and heroic -qualities which had conducted him to the throne, were softened in -the lap of indulgence. Surrounded by the pleasures of an idle and -effeminate court, and beguiled by the example of his degenerate -nobles, he gave way to a fatal sensuality that had lain dormant in -his nature during the virtuous days of his adversity. The mere love -of female beauty had first enamored him of Exilona, and the same -passion, fostered by voluptuous idleness, now betrayed him into the -commission of an act fatal to himself and Spain. The following is the -story of his error as gathered from an old chronicle and legend.</p> - -<p>In a remote part of the palace was an apartment devoted to the -queen. It was like an eastern harem, shut up from the foot of man, -and where the king himself but rarely entered. It had its own courts, -and gardens, and fountains, where the queen was wont to recreate -herself with her damsels, as she had been accustomed to do in the -jealous privacy of her father’s palace.</p> - -<p>One sultry day the king, instead of taking his siesta, or mid-day -slumber, repaired to this apartment to seek the society of the queen. -In passing through a small oratory, he was drawn by the sound of -female voices to a casement overhung with myrtles and jessamines. It -looked into an interior garden or court, set out with orange-trees, -in the midst of which was a marble fountain, <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> surrounded by a grassy bank, enameled -with flowers.</p> - -<p>It was the high noontide of a summer day when, in sultry Spain, the -landscape trembles to the eye, and all nature seeks repose, except -the grasshopper, that pipes his lulling note to the herdsman as he -sleeps beneath the shade.</p> - -<p>Around the fountain were several of the damsels of the queen, who, -confident of the sacred privacy of the place, were yielding in that -cool retreat to the indulgence prompted by the season and the hour. -Some lay asleep on the flowery bank; others sat on the margin of -the fountain, talking and laughing, as they bathed their feet in -its limpid waters, and King Roderick beheld delicate limbs shining -through the wave that might rival the marble in whiteness.</p> - -<p>Among the damsels was one who had come from the Barbary coast with -the queen. Her complexion had the dark tinge of Mauritania, but it -was clear and transparent, and the deep rich rose blushed through the -lovely brown. Her eyes were black and full of fire, and flashed from -under long silken eyelashes.</p> - -<p>A sportive contest arose among the maidens, as to the comparative -beauty of the Spanish and Moorish forms; but the Mauritanian damsel -revealed limbs of voluptuous symmetry that seemed to defy all rivalry.</p> - -<p>The Spanish beauties were on the point of giving up the contest, -when they bethought themselves of the young Florinda, the daughter -of Count Julian, who lay on the grassy bank, abandoned <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> to a summer slumber. -The soft glow of youth and health mantled on her cheek; her fringed -eyelashes scarcely covered their sleeping orbs; her moist and ruby -lips were slightly parted, just revealing a gleam of her ivory teeth, -while her innocent bosom rose and fell beneath her bodice, like the -gentle swelling and sinking of a tranquil sea. There was a breathing -tenderness and beauty in the sleeping virgin, that seemed to send -forth sweetness like the flowers around her.</p> - -<p>“Behold,” cried her companions exultingly, “the champion of Spanish -beauty!”</p> - -<p>In their playful eagerness they half disrobed the innocent Florinda -before she was aware. She awoke in time, however, to escape from -their busy hands; but enough of her charms had been revealed to -convince the monarch that they were not to be rivaled by the rarest -beauties of Mauritania.</p> - -<p>From this day the heart of Roderick was inflamed with a fatal -passion. He gazed on the beautiful Florinda with fervid desire, and -sought to read in her looks whether there was levity or wantonness in -her bosom; but the eye of the damsel ever sunk beneath his gaze, and -remained bent on the earth in virgin modesty.</p> - -<p>In vain he called to mind the sacred trust reposed in him by Count -Julian, and the promise he had given to watch over his daughter with -paternal care; his heart was vitiated by sensual indulgence, and the -consciousness of power had rendered him selfish in his gratifications.</p> - -<p>Being one evening in the garden where the <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> queen was diverting herself with her -damsels, and coming to the fountain where he had beheld the innocent -maidens at their sport, he could no longer restrain the passion -raging within his breast. Seating himself beside the fountain, he -called Florinda to draw forth a thorn which had pierced his hand. -The maiden knelt at his feet to examine his hand, and the touch of -her slender fingers thrilled through his veins. As she knelt, too, -her amber locks fell in rich ringlets about her beautiful head, her -innocent bosom palpitated beneath the crimson bodice, and her timid -blushes increased the effulgence of her charms.</p> - -<p>Having examined the monarch’s hand in vain, she looked up in his face -with artless perplexity.</p> - -<p>“Señor,” said she, “I can find no thorn nor any sign of wound.”</p> - -<p>Don Roderick grasped her hand and pressed it to his heart. “It is -here, lovely Florinda!” said he; “it is here! and thou alone canst -pluck it forth!”</p> - -<p>“My lord!” exclaimed the blushing and astonished maiden.</p> - -<p>“Florinda!” said Don Roderick, “dost thou love me?”</p> - -<p>“Señor,” said she, “my father taught me to love and reverence you. He -confided me to your care as one who would be as a parent to me, when -he should be far distant, serving your majesty with life and loyalty. -May God incline your majesty ever to protect me as a father.” So -saying, the maiden dropped her eyes to the ground, and continued -kneeling; but her <span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span> -countenance had become deadly pale, and as she -knelt she trembled.</p> - -<p>“Florinda,” said the king, “either thou dost not, or thou wilt -not, understand me. I would have thee love me, not as a father, nor -as a monarch, but as one who adores thee. Why dost thou start? No one -shall know our loves; and, moreover, the love of a monarch inflicts -no degradation like the love of a common man; riches and honors -attend upon it. I will advance thee to rank and dignity, and place -thee above the proudest females of my court. Thy father, too, shall -be more exalted and endowed than any noble in my realm.”</p> - -<p>The soft eye of Florinda kindled at these words. “Señor,” said -she, “the line I spring from can receive no dignity by means so -vile; and my father would rather die than purchase rank and power -by the dishonor of his child. But I see,” continued she, “that your -majesty speaks in this manner only to try me. You may have thought -me light and simple, and unworthy to attend upon the queen. I pray -your majesty to pardon me, that I have taken your pleasantry in such -serious part.”</p> - -<p>In this way the agitated maiden sought to evade the addresses of -the monarch, but still her cheek was blanched, and her lip quivered -as she spake.</p> - -<p>The king pressed her hand to his lips with fervor. “May ruin seize -me,” cried he, “If I speak to prove thee. My heart, my kingdom, -are at thy command. Only be mine, and thou <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> shalt rule absolute mistress of myself -and my domains.”</p> - -<p>The damsel rose from the earth where she had hitherto knelt, and -her whole countenance glowed with virtuous indignation. “My lord,” -said she, “I am your subject, and in your power; take my life if -it be your pleasure, but nothing shall tempt me to commit a crime -which would be treason to the queen, disgrace to my father, agony -to my mother, and perdition to myself.” With these words she left -the garden, and the king, for the moment, was too much awed by her -indignant virtue to oppose her departure.</p> - -<p>We shall pass briefly over the succeeding events of the story of -Florinda, about which so much has been said and sung by chronicler -and bard; for the sober page of history should be carefully chastened -from all scenes that might inflame a wanton imagination—leaving them -to poems and romances, and such like highly seasoned works of fantasy -and recreation.</p> - -<p>Let it suffice to say that Don Roderick pursued his suit to the -beautiful Florinda, his passion being more and more inflamed by the -resistance of the virtuous damsel. At length, forgetting what was -due to helpless beauty, to his own honor as a knight, and his word -as a sovereign, he triumphed over her weakness by base and unmanly -violence.</p> - -<p>There are not wanting those who affirm that the hapless Florinda -lent a yielding ear to the solicitations of the monarch, and her -name has been treated with opprobrium in several of the <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> ancient chronicles -and legendary ballads that have transmitted, from generation to -generation, the story of the woes of Spain. In very truth, however, -she appears to have been a guiltless victim, resisting as far as -helpless female could resist, the arts and intrigues of a powerful -monarch, who had naught to -<span - class="cambiado" - title="In the printed book: cheek" - id="tn_1">check</span> -the indulgence of his will, and -bewailing her disgrace with a poignancy that shows how dearly she had -prized her honor.</p> - -<p>In the first paroxysm of her grief she wrote a letter to her -father, blotted with her tears and almost incoherent from her -agitation. “Would to God, my father,” said she, “that the earth -had opened and swallowed me ere I had been reduced to write these -lines. I blush to tell thee, what it is not proper to conceal. Alas, -my father! thou hast intrusted thy lamb to the guardianship of the -lion. Thy daughter has been dishonored, the royal cradle of the Goths -polluted, and our lineage insulted and disgraced. Hasten, my father, -to rescue your child from the power of the spoiler, and to vindicate -the honor of your house.”</p> - -<p>When Florinda had written these lines she summoned a youthful -esquire who had been a page in the service of her father. “Saddle thy -steed,” said she, “and if thou dost aspire to knightly honor, or hope -for lady’s grace; if thou hast fealty for thy lord, or devotion to -his daughter, speed swiftly upon my errand. Rest not, halt not, spare -not the spur, but hie thee day and night until thou reach the sea; -take the first bark, and haste with sail and oar to Ceuta, nor pause -until thou give this letter to the count my <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> father.” The youth put the letter in -his bosom. “Trust me, lady,” said he “I will neither halt, nor turn -aside, nor cast a look behind, until I reach Count Julian.” He -mounted his fleet steed, sped his way across the bridge, and soon -left behind him the verdant valley of the Tagus.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Don Roderick receives an Extraordinary Embassy.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -heart of Don Roderick was not so depraved by sensuality, but that -the wrong he had been guilty of toward the innocent Florinda, and the -disgrace he had inflicted on her house, weighed heavy on his spirits, -and a cloud began to gather on his once clear and unwrinkled brow.</p> - -<p>Heaven at this time, say the old Spanish chronicles, permitted a -marvelous intimation of the wrath with which it intended to visit the -monarch and his people, in punishment of their sins; nor are we, say -the same orthodox writers, to startle and withhold our faith when we -meet in the page of discreet and sober history with these signs and -<span - class="cambiado" - title="In the printed book: potents" - id="tn_2">portents</span>, -which transcend the probabilities of ordinary life; for the -revolutions of empires and the downfalls of mighty kings are awful -events, that shake the physical as well as the moral world, and are -often announced by forerunning marvels and prodigious omens.</p> - -<p>With such like cautious preliminaries do the wary but credulous -historiographers of yore usher in a marvelous event of prophecy -and enchantment, linked in ancient story with the fortunes of Don -Roderick, but which modern doubters would <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> fain hold up as an apocryphal tradition -of Arabian origin.</p> - -<p>Now, so it happened, according to the legend, that about this time, -as King Roderick was seated one day on his throne, surrounded by -his nobles, in the ancient city of Toledo, two men of venerable -appearance entered the hall of audience. Their snowy beards descended -to their breasts, and their gray hairs were bound with ivy. They were -arrayed in white garments of foreign or antiquated fashion, which -swept the ground, and were cintured with girdles, wrought with the -signs of the zodiac, from which were suspended enormous bunches of -keys of every variety of form. Having approached the throne and made -obeisance,—“Know, O king,” said one of the old men, “that in days of -yore, when Hercules of Lybia, surnamed the Strong, had set up his -pillars at the ocean strait, he erected a tower near to this ancient -city of Toledo. He built it of prodigious strength, and finished it -with magic art, shutting up within it a fearful secret, never to -be penetrated without peril and disaster. To protect this terrible -mystery he closed the entrance to the edifice with a ponderous door -of iron, secured by a great lock of steel, and he left a command that -every king who should succeed him should add another lock to the -portal; denouncing woe and destruction on him who should eventually -unfold the secret of the tower.</p> - -<p>“The guardianship of the portal was given to our ancestors, and -has continued in our family, from generation to generation, since -the days of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> -Hercules. Several kings, from time to time, have caused the gate to -be thrown open, and have attempted to enter, but have paid dearly -for their temerity. Some have perished within the threshold; others -have been overwhelmed with horror at tremendous sounds, which shook -the foundations of the earth, and have hastened to reclose the door -and secure it with its thousand locks. Thus, since the days of -Hercules, the inmost recesses of the pile have never been penetrated -by mortal man, and a profound mystery continues to prevail over this -great enchantment. This, O king, is all we have to relate; and our -errand is to entreat thee to repair to the tower and affix thy lock -to the portal, as has been done by all thy predecessors.” Having -thus said, the ancient men made a profound reverence and departed -from the presence-chamber.<a id="FNanchor_10" href="#Footnote_10" -class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> - -<p>Don Roderick remained for some time lost in thought after the -departure of the men; he then dismissed all his court excepting the -venerable Urbino, at that time Archbishop of Toledo. The long white -beard of this prelate bespoke his advanced age, and his overhanging -eyebrows showed him a man full of wary counsel.</p> - -<p>“Father,” said the king, “I have an earnest desire to penetrate -the mystery of this tower.” The worthy prelate shook his hoary head. -“Beware, my son,” said he; “there are secrets hidden from man for his -good. Your predecessors for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg -34]</span> many generations have respected this mystery, and have -increased in might and empire. A knowledge of it, therefore, is not -material to the welfare of your kingdom. Seek not then to indulge -a rash and unprofitable curiosity, which is interdicted under such -awful menaces.”</p> - -<p>“Of what importance,” cried the king, “are the menaces of Hercules -the Libyan? was he not a pagan? and can his enchantments have aught -avail against a believer in our holy faith? Doubtless in this tower -are locked up treasures of gold and jewels, amassed in days of old, -the spoils of mighty kings, the riches of the pagan world. My coffers -are exhausted; I have need of supply; and surely it would be an -acceptable act in the eyes of Heaven to draw forth this wealth which -lies buried under profane and necromantic spells, and consecrate it -to religious purposes.”</p> - -<p>The venerable archbishop still continued to remonstrate, but Don -Roderick heeded not his counsel, for he was led on by his malignant -star. “Father,” said he, “it is in vain you attempt to dissuade me. -My resolution is fixed. To-morrow I will explore the hidden mystery, -or rather the hidden treasures, of this tower.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-3.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Story of the Marvelous and Portentous Tower.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -morning sun shone brightly upon the cliff-built towers of Toledo, -when King Roderick issued out of the gate of the city at the head of -a numerous train of courtiers and cavaliers, and crossed the bridge -that bestrides the deep rocky bed of the Tagus. The shining cavalcade -wound up the road that leads among the mountains, and soon came in -sight of the necromantic tower.</p> - -<p>Of this renowned edifice marvels are related by the ancient -Arabian and Spanish chroniclers, “and I doubt much,” adds the -venerable Agapida, “whether many readers will not consider the whole -as a cunningly devised fable, sprung from an Oriental imagination; -but it is not for me to reject a fact which is recorded by all those -writers who are the fathers of our national history; a fact too, -which is as well attested as most of the remarkable events in the -story of Don Roderick. None but light and inconsiderate minds,” -continues the good friar, “do hastily reject the marvelous. To the -thinking mind the whole world is enveloped in mystery, and everything -is full of type and portent. To such a mind the necromantic tower -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> of Toledo will -appear as one of those wondrous monuments of the olden time; one of -those Egyptian and Chaldaic piles, storied with hidden wisdom and -mystic prophecy, which have been devised in past ages, when man yet -enjoyed an intercourse with high and spiritual natures, and when -human foresight partook of divination.”</p> - -<p>This singular tower was round and of great height and grandeur, -erected upon a lofty rock, and surrounded by crags and precipices. -The foundation was supported by four brazen lions, each taller than -a cavalier on horseback. The walls were built of small pieces of -jasper and various colored marbles, not larger than a man’s hand; -so subtilely joined, however, that, but for their different hues, -they might be taken for one entire stone. They were arranged with -marvelous cunning, so as to represent battles and warlike deeds of -times and heroes long since passed away, and the whole surface was -so admirably polished that the stones were as lustrous as glass, -and reflected the rays of the sun with such resplendent brightness -as to dazzle all beholders.<a id="FNanchor_11" href="#Footnote_11" -class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> - -<p>King Roderick and his courtiers arrived wondering and amazed at the -foot of the rock. Here there was a narrow arched way cut through the -living stone, the only entrance to the tower. It was closed by a -massive iron gate, covered with rusty locks of divers workmanship and -in the fashion of different centuries, which had been -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> affixed by the -predecessors of Don Roderick. On either side of the portal stood the -two ancient guardians of the tower, laden with the keys appertaining -to the locks.</p> - -<p>The king alighted, and approaching the portals, ordered the guardians -to unlock the gate. The hoary headed men drew back with terror. -“Alas!” cried they, “what is it your majesty requires of us? Would -you have the mischiefs of this tower unbound, and let loose to shake -the earth to its foundations?”</p> - -<p>The venerable Archbishop Urbino likewise implored him not to -disturb a mystery which had been held sacred from generation to -generation within the memory of man, and which even Cæsar himself, -when sovereign of Spain, had not ventured to invade. The youthful -cavaliers, however, were eager to pursue the adventure, and -encouraged him in his rash curiosity.</p> - -<p>“Come what come may,” exclaimed Don Roderick, “I am resolved to -penetrate the mystery of this tower.” So saying, he again commanded -the guardians to unlock the portal. The ancient men obeyed with -fear and trembling, but their hands shook with age, and when they -applied the keys the locks were so rusted by time, or of such strange -workmanship, that they resisted their feeble efforts, whereupon the -young cavaliers pressed forward and lent their aid. Still the locks -were so numerous and difficult, that with all their eagerness and -strength a great part of the day was exhausted before the whole of -them could be mastered.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> - -<p>When the last bolt had yielded to the key, the guardians and the -reverend archbishop again entreated the king to pause and reflect. -“Whatever is within this tower,” said they, “is as yet harmless, and -lies bound under a mighty spell; venture not then to open a door -which may let forth a flood of evil upon the land.” But the anger -of the king was roused, and he ordered that the portal should be -instantly thrown open. In vain, however, did one after another exert -his strength, and equally in vain did the cavaliers unite their -forces, and apply their shoulders to the gate; though there was -neither bar nor bolt remaining, it was perfectly immovable.</p> - -<p>The patience of the king was now exhausted, and he advanced to -apply his hand; scarcely, however, did he touch the iron gate, -when it swung slowly open, uttering, as it were, a dismal groan, -as it turned reluctantly upon its hinges. A cold, damp wind issued -forth, accompanied by a tempestuous sound. The hearts of the ancient -guardians quaked within them, and their knees smote together; but -several of the youthful cavaliers rushed in, eager to gratify their -curiosity, or to signalize themselves in this redoubtable enterprise. -They had scarcely advanced a few paces, however, when they -recoiled, overcome by the baleful air, or by some fearful vision.<a -id="FNanchor_12" href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Upon -this, the king ordered that fires should be kindled to dispel the -darkness, and to correct the noxious and long-imprisoned air; he -then led the way into the interior; but, though stout of heart, he -advanced with awe and hesitation.</p> <p><span class="pagenum" -id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> <p>After proceeding a short distance, -he entered a hall or ante-chamber, on the opposite side of which was -a door, and before it, on a pedestal stood a gigantic figure, of the -color of bronze and of a terrible aspect. It held a huge mace, which -it whirled incessantly, giving such cruel and resounding blows upon -the earth as to prevent all further entrance.</p> - -<p>The king paused at sight of this appalling figure, for whether -it were a living being, or a statue of magic artifice, he could not -tell. On its breast was a scroll, whereon was inscribed, in large -letters, “I do my duty.”<a id="FNanchor_13" href="#Footnote_13" -class="fnanchor">[13]</a> After a little while, Roderick plucked up -heart, and addressed it with great solemnity. “Whatever thou be,” -said he, “know that I come not to violate this sanctuary, but to -inquire into the mystery it contains; I conjure thee, therefore, to -let me pass in safety.”</p> - -<p>Upon this the figure paused with uplifted mace, and the king and his -train passed unmolested through the door.</p> - -<p>They now entered a vast chamber, of a rare and sumptuous -architecture, difficult to be described. The walls were incrusted -with the most precious gems, so joined together as to form one smooth -and perfect surface. The lofty dome appeared to be self-supported, -and was studded with gems, lustrous as the stars of the firmament. -There was neither wood, nor any other common or base material to -be seen throughout the edifice. There were no windows or other -openings <span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> to admit -the day, yet a radiant light was spread throughout the place which -seemed to shine from the walls and to render every object distinctly -visible.</p> - -<p>In the centre of this hall stood a table of alabaster, of the rarest -workmanship, on which was inscribed, in Greek characters, that -Hercules Alcides, the Theban Greek, had founded this tower in the -year of the world three thousand and six. Upon the table stood a -golden casket, richly set round with precious stones, and closed -with a lock of mother-of-pearl, and on the lid were inscribed the -following words:—</p> - -<p>“In this coffer is contained the mystery of the tower. The hand of -none but a king can open it; but let him beware! for marvelous events -will be revealed to him, which are to take place before his death.”</p> - -<p>King Roderick boldly seized upon the casket. The venerable archbishop -laid his hand upon his arm, and made a last remonstrance. “Forbear, -my son,” said he; “desist while there is yet time. Look not into -the mysterious decrees of Providence. God has hidden them in mercy -from our sight, and it is impious to rend the veil by which they are -concealed.”</p> - -<p>“What have I to dread from a knowledge of the future?” replied -Roderick, with an air of haughty presumption. “If good be destined me -I shall enjoy it by anticipation; if evil, I shall arm myself to meet -it.” So saying, he rashly broke the lock.</p> - -<p>Within the coffer he found nothing but a linen<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> cloth, folded between two -tablets of copper. On unfolding it, he beheld painted on it figures -of men on horseback, of fierce demeanor, clad in turbans and robes -of various colors, after the fashion of the Arabs, with scimetars -hanging from their necks, and cross-bows at their saddle-backs, and -they carried banners and pennons with divers devices. Above them was -inscribed, in Greek characters, “Rash monarch! behold the men who are -to hurl thee from thy throne, and subdue thy kingdom!”</p> - -<p>At sight of these things the king was troubled in spirit, and -dismay fell upon his attendants. While they were yet regarding the -paintings, it seemed as if the figures began to move, and a faint -sound of warlike tumult arose from the cloth, with the clash of -cymbal and bray of trumpet, the neigh of steed and shout of army; -but all was heard indistinctly, as if afar off, or in a reverie or -dream. The more they gazed, the plainer became the motion, and the -louder the noise; and the linen cloth rolled forth, and amplified, -and spread out, as it were, a mighty banner, and filled the hall, -and mingled with the air, until its texture was no longer visible, -or appeared as a transparent cloud. And the shadowy figures became -all in motion, and the din and uproar became fiercer and fiercer; -and whether the whole were an animated picture, or a vision, or an -array of embodied spirits, conjured up by supernatural power, no -one present could tell. They beheld before them a great field of -battle, where Christians and Moslems were engaged in deadly <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>conflict. They heard the -rush and tramp of steeds, the blast of trump and clarion, the clash -of cymbal, and the stormy din of a thousand drums. There was the -clash of swords, and maces, and battle-axes, with the whistling of -arrows and the hurtling of darts and lances. The Christians quailed -before the foe; the infidels pressed upon them and put them to utter -rout; the standard of the cross was cast down, the banner of Spain -was trodden under foot, the air resounded with shouts of triumph, -with yells of fury, and with the groans of dying men. Amidst the -flying squadrons King Roderick beheld a crowned warrior, whose back -was towards him, but whose armor and device were his own, and who was -mounted on a white steed that resembled his own war-horse Orelia. In -the confusion of the flight, the warrior was dismounted, and was no -longer to be seen, and Orelia galloped wildly through the field of -battle without a rider.</p> - -<p>Roderick stayed to see no more, but rushed from the fatal hall, -followed by his terrified attendants. They fled through the outer -chamber, where the gigantic figure with the whirling mace had -disappeared from his pedestal, and, on issuing into the open air, -they found the two ancient guardians of the tower lying dead at the -portal, as though they had been crushed by some mighty blow. All -nature, which had been clear and serene, was now in wild uproar. The -heavens were darkened by heavy clouds; loud bursts of thunder rent -the air, and the earth was deluged with rain and rattling hail.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> - -<p>The king ordered that the iron portal should be closed, but the -door was immovable, and the cavaliers were dismayed by the tremendous -turmoil and the mingled shouts and groans that continued to prevail -within. The king and his train hastened back to Toledo, pursued -and pelted by the tempest. The mountains shook and echoed with the -thunder, trees were uprooted and blown down, and the Tagus raged -and roared and flowed above its banks. It seemed to the affrighted -courtiers as if the phantom legions of the tower had issued forth -and mingled with the storm; for amidst the claps of thunder and the -howling of the wind, they fancied they heard the sound of the drums -and trumpets, the shouts of armies, and the rush of steeds. Thus -beaten by tempest and overwhelmed with horror, the king and his -courtiers arrived at Toledo, clattering across the bridge of the -Tagus, and entering the gate in headlong confusion, as though they -had been pursued by an enemy.</p> - -<p>In the morning the heavens were again serene, and all nature was -restored to tranquillity. The king, therefore, issued forth with -his cavaliers, and took the road to the tower, followed by a great -multitude, for he was anxious once more to close the iron door, and -shut up those evils that threatened to overwhelm the land. But lo! on -coming in sight of the tower, a new wonder met their eyes. An eagle -appeared high in the air, seeming to descend from heaven. He bore in -his beak a burning brand, and, lighting on the summit of the tower, -fanned the fire with his wings. In a little while the edifice burst -forth<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> into a blaze, -as though it had been built of rosin, and the flames mounted into the -air with a brilliancy more dazzling than the sun; nor did they cease -until every stone was consumed, and the whole was reduced to a heap -of ashes. Then there came a vast flight of birds, small of size and -sable of hue, darkening the sky like a cloud; and they descended, -and wheeled in circles round the ashes, causing so great a wind with -their wings that the whole was borne up into the air, and scattered -throughout all Spain, and wherever a particle of that ashes fell it -was as a stain of blood. It is furthermore recorded by ancient men -and writers of former days, that all those on whom this dust fell -were afterwards slain in battle, when the country was conquered by -the Arabs, and that the destruction of this necromantic tower was a -sign and token of the approaching perdition of Spain.</p> - -<p>“Let all those,” concludes the cautious friar, “who question the -verity of this most marvelous occurrence, consult those admirable -sources of our history, the chronicle of the Moor Rasis, and the work -entitled “The Fall of Spain,” written by the Moor Abulcasim Tarif -Abentarique. Let them consult, moreover, the venerable historian -Bleda, and the cloud of other Catholic Spanish writers who have -treated of this event, and they will find I have related nothing that -has not been printed and published under the inspection and sanction -of our holy mother Church. God alone knoweth the truth of these -things; I speak nothing but what has been handed down to me from -times of old.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Count Julian.— His Fortunes in Africa.— He hears of the - Dishonor of his Child.— His Conduct thereupon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -course of our legendary narration now returns to notice the fortunes -of Count Julian, after his departure from Toledo, to resume his -government on the coast of Barbary. He left the Countess Frandina at -Algeziras, his paternal domain, for the province under his command -was threatened with invasion. In fact, when he arrived at Ceuta he -found his post in imminent danger from the all-conquering Moslems. -The Arabs of the East, the followers of Mahomet, having subjugated -several of the most potent Oriental kingdoms, had established their -seat of empire at Damascus, where at this time it was filled by -Waled Almanzor, surnamed “The Sword of God.” From thence the tide -of Moslem conquest had rolled on to the shores of the Atlantic, so -that all Almagreb, or Western Africa, had submitted to the standard -of the Prophet, with the exception of a portion of Tingitania, lying -along the straits,—being the province held by the Goths of Spain, -and commanded by Count Julian. The Arab invaders were a hundred -thousand strong, most of them <span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg -46]</span> veteran troops, seasoned in warfare and accustomed to -victory. They were led by an old Arab general, Muza ben Nosier, -to whom was confided the government of Almagreb,—most of which he -had himself conquered. The ambition of this veteran was to make -the Moslem conquest complete, by expelling the Christians from the -African shores; with this view his troops menaced the few remaining -Gothic fortresses of Tingitania, while he himself sat down in person -before the walls of Ceuta. The Arab chieftain had been rendered -confident by continual success, and thought nothing could resist his -arms and the sacred standard of the Prophet. Impatient of the tedious -delays of a siege, he led his troops boldly against the rock-built -towers of Ceuta, and attempted to take the place by storm. The onset -was fierce, and the struggle desperate: the swarthy sons of the -desert were light and vigorous, and of fiery spirit; but the Goths, -inured to danger on this frontier, retained the stubborn valor of -their race, so impaired among their brethren in Spain. They were -commanded, too, by one skilled in warfare and ambitious of renown. -After a vehement conflict, the Moslem assailants were repulsed from -all points, and driven from the walls. Don Julian sallied forth and -harassed them in their retreat, and so severe was the carnage that -the veteran Muza was fain to break up his camp and retire confounded -from the siege.</p> - -<p>The victory at Ceuta resounded throughout Tingitania, and spread -universal joy. On every side were heard shouts of exultation, mingled -with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> praises of -Count Julian. He was hailed by the people, wherever he went, as their -deliverer, and blessings were invoked upon his head. The heart of -Count Julian was lifted up, and his spirit swelled within him; but -it was with noble and virtuous pride, for he was conscious of having -merited the blessings of his country.</p> - -<p>In the midst of his exultation, and while the rejoicings of the -people were yet sounding in his ears, the page arrived who bore the -letter from his unfortunate daughter.</p> - -<p>“What tidings from the king?” said the count, as the page knelt -before him. “None, my lord,” replied the youth; “but I bear a letter -sent in all haste by the Lady Florinda.”</p> - -<p>He took the letter from his bosom and presented it to his lord. As -Count Julian read it, his countenance darkened and fell. “This,” said -he, bitterly, “is my reward for serving a tyrant; and these are the -honors heaped on me by my country while fighting its battles in a -foreign land. May evil overtake me, and infamy rest upon my name, if -I cease until I have full measure of revenge.”</p> - -<p>Count Julian was vehement in his passions, and took no counsel in -his wrath. His spirit was haughty in the extreme, but destitute of -true magnanimity, and when once wounded, turned to gall and venom. -A dark and malignant hatred entered into his soul, not only against -Don Roderick, but against all Spain; he looked upon it as the scene -of his disgrace, a land in which his family was dishonored, and, in -seeking to revenge the wrongs he had suffered from his sovereign, he -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> meditated against -his native country one of the blackest schemes of treason that ever -entered into the human heart.</p> - -<p>The plan of Count Julian was to hurl King Roderick from his -throne, and to deliver all Spain into the hands of the infidels. -In concerting and executing this treacherous plot, it seemed as if -his whole nature was changed; every lofty and generous sentiment -was stifled, and he stooped to the meanest dissimulation. His first -object was, to extricate his family from the power of the king and to -remove it from Spain before his treason should be known; his next, -to deprive the country of its remaining means of defense against an -invader.</p> - -<p>With these dark purposes at heart, but with an open and serene -countenance, he crossed to Spain and repaired to the court at Toledo. -Wherever he came he was hailed with acclamation as a victorious -general, and appeared in the presence of his sovereign radiant with -the victory at Ceuta. Concealing from King Roderick his knowledge of -the outrage upon his house, he professed nothing but the most devoted -loyalty and affection.</p> - -<p>The king loaded him with favors; seeking to appease his own -conscience by heaping honors upon the father in atonement of the -deadly wrong inflicted upon his child. He regarded Count Julian, -also, as a man able and experienced in warfare, and took his advice -in all matters relating to the military affairs of the kingdom. The -count magnified the dangers that threatened <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> the frontier under his command, and -prevailed upon the king to send thither the best horses and arms -remaining from the time of Witiza, there being no need of them in the -centre of Spain, in its present tranquil state. The residue, at his -suggestion, was stationed on the frontiers of Gallia; so that the -kingdom was left almost wholly without defense against any sudden -irruption from the south.</p> - -<p>Having thus artfully arranged his plans, and all things being -prepared for his return to Africa, he obtained permission to -withdraw his daughter from the court, and leave her with her mother, -the Countess Frandina, who, he pretended, lay dangerously ill at -Algeziras. Count Julian issued out of the gate of the city, followed -by a shining band of chosen followers, while beside him, on a -palfrey, rode the pale and weeping Florinda. The populace hailed -and blessed him as he passed, but his heart turned from them with -loathing. As he crossed the bridge of the Tagus he looked back with -a dark brow upon Toledo, and raised his mailed hand and shook it at -the royal palace of King Roderick, which crested the rocky height. -“A father’s curse,” said he, “be upon thee and thine! may desolation -fall upon thy dwelling, and confusion and defeat upon thy realm!”</p> - -<p>In his journeyings through the country, he looked round him -with a malignant eye: the pipe of the shepherd and the song of the -husbandman were as discord to his soul; every sight and sound of -human happiness sickened him at heart; and, in the bitterness of his -spirit, he prayed that he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg -50]</span> might see the whole scene of prosperity laid waste with -fire and sword by the invader.</p> - -<p>The story of domestic outrage and disgrace had already been made -known to the Countess Frandina. When the hapless Florinda came in -presence of her mother, she fell on her neck, and hid her face in her -bosom, and wept; but the countess shed never a tear, for she was a -woman haughty of spirit and strong of heart. She looked her husband -sternly in the face. “Perdition light upon thy head,” said she, “if -thou submit to this dishonor. For my own part, woman as I am, I will -assemble the followers of my house, nor rest until rivers of blood -have washed away this stain.”</p> - -<p>“Be satisfied,” replied the count; “vengeance is on foot, and will be -sure and ample.”</p> - -<p>Being now in his own domains, surrounded by his relatives and -friends, Count Julian went on to complete his web of treason. In this -he was aided by his brother-in-law, Oppas, the Bishop of Seville,—a -man dark and perfidious as the night, but devout in demeanor, and -smooth and plausible in council. This artful prelate had contrived -to work himself into the entire confidence of the king, and had -even prevailed upon him to permit his nephews, Evan and Siseburto, -the exiled sons of Witiza, to return into Spain. They resided in -Andalusia, and were now looked to as fit instruments in the present -traitorous conspiracy.</p> - -<p>By the advice of the bishop, Count Julian called a secret meeting -of his relatives and adherents on a wild rocky mountain, not far -from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span> Consuegra, and -which still bears the Moorish appellation of “La Sierra de Calderin,” -or the Mountain of Treason.<a id="FNanchor_14" href="#Footnote_14" -class="fnanchor">[14]</a> When all were assembled, Count Julian -appeared among them, accompanied by the bishop and by the Countess -Frandina. Then gathering around him those who were of his blood and -kindred, he revealed the outrage that had been offered to their -house. He represented to them that Roderick was their legitimate -enemy; that he had dethroned Witiza, their relation, and had now -stained the honor of one of the most illustrious daughters of their -line. The Countess Frandina seconded his words. She was a woman -majestic in person and eloquent of tongue, and being inspired by a -mother’s feelings, her speech aroused the assembled cavaliers to -fury.</p> - -<p>The count took advantage of the excitement of the moment to unfold -his plan. The main object was to dethrone Don Roderick, and give -the crown to the sons of the late King Witiza. By this means they -would visit the sins of the tyrant upon his head, and, at the same -time, restore the regal honors to their line. For this purpose their -own force would be insufficient, but they might procure the aid of -Muza ben Nosier, the Arabian general in Mauritania, who would no -doubt gladly send a part of his troops into Spain to assist in the -enterprise.</p> - -<p>The plot thus suggested by Count Julian received the unholy -sanction of Bishop Oppas, who engaged to aid it secretly with all -his <span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> influence and -means; for he had great wealth and possessions, and many retainers. -The example of the reverend prelate determined all who might -otherwise have wavered, and they bound themselves by dreadful oaths -to be true to the conspiracy. Count Julian undertook to proceed to -Africa, and seek the camp of Muza, to negotiate for his aid, while -the bishop was to keep about the person of King Roderick, and lead -him into the net prepared for him.</p> - -<p>All things being thus arranged, Count Julian gathered together his -treasure, and taking his wife and daughter and all his household, -abandoned the country he meant to betray,—embarking at Malaga for -Ceuta. The gate in the wall of that city, through which they went -forth, continued for ages to bear the name of Puerta de la Cava, or -the Gate of the Harlot; for such was the opprobrious and unmerited -appellation bestowed by the Moors on the unhappy Florinda.<a -id="FNanchor_15" href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-8.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Secret Visit of Count Julian to the Arab - Camp.— First Expedition of Taric el Tuerto.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -Count Julian had placed his family in security in Ceuta, surrounded -by soldiery devoted to his fortunes, he took with him a few -confidential followers and departed in secret for the camp of the -Arabian Emir, Muza ben Nosier. The camp was spread out in one of -those pastoral valleys which lie at the feet of the Barbary Hills, -with the great range of the Atlas Mountains towering in the distance. -In the motley army here assembled were warriors of every tribe -and nation, that had been united by pact or conquest in the cause -of Islam. There were those who had followed Muza from the fertile -regions of Egypt, across the deserts of Barca, and those who had -joined his standard from among the sunburnt tribes of Mauritania. -There were Saracen and Tartar, Syrian and Copt, and swarthy Moor; -sumptuous warriors from the civilized cities of the East, and the -gaunt and predatory rovers of the desert. The greater part of the -army, however, was composed of Arabs; but differing greatly from -the first rude hordes that enlisted under the banner of Mahomet. -Almost a century<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> of -continual wars with the cultivated nations of the East had rendered -them accomplished warriors; and the occasional sojourn in luxurious -countries and populous cities, had acquainted them with the arts and -habits of civilized life. Still the roving, restless, and predatory -habits of the genuine son of Ishmael prevailed, in defiance of every -change of clime or situation.</p> - -<p>Count Julian found the Arab conqueror Muza surrounded by somewhat -of Oriental state and splendor. He was advanced in life, but of a -noble presence, and concealed his age by tingeing his hair and beard -with henna. The count assumed an air of soldier-like frankness and -decision when he came into his presence. “Hitherto,” said he, “we -have been enemies; but I come to thee in peace, and it rests with -thee to make me the most devoted of thy friends. I have no longer -country or king. Roderick the Goth is an usurper, and my deadly -foe; he has wounded my honor in the tenderest point, and my country -affords me no redress. Aid me in my vengeance, and I will deliver all -Spain into thy hands,—a land far exceeding in fertility and wealth -all the vaunted regions thou hast conquered in Tingitania.”</p> - -<p>The heart of Muza leaped with joy at these words, for he was -a bold and ambitious conqueror, and, having overrun all western -Africa, had often cast a wistful eye to the mountains of Spain, as -he beheld them brightening beyond the waters of the strait. Still -he possessed the caution of a veteran, and feared to engage in an -enterprise of such moment, and to carry his arms into another <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> division of the globe, -without the approbation of his sovereign. Having drawn from Count -Julian the particulars of his plan, and of the means he possessed to -carry it into effect, he laid them before his confidential counselors -and officers, and demanded their opinion. “These words of Count -Julian,” said he, “may be false and deceitful; or he may not possess -the power to fulfill his promises. The whole may be a pretended -treason to draw us on to our destruction. It is more natural that he -should be treacherous to us than to his country.”</p> - -<p>Among the generals of Muza, was a gaunt, swarthy veteran, scarred -with wounds,—a very Arab, whose great delight was roving and -desperate enterprise, and who cared for nothing beyond his steed, -his lance, and scimetar. He was a native of Damascus; his name was -Taric ben Zeyad, but, from having lost an eye, he was known among -the Spaniards by the appellation of Taric el Tuerto, or Taric the -one-eyed.</p> - -<p>The hot blood of this veteran Ishmaelite was in a ferment when he -heard of a new country to invade and vast regions to subdue, and -he dreaded lest the cautious hesitation of Muza should permit the -glorious prize to escape them. “You speak doubtingly,” said he, “of -the words of this Christian cavalier, but their truth is easily to be -ascertained. Give me four galleys and a handful of men, and I will -depart with this Count Julian, skirt the Christian coast, and bring -thee back tidings of the land, and of his means to put it in our -power.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> - -<p>The words of the veteran pleased Muza ben Nosier, and he gave -his consent; and Taric departed with four galleys, and five hundred -men, guided by the traitor Julian.<a id="FNanchor_16"></a><a -href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> This first expedition -of the Arabs against Spain, took place, according to certain -historians, in the year of our Lord seven hundred and twelve; though -others differ on this point, as indeed they do upon almost every -point in this early period of Spanish history. The date to which the -judicious chroniclers incline, is that of seven hundred and ten, -in the month of July. It would appear from some authorities, also, -that the galleys of Taric cruised along the coasts of Andalusia and -Lusitania, under the feigned character of merchant barks, nor is -this at all improbable, while they were seeking merely to observe -the land, and get a knowledge of the harbors. Wherever they touched, -Count Julian dispatched emissaries to assemble his friends and -adherents at an appointed place. They gathered together secretly at -Gezira Alhadra, that is to say, the Green Island, where they held -a conference with Count Julian in presence of Taric ben Zeyad.<a -id="FNanchor_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> -Here they again avowed their readiness to flock to his standard -whenever it should be openly raised, and made known their various -preparations for a rebellion. Taric was convinced, by all that -he had seen and heard, that Count Julian had not deceived them, -either as to his disposition or his means to betray his country. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>Indulging his -Arab inclinations, he made an inroad into the land, collected great -spoil and many captives, and bore off his plunder in triumph to -Muza, as a specimen of the riches to be gained by the conquest -of the Christian land.<a id="FNanchor_18" href="#Footnote_18" -class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-9.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Letter of Muza to the Caliph.— Second - Expedition of Taric el Tuerto.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">In hearing</span> -the tidings brought by Taric el Tuerto, and beholding the spoil he -had collected, Muza wrote a letter to the Caliph Waled Almanzor, -setting forth the traitorous proffer of Count Julian, and the -probability, through his means, of making a successful invasion -of Spain. “A new land,” said he, “spreads itself out before our -delighted eyes, and invites our conquest: a land, too, that equals -Syria in the fertility of its soil and the serenity of its sky; -Yemen, or Arabia the Happy, in its delightful temperature; India, in -its flowers and spices; Hegiaz, in its fruits and flowers; Cathay, -in its precious minerals; and Aden, in the excellence of its ports -and harbors. It is populous also, and wealthy; having many splendid -cities and majestic monuments of ancient art. What is to prevent -this glorious land from becoming the inheritance of the faithful? -Already we have overcome the tribes of Berbery, of Zab, of Derar -of Zaara, Mazamuda and Sus, and the victorious standard of Islam -floats on the towers of Tangier. But four leagues of sea separate us -from the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>opposite -coast. One word from my sovereign, and the conquerors of Africa will -pour their legions into Andalusia, rescue it from the domination -of the unbeliever, and subdue it to the law of the Koran.”<a -id="FNanchor_19" href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> - -<p>The Caliph was overjoyed with the contents of the letter. “God is -great!” exclaimed he, “and Mahomet is his prophet! It has been -foretold by the ambassador of God that his law should extend to the -ultimate parts of the West, and be carried by the sword into new -and unknown regions. Behold another land is opened for the triumphs -of the faithful. It is the will of Allah, and be his sovereign will -obeyed.” So the Caliph sent missives to Muza, authorizing him to -undertake the conquest.</p> - -<p>Upon this there was a great stir of preparation, and numerous -vessels were assembled and equipped at Tangier to convey the invading -army across the straits. Twelve thousand men were chosen for this -expedition,—most of them light Arabian troops, seasoned in warfare, -and fitted for hardy and rapid enterprise. Among them were many -horsemen, mounted on fleet Arabian steeds. The whole was put under -the command of the veteran Taric el Tuerto, or the one-eyed, in -whom Muza reposed implicit confidence as in a second self. Taric -accepted the command with joy; his martial fire was roused at the -idea of having such an army under his sole command, and such a -country to overrun, and he secretly determined never to return unless -victorious.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> - -<p>He chose a dark night to convey his troops across the Straits -of Hercules, and by break of day they began to disembark at Tarifa -before the country had time to take the alarm. A few Christians -hastily assembled from the neighborhood and opposed their landing, -but were easily put to flight. Taric stood on the sea-side, and -watched until the last squadron had landed, and all the horses, -armor, and munitions of war were brought on shore; he then gave -orders to set fire to the ships. The Moslems were struck with terror -when they beheld their fleet wrapped in flames and smoke, and sinking -beneath the waves. “How shall we escape,” exclaimed they, “if the -fortune of war should be against us?” “There is no escape for the -coward,” cried Taric; “the brave man thinks of none; your only chance -is victory.” “But how without ships shall we ever return to our -homes?” “Your homes,” replied Taric, “are before you; but you must -win them with your swords.”</p> - -<p>While Taric was yet talking with his followers, says one of the -ancient chroniclers, a Christian female was descried waving a white -pennon on a reed, in signal of peace. On being brought into the -presence of Taric, she prostrated herself before him. “Señor,” said -she, “I am an ancient woman; and it is now fully sixty years past -and gone since, as I was keeping vigils one winter’s night by the -fireside, I heard my father, who was an exceeding old man, read a -prophecy said to have been written by a holy friar; and this was the -purport of the prophecy, that a time would<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> arrive when our country would be invaded -and conquered by a people from Africa of a strange garb, a strange -tongue, and a strange religion. They were to be led by a strong and -valiant captain, who would be known by these signs: on his right -shoulder he would have a hairy mole, and his right arm would be much -longer than the left, and of such length as to enable him to cover -his knee with his hand without bending his body.”</p> - -<p>Taric listened to the old beldame with grave attention, and when -she had concluded, he laid bare his shoulder, and lo! there was the -mole as it had been described; his right arm, also, was in verity -found to exceed the other in length, though not to the degree that -had been mentioned. Upon this the Arab host shouted for joy, and felt -assured of conquest.</p> - -<p>The discreet Antonio Agapida, though he records this circumstance -as it is set down in ancient chronicle, yet withholds his belief -from the pretended prophecy, considering the whole a cunning device -of Taric to increase the courage of his troops. “Doubtless,” says -he, “there was a collusion between this ancient sibyl and the crafty -son of Ishmael; for these infidel leaders were full of damnable -inventions to work upon the superstitious fancies of their followers, -and to inspire them with a blind confidence in the success of their -arms.”</p> - -<p>Be this as it may, the veteran Taric took advantage of the -excitement of his soldiery, and led them forward to gain possession -of a stronghold, which was in a manner the key to all the adjacent -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> country. This was -a lofty mountain or promontory almost surrounded by the sea, and -connected with the main-land by a narrow isthmus. It was called the -rock of Calpe, and, like the opposite rock of Ceuta, commanded the -entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Here, in old times, Hercules -had set up one of his pillars, and the city of Heraclea had been -built.</p> - -<p>As Taric advanced against this promontory, he was opposed by a -hasty levy of the Christians, who had assembled under the banner -of a Gothic noble of great power and importance, whose domains lay -along the mountainous coast of the Mediterranean. The name of this -Christian cavalier was Theodomir, but he has universally been called -Tadmir by the Arabian historians, and is renowned as being the first -commander that made any stand against the inroads of the Moslems. -He was about forty years of age; hardy, prompt, and sagacious; and -had all the Gothic nobles been equally vigilant and shrewd in their -defense, the banner of Islam would never have triumphed over the -land.</p> - -<p>Theodomir had but seventeen hundred men under his command, and -these but rudely armed; yet he made a resolute stand against the -army of Taric, and defended the pass to the promontory with great -valor. He was at length obliged to retreat, and Taric advanced and -planted his standard on the rock of Calpe, and fortified it as -his stronghold, and as the means of securing an entrance into the -land. To commemorate his first victory, he changed the name of the -promontory,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> and -called it Gibel Taric, or the Mountain of Taric, but in process of -time the name has gradually been altered to Gibraltar.</p> - -<p>In the mean time, the patriotic chieftain Theodomir, having -collected his routed forces, encamped with them on the skirts of the -mountains, and summoned the country round to join his standard. He -sent off missives in all speed to the king, imparting in brief and -blunt terms the news of the invasion, and craving assistance with -equal frankness. “Señor,” said he, in his letter, “the legions of -Africa are upon us, but whether they come from heaven or earth I -know not. They seem to have fallen from the clouds, for they have -no ships. We have been taken by surprise, overpowered by numbers, -and obliged to retreat; and they have fortified themselves in our -territory. Send us aid, Señor, with instant speed, or rather, come -yourself to our assistance.”<a id="FNanchor_20" href="#Footnote_20" -class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-10.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Measures of Don Roderick on Hearing of the - Invasion.— Expedition of Ataulpho.— Vision of Taric.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -Don Roderick heard that legions of turbaned troops had poured into -the land from Africa, he called to mind the visions and predictions -of the necromantic tower, and great fear came upon him. But, though -sunk from his former hardihood and virtue, though enervated by -indulgence, and degraded in spirit by a consciousness of crime, he -was resolute of soul, and roused himself to meet the coming danger. -He summoned a hasty levy of horse and foot, amounting to forty -thousand; but now were felt the effects of the crafty counsel of -Count Julian, for the best of the horses and armor intended for -the public service had been sent into Africa, and were really in -possession of the traitors. Many nobles, it is true, took the field -with the sumptuous array with which they had been accustomed to -appear at tournaments and jousts, but most of their vassals were -destitute of weapons, and cased in cuirasses of leather, or suits -of armor almost consumed by rust. They were without discipline or -animation; and their horses, like themselves, pampered by slothful -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> peace, were little -fitted to bear the heat, the dust, and toil of long campaigns.</p> - -<p>This army Don Roderick put under the command of his kinsman Ataulpho, -a prince of the royal blood of the Goths, and of a noble and generous -nature; and he ordered him to march with all speed to meet the foe, -and to recruit his forces on the way with the troops of Theodomir.</p> - -<p>In the mean time, Taric el Tuerto had received large reinforcements -from Africa, and the adherents of Count Julian and all those -discontented with the sway of Don Roderick had flocked to his -standard; for many were deceived by the representations of Count -Julian, and thought that the Arabs had come to aid him in placing the -sons of Witiza upon the throne. Guided by the count, the troops of -Taric penetrated into various parts of the country, and laid waste -the land; bringing back loads of spoil to their stronghold at the -rock of Calpe.</p> - -<p>The Prince Ataulpho marched with his army through Andalusia, -and was joined by Theodomir with his troops; he met with various -detachments of the enemy foraging the country, and had several bloody -skirmishes; but he succeeded in driving them before him, and they -retreated to the rock of Calpe, where Taric lay gathered up with the -main body of his army.</p> - -<p>The prince encamped not far from the bay which spreads itself -out before the promontory. In the evening he dispatched the veteran -Theodomir, with a trumpet, to demand a parley of the Arab chieftain, -who received the envoy in <span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg -66]</span> his tent, surrounded by his captains. Theodomir was frank -and abrupt in speech, for the most of his life had been passed far -from courts. He delivered, in round terms, the message of the Prince -Ataulpho; upbraiding the Arab general with his wanton invasion of -the land, and summoning him to surrender his army or to expect no -mercy.</p> - -<p>The single eye of Taric el Tuerto glowed like a coal of fire -at this message. “Tell your commander,” replied he, “that I have -crossed the strait to conquer Spain, nor will I return until I have -accomplished my purpose. Tell him I have men skilled in war, and -armed in proof, with whose aid I trust soon to give a good account of -his rabble host.”</p> - -<p>A murmur of applause passed through the assemblage of Moslem -captains. Theodomir glanced on them a look of defiance, but his eye -rested on a renegado Christian, one of his own ancient comrades, and -a relation of Count Julian. “As to you, Don Graybeard,” said he, -“you who turn apostate in your declining age, I here pronounce you a -traitor to your God, your king, and country; and stand ready to prove -it this instant upon your body, if field be granted me.”</p> - -<p>The traitor knight was stung with rage at these words, for truth -rendered them piercing to the heart. He would have immediately -answered to the challenge, but Taric forbade it, and ordered that -the Christian envoy should be conducted from the camp. “’Tis well,” -replied Theodomir; “God will give me the field which you deny. Let -yon hoary apostate look to himself to-morrow <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> in the battle, for I pledge myself to -use my lance upon no other foe until it has shed his blood upon -the native soil he has betrayed.” So saying, he left the camp, nor -could the Moslem chieftains help admiring the honest indignation -of this patriot knight, while they secretly despised his renegado -adversary.</p> - -<p>The ancient Moorish chroniclers relate many awful portents and -strange and mysterious visions, which appeared to the commanders -of either army during this anxious night. Certainly it was a night -of fearful suspense, and Moslem and Christian looked forward with -doubt to the fortune of the coming day. The Spanish sentinel walked -his pensive round, listening occasionally to the vague sounds from -the distant rock of Calpe, and eying it as the mariner eyes the -thunder-cloud, pregnant with terror and destruction. The Arabs, -too, from their lofty cliffs, beheld the numerous camp-fires of the -Christians gradually lighted up, and saw that they were a powerful -host; at the same time the night breeze brought to their ears the -sullen roar of the sea which separated them from Africa. When they -considered their perilous situation,—an army on one side, with a -whole nation aroused to reinforce it, and on the other an impassable -sea,—the spirits of many of the warriors were cast down, and they -repented the day when they had ventured into this hostile land.</p> - -<p>Taric marked their despondency, but said nothing. Scarce had the -first streak of morning light trembled along the sea, however, when -he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> summoned his -principal warriors to his tent. “Be of good cheer,” said he; “Allah -is with us and has sent his Prophet to give assurance of his aid. -Scarce had I retired to my tent last night, when a man of a majestic -and venerable presence stood before me. He was taller by a palm than -the ordinary race of men, his flowing beard was of a golden hue, and -his eyes were so bright that they seemed to send forth flashes of -fire. I have heard the Emir Bahamet, and other ancient men, describe -the Prophet, whom they had seen many times while on earth, and such -was his form and lineament. ‘Fear nothing, O Taric, from the morrow,’ -said he; ‘I will be with thee in the fight. Strike boldly, then, -and conquer. Those of thy followers who survive the battle will -have this land for an inheritance; for those who fall a mansion in -Paradise is prepared, and immortal houries await their coming.’ He -spake and vanished; I heard a strain of celestial melody, and my -tent was filled with the odors of Arabia the Happy.” “Such,” say the -Spanish chroniclers, “was another of the arts by which this arch -son of Ishmael sought to animate the hearts of his followers; and -the pretended vision has been recorded by the Arabian writers as a -veritable occurrence. Marvelous, indeed, was the effect produced by -it upon the infidel soldiery, who now cried out with eagerness to be -led against the foe.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-21.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Battle of Calpe.— Fate of Ataulpho.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -gray summits of the rock of Calpe brightened with the first rays of -morning, as the Christian army issued forth from its encampment. -The Prince Ataulpho rode from squadron to squadron, animating his -soldiers for the battle. “Never should we sheathe our swords,” said -he, “while these infidels have a footing in the land. They are -pent up within you rocky mountain; we must assail them in their -rugged hold. We have a long day before us; let not the setting sun -shine upon one of their host who is not a fugitive, a captive, or a -corpse.”</p> - -<p>The words of the prince were received with shouts, and the army -moved towards the promontory. As they advanced, they heard the -clash of cymbals and the bray of trumpets, and the rocky bosom of -the mountain glittered with helms and spears and scimetars; for the -Arabs, inspired with fresh confidence by the words of Taric, were -sallying forth, with flaunting banners, to the combat.</p> - -<p>The gaunt Arab chieftain stood upon a rock as his troops marched -by; his buckler was at his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg -70]</span> back, and he brandished in his hand a double-pointed -spear. Calling upon the several leaders by their names, he exhorted -them to direct their attacks against the Christian captains, and -especially against Ataulpho; “for the chiefs being slain,” said -he, “their followers will vanish from before us like the morning -mist.”</p> - -<p>The Gothic nobles were easily to be distinguished by the splendor of -their arms, but the Prince Ataulpho was conspicuous above all the -rest for the youthful grace and majesty of his appearance and the -bravery of his array. He was mounted on a superb Andalusian charger, -richly caparisoned with crimson velvet, embroidered with gold. His -surcoat was of like color and adornment, and the plumes that waved -above his burnished helmet were of the purest white. Ten mounted -pages, magnificently attired, followed him to the field, but their -duty was not so much to fight as to attend upon their lord, and to -furnish him with steed or weapon.</p> - -<p>The Christian troops, though irregular and undisciplined, were -full of native courage; for the old warrior spirit of their Gothic -sires still glowed in their bosoms. There were two battalions of -infantry, but Ataulpho stationed them in the rear; “for God forbid,” -said he, “that foot-soldiers should have the place of honor in the -battle, when I have so many valiant cavaliers.” As the armies drew -nigh to each other, however, it was discovered that the advance -of the Arabs was composed of infantry. Upon this the cavaliers -checked their steeds, and requested that<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> the foot soldiery might advance and -disperse this losel crew, holding it beneath their dignity to contend -with pedestrian foes. The prince, however, commanded them to charge; -upon which, putting spurs to their steeds, they rushed upon the -foe.</p> - -<p>The Arabs stood the shock manfully, receiving the horses upon -the points of their lances; many of the riders were shot down with -bolts from cross-bows, or stabbed with the poniards of the Moslems. -The cavaliers succeeded, however, in breaking into the midst of the -battalion and throwing it into confusion, cutting down some with -their swords, transpiercing others with their spears, and trampling -many under the hoofs of their horses. At this moment they were -attacked by a band of Spanish horsemen, the recreant partisans of -Count Julian. Their assault bore hard upon their countrymen, who were -disordered by the contest with the foot-soldiers, and many a loyal -Christian knight fell beneath the sword of an unnatural foe.</p> - -<p>The foremost among these recreant warriors was the renegado -cavalier whom Theodomir had challenged in the tent of Taric. He -dealt his blows about him with a powerful arm and with malignant -fury, for nothing is more deadly than the hatred of an apostate. In -the midst of his career he was espied by the hardy Theodomir, who -came spurring to the encounter. “Traitor,” cried he, “I have kept my -vow. This lance has been held sacred from all other foes to make a -passage for thy perjured soul.” The renegade <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> had been renowned for prowess before he -became a traitor to his country, but guilt will sap the courage of -the stoutest heart. When he beheld Theodomir rushing upon him, he -would have turned and fled; pride alone withheld him; and, though an -admirable master of defense, he lost all skill to ward the attack of -his adversary. At the first assault the lance of Theodomir pierced -him through and through; he fell to the earth, gnashed his teeth as -he rolled in the dust, but yielded his breath without uttering a -word.</p> - -<p>The battle now became general, and lasted throughout the morning -with varying success. The stratagem of Taric, however, began to -produce its effect. The Christian leaders and most conspicuous -cavaliers were singled out and severally assailed by overpowering -numbers. They fought desperately, and performed miracles of prowess, -but fell, one by one, beneath a thousand wounds. Still the battle -lingered on throughout a great part of the day, and as the declining -sun shone through the clouds of dust, it seemed as if the conflicting -hosts were wrapped in smoke and fire.</p> - -<p>The Prince Ataulpho saw that the fortune of battle was against -him. He rode about the field, calling out the names of the bravest of -his knights, but few answered to his call; the rest lay mangled on -the field. With this handful of warriors he endeavored to retrieve -the day, when he was assailed by Tenderos, a partisan of Count -Julian, at the head of a body of recreant Christians. At the sight -of this new adversary, fire <span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg -73]</span> flashed from the eyes of the prince, for Tenderos had been -brought up in his father’s palace. “Well dost thou, traitor!” cried -he, “to attack the son of thy lord, who gave thee bread; thou, who -hast betrayed thy country and thy God!”</p> - -<p>So saying, he seized a lance from one of his pages, and charged -furiously upon the apostate; but Tenderos met him in mid career, and -the lance of the prince was shivered upon his shield. Ataulpho then -grasped his mace, which hung at his saddle-bow, and a doubtful fight -ensued. Tenderos was powerful of frame and superior in the use of -his weapons, but the curse of treason seemed to paralyze his arm. He -wounded Ataulpho slightly between the greaves of his armor, but the -prince dealt a blow with his mace that crushed through helm and skull -and reached the brain; and Tenderos fell dead to earth, his armor -rattling as he fell.</p> - -<p>At the same moment, a javelin hurled by an Arab transpierced the -horse of Ataulpho, which sunk beneath him. The prince seized the -reins of the steed of Tenderos, but the faithful animal, as though -he knew him to be the foe of his late lord, reared and plunged and -refused to let him mount. The prince, however, used him as a shield -to ward off the press of foes, while with his sword he defended -himself against those in front of him. Taric ben Zeyad arrived at -the scene of conflict, and paused for a moment in admiration of -the surpassing prowess of the prince; recollecting, however, that -his fall would be a death-blow to his army, he spurred upon him, -and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> wounded -him severely with his scimetar. Before he could repeat his blow, -Theodomir led up a body of Christian cavaliers to the rescue, and -Taric was parted from his prey by the tumult of the fight. The -prince sank to the earth, covered with wounds and exhausted by the -loss of blood. A faithful page drew him from under the hoofs of -the horses, and, aided by a veteran soldier, an ancient vassal of -Ataulpho, conveyed him to a short distance from the scene of battle, -by the side of a small stream that gushed out from among rocks. They -stanched the blood that flowed from his wounds, and washed the dust -from his face, and laid him beside the fountain. The page sat at his -head, and supported it on his knees, and the veteran stood at his -feet, with his brow bent and his eyes full of sorrow. The prince -gradually revived, and opened his eyes. “How fares the battle?” said -he. “The struggle is hard,” replied the soldier, “but the day may yet -be ours.”</p> - -<p>The prince felt that the hour of his death was at hand, and -ordered that they should aid him to rise upon his knees. They -supported him between them, and he prayed fervently for a short time, -when, finding his strength declining, he beckoned the veteran to -sit down beside him on the rock. Continuing to kneel, he confessed -himself to that ancient soldier, having no priest or friar to -perform that office in this hour of extremity. When he had so done, -he sunk again upon the earth and pressed it with his lips, as if he -would take a fond farewell of his beloved country. The page <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> would then have raised -his head, but found that his lord had yielded up the ghost.</p> - -<p>A number of Arab warriors, who came to the fountain to slake -their thirst, cut off the head of the prince, and bore it in triumph -to Taric, crying, “Behold the head of the Christian leader.” Taric -immediately ordered that the head should be put upon the end of a -lance, together with the surcoat of the prince, and borne about the -field of battle, with the sound of trumpets, atabals, and cymbals.</p> - -<p>When the Christians beheld the surcoat, and knew the features of -the prince, they were struck with horror, and heart and hand failed -them. Theodomir endeavored in vain to rally them; they threw by their -weapons and fled; and they continued to fly, and the enemy to pursue -and slay them, until the darkness of the night. The Moslems then -returned and plundered the Christian camp, where they found abundant -spoil.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-13.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Terror of the Country.— Roderick rouses himself - to Arms.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -scattered fugitives of the Christian army spread terror throughout -the land. The inhabitants of the towns and villages gathered around -them as they applied at their gates for food, or laid themselves -down, faint and wounded, beside the public fountains. When they -related the tale of their defeat, old men shook their heads and -groaned, and the women uttered cries and lamentations. So strange and -unlooked-for a calamity filled them with consternation and despair; -for it was long since the alarm of war had sounded in their land, and -this was a warfare that carried chains and slavery, and all kinds of -horrors in its train.</p> - -<p>Don Roderick was seated with his beauteous queen, Exilona, in the -royal palace which crowned the rocky summit of Toledo, when the -bearer of ill tidings came galloping over the bridge of the Tagus. -“What tidings from the army?” demanded the king, as the panting -messenger was brought into his presence. “Tidings of great woe,” -exclaimed the soldier. “The prince has fallen in battle. I saw his -head and surcoat upon a Moorish lance, and the army was overthrown -and fled.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span></p> - -<p>At hearing these words, Roderick covered his face with his hands, -and for some time sat in silence; and all his courtiers stood mute -and aghast, and no one dared to speak a word. In that awful space -of time, passed before his thoughts all his errors and his crimes, -and all the evils that had been predicted in the necromantic tower. -His mind was filled with horror and confusion, for the hour of his -destruction seemed at hand; but he subdued his agitation by his -strong and haughty spirit; and when he uncovered his face, no one -could read on his brow the trouble and agony of his heart. Still -every hour brought fresh tidings of disaster. Messenger after -messenger came spurring into the city, distracting it with new -alarms. The infidels, they said, were strengthening themselves in -the land; host after host were pouring in from Africa; the seaboard -of Andalusia glittered with spears and scimetars. Bands of turbaned -horsemen had overrun the plains of Sidonia, even to the banks of the -Guadiana. Fields were laid waste, towns and cities plundered, the -inhabitants carried into captivity, and the whole country lay in -smoking desolation.</p> - -<p>Roderick heard all these tidings with an undaunted aspect, nor -did he ever again betray sign of consternation; but the anxiety of -his soul was evident in his warlike preparations. He issued orders -that every noble and prelate of his kingdom should put himself at the -head of his retainers and take the field, and that every man capable -of bearing arms should hasten to his standard, bringing whatever -horse and mule and weapon he <span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg -78]</span> possessed; and he appointed the plain of Cordova for -the place where the army was to assemble. Throwing by, then, all -the trappings of his late slothful and voluptuous life, and arming -himself for warlike action, he departed from Toledo at the head of -his guard, composed of the flower of the youthful nobility. His -queen, Exilona, accompanied him, for she craved permission to remain -in one of the cities of Andalusia, that she might be near her lord in -this time of peril.</p> - -<p>Among the first who appeared to hail the arrival of the king at -Cordova, was the Bishop Oppas, the secret partisan of the traitor -Julian. He brought with him his two nephews, Evan and Siseburto, -the sons of the late King Witiza, and a great host of vassals and -retainers, all well armed and appointed; for they had been furnished -by Count Julian with a part of the arms sent by the king to Africa. -The bishop was smooth of tongue and profound in his hypocrisy; his -pretended zeal and devotion, and the horror with which he spoke of -the treachery of his kinsman, imposed upon the credulous spirit -of the king, and he was readily admitted into his most secret -councils.</p> - -<p>The alarm of the infidel invasion had spread throughout the -land, and roused the Gothic valor of the inhabitants. On receiving -the orders of Roderick, every town and hamlet, every mountain and -valley, had sent forth its fighting men, and the whole country was on -the march towards Andalusia. In a little while there were gathered -together, on the plain of Cordova, near fifty thousand <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> horsemen and a countless -host of foot-soldiers. The Gothic nobles appeared in burnished -armor, curiously inlaid and adorned, with chains and jewels of gold, -and ornaments of precious stones, and silken scarfs, and surcoats -of brocade, or velvet richly embroidered; betraying the luxury and -ostentation into which they had declined from the iron hardihood of -their warlike sires. As to the common people, some had lances and -shields and swords and cross-bows, but the greater part were unarmed, -or provided merely with slings, and clubs studded with nails, and -with the iron implements of husbandry; and many had made shields for -themselves from the doors and windows of their habitations. They -were a prodigious host, and appeared, say the Arabian chroniclers, -like an agitated sea; but, though brave in spirit, they possessed no -knowledge of warlike art, and were ineffectual through lack of arms -and discipline.</p> - -<p>Several of the most ancient and experienced cavaliers, beholding the -state of the army, advised Don Roderick to await the arrival of more -regular troops, which were stationed in Iberia, Cantabria, and Gallia -Gothica; but this counsel was strenuously opposed by the Bishop -Oppas; who urged the king to march immediately against the infidels. -“As yet,” said he, “their number is but limited; but every day new -hosts arrive, like flocks of locusts, from Africa. They will augment -faster than we; they are living, too, at our expense, and while we -pause, both armies are consuming the substance of the land.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> - -<p>King Roderick listened to the crafty counsel of the bishop, and -determined to advance without delay. He mounted his war-horse Orelia, -and rode among his troops assembled on that spacious plain, and -wherever he appeared he was received with acclamations; for nothing -so arouses the spirit of the soldier as to behold his sovereign in -arms. He addressed them in words calculated to touch their hearts and -animate their courage. “The Saracens,” said he, “are ravaging our -land, and their object is our conquest. Should they prevail, your -very existence as a nation is at an end. They will overturn your -altars, trample on the cross, lay waste your cities, carry off your -wives and daughters, and doom yourselves and sons to hard and cruel -slavery. No safety remains for you but in the prowess of your arms. -For my own part, as I am your king, so will I be your leader, and -will be the foremost to encounter every toil and danger.”</p> - -<p>The soldiery answered their monarch with loud acclamations, and -solemnly pledged themselves to fight to the last gasp in defense of -their country and their faith. The king then arranged the order of -their march; all those who were armed with cuirasses and coats of -mail were placed in the front and rear; the centre of the army was -composed of a promiscuous throng, without body-armor and but scantily -provided with weapons.</p> - -<p>When they were about to march, the king called to him a noble -cavalier named Ramiro, and, delivering him the royal standard, -charged him to guard it well for the honor of Spain; <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> scarcely, however, had -the good knight received it in his hand, when he fell dead from -his horse, and the staff of the standard was broken in twain. Many -ancient courtiers who were present looked upon this as an evil omen, -and counseled the king not to set forward on his march that day; -but, disregarding all auguries and portents, he ordered the royal -banner to be put upon a lance, and gave it in charge of another -standard-bearer; then commanding the trumpets to be sounded, he -departed at the head of his host to seek the enemy.</p> - -<p>The field where this great army assembled was called, -from the solemn pledge given by the nobles and the soldiers, -<i>El campo de la verdad</i>; or, The Field of Truth—a name, says -the sage chronicler Abulcasim, which it bears even to the -present day.<a id="FNanchor_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21" -class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-18.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> - <p class="subhang">March of the Gothic Army.— Encampment on - the Banks of the Guadalete.— Mysterious Predictions of a - Palmer.— Conduct of Pelistes thereupon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -hopes of Andalusia revived as this mighty host stretched in -lengthening lines along its fertile plains; from morn until night it -continued to pour along, with sound of drum and trumpet; it was led -on by the proudest nobles and bravest cavaliers of the land, and, had -it possessed arms and discipline, might have undertaken the conquest -of the world.</p> - -<p>After a few days’ march, Don Roderick arrived in sight of -the Moslem army, encamped on the banks of the Guadalete,<a -id="FNanchor_22" href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> where -that beautiful stream winds through the fertile land of Xeres. The -infidel host was far inferior in number to the Christians, but then -it was composed of hardy and dexterous troops, seasoned to war and -admirably armed. The camp shone gloriously in the setting sun, and -resounded with the clash of cymbal, the note of the trumpet, and the -neighing of fiery Arabian steeds. There were swarthy troops from -every nation of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span> -African coast, together with legions from Syria and Egypt, while the -light Bedouins were careering about the adjacent plain. What grieved -and incensed the spirits of the Christian warriors, however, was to -behold, a little apart from the Moslem host, an encampment of Spanish -cavaliers, with the banner of Count Julian waving above their tents. -They were ten thousand in number, valiant and hardy men, the most -experienced of Spanish soldiery, most of them having served in the -African wars; they were well armed and appointed, also, with the -weapons of which the count had beguiled his sovereign; and it was a -grievous sight to behold such good soldiers arrayed against their -country and their faith.</p> - -<p>The Christians pitched their tents about the hour of vespers, at -a short league distant from the enemy, and remained gazing with -anxiety and awe upon this barbaric host that had caused such terror -and desolation in the land; for the first sight of a hostile -encampment in a country disused to war is terrible to the newly -enlisted soldier. A marvelous occurrence is recorded by the Arabian -chroniclers as having taken place in the Christian camp; but discreet -Spanish writers relate it with much modification, and consider it -a stratagem of the wily Bishop Oppas, to sound the loyalty of the -Christian cavaliers.</p> - -<p>As several leaders of the army were seated with the bishop in his -tent, conversing on the dubious fortunes of the approaching contest, -an ancient pilgrim appeared at the entrance. He<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> was bowed down with years, his snowy -beard descended to his girdle, and he supported his tottering steps -with a palmer’s staff. The cavaliers rose and received him with -great reverence as he advanced within the tent. Holding up his -withered hand, “Woe, woe to Spain!” exclaimed he, “for the vial of -the wrath of Heaven is about to be poured out. Listen, warriors, and -take warning. Four months since, having performed my pilgrimage to -the sepulchre of our Lord in Palestine, I was on my return towards -my native land. Wearied and wayworn, I lay down one night to sleep -beneath a palm-tree, by the side of a fountain, when I was awakened -by a voice saying unto me, in soft accents, ‘Son of sorrow, why -sleepest thou?’ I opened my eyes, and beheld one of a fair and -beauteous countenance, in shining apparel, and with glorious wings, -standing by the fountain; and I said, ‘Who art thou who callest upon -me in this deep hour of the night?’</p> - -<p>“‘Fear not,’ replied the stranger; ‘I am an angel from heaven, -sent to reveal unto thee the fate of thy country. Behold, the sins of -Roderick have come up before God, and his anger is kindled against -him, and He has given him up to be invaded and destroyed. Hasten then -to Spain, and seek the camp of thy countrymen. Warn them that such -only shall be saved as shall abandon Roderick; but those who adhere -to him shall share his punishment, and shall fall under the sword of -the invader.’”</p> - -<p>The pilgrim ceased, and passed forth from the<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> tent; certain of the -cavaliers followed him to detain him, that they might converse -further with him about these matters, but he was nowhere to be found. -The sentinel before the tent said, “I saw no one come forth, but it -was as if a blast of wind passed by me, and there was a rustling as -of dry leaves.”</p> - -<p>The cavaliers remained looking upon each other with astonishment. -The Bishop Oppas sat with his eyes fixed upon the ground, and -shadowed by his overhanging brow. At length, breaking silence, in a -low and faltering voice, “Doubtless,” said he, “this message is from -God; and since He has taken compassion upon us, and given us notice -of his impending judgment, it behooves us to hold grave council, -and determine how best we may accomplish his will and avert his -displeasure.”</p> - -<p>The chiefs still remained silent, as men confounded. Among them -was a veteran noble named Pelistes. He had distinguished himself -in the African wars, fighting side by side with Count Julian; but -the latter had never dared to tamper with his faith, for he knew -his stern integrity. Pelistes had brought with him to the camp his -only son, who had never drawn a sword except in tourney. When the -young man saw that the veterans held their peace, the blood mantled -in his cheek, and, overcoming his modesty, he broke forth with a -generous warmth: “I know not, cavaliers,” said he, “what is passing -in your minds, but I believe this pilgrim<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> to be an envoy from the devil; for none -else could have given such dastard and perfidious counsel. For my -own part, I stand ready to defend my king, my country, and my faith; -I know no higher duty than this, and if God thinks fit to strike me -dead in the performance of it, his sovereign will be done!”</p> - -<p>When the young man had risen to speak, his father had fixed -his eyes upon him with a grave and stern demeanor, leaning upon -a two-handed sword. As soon as the youth had finished, Pelistes -embraced him with a father’s fondness. “Thou hast spoken well, my -son,” said he; “if I held my peace at the counsel of this losel -pilgrim, it was but to hear thy opinion, and to learn whether thou -wert worthy of thy lineage and of the training I had given thee. -Hadst thou counseled otherwise than thou hast done,—hadst thou shown -thyself craven and disloyal,—so help me God, I would have struck off -thy head with this weapon which I hold in my hand. But thou hast -counseled like a loyal and a Christian knight, and I thank God for -having given me a son worthy to perpetuate the honors of my line. -As to this pilgrim, be he saint or be he devil, I care not; this -much I promise, that if I am to die in defense of my country and my -king, my life shall be a costly purchase to the foe. Let each man -make the same resolve, and I trust we shall yet prove the pilgrim -a lying prophet.” The words of Pelistes roused the spirits of many -of the cavaliers; others, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg -87]</span> however, remained full of anxious foreboding; and when -this fearful prophecy was rumored about the camp, as it presently was -by the emissaries of the bishop, it spread awe and dismay among the -soldiery.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Skirmishing of the Armies.— Pelistes and - his Son.— Pelistes and the Bishop.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-o.png" alt="Illustrated O" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">On the</span> -following day the two armies remained regarding each other with wary -but menacing aspect. About noontide King Roderick sent forth a chosen -force of five hundred horse and two hundred foot, the best armed of -his host, to skirmish with the enemy, that, by gaining some partial -advantage, they might raise the spirits of the army. They were led -on by Theodomir, the same Gothic noble who had signalized himself by -first opposing the invasion of the Moslems.</p> - -<p>The Christian squadrons paraded with flying pennons in the valley -which lay between the armies. The Arabs were not slow in answering -their defiance. A large body of horsemen sallied forth to the -encounter, together with three hundred of the followers of Count -Julian. There was hot skirmishing about the field and on the banks -of the river; many gallant feats were displayed on either side, -and many valiant warriors were slain. As the night closed in, the -trumpets from either camp summoned the troops to retire from the -combat. In this day’s action the Christians suffered greatly in the -loss of their distinguished <span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg -89]</span> cavaliers; for it is the noblest spirits who venture -most, and lay themselves open to danger; and the Moslem soldiers -had instructions to single out the leaders of the adverse host. All -this is said to have been devised by the perfidious Bishop Oppas, -who had secret communications with the enemy, while he influenced -the councils of the king; and who trusted that by this skirmishing -warfare the flower of the Christian troops would be cut off, and the -rest disheartened.</p> - -<p>On the following morning a larger force was ordered out to -skirmish, and such of the soldiery as were unarmed were commanded to -stand ready to seize the horses and strip off the armor of the killed -and wounded. Among the most illustrious of the warriors who fought -that day was Pelistes, the Gothic noble who had so sternly checked -the tongue of the Bishop Oppas. He led to the field a large body of -his own vassals and retainers, and of cavaliers trained up in his -house, who had followed him to the wars in Africa, and who looked up -to him more as a father than a chieftain. Beside him was his only -son, who now for the first time was fleshing his sword in battle. The -conflict that day was more general and bloody than the day preceding; -the slaughter of the Christian warriors was immense, from their -lack of defensive armor; and as nothing could prevent the flower -of the Gothic chivalry from spurring to the combat, the field was -strewed with the bodies of the youthful nobles. None suffered more, -however, than the warriors of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg -90]</span> Pelistes. Their leader himself was bold and hardy, and -prone to expose himself to danger; but years and experience had -moderated his early fire; his son, however, was eager to distinguish -himself in this, his first essay, and rushed with impetuous ardor -into the hottest of the battle. In vain his father called to caution -him; he was ever in the advance, and seemed unconscious of the perils -that surrounded him. The cavaliers and vassals of his father followed -him with devoted zeal, and many of them paid for their loyalty with -their lives. When the trumpets sounded in the evening for retreat, -the troops of Pelistes were the last to reach the camp. They came -slowly and mournfully, and much decreased in number. Their veteran -commander was seated on his war-horse, but the blood trickled from -the greaves of his armor. His valiant son was borne on the shields -of his vassals; when they laid him on the earth near to where the -king was standing, they found that the heroic youth had expired of -his wounds. The cavaliers surrounded the body, and gave utterance to -their grief, but the father restrained his agony, and looked on with -the stern resignation of a soldier.</p> - -<p>Don Roderick surveyed the field of battle with a rueful eye, -for it was covered with the mangled bodies of his most illustrious -warriors; he saw, too, with anxiety, that the common people, unused -to war and unsustained by discipline, were harassed by incessant -toils and dangers, and were cooling in their zeal and courage.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> - -<p>The crafty Bishop Oppas marked the internal trouble of the king, -and thought a favorable moment had arrived to sway him to his -purpose. He called to his mind the various portents and prophecies -which had forerun their present danger. “Let not my lord the king,” -said he, “make light of these mysterious revelations, which appear -to be so disastrously fulfilling. The hand of Heaven appears to be -against us. Destruction is impending over our heads. Our troops -are rude and unskillful, but slightly armed, and much cast down in -spirit. Better is it that we should make a treaty with the enemy, -and by granting part of his demands, prevent the utter ruin of our -country. If such counsel be acceptable to my lord the king, I stand -ready to depart upon an embassy to the Moslem camp.”</p> - -<p>Upon hearing these words, Pelistes, who had stood in mournful -silence, regarding the dead body of his son, burst forth with honest -indignation. “By this good sword,” said he, “the man who yields such -dastard counsel deserves death from the hand of his countrymen rather -than from the foe; and, were it not for the presence of the king, may -I forfeit salvation if I would not strike him dead upon the spot.”</p> - -<p>The bishop turned an eye of venom upon Pelistes. “My lord,” said -he, “I, too, bear a weapon, and know how to wield it. Were the king -not present you would not dare to menace, nor should you advance one -step without my hastening to meet you.”</p> - -<p>The king interposed between the jarring nobles,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span> and rebuked the -impetuosity of Pelistes, but at the same time rejected the counsel of -the bishop. “The event of this conflict,” said he, “is in the hand of -God; but never shall my sword return to its scabbard while an infidel -invader remains within the land.”</p> - -<p>He then held a council with his captains, and it was determined -to offer the enemy general battle on the following day. A -herald was dispatched defying Taric ben Zeyad to the contest, -and the defiance was gladly accepted by the Moslem chieftain.<a -id="FNanchor_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> -Don Roderick then formed the plan of action, and assigned to each -commander his several station, after which he dismissed his officers, -and each one sought his tent, to prepare by diligence or repose for -the next day’s eventful contest.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-1.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Traitorous Message of Count Julian.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">Taric Ben Zeyad</span> -had been surprised by the valor of the Christian cavaliers in the -recent battles, and at the number and apparent devotion of the troops -which accompanied the king to the field. The confident defiance of -Don Roderick increased his surprise. When the herald had retired, he -turned an eye of suspicion on Count Julian. “Thou hast represented -thy countrymen,” said he, “as sunk in effeminacy and lost to all -generous impulse; yet I find them fighting with the courage and the -strength of lions. Thou hast represented thy king as detested by his -subjects and surrounded by secret treason; but I behold his tents -whitening the hills and dales, while thousands are hourly flocking to -his standard. Woe unto thee if thou hast dealt deceitfully with us, -or betrayed us with guileful words.”</p> - -<p>Don Julian retired to his tent in great trouble of mind, and fear -came upon him that the Bishop Oppas might play him false; for it is -the lot of traitors ever to distrust each other. He called to him the -same page who had brought him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg -94]</span> the letter from Florinda, revealing the story of her -dishonor.</p> - -<p>“Thou knowest, my trusty page,” said he, “that I have reared thee -in my household, and cherished thee above all thy companions. If thou -hast loyalty and affection for thy lord, now is the time to serve -him. Hie thee to the Christian camp, and find thy way to the tent -of the Bishop Oppas. If any one ask thee who thou art, tell them -thou art of the household of the bishop, and bearer of missives from -Cordova. When thou art admitted to the presence of the bishop, show -him this ring, and he will commune with thee in secret. Then tell him -Count Julian greets him as a brother, and demands how the wrongs of -his daughter Florinda are to be redressed. Mark well his reply, and -bring it word for word. Have thy lips closed, but thine eyes and ears -open; and observe everything of note in the camp of the king. So, -speed thee on thy errand—away, away!”</p> - -<p>The page hastened to saddle a Barbary steed, fleet as the wind, -and of a jet black color, so as not to be easily discernible in the -night. He girded on a sword and dagger, slung an Arab bow with a -quiver of arrows at his side, and a buckler at his shoulder. Issuing -out of the camp, he sought the banks of the Guadalete, and proceeded -silently along its stream, which reflected the distant fires of -the Christian camp. As he passed by the place which had been the -scene of the recent conflict, he heard from time to time the groan -of some expiring warrior who had crawled<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> among the reeds on the margin of the -river, and sometimes his steed stepped cautiously over the mangled -bodies of the slain. The young page was unused to the sights of war, -and his heart beat quick within him. He was hailed by the sentinels -as he approached the Christian camp, and, on giving the reply -taught him by Count Julian, was conducted to the tent of the Bishop -Oppas.</p> - -<p>The bishop had not yet retired to his couch. When he beheld the -ring of Count Julian, and heard the words of his message, he saw that -the page was one in whom he might confide. “Hasten back to thy lord,” -said he, “and tell him to have faith in me and all shall go well. As -yet I have kept my troops out of the combat. They are all fresh, well -armed, and well appointed. The king has confided to myself, aided by -the princes Evan and Siseburto, the command of a wing of the army. -To-morrow, at the hour of noon, when both armies are in the heat of -action, we will pass over with our forces to the Moslems. But I claim -the compact made with Taric ben Zeyad, that my nephews be placed in -dominion over Spain, and tributary only to the Caliph of Damascus.” -With this traitorous message the page departed. He led his black -steed by the bridle, to present less mark for observation, as he went -stumbling along near the expiring fires of the camp. On passing the -last outpost, where the guards were half slumbering on their arms, he -was overheard and summoned, but leaped lightly into the saddle and -put spurs to his steed. An<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg -96]</span> arrow whistled by his ear, and two more stuck in the -target which he had thrown upon his back. The clatter of swift hoofs -echoed behind him, but he had learnt of the Arabs to fight and fly. -Plucking a shaft from his quiver, and turning and rising in the -stirrups as his courser galloped at fall speed, he drew the arrow to -the head and launched it at his pursuer. The twang of the bow-string -was followed by the crash of armor, and a deep groan, as the horseman -tumbled to the earth. The page pursued his course without further -molestation, and arrived at the Moslem camp before the break of -day.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-8.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Last Day of the Battle.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti0"><span class="smcap">A light</span> -had burned throughout the night in the tent of the king, and anxious -thoughts and dismal visions troubled his repose. If he fell into -a slumber, he beheld in his dreams the shadowy phantoms of the -necromantic tower, or the injured Florinda, pale and disheveled, -imprecating the vengeance of Heaven upon his head. In the mid-watches -of the night, when all was silent except the footstep of the -sentinel pacing before his tent, the king rose from his couch, and -walking forth, looked thoughtfully upon the martial scene before -him. The pale crescent of the moon hung over the Moorish camp, and -dimly lighted up the windings of the Guadalete. The heart of the -king was heavy and oppressed; but he felt only for himself, says -Antonio Agapida; he thought nothing of the perils impending over -the thousands of devoted subjects in the camp below him; sleeping, -as it were, on the margin of their graves. The faint clatter of -distant hoofs, as if in rapid flight, reached the monarch’s ear, but -the horsemen were not to be descried. At that very hour, and along -the shadowy banks of that river, here and there gleaming with the -scanty moonlight, passed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg -98]</span> fugitive messenger of Count Julian, with the plan of the -next day’s treason.</p> - -<p>The day had not yet dawned when the sleepless and impatient -monarch summoned his attendants and arrayed himself for the field. -He then sent for the venerable Bishop Urbino, who had accompanied -him to the camp, and, laying aside his regal crown, he knelt -with head uncovered, and confessed his sins before the holy man. -After this a solemn mass was performed in the royal tent, and the -eucharist administered to the monarch. When these ceremonies were -concluded, he besought the archbishop to depart forthwith for -Cordova, there to await the issue of the battle, and to be ready to -bring forward reinforcements and supplies. The archbishop saddled -his mule and departed just as the faint blush of morning began to -kindle in the east. Already the camp resounded with the thrilling -call of the trumpet, the clank of armor, and the tramp and neigh of -steeds. As the archbishop passed through the camp, he looked with a -compassionate heart on this vast multitude, of whom so many were soon -to perish. The warriors pressed to kiss his hand, and many a cavalier -full of youth and fire received his benediction, who was to lie stiff -and cold before the evening.</p> - -<p>When the troops were marshaled for the field, Don Roderick -prepared to sally forth in the state and pomp with which the Gothic -kings were wont to go to battle. He was arrayed in robes of gold -brocade; his sandals were embroidered with pearls and diamonds; he -had a sceptre in his hand, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg -99]</span> he wore a regal crown resplendent with inestimable -jewels. Thus gorgeously appareled, he ascended a lofty chariot of -ivory, the axle-trees of which were of silver, and the wheels and -pole covered with plates of burnished gold. Above his head was -a canopy of cloth of gold, embossed with armorial devices, and -studded with precious stones.<a id="FNanchor_24" href="#Footnote_24" -class="fnanchor">[24]</a> This sumptuous chariot was drawn by -milk-white horses, with caparisons of crimson velvet, embroidered -with pearls. A thousand youthful cavaliers surrounded the car, all of -the noblest blood and bravest spirit; all knighted by the king’s own -hand, and sworn to defend him to the last.</p> - -<p>When Roderick issued forth in this resplendent state, says an -Arabian writer, surrounded by his guards in gilded armor and waving -plumes and scarfs and surcoats of a thousand dyes, it was as if the -sun were emerging in the dazzling chariot of the day from amidst the -glorious clouds of morning.</p> - -<p>As the royal car rolled along in front of the squadrons, the -soldiers shouted with admiration. Don Roderick waved his sceptre and -addressed them from his lofty throne, reminding them of the horror -and desolation which had already been spread through the land by the -invaders. He called upon them to summon up the ancient valor of their -race, and avenge the blood of their brethren. “One day of glorious -fighting,” said he, “and this infidel horde will be driven into the -sea or will perish beneath your swords. Forward<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> bravely to the fight; your families are -behind you praying for your success; the invaders of your country are -before you; God is above to bless his holy cause, and your king leads -you to the field.” The army shouted with one accord, “Forward to the -foe, and death be his portion who shuns the encounter!”</p> - -<p>The rising sun began to shine along the glistening waters of the -Guadalete as the Moorish army, squadron after squadron, came sweeping -down a gentle declivity to the sound of martial music. Their turbans -and robes, of various dyes and fashions, gave a splendid appearance -to their host; as they marched, a cloud of dust arose and partly hid -them from the sight, but still there would break forth flashes of -steel and gleams of burnished gold, like rays of vivid lightning; -while the sound of drum and trumpet, and the clash of Moorish cymbal, -were as the warlike thunder within that stormy cloud of battle.</p> - -<p>As the armies drew near each other, the sun disappeared among -gathering clouds, and the gloom of the day was increased by the -columns of dust which rose from either host. At length the trumpets -sounded for the encounter. The battle commenced with showers of -arrows, stones, and javelins. The Christian foot-soldiers fought to -disadvantage, the greater part being destitute of helm or buckler. A -battalion of light Arabian horsemen, led by a Greek renegado named -Maguel el Rumi, careered in front of the Christian line, launching -their darts, and then wheeling off beyond the reach of the missiles -hurled<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> after -them. Theodomir now brought up his seasoned troops into the action, -seconded by the veteran Pelistes, and in a little while the battle -became furious and promiscuous. It was glorious to behold the old -Gothic valor shining forth in this hour of fearful trial. Wherever -the Moslems fell, the Christians rushed forward, seized upon their -horses, and stripped them of their armor and their weapons. They -fought desperately and successfully, for they fought for their -country and their faith. The battle raged for several hours; the -field was strewn with slain, and the Moors, overcome by the multitude -and fury of their foes, began to falter.</p> - -<p>When Taric beheld his troops retreating before the enemy, he -threw himself before them, and, rising in his stirrups, “O Moslems! -conquerors of Africa!” cried he, “whither would you fly? The sea is -behind you, the enemy before; you have no hope but in your valor and -the help of God! Do as I do, and the day is ours!”</p> - -<p>With these words he put spurs to his horse and sprung among the -enemy, striking to right and left, cutting down and destroying, while -his steed, fierce as himself, trampled upon the foot-soldiers, and -tore them with his teeth. At this moment a mighty shout arose in -various parts of the field; the noontide hour had arrived. The Bishop -Oppas, with the two princes, who had hitherto kept their bands out of -the fight, suddenly went over to the enemy, and turned their weapons -upon their astonished countrymen. From that moment the fortune of the -day was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> changed, -and the field of battle became a scene of wild confusion and bloody -massacre. The Christians knew not whom to contend with, or whom to -trust. It seemed as if madness had seized upon their friends and -kinsmen, and that their worst enemies were among themselves.</p> - -<p>The courage of Don Roderick rose with his danger. Throwing off the -cumbrous robes of royalty, and descending from his car, he sprang -upon his steed Orelia, grasped his lance and buckler, and endeavored -to rally his retreating troops. He was surrounded and assailed by a -multitude of his own traitorous subjects, but defended himself with -wondrous prowess. The enemy thickened around him; his loyal band of -cavaliers were slain, bravely fighting in his defense; the last that -was seen of the king was in the midst of the enemy, dealing death at -every blow.</p> - -<p>A complete panic fell upon the Christians; they threw away their -arms and fled in all directions. They were pursued with dreadful -slaughter, until the darkness of the night rendered it impossible -to distinguish friend from foe. Taric then called off his troops -from the pursuit, and took possession of the royal camp; and the -couch which had been pressed so uneasily on the preceding night -by Don Roderick, now yielded sound repose to his conqueror.<a -id="FNanchor_25" href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-3.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">The Field of Battle after the Defeat.— The - Fate of Roderick.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-o.png" alt="Illustrated O" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">On the</span> -morning after the battle, the Arab leader, Taric ben Zeyad, rode -over the bloody field of the Guadalete, strewed with the ruins of -those splendid armies which had so lately passed like glorious -pageants along the river banks. There Moor and Christian, horseman -and horse, lay gashed with hideous wounds; and the river, still red -with blood, was filled with the bodies of the slain. The gaunt Arab -was as a wolf roaming through the fold he had laid waste. On every -side his eye reveled on the ruin of the country, on the wrecks of -haughty Spain. There lay the flower of her youthful chivalry, mangled -and destroyed, and the strength of her yeomanry prostrated in the -dust. The Gothic noble lay confounded with his vassals, the peasant -with the prince—all ranks and dignities were mingled in one bloody -massacre.</p> - -<p>When Taric had surveyed the field, he caused the spoils of the -dead and the plunder of the camp to be brought before him. The booty -was immense. There were massy chains and rare jewels of gold, pearls -and precious stones, rich<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg -104]</span> silks and brocades, and all other luxurious decorations -in which the Gothic nobles had indulged in the latter times of their -degeneracy. A vast amount of treasure was likewise found, which had -been brought by Roderick for the expenses of the war.</p> - -<p>Taric then ordered that the bodies of the Moslem warriors should -be interred; as for those of the Christians, they were gathered -in heaps, and vast pyres of wood were formed, on which they were -consumed. The flames of these pyres rose high in the air, and were -seen afar off in the night; and when the Christians beheld them from -the neighboring hills, they beat their breasts and tore their hair, -and lamented over them as over the funeral fires of their country. -The carnage of that battle infected the air for two whole months, and -bones were seen lying in heaps upon the field for more than forty -years; nay, when ages had passed and gone, the husbandman, turning up -the soil, would still find fragments of Gothic cuirasses and helms, -and Moorish scimetars, the relics of that dreadful fight.</p> - -<p>For three days the Arabian horsemen pursued the flying Christians, -hunting them over the face of the country, so that but a scanty -number of that mighty host escaped to tell the tale of their -disaster.</p> - -<p>Taric ben Zeyad considered his victory incomplete so long as the -Gothic monarch survived; he proclaimed great rewards, therefore, -to whomsoever should bring Roderick to him, dead or alive.<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span> A diligent search was -accordingly made in every direction, but for a long time in vain; at -length a soldier brought to Taric the head of a Christian warrior, -on which was a cap decorated with feathers and precious stones. The -Arab leader received it as the head of the unfortunate Roderick, and -sent it, as a trophy of his victory, to Muza ben Nosier, who, in -like manner, transmitted it to the Caliph at Damascus. The Spanish -historians, however, have always denied its identity.</p> - -<p>A mystery has ever hung, and ever must continue to hang, over the -fate of King Roderick, in that dark and doleful day of Spain. Whether -he went down amidst the storm of battle, and atoned for his sins -and errors by a patriot grave, or whether he survived to repent of -them in hermit exile, must remain matter of conjecture and dispute. -The learned Archbishop Rodrigo, who has recorded the events of this -disastrous field, affirms that Roderick fell beneath the vengeful -blade of the traitor Julian, and thus expiated with his blood his -crime against the hapless Florinda; but the archbishop stands alone -in his record of the fact. It seems generally admitted that Orelia, -the favorite war-horse of Don Roderick, was found entangled in a -marsh on the borders of the Guadalete, with the sandals and mantle -and royal insignia of the king lying close by him. The river at -this place ran broad and deep, and was encumbered with the dead -bodies of warriors and steeds; it has been supposed, therefore, that -he perished in the stream; but his body was not found within its -waters.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span></p> - -<p>When several years had passed away, and men’s minds, being -restored to some degree of tranquillity, began to occupy themselves -about the events of this dismal day, a rumor arose that Roderick -had escaped from the carnage on the banks of the Guadalete, and was -still alive. It was said that having from a rising ground caught a -view of the whole field of battle, and seen that the day was lost, -and his army flying in all directions, he likewise sought his safety -in flight. It is added that the Arab horsemen, while scouring the -mountains in quest of fugitives, found a shepherd arrayed in the -royal robes, and brought him before the conqueror, believing him -to be the king himself. Count Julian soon dispelled the error. On -being questioned, the trembling rustic declared that while tending -his sheep in the folds of the mountains, there came a cavalier on -a horse wearied and spent and ready to sink beneath the spur. That -the cavalier with an authoritative voice and menacing air commanded -him to exchange garments with him, and clad himself in his rude -garb of sheep-skin, and took his crook and his scrip of provisions, -and continued up the rugged defiles of the mountains leading -towards Castile, until he was lost to view.<a id="FNanchor_26" -href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> - -<p>This tradition was fondly cherished by many, who clung to the -belief in the existence of their monarch as their main hope for the -redemption of Spain. It was even affirmed that he had taken refuge, -with many of his host, in an island of the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> “Ocean sea,” from whence he might yet -return once more to elevate his standard, and battle for the recovery -of his throne.</p> - -<p>Year after year, however, elapsed, and nothing was heard of Don -Roderick; yet, like Sebastian of Portugal and Arthur of England, his -name continued to be a rallying-point for popular faith, and the -mystery of his end to give rise to romantic fables. At length, when -generation after generation had sunk into the grave, and near two -centuries had passed and gone, traces were said to be discovered that -threw a light on the final fortunes of the unfortunate Roderick. At -that time Don Alphonso the Great, king of Leon, had wrested the city -of Viseo in Lusitania from the hands of the Moslems. As his soldiers -were ranging about the city and its environs, one of them discovered -in a field, outside of the walls, a small chapel or hermitage, with -a sepulchre in front, on which was inscribed this epitaph in Gothic -characters:—</p> - -<p class="centra" lang="la"> -HIC REQUIESCIT RUDERICUS,<br /> -ULTIMUS REX GOTHORUM.<a id="FNanchor_27" href="#Footnote_27" -class="fnanchor">[27]</a> -</p> - -<p class="p1">It has been believed by many that this was the -veritable tomb of the monarch, and that in this hermitage he -had finished his days in solitary penance. The warrior, as he -contemplated the supposed tomb of the once haughty Roderick, -forgot all his faults and errors, and shed a soldier’s tear<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span> over his memory; but -when his thoughts turned to Count Julian, his patriotic indignation -broke forth, and with his dagger he inscribed a rude malediction on -the stone.</p> - -<p>“Accursed,” said he, “be the impious and headlong vengeance of the -traitor Julian. He was a murderer of his king, a destroyer of his -kindred, a betrayer of his country. May his name be bitter in every -mouth, and his memory infamous to all generations.”</p> - -<p>Here ends the legend of Don Roderick.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOREGOING LEGEND.</h2> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<h3 id="Page_108a">THE TOMB OF RODERICK.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> venerable Sebastiano, Bishop of -Salamanca, declares that the inscription on the tomb at Viseo in -Portugal existed in his time, and that he had seen it. A particular -account of the exile and hermit life of Roderick is furnished by -Berganza, on the authority of Portuguese chronicles.</p> - -<p lang="es">“Algunos historiadores Portugueses asseguran, que el Rey -Rodrigo, perdida la battalla, huyo a tierra de Merida, y se recogio -en el monasterio de Cauliniano, en donde, arrepentido de sus culpas, -procuro confessarlas con muchas lagrimas. Deseando mas retiro,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span> y escogiendo por -compañero a un monge llamado Roman, y elevando la Imagen de Nazareth, -que Cyriaco monge de nacion griego avra traido de Jerusalem al -monasterio de Cauliniano, se subio á un monte muy aspero, que estaba -sobre el mar, junto al lugar de Pederneyra. Vivio Rodrigo en compania -de el monge en el hueco de una gruta por espacio de un año; despues -se passo á la ermita de san Miguel, que estaba cerca de Viseo, en -donde murio y fue sepultado.</p> - -<p lang="es">“Puedese ver esta relacion en las notas de Don Thomas -Tamayo sobre Paulo deacano. El chronicon de san Millan, que llega -hasta el año 883, deze que, hasta su tiempo, si ignora el fin -del Rey Rodrigo. Pocos años despues el Rey Don Alonzo el Magno, -aviéndo ganado la ciudad de Viseo, encontro en una iglesia el -epitafio que en romance dize—aqui yaze, Rodrigo, ultimo Rey de los -Godos.”—<i>Berganza</i>, L. i. c. 13.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<h3 id="Page_109a">THE CAVE OF HERCULES.</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">As the</span> story of the necromantic tower -is one of the most famous as well as least credible points in the -history of Don Roderick, it may be well to fortify or buttress -it by some account of another marvel of the city of Toledo. This -ancient city, which dates its existence almost from the time of -the flood, claiming as its founder Tubal, the son of Japhet, and -grandson of Noah,<a id="FNanchor_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28" -class="fnanchor">[28]</a> has been the warrior hold of many -generations and a strange diversity of races. It bears traces of -the artifices and devices of its various occupants, and is full -of mysteries and subjects<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg -110]</span> for antiquarian conjecture and perplexity. It is built -upon a high rocky promontory, with the Tagus brawling round its -base, and is overlooked by cragged and precipitous hills. These -hills abound with clefts and caverns; and the promontory itself, on -which the city is built, bears traces of vaults and subterraneous -habitations, which are occasionally discovered under the ruins of -ancient houses, or beneath the churches and convents.</p> - -<p>These are supposed by some to have been the habitations or -retreats of the primitive inhabitants; for it was the custom of the -ancients, according to Pliny, to make caves in high and rocky places, -and live in them through fear of floods; and such a precaution, says -the worthy Don Pedro de Roxas, in his history of Toledo, was natural -enough among the first Toledans, seeing that they founded their city -shortly after the deluge, while the memory of it was still fresh in -their minds.</p> - -<p>Some have supposed these secret caves and vaults to have been -places of concealment of the inhabitants and their treasure during -times of war and violence; or rude temples for the performance of -religious ceremonies in times of persecution. There are not wanting -other, and grave writers, who give them a still darker purpose. In -these caves, say they, were taught the diabolical mysteries of magic; -and here were performed those infernal ceremonies and incantations -horrible in the eyes of God and man. “History,” says the worthy -Don Pedro de Roxas, “is full of accounts that the magi taught and -performed their magic and their superstitious rites in profound caves -and secret places; because as this art of the devil was prohibited -from the very origin of Christianity, they always sought for hidden -places in which to practice it.” In the time of the Moors<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span> this art, we are told, -was publicly taught at their universities, the same as astronomy, -philosophy, and mathematics, and at no place was it cultivated with -more success than at Toledo. Hence this city has ever been darkly -renowned for mystic science; insomuch that the magic art was called -by the French, and by other nations, the Arte Toledana.</p> - -<p>Of all the marvels, however, of this ancient, picturesque, -romantic, and necromantic city, none in modern times surpass the -Cave of Hercules, if we may take the account of Don Pedro de Roxas -for authentic. The entrance to this cave is within the church of San -Gines, situated in nearly the highest part of the city. The portal is -secured by massy doors, opening within the walls of the church, but -which are kept rigorously closed. The cavern extends under the city -and beneath the bed of the Tagus to the distance of three leagues -beyond. It is, in some places, of rare architecture, built of small -stones curiously wrought, and supported by columns and arches.</p> - -<p>In the year 1546 an account of this cavern was given to the -archbishop and Cardinal Don Juan Martinez Siliceo, who, desirous -of examining it, ordered the entrance to be cleaned. A number of -persons, furnished with provisions, lanterns, and cords, then went -in, and, having proceeded about half a league, came to a place where -there was a kind of chapel or temple, having a table or altar, with -several statues of bronze in niches or on pedestals.</p> - -<p>While they were regarding this mysterious scene of ancient -worship or incantation, one of the statues fell, with a noise that -echoed through the cavern, and smote the hearts of the adventurers -with terror. Recovering from their alarm, they proceeded <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>onward, but were soon -again dismayed by a roaring and rushing sound that increased as they -advanced. It was made by a furious and turbulent stream, the dark -waters of which were too deep and broad and rapid to be crossed. By -this time their hearts were so chilled with awe, and their thoughts -so bewildered, that they could not seek any other passage by which -they might advance; so they turned back and hastened out of the cave. -It was nightfall when they sallied forth, and they were so much -affected by the terror they had undergone, and by the cold and damp -air of the cavern, to which they were the more sensible from its -being in the summer, that all of them fell sick and several of them -died. Whether the archbishop was encouraged to pursue his research -and gratify his curiosity, the history does not mention.</p> - -<p>Alonzo Telles de Meneses, in his history of the world, records -that not long before his time a boy of Toledo, being threatened with -punishment by his master, fled and took refuge in this cave. Fancying -his pursuer at his heels, he took no heed of the obscurity or -coldness of the cave, but kept groping and blundering forward, until -he came forth at three leagues’ distance from the city.</p> - -<p>Another and very popular story of this cave, current among the -common people, was, that in its remote recesses lay concealed a great -treasure of gold, left there by the Romans. Whoever would reach this -precious hoard must pass through several caves or grottoes; each -having its particular terror, and all under the guardianship of a -ferocious dog, who has the key of all the gates, and watches day and -night. At the approach of any one, he shows his teeth, and makes a -hideous growling; but no adventurer after wealth has had courage to -brave a contest with this terrific cerberus.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span></p> - -<p>The most intrepid candidate on record was a poor man who had lost -his all, and had those grand incentives to desperate enterprise, -a wife and a large family of children. Hearing the story of this -cave, he determined to venture alone in search of the treasure. He -accordingly entered, and wandered many hours, bewildered, about the -cave. Often would he have returned, but the thoughts of his wife and -children urged him on. At length he arrived near to the place where -he supposed the treasure lay hidden; but here, to his dismay, he -beheld the floor of the cavern strewn with human bones, doubtless the -remains of adventurers like himself, who had been torn to pieces.</p> - -<p>Losing all courage, he now turned and sought his way out of the -cave. Horrors thickened upon him as he fled. He beheld direful -phantoms glaring and gibbering around him, and heard the sound of -pursuit in the echoes of his footsteps. He reached his home overcome -with affright; several hours elapsed before he could recover speech -to tell his story, and he died on the following day.</p> - -<p>The judicious Don Pedro de Roxas holds the account of the buried -treasure for fabulous, but the adventure of this unlucky man for very -possible—being led on by avarice, or rather the hope of retrieving a -desperate fortune. He, moreover, pronounces his dying shortly after -coming forth as very probable; because the darkness of the cave, its -coldness, the fright at finding the bones, the dread of meeting the -imaginary dog, all joining to operate upon a man who was past the -prime of his days, and enfeebled by poverty and scanty food, might -easily cause his death.</p> - -<p>Many have considered this cave as intended originally for a -sally or retreat from the city in case it<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> should be taken; an opinion rendered -probable, it is thought, by its grandeur and great extent.</p> - -<p>The learned Salazar de Mendoza, however, in his history of the -grand cardinal of Spain, affirms it as an established fact, that -it was first wrought out of the rock by Tubal, the son of Japhet, -and grandson of Noah, and afterwards repaired and greatly augmented -by Hercules the Egyptian, who made it his habitation after he had -erected his pillars at the Straits of Gibraltar. Here, too, it -is said, he read magic to his followers, and taught them those -supernatural arts by which he accomplished his vast achievements. -Others think that it was a temple dedicated to Hercules, as was the -case, according to Pomponius Mela, with the great cave in the rock of -Gibraltar; certain it is, that it has always borne the name of “The -Cave of Hercules.”</p> - -<p>There are not wanting some who have insinuated that it was a work -dating from the time of the Romans, and intended as a cloaca or sewer -of the city; but such a groveling insinuation will be treated with -proper scorn by the reader, after the nobler purposes to which he has -heard this marvelous cavern consecrated.</p> - -<p>From all the circumstances here adduced from learned and reverend -authors, it will be perceived that Toledo is a city fruitful of -marvels, and that the necromantic tower of Hercules has more -solid foundation than most edifices of similar import in ancient -history.</p> - -<p>The writer of these pages will venture to add the result of his -personal researches respecting the far-famed cavern in question. -Rambling about Toledo in the year 1826, in company with a small knot -of antiquity hunters, among whom were an eminent British painter,<a -id="FNanchor_29" href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> -and an English nobleman,<a id="FNanchor_30" href="#Footnote_30" -class="fnanchor">[30]</a> who has<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> since distinguished himself in -Spanish historical research, we directed our steps to the church of -San Gines, and inquired for the portal of the secret cavern. The -sacristan was a voluble and communicative man, and one not likely to -be niggard of his tongue about anything he knew, or slow to boast of -any marvel pertaining to his church; but he professed utter ignorance -of the existence of any such portal. He remembered to have heard, -however, that immediately under the entrance to the church there was -an arch of mason work, apparently the upper part of some subterranean -portal; but that all had been covered up and a pavement laid down -thereon; so that whether it led to the magic cave or the necromantic -tower remains a mystery, and so must remain until some monarch or -archbishop shall again have courage and authority to break the -spell.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-11.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-13.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak" title="LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN."><big>LEGEND<br /> - <span class="small">OF THE</span><br /> - SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN.</big></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <p class="fauxh2">LEGEND<br /><span class="small">OF</span><br />THE - SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN.<a id="FNanchor_31" href="#Footnote_31" - class="fnanchor">[31]</a></p> - <hr class="sep" /> - <h3 class="p1">CHAPTER I.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Consternation of Spain.— Conduct of the Conquerors.— - Missives between Taric and Muza.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -overthrow of King Roderick and his army on the banks of the -Guadalete, threw open all southern Spain to the inroads of the -Moslems. The whole country fled before them; villages and hamlets -were hastily abandoned; the inhabitants placed their aged and infirm, -their wives and children, and their most precious effects, on -mules and other beasts of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg -120]</span> burden, and, driving before them their flocks and herds, -made for distant parts of the land, for the fastnesses of the -mountains, and for such of the cities as yet possessed walls and -bulwarks. Many gave out, faint and weary, by the way, and fell into -the hands of the enemy; others, at the distant sight of a turban or -a Moslem standard, or on hearing the clangor of a trumpet, abandoned -their flocks and herds and hastened their flight with their families. -If their pursuers gained upon them, they threw by their household -goods and whatever was of burden, and thought themselves fortunate -to escape, naked and destitute, to a place of refuge. Thus the roads -were covered with scattered flocks and herds, and with spoil of all -kinds.</p> - -<p>The Arabs, however, were not guilty of wanton cruelty or ravage; -on the contrary, they conducted themselves with a moderation but -seldom witnessed in more civilized conquerors. Taric el Tuerto, -though a thorough man of the sword, and one whose whole thoughts were -warlike, yet evinced wonderful judgment and discretion. He checked -the predatory habits of his troops with a rigorous hand. They were -forbidden, under pain of severe punishment, to molest any peaceable -and unfortified towns, or any unarmed and unresisting people, who -remained quiet in their homes. No spoil was permitted to be made, -excepting in fields of battle, in camps of routed foes, or in cities -taken by the sword.</p> - -<p>Taric had little need to exercise his severity; his orders were -obeyed through love, rather than<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span> fear, for he was the idol of his -soldiery. They admired his restless and daring spirit, which nothing -could dismay. His gaunt and sinewy form, his fiery eye, his visage -seamed with scars, were suited to the hardihood of his deeds; and -when mounted on his foaming steed, careering the field of battle with -quivering lance or flashing scimetar, his Arabs would greet him with -shouts of enthusiasm. But what endeared him to them more than all was -his soldier-like contempt of gain. Conquest was his only passion: -glory the only reward he coveted. As to the spoil of the conquered, -he shared it freely among his followers, and squandered his own -portion with open-handed generosity.</p> - -<p>While Taric was pushing his triumphant course through Andalusia, -tidings of his stupendous victory on the banks of the Guadalete -were carried to Muza ben Nosier. Messenger after messenger arrived, -vying who should most extol the achievements of the conqueror and -the grandeur of the conquest. “Taric,” said they, “has overthrown -the whole force of the unbelievers in one mighty battle. Their king -is slain; thousands and tens of thousands of their warriors are -destroyed; the whole land lies at our mercy; and city after city is -surrendering to the victorious arms of Taric.”</p> - -<p>The heart of Muza ben Nosier sickened at these tidings, and, -instead of rejoicing at the success of the cause of Islam, he -trembled with jealous fear lest the triumphs of Taric in Spain should -eclipse his own victories in Africa. He dispatched missives to the -Caliph Waled Almanzor,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg -122]</span> informing him of these new conquests, but taking the -whole glory to himself, and making no mention of the services of -Taric; or at least, only mentioning him incidentally as a subordinate -commander. “The battles,” said he, “have been terrible as the day of -judgment; but by the aid of Allah we have gained the victory.”</p> - -<p>He then prepared in all haste to cross over into Spain and assume -the command of the conquering army; and he wrote a letter in advance -to interrupt Taric in the midst of his career. “Wherever this letter -may find thee,” said he, “I charge thee halt with thy army and await -my coming. Thy force is inadequate to the subjugation of the land, -and by rashly venturing, thou mayst lose everything. I will be with -thee speedily, with a reinforcement of troops competent to so great -an enterprise.”</p> - -<p>The letter overtook the veteran Taric while in the full glow -of triumphant success, having overrun some of the richest part of -Andalusia, and just received the surrender of the city of Ecija. -As he read the letter the blood mantled in his sunburnt cheek and -fire kindled in his eye, for he penetrated the motives of Muza. He -suppressed his wrath, however, and turning with a bitter expression -of forced composure to his captains, “Unsaddle your steeds,” said he, -“and plant your lances in the earth; set up your tents and take your -repose, for we must await the coming of the Wali with a mighty force -to assist us in our conquest.”</p> - -<p>The Arab warriors broke forth with loud mur<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>murs at these words. “What need have we -of aid,” cried they, “when the whole country is flying before us; -and what better commander can we have than Taric to lead us on to -victory?”</p> - -<p>Count Julian, also, who was present, now hastened to give his -traitorous counsel.</p> - -<p>“Why pause,” cried he, “at this precious moment? The great army -of the Goths is vanquished, and their nobles are slaughtered or -dispersed. Follow up your blow before the land can recover from -its panic. Overrun the provinces, seize upon the cities, make -yourself master of the capital, and your conquest is complete.”<a -id="FNanchor_32" href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a></p> - -<p>The advice of Julian was applauded by all the Arab chieftains, who -were impatient of any interruption in their career of conquest. Taric -was easily persuaded to what was the wish of his heart. Disregarding -the letter of Muza, therefore, he prepared to pursue his victories. -For this purpose he ordered a review of his troops on the plain -of Ecija. Some were mounted on steeds which they had brought from -Africa; the rest he supplied with horses taken from the Christians. -He repeated his general orders, that they should inflict no wanton -injury, nor plunder any place that offered no resistance. They were -forbidden, also, to encumber themselves with booty, or even with -provisions; but were to scour the country with all speed, and seize -upon all its fortresses and strongholds.</p> - -<p>He then divided his host into three several armies. One he -placed under the command of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg -124]</span> the Greek renegado, Maguel el Rumi, a man of desperate -courage; and sent it against the ancient city of Cordova. Another -was sent against the city of Malaga, and was led by Zayd ben Kesadi, -aided by the Bishop Oppas. The third was led by Taric himself, and -with this he determined to make a wide sweep through the kingdom.<a -id="FNanchor_33" href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Capture of Granada.— Subjugation of the - Alpuxarra Mountains.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -terror of the arms of Taric ben Zeyad went before him; and, at the -same time, the report of his lenity to those who submitted without -resistance. Wherever he appeared, the towns, for the most part, sent -forth some of their principal inhabitants to proffer a surrender; for -they were destitute of fortifications, and their fighting men had -perished in battle. They were all received into allegiance to the -Caliph, and were protected from pillage or molestation.</p> - -<p>After marching some distance through the country, he entered one -day a vast and beautiful plain, interspersed with villages, adorned -with groves and gardens, watered by winding rivers, and surrounded -by lofty mountains. It was the famous vega, or plain of Granada, -destined to be for ages the favorite abode of the Moslems. When -the Arab conquerors beheld this delicious vega, they were lost in -admiration; for it seemed as if the Prophet had given them a paradise -on earth, as a reward for their services in his cause.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> - -<p>Taric approached the city of Granada, which had a formidable -aspect, seated on lofty hills and fortified with Gothic walls and -towers, and with the red castle or citadel, built in times of old -by the Phœnicians or the Romans. As the Arab chieftain eyed the -place, he was pleased with its stern warrior look, contrasting with -the smiling beauty of its vega, and the freshness and voluptuous -abundance of its hills and valleys. He pitched his tents before its -walls, and made preparations to attack it with all his force.</p> - -<p>The city, however, bore but the semblance of power. The flower of -its youth had perished in the battle of the Guadalete; many of the -principal inhabitants had fled to the mountains, and few remained -in the city excepting old men, women, and children, and a number of -Jews, which last were well disposed to take part with the conquerors. -The city, therefore, readily capitulated, and was received into -vassalage on favorable terms. The inhabitants were to retain their -property, their laws, and their religion; their churches and priests -were to be respected; and no other tribute was required of them than -such as they had been accustomed to pay to their Gothic kings.</p> - -<p>On taking possession of Granada, Taric garrisoned the towers and -castles, and left as alcayde or governor a chosen warrior named Betiz -Aben Habuz, a native of Arabia Felix, who had distinguished himself -by his valor and abilities. This alcayde subsequently made himself -king of Granada, and built a palace on one of its hills; the <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> remains of which may be -seen at the present day<a id="FNanchor_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34" -class="fnanchor">[34]</a>.</p> - -<p>Even the delights of Granada had no power to detain the active -and ardent Taric. To the east of the city he beheld a lofty chain of -mountains, towering to the sky, and crowned with shining snow. These -were the “Mountains of the Sun and Air;” and the perpetual snows -on their summits gave birth to streams that fertilized the plains. -In their bosoms, shut up among cliffs and precipices, were many -small valleys of great beauty and abundance. The inhabitants were a -bold and hardy race, who looked upon their mountains as everlasting -fortresses that could never be taken. The inhabitants of the -surrounding country had fled to these natural fastnesses for refuge, -and driven thither their flocks and herds.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> - -<p>Taric felt that the dominion he had acquired of the plains would -be insecure until he had penetrated and subdued these haughty -mountains. Leaving Aben Habuz, therefore, in command of Granada, he -marched with his army across the vega, and entered the folds of the -sierra, which stretch towards the south. The inhabitants fled with -affright on hearing the Moorish trumpets, or beholding the approach -of the turbaned horsemen, and plunged deeper into the recesses of -their mountains. As the army advanced, the roads became more and more -rugged and difficult; sometimes climbing great rocky heights, and at -other times descending abruptly into deep ravines, the beds of winter -torrents. The mountains were strangely wild and sterile; broken into -cliffs and precipices of variegated marble. At their feet were little -valleys, enameled with groves and gardens, interlaced with silver -streams, and studded with villages and hamlets,—but all deserted -by their inhabitants. No one appeared to dispute the inroad of the -Moslems, who continued their march with increasing confidence, their -pennons fluttering from rock and cliff, and the valleys echoing to -the din of trumpet, drum, and cymbal. At length they came to a defile -where the mountains seemed to have been rent asunder to make way for -a foaming torrent. The narrow and broken road wound along the dizzy -edge of precipices, until it came to where a bridge was thrown across -the chasm. It was a fearful and gloomy pass; great beetling cliffs -overhung the road, and the torrent roared below. This awful <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> defile has ever been -famous in the warlike history of those mountains, by the name, in -former times, of the Barranco de Tocos, and at present of the Bridge -of Tablete. The Saracen army entered fearlessly into the pass; a part -had already crossed the bridge, and was slowly toiling up the rugged -road on the opposite side, when great shouts arose, and every cliff -appeared suddenly peopled with furious foes. In an instant a deluge -of missiles of every sort was rained upon the astonished Moslems. -Darts, arrows, javelins, and stones, came whistling down, singling -out the most conspicuous cavaliers; and at times great masses of -rock, bounding and thundering along the mountain side, crushed whole -ranks at once, or hurled horses and riders over the edge of the -precipices.</p> - -<p>It was in vain to attempt to brave this mountain warfare. The -enemy were beyond the reach of missiles, and safe from pursuit; and -the horses of the Arabs were here an incumbrance rather than an aid. -The trumpets sounded a retreat, and the army retired in tumult and -confusion, harassed by the enemy until extricated from the defile. -Taric, who had beheld cities and castles surrendering without a -blow, was enraged at being braved by a mere horde of mountain boors, -and made another attempt to penetrate the mountains, but was again -waylaid and opposed with horrible slaughter.</p> - -<p>The fiery son of Ishmael foamed with rage at being thus checked -in his career and foiled in his revenge. He was on the point of -abandoning the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> -attempt, and returning to the vega, when a Christian boor sought -his camp, and was admitted to his presence. The miserable wretch -possessed a cabin and a little patch of ground among the mountains, -and offered, if these should be protected from ravage, to inform the -Arab commander of a way by which troops of horse might be safely -introduced into the bosom of the sierra, and the whole subdued. The -name of this caitiff was Fandino, and it deserves to be perpetually -recorded with ignominy. His case is an instance how much it is in the -power, at times, of the most insignificant being to do mischief, and -how all the valor of the magnanimous and the brave may be defeated by -the treason of the selfish and the despicable.</p> - -<p>Instructed by this traitor, the Arab commander caused ten thousand -foot-soldiers and four thousand horsemen, commanded by a valiant -captain, named Ibrahim Albuxarra, to be conveyed by sea to the little -port of Adra, at the Mediterranean foot of the mountains. Here they -landed, and, guided by the traitor, penetrated to the heart of -the sierra, laying everything waste. The brave mountaineers, thus -hemmed in between two armies, destitute of fortresses and without -hope of succor, were obliged to capitulate; but their valor was -not without avail, for never, even in Spain, did vanquished people -surrender on prouder or more honorable terms. We have named the -wretch who betrayed his native mountains; let us equally record -the name of him whose pious patriotism saved them from desolation. -It was the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span> -reverend Bishop Centerio. While the warriors rested on their arms -in grim and menacing tranquillity among the cliffs, this venerable -prelate descended to the Arab tents in the valley, to conduct the -capitulation. In stipulating for the safety of his people, he did not -forget that they were brave men, and that they still had weapons in -their hands. He obtained conditions accordingly. It was agreed that -they should be permitted to retain their houses, lands, and personal -effects; that they should be unmolested in their religion, and their -temples and priests respected; and that they should pay no other -tribute than such as they had been accustomed to render to their -kings. Should they prefer to leave the country and remove to any part -of Christendom, they were to be allowed to sell their possessions, -and to take with them the money, and all their other effects.<a -id="FNanchor_35" href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> - -<p>Ibrahim Albuxarra remained in command of the territory, and the -whole sierra, or chain of mountains, took his name, which has since -been slightly corrupted into that of the Alpuxarras. The subjugation -of this rugged region, however, was for a long time incomplete; many -of the Christians maintained a wild and hostile independence, living -in green glens and scanty valleys among the heights; and the sierra -of the Alpuxarras has in all ages been one of the most difficult -parts of Andalusia to be subdued.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-18.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Expedition of Magued against Cordova.— Defense of - the Patriot Pelistes.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">While</span> -the veteran Taric was making this wide circuit through the land, -the expedition under Magued the renegado proceeded against the -city of Cordova. The inhabitants of that ancient place had beheld -the great army of Don Roderick spreading like an inundation over -the plain of the Guadalquivir, and had felt confident that it must -sweep the infidel invaders from the land. What then was their dismay -when scattered fugitives, wild with horror and affright, brought -them tidings of the entire overthrow of that mighty host, and the -disappearance of the king! In the midst of their consternation, the -Gothic noble Pelistes arrived at their gates, haggard with fatigue -of body and anguish of mind, and leading a remnant of his devoted -cavaliers, who had survived the dreadful battle of the Guadalete. -The people of Cordova knew the valiant and steadfast spirit of -Pelistes, and rallied round him as a last hope. “Roderick is fallen,” -cried they, “and we have neither king nor captain; be unto us as a -sovereign; take command of our city, and protect us in this hour of -peril!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span></p> - -<p>The heart of Pelistes was free from ambition, and was too much -broken by grief to be flattered by the offer of command; but he -felt above everything for the woes of his country, and was ready to -assume any desperate service in her cause. “Your city,” said he, “is -surrounded by walls and towers, and may yet check the progress of -the foe. Promise to stand by me to the last, and I will undertake -your defense.” The inhabitants all promised implicit obedience and -devoted zeal; for what will not the inhabitants of a wealthy city -promise and profess in a moment of alarm? The instant, however, -that they heard of the approach of the Moslem troops, the wealthier -citizens packed up their effects and fled to the mountains, or to the -distant city of Toledo. Even the monks collected the riches of their -convents and churches, and fled. Pelistes, though he saw himself thus -deserted by those who had the greatest interest in the safety of the -city, yet determined not to abandon its defense. He had still his -faithful though scanty band of cavaliers, and a number of fugitives -of the army, in all amounting to about four hundred men. He stationed -guards, therefore, at the gates and in the towers, and made every -preparation for a desperate resistance.</p> - -<p>In the mean time, the army of Moslems and apostate Christians -advanced, under the command of the Greek renegado Magued, and guided -by the traitor Julian. While they were yet at some distance from -the city, their scouts brought to them a shepherd, whom they had -surprised on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span> the -banks of the Guadalquivir. The trembling hind was an inhabitant of -Cordova, and revealed to them the state of the place and the weakness -of its garrison.</p> - -<p>“And the walls and gates,” said Magued, “are they strong and well -guarded?”</p> - -<p>“The walls are high and of wondrous strength,” replied the -shepherd, “and soldiers hold watch at the gates by day and night. But -there is one place where the city may be secretly entered. In a part -of the wall, not far from the bridge, the battlements are broken, and -there is a breach at some height from the ground. Hard by stands a -fig-tree, by the aid of which the wall may easily be scaled.”</p> - -<p>Having received this information, Magued halted with his army, and -sent forward several renegado Christians, partisans of Count Julian, -who entered Cordova as if flying before the enemy. On a dark and -tempestuous night, the Moslems approached to the end of the bridge -which crosses the Guadalquivir, and remained in ambush. Magued took -a small party of chosen men, and, guided by the shepherd, forded -the stream, and groped silently along the wall to the place where -stood the fig-tree. The traitors, who had fraudulently entered the -city, were ready on the wall to render assistance. Magued ordered -his followers to make use of the long folds of their turbans instead -of cords, and succeeded without difficulty in clambering into the -breach.</p> - -<p>Drawing their scimetars, they now hastened to the gate -which opened towards the bridge; the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> guards, suspecting no assault from -within, were taken by surprise and easily overpowered; the gate was -thrown open, and the army that had remained in ambush rushed over the -bridge, and entered without opposition.</p> - -<p>The alarm had by this time spread throughout the city; but already -a torrent of armed men was pouring through the streets. Pelistes -sallied forth with his cavaliers and such of the soldiery as he could -collect, and endeavored to repel the foe; but every effort was in -vain. The Christians were slowly driven from street to street and -square to square, disputing every inch of ground; until, finding -another body of the enemy approaching to attack them in rear, they -took refuge in a convent, and succeeded in throwing to and barring -the ponderous doors. The Moors attempted to force the gates, but -were assailed with such showers of missiles from the windows and -battlements that they were obliged to retire. Pelistes examined the -convent, and found it admirably calculated for defense. It was of -great extent, with spacious courts and cloisters. The gates were -massive, and secured with bolts and bars; the walls were of great -thickness; the windows high and grated; there was a great tank -or cistern of water, and the friars, who had fled from the city, -had left behind a good supply of provisions. Here, then, Pelistes -proposed to make a stand, and to endeavor to hold out until succor -should arrive from some other city. His proposition was received with -shouts by his loyal cavaliers, not one of whom but was ready to lay -down his life in the service of his commander.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-2.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Defense of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-f.png" alt="Illustrated F" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">For</span> -three long and anxious months did the good knight Pelistes and his -cavaliers defend their sacred asylum against the repeated assaults -of the infidels. The standard of the true faith was constantly -displayed from the loftiest tower, and a fire blazed there throughout -the night, as signals of distress to the surrounding country. The -watchman from his turret kept a wary lookout over the land, hoping -in every cloud of dust to descry the glittering helms of Christian -warriors. The country, however, was forlorn and abandoned, or if -perchance a human being was perceived, it was some Arab horseman, -careering the plain of the Guadalquivir as fearlessly as if it were -his native desert.</p> - -<p>By degrees the provisions of the convent were consumed, and the -cavaliers had to slay their horses, one by one, for food. They -suffered the wasting miseries of famine without a murmur, and always -met their commander with a smile. Pelistes, however, read their -sufferings in their wan and emaciated countenances, and felt more for -them than for himself. He was grieved at heart that such loyalty and -valor should only lead to slavery or death, and resolved to make -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span> one desperate -attempt for their deliverance. Assembling them one day in the court -of the convent, he disclosed to them his purpose.</p> - -<p>“Comrades and brothers in arms,” said he, “it is needless to -conceal danger from brave men. Our case is desperate; our countrymen -either know not or heed not our situation, or have not the means to -help us. There is but one chance of escape; it is full of peril, and, -as your leader, I claim the right to brave it. To-morrow, at break of -day, I will sally forth and make for the city gates at the moment of -their being opened; no one will suspect a solitary horseman; I shall -be taken for one of those recreant Christians who have basely mingled -with the enemy. If I succeed in getting out of the city I will hasten -to Toledo for assistance. In all events I shall be back in less than -twenty days. Keep a vigilant lookout toward the nearest mountain. If -you behold five lights blazing upon its summit, be assured I am at -hand with succor, and prepare yourselves to sally forth upon the city -as I attack the gates. Should I fail in obtaining aid, I will return -to die with you.”</p> - -<p>When he had finished, his warriors would fain have severally -undertaken the enterprise, and they remonstrated against his -exposing himself to such peril; but he was not to be shaken from -his purpose. On the following morning, ere the break of day, his -horse was led forth, caparisoned, into the court of the convent, and -Pelistes appeared in complete armor. Assembling his cavaliers in -the chapel, he prayed with them for some time<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> before the altar of the holy Virgin. -Then rising and standing in the midst of them, “God knows, my -companions,” said he, “whether we have any longer a country; if not, -better were we in our graves. Loyal and true have ye been to me, and -loyal have ye been to my son, even to the hour of his death; and -grieved am I that I have no other means of proving my love for you, -than by adventuring my worthless life for your deliverance. All I ask -of you before I go, is a solemn promise to defend yourselves to the -last like brave men and Christian cavaliers, and never to renounce -your faith, or throw yourselves on the mercy of the renegado Magued, -or the traitor Julian.” They all pledged their words, and took a -solemn oath to the same effect before the altar.</p> - -<p>Pelistes then embraced them one by one, and gave them his -benediction, and as he did so his heart yearned over them, for -he felt towards them, not merely as a companion in arms and as a -commander, but as a father; and he took leave of them as if he had -been going to his death. The warriors, on their part, crowded round -him in silence, kissing his hands and the hem of his surcoat, and -many of the sternest shed tears.</p> - -<p>The gray of the dawning had just streaked the east, when Pelistes -took lance in hand, hung his shield about his neck, and mounting -his steed, issued quietly forth from a postern of the convent. He -paced slowly though the vacant streets, and the tramp of his steed -echoed afar in that silent hour; but no one suspected a warrior, -moving thus singly and tranquilly in an armed<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> city, to be an enemy. He arrived at -the gate just at the hour of opening; a foraging party was entering -with cattle and with beasts of burden, and he passed unheeded through -the throng. As soon as he was out of sight of the soldiers who -guarded the gate, he quickened his pace, and at length, galloping -at full speed, succeeded in gaining the mountains. Here he paused, -and alighted at a solitary farm-house to breathe his panting steed; -but had scarce put foot to ground when he heard the distant sound of -pursuit, and beheld a horseman spurring up the mountain.</p> - -<p>Throwing himself again upon his steed, he abandoned the road and -galloped across the rugged heights. The deep dry channel of a torrent -checked his career, and his horse stumbling upon the margin, rolled -with his rider to the bottom. Pelistes was sorely bruised by the -fall, and his whole visage was bathed in blood. His horse, too, was -maimed and unable to stand, so that there was no hope of escape. The -enemy drew near, and proved to be no other than Magued the renegado -general, who had perceived him as he issued forth from the city and -had followed singly in pursuit. “Well met, señor alcaid!” exclaimed -he, “and overtaken in good time. Surrender yourself my prisoner.”</p> - -<p>Pelistes made no other reply than by drawing his sword, bracing -his shield, and preparing for defense. Magued, though an apostate, -and a fierce warrior, possessed some sparks of knightly magnanimity. -Seeing his adversary dismounted, he disdained to take him at a -disadvantage, but, alighting, tied his horse to a tree.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> - -<p>The conflict that ensued was desperate and doubtful, for seldom -had two warriors met so well matched or of equal prowess. Their -shields were hacked to pieces, the ground was strewed with fragments -of their armor, and stained with their blood. They paused repeatedly -to take breath, regarding each other with wonder and admiration. -Pelistes, however, had been previously injured by his fall, and -fought to great disadvantage. The renegado perceived it, and -sought not to slay him, but to take him alive. Shifting his ground -continually, he wearied his antagonist, who was growing weaker and -weaker from the loss of blood. At length Pelistes seemed to summon up -all his remaining strength to make a signal blow; it was skillfully -parried, and he fell prostrate upon the ground. The renegado ran up, -and putting his foot upon his sword, and the point of his scimetar -to his throat, called upon him to ask his life; but Pelistes lay -without sense, and as one dead. Magued then unlaced the helmet of his -vanquished enemy, and seated himself on a rock beside him, to recover -breath. In this situation the warriors were found by certain Moorish -cavaliers, who marveled much at the traces of that stern and bloody -combat.</p> - -<p>Finding there was yet life in the Christian knight, they laid him -upon one of their horses, and aiding Magued to remount his steed, -proceeded slowly to the city. As the convoy passed by the convent, -the cavaliers looked forth and beheld their commander borne along -bleeding and a captive. Furious at the sight, they sallied forth -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span> to the rescue, -but were repulsed by a superior force and driven back to the great -portal of the church. The enemy entered pell-mell with them, fighting -from aisle to aisle, from altar to altar, and in the courts and -cloisters of the convent. The greater part of the cavaliers died -bravely, sword in hand; the rest were disabled with wounds and made -prisoners. The convent, which was lately their castle, was now made -their prison, and in after-times, in commemoration of this event, was -consecrated by the name of St. George of the Captives.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-13.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor Julian.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -loyalty and prowess of the good knight Pelistes had gained him the -reverence even of his enemies. He was for a long time disabled by his -wounds, during which he was kindly treated by the Arab chieftains, -who strove by every courteous means to cheer his sadness and make him -forget that he was a captive. When he was recovered from his wounds -they gave him a magnificent banquet, to testify their admiration of -his virtues.</p> - -<p>Pelistes appeared at the banquet clad in sable armor, and with a -countenance pale and dejected, for the ills of his country evermore -preyed upon his heart. Among the assembled guests was Count Julian, -who held a high command in the Moslem army, and was arrayed in -garments of mingled Christian and morisco fashion. Pelistes had been -a close and bosom friend of Julian in former times, and had served -with him in the wars in Africa, but when the count advanced to accost -him with his wonted amity, he turned away in silence and deigned not -to notice him, neither, during the whole of the repast, did he <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> address to him ever a -word, but treated him as one unknown.</p> - -<p>When the banquet was nearly at a close, the discourse turned -upon the events of the war, and the Moslem chieftains, in great -courtesy, dwelt upon the merits of many of the Christian cavaliers -who had fallen in battle, and all extolled the valor of those who had -recently perished in the defense of the convent. Pelistes remained -silent for a time, and checked the grief which swelled within his -bosom as he thought of his devoted cavaliers. At length, lifting up -his voice, “Happy are the dead,” said he, “for they rest in peace, -and are gone to receive the reward of their piety and valor! I could -mourn over the loss of my companions in arms, but they have fallen -with honor and are spared the wretchedness I feel in witnessing the -thraldom of my country. I have seen my only son, the pride and hope -of my age, cut down at my side; I have beheld kindred, friends, and -followers falling one by one around me, and have become so seasoned -to those losses that I have ceased to weep. Yet there is one man over -whose loss I will never cease to grieve. He was the loved companion -of my youth, and the steadfast associate of my graver years. He -was one of the most loyal of Christian knights. As a friend, he -was loving and sincere; as a warrior, his achievements were above -all praise. What has become of him, alas, I know not! If fallen in -battle, and I knew where his bones were laid, whether bleaching on -the plains of Xeres or buried in the waters<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span> of the Guadalete, I would seek them out -and enshrine them as the relics of a sainted patriot. Or if, like -many of his companions in arms, he should be driven to wander in -foreign lands, I would join him in his hapless exile, and we would -mourn together over the desolation of our country!”</p> - -<p>Even the hearts of the Arab warriors were touched by the lament -of the good Pelistes, and they said—“Who was this peerless friend in -whose praise thou art so fervent?”</p> - -<p>“His name,” replied Pelistes, “was Count Julian.”</p> - -<p>The Moslem warriors started with surprise. “Noble cavalier,” -exclaimed they, “has grief disordered thy senses? Behold thy friend -living and standing before thee, and yet thou dost not know him! -This, this is Count Julian!”</p> - -<p>Upon this, Pelistes turned his eyes upon the count, and regarded -him for a time with a lofty and stern demeanor; and the countenance -of Julian darkened, and was troubled, and his eye sank beneath the -regard of that loyal and honorable cavalier. And Pelistes said, “In -the name of God, I charge thee, man unknown! to answer. Dost thou -presume to call thyself Count Julian?”</p> - -<p>The count reddened with anger at these words. “Pelistes,” said he, -“what means this mockery? thou knowest me well; thou knowest me for -Count Julian.”</p> - -<p>“I know thee for a base impostor!” cried Pelistes. “Count Julian -was a noble Gothic knight; but thou appearest in mongrel Moorish -garb. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> Count -Julian was a Christian, faithful and devout; but I behold in thee a -renegado and an infidel. Count Julian was ever loyal to his king, -and foremost in his country’s cause; were he living, he would be the -first to put shield on neck and lance in rest, to clear the land of -her invaders; but thou art a hoary traitor; thy hands are stained -with the royal blood of the Goths, and thou hast betrayed thy country -and thy God. Therefore, I again repeat, man unknown! if thou sayest -thou art Count Julian, thou liest! My friend, alas, is dead; and thou -art some fiend from hell, which hast taken possession of his body -to dishonor his memory and render him an abhorrence among men!” So -saying, Pelistes turned his back upon the traitor, and went forth -from the banquet; leaving Count Julian overwhelmed with confusion, -and an object of scorn to all the Moslem cavaliers.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">How Taric el Tuerto captured the City of Toledo - through the aid of the Jews, and how he found the famous Talismanic - Table of Solomon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">While</span> -these events were passing in Cordova, the one-eyed Arab general, -Taric el Tuerto, having subdued the city and vega of Granada, and the -Mountains of the Sun and Air, directed his march into the interior -of the kingdom, to attack the ancient city of Toledo, the capital -of the Gothic kings. So great was the terror caused by the rapid -conquests of the invaders, that at the very rumor of their approach -many of the inhabitants, though thus in the very citadel of the -kingdom, abandoned it and fled to the mountains with their families. -Enough remained, however, to have made a formidable defense; and, -as the city was seated on a lofty rock, surrounded by massive walls -and towers, and almost girdled by the Tagus, it threatened a long -resistance. The Arab warriors pitched their tents in the vega, on the -borders of the river, and prepared for a tedious siege.</p> - -<p>One evening, as Taric was seated in his tent, meditating on the -mode in which he should assail this rock-built city, certain of the -patrols of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> -camp brought a stranger before him. “As we were going our rounds,” -said they, “we beheld this man lowered down with cords from a tower, -and he delivered himself into our hands, praying to be conducted to -thy presence, that he might reveal to thee certain things important -for thee to know.”</p> - -<p>Taric fixed his eye upon the stranger; he was a Jewish rabbi, with -a long beard which spread upon his gabardine, and descended even to -his girdle. “What hast thou to reveal?” said he to the Israelite. -“What I have to reveal,” replied the other, “is for thee alone to -hear; command, then, I entreat thee, that these men withdraw.” When -they were alone he addressed Taric in Arabic: “Know, leader of the -host of Islam,” said he, “that I am sent to thee on the part of the -children of Israel, resident in Toledo. We have been oppressed and -insulted by the Christians in the time of their prosperity, and now -that they are threatened with siege, they have taken from us all our -provisions and our money; they have compelled us to work like slaves, -repairing their walls; and they oblige us to bear arms and guard -a part of the towers. We abhor their yoke, and are ready, if thou -wilt receive us as subjects, and permit us the free enjoyment of our -religion and our property, to deliver the towers we guard into thy -hands, and to give thee safe entrance into the city.”</p> - -<p>The Arab chief was overjoyed at this proposition, and he rendered -much honor to the rabbi, and gave orders to clothe him in a costly -robe,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> and to -perfume his beard with essences of a pleasant odor, so that he was -the most sweet-smelling of his tribe; and he said, “Make thy words -good, and put me in possession of the city, and I will do all and -more than thou hast required, and will bestow countless wealth upon -thee and thy brethren.”</p> - -<p>Then a plan was devised between them by which the city was to be -betrayed and given up. “But how shall I be secured,” said he, “that -all thy tribe will fulfill what thou hast engaged, and that this is -not a stratagem to get me and my people into your power?”</p> - -<p>“This shall be thy assurance,” replied the rabbi; “ten of -the principal Israelites will come to this tent and remain as -hostages.”</p> - -<p>“It is enough,” said Taric; and he made oath to accomplish all -that he had promised; and the Jewish hostages came and delivered -themselves into his hands.</p> - -<p>On a dark night a chosen band of Moslem warriors approached the -part of the walls guarded by the Jews, and were secretly admitted -into a postern gate and concealed within a tower. Three thousand -Arabs were at the same time placed in ambush among rocks and -thickets, in a place on the opposite side of the river, commanding a -view of the city. On the following morning Taric ravaged the gardens -of the valley, and set fire to the farm-houses, and then, breaking up -his camp, marched off as if abandoning the siege.</p> - -<p>The people of Toledo gazed with astonishment from their walls at -the retiring squadrons of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg -149]</span> enemy, and scarcely could credit their unexpected -deliverance; before night there was not a turban nor a hostile -lance to be seen in the vega. They attributed it all to the special -intervention of their patron saint, Leocadia; and the following day -being Palm Sunday, they sallied forth in procession, man, woman, -and child, to the church of that blessed saint, which is situated -without the walls, that they might return thanks for her marvelous -protection.</p> - -<p>When all Toledo had thus poured itself forth, and was marching -with cross and relic and solemn chant towards the chapel, the Arabs -who had been concealed in the tower rushed forth, and barred the -gates of the city. While some guarded the gates, others dispersed -themselves about the streets, slaying all who made resistance; and -others kindled a fire and made a column of smoke on the top of the -citadel. At sight of this signal, the Arabs in ambush beyond the -river rose with a great shout, and attacked the multitude who were -thronging to the church of St. Leocadia. There was a great massacre, -although the people were without arms and made no resistance; and -it is said in ancient chronicles that it was the apostate Bishop -Oppas who guided the Moslems to their prey, and incited them to this -slaughter. The pious reader, says Fray Antonio Agapida, will be slow -to believe such turpitude; but there is nothing more venomous than -the rancor of an apostate priest; for the best things in this world, -when corrupted, become the worst and most baneful.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span></p> - -<p>Many of the Christians had taken refuge within the church, and -had barred the doors, but Oppas commanded that fire should be set -to the portals, threatening to put every one within to the sword. -Happily the veteran Taric arrived just in time to stay the fury of -this reverend renegado. He ordered the trumpets to call off the -troops from the carnage, and extended grace to all the surviving -inhabitants. They were permitted to remain in quiet possession of -their homes and effects, paying only a moderate tribute; and they -were allowed to exercise the rites of their religion in the existing -churches, to the number of seven, but were prohibited from erecting -any others. Those who preferred to leave the city were suffered to -depart in safety, but not to take with them any of their wealth.</p> - -<p>Immense spoil was found by Taric in the alcazar, or royal castle, -situated on a rocky eminence in the highest part of the city. Among -the regalia treasured up in a secret chamber were twenty-five regal -crowns of fine gold, garnished with jacinths, amethysts, diamonds, -and other precious stones. These were the crowns of the different -Gothic kings who had reigned in Spain; it having been the usage -on the death of each king to deposit his crown in this treasury, -inscribing on it his name and age.<a id="FNanchor_36"></a><a -href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> - -<p>When Taric was thus in possession of the city, the Jews came to -him in procession, with songs and dances and the sound of timbrel and -psaltery,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> hailing -him as their lord, and reminding him of his promises.</p> - -<p>The son of Ishmael kept his word with the children of Israel; they -were protected in the possession of all their wealth and the exercise -of their religion, and were, moreover, rewarded with jewels of gold -and jewels of silver and much moneys.<a id="FNanchor_37"></a><a -href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> - -<p>A subsequent expedition was led by Taric against Guadalaxara, -which surrendered without resistance; he moreover captured the -city of Medina Celi, where he found an inestimable table which had -formed a part of the spoil taken at Rome by Alaric, at the time -that the sacred city was conquered by the Goths. It was composed of -one single and entire emerald, and possessed talismanic powers; for -traditions affirm that it was the work of genii, and had been wrought -by them for King Solomon the Wise, the son of David. This marvelous -relic was carefully preserved by Taric, as the most precious of -all his spoils, being intended by him as a present to the caliph; -and in commemoration of it the city was called by the Arabs Medina -Almeyda,—that is to say, “The City of the Table.”<a id="FNanchor_38" -href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> - -<p>Having made these and other conquests of less importance, and -having collected great quantities of gold and silver, and rich stuffs -and precious stones, Taric returned with his booty to the royal city -of Toledo.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Muza ben Nosier.— His Entrance into Spain and Capture of Carmona.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-l.png" alt="Illustrated L" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Let</span> -us leave for a season the bold Taric in his triumphant progress from -city to city, while we turn our eyes to Muza ben Nosier, the renowned -emir of Almagreb, and the commander-in-chief of the Moslem forces -of the West. When that jealous chieftain had dispatched his letter -commanding Taric to pause and await his coming, he immediately made -every preparation to enter Spain with a powerful reinforcement, and -to take command of the conquering army. He left his eldest son, -Abdalasis, in Cairvan, with authority over Almagreb, or Western -Africa. This Abdalasis was in the flower of his youth, and beloved by -the soldiery for the magnanimity and the engaging affability which -graced his courage.</p> - -<p>Muza ben Nosier crossed the Strait of Hercules with a chosen force -of ten thousand horse and eight thousand foot, Arabs and Africans. He -was accompanied by his two sons, Meruan and Abdelola, and by numerous -illustrious Arabian cavaliers of the tribe of the Koreish. He landed -his shining legions on the coast of Andalusia, and pitched his -tents near to the Guadiana.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg -154]</span> There first he received intelligence of the disobedience -of Taric to his orders, and that, without waiting his arrival, the -impetuous chieftain had continued his career, and with his light Arab -squadrons had overrun and subdued the noblest provinces and cities of -the kingdom.</p> - -<p>The jealous spirit of Muza was still more exasperated by these -tidings; he looked upon Taric no longer as a friend and coadjutor, -but as an invidious rival, the decided enemy of his glory, and he -determined on his ruin. His first consideration, however, was to -secure to himself a share in the actual conquest of the land before -it should be entirely subjugated.</p> - -<p>Taking guides, therefore, from among his Christian captives, he -set out to subdue such parts of the country as had not been visited -by Taric. The first place which he assailed was the ancient city of -Carmona; it was not of great magnitude, but was fortified with high -walls and massive towers, and many of the fugitives of the late army -had thrown themselves into it.</p> - -<p>The Goths had by this time recovered from their first panic; -they had become accustomed to the sight of Moslem troops, and their -native courage had been roused by danger. Shortly after the Arabs had -encamped before their walls, a band of cavaliers made a sudden sally -one morning before the break of day, fell upon the enemy by surprise, -killed above three hundred of them in their tents, and effected their -retreat into the city; leaving twenty of their number dead, covered -with honorable wounds, and in the very centre of the camp.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span></p> - -<p>On the following day they made another sally, and fell on a -different quarter of the encampment; but the Arabs were on their -guard, and met them with superior numbers. After fighting fiercely -for a time, they were routed, and fled full speed for the city, with -the Arabs hard upon their traces. The guards within feared to open -the gate, lest with their friends they should admit a torrent of -enemies. Seeing themselves thus shut out, the fugitives determined -to die like brave soldiers rather than surrender. Wheeling suddenly -round, they opened a path through the host of their pursuers, fought -their way back to the camp, and raged about it with desperate -fury until they were all slain, after having killed above eight -hundred of the enemy.<a id="FNanchor_39" href="#Footnote_39" -class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> - -<p>Muza now ordered that the place should be taken by storm. The -Moslems assailed it on all sides, but were vigorously resisted; -many were slain by showers of stones, arrows, and boiling pitch, -and many who had mounted with scaling-ladders were thrown headlong -from the battlements. The alcayde, Galo, aided solely by two men, -defended a tower and a portion of the wall, killing and wounding with -a cross-bow more than eighty of the enemy. The attack lasted above -half a day, when the Moslems were repulsed with the loss of fifteen -hundred men.</p> - -<p>Muza was astonished and exasperated at meeting with such -formidable resistance from so small a city; for it was one of the few -places, during that memorable conquest, where the Gothic valor <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> shone forth with its -proper lustre. While the Moslem army lay encamped before the place, -it was joined by Magued the renegado, and Count Julian the traitor, -with one thousand horsemen; most of them recreant Christians, base -betrayers of their country, and more savage in their warfare than the -Arabs of the desert. To find favor in the eyes of Muza, and to evince -his devotion to the cause, the count undertook, by wily stratagem, to -put this gallant city in his power.</p> - -<p>One evening, just at twilight, a number of Christians, habited -as travelling merchants, arrived at one of the gates, conducting a -train of mules laden with arms and warlike munitions. “Open the gate -quickly,” cried they; “we bring supplies for the garrison, but the -Arabs have discovered and are in pursuit of us.” The gate was thrown -open, the merchants entered with their beasts of burden, and were -joyfully received. Meat and drink were placed before them, and after -they had refreshed themselves they retired to the quarters allotted -to them.</p> - -<p>These pretended merchants were Count Julian and a number of his -partisans. At the hour of midnight they stole forth silently, and -assembling together, proceeded to what is called the Gate of Cordova. -Here setting suddenly upon the unsuspecting guards, they put them to -the edge of the sword, and throwing open the gates, admitted a great -body of the Arabs. The inhabitants were roused from their sleep by -sound of drum and trumpet and the clattering of horses. The Arabs -scoured the streets; a horrible massacre was <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>commenced, in which none were spared -but such of the females as were young and beautiful, and fitted -to grace the harems of the conquerors. The arrival of Muza put an -end to the pillage and the slaughter, and he granted favorable -terms to the survivors. Thus the valiant little city of Carmona, -after nobly resisting the open assaults of the infidels, fell a -victim to the treachery of apostate Christians.<a id="FNanchor_40" -href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-9.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-3.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Muza marches against the City of Seville.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">After</span> -the capture of Carmona, Muza descended into a noble plain, covered -with fields of grain, with orchards and gardens, through which glided -the soft-flowing Guadalquivir. On the borders of the river stood the -ancient city of Seville, surrounded by Roman walls, and defended by -its golden tower. Understanding from his spies that the city had -lost the flower of its youth in the battle of the Guadalete, Muza -anticipated but a faint resistance. A considerable force, however, -still remained within the place, and what they wanted in numbers they -made up in resolution. For some days they withstood the assaults of -the enemy, and defended their walls with great courage. Their want -of warlike munitions, however, and the superior force and skill of -the besieging army, left them no hope of being able to hold out long. -There were two youthful cavaliers of uncommon valor in the city. They -assembled the warriors and addressed them. “We cannot save the city,” -said they; “but at least we may save ourselves, and preserve so -many strong arms for the service of our country. Let us cut our way -through the infidel force, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg -159]</span> and gain some secure fortress, from whence we may return -with augmented numbers for the rescue of the city.”</p> - -<p>The advice of the young cavaliers was adopted. In the dead of -the night the garrison assembled, to the number of about three -thousand,—the most part mounted on horseback. Suddenly sallying from -one of the gates, they rushed in a compact body upon the camp of the -Saracens, which was negligently guarded, for the Moslems expected no -such act of desperation. The camp was a scene of great carnage and -confusion; many were slain on both sides; the two valiant leaders of -the Christians fell covered with wounds, but the main body succeeded -in forcing their way through the centre of the army, and in making -their retreat to Beja in Lusitania.</p> - -<p>Muza was at a loss to know the meaning of this desperate sally. In -the morning he perceived the gates of the city wide open. A number of -ancient and venerable men presented themselves at his tent, offering -submission and imploring mercy, for none were left in the place but -the old, the infirm, and the miserable. Muza listened to them with -compassion, and granted their prayer, and the only tribute he exacted -was three measures of wheat and three of barley from each house or -family. He placed a garrison of Arabs in the city, and left there -a number of Jews to form a body of population. Having thus secured -two important places in Andalusia, he passed the boundaries of the -province, and advanced with great martial pomp into Lusitania.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Muza besieges the City of Merida.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -army of Muza was now augmented to about eighteen thousand horsemen, -but he took with him but few foot-soldiers, leaving them to garrison -the conquered towns. He met with no resistance on his entrance into -Lusitania. City after city laid its keys at his feet and implored -to be received in peaceful vassalage. One city alone prepared for -vigorous defense, the ancient Merida, a place of great extent, -uncounted riches, and prodigious strength. A noble Goth named Sacarus -was the governor,—a man of consummate wisdom, patriotism, and valor. -Hearing of the approach of the invaders, he gathered within the walls -all the people of the surrounding country, with their horses and -mules, their flocks and herds, and most precious effects. To insure -for a long time a supply of bread, he filled the magazines with -grain, and erected wind-mills on the churches. This done, he laid -waste the surrounding country to a great extent, so that a besieging -army would have to encamp in a desert.</p> - -<p>When Muza came in sight of this magnificent<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> city, he was struck with admiration. He -remained for some time gazing in silence upon its mighty walls and -lordly towers, its vast extent, and the stately palaces and temples -with which it was adorned. “Surely,” cried he, at length, “all the -people of the earth have combined their power and skill to embellish -and aggrandize this city. Allah Achbar! Happy will he be who shall -have the glory of making such a conquest!”</p> - -<p>Seeing that a place so populous and so strongly fortified would -be likely to maintain a long and formidable resistance, he sent -messengers to Africa to his son Abdalasis, to collect all the forces -that could be spared from the garrisons of Mauritania, and to hasten -and reinforce him.</p> - -<p>While Muza was forming his encampment, deserters from the city -brought him word that a chosen band intended to sally forth at -midnight and surprise his camp. The Arab commander immediately took -measures to receive them with a counter surprise. Having formed his -plan, and communicated it to his principal officers, he ordered -that, throughout the day, there should be kept up an appearance of -negligent confusion in his encampment. The outposts were feebly -guarded; fires were lighted in various places, as if preparing for -feasting; bursts of music and shouts of revelry resounded from -different quarters, and the whole camp seemed to be rioting in -careless security on the plunder of the land. As the night advanced, -the fires were gradually <span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg -162]</span> extinguished, and silence ensued, as if the soldiery had -sunk into deep sleep after the carousal.</p> - -<p>In the mean time, bodies of troops had been secretly and silently -marched to reinforce the outposts; and the renegado Magued, with a -numerous force, had formed an ambuscade in a deep stone quarry by -which the Christians would have to pass. These preparations being -made, they awaited the approach of the enemy in breathless silence.</p> - -<p>About midnight the chosen force intended for the sally assembled, -and the command was confided to Count Tendero, a Gothic cavalier -of tried prowess. After having heard a solemn mass and received -the benediction of the priest, they marched out of the gate with -all possible silence. They were suffered to pass the ambuscade in -the quarry without molestation; as they approached the Moslem camp -everything appeared quiet, for the foot-soldiers were concealed in -slopes and hollows, and every Arab horseman lay in his armor beside -his steed. The sentinels on the outposts waited until the Christians -were close at hand, and then fled in apparent consternation.</p> - -<p>Count Tendero gave the signal for assault, and the Christians -rushed confidently forward. In an instant an uproar of drums, -trumpets, and shrill war-cries burst forth from every side. An -army seemed to spring up from the earth; squadrons of horse came -thundering on them in front while the quarry poured forth legions of -armed warriors in their rear.</p> - -<p>The noise of the terrific conflict that took <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> place was heard on the -city walls, and answered by shouts of exultation, for the Christians -thought it rose from the terror and confusion of the Arab camp. In -a little while, however, they were undeceived by fugitives from the -fight, aghast with terror and covered with wounds. “Hell itself,” -cried they, “is on the side of these infidels; the earth casts forth -warriors and steeds to aid them. We have fought, not with men, but -devils!”</p> - -<p>The greater part of the chosen troops who had sallied were cut to -pieces in that scene of massacre, for they had been confounded by -the tempest of battle which suddenly broke forth around them. Count -Tendero fought with desperate valor, and fell covered with wounds. -His body was found the next morning, lying among the slain, and -transpierced with half a score of lances. The renegado Magued cut -off his head and tied it to the tail of his horse, and repaired with -this savage trophy to the tent of Muza; but the hostility of the Arab -general was of a less malignant kind. He ordered that the head and -body should be placed together upon a bier, and treated with becoming -reverence.</p> - -<p>In the course of the day a train of priests and friars came forth -from the city to request permission to seek for the body of the -count. Muza delivered it to them, with many soldier-like encomiums on -the valor of that good cavalier. The priests covered it with a pall -of cloth of gold, and bore it back in melancholy procession to the -city where it was received with loud lamentations.</p> - -<p>The siege was now pressed with great vigor, <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> and repeated assaults were made, but in -vain. Muza saw, at length, that the walls were too high to be scaled, -and the gates too strong to be burst open without the aid of engines, -and he desisted from the attack until machines for the purpose could -be constructed. The governor suspected from this cessation of active -warfare that the enemy flattered themselves to reduce the place by -famine; he caused, therefore, large baskets of bread to be thrown -from the wall, and sent a messenger to Muza to inform him that if his -army should be in want of bread he would supply it, having sufficient -corn in his granaries for a ten years’ siege.<a id="FNanchor_41" -href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> - -<p>The citizens, however, did not possess the undaunted spirit of -their governor. When they found that the Moslems were constructing -tremendous engines for the destruction of their walls, they lost all -courage, and, surrounding the governor in a clamorous multitude, -compelled him to send forth persons to capitulate.</p> - -<p>The ambassadors came into the presence of Muza with awe, for -they expected to find a fierce and formidable warrior in one who -had filled the land with terror; but, to their astonishment, they -beheld an ancient and venerable man, with white hair, a snowy beard, -and a pale, emaciated countenance. He had passed the previous night -without sleep, and had been all day in the field; he was exhausted, -therefore, by watchfulness and fatigue, and his garments were covered -with dust.</p> - -<p>“What a devil of a man is this,” murmured<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> the ambassadors, one to another, “to -undertake such a siege when on the verge of the grave. Let us defend -our city the best way we can; surely we can hold out longer than the -life of this graybeard.”</p> - -<p>They returned to the city, therefore, scoffing at an invader who -seemed fitter to lean on a crutch than wield a lance; and the terms -offered by Muza, which would otherwise have been thought favorable, -were scornfully rejected by the inhabitants. A few days put an end to -this mistaken confidence. Abdalasis, the son of Muza, arrived from -Africa at the head of his reinforcement; he brought seven thousand -horsemen and a host of Barbary archers, and made a glorious display -as he marched into the camp. The arrival of this youthful warrior -was hailed with great acclamations, so much had he won the hearts of -the soldiery by the frankness, the suavity, and generosity of his -conduct. Immediately after his arrival a grand assault was made upon -the city, and several of the huge battering engines being finished, -they were wheeled up and began to thunder against the walls.</p> - -<p>The unsteady populace were again seized with terror, and, -surrounding their governor with fresh clamors, obliged him to send -forth ambassadors a second time to treat of a surrender. When -admitted to the presence of Muza, the ambassadors could scarcely -believe their eyes, or that this was the same withered, white-headed -old man of whom they had lately spoken with scoffing. His hair -and beard were tinged of a ruddy brown;<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> his countenance was refreshed by repose -and flushed with indignation, and he appeared a man in the matured -vigor of his days. The ambassadors were struck with awe. “Surely,” -whispered they, one to the other, “this must be either a devil or a -magician, who can thus make himself old and young at pleasure!”</p> - -<p>Muza received them haughtily. “Hence,” said he, “and tell your -people I grant them the same terms I have already proffered, provided -the city be instantly surrendered; but, by the head of Mahomet, if -there be any further delay, not one mother’s son of ye shall receive -mercy at my hands!”</p> - -<p>The deputies returned into the city pale and dismayed. “Go forth! -go forth!” cried they, “and accept whatever terms are offered; of -what avail is it to fight against men who can renew their youth -at pleasure? Behold, we left the leader of the infidels an old -and feeble man, and to-day we find him youthful and vigorous.”<a -id="FNanchor_42" href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> - -<p>The place was, therefore, surrendered forthwith, and Muza entered -it in triumph. His terms were merciful. Those who chose to remain -were protected in persons, possessions, and religion; he took -the property of those only who abandoned the city or had fallen -in battle; together with all arms and horses, and the treasures -and ornaments of the churches. Among these<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> sacred spoils was found a cup made of -a single pearl, which a king of Spain, in ancient times, had brought -from the temple of Jerusalem when it was destroyed by Nabuchodonosor. -This precious relic was sent by Muza to the caliph, and was placed -in the principal mosque of the city of Damascus.<a id="FNanchor_43" -href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> - -<p>Muza knew how to esteem merit even in an enemy. When Sacarus, the -Governor of Merida, appeared before him, he lauded him greatly for -the skill and courage he had displayed in the defense of his city; -and, taking off his own scimetar, which was of great value, girded -it upon him with his own hands. “Wear this,” said he, “as a poor -memorial of my admiration; a soldier of such virtue and valor is -worthy of far higher honors.”</p> - -<p>He would have engaged the governor in his service, or have -persuaded him to remain in the city, as an illustrious vassal -of the caliph, but the noble-minded Sacarus refused to bend to -the yoke of the conquerors; nor could he bring himself to reside -contentedly in his country, when subjected to the domination of the -infidels. Gathering together all those who chose to accompany him -into exile, he embarked to seek some country where he might live in -peace and in the free exercise of his religion. What shore these -ocean pilgrims landed upon has never been revealed; but tradition -vaguely gives us to believe that it was some unknown island far in -the bosom of the Atlantic.<a id="FNanchor_44" href="#Footnote_44" -class="fnanchor">[44]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-8.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and - the “Land of Tadmir.”</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">After</span> -the capture of Merida, Muza gave a grand banquet to his captains and -distinguished warriors in that magnificent city. At this martial -feast were many Arab cavaliers who had been present in various -battles, and they vied with each other in recounting the daring -enterprises in which they had been engaged, and the splendid triumphs -they had witnessed. While they talked with ardor and exultation, -Abdalasis, the son of Muza, alone kept silence, and sat with a -dejected countenance. At length, when there was a pause, he turned to -his father and addressed him with modest earnestness. “My lord and -father,” said he, “I blush to hear your warriors recount the toils -and dangers they have passed while I have done nothing to entitle me -to their companionship. When I return to Egypt and present myself -before the caliph, he will ask me of my services in Spain; what -battle I have gained; what town or castle I have taken. How shall I -answer him? If you love me, then, as your son, give me a command, -intrust to me an enterprise, and let me acquire a name worthy to be -mentioned among men.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span></p> - -<p>The eyes of Muza kindled with joy at finding Abdalasis thus -ambitious of renown in arms. “Allah be praised!” exclaimed he, “the -heart of my son is in the right place. It is becoming in youth -to look upward and be aspiring. Thy desire, Abdalasis, shall be -gratified.”</p> - -<p>An opportunity at that very time presented itself to prove -the prowess and discretion of the youth. During the siege of -Merida, the Christian troops which had taken refuge at Beja had -reinforced themselves from Peñaflor, and suddenly returning, had -presented themselves before the gates of the city of Seville.<a -id="FNanchor_45" href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> -Certain of the Christian inhabitants threw open the gates and -admitted them. The troops rushed to the alcazar, took it by surprise, -and put many of the Moslem garrison to the sword; the residue made -their escape, and fled to the Arab camp before Merida, leaving -Seville in the hands of the Christians.</p> - -<p>The veteran Muza, now that the siege of Merida was at an end, -was meditating the recapture and punishment of Seville at the very -time when Abdalasis addressed him. “Behold, my son,” exclaimed he, -“an enterprise worthy of thy ambition! Take with thee all the troops -thou hast brought from Africa; reduce the city of Seville again to -subjection, and plant thy standard upon its alcazar. But stop not -there: carry thy conquering sword into the southern parts of Spain; -thou wilt find there a harvest of glory yet to be reaped.”</p> - -<p>Abdalasis lost no time in departing upon this<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> enterprise. He took -with him Count Julian, Magued el Rumi, and the Bishop Oppas, that -he might benefit by their knowledge of the country. When he came in -sight of the fair city of Seville, seated like a queen in the midst -of its golden plain, with the Guadalquivir flowing beneath its walls, -he gazed upon it with the admiration of a lover, and lamented in his -soul that he had to visit it as an avenger. His troops, however, -regarded it with wrathful eyes, thinking only of its rebellion and of -the massacre of their countrymen in the alcazar.</p> - -<p>The principal people of the city had taken no part in this gallant -but fruitless insurrection; and now, when they beheld the army of -Abdalasis encamped upon the banks of the Guadalquivir, would fain -have gone forth to make explanations, and intercede for mercy. The -populace, however, forbade any one to leave the city, and, barring -the gates, prepared to defend themselves to the last.</p> - -<p>The place was attacked with resistless fury. The gates were soon -burst open; the Moslems rushed in, panting for revenge. They confined -not their slaughter to the soldiery in the alcazar, but roamed -through every street, confounding the innocent with the guilty in one -bloody massacre, and it was with the utmost difficulty that Abdalasis -could at length succeed in staying their sanguinary career.<a -id="FNanchor_46" href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></p> - -<p>The son of Muza proved himself as mild in conquest as he had -been intrepid in assault. The moderation and benignity of his -conduct <span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> soothed -the terrors of the vanquished, and his wise precautions restored -tranquillity. Having made proper regulations for the protection of -the inhabitants, he left a strong garrison in the place to prevent -any future insurrection, and then departed on the further prosecution -of his enterprise.</p> - -<p>Wherever he went his arms were victorious; and his victories were -always characterized by the same magnanimity. At length he arrived -on the confines of that beautiful region, comprising lofty and -precipitous mountains and rich and delicious plains, afterwards known -by the name of the kingdom of Murcia. All this part of the country -was defended by the veteran Theodomir, who, by skillful management, -had saved a remnant of his forces after the defeat on the banks of -the Guadalete.</p> - -<p>Theodomir was a stanch warrior, but a wary and prudent man. He -had experienced the folly of opposing the Arabs in open field, -where their cavalry and armor gave them such superiority; on their -approach, therefore, he assembled all his people capable of bearing -arms, and took possession of the cliffs and mountain passes. “Here,” -said he, “a simple goat-herd, who can hurl down rocks and stones, -is as good as a warrior armed in proof.” In this way he checked -and harassed the Moslem army in all its movements,—showering down -missiles upon it from overhanging precipices, and waylaying it in -narrow and rugged defiles, where a few raw troops could make stand -against a host.</p> - -<p>Theodomir was in a fair way to baffle his foes,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> and oblige them to -withdraw from his territories; unfortunately, however, the wary -veteran had two sons with him, young men of hot and heady valor, -who considered all this prudence of their father as savoring of -cowardice, and who were anxious to try their prowess in the open -field. “What glory,” said they, “is to be gained by destroying an -enemy in this way, from the covert of rocks and thickets?”</p> - -<p>“You talk like young men,” replied the veteran. “Glory is a prize -one may fight for abroad, but safety is the object when the enemy is -at the door.”</p> - -<p>One day, however, the young men succeeded in drawing down -their father into the plain. Abdalasis immediately seized on the -opportunity, and threw himself between the Goths and their mountain -fastnesses. Theodomir saw too late the danger into which he was -betrayed. “What can our raw troops do,” said he, “against those -squadrons of horse that move like castles? Let us make a rapid -retreat to Orihuela, and defend ourselves from behind its walls.”</p> - -<p>“Father,” said the eldest son, “it is too late to retreat; remain -here with the reserve while my brother and I advance. Fear nothing; -am not I your son, and would I not die to defend you?”</p> - -<p>“In truth,” replied the veteran, “I have my doubts whether you -are my son. But if I remain here, and you should all be killed, -where then would be my protection? Come,” added he, turning to the -second son, “I trust that thou art virtually my son, let us hasten to -retreat before it is too late.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p> - -<p>“Father,” replied the youngest, “I have not a doubt that I am -honestly and thoroughly your son, and as such I honor you; but I owe -duty likewise to my mother, and when I sallied to the war she gave me -her blessing as long as I should act with valor, but her curse should -I prove craven and fly the field. Fear nothing, father; I will defend -you while living, and even after you are dead. You shall never fail -of an honorable sepulture among your kindred.”</p> - -<p>“A pestilence on ye both,” cried Theodomir, “for a brace of -misbegotten madmen! What care I, think ye, where ye lay my body -when I am dead? One day’s existence in a hovel is worth an age of -interment in a marble sepulchre. Come, my friends,” said he, turning -to his principal cavaliers, “let us leave these hot-headed striplings -and make our retreat; if we tarry any longer the enemy will be upon -us.”</p> - -<p>Upon this, the cavaliers and proud hidalgoes drew up scornfully -and tossed their heads: “What do you see in us,” said they, “that you -think we will show our backs to the enemy? Forward! was ever the good -old Gothic watchword, and with that will we live and die!”</p> - -<p>While time was lost in these disputes, the Moslem army kept -advancing until retreat was no longer practicable. The battle was -tumultuous and bloody. Theodomir fought like a lion, but it was -all in vain; he saw his two sons cut down, and the greater part of -their rash companions, while his raw mountain troops fled in all -directions.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> - -<p>Seeing there was no longer any hope, he seized the bridle of a -favorite page who was near him, and who was about spurring for the -mountains. “Part not from me,” said he, “but do thou, at least, -attend to my counsel, my son; and of a truth I believe thou art my -son, for thou art the offspring of one of my handmaids who was kind -unto me.” And indeed the youth marvelously resembled him. Turning -then the reins of his own steed, and giving him the spur, he fled -amain from the field, followed by the page; nor did he stop until he -arrived within the walls of Orihuela.</p> - -<p>Ordering the gates to be barred and bolted, he prepared to receive -the enemy. There were but few men in the city capable of bearing -arms, most of the youth having fallen in the field. He caused the -women, therefore, to clothe themselves in male attire, to put on hats -and helmets, to take long reeds in their hands instead of lances, and -to cross their hair upon their chins in semblance of beards. With -these troops he lined the walls and towers.</p> - -<p>It was about the hour of twilight that Abdalasis approached -with his army, but he paused when he saw the walls so numerously -garrisoned. Then Theodomir took a flag of truce in his hand, and -put a herald’s tabard on the page, and they two sallied forth to -capitulate, and were graciously received by Abdalasis.</p> - -<p>“I come,” said Theodomir, “on the behalf of the commander of -this city, to treat for terms worthy of your magnanimity and of his -dignity. You<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span> -perceive that the city is capable of withstanding a long siege, but -he is desirous of sparing the lives of his soldiers. Promise that -the inhabitants shall be at liberty to depart unmolested with their -property, and the city will be delivered up to you to-morrow morning -without a blow; otherwise we are prepared to fight until not a man be -left.”</p> - -<p>Abdalasis was well pleased to get so powerful a place upon such -easy terms, but stipulated that the garrison should lay down their -arms. To this Theodomir readily assented, with the exception, -however, of the governor and his retinue, which was granted out of -consideration for his dignity. The articles of capitulation were -then drawn out, and when Abdalasis had affixed his name and seal, -Theodomir took the pen and wrote his signature. “Behold in me,” said -he, “the governor of the city!”</p> - -<p>Abdalasis was pleased with the hardihood of the commander of the -place in thus venturing personally into his power, and entertained -the veteran with still greater honor. When Theodomir returned to the -city, he made known the capitulation, and charged the inhabitants to -pack up their effects during the night and be ready to sally forth -during the morning.</p> - -<p>At the dawn of day the gates were thrown open, and Abdalasis -looked to see a great force issuing forth, but to his surprise beheld -merely Theodomir and his page in battered armor, followed by a -multitude of old men, women, and children.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p> - -<p>Abdalasis waited until the whole had come forth, then turning -to Theodomir, “Where,” cried he, “are the soldiers whom I saw last -evening lining the walls and towers?”</p> - -<p>“Soldiers have I none,” replied the veteran. “As to my garrison, -behold it before you. With these women did I man my walls, and this -my page is my herald, guard, and retinue.”</p> - -<p>Upon this the Bishop Oppas and Count Julian exclaimed that the -capitulation was a base fraud and ought not to be complied with; but -Abdalasis relished the stratagem of the old soldier, and ordered -that the stipulations of the treaty should be faithfully performed. -Nay, so high an opinion did he conceive of the subtle wisdom of this -commander that he permitted him to remain in authority over the -surrounding country on his acknowledging allegiance and engaging to -pay tribute to the caliph; and all that part of Spain, comprising -the beautiful provinces of Murcia and Valencia, was long after -known by the Arabic name of its defender, and is still recorded in -Arabian chronicles as “The land of Tadmir.”<a id="FNanchor_47" -href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> - -<p>Having succeeded in subduing this rich and fruitful region, and -having gained great renown for his generosity as well as valor, -Abdalasis returned with the chief part of his army to the city of -Seville.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Muza arrives at Toledo.— Interview between - him and Taric.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -Muza ben Nosier had sent his son Abdalasis to subdue Seville, he -departed for Toledo to call Taric to account for his disobedience to -his orders; for, amidst all his own successes, the prosperous career -of that commander preyed upon his mind. What can content the jealous -and ambitious heart? As Muza passed through the land, towns and -cities submitted to him without resistance; he was lost in wonder at -the riches of the country and the noble monuments of art with which -it was adorned; when he beheld the bridges, constructed in ancient -times by the Romans, they seemed to him the work, not of men, but -of genii. Yet all these admirable objects only made him repine the -more that he had not had the exclusive glory of invading and subduing -the land; and exasperated him the more against Taric, for having -apparently endeavored to monopolize the conquest.</p> - -<p>Taric heard of his approach, and came forth to meet him at -Talavera, accompanied by many of the most distinguished companions -of his victories, and with a train of horses and mules laden with -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> spoils, with -which he trusted to propitiate the favor of his commander. Their -meeting took place on the banks of the rapid river Tietar, which -rises in the mountains of Placencia and throws itself into the Tagus. -Muza, in former days, while Taric had acted as his subordinate and -indefatigable officer, had cherished and considered him as a second -self; but now that he had started up to be a rival, he could not -conceal his jealousy. When the veteran came into his presence, he -regarded him for a moment with a stern and indignant aspect. “Why -hast thou disobeyed my orders?” said he. “I commanded thee to await -my arrival with reinforcements, but thou hast rashly overrun the -country, endangering the loss of our armies and the ruin of our -cause.”</p> - -<p>“I have acted,” replied Taric, “in such manner as I thought would -best serve the cause of Islam, and in so doing I thought to fulfill -the wishes of Muza. Whatever I have done has been as your servant; -behold your share as commander-in-chief of spoils which I have -collected.” So saying he produced an immense treasure in silver and -gold, and costly stuffs and precious stones, and spread it before -Muza.</p> - -<p>The anger of the Arab commander was still more kindled at the -sight of this booty, for it proved how splendid had been the -victories of Taric; but he restrained his wrath for the present, and -they proceeded together in moody silence to Toledo. When he entered -this royal city, however, and ascended to the ancient palace of the -Gothic kings, and reflected that all this had<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> been a scene of triumph to his rival, -he could no longer repress his indignation. He demanded of Taric -a strict account of all the riches he had gathered in Spain, even -of the presents he had reserved for the caliph, and, above all, -he made him yield up his favorite trophy, the talismanic table of -Solomon. When all this was done, he again upbraided him bitterly with -his disobedience of orders, and with the rashness of his conduct. -“What blind confidence in fortune hast thou shown,” said he, “in -overrunning such a country and assailing such powerful cities with -thy scanty force! What madness to venture everything upon a desperate -chance, when thou knewest I was coming with a force to make the -victory secure. All thy success has been owing to mere luck, not to -judgment nor generalship.”</p> - -<p>He then bestowed high praises upon the other chieftains for their -services in the cause of Islam, but they answered not a word, and -their countenances were gloomy and discontented; for they felt the -injustice done to their favorite leader. As to Taric, though his eye -burned like fire, he kept his passion within bounds. “I have done the -best I could to serve God and the caliph,” said he emphatically; “my -conscience acquits me, and I trust my sovereign will do the same.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps he may,” replied Muza, bitterly; “but, in the mean time, -I cannot confide his interests to a desperado who is heedless of -orders and throws everything at hazard. Such a general is unworthy to -be intrusted with the fate of armies.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span></p> - -<p>So saying, he divested Taric of his command, and gave it to Magued -the renegado. The gaunt Taric still maintained an air of stern -composure. His only words were, “The caliph will do me justice!” -Muza was so transported with passion at this laconic defiance that -he ordered him to be thrown into prison, and even threatened his -life.</p> - -<p>Upon this, Magued el Rumi, though he had risen by the disgrace -of Taric, had the generosity to speak out warmly in his favor. -“Consider,” said he, to Muza, “what may be the consequences of this -severity. Taric has many friends in the army; his actions, too, have -been signal and illustrious, and entitle him to the highest honors -and rewards, instead of disgrace and imprisonment.”</p> - -<p>The anger of Muza, however, was not to be appeased; and he -trusted to justify his measures by dispatching missives to the -caliph, complaining of the insubordination of Taric, and his rash -and headlong conduct. The result proved the wisdom of the caution -given by Magued. In the course of a little while Muza received a -humiliating letter from the caliph, ordering him to restore Taric to -the command of the soldiers “whom he had so gloriously conducted;” -and not to render useless “one of the best swords in Islam!”<a -id="FNanchor_48" href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> - -<p>It is thus the envious man brings humiliation and reproach upon -himself, in endeavoring to degrade a meritorious rival. When the -tidings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> came of -the justice rendered by the caliph to the merits of the veteran, -there was general joy throughout the army, and Muza read in the -smiling countenances of every one around him a severe censure upon -his conduct. He concealed, however, his deep humiliation, and -affected to obey the orders of his sovereign with great alacrity; -he released Taric from prison, feasted him at his own table, and -then publicly replaced him at the head of his troops. The army -received its favorite veteran with shouts of joy, and celebrated with -rejoicings the reconciliation of the commanders; but the shouts of -the soldiery were abhorrent to the ears of Muza.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-18.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Muza prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest.— - Siege of Saragossa.— Complete Subjugation of Spain.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -dissensions, which for a time had distracted the conquering army, -being appeased, and the Arabian generals being apparently once more -reconciled, Muza, as commander in-chief, proceeded to complete the -enterprise by subjugating the northern parts of Spain. The same -expeditious mode of conquest that had been sagaciously adopted by -Taric was still pursued. The troops were lightly armed, and freed -from every superfluous incumbrance. Each horseman, beside his arms, -carried a small sack of provisions, a copper vessel in which to -cook them, and a skin which served him for surcoat and for bed. The -infantry carried nothing but their arms. To each regiment or squadron -was allowed a limited number of sumpter-mules and attendants, barely -enough to carry their necessary baggage and supplies; nothing was -permitted that could needlessly diminish the number of fighting men, -delay their rapid movements, or consume their provisions. Strict -orders were again issued, prohibiting, on pain of death, all plunder -excepting the camp of an enemy, or cities given up to pillage.<a -id="FNanchor_49" href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span></p> - -<p>The armies now took their several lines of march. That under Taric -departed towards the northeast; beating up the country towards the -source of the Tagus, traversing the chain of Iberian or Arragonian -Mountains, and pouring down into the plains and valleys watered by -the Ebro. It was wonderful to see, in so brief a space of time, such -a vast and difficult country penetrated and subdued, and the invading -army, like an inundating flood, pouring its streams into the most -remote recesses.</p> - -<p>While Taric was thus sweeping the country to the northeast, Muza -departed in an opposite direction; yet purposing to meet him, and -to join their forces in the north. Bending his course westwardly, -he made a circuit behind the mountains, and then, advancing into -the open country, displayed his banners before Salamanca, which -surrendered without resistance. From hence he continued on towards -Astorga, receiving the terrified submission of the land; then turning -up the Valley of the Douro, he ascended the course of that famous -river towards the east; crossed the Sierra de Moncayo, and, arriving -on the banks of the Ebro, marched down along its stream, until he -approached the strong city of Saragossa, the citadel of all that part -of Spain. In this place had taken refuge many of the most valiant -of the Gothic warriors—the remnants of armies, and fugitives from -conquered cities. It was one of the last rallying-points of the land. -When Muza arrived, Taric had already been for some time before the -place, laying close siege;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg -184]</span> the inhabitants were pressed by famine, and had suffered -great losses in repeated combats; but there was a spirit and -obstinacy in their resistance surpassing anything that had yet been -witnessed by the invaders.</p> - -<p>Muza now took command of the siege, and ordered a general assault -upon the walls. The Moslems planted their scaling-ladders, and -mounted with their accustomed intrepidity, but were vigorously -resisted; nor could all their efforts obtain them a footing upon -the battlements. While they were thus assailing the walls, Count -Julian ordered a heap of combustibles to be placed against one of -the gates, and set on fire. The inhabitants attempted in vain, from -the barbican, to extinguish the flames. They burned so fiercely -that in a little while the gate fell from the hinges. Count Julian -galloped into the city, mounted upon a powerful charger, himself and -his steed all covered with mail. He was followed by three hundred of -his partisans, and supported by Magued the renegado, with a troop of -horse.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants disputed every street and public square; they -made barriers of dead bodies, fighting behind these ramparts of -their slaughtered countrymen. Every window and roof was filled with -combatants; the very women and children joined in the desperate -fight, throwing down stones and missiles of all kinds, and scalding -water upon the enemy.</p> - -<p>The battle raged until the hour of vespers, when the -principal inhabitants held a parley, and<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> capitulated for a surrender. Muza had -been incensed at their obstinate resistance, which had cost the -lives of so many of his soldiers; he knew, also, that in the city -were collected the riches of many of the towns of eastern Spain. -He demanded, therefore, beside the usual terms, a heavy sum to be -paid down by the citizens, called the contribution of blood; as -by this they redeemed themselves from the edge of the sword. The -people were obliged to comply. They collected all the jewels of -their richest families, and all the ornaments of their temples, and -laid them at the feet of Muza; and placed in his power many of their -noblest youths as hostages. A strong garrison was then appointed, -and thus the fierce city of Saragossa was subdued to the yoke of the -conqueror.</p> - -<p>The Arab generals pursued their conquests even to the foot of the -Pyrenees; Taric then descended along the course of the Ebro, and -continued along the Mediterranean coast; subduing the famous city -of Valencia, with its rich and beautiful domains, and carrying the -success of his arms even to Denia.</p> - -<p>Muza undertook with his host a wider range of conquest. He -overcame the cities of Barcelona, Gerona, and others that lay on -the skirts of the eastern mountains; then crossing into the land of -the Franks, he captured the city of Narbonne—in a temple of which -he found seven equestrian images of silver, which he brought off -as trophies of his victory.<a id="FNanchor_50" href="#Footnote_50" -class="fnanchor">[50]</a> Returning into Spain, he scoured <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> its northern regions -along Gallicia and the Asturias; passed triumphantly through -Lusitania, and arrived once more in Andalusia, covered with laurels -and enriched with immense spoils.</p> - -<p>Thus was completed the subjugation of unhappy Spain. All its -cities, and fortresses, and strongholds, were in the hands of the -Saracens, excepting some of the wild mountain tracts that bordered -the Atlantic and extended towards the north. Here, then, the story of -the conquest might conclude, but that the indefatigable chronicler, -Fray Antonio Agapida, goes on to record the fate of those persons -who were most renowned in the enterprise. We shall follow his steps, -and avail ourselves of his information, laboriously collected from -various sources; and, truly, the story of each of the actors in this -great historical drama bears with it its striking moral, and is full -of admonition and instruction.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Feud between the Arab Generals.— They are - summoned to appear before the Caliph at Damascus.— Reception - of Taric.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -heart of Muza ben Nosier was now lifted up, for he considered his -glory complete. He held a sway that might have gratified the ambition -of the proudest sovereign, for all western Africa and the newly -acquired peninsula of Spain were obedient to his rule; and he was -renowned throughout all the lands of Islam as the great conqueror of -the West. But sudden humiliation awaited him in the very moment of -his highest triumph.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the outward reconciliation of Muza and Taric, a -deep and implacable hostility continued to exist between them; and -each had busy partisans who distracted the armies by their feuds. -Letters were incessantly dispatched to Damascus by either party, -exalting the merits of their own leader and decrying his rival. -Taric was represented as rash, arbitrary, and prodigal, and as -injuring the discipline of the army, by sometimes treating it with -extreme rigor and at other times giving way to licentiousness and -profusion. Muza was lauded as prudent, sagacious, dignified, and -systematic in his dealings. The friends of Taric, on the other hand, -represented <span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> him -as brave, generous, and high-minded; scrupulous in reserving to his -sovereign his rightful share of the spoils, but distributing the rest -bounteously among his soldiers, and thus increasing their alacrity -in the service. “Muza, on the contrary,” said they, “is grasping and -insatiable; he levies intolerable contributions and collects immense -treasure, but sweeps it all into his own coffers.”</p> - -<p>The caliph was at length wearied out by these complaints, and -feared that the safety of the cause might be endangered by the -dissensions of the rival generals. He sent letters, therefore, -ordering them to leave suitable persons in charge of their several -commands, and appear, forthwith, before him at Damascus.</p> - -<p>Such was the greeting from his sovereign that awaited Muza on his -return from the conquest of northern Spain. It was a grievous blow to -a man of his pride and ambition; but he prepared instantly to obey. -He returned to Cordova, collecting by the way all the treasures he -had deposited in various places. At that city he called a meeting of -his principal officers, and of the leaders of the faction of apostate -Christians, and made them all do homage to his son Abdalasis, as emir -or governor of Spain. He gave this favorite son much sage advice for -the regulation of his conduct, and left with him his nephew, Ayub, -a man greatly honored by the Moslems for his wisdom and discretion; -exhorting Abdalasis to consult him on all occasions, and consider -him as his bosom counselor. He made a parting <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>address to his adherents, full of -cheerful confidence; assuring them that he would soon return, loaded -with new favors and honors by his sovereign, and enabled to reward -them all for their faithful services.</p> - -<p>When Muza sallied forth from Cordova, to repair to Damascus, his -cavalagada appeared like the sumptuous pageant of some oriental -potentate; for he had numerous guards and attendants splendidly armed -and arrayed, together with four hundred hostages, who were youthful -cavaliers of the noblest families of the Goths, and a great number -of captives of both sexes, chosen for their beauty, and intended as -presents for the caliph. Then there was a vast train of beasts of -burden, laden with the plunder of Spain; for he took with him all -the wealth he had collected in his conquests, and all the share that -had been set apart for his sovereign. With this display of trophies -and spoils, showing the magnificence of the land he had conquered, -he looked forward with confidence to silence the calumnies of his -foes.</p> - -<p>As he traversed the valley of the Guadalquivir he often turned and -looked back wistfully upon Cordova; and, at the distance of a league, -when about to lose sight of it, he checked his steed upon the summit -of a hill, and gazed for a long time upon its palaces and towers. “O -Cordova!” exclaimed he, “great and glorious art thou among cities, -and abundant in all delights. With grief and sorrow do I part from -thee, for sure I am it would give me length of days to abide within -thy pleasant walls!” When he had uttered these<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> words, say the Arabian chronicles, he -resumed his wayfaring; but his eyes were bent upon the ground, and -frequent sighs bespoke the heaviness of his heart.</p> - -<p>Embarking at Cadiz, he passed over to Africa with all his people -and effects, to regulate his government in that country. He divided -the command between his sons, Abdelola and Meruan, leaving the former -in Tangier and the latter in Cairvan. Thus having secured, as he -thought, the power and prosperity of his family, by placing all his -sons as his lieutenants in the country he had conquered, he departed -for Syria, bearing with him the sumptuous spoils of the West.</p> - -<p>While Muza was thus disposing of his commands, and moving -cumbrously under the weight of wealth, the veteran Taric was more -speedy and alert in obeying the summons of the caliph. He knew the -importance, where complaints were to be heard, of being first in -presence of the judge; besides, he was ever ready to march at a -moment’s warning, and had nothing to impede him in his movements. The -spoils he had made in his conquests had either been shared among his -soldiers, or yielded up to Muza, or squandered away with open-handed -profusion. He appeared in Syria with a small train of war-worn -followers, and had no other trophies to show than his battered armor -and a body seamed with scars. He was received, however, with rapture -by the multitude, who crowded to behold one of those conquerors -of the West, whose wonderful achievements were the theme of every -tongue. They <span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> -were charmed with his gaunt and martial air, his hard, sunburnt -features, and his scathed eye. “All hail,” cried they, “to the Sword -of Islam, the terror of the unbelievers! Behold the true model of a -warrior, who despises gain, and seeks for nought but glory!”</p> - -<p>Taric was graciously received by the caliph, who asked tidings -of his victories. He gave a soldier-like account of his actions, -frank and full, without any feigned modesty, yet without vainglory. -“Commander of the Faithful,” said he, “I bring thee no silver, nor -gold, nor precious stones, nor captives, for what spoils I did not -share with my soldiers I gave up to Muza as my commander. How I have -conducted myself the honorable warriors of thy host will tell thee; -nay, let our enemies, the Christians, be asked if I have ever shown -myself cowardly, or cruel, or rapacious.”</p> - -<p>“What kind of people are these Christians?” demanded the -caliph.</p> - -<p>“The Spaniards,” replied Taric, “are lions in their castles, -eagles in their saddles, but mere women when on foot. When vanquished -they escape like goats to the mountains, for they need not see the -ground they tread on.”</p> - -<p>“And tell me of the Moors of Barbary.”</p> - -<p>“They are like Arabs in the fierceness and dexterity of their -attacks and in their knowledge of the stratagems of war; they -resemble them, too, in feature, in fortitude, and hospitality; but -they are the most perfidious people upon earth, and never regard -promise or plighted faith.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span></p> - -<p>“And the people of Afranc; what sayest thou of them?”</p> - -<p>“They are infinite in number, rapid in the onset, fierce in -battle, but confused and headlong in flight.”</p> - -<p>“And how fared it with thee among these people? Did they sometimes -vanquish thee?”</p> - -<p>“Never, by Allah!” cried Taric, with honest warmth; “never did a -banner of mine fly the field. Though the enemy were two to one, my -Moslems never shunned the combat!”</p> - -<p>The caliph was well pleased with the martial bluntness of the -veteran, and showed him great honor; and wherever Taric appeared he -was the idol of the populace.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-13.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Muza arrives at Damascus.— His Interview - with the Caliph.— The Table of Solomon.— A rigorous Sentence.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-s.png" alt="Illustrated S" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Shortly</span> -after the arrival of Taric el Tuerto at Damascus, the caliph fell -dangerously ill, insomuch that his life was despaired of. During his -illness, tidings were brought that Muza ben Nosier had entered Syria -with a vast cavalcade, bearing all the riches and trophies gained -in the western conquests. Now Suleiman ben Abdelmelec, brother to -the caliph, was successor to the throne, and he saw that his brother -had not long to live, and wished to grace the commencement of his -reign by this triumphant display of the spoils of Christendom; he -sent messengers, therefore, to Muza, saying, “The caliph is ill and -cannot receive thee at present; I pray thee tarry on the road until -his recovery.” Muza, however, paid no attention to the messages of -Suleiman, but rather hastened his march to arrive before the death of -the caliph. And Suleiman treasured up his conduct in his heart.</p> - -<p>Muza entered the city in a kind of triumph, with a long train of -horses and mules and camels laden with treasure, and with the four -hundred<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> sons -of Gothic nobles as hostages, each decorated with a diadem and a -girdle of gold; and with one hundred Christian damsels, whose beauty -dazzled all beholders. As he passed through the streets he ordered -purses of gold to be thrown among the populace, who rent the air with -acclamations. “Behold,” cried they, “the veritable conqueror of the -unbelievers! Behold the true model of a conqueror, who brings home -wealth to his country!” And they heaped benedictions on the head of -Muza.</p> - -<p>The Caliph Waled Almanzor rose from his couch of illness to -receive the emir, who, when he repaired to the palace, filled one -of its great courts with treasures of all kinds; the halls, too, -were thronged with youthful hostages, magnificently attired, and -with Christian damsels, lovely as the houris of paradise. When the -caliph demanded an account of the conquest of Spain, he gave it -with great eloquence; but, in describing the various victories, he -made no mention of the name of Taric, but spoke as if everything -had been effected by himself. He then presented the spoils of the -Christians as if they had been all taken by his own hands; and when -he delivered to the caliph the miraculous table of Solomon, he dwelt -with animation on the virtues of that inestimable talisman.</p> - -<p>Upon this, Taric, who was present, could no longer hold his -peace. “Commander of the Faithful,” said he, “examine this precious -table, if any part be wanting.” The caliph examined the table, which -was composed of a single <span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg -195]</span> emerald, and he found that one foot was supplied by a -foot of gold. The caliph turned to Muza and said, “Where is the other -foot of the table?” Muza answered, “I know not; one foot was wanting -when it came into my hands.” Upon this, Taric drew from beneath -his robe a foot of emerald of like workmanship to the others, and -fitting exactly to the table, “Behold, O Commander of the Faithful!” -cried he, “a proof of the real finder of the table; and so is it -with the greater part of the spoils exhibited by Muza as trophies -of his achievements. It was I who gained them, and who captured the -cities in which they were found. If you want proof, demand of these -Christian cavaliers here present, most of whom I captured; demand of -those Moslem warriors who aided me in my battles.”</p> - -<p>Muza was confounded for a moment, but attempted to vindicate -himself. “I spake,” said he, “as the chief of your armies, under -whose orders and banners this conquest was achieved. The actions of -the soldier are the actions of the commander. In a great victory it -is not supposed that the chief of the army takes all the captives, -or kills all the slain, or gathers all the booty, though all are -enumerated in the records of his triumph.” The caliph, however, was -wroth, and heeded not his words. “You have vaunted your own deserts,” -said he, “and have forgotten the deserts of others; nay, you have -sought to debase another who has loyally served his sovereign; the -reward of your envy and covetousness be upon your head!” So saying, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span> he bestowed a -great part of the spoils upon Taric and the other chiefs, but gave -nothing to Muza; and the veteran retired amidst the sneers and -murmurs of those present.</p> - -<p>In a few days the Caliph Waled died, and was succeeded by his -brother Suleiman. The new sovereign cherished deep resentment against -Muza for having presented himself at court contrary to his command, -and he listened readily to the calumnies of his enemies—for Muza -had been too illustrious in his deeds not to have many enemies. -All now took courage when they found he was out of favor, and they -heaped slanders on his head; charging him with embezzling much of -the share of the booty belonging to the sovereign. The new caliph -lent a willing ear to the accusation, and commanded him to render up -all that he had pillaged from Spain. The loss of his riches might -have been borne with fortitude by Muza, but the stigma upon his fame -filled his heart with bitterness. “I have been a faithful servant to -the throne from my youth upwards,” said he, “and now am I degraded in -my old age. I care not for wealth, I care not for life, but let me -not be deprived of that honor which God has bestowed upon me!”</p> - -<p>The Caliph was still more exasperated at his repining, and -stripped him of his commands, confiscated his effects, fined -him two hundred thousand <i>pesants</i> of gold, and ordered that he -should be scourged and exposed to the noontide sun, and afterwards -thrown into prison.<a id="FNanchor_51" href="#Footnote_51" -class="fnanchor">[51]</a> The populace,<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span> also; reviled and scoffed at him in -his misery, and as they beheld him led forth to the public gaze, -and fainting in the sun, they pointed at him with derision, and -exclaimed, “Behold the envious man and the impostor; this is he who -pretended to have conquered the land of the unbelievers!”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of Spain.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">While</span> -these events were happening in Syria, the youthful Abdalasis, the son -of Muza, remained as emir or governor of Spain. He was of a generous -and benignant disposition, but he was open and confiding, and easily -led away by the opinions of those he loved. Fortunately his father -had left with him, as a bosom counselor, the discreet Ayub, the -nephew of Muza; aided by his advice, he for some time administered -the public affairs prudently and prosperously.</p> - -<p>Not long after the departure of his father, he received a letter -from him, written while on his journey to Syria; it was to the -following purport:—</p> - -<p>“Beloved son; honor of thy lineage; Allah guard thee from all harm -and peril! Listen to the words of thy father. Avoid all treachery, -though it should promise great advantage, and trust not in him who -counsels it, even though he should be a brother. The company of -traitors put far from thee; for how canst thou be certain that he -who has proved false to others will prove true to thee? Beware, O -my son, of the seductions of love. It is an idle passion, which -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>enfeebles the -heart and blinds the judgment; it renders the mighty weak, and makes -slaves of princes. If thou shouldst discover any foible of a vicious -kind springing up in thy nature, pluck it forth, whatever pang it -cost thee. Every error, while new, may easily be weeded out, but if -suffered to take root, it flourishes and bears seed, and produces -fruit an hundred-fold. Follow these counsels, O son of my affections, -and thou shalt live secure.”</p> - -<p>Abdalasis meditated upon this letter, for some part of it seemed -to contain a mystery which he could not comprehend. He called to him -his cousin and counselor, the discreet Ayub. “What means my father,” -said he, “in cautioning me against treachery and treason? Does he -think my nature so base that it could descend to such means?”</p> - -<p>Ayub read the letter attentively. “Thy father,” said he, “would -put thee on thy guard against the traitors Julian and Oppas, and -those of their party who surround thee. What love canst thou expect -from men who have been unnatural to their kindred, and what loyalty -from wretches who have betrayed their country?”</p> - -<p>Abdalasis was satisfied with the interpretation, and he acted -accordingly. He had long loathed all communion with these men, for -there is nothing which the open, ingenuous nature so much abhors -as duplicity and treason. Policy, too, no longer required their -agency; they had rendered their infamous service, and had no longer -a country to betray; but they might turn<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span> and betray their employers. Abdalasis, -therefore, removed them to a distance from his court, and placed -them in situations where they could do no harm, and he warned his -commanders from being in any wise influenced by their counsels or -aided by their arms.</p> - -<p>He now confided entirely in his Arabian troops, and in the Moorish -squadrons from Africa, and with their aid he completed the conquest -of Lusitania to the ultimate parts of the Algarbe, or west, even -to the shores of the great Ocean sea.<a id="FNanchor_52"></a><a -href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> From hence he sent his -generals to overrun all those vast and rugged sierras, which rise -like ramparts along the ocean borders of the peninsula; and they -carried the standard of Islam in triumph even to the Mountains of -Biscay, collecting all manner of precious spoil.</p> - -<p>“It is not enough, O Abdalasis,” said Ayub, “that we conquer and -rule this country with the sword; if we wish our dominion to be -secure, we must cultivate the arts of peace, and study to secure the -confidence and promote the welfare of the people we have conquered.” -Abdalasis relished counsel which accorded so well with his own -beneficent nature. He endeavored, therefore, to allay the ferment -and confusion of the conquest; forbade, under rigorous punishment, -all wanton spoil or oppression, and protected the native inhabitants -in the enjoyment and cultivation of their<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> lands, and the pursuit of all useful -occupations. By the advice of Ayub, also, he encouraged great numbers -of industrious Moors and Arabs to emigrate from Africa, and gave -them houses and lands; thus introducing a peaceful and Mahometan -population in the conquered provinces.</p> - -<p>The good effect of the counsels of Ayub were soon apparent. -Instead of a sudden but transient influx of wealth, made by the -ruin of the land, which left the country desolate, a regular and -permanent revenue sprang up, produced by reviving prosperity, and -gathered without violence. Abdalasis ordered it to be faithfully -collected, and deposited in coffers by public officers appointed in -each province for the purpose; and the whole was sent by ten deputies -to Damascus to be laid at the feet of the caliph; not as the spoils -of a vanquished country, but as the peaceful trophies of a wisely -administered government.</p> - -<p>The common herd of warlike adventurers, the mere men of the sword, -who had thronged to Spain for the purpose of ravage and rapine, -were disappointed at being thus checked in their career, and at -seeing the reign of terror and violence drawing to a close. What -manner of leader is this, said they, who forbids us to make spoil -of the enemies of Islam, and to enjoy the land we have wrested from -the unbelievers? The partisans of Julian, also, whispered their -calumnies. “Behold,” said they, “with what kindness he treats the -enemies of your faith; all the Christians who have borne arms against -you, and withstood your entrance into the land, are favored and -protected;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> but it -is enough for a Christian to have befriended the cause of the Moslems -to be singled out by Abdalasis for persecution, and to be driven with -scorn from his presence.”</p> - -<p>These insinuations fermented the discontent of the turbulent and -rapacious among the Moslems, but all the friends of peace and order -and good government applauded the moderation of the youthful emir.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-3.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Loves of Abdalasis and Exilona.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Abdalasis</span> -had fixed his seat of government at Seville, as permitting easy and -frequent communications with the coast of Africa. His palace was of -noble architecture, with delightful gardens extending to the banks of -the Guadalquivir. In a part of this palace resided many of the most -beautiful Christian females, who were detained as captives, or rather -hostages, to insure the tranquillity of the country. Those who were -of noble rank were entertained in luxury and magnificence; slaves -were appointed to attend upon them, and they were arrayed in the -richest apparel and decorated with the most precious jewels. Those of -tender age were taught all graceful accomplishments; and even where -tasks were imposed, they were of the most elegant and agreeable kind. -They embroidered, they sang, they danced, and passed their times -in pleasing revelry. Many were lulled by this easy and voluptuous -existence; the scenes of horror through which they had passed were -gradually effaced from their minds, and a desire was often awakened -of rendering themselves pleasing in the eyes of their conquerors.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span></p> - -<p>After his return from his campaign in Lusitania and during the -intervals of public duty, Abdalasis solaced himself in the repose -of this palace, and in the society of these Christian captives. He -remarked one among them who ever sat apart, and neither joined in the -labors nor sports of her companions.</p> - -<p>She was lofty in her demeanor, and the others always paid her -reverence; yet sorrow had given a softness to her charms, and -rendered her beauty touching to the heart. Abdalasis found her one -day in the garden with her companions; they had adorned their heads -with flowers, and were singing the songs of their country, but she -sat by herself and wept. The youthful emir was moved by her tears, -and accosted her in gentle accents. “O fairest of women!” said he, -“why dost thou weep, and why is thy heart troubled?” “Alas!” replied -she, “have I not cause to weep, seeing how sad is my condition, and -how great the height from which I have fallen? In me you behold the -wretched Exilona, but lately the wife of Roderick and the Queen of -Spain, now a captive and a slave!” and, having said these words, she -cast her eyes upon the earth, and her tears began to flow afresh.</p> - -<p>The generous feelings of Abdalasis were aroused at the sight of -beauty and royalty in tears. He gave orders that Exilona should be -entertained in a style befitting her former rank; he appointed a -train of female attendants to wait upon her, and a guard of honor -to protect her from all intrusion. All the time that he could spare -from public <span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> -concerns was passed in her society; and he even neglected his divan, -and suffered his counselors to attend in vain, while he lingered in -the apartments and gardens of the palace, listening to the voice of -Exilona.</p> - -<p>The discreet Ayub saw the danger into which he was falling. “O -Abdalasis,” said he, “remember the words of thy father. ‘Beware, my -son,’ said he, ‘of the seductions of love. It renders the mighty -weak, and makes slaves of princes!’” A blush kindled on the cheek of -Abdalasis, and he was silent for a moment. “Why,” said he, at length, -“do you seek to charge me with such weakness? It is one thing to be -infatuated by the charms of a woman, and another to be touched by -her misfortunes. It is the duty of my station to console a princess -who has been reduced to the lowest humiliation by the triumphs -of our arms. In doing so I do but listen to the dictates of true -magnanimity.”</p> - -<p>Ayub was silent, but his brow was clouded, and for once Abdalasis -parted in discontent from his counselor. In proportion as he was -dissatisfied with others or with himself, he sought the society of -Exilona, for there was a charm in her conversation that banished -every care. He daily became more and more enamored, and Exilona -gradually ceased to weep, and began to listen with secret pleasure -to the words of her Arab lover. When, however, he sought to urge his -passion, she recollected the light estimation in which her sex was -held by the followers of Mahomet, and assumed a countenance grave and -severe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span></p> - -<p>“Fortune,” said she, “has cast me at thy feet; behold I am thy -captive and thy spoil. But though my person is in thy power, my -soul is unsubdued; and know that, should I lack force to defend -my honor, I have resolution to wash out all stain upon it with my -blood. I trust, however, in thy courtesy as a cavalier to respect -me in my reverses, remembering what I have been, and that though -the crown has been wrested from my brow, the royal blood still -warms within my veins.”<a id="FNanchor_53" href="#Footnote_53" -class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> - -<p>The lofty spirit of Exilona, and her proud repulse, served but -to increase the passion of Abdalasis. He besought her to unite her -destiny with his, and share his state and power, promising that she -should have no rival nor copartner in his heart. Whatever scruples -the captive queen might originally have felt to a union with one of -the conquerors of her lord, and an enemy of her adopted faith, they -were easily vanquished, and she became the bride of Abdalasis. He -would fain have persuaded her to return to the faith of her fathers; -but though of Moorish origin, and brought up in the doctrines of -Islam, she was too thorough a convert to Christianity to consent, and -looked back with disgust upon a religion that admitted a plurality of -wives.</p> - -<p>When the sage Ayub heard of the resolution of Abdalasis to -espouse Exilona he was in despair. “Alas, my cousin!” said he, -“what infatuation possesses thee? Hast thou then entirely<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span> forgotten the letter -of thy father? ‘Beware, my son,’ said he, ‘of love; it is an idle -passion, which enfeebles the heart and blinds the judgment.’” But -Abdalasis interrupted him with impatience. “My father,” said he, -“spake but of the blandishments of wanton love; against these I am -secured by my virtuous passion for Exilona.”</p> - -<p>Ayub would fain have impressed upon him the dangers he ran -of awakening suspicion in the caliph, and discontent among the -Moslems, by wedding the queen of the conquered Roderick, and one -who was an enemy to the religion of Mahomet; but the youthful lover -only listened to his passion. Their nuptials were celebrated at -Seville with great pomp and rejoicings, and he gave his bride the -name of Omalisam; that is to say, she of the precious jewels;<a -id="FNanchor_54" href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> -but she continued to be known among the Christians by the name of -Exilona.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-1.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-8.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Fate of Abdalasis and Exilona.— Death of Muza.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-p.png" alt="Illustrated P" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Possession</span>, -instead of cooling the passion of Abdalasis, only added to its force; -he became blindly enamored of his beautiful bride, and consulted her -will in all things; nay, having lost all relish for the advice of -the discreet Ayub, he was even guided by the counsels of his wife in -the affairs of government. Exilona, unfortunately, had once been a -queen, and she could not remember her regal glories without regret. -She saw that Abdalasis had great power in the land,—greater even than -had been possessed by the Gothic kings,—but she considered it as -wanting in true splendor until his brow should be encircled with the -outward badge of royalty. One day when they were alone in the palace -of Seville, and the heart of Abdalasis was given up to tenderness, -she addressed him in fond yet timid accents. “Will not my lord be -offended,” said she, “if I make an unwelcome request?” Abdalasis -regarded her with a smile. “What canst thou ask of me, Exilona,” said -he, “that it would not be a happiness for me to grant?” Then Exilona -produced a crown of gold, sparkling with jewels, which had belonged -to the king, Don Roderick, and said, “Behold,<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> thou art king in authority; be so in -thy outward state. There is majesty and glory in a crown; it gives a -sanctity to power.” Then putting the crown upon his head, she held a -mirror before him that he might behold the majesty of his appearance. -Abdalasis chid her fondly, and put the crown away from him, but -Exilona persisted in her prayer. “Never,” said she, “has there been -a king in Spain that did not wear a crown.” So Abdalasis suffered -himself to be beguiled by the blandishments of his wife, and to be -invested with the crown and sceptre and other signs of royalty.<a -id="FNanchor_55" href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a></p> - -<p>It is affirmed by ancient and discreet chroniclers, that Abdalasis -only assumed this royal state in the privacy of his palace, and to -gratify the eye of his youthful bride; but where was a secret ever -confined within the walls of a palace? The assumption of the insignia -of the ancient Gothic kings was soon rumored about, and caused the -most violent suspicions. The Moslems had already felt jealous of -the ascendency of this beautiful woman, and it was now confidently -asserted that Abdalasis, won by her persuasions, had secretly turned -Christian.</p> - -<p>The enemies of Abdalasis, those whose rapacious spirits had been -kept in check by the beneficence of his rule, seized upon this -occasion to ruin him. They sent letters to Damascus, accusing him -of apostacy, and of an intention to seize upon the throne in right -of his wife,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span> -Exilona, as widow of the late king Roderick. It was added, that the -Christians were prepared to flock to his standard as the only means -of regaining ascendency in their country.</p> - -<p>These accusations arrived at Damascus just after the accession -of the sanguinary Suleiman to the throne, and in the height of his -persecution of the unfortunate Muza. The caliph waited for no proofs -in confirmation; he immediately sent private orders that Abdalasis -should be put to death, and that the same fate should be dealt to his -two brothers who governed in Africa, as a sure means of crushing the -conspiracy of this ambitious family.</p> - -<p>The mandate for the death of Abdalasis was sent to Abhilbar ben -Obeidah and Zeyd ben Nabegat, both of whom had been cherished friends -of Muza, and had lived in intimate favor and companionship with -his son. When they read the fatal parchment, the scroll fell from -their trembling hands. “Can such hostility exist against the family -of Muza?” exclaimed they. “Is this the reward for such great and -glorious services?” The cavaliers remained for some time plunged in -horror and consternation. The order, however, was absolute, and left -them no discretion. “Allah is great,” said they, “and commands us to -obey our sovereign.” So they prepared to execute the bloody mandate -with the blind fidelity of Moslems.</p> - -<p>It was necessary to proceed with caution. The open and magnanimous -character of Abdalasis had won the hearts of a great part of the -sol<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>diery, and -his magnificence pleased the cavaliers who formed his guard; it was -feared, therefore, that a sanguinary opposition would be made to any -attempt upon his person. The rabble, however, had been imbittered -against him from his having restrained their depredations, and -because they thought him an apostate in his heart, secretly bent upon -betraying them to the Christians. While, therefore, the two officers -made vigilant dispositions to check any movement on the part of the -soldiery, they let loose the blind fury of the populace by publishing -the fatal mandate. In a moment the city was in a ferment, and there -was a ferocious emulation who should be first to execute the orders -of the caliph.</p> - -<p>Abdalasis was at this time at a palace in the country not far -from Seville, commanding a delightful view of the fertile plain of -the Guadalquivir. Hither he was accustomed to retire from the tumult -of the court, and to pass his time among groves and fountains and -the sweet repose of gardens, in the society of Exilona. It was the -dawn of day, the hour of early prayer, when the furious populace -arrived at this retreat. Abdalasis was offering up his orisons in -a small mosque which he had erected for the use of the neighboring -peasantry. Exilona was in a chapel in the interior of the palace, -where her confessor, a holy friar, was performing mass. They were -both surprised at their devotions, and dragged forth by the hands of -the rabble. A few guards, who attended at the palace, would have made -defense, but they were overawed by the sight of the written mandate -of the caliph.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> - -<p>The captives were borne in triumph to Seville. All the beneficent -virtues of Abdalasis were forgotten; nor had the charms of Exilona -any effect in softening the hearts of the populace. The brutal -eagerness to shed blood, which seems inherent in human nature, was -awakened; and woe to the victims when that eagerness is quickened by -religious hate. The illustrious couple, adorned with all the graces -of youth and beauty, were hurried to a scaffold in the great square -of Seville, and there beheaded amidst the shouts and execrations of -an infatuated multitude. Their bodies were left exposed upon the -ground, and would have been devoured by dogs, had they not been -gathered at night by some friendly hand, and poorly interred in one -of the courts of their late dwelling.</p> - -<p>Thus terminated the loves and lives of Abdalasis and Exilona, in -the year of the Incarnation seven hundred and fourteen. Their names -were held sacred as martyrs to the Christian faith; but many read in -their untimely fate a lesson against ambition and vainglory; having -sacrificed real power and substantial rule to the glittering bauble -of a crown.</p> - -<p>The head of Abdalasis was embalmed and inclosed in a casket, -and sent to Syria to the cruel Suleiman. The messenger who bore it -overtook the caliph as he was performing a pilgrimage to Mecca. -Muza was among the courtiers in his train, having been released -from prison. On opening the casket and regarding its contents, the -eyes of the tyrant sparkled with malignant<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span> satisfaction. Calling the unhappy -father to his side, “Muza,” said he, “dost thou know this head?” The -veteran recognized the features of his beloved son, and turned his -face away with anguish. “Yes! well do I know it,” replied he; “and -may the curse of God light upon him who has destroyed a better man -than himself.”</p> - -<p>Without adding another word, he retired to Mount Deran, a prey -to devouring melancholy. He shortly after received tidings of the -death of his two sons, whom he had left in the government of western -Africa, and who had fallen victims to the jealous suspicions of the -Caliph. His advanced age was not proof against these repeated blows, -and this utter ruin of his late prosperous family, and he sank into -his grave sorrowing and broken-hearted.</p> - -<p>Such was the lamentable end of the conqueror of Spain; whose -great achievements were not sufficient to atone, in the eye of his -sovereign, for a weakness to which all men ambitious of renown are -subject; and whose triumphs eventually brought persecution upon -himself and untimely death upon his children.</p> - -<p>Here ends the legend of the Subjugation of Spain.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-10.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-5.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak" title="LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY."><big>LEGEND<br /> - <span class="small">OF</span><br /> - COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY.</big></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-21.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3 title="LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY.">LEGEND<br /> - <span class="small">OF</span><br /> - COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY.</h3> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">In the</span> -preceding legends is darkly shadowed out a true story of the woes -of Spain. It is a story full of wholesome admonition, rebuking the -insolence of human pride and the vanity of human ambition, and -showing the futility of all greatness that is not strongly based on -virtue. We have seen, in brief space of time, most of the actors in -this historic drama disappearing, one by one, from the scene, and -going down, conqueror and conquered, to gloomy and unhonored graves. -It remains to close this eventful history by holding up, as a signal -warning, the fate of the traitor whose perfidious scheme of vengeance -brought ruin on his native land.</p> - -<p>Many and various are the accounts given in ancient chronicles -of the fortunes of Count Julian and his family, and many are the -traditions on the subject still extant among the populace of Spain, -and perpetuated in those countless ballads<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span> sung by peasants and muleteers, which -spread a singular charm over the whole of this romantic land.</p> - -<p>He who has travelled in Spain in the true way in which the country -ought to be travelled,—sojourning in its remote provinces, rambling -among the rugged defiles and secluded valleys of its mountains, and -making himself familiar with the people in their out-of-the-way -hamlets and rarely-visited neighborhoods,—will remember many a group -of travellers and muleteers, gathered of an evening around the door -or the spacious hearth of a mountain venta, wrapped in their brown -cloaks, and listening with grave and profound attention to the long -historic ballad of some rustic troubadour, either recited with the -true <i>ore rotundo</i> and modulated cadences of Spanish elocution, -or chanted to the tinkling of a guitar. In this way he may have -heard the doleful end of Count Julian and his family recounted in -traditionary rhymes, that have been handed down from generation to -generation. The particulars, however, of the following wild legend -are chiefly gathered from the writings of the pseudo Moor Rasis; -how far they may be safely taken as historic facts it is impossible -now to ascertain; we must content ourselves, therefore, with their -answering to the exactions of poetic justice.</p> - -<p>As yet everything had prospered with Count Julian. He had -gratified his vengeance; he had been successful in his treason, and -had acquired countless riches from the ruin of his country. But -it is not outward success that constitutes<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> prosperity. The tree flourishes with -fruit and foliage while blasted and withering at the heart. Wherever -he went, Count Julian read hatred in every eye. The Christians -cursed him as the cause of all their woe; the Moslems despised and -distrusted him as a traitor. Men whispered together as he approached, -and then turned away in scorn; and mothers snatched away their -children with horror if he offered to caress them. He withered under -the execration of his fellow-men, and last, and worst of all, he -began to loathe himself. He tried in vain to persuade himself that he -had but taken a justifiable vengeance; he felt that no personal wrong -can justify the crime of treason to one’s country.</p> - -<p>For a time he sought in luxurious indulgence to soothe or forget -the miseries of the mind. He assembled round him every pleasure -and gratification that boundless wealth could purchase, but all in -vain. He had no relish for the dainties of his board; music had no -charm wherewith to lull his soul, and remorse drove slumber from -his pillow. He sent to Ceuta for his wife Frandina, his daughter -Florinda, and his youthful son Alarbot; hoping in the bosom of his -family to find that sympathy and kindness which he could no longer -meet with in this world. Their presence, however, brought him no -alleviation. Florinda, the daughter of his heart, for whose sake he -had undertaken this signal vengeance, was sinking a victim to its -effects. Wherever she went, she found herself a byword of shame and -reproach. The outrage she had suffered was im<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>puted to her as wantonness, and her -calamity was magnified into a crime. The Christians never mentioned -her name without a curse, and the Moslems, the gainers by her -misfortune, spake of her only by the appellation of Cava, the vilest -epithet they could apply to woman.</p> - -<p>But the opprobrium of the world was nothing to the upbraiding of -her own heart. She charged herself with all the miseries of these -disastrous wars—the deaths of so many gallant cavaliers, the conquest -and perdition of her country. The anguish of her mind preyed upon -the beauty of her person. Her eye, once soft and tender in its -expression, became wild and haggard; her cheek lost its bloom, and -became hollow and pallid, and at times there was desperation in -her words. When her father sought to embrace her she withdrew with -shuddering from his arms, for she thought of his treason and the -ruin it had brought upon Spain. Her wretchedness increased after her -return to her native country, until it rose to a degree of frenzy. -One day when she was walking with her parents in the garden of their -palace, she entered a tower, and, having barred the door, ascended to -the battlements. From thence she called to them in piercing accents, -expressive of her insupportable anguish and desperate determination. -“Let this city,” said she, “be henceforth called Malacca, in memorial -of the most wretched of women, who therein put an end to her days.” -So saying, she threw herself headlong from the tower, and was dashed -to pieces. The city, adds the ancient chronicler, received the name -thus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span> given it, -though afterwards softened to Malaga, which it still retains in -memory of the tragical end of Florinda.</p> - -<p>The Countess Frandina abandoned this scene of woe, and returned to -Ceuta, accompanied by her infant son. She took with her the remains -of her unfortunate daughter, and gave them honorable sepulture in -a mausoleum of the chapel belonging to the citadel. Count Julian -departed for Carthagena, where he remained plunged in horror at this -doleful event.</p> - -<p>About this time, the cruel Suleiman, having destroyed the family -of Muza, had sent an Arab general, named Alahor, to succeed Abdalasis -as emir or governor of Spain. The new emir was of a cruel and -suspicious nature, and commenced his sway with a stern severity that -soon made those under his command look back with regret to the easy -rule of Abdalasis. He regarded with an eye of distrust the renegado -Christians who had aided in the conquest, and who bore arms in the -service of the Moslems; but his deepest suspicions fell upon Count -Julian. “He has been a traitor to his own countrymen,” said he; “how -can we be sure that he will not prove traitor to us?”</p> - -<p>A sudden insurrection of the Christians who had taken refuge in -the Asturian Mountains, quickened his suspicions, and inspired him -with fears of some dangerous conspiracy against his power. In the -height of his anxiety, he bethought him of an Arabian sage named -Yuza, who had accompanied him from Africa. This son of science was -withered in form, and looked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg -222]</span> as if he had outlived the usual term of mortal life. In -the course of his studies and travels in the East, he had collected -the knowledge and experience of ages; being skilled in astrology, -and, it is said, in necromancy, and possessing the marvelous gift of -prophecy or divination. To this expounder of mysteries Alahor applied -to learn whether any secret treason menaced his safety.</p> - -<p>The astrologer listened with deep attention and overwhelming -brow to all the surmises and suspicion of the emir, then shut -himself up to consult his books and commune with those supernatural -intelligences subservient to his wisdom. At an appointed hour -the emir sought him in his cell. It was filled with the smoke of -perfumes; squares and circles and various diagrams were described -upon the floor, and the astrologer was poring over a scroll of -parchment, covered with cabalistic characters. He received Alahor -with a gloomy and sinister aspect; pretending to have discovered -fearful portents in the heavens, and to have had strange dreams and -mystic visions.</p> - -<p>“O emir,” said he, “be on your guard! treason is around you and -in your path; your life is in peril. Beware of Count Julian and his -family.”</p> - -<p>“Enough,” said the emir. “They shall all die! Parents and -children—all shall die!”</p> - -<p>He forthwith sent a summons to Count Julian to attend him in -Cordova. The messenger found him plunged in affliction for the recent -death of his daughter. The count excused himself, on account of this -misfortune, from obeying the commands of the emir in person, but -sent several of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span> -his adherents. His hesitation, and the circumstance of his having -sent his family across the straits to Africa, were construed by the -jealous mind of the emir into proofs of guilt. He no longer doubted -his being concerned in the recent insurrections, and that he had -sent his family away preparatory to an attempt by force of arms, to -subvert the Moslem domination. In his fury he put to death Siseburto -and Evan, the nephews of Bishop Oppas and sons of the former king, -Witiza, suspecting them of taking part in the treason. Thus did they -expiate their treachery to their country in the fatal battle of the -Guadalete.</p> - -<p>Alahor next hastened to Carthagena to seize upon Count Julian. So -rapid were his movements that the count had barely time to escape -with fifteen cavaliers, with whom he took refuge in the strong castle -of Marcuello, among the mountains of Aragon. The emir, enraged to -be disappointed of his prey, embarked at Carthagena and crossed the -straits to Ceuta, to make captives of the Countess Frandina and her -son.</p> - -<p>The old chronicle from which we take this part of our legend, -presents a gloomy picture of the countess in the stern fortress to -which she had fled for refuge—a picture heightened by supernatural -horrors. These latter the sagacious reader will admit or object -according to the measure of his faith and judgment; always -remembering that in dark and eventful times, like those in question, -involving the destinies of nations, the downfall of kingdoms, and the -crimes of rulers and mighty men, the hand of fate is sometimes <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span> strangely visible, and -confounds the wisdom of the worldly wise by intimations and portents -above the ordinary course of things. With this proviso, we make no -scruple to follow the venerable chronicler in his narration.</p> - -<p>Now so it happened that the Countess Frandina was seated late at -night in her chamber, in the citadel of Ceuta, which stands on a -lofty rock, overlooking the sea. She was revolving in gloomy thought -the late disasters of her family, when she heard a mournful noise -like that of the sea-breeze moaning about the castle walls. Raising -her eyes, she beheld her brother, the Bishop Oppas, at the entrance -of the chamber. She advanced to embrace him, but he forbade her with -a motion of his hand, and she observed that he was ghastly pale, and -that his eyes glared as with lambent flames.</p> - -<p>“Touch me not, sister,” said he, with a mournful voice, “lest thou -be consumed by the fire which rages within me. Guard well thy son, -for bloodhounds are upon his track. His innocence might have secured -him the protection of Heaven, but our crimes have involved him in -our common ruin.” He ceased to speak, and was no longer to be seen. -His coming and going were alike without noise, and the door of the -chamber remained fast bolted.</p> - -<p>On the following morning a messenger arrived with tidings that the -Bishop Oppas had been made prisoner in battle by the insurgent -Christians of the Asturias, and had died in fetters in a tower of the -mountains. The same messenger<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span> brought word that the Emir Alahor had -put to death several of the friends of Count Julian; had obliged him -to fly for his life to a castle in Aragon, and was embarking with a -formidable force for Ceuta.</p> - -<p>The Countess Frandina, as has already been shown, was of -courageous heart, and danger made her desperate. There were fifty -Moorish soldiers in the garrison; she feared that they would prove -treacherous, and take part with their countrymen. Summoning her -officers, therefore, she informed them of their danger, and commanded -them to put those Moors to death. The guards sallied forth to obey -her orders. Thirty-five of the Moors were in the great square, -unsuspicious of any danger, when they were severally singled out -by their executioners, and, at a concerted signal, killed on the -spot. The remaining fifteen took refuge in a tower. They saw the -armada of the emir at a distance, and hoped to be able to hold out -until its arrival. The soldiers of the countess saw it also, and -made extraordinary efforts to destroy these internal enemies before -they should be attacked from without. They made repeated attempts -to storm the tower, but were as often repulsed with severe loss. -They then undermined it, supporting its foundations by stanchions of -wood. To these they set fire, and withdrew to a distance, keeping -up a constant shower of missiles to prevent the Moors from sallying -forth to extinguish the flames. The stanchions were rapidly consumed, -and when they gave way the tower fell to the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span> ground. Some of the Moors were crushed -among the ruins; others were flung to a distance and dashed among the -rocks; those who survived were instantly put to the sword.</p> - -<p>The fleet of the emir arrived at Ceuta about the hour of vespers. -He landed, but found the gates closed against him. The countess -herself spoke to him from a tower, and set him at defiance. The emir -immediately lay siege to the city. He consulted the astrologer Yuza, -who told him that for seven days his star would have the ascendant -over that of the youth Alarbot, but after that time the youth would -be safe from his power, and would effect his ruin.</p> - -<p>Alahor immediately ordered the city to be assailed on every side, -and at length carried it by storm. The countess took refuge with her -forces in the citadel, and made desperate defense; but the walls -were sapped and mined, and she saw that all resistance would soon -be unavailing. Her only thoughts now were to conceal her child. -“Surely,” said she, “they will not think of seeking him among the -dead.” She led him, therefore, into the dark and dismal chapel. “Thou -art not afraid to be alone in this darkness, my child?” said she.</p> - -<p>“No, mother,” replied the boy; “darkness gives silence and sleep.” -She conducted him to the tomb of Florinda. “Fearest thou the dead, my -child?” “No, mother; the dead can do no harm, and what should I fear -from my sister?”</p> - -<p>The countess opened the sepulchre. “Listen, my son,” said she. -“There are fierce and cruel<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg -227]</span> people who have come hither to murder thee. Stay here in -company with thy sister, and be quiet as thou dost value thy life!” -The boy, who was of a courageous nature, did as he was bidden, and -remained there all that day, and all the night, and the next day -until the third hour.</p> - -<p>In the mean time the walls of the citadel were sapped, the -troops of the emir poured in at the breach, and a great part of the -garrison was put to the sword. The countess was taken prisoner, and -brought before the emir. She appeared in his presence with a haughty -demeanor, as if she had been a queen receiving homage; but when he -demanded her son, she faltered and turned pale, and replied, “My son -is with the dead.”</p> - -<p>“Countess,” said the emir, “I am not to be deceived; tell me where -you have concealed the boy, or tortures shall wring from you the -secret.”</p> - -<p>“Emir,” replied the countess, “may the greatest torments be my -portion, both here and hereafter, if what I speak be not the truth. -My darling child lies buried with the dead.”</p> - -<p>The emir was confounded by the solemnity of her words; but the -withered astrologer Yuza, who stood by his side regarding the -countess from beneath his bushed eyebrows, perceived trouble in her -countenance and equivocation in her words. “Leave this matter to me,” -whispered he to Alahor; “I will produce the child.”</p> - -<p>He ordered strict search to be made by the soldiery, and he -obliged the countess to be always present. When they came to -the chapel, her cheek turned pale and her lip quivered.<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> “This,” said the -subtile astrologer, “is the place of concealment!”</p> - -<p>The search throughout the chapel, however, was equally vain, and -the soldiers were about to depart, when Yuza remarked a slight gleam -of joy in the eye of the countess. “We are leaving our prey behind,” -thought he; “the countess is exulting.”</p> - -<p>He now called to mind the words of her asseveration, that her -child was with the dead. Turning suddenly to the soldiers, he ordered -them to search the sepulchres. “If you find him not,” said he, “drag -forth the bones of that wanton Cava, that they may be burned, and the -ashes scattered to the winds.”</p> - -<p>The soldiers searched among the tombs, and found that of Florinda -partly open. Within lay the boy in the sound sleep of childhood, and -one of the soldiers took him gently in his arms to bear him to the -emir.</p> - -<p>When the countess beheld that her child was discovered, she rushed -into the presence of Alahor, and, forgetting all her pride, threw -herself upon her knees before him.</p> - -<p>“Mercy! mercy!” cried she in piercing accents, “mercy on my son—my -only child! O emir! listen to a mother’s prayer and my lips shall -kiss thy feet. As thou art merciful to him so may the most high God -have mercy upon thee, and heap blessings on thy head.”</p> - -<p>“Bear that frantic woman hence,” said the emir, “but guard her -well.”</p> - -<p>The countess was dragged away by the soldiery,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span> without regard to her -struggles and her cries, and confined in a dungeon of the citadel.</p> - -<p>The child was now brought to the emir. He had been awakened by -the tumult, but gazed fearlessly on the stern countenances of the -soldiers. Had the heart of the emir been capable of pity, it would -have been touched by the tender youth and innocent beauty of the -child; but his heart was as the nether millstone, and he was bent -upon the destruction of the whole family of Julian. Calling to him -the astrologer, he gave the child into his charge with a secret -command. The withered son of the desert took the boy by the hand and -led him up the winding staircase of a tower. When they reached the -summit, Yuza placed him on the battlements.</p> - -<p>“Cling not to me, my child,” said he; “there is no danger.” “Father, -I fear not,” said the undaunted boy; “yet it is a wondrous height!”</p> - -<p>The child looked around with delighted eyes. The breeze blew his -curling locks from about his face, and his cheek glowed at the -boundless prospect; for the tower was reared upon that lofty -promontory on which Hercules founded one of his pillars. The surges -of the sea were heard far below, beating upon the rocks, the sea-gull -screamed and wheeled about the foundations of the tower, and the -sails of lofty caraccas were as mere specks on the bosom of the deep.</p> - -<p>“Dost thou know yonder land beyond the blue water?” said Yuza.</p> - -<p>“It is Spain,” replied the boy; “it is the land of my father and my -mother.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span></p> - -<p>“Then stretch forth thy hands and bless it, my child,” said the -astrologer.</p> - -<p>The boy let go his hold of the wall; and, as he stretched forth -his hands, the aged son of Ishmael, exerting all the strength of -his withered limbs, suddenly pushed him over the battlements. He -fell headlong from the top of that tall tower, and not a bone in his -tender frame but was crushed upon the rocks beneath.</p> - -<p>Alahor came to the foot of the winding stairs.</p> - -<p>“Is the boy safe?” cried he.</p> - -<p>“He is safe,” replied Yuza; “come and behold the truth with thine -own eyes.”</p> - -<p>The emir ascended the tower and looked over the battlements, and -beheld the body of the child, a shapeless mass on the rocks far -below, and the sea-gulls hovering about it; and he gave orders that -it should be thrown into the sea, which was done.</p> - -<p>On the following morning the countess was led forth from her -dungeon into the public square. She knew of the death of her child, -and that her own death was at hand, but she neither wept nor -supplicated. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were haggard with -watching, and her cheek was as the monumental stone; but there were -the remains of commanding beauty in her countenance and the majesty -of her presence awed even the rabble into respect.</p> - -<p>A multitude of Christian prisoners were then brought forth, and -Alahor cried out: “Behold the wife of Count Julian! behold one of -that traitorous family which has brought ruin upon yourselves<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span> and upon your -country!” And he ordered that they should stone her to death. But -the Christians drew back with horror from the deed, and said, “In -the hand of God is vengeance; let not her blood be upon our heads.” -Upon this the emir swore with horrid imprecations that whoever of -the captives refused should himself be stoned to death. So the cruel -order was executed, and the Countess Frandina perished by the hands -of her countrymen. Having thus accomplished his barbarous errand, -the emir embarked for Spain, and ordered the citadel of Ceuta to be -set on fire, and crossed the straits at night by the light of its -towering flames.</p> - -<p>The death of Count Julian, which took place not long after, closed -the tragic story of his family. How he died remains involved in -doubt. Some assert that the cruel Alahor pursued him to his retreat -among the mountains, and, having taken him prisoner, beheaded him; -others that the Moors confined him in a dungeon, and put an end to -his life with lingering torments; while others affirm that the tower -of the castle of Marcuello, near Huesca, in Aragon, in which he -took refuge, fell on him and crushed him to pieces. All agree that -his latter end was miserable in the extreme and his death violent. -The curse of Heaven, which had thus pursued him to the grave, was -extended to the very place which had given him shelter; for we -are told that the castle is no longer inhabited on account of the -strange and horrible noises that are heard in it; and that visions of -armed men are seen above it in the air; which<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span> are supposed to be the troubled spirits -of the apostate Christians who favored the cause of the traitor.</p> - -<p>In after times a stone sepulchre was shown, outside of the chapel -of the castle, as the tomb of Count Julian; but the traveller and -the pilgrim avoided it, or bestowed upon it a malediction; and the -name of Julian has remained a byword and a scorn in the land for the -warning of all generations. Such ever be the lot of him who betrays -his country.</p> - -<p>Here end the legends of the Conquest of Spain.</p> - -<p class="ti0 p1"><span class="smcap">Written in the Alhambra</span>, -<i>June 10, 1829</i>.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<h3 id="Page_232a">NOTE TO THE PRECEDING LEGEND.</h3> - -<hr class="sep" /> - -<p class="p2" lang="es">El licenciado Ardevines (lib. 2, c. 8) dize -que dichos Duendos caseros, o los del aire, hazen aparacer exercitos -y peleas, como lo que se cuenta por tradicion (y aun algunos personas -lo deponen como testigos de vista) de la torre y castello de -Marcuello, lugar al pie de las montañas de Aragon (aora inhabitable, -por las grandes y espantables ruidos, que en el se oyen) donde se -retraxo el Conde Don Julian, causa de la perdicion de España; sobre -el qual castillo, deze se ven en el aire ciertas visiones, como -de soldados, que el vulgo dize son los cavalleros y gente que le -favorecian.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p> - -<p lang="es">Vide “El Ente Dislucidado,” por Fray Antonio de -Fuentalapeña, Capuchin. Seccion 3, Subseccion 5, Instancia 8, Num. -644.</p> - -<p>As readers unversed in the Spanish language may wish to know the -testimony of the worthy and discreet Capuchin friar, Antonio de -Fuentalapeña, we subjoin a translation of it:—</p> - -<p>“The licentiate Ardevines (book ii., chap. 8) says that the said -house fairies (or familiar spirits), or those of the air, cause the -apparitions of armies and battles,—such as those which are related -in tradition (and some persons even depose to the truth of them as -eye-witnesses), of the town and castle of Marcuello, a fortress at -the foot of the mountains of Aragon (at present uninhabitable, on -account of the great and frightful noises heard in it), the place of -retreat of Count Don Julian, the cause of the perdition of Spain. It -is said that certain apparitions of soldiers are seen in the air, -which the vulgar say are those of the courtiers and people who aided -him.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-13.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak"><big>THE LEGEND OF PELAYO.</big></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="newpage"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span></p> - -<p>[<span class="smcap">The</span> “Legend of Pelayo,” a fragment -of which was printed in “The Spirit of the Fair,” in 1864, and -another, entitled “Pelayo and the Merchant’s Daughter,” in “The -Knickerbocker,” in 1840, is now first published entire.—<span -class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> -</div> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-3.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <p class="fauxh2">THE LEGEND OF PELAYO.</p> - <hr class="sep" /> - <h3 class="p1">CHAPTER I.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Obscurity of the Ancient Chronicles.— The Loves - of Doña Lucia and the Duke Favila.— Birth of Pelayo, and what - happened thereupon; His Early Fortunes, and His Tutelage under - the veteran Count Grafeses.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">It is</span> -the common lamentation of Spanish historians that, in the obscure -and melancholy space of time which succeeded the perdition of -their country, its history is a mere wilderness of dubious facts, -wild exaggerations, and evident fables. Many learned men in cells -and cloisters have passed their lives in the weary and fruitless -task of attempting to correct incongruous events and reconcile -absolute contradictions. The worthy Jesuit Pedro Abarca confesses -that for more than forty years, during which he had been employed -in theological controversies, he had never found any questions -so obscure and inexplicable as those rising out of this portion -of Spanish history; and that the only fruit of an indefatigable, -prolix, and even prodigious study of the subject, was a melancholy -and mortifying indecision.<a id="FNanchor_56" href="#Footnote_56" -class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p> <p><span class="pagenum" -id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span></p> <p>Let us console ourselves, -therefore, in our attempts to thread this mazy labyrinth with the -reflection that, if we occasionally err and become bewildered, we -do but share the errors and perplexities of our graver and more -laborious predecessors; and that, if we occasionally stray into the -flowery by-ways of fanciful tradition, we are as likely to arrive -at the truth as those who travel by more dry and dusty but not more -authenticated paths.</p> - -<p>We premise these suggestions before proceeding to cull, from the -midst of the fables and extravagances of ancient chronicles, a few -particulars of the story of Pelayo, the deliverer of Spain; whose -name, like that of William Wallace, the hero of Scotland, will ever -be linked with the glory of his country; but linked, like his, by a -band in which fact and fiction are indissolubly mingled.</p> - -<p>In the ensuing pages it is our intention to give little more than -an abstract of an old chronicle teeming with extravagances, yet -containing facts of admitted credibility, and presenting pictures of -Spanish life, partly sylvan, partly chivalrous, which have all the -quaint merit of the curious delineations in old tapestry.</p> - -<p>The origin of Pelayo is wrapped in great obscurity, though all -writers concur in making him of royal Gothic lineage. The chronicle -in question makes Pelayo the offspring of a love affair in the court -of Ezica, one of the last of the Gothic kings, who held his seat of -government at Toledo. Among the noble damsels<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span> brought up in the royal household -was the beautiful Lucia, niece and maid of honor to the queen. A -mutual passion subsisted between her and Favila, the youthful Duke -of Cantabria, one of the most accomplished cavaliers of the kingdom. -The duke, however, had a powerful rival in the Prince Witiza, son -to the king, and afterwards known, for the profligacy of his reign, -by the name of Witiza the Wicked. The prince, to rid himself of a -favored rival, procured the banishment of Favila to his estates in -Cantabria; not, however, before he had been happy in his loves in -stolen interviews with the fair Lucia. The cautious chronicler, -however, lets us know that a kind of espousal took place, by the -lovers plighting their faith with solemn vows before an image of the -Virgin, and as the image gave no sign of dissent by way of forbidding -the bans, the worthy chronicler seems to consider them as good as man -and wife.</p> - -<p>After the departure of the duke, the prince renewed his suit with -stronger hope of success, but met with a repulse which converted his -love into implacable and vengeful hate.</p> - -<p>The beautiful Lucia continued in attendance on the queen, but -soon became sensible of the consequences of her secret and informal -nuptials so tacitly sanctioned by the Virgin. In the process of time, -with great secrecy, she gave birth to a male child, whom she named -Pelayo. For fifteen days the infant was concealed in her apartment, -and she trusted all was safe, when, to her great terror, she -learned that her secret had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg -240]</span> been betrayed to Prince Witiza, and that search was to be -made for the evidence of her weakness.</p> - -<p>The dread of public scorn and menace of a cruel death overcame -even the feelings of a mother. Through means of a trusty female -of her chamber she procured a little ark, so constructed as to be -impervious to water. She then arrayed her infant in costly garments, -wrapping it in a mantle of rich brocade, and when about to part with -it, kissed it many times, and laid it in her lap, and wept over it. -At length the child was borne away by the Dueña of her chamber and -a faithful handmaid. It was dark midnight when they conveyed it to -the borders of the Tagus, where it washes the rocky foundations of -Toledo. Covering it from the dew and night air, they committed the -ark to the eddying current, which soon swept it from the shore. As -it glided down the rapid stream, says the ancient chronicle, they -could mark its course even in the darkness of the night; for it -was surrounded by a halo of celestial light.<a id="FNanchor_57" -href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> They knew not how to -account for this prodigy, says the same authentic writer, until they -remembered that the mother had blessed the child with the sign of -the cross, and had baptized it with her own hand. Others, however, -explain this marvel differently; for in this child, say they, was -centred the miraculous light which was afterwards to shine forth with -comfort and deliverance in the darkest hour of Spain.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span></p> - -<p>The chronicle quoted by Fray Antonio Agapida goes on to state -what befell the fair Lucia after the departure of the child. Her -apartments were searched at early dawn, but no proof appeared -to substantiate the charges made against her. The Prince Witiza -persisted in accusing her publicly of having brought disgrace upon -her line by her frailty. A cavalier of the court, suborned by him, -supported the accusation by an oath, and offered to maintain the -truth of it by his sword. A month was granted by the king for the -afflicted lady to find a champion, and a day appointed for the lists; -if none appeared, or if her champion were overcome, she was to be -considered guilty and put to death. The day arrived, the accusing -knight was on the ground in complete armor, proclamation was made, -but no one stepped forward to defend the lady. At length a trumpet -sounded; an unknown knight, with visor closed, entered the lists. -The combat was long and doubtful, for it would appear as if the Holy -Virgin was not perfectly satisfied with the nature of the espousals -which had taken place before her image. At length the accusing knight -was overcome and slain, to the great joy of the court and all the -spectators, and the beautiful Lucia was pronounced as immaculate as -the Virgin, her protectress.</p> - -<p>The unknown champion of course proved to be the Duke of Cantabria. -He obtained a pardon of the king for returning from banishment -without the royal permission; what is more, he obtained permission -formally to espouse the lady<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg -242]</span> whose honor he had so gallantly established. Their -nuptials were solemnized in due form and with great magnificence, -after which he took his blooming bride to his castle in Cantabria, to -be out of reach of the persecutions of the Prince Witiza.</p> - -<p>Having made this brief abstract of what occupies many a wordy page -in the ancient chronicle, we return to look after the fortunes of the -infant Pelayo, when launched upon the waves in the darkness of the -night.</p> - -<p>The ark containing this future hope of Spain, continues the old -chronicle, floated down the current of the Golden Tagus, where that -renowned river winds through the sylvan solitudes of Estremadura. All -night, and throughout the succeeding day and the following night, it -made its tranquil way: the stream ceased its wonted turbulence and -dimpled round it; the swallow circled round it with lively chirp and -sportive wing, the breezes whispered musically among the reeds, which -bowed their tall heads as it passed; such was the bland influence of -the protection of the Virgin.</p> - -<p>Now, so it happened that at this time there lived in a remote -part of Estremadura an ancient cavalier, a hale and hearty bachelor, -named the Count Grafeses. He had been a warrior in his youth, but -now, in a green and vigorous old age, had retired from camp and -court to a domain on the banks of the Tagus, inherited from his -Gothic ancestors. His great delight was in the chase, which he -followed successfully in the vast forests<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span> of Estremadura. Every morning heard the -woods resounding with the melody of hound and horn; and the heads of -stags, of wolves, and wild boars vied in his castle hall with the -helms and bucklers and lances, and the trophies of his youthful and -martial days.</p> - -<p>The jovial count was up at early dawn pursuing a boar in the thick -forest bordering the Tagus, when he beheld the little ark floating -down the stream. He ordered one of his huntsmen to strip and enter -the river and bring the ark to land. On opening it, he was surprised -to behold within an infant wrapped in costly robes, but pale and -wan, and apparently almost exhausted. Beside it was a purse of gold, -and on its bosom a cross of rubies and a parchment scroll, on which -was written, “Let this infant be honorably entertained; he is of -illustrious lineage; his name is Pelayo.”</p> - -<p>The good count shrewdly surmised the cause of this perilous -exposure of a helpless infant. He had a heart kind and indulgent -toward the weaker sex, as the heart of a genial old bachelor is -prone to be; and while he looked with infinite benevolence upon the -beauteous child, felt a glow of compassion for the unknown mother. -Commanding his huntsman to be silent as to what he had witnessed, he -took the infant in his arms and returned with it to his castle.</p> - -<p>Now, so it happened that the wife of his steward had, about a -week before, been delivered of a child which lived out a very few -days, leaving the mother in great affliction. The count gave<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span> her the infant, and -the money found with it, and told her the story of the ark, with a -strong injunction of secrecy, entreating her to take charge of the -child and rear it as her own. The good woman doubted the story, and -strongly suspected her master of having fallen into an error in his -old age; she received the infant, however, as a gift from Heaven, -sent to console her in her affliction, and pressed it with tears to -her bosom, for she thought of the child she had lost.</p> - -<p>Pelayo, therefore, was reared on the banks of the Tagus as the -offspring of the steward and his wife, and the adopted son of the -count. That veteran cavalier bore in mind, however, that his youthful -charge was of illustrious lineage, and took delight in accomplishing -him in all things befitting a perfect hidalgo. He placed him astride -of a horse almost as soon as he could walk; a lance and cross-bow -were his earliest playthings, and he was taught to hunt the small -game of the forest until strong enough to accompany the count in -his more rugged sports. Thus he was inured to all kinds of hardy -exercises, and rendered heedless of danger and fatigue. Nor was -the discipline of his mind neglected. Under the instructions of a -neighboring friar, he learned to read in a manner that surprised the -erudition of his foster-father; for he could con more correctly all -the orisons of the Virgin, and listened to mass, and attended all the -ceremonies of the Church, with a discretion truly exemplary. Some -ancient chroniclers have gone so far as to say that he even excelled -in clerkly craft; but this is most likely a fond exaggeration.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p> - -<p>Time glided by. King Ezica was gathered to his fathers, and his -son Witiza reigned in his stead. All the chivalry of the kingdom was -summoned to Toledo to give splendor to his coronation. The good old -count prepared, among the rest, to appear at a court from which he -had long been absent. His ancient serving-men were arrayed in the -antiquated garbs in which they had figured in his days of youthful -gallantry, and his household troops in the battered armor which had -seen hard service in the field, but which had long rusted in the -armory. He determined to take with him his adopted son Pelayo, now -seven years of age. A surcoat was made for him from the mantle of -rich brocade in which he had been found wrapped in the ark. A palfrey -was also caparisoned for him in warlike style. It was a rare sight, -says the old chronicler, to see the antiquated chivalry of the good -Count Grafeses parading across the bridge of the Tagus, or figuring -in the streets of Toledo, in contrast to the silken and shining -retinues of the more modern courtiers; but the veteran was hailed -with joy by many of the ancient nobles, his early companions in arms. -The populace, too, when they beheld the youthful Pelayo ambling by -his side on his gentle palfrey, were struck with the chivalrous -demeanor of the boy, and the perfect manner in which he managed his -steed.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-2.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> - <p class="subh3">What happened to Pelayo at the Court of Witiza.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Among</span> -the nobles, continues the old chronicle, who appeared in Toledo to -do homage to the new king was Favila, Duke of Cantabria. He left his -wife in their castle among the mountains,—for the fair Lucia was -still in the meridian of her beauty, and he feared lest the sight of -her might revive the passion of Witiza. They had no other fruit of -their union but a little daughter of great beauty, called Lucinda, -and they still mourned in secret the loss of their first-born. The -duke was related to Count Grafeses; and when he first beheld Pelayo -his heart throbbed, he knew not why, and he followed him with his -eyes in all his youthful sports. The more he beheld him the more his -heart yearned toward him, and he entreated the count to grant him the -youth for a time as a page, to be reared by him in all the offices of -chivalry, as was the custom in the houses of warlike nobles in those -days.</p> - -<p>The count willingly complied with his request, knowing the -great prowess of the Duke of Cantabria, who was accounted a mirror -of knightly virtue. “For my own part,” said he, “I am at present -but little capable of instructing the boy;<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span> for many years have passed since I gave -up the exercise of arms, and little am I worth at present excepting -to blow the horn and follow the hound.”</p> - -<p>When the ceremonies of the coronation were over, therefore, the -Duke of Cantabria departed for his castle, accompanied by the young -Pelayo and the count, for the good old cavalier could not yet tear -himself from his adopted child.</p> - -<p>As they drew near the castle, the duchess came forth with a grand -retinue; for they were as petty sovereigns in their domains. The duke -presented Pelayo to her as her page, and the youth knelt to kiss her -hand, but she raised him and kissed him on the forehead; and as she -regarded him the tears stood in her eyes.</p> - -<p>“God bless thee, gentle page,” said she, “and preserve thee to the -days of manhood; for thou hast in thee the promise of an accomplished -cavalier; joyful must be the heart of the mother who can boast of -such a son!”</p> - -<p>On that day, when the dinner was served with becoming state, -Pelayo took his place among the other pages in attendance, who were -all children of nobles; but the duchess called him to her as her -peculiar page. He was arrayed in his surcoat of brocade, made from -the mantle in which he had been folded in the ark, and round his neck -hung the cross of rubies.</p> - -<p>As the duchess beheld these things, she turned pale and trembled. -“What is the name of thy son,” said she to Count Grafeses. “His -name,” replied the count, “is Pelayo.” “Tell me of a truth,” demanded -she, still more <span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span> -earnestly, “is this indeed thy son?” The count was not prepared for -so direct a question. “Of a truth,” said he, “he is but the son of my -adoption; yet is he of noble lineage.” The duchess again addressed -him with tenfold solemnity. “On thy honor as a knight, do not trifle -with me; who are the parents of this child?” The count, moved by -her agitation, briefly told the story of the ark. When the duchess -heard it she gave a great sigh and fell as one dead. On reviving, she -embraced Pelayo with mingled tears and kisses, and proclaimed him as -her long-lost son.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-9.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - <p class="subhang">How Pelayo lived among the Mountains of - Cantabria.— His Adventure with the Needy Hidalgo of Gascony - and the Rich Merchant of Bordeaux.— Discourse of the Holy - Hermit.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -authentic Agapida passes over many pages of the ancient chronicle -narrating the early life of Pelayo, presenting nothing of striking -importance. His father, the Duke of Cantabria, was dead, and he was -carefully reared by his widowed mother at a castle in the Pyrenees, -out of the reach of the dangers and corruptions of the court. Here -that hardy and chivalrous education was continued which had been -commenced by his veteran foster-father on the banks of the Tagus. The -rugged mountains around abounded with the bear, the wild boar, and -the wolf, and in hunting these he prepared himself for the conflicts -of the field.</p> - -<p>The old chronicler records an instance of his early prowess in the -course of one of his hunting expeditions on the immediate borders -of France. The mountain passes and the adjacent lands were much -infested and vexed by marauders from Gascony. The Gascons, says the -worthy Agapida, were a people ready to lay their hands upon <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>everything they met. -They used smooth words when necessary, but force when they dared. -Though poor, they were proud: there was not one who did not plume -himself upon being a hijo de algo, or son of somebody. Whenever -Pelayo, therefore, hunted on the borders infested by these, he was -attended by a page conducting his horse, with his buckler and lance, -to be at hand in case of need.</p> - -<p>At the head of a band of fourteen of these self-styled hidalgos -of Gascony was a broken-down cavalier by the name of Arnaud. He and -four of his comrades were well armed and mounted, the rest were mere -scamper-grounds on foot, armed with darts and javelins. This band was -the terror of the border; here to-day, gone to-morrow; sometimes in -one pass of the mountains, sometimes in another; sometimes they made -descents into Spain, harassing the roads and marauding the country, -and were over the mountains again and into France before a force -could be sent against them.</p> - -<p>It so happened that while Pelayo with a number of his huntsmen was -on the border, this Gascon cavalier and his crew were on the maraud. -They had heard of a rich merchant of Bordeaux who was to pass through -the mountains on his way to one of the ports of Biscay, with which -several of his vessels traded, and that he would carry with him much -money for the purchase of merchandise. They determined to ease him -of his money-bags; for, being hidalgos who lived by the sword, they -considered all peaceful men of trade as lawful spoil, sent by Heaven -for the supply of men of valor and gentle blood.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p> - -<p>As they waylaid a lonely defile they beheld the merchant -approaching. He was a fair and portly man, whose looks bespoke the -good cheer of his native city. He was mounted on a stately and -well-fed steed; beside him on palfreys paced his wife, a comely dame, -and his daughter, a damsel of marriageable age, and fair to look -upon. A young man, his nephew, who acted as his clerk, rode with -them, and a single domestic followed.</p> - -<p>When the travellers had advanced within the defile, the bandoleros -rushed from behind a rock and set upon them. The nephew fought -valiantly and was slain; the servant fled; the merchant, though -little used to the exercise of arms, and of unwieldy bulk, made -courageous defense, having his wife and daughter and his money-bags -at hazard. He was wounded in two places and overpowered.</p> - -<p>The freebooters were disappointed at not finding the booty they -expected, and putting their swords to the breast of the merchant, -demanded where was the money with which he was to traffic in Biscay. -The trembling merchant informed them that a trusty servant was -following him at no great distance with a stout hackney laden with -bags of money. Overjoyed at this intelligence, they bound their -captives to trees and awaited the arrival of the treasure.</p> - -<p>In the mean time Pelayo was on a hill near a narrow pass, awaiting -a wild boar which his huntsmen were to rouse. While thus posted the -merchant’s servant, who had escaped, came run<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>ning in breathless terror, but fell -on his knees before Pelayo and craved his life in the most piteous -terms, supposing him another of the robbers. It was some time before -he could be persuaded of his mistake and made to tell the story -of the robbery. When Pelayo heard the tale, he perceived that the -robbers in question must be the Gascon hidalgos upon the scamper. -Taking his armor from the page, he put on his helmet, slung his -buckler round his neck, took lance in hand, and mounting his horse, -compelled the trembling servant to guide him to the scene of the -robbery. At the same time he dispatched his page to summon as many of -his huntsmen as possible to his assistance.</p> - -<p>When the robbers saw Pelayo advancing through the forest, the sun -sparkling upon his rich armor, and saw that he was attended but by a -single page, they considered him a new prize, and Arnaud and two of -his companions mounting their horses advanced to meet him. Pelayo put -himself in a narrow pass between two rocks, where he could only be -attacked in front, and, bracing his buckler and lowering his lance, -awaited their coming.</p> - -<p>“Who and what are ye,” cried he, “and what seek ye in this -land?”</p> - -<p>“We are huntsmen,” cried Arnaud, “in quest of game; and lo! it -runs into our toils.”</p> - -<p>“By my faith,” said Pelayo, “thou wilt find the game easier roused -than taken; have at thee for a villain.”</p> - -<p>So saying, he put spurs to his horse and<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span> charged upon him. Arnaud was totally -unprepared for so sudden an assault, having scarce anticipated a -defense. He hastily couched his lance, but it merely glanced on the -shield of Pelayo, who sent his own through the middle of his breast, -and threw him out of his saddle to the earth. One of the other -robbers made at Pelayo and wounded him slightly in the side, but -received a blow on the head which cleft his skull-cap and sank into -his brain. His companion, seeing him fall, galloped off through the -forest.</p> - -<p>By this time three or four of the robbers on foot had come up, -and assailed Pelayo. He received two of their darts on his buckler, -a javelin razed his cuirass, and his horse received two wounds. -Pelayo then rushed upon them and struck one dead; the others, seeing -several huntsmen advancing, took to flight; two were overtaken and -made prisoners, the rest escaped by clambering among rocks and -precipices.</p> - -<p>The good merchant of Bordeaux and his family beheld this scene -with trembling and amazement. They almost looked upon Pelayo as -something more than mortal, for they had never witnessed such feats -of arms. Still they considered him as a leader of some rival band -of robbers, and when he came up and had the bands loosened by which -they were fastened to the trees, they fell at his feet and implored -for mercy. It was with difficulty he could pacify their fears; the -females were soonest reassured, especially the daughter, for the -young maid was struck with the gentle demeanor and noble countenance -of Pelayo, and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span> -said to herself, Surely nothing wicked can dwell in so heavenly a -form.</p> - -<p>Pelayo now ordered that the wounds of the merchant should be -dressed, and his own examined. When his cuirass was taken off, his -wound was found to be but slight; but his men were so exasperated at -seeing his blood, that they would have put the two captive Gascons to -death had he not forbade them. He now sounded his hunting horn, which -echoed from rock to rock, and was answered by shouts and horns from -various parts of the mountains. The merchant’s heart misgave him; he -again thought he was among robbers; nor were his fears allayed when -he beheld in a little while more than forty men assembling together -from various parts of the forest, clad in hunting-dresses, with -boar-spears, darts, and hunting-swords, and each leading a hound by -a long cord. All this was a new and a wild world to the astonished -merchant, nor was his uneasiness abated when he beheld his servant -arrive leading the hackney laden with money. Certainly, said he to -himself, this will be too tempting a spoil for these wild men of the -mountains.</p> - -<p>The huntsmen brought with them a boar, which they had killed, and -being hungry from the chase, they lighted a fire at the foot of a -tree, and each cutting such portion of the boar as he liked best, -roasted it at the fire, and ate it with bread taken from his wallet. -The merchant, his wife, and daughter looked at all this and wondered, -for they had never beheld so savage a repast. Pelayo then inquired of -them if they did<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span> -not desire to eat. They were too much in awe of him to decline, -though they felt a loathing at the idea of this hunter’s fare. Linen -cloths were therefore spread under the shade of a great oak, to -screen them from the sun; and when they had seated themselves round -it, they were served, to their astonishment, not with the flesh of -the boar, but with dainty viands, such as the merchant had scarcely -hoped to find out of the walls of his native city of Bordeaux.</p> - -<p>While they were eating, the young damsel, the daughter of the -merchant, could not keep her eyes from Pelayo. Gratitude for his -protection, admiration of his valor, had filled her heart; and when -she regarded his noble countenance, now that he had laid aside his -helmet, she thought she beheld something divine. The heart of the -tender Donzella, says the old historian, was kind and yielding; and -had Pelayo thought fit to ask the greatest boon that love and beauty -could bestow,—doubtless meaning her own fair hand,—she would not have -had the cruelty to say him nay. Pelayo, however, had no such thought. -The love of woman had never yet entered in his heart: and though he -regarded the damsel as the fairest maiden he had ever beheld, her -beauty caused no perturbation in his breast.</p> - -<p>When the repast was over, Pelayo offered to conduct the merchant -and his family through the passes of the mountains, which were yet -dangerous from the scattered band of Gascons. The bodies of the -slain marauders were buried, and the corpse of the nephew of the -merchant was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span> -laid upon one of the horses captured in the battle. They then formed -their cavalcade and pursued their way slowly up one of the steep and -winding defiles of the Pyrenees.</p> - -<p>Towards sunset they arrived at the dwelling of a holy hermit. -It was hewn out of the solid rock, a cross was over the door, and -before it was a spreading oak, with a sweet spring of water at its -foot. Here the body of the merchant’s nephew was buried, close by the -wall of this sacred retreat, and the hermit performed a mass for the -repose of his soul. Pelayo then obtained leave from the holy father -that the merchant’s wife and daughter should pass the night within -his cell; and the hermit made beds of moss for them and gave them -his benediction; but the damsel found little rest, so much were her -thoughts occupied by the youthful cavalier who had delivered her from -death or dishonor.</p> - -<p>When all were buried in repose, the hermit came to Pelayo, who was -sleeping by the spring under the tree, and he awoke him and said, -“Arise my son, and listen to my words.” Pelayo arose and seated -himself on a rock, and the holy man stood before him, and the beams -of the moon fell on his silver hair and beard, and he said: “This is -no time to be sleeping; for know that thou art chosen for a great -work. Behold the ruin of Spain is at hand, destruction shall come -over it like a cloud, and there shall be no safeguard. For it is the -will of Heaven that evil shall for a time have sway, and whoever -withstands it shall be destroyed. But tarry thou not to see these -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> things, for -thou canst not relieve them. Depart on a pilgrimage, and visit the -sepulchre of our blessed Lord in Palestine, and purify thyself by -prayer, and enrol thyself in the order of chivalry, and prepare for -the work of the redemption of thy country. When thou shalt return, -thou wilt find thyself a stranger in the land. Thy residence will be -in wild dens and caves of the earth, which thy young foot has never -trodden. Thou wilt find thy countrymen harboring with the beasts -of the forest and the eagles of the mountains. The land which thou -leavest smiling with cornfields, and covered with vines and olives, -thou wilt find overrun with weeds and thorns and brambles; and wolves -will roam where there have been peaceful flocks and herds. But thou -wilt weed out the tares, and destroy the wolves, and raise again the -head of thy suffering country.”</p> - -<p>Much further discourse had Pelayo with this holy man, who revealed -to him many of the fearful events that were to happen, and counseled -him the way in which he was to act.</p> - -<p>When the morning sun shone upon the mountains, the party assembled -round the door of the hermitage, and made a repast by the fountain -under the tree. Then, having received the benediction of the hermit, -they departed, and travelled through the forests and defiles of the -mountain, in the freshness of the day; and when the merchant beheld -his wife and daughter thus secure by his side, and the hackney -laden with his treasure following close behind him, his heart was -light in his bosom, and he carolled as he went. But Pelayo<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> rode in silence, for -his mind was deeply moved by the revelations and the counsel of the -hermit; and the daughter of the merchant ever and anon regarded him -with eyes of tenderness and admiration, and deep sighs spoke the -agitation of her bosom.</p> - -<p>At length they came to where the forests and the rocks terminated, -and a secure road lay before them; and here Pelayo paused to take his -leave, appointing a number of his followers to attend and guard them -to the nearest town.</p> - -<p>When they came to part, the merchant and his wife were loud in -their thanks and benedictions; but for some time the daughter spake -never a word. At length she raised her eyes, which were filled with -tears, and looked wistfully at Pelayo, and her bosom throbbed, and -after a struggle between strong affection and virgin modesty her -heart relieved itself by words.</p> - -<p>“Señor,” said she, “I know that I am humble and unworthy of the -notice of so noble a cavalier, but suffer me to place this ring on -a finger of your right hand, with which you have so bravely rescued -us from death; and when you regard it, you shall consider it as a -memorial of your own valor, and not of one who is too humble to be -remembered by you.” With these words she drew a ring from off her -finger and put it upon the finger of Pelayo; and having done this, -she blushed and trembled at her own boldness, and stood as one -abashed, with her eyes cast down upon the earth.</p> - -<p>Pelayo was moved at her words, and at the touch of her fair hand, -and at her beauty as she<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg -259]</span> stood thus troubled and in tears before him; but as yet -he knew nothing of woman, and his heart was free from the snares of -love. “Amiga” (friend), said he, “I accept thy present, and will -wear it in remembrance of thy goodness.” The damsel was cheered by -these words, for she hoped she had awakened some tenderness in his -bosom; but it was no such thing, says the ancient chronicler, for his -heart was ignorant of love, and was devoted to higher and more sacred -matters; yet certain it is, that he always guarded well that ring.</p> - -<p>They parted, and Pelayo and his huntsmen remained for some time -on a cliff on the verge of the forest, watching that no evil befell -them about the skirts of the mountain; and the damsel often turned -her head to look at him, until she could no longer see him for the -distance and the tears that dimmed her eyes.</p> - -<p>And, for that he had accepted her ring, she considered herself -wedded to him in her heart, and never married; nor could be brought -to look with eyes of affection upon any other man, but for the true -love which she bore Pelayo she lived and died a virgin. And she -composed a book, continues the old chronicler, which treated of love -and chivalry, and the temptations of this mortal life,—and one part -discoursed of celestial things,—and it was called the “Contemplations -of Love;” because at the time she wrote it she thought of Pelayo, and -of his having received her jewel, and called her by the gentle name -of “Amiga;” and often thinking of him, and of<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span> her never having beheld him more, in -tender sadness she would take the book which she had written, and -would read it for him, and, while she repeated the words of love -which it contained, she would fancy them uttered by Pelayo, and -that he stood before her.<a id="FNanchor_58" href="#Footnote_58" -class="fnanchor">[58]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Pilgrimage of Pelayo, and what befell him on - his Return to Spain.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-p.png" alt="Illustrated P" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Pelayo</span>, -according to the old chronicle before quoted, returned to his home -deeply impressed with the revelations made to him by the saintly -hermit, and prepared to set forth upon the pilgrimage to the Holy -Sepulchre. Some historians have alleged that he was quickened to this -pious expedition by fears of violence from the wicked King Witiza; -but at this time Witiza was in his grave, and Roderick swayed the -Gothic sceptre; the sage Agapida is therefore inclined to attribute -the pilgrimage to the mysterious revelation already mentioned.</p> - -<p>Having arranged the concerns of his household, chosen the best -suit of armor from his armory, and the best horse from his stable, -and supplied himself with jewels and store of gold for his expenses, -he took leave of his mother and his sister Lucinda, as if departing -upon a distant journey in Spain, and, attended only by his page, set -out upon his holy wayfaring. Descending from the rugged Pyrenees, he -journeyed through the fair plains of France to Marseilles, where, -laying by his armor, and leaving his horses in safe keeping, he put -on a pilgrim’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> -garb, with staff and scrip and cockle-shell, and embarked on board of -a galley bound for Sicily. From Messina he voyaged in a small bark -to Rhodes; thence in a galliot, with a number of other pilgrims, -to the Holy Land. Having passed a year of pious devotion at the -Holy Sepulchre, and visited all the places rendered sacred by the -footsteps of our Lord, and of his mother the ever-blessed Virgin, and -having received the order of knighthood, he turned his steps toward -his native land.</p> - -<p>The discreet Agapida here pauses and forbears to follow the -ancient chronicler further in his narration, for an interval of -obscurity now occurs in the fortunes of Pelayo. Some who have -endeavored to ascertain and connect the links of his romantic -and eventful story, have represented him as returning from his -pilgrimage in time to share in the last struggle of his country, -and as signalizing himself in the fatal battle on the banks of the -Guadalete. Others declare that by the time he arrived in Spain the -perdition of the country was complete; that infidel chieftains bore -sway in the palaces of his ancestors; that his paternal castle was a -ruin, his mother in her grave, and his sister Lucinda carried away -into captivity.</p> - -<p>Stepping lightly over this disputed ground, the cautious Agapida -resumes the course of the story where Pelayo discovers the residence -of his sister in the city of Gijon, on the Atlantic coast, at the -foot of the Asturian Mountains. It was a formidable fortress, chosen -by Taric as a military<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg -263]</span> post, to control the seaboard, and hold in check the -Christian patriots who had taken refuge in the neighboring mountains. -The commander of this redoubtable fortress was a renegado chief, -who has been variously named by historians, and who held the sister -of Pelayo a captive; though others affirm that she had submitted to -become his wife, to avoid a more degrading fate. According to the old -chronicle already cited, Pelayo succeeded by artifice in extricating -her from his hands, and bearing her away to the mountains. They were -hotly pursued, but Pelayo struck up a steep and rugged defile, where -scarcely two persons could pass abreast, and partly by his knowledge -of the defiles, partly by hurling down great masses of rock to check -his pursuers, effected the escape of his sister and himself to a -secure part of the mountains. Here they found themselves in a small -green meadow, blocked up by a perpendicular precipice, whence fell a -stream of water with great noise into a natural basin or pool, the -source of the river Deva. Here was the hermitage of one of those -holy men who had accompanied the Archbishop Urbano in his flight -from Toledo, and had established a sanctuary among these mountains. -He received the illustrious fugitives with joy, especially when he -knew their rank and story, and conducted them to his retreat. A kind -of ladder led up to an aperture in the face of the rock, about two -pike lengths from the ground. Within was a lofty cavern capable of -containing many people, with an inner cavern of still greater<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span> magnitude. The outer -cavern served as a chapel, having an altar, a crucifix, and an image -of the blessed Mary.</p> - -<p>This wild retreat had never been molested; not a Moslem turban had -been seen within the little valley. The cavern was well known to the -Gothic inhabitants of the mountains and the adjacent valleys. They -called it the cave of Santa Maria; but it is more commonly known to -fame by the name of Covadonga. It had many times been a secure place -of refuge to suffering Christians, being unknown to their foes, and -capable of being made a natural citadel. The entrance was so far -from the ground that, when the ladder was removed, a handful of men -could defend it from all assault. The small meadow in front afforded -pasturage and space for gardens; and the stream that fell from the -rock was from a never-failing spring. The valley was high in the -mountains; so high that the crow seldom winged its flight across it, -and the passes leading to it were so steep and dangerous that single -men might set whole armies at defiance.</p> - -<p>Such was one of the wild fastnesses of the Asturias, which -formed the forlorn hope of unhappy Spain. The anchorite, too, was -one of those religious men permitted by the conquerors, from their -apparently peaceful and inoffensive lives, to inhabit lonely chapels -and hermitages, but whose cells formed places of secret resort and -council for the patriots of Spain, and who kept up an intercourse -and understanding among the scattered remnants of the nation. The -holy <span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span> man knew -all the Christians of the Asturias, whether living in the almost -inaccessible caves and dens of the cliffs, or in the narrow valleys -imbedded among the mountains. He represented them to Pelayo as brave -and hardy, and ready for any desperate enterprise that might promise -deliverance; but they were disheartened by the continued subjection -of their country, and on the point, many of them, of descending into -the plains and submitting, like the rest of their countrymen, to the -yoke of the conquerors.</p> - -<p>When Pelayo considered all these things, he was persuaded the time -was come for effecting the great purpose of his soul. “Father,” said -he, “I will no longer play the fugitive, nor endure the disgrace of -my country and my line. Here in this wilderness will I rear once more -the royal standard of the Goths, and attempt, with the blessing of -God, to shake off the yoke of the invader.”</p> - -<p>The hermit hailed his words with transport, as prognostics of -the deliverance of Spain. Taking staff in hand, he repaired to the -nearest valley inhabited by Christian fugitives. “Hasten in every -direction,” said he, “and proclaim far and wide among the mountains -that Pelayo, a descendant of the Gothic kings, has unfurled his -banner at Covadonga as a rallying-point for his countrymen.”</p> - -<p>The glad tidings ran like wildfire throughout all the regions -of the Asturias. Old and young started up at the sound, and -seized whatever weapons were at hand. From mountain cleft<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span> and secret glen issued -forth stark and stalwart warriors, grim with hardship, and armed -with old Gothic weapons that had rusted in caves since the battle of -the Guadalete. Others turned their rustic implements into spears and -battle-axes, and hastened to join the standard of Pelayo. Every day -beheld numbers of patriot warriors arriving in the narrow valley, or -rather glen, of Covadonga, clad in all the various garbs of ancient -Spain,—for here were fugitives from every province, who had preferred -liberty among the sterile rocks of the mountains to ease and slavery -in the plains. In a little while Pelayo found himself at the head -of a formidable force, hardened by toil and suffering, fired with -old Spanish pride, and rendered desperate by despair. With these he -maintained a warlike sway among the mountains. Did any infidel troops -attempt to penetrate to their stronghold, the signal fires blazed -from height to height, the steep passes and defiles bristled with -armed men, and rocks were hurled upon the heads of the intruders.</p> - -<p>By degrees the forces of Pelayo increased so much in number, and -in courage of heart, that he sallied forth occasionally from the -mountains, swept the sea-coast, assailed the Moors in their towns -and villages, put many of them to the sword, and returned laden with -spoil to the mountains.</p> - -<p>His name now became the terror of the infidels, and the hope -and consolation of the Christians. The heart of old Gothic Spain -was once more lifted up, and hailed his standard as the<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span> harbinger of happier -days. Her scattered sons felt again as a people, and the spirit -of empire arose once more among them. Gathering together from all -parts of the Asturias in the Valley of Cangas, they resolved to -elect their champion their sovereign. Placing the feet of Pelayo -upon a shield, several of the starkest warriors raised him aloft, -according to ancient Gothic ceremonial, and presented him as king. -The multitude rent the air with their transports, and the mountain -cliffs, which so long had echoed nothing but lamentations, now -resounded with shouts of joy.<a id="FNanchor_59" href="#Footnote_59" -class="fnanchor">[59]</a> Thus terminated the interregnum of -Christian Spain, which had lasted since the overthrow of King -Roderick and his host on the banks of the Guadalete, and the new king -continued with augmented zeal his victorious expeditions against the -infidels.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> - <p class="subh3">The Battle of Covadonga.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">Tidings</span> -soon spread throughout Spain that the Christians of the Asturias were -in arms and had proclaimed a king among the mountains. The veteran -chief, Taric el Tuerto, was alarmed for the safety of the seaboard, -and dreaded lest this insurrection should extend into the plains. He -despatched, therefore, in all haste, a powerful force from Cordova, -under the command of Ibrahim Alcamar, one of his most experienced -captains, with orders to penetrate the mountains and crush this -dangerous rebellion. The perfidious Bishop Oppas, who had promoted -the perdition of Spain, was sent with this host, in the hope that -through his artful eloquence Pelayo might be induced to lay down his -arms and his newly assumed sceptre.</p> - -<p>The army made rapid marches, and in a few days arrived among the -narrow valleys of the Asturias. The Christians had received notice -of their approach, and fled to their fastnesses. The Moors found -the valleys silent and deserted; there were traces of men, but not -a man was to be seen. They passed through the most wild and dreary -defiles, among impending rocks,—here and there<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span> varied by small green strips of -mountain meadow,—and directed their march for the lofty valley, or -rather glen, of Covadonga, whither they learnt from their scouts that -Pelayo had retired.</p> - -<p>The newly elected king, when he heard of the approach of this -mighty force, sent his sister, and all the women and children, to a -distant and secret part of the mountain. He then chose a thousand -of his best armed and most powerful men, and placed them within the -cave. The lighter armed and less vigorous he ordered to climb to -the summit of the impending rocks, and conceal themselves among the -thickets with which they were crowned. This done, he entered the -cavern and caused the ladder leading to it to be drawn up.</p> - -<p>In a little while the bray of distant trumpets, and the din of -atabals resounded up the glen, and soon the whole gorge of the -mountain glistened with armed men; squadron after squadron of swarthy -Arabs spurred into the valley, which was soon whitened by their -tents. The veteran Ibrahim Alcamar, trusting that he had struck -dismay into the Christians by this powerful display, sent the crafty -Bishop Oppas to parley with Pelayo, and persuade him to surrender.</p> - -<p>The bishop advanced on his steed until within a short distance of -the cave, and Pelayo appeared at its entrance with lance in hand. -The silver-tongued prelate urged him to submit to the Moslem power, -assuring him that he would be rewarded with great honors and estates. -He represented the mildness of the conquerors to all who submitted -to their sway, and the hopelessness of<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span> resistance. “Remember,” said he, “how -mighty was the power of the Goths, who vanquished both Romans and -Barbarians, yet how completely was it broken down and annihilated -by these people. If the whole nation in arms could not stand before -them, what canst thou do with thy wretched cavern and thy handful -of mountaineers? Be counseled then, Pelayo; give up this desperate -attempt; accept the liberal terms offered thee; abandon these sterile -mountains, and return to the plains to live in wealth and honor under -the magnanimous rule of Taric.”</p> - -<p>Pelayo listened to the hoary traitor with mingled impatience and -disdain. “Perdition has come upon Spain,” replied he, “through the -degeneracy of her sons, the sins of her rulers,—like the wicked King -Witiza thy brother,—and the treachery of base men like thee. But when -punishment is at an end, mercy and forgiveness succeed. The Goths -have reached the lowest extreme of misery; it is for me to aid their -fortune in the turn, and soon I trust will it arise to its former -grandeur. As to thee, Don Oppas, thou shalt stand abhorred among men, -false to thy country, traitorous to thy king, a renegado Christian, -and an apostate priest.”</p> - -<p>So saying he turned his back upon the bishop and retired into his -cave.</p> - -<p>Oppas returned pale with shame and malice to Alcamar. “These -people,” said he, “are stiff-necked in their rebellion; their -punishment should be according to their obstinacy, and should serve -as a terror to evil doers; not one of them should be permitted to -survive.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span></p> - -<p>Upon this Alcamar ordered a grand assault upon the cavern; and the -slingers and the cross-bow men advanced in great force, and with a -din of atabals and trumpets that threatened to rend the very rocks. -They discharged showers of stones and arrows at the mouth of the -cavern, but their missiles rebounded from the face of the rock, and -many of them fell upon their own heads. This is recorded as a miracle -by pious chroniclers of yore, who affirm that the stones and arrows -absolutely turned in the air and killed those who had discharged -them.</p> - -<p>When Alcamar and Oppas saw that the attack was ineffectual, they -brought up fresh forces and made preparations to scale the mouth of -the cavern. At this moment, says the old chronicle, a banner was put -in the hand of Pelayo, bearing a white cross on a blood-red field, -and inscribed on it in Chaldean characters was the name of Jesus. -And a voice spake unto him and said, “Arouse thy strength; go forth -in the name of Jesus Christ, and thou shalt conquer.” Who gave -the banner and uttered the words has never been known; the whole, -therefore, stands recorded as a miracle.</p> - -<p>Then Pelayo elevated the banner. “Behold,” said he, “a sign from -Heaven,—a sacred cross sent to lead us on to victory.”</p> - -<p>Upon this the people gave a great shout of joy; and when the -Saracens heard that shout within the entrails of the mountain their -hearts quaked, for it was like the roar of a volcano giving token of -an eruption.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p> - -<p>Before they could recover from their astonishment, the Christians -issued in a torrent from the cave, all fired with rage and holy -confidence. By their impetuous assault they bore back the first rank -of their adversaries and forced it upon those behind, and as there -was no space in that narrow valley to display a front of war, or for -many to fight at a time, the numbers of the foe but caused their -confusion. The horse trampled on the foot, and the late formidable -host became a mere struggling and distracted multitude. In the front -was carnage and confusion, in the rear terror and fright; wherever -the sacred standard was borne, the infidels appeared to fall before -it, as if smitten by some invisible hand rather than by the Christian -band.</p> - -<p>Early in the fight Pelayo encountered Ibrahim Alcamar. They fought -hand to hand on the border of the pool from which springs the river -Deva, and the Saracen was slain upon the margin of that pool, and his -blood mingled with its waters.</p> - -<p>When the Bishop Oppas beheld this he would have fled, but the -valley was closed up by the mass of combatants, and Pelayo overtook -him and defied him to the fight. But the bishop, though armed, was -as craven as he was false, and yielding up his weapons implored -for mercy. So Pelayo spared his life, but sent him bound to the -cavern.</p> - -<p>The whole Moorish host now took to headlong flight. Some attempted -to clamber to the summit of the mountains, but they were assailed -by <span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span> the troops -stationed there by Pelayo, who showered down darts and arrows and -great masses of rock, making fearful havoc.</p> - -<p>The great body of the army fled by the road leading along the -ledge or shelf overhanging the deep ravine of the Deva; but as they -crowded in one dense multitude upon the projecting precipice, the -whole mass suddenly gave way, and horse and horseman, tree and rock, -were precipitated in one tremendous ruin into the raging river. -Thus perished a great part of the flying army. The venerable Bishop -Sebastiano, who records this event with becoming awe, as another -miracle wrought in favor of the Christians, assures us that, in -his time, many years afterwards, when during the winter season -the Deva would swell and rage and tear away its banks, spears and -scimetars and corselets, and the mingled bones of men and steeds, -would be uncovered, being the wrecks and relics of the Moslem host, -thus marvelously destroyed.<a id="FNanchor_60" href="#Footnote_60" -class="fnanchor">[60]</a></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—To satisfy all doubts with -respect to the miraculous banner of Pelayo, that precious relic is -still preserved in the sacred chamber of the church of Oviedo, richly -ornamented with gold and precious stones. It was removed to that -place by order of Alonzo the Third, from the church of Santa Cruz, -near Cangas, which was erected by Favila, the son and successor of -Pelayo, in memory of this victory.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-1.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-12.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Pelayo becomes King of Leon.— His Death.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -Pelayo beheld his enemies thus scattered and destroyed, he saw that -Heaven was on his side, and proceeded to follow up his victory. -Rearing the sacred banner, he descended through the valleys of -the Asturias, his army augmenting, like a mountain torrent, as it -rolled along; for the Christians saw in the victory of Covadonga a -miraculous interposition of Providence in behalf of ruined Spain, and -hastened from all parts to join the standard of the deliverer.</p> - -<p>Emboldened by numbers, and by the enthusiasm of his troops, Pelayo -directed his march towards the fortress of Gijon. The renegado -Magued, however, did not await his coming. His heart failed him -on hearing of the defeat and death of Alcamar, the destruction of -the Moslem army, and the augmenting force of the Christians; and, -abandoning his post, he marched towards Leon with the greatest -part of his troops. Pelayo received intelligence of his movements, -and advancing rapidly through the mountains, encountered him in -the Valley of Ollalas. A bloody battle ensued on the banks of the -river which flows through that valley. The sacred banner <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span> was again victorious; -Magued was slain by the hand of Pelayo, and so great was the -slaughter of his host, that for two days the river ran red with the -blood of the Saracens.</p> - -<p>From hence, Pelayo proceeded rapidly to Gijon, which he easily -carried by assault. The capture of this important fortress gave him -the command of the seaboard, and of the skirts of the mountains. -While reposing himself after his victories, the Bishop Oppas was -brought in chains before him, and the Christian troops called -loudly for the death of that traitor and apostate. But Pelayo -recollected that he had been a sacred dignitary of the Church, and -regarded him as a scourge in the hand of Heaven for the punishment -of Spain. He would not, therefore, suffer violent hands to be laid -upon him, but contented himself with placing him where he could no -longer work mischief. He accordingly ordered him to be confined in -one of the towers of Gijon, with nothing but bread and water for -his subsistence. There he remained a prey to the workings of his -conscience, which filled his prison with horrid spectres of those who -had perished through his crimes. He heard wailings and execrations -in the sea-breeze that howled round the tower, and in the roaring of -the waves that beat against its foundations; and in a little time -he was found dead in his dungeon, hideously distorted, as if he had -died in agony and terror.<a id="FNanchor_61" href="#Footnote_61" -class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p> - -<p>The sacred banner that had been elevated at Covadonga never sank -nor receded, but continued<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg -276]</span> to be the beacon of deliverance to Spain. Pelayo went on -from conquest to conquest, increasing and confirming his royal power. -Having captured the city of Leon, he made it the capital of his -kingdom, and took there the title of the King of Leon. He moreover -adopted the device of the city for his arms—a blood-red lion rampant, -in a silver field. This long continued to be the arms of Spain, until -in after times the lion was quartered with the castle, the device of -Burgos, capital of Old Castile.</p> - -<p>We forbear to follow this patriot prince through the rest of -his glorious career. Suffice it to say that he reigned long and -prosperously; extending on all sides the triumphs of his arms; -establishing on solid foundations the reviving empire of Christian -Spain; and that, after a life of constant warfare, he died in peace -in the city of Cangas, and lies buried with his queen, Gaudiosa, in -the church of Santa Eulalia, near to that city.</p> - -<p>Here ends the legend of Pelayo.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-10.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-4.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak" title="ABDERAHMAN: THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE OMMIADES IN SPAIN."> - <big>ABDERAHMAN:</big><br /> - <span class="small">THE</span><br /> - FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY<br />OF THE OMMIADES IN SPAIN.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-2.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="newpage"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span></p> - -<p>[<span class="smcap">The</span> Memoir of Abderahman, the -founder of the dynasty of the Ommiades in Spain, was published in -the “Knickerbocker Magazine” in 1840. In introducing it to that -periodical, the author, after stating that he had conformed to -the facts furnished by the Arabian chronicles, as cited by Conde, -remarks: “The story of Abderahman has almost the charm of romance; -but it derives a higher interest from the heroic, yet gentle virtues -which it illustrates, and from recording the fortunes of the founder -of that splendid dynasty which shed such a lustre upon Spain during -the domination of the Arabs.” The accomplished Ford says of the -history of Abderahman: “No fiction of romance ever surpassed the -truth of his eventful life.”</p> - -<p>The present Memoir is not an exact reprint of the article in the -“Knickerbocker,” but is given as altered from that, in 1847, when the -author was thinking of preparing for the press the “Chronicle of the -Ommiades,” embracing the whole line which he had “roughly sketched -out at Madrid in 1827, just after he had finished Columbus.”—<span -class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <p class="fauxh2">ABDERAHMAN.</p> - <hr class="sep" /> - <h3 class="p1">CHAPTER I.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Youthful Fortunes of Abderahman.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-b.png" alt="Illustrated B" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">“Blessed</span> -be God!” exclaims an Arabian historian; “in his hands alone is the -destiny of princes. He overthrows the mighty, and humbles the haughty -to the dust; and he raises up the persecuted and afflicted from the -very depths of despair!”</p> - -<p>The illustrious house of Omeya, one of the two lines descended -from Mahomet, had swayed the sceptre at Damascus for nearly a -century, when a rebellion broke out, headed by Abu al Abbas Safah, -who aspired to the throne of the caliphs, as being descended from -Abbas, the uncle of the prophet. The rebellion was successful. -Meruan, the last caliph of the house of Omeya, was defeated and -slain. A general proscription of the Ommiades took place. Many of -them fell in battle; many were treacherously slain in places where -they had taken refuge; above seventy, most noble and distinguished, -were murdered at a banquet to which they had been invited, and their -dead bodies, covered with cloths, were made<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span> to serve as tables for the horrible -festivity. Others were driven forth, forlorn and desolate wanderers -in various parts of the earth, and pursued with relentless hatred; -for it was the determination of the usurper that not one of the -persecuted family should escape. Abu al Abbas took possession of -three stately palaces, and delicious gardens, and founded the -powerful dynasty of the Abbassides, which, for several centuries, -maintained dominion in the East.</p> - -<p>“Blessed be God!” again exclaims the Arabian historian; “it was -written in his eternal decrees that, notwithstanding the fury of the -Abbassides, the noble stock of Omeya should not be destroyed. One -fruitful branch remained to flourish with glory and greatness in -another land.”</p> - -<p>When the sanguinary proscription of the Ommiades took place, two -young princes of that line, brothers, by the names of Solyman and -Abderahman, were spared for a time. Their personal graces, noble -demeanor, and winning affability, had made them many friends, while -their extreme youth rendered them objects of but little dread to the -usurper. Their safety, however, was but transient. In a little while -the suspicions of Abu al Abbas were aroused. The unfortunate Solyman -fell beneath the scimetar of the executioner. His brother Abderahman -was warned of his danger in time. Several of his friends hastened -to him, bringing him jewels, a disguise, and a fleet horse. “The -emissaries of the caliph,” said they, “are in search of thee; thy -brother lies weltering in his blood; fly to the desert! There is no -safety for thee in the habitations of man!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span></p> - -<p>Abderahman took the jewels, clad himself in the disguise, and -mounting the steed, fled for his life. As he passed, a lonely -fugitive, by the palaces of his ancestors, in which his family had -long held sway, their very walls seemed disposed to betray him, as -they echoed the swift clattering of his steed.</p> - -<p>Abandoning his native country, Syria, where he was liable at each -moment to be recognized and taken, he took refuge among the Bedouin -Arabs, a half-savage race of shepherds. His youth, his inborn majesty -and grace, and the sweetness and affability that shone forth in his -azure eyes, won the hearts of these wandering men. He was but twenty -years of age, and had been reared in the soft luxury of a palace; but -he was tall and vigorous, and in a little while hardened himself so -completely to the rustic life of the fields, that it seemed as though -he had passed all his days in the rude simplicity of a shepherd’s -cabin.</p> - -<p>His enemies, however, were upon his traces, and gave him but -little rest. By day he scoured the plains with the Bedouins, hearing -in every blast the sound of pursuit, and fancying in every distant -cloud of dust a troop of the caliph’s horsemen. His night was passed -in broken sleep and frequent watchings, and at the earliest dawn he -was the first to put the bridle to his steed.</p> - -<p>Wearied by these perpetual alarms, he bade farewell to his -friendly Bedouins, and leaving Egypt behind, sought a safer refuge -in Western Africa. The province of Barca was at that time<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span> governed by Aben Habib, -who had risen to rank and fortune under the fostering favor of the -Ommiades. “Surely,” thought the unhappy prince, “I shall receive -kindness and protection from this man; he will rejoice to show his -gratitude for the benefits showered upon him by my kindred.”</p> - -<p>Abderahman was young, and as yet knew little of mankind. None are -so hostile to the victim of power as those whom he has befriended. -They fear being suspected of gratitude by his persecutors, and -involved in his misfortunes.</p> - -<p>The unfortunate Abderahman had halted for a few days to repose -himself among a horde of Bedouins, who had received him with their -characteristic hospitality. They would gather round him in the -evenings to listen to his conversation, regarding with wonder this -gently spoken stranger from the more refined country of Egypt. The -old men marveled to find so much knowledge and wisdom in such early -youth, and the young men, won by his frank and manly carriage, -entreated him to remain among them.</p> - -<p>In the mean time the Wali Aben Habib, like all the governors of -distant posts, had received orders from the caliph to be on the -watch for the fugitive prince. Hearing that a young man answering -the description had entered the province alone, from the frontiers -of Egypt, on a steed worn down by travel, he sent forth horsemen -in his pursuit, with orders to bring him to him dead or alive. The -emissaries of the wali traced him to his resting-place, and coming -upon the encampment in the dead of the night, demanded of the <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span> Arabs whether a young -man, a stranger from Syria, did not sojourn among their tribe. The -Bedouins knew by the description that the stranger must be their -guest, and feared some evil was intended him. “Such a youth,” said -they, “has indeed sojourned among us; but he has gone, with some of -our young men, to a distant valley to hunt the lion.” The emissaries -inquired the way to the place, and hastened on to surprise their -expected prey.</p> - -<p>The Bedouins repaired to Abderahman, who was still sleeping. “If -thou hast aught to fear from man in power,” said they, “arise and -fly; for the horsemen of the wali are in quest of thee! We have sent -them off for a time on a wrong errand, but they will soon return.”</p> - -<p>“Alas! whither shall I fly?” cried the unhappy prince; “my enemies -hunt me like the ostrich of the desert. They follow me like the wind, -and allow me neither safety nor repose!”</p> - -<p>Six of the bravest youths of the tribe stepped forward. “We have -steeds,” said they, “that can outstrip the wind, and hands that can -hurl the javelin. We will accompany thee in thy flight, and will -fight by thy side while life lasts, and we have weapons to wield.”</p> - -<p>Abderahman embraced them with tears of gratitude. They mounted -their steeds, and made for the most lonely parts of the desert. By -the faint light of the stars, they passed through dreary wastes, and -over hills of sand. The lion roared and the hyena howled unheeded, -for they fled from man, more cruel and relentless, when in <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span> pursuit of blood, than -the savage beasts of the desert.</p> - -<p>At sunrise they paused to refresh themselves beside a scanty well, -surrounded by a few palm-trees. One of the young Arabs climbed a -tree, and looked in every direction, but not a horseman was to be -seen.</p> - -<p>“We have outstripped pursuit,” said the Bedouins; “whither shall -we conduct thee? Where is thy home, and the land of thy people?”</p> - -<p>“Home have I none!” replied Abderahman, mournfully, “nor family, -nor kindred! My native land is to me a land of destruction, and my -people seek my life!”</p> - -<p>The hearts of the youthful Bedouins were touched with compassion -at these words, and they marveled that one so young and gentle should -have suffered such great sorrow and persecution.</p> - -<p>Abderahman sat by the well and mused for a time. At length, -breaking silence, “In the midst of Mauritania,” said he, “dwells the -tribe of Zeneta. My mother was of that tribe; and perhaps when her -son presents himself, a persecuted wanderer, at their door, they will -not turn him from the threshold.”</p> - -<p>“The Zenetes,” replied the Bedouins, “are among the bravest and -most hospitable of the people of Africa. Never did the unfortunate -seek refuge among them in vain, nor was the stranger repulsed from -their door.” So they mounted their steeds with renewed spirits, and -journeyed with all speed to Tahart, the capital of the Zenetes.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span></p> - -<p>When Abderahman entered the place, followed by his six rustic -Arabs, all wayworn and travel-stained, his noble and majestic -demeanor shone through the simple garb of a Bedouin. A crowd -gathered around him as he alighted from his weary steed. Confiding -in the well-known character of the tribe, he no longer attempted -concealment.</p> - -<p>“You behold before you,” said he, “one of the proscribed house of -Omeya. I am that Abderahman upon whose head a price has been set, and -who has been driven from land to land. I come to you as my kindred. -My mother was of your tribe, and she told me with her dying breath -that in all time of need I would find a home and friends among the -Zenetes.”</p> - -<p>The words of Abderahman went straight to the hearts of his -hearers. They pitied his youth and his great misfortunes, while they -were charmed by his frankness, and by the manly graces of his person. -The tribe was of a bold and generous spirit, and not to be awed by -the frown of power. “Evil be upon us and upon our children,” said -they, “if we deceive the trust thou hast placed in us!”</p> - -<p>One of the noblest, Xeques, then took Abderahman to his house, -and treated him as his own child; and the principal people of the -tribe strove who most should cherish him and do him honor—endeavoring -to obliterate by their kindness the recollection of his past -misfortunes.</p> - -<p>Abderahman had resided some time among the hospitable Zenetes, -when one day two strangers of venerable appearance, attended by a -small <span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span> retinue, -arrived at Tahart. They gave themselves out as merchants, and from -the simple style in which they travelled, excited no attention. In -a little while they sought out Abderahman, and, taking him apart, -“Hearken,” said they, “Abderahman, of the royal line of Omeya. We are -ambassadors, sent on the part of the principal Moslems of Spain, to -offer thee, not merely an asylum, for that thou hast already among -these brave Zenetes, but an empire! Spain is a prey to distracting -factions, and can no longer exist as a dependence upon a throne too -remote to watch over its welfare. It needs to be independent of Asia -and Africa, and to be under the government of a good prince, who -shall reside within it and devote himself entirely to its prosperity; -a prince with sufficient title to silence all rival claims and bring -the warring parties into unity and peace; and, at the same time, with -sufficient ability and virtue to insure the welfare of his dominions. -For this purpose the eyes of all the honorable leaders in Spain have -been turned to thee as a descendant of the royal line of Omeya, and -an offset from the same stock as our holy prophet. They have heard of -thy virtues, and of thy admirable constancy under misfortunes; and -invite thee to accept the sovereignty of one of the noblest countries -in the world. Thou wilt have some difficulties to encounter from -hostile men; but thou wilt have on thy side the bravest captains that -have signalized themselves in the conquest of the unbelievers.”</p> - -<p>The ambassadors ceased, and Abderahman <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span>remained for a time lost in wonder -and admiration. “God is great!” exclaimed he, at length; “there is -but one God, who is God, and Mahomet is his prophet! Illustrious -ambassadors, you have put new life into my soul, for you have shown -me something to live for. In the few years that I have lived, -troubles and sorrows have been heaped upon my head, and I have become -inured to hardships and alarms. Since it is the wish of the valiant -Moslems of Spain, I am willing to become their leader and defender, -and devote myself to their cause, be it happy or disastrous.”</p> - -<p>The ambassadors now cautioned him to be silent as to their errand, -and to depart secretly for Spain. “The seaboard of Africa,” said -they, “swarms with your enemies, and a powerful faction in Spain -would intercept you on landing, did they know your name and rank, and -the object of your coming.”</p> - -<p>But Abderahman replied: “I have been cherished in adversity by -these brave Zenetes; I have been protected and honored by them when -a price was set upon my head, and to harbor me was great peril. -How can I keep my good fortune from my benefactors, and desert -their hospitable roofs in silence? He is unworthy of friendship who -withholds confidence from his friend.”</p> - -<p>Charmed with the generosity of his feelings, the ambassadors -made no opposition to his wishes. The Zenetes proved themselves -worthy of his confidence. They hailed with joy the great change in -his fortunes. The warriors and the young men<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span> pressed forward to follow and aid them -with horse and weapon; “for the honor of a noble house and family,” -said they, “can be maintained only by lances and horsemen.” In a -few days he set forth with the ambassadors, at the head of nearly a -thousand horsemen, skilled in war, and exercised in the desert, and a -large body of infantry, armed with lances. The venerable Xeque, with -whom he had resided, blessed him, and shed tears over him at parting, -as though he had been his own child; and when the youth passed over -the threshold, the house was filled with lamentations.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-11.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Landing of Abderahman in Spain.— Condition of the Country.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Abderahman Ben Omeya</span> -arrived in safety on the coast of Andalusia and landed at Almunecar, -or Malaga, with his little band of warlike Zenetes. Spain was at -that time in great confusion. Upwards of forty years had elapsed -since the Conquest. The civil wars in Syria and Egypt, and occasional -revolts in Africa, had caused frequent overflowings of different -tribes into Spain, which was a place of common refuge. Hither, too, -came the fragments of defeated armies, desperate in fortune, with -weapons in their hands. These settled themselves in various parts of -the peninsula, which thus became divided between the Arabs of Yemen, -the Egyptians, the Syrians, and the Alabdarides. The distractions in -its Eastern and African provinces prevented the main government at -Damascus from exercising any control over its distant and recently -acquired territory in Spain, which soon became broken up into -factions and a scene of all kinds of abuses. Every sheik and wali -considered the town or province committed to his charge an absolute -property, and practiced the most arbitrary extortions. These<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span> excesses at length -became insupportable, and at a convocation of the principal leaders -it was determined, as a means of ending these dissensions, to unite -all the Moslem provinces of the peninsula under one emir, or general -governor. Yusuf el Fehri, an ancient man of honorable lineage, being -of the tribe of Koreish, and a descendant of Ocba, the conqueror of -Africa, was chosen for this station. He began his reign with policy, -and endeavored to conciliate all parties. At the head of the Egyptian -faction was a veteran warrior, named Samael, to whom Yusuf gave the -government of Toledo, and to his son that of Saragossa. At the head -of the Alabdarides was Amer ben Amru, Emir of the Seas; his office -being suppressed, Yusuf gave him in place thereof the government of -the noble city of Seville. Thus he proceeded, distributing honors -and commands, and flattered himself that he secured the loyalty and -good-will of every one whom he benefited.</p> - -<p>Who shall pretend, says the Arabian sage, to content the human -heart by benefits, when even the bounties of Allah are ineffectual? -In seeking to befriend all parties, Yusuf created for himself -inveterate enemies. Amer ben Amru, powerful from his wealth and -connections, and proud of his descent from Mosab, the standard-bearer -of the prophet in the battle of Beder, was indignant that Samael and -his son, with whom he was at deadly feud, should be appointed to such -important commands. He demanded one of those posts for himself, and -was refused. An insurrection and a civil war was the consequence; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span> and the country -was laid waste with fire and sword. The inhabitants of the villages -fled to the cities for refuge; flourishing towns disappeared from the -face of the earth, or were reduced to heaps of rubbish.</p> - -<p>In these dismal times, say the Arabian chroniclers, the very -heavens gave omens of the distress and desolation of the earth. At -Cordova two pale and livid suns were seen shedding a baleful light. -In the north appeared a flaming scythe, and the heavens were red as -blood. These were regarded as presages of direful calamities and -bloody wars.</p> - -<p>At the time of the landing of Abderahman in Spain, Yusuf had -captured Saragossa, in which was Amer ben Amru, with his son and -secretary, and loading them with chains and putting them on camels, -he set out on his return to Cordova. He had halted one day in a -valley called Wadaramla, and was reposing with his family in his -tent, while his people and the prisoners made a repast in the open -air. The heart of the old emir was lifted up, for he thought there -was no one to dispute with him the domination of Spain. In the midst -of his exultation some horsemen were seen spurring up the valley, -bearing the standard of the Wali Samael.</p> - -<p>That officer arrived, covered with dust and exhausted with -fatigue. He brought tidings of the arrival of Abderahman, and that -the whole seaboard was flocking to his standard. Messenger after -messenger arrived confirming the fearful tidings, and adding that -this descendant of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg -292]</span> Omeyas had been secretly invited to Spain by Amru and his -party.</p> - -<p>Yusuf waited not to ascertain the truth of this accusation. In -a transport of fury he ordered that Amru, his son, and secretary -should be cut to pieces. His orders were instantly executed; and this -cruelty, adds the Arabian chronicler, lost him the favor of Allah; -for from that time success deserted his standard.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Triumphs of Abderahman.— The Palm-tree which he planted, - and the Verses he composed thereupon.— Insurrections.— His Enemies - subdued.— Undisputed Sovereign of the Moslems of Spain.— Begins the - famous Mosque in Cordova.— His Death.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Abderahman</span> -had indeed been hailed with joy on his landing. The old people -hoped to find tranquillity under the sway of one supreme chieftain, -descended from their ancient caliphs; the young men were rejoiced -to have a youthful warrior to lead them on to victories; and the -populace, charmed with his freshness and manly beauty, his majestic -yet gracious and affable demeanor, shouted, “Long live Abderahman, -Miramamolin of Spain!”</p> - -<p>In a few days the youthful sovereign saw himself at the head of -more than twenty thousand men, from the neighborhood of Elvira, -Almeria, Malaga, Xeres, and Sidonia. Fair Seville threw open its -gates at his approach, and celebrated his arrival with public -rejoicings. He continued his march into the country, vanquished -one of the sons of Yusuf before the gates of Cordova, and obliged -him to take refuge within its walls, where he held him in close -siege. Hearing, however, of the approach of Yusuf, the father, -with a powerful army, he divided his forces, and leaving ten<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span> thousand men to press -the siege, he hastened with the other ten to meet the coming foe.</p> - -<p>Yusuf had indeed mustered a formidable force, from the east and -south of Spain, and accompanied by his veteran general, Samael, -came with confident boasting to drive this intruder from the land. -His confidence increased on beholding the small army of Abderahman. -Turning to Samael, he repeated, with a scornful sneer, a verse from -an Arabian poetess, which says:—</p> - -<p>“How hard is our lot! We come, a thirsty multitude, and lo! but -this cup of water to share among us!”</p> - -<p>There was indeed a fearful odds. On the one side were two veteran -generals, grown gray in victory, with a mighty host of warriors, -seasoned in the wars of Spain. On the other side was a mere youth, -scarce attained to manhood, with a hasty levy of half-disciplined -troops; but the youth was a prince, flushed with hope, and aspiring -after fame and empire, and surrounded by a devoted band of warriors -from Africa, whose example infused zeal into the little army.</p> - -<p>The encounter took place at daybreak. The impetuous valor of -the Zenetes carried everything before it. The cavalry of Yusuf was -broken and driven back upon the infantry, and before noon the whole -host was put to headlong flight. Yusuf and Samael were born along -in the torrent of the fugitives, raging and storming, and making -ineffectual efforts to rally them. They were separated widely in the -confusion of the flight, one taking refuge in the Algarves, the other -in the kingdom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span> -of Murcia. They afterward rallied, reunited their forces, and made -another desperate stand near to Almunecar. The battle was obstinate -and bloody, but they were again defeated, and driven, with a handful -of followers, to take refuge in the rugged mountains adjacent to -Elvira.</p> - -<p>The spirit of the veteran Samael gave way before these fearful -reverses. “In vain, O Yusuf!” said he, “do we contend with the -prosperous star of this youthful conqueror; the will of Allah be -done! Let us submit to our fate, and sue for favorable terms while we -have yet the means of capitulation.”</p> - -<p>It was a hard trial for the proud spirit of Yusuf, that had once -aspired to uncontrolled sway; but he was compelled to capitulate. -Abderahman was as generous as brave. He granted the two gray-headed -generals the most honorable conditions, and even took the veteran -Samael into favor, employing him, as a mark of confidence, to visit -the eastern provinces of Spain, and restore them to tranquillity. -Yusuf, having delivered up Elvira and Granada, and complied with -other articles of his capitulation, was permitted to retire to -Murcia, and rejoin his son Muhamad. A general amnesty to all chiefs -and soldiers who should yield up their strongholds and lay down their -arms completed the triumph of Abderahman, and brought all hearts into -obedience. Thus terminated this severe struggle for the domination of -Spain; and thus the illustrious family of Omeya, after having been -cast down and almost exterminated in the East, took new root, and -sprang forth prosperously in the West.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span></p> - -<p>Wherever Abderahman appeared, he was received with rapturous -acclamations. As he rode through the cities, the populace rent -the air with shouts of joy; the stately palaces were crowded with -spectators, eager to gain a sight of his graceful form and beaming -countenance; and when they beheld the mingled majesty and benignity -of their new monarch, and the sweetness and gentleness of his whole -conduct, they extolled him as something more than mortal,—as a -beneficent genius, sent for the happiness of Spain.</p> - -<p>In the interval of peace which now succeeded, Abderahman occupied -himself in promoting the useful and elegant arts, and in introducing -into Spain the refinements of the East. Considering the building -and ornamenting of cities as among the noblest employments of the -tranquil hours of princes, he bestowed great pains upon beautifying -the city of Cordova and its environs. He reconstructed banks and -dykes to keep the Guadalquivir from overflowing its borders, and -on the vast terraces thus formed he planted delightful gardens. -In the midst of these he erected a lofty tower, commanding a view -of the vast and fruitful valley, enlivened by the windings of the -river. In this tower would he pass hours of meditation, gazing on -the soft and varied landscape, and inhaling the bland and balmy airs -of that delightful region. At such times his thoughts would recur -to the past, and the misfortunes of his youth; the massacre of his -family would rise to view, mingled with tender recollections of his -native country, from which he was exiled. In<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span> these melancholy musings, he would -sit with his eyes fixed upon a palm-tree which he had planted in -the midst of his garden. It is said to have been the first ever -planted in Spain, and to have been the parent stock of all the -palm-trees which grace the southern provinces of the peninsula. The -heart of Abderahman yearned toward this tree; it was the offspring -of his native country, and like him an exile. In one of his moods -of tenderness he composed verses upon it, which have since become -famous throughout the world. The following is a rude but literal -translation:—</p> - -<p>“Beauteous palm! thou also wert hither brought a stranger; but thy -roots have found a kindly soil, thy head is lifted to the skies, and -the sweet airs of Algarve fondle and kiss thy branches.</p> - -<p>“Thou hast known, like me, the storms of adverse fortune. Bitter -tears wouldst thou shed, couldst thou feel my woes. Repeated griefs -have overwhelmed me. With early tears I bedewed the palms on the -banks of the Euphrates; but neither tree nor river heeded my sorrows, -when driven by cruel fate and the ferocious Abu al Abbas, from the -scenes of my childhood and the sweet objects of my affection.</p> - -<p>“To thee no remembrance remains of my beloved country; I, unhappy! -can never recall it without tears!”</p> - -<p>The generosity of Abderahman to his vanquished foe was destined to -be abused. The veteran Yusuf, in visiting certain of the cities which -he had surrendered, found himself surrounded by zealous partisans, -ready to peril life in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg -298]</span> his service. The love of command revived in his bosom, -and he repented the facility with which he had suffered himself to be -persuaded to submission. Flushed with new hopes of success, he caused -arms to be secretly collected and deposited in various villages, most -zealous in their professions of devotion, and raising a considerable -body of troops, seized upon the castle of Almodovar. The rash -rebellion was short-lived. At the first appearance of an army sent -by Abderahman, and commanded by Abdelmelee, governor of Seville, the -villages which had so recently professed loyalty to Yusuf, hastened -to declare their attachment to the monarch, and to give up the -concealed arms. Almodovar was soon retaken, and Yusuf, driven to the -environs of Lorea, was surrounded by the cavalry of Abdelmelee. The -veteran endeavored to cut a passage through the enemy, but after -fighting with desperate fury, and with a force of arm incredible in -one of his age, he fell beneath blows from weapons of all kinds, -so that after the battle his body could scarcely be recognized, so -numerous were the wounds. His head was cut off and sent to Cordova, -where it was placed in an iron cage, over the gate of the city.</p> - -<p>The old lion was dead, but his whelps survived. Yusuf had left -three sons, who inherited his warlike spirit, and were eager to -revenge his death. Collecting a number of the scattered adherents -of their house, they surprised and seized upon Toledo during the -absence of Temam, its wali or commander. In this old warrior city, -built upon a rock, and almost surrounded by the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span> Tagus, they set up a kind of robber -hold, scouring the surrounding country, levying tribute, seizing upon -horses, and compelling the peasantry to join their standard. Every -day cavalcades of horses and mules, laden with spoil, with flocks of -sheep and droves of cattle, came pouring over the bridges on either -side of the city, and thronging in at the gates,—the plunder of the -surrounding country. Those of the inhabitants who were still loyal to -Abderahman dared not lift up their voices, for men of the sword bore -sway. At length one day, when the sons of Yusuf, with their choicest -troops, were out on a maraud, the watchmen on the towers gave the -alarm. A troop of scattered horsemen were spurring wildly toward the -gates. The banners of the sons of Yusuf were descried. Two of them -spurred into the city, followed by a handful of warriors, covered -with confusion and dismay. They had been encountered and defeated by -the Wali Temam, and one of the brothers had been slain.</p> - -<p>The gates were secured in all haste, and the walls were scarcely -manned when Temam appeared before them with his troops, and summoned -the city to surrender. A great internal commotion ensued between the -loyalists and the insurgents; the latter, however, had weapons in -their hands, and prevailed; and for several days, trusting to the -strength of their rock-built fortress, they set the wali at defiance. -At length some of the loyal inhabitants of Toledo, who knew all its -secret and subterraneous passages, some of which, if chroniclers -may be believed, have <span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg -300]</span> existed since the days of Hercules, if not of Tubal Cain, -introduced Temam, and a chosen band of his warriors, into the very -centre of the city, where they suddenly appeared as if by magic. A -panic seized upon the insurgents. Some sought safety in submission, -some in concealment, some in flight. Casim, one of the sons of Yusuf, -escaped in disguise; the youngest, unharmed, was taken, and was sent -captive to the king, accompanied by the head of his brother, who had -been slain in battle.</p> - -<p>When Abderahman beheld the youth laden with chains, he remembered -his own sufferings in his early days, and had compassion on him; but, -to prevent him from doing further mischief, he imprisoned him in a -tower of the wall of Cordova.</p> - -<p>In the mean time, Casim, who had escaped, managed to raise another -band of warriors. Spain, in all ages a guerilla country, prone to -partisan warfare and petty maraud, was at that time infested by bands -of licentious troops, who had sprung up in the civil contests; their -only object pillage, their only dependence the sword, and ready to -flock to any new and desperate standard that promised the greatest -license. With a ruffian force thus levied, Casim scoured the country, -took Sidonia by storm, and surprised Seville while in a state of -unsuspecting security.</p> - -<p>Abderahman put himself at the head of his faithful Zenetes, and -took the field in person. By the rapidity of his movements the -rebels were defeated, Sidonia and Seville speedily retaken,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span> and Casim was made -prisoner. The generosity of Abderahman was again exhibited toward -this unfortunate son of Yusuf. He spared his life, and sent him to be -confined in a tower at Toledo.</p> - -<p>The veteran Samael had taken no part in these insurrections, -but had attended faithfully to the affairs intrusted to him by -Abderahman. The death of his old friend and colleague Yusuf, -however, and the subsequent disasters of his family, filled him with -despondency. Fearing the inconstancy of fortune, and the dangers -incident to public employ, he entreated the king to be permitted to -retire to his house in Seguenza, and indulge a privacy and repose -suited to his advanced age. His prayer was granted. The veteran -laid by his arms, battered in a thousand conflicts; hung his sword -and lance against the wall, and, surrounded by a few friends, -gave himself up apparently to the sweets of quiet and unambitious -leisure.</p> - -<p>Who can count, however, upon the tranquil content of a heart -nurtured amid the storms of war and ambition? Under the ashes of -this outward humility were glowing the coals of faction. In his -seemingly philosophical retirement, Samael was concerting with his -friends new treason against Abderahman. His plot was discovered; his -house was suddenly surrounded by troops; and he was conveyed to a -tower at Toledo, where, in the course of a few months, he died in -captivity.</p> - -<p>The magnanimity of Abderahman was again put to the proof by a -new insurrection at Toledo.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg -302]</span> Hixem ben Adra, a relation of Yusuf, seized upon the -Alcazar, or citadel, slew several of the royal adherents of the king, -liberated Casim from his tower, and, summoning all the banditti of -the country, soon mustered a force of ten thousand men. Abderahman -was quickly before the walls of Toledo, with the troops of Cordova -and his devoted Zenetes. The rebels were brought to terms, and -surrendered the city on promise of general pardon, which was extended -even to Hixem and Casim. When the chieftains saw Hixem and his -principal confederates in the power of Abderahman, they advised him -to put them all to death. “A promise given to traitors and rebels,” -said they, “is not binding when it is to the interest of the state -that it should be broken.”</p> - -<p>“No!” replied Abderahman, “if the safety of my throne were at -stake, I would not break my word.” So saying, he confirmed the -amnesty, and granted Hixem ben Adra a worthless life, to be employed -in further treason.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had Abderahman returned from this expedition, when a -powerful army, sent by the caliph, landed from Africa on the coast -of the Algarves. The commander, Aly ben Mogueth, Emir of Cairvan, -elevated a rich banner which he had received from the hands of the -caliph. Wherever he went, he ordered the caliph of the East to be -proclaimed by sound of trumpet, denouncing Abderahman as a usurper, -the vagrant member of a family proscribed and execrated in all the -mosques of the East.</p> - -<p>One of the first to join his standard was Hixem<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span> ben Adra, so recently -pardoned by Abderahman. He seized upon the citadel of Toledo, and -repairing to the camp of Aly, offered to deliver the city into his -hands.</p> - -<p>Abderahman, as bold in war as he was gentle in peace, took the -field with his wonted promptness; overthrew his enemies with great -slaughter; drove some to the sea-coast to regain their ships, and -others to the mountains. The body of Aly was found on the field of -battle. Abderahman caused the head to be struck off, and conveyed -to Cairvan, where it was affixed at night to a column in the public -square, with this inscription,—“Thus Abderahman, the descendant of -the Omeyas, punishes the rash and arrogant.”</p> - -<p>Hixem ben Adra escaped from the field of battle, and excited -further troubles, but was eventually captured by Abdelmelee, who -ordered his head to be struck off on the spot, lest he should again -be spared through the wonted clemency of Abderahman.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding these signal triumphs, the reign of Abderahman -was disturbed by further insurrections, and by another descent -from Africa, but he was victorious over them all; striking the -roots of his power deeper and deeper into the land. Under his sway, -the government of Spain became more regular and consolidated, and -acquired an independence of the empire of the East. The caliph -continued to be considered as first pontiff and chief of the -religion, but he ceased to have any temporal power over Spain.</p> - -<p>Having again an interval of peace, Abderahman<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span> devoted himself to the -education of his children. Suleiman, the eldest, he appointed wali, -or governor, of Toledo; Abdallah, the second, was intrusted with -the command of Merida; but the third son, Hixem, was the delight of -his heart, the son of Howara, his favorite sultana whom he loved -throughout life with the utmost tenderness. With this youth, who was -full of promise, he relaxed from the fatigues of government; joining -in his youthful sports amidst the delightful gardens of Cordova, and -teaching him the gentle art of falconry, of which the king was so -fond that he received the name of the Falcon of Coraixi.</p> - -<p>While Abderahman was thus indulging in the gentle propensities of -his nature, mischief was secretly at work. Muhamad, the youngest son -of Yusuf, had been for many years a prisoner in the tower of Cordova. -Being passive and resigned, his keepers relaxed their vigilance, and -brought him forth from his dungeon. He went groping about, however, -in broad daylight, as if still in the darkness of his tower. His -guards watched him narrowly, lest this should be a deception, but -were at length convinced that the long absence of light had rendered -him blind. They now permitted him to descend frequently to the -lower chambers of the tower, and to sleep there occasionally during -the heats of summer. They even allowed him to grope his way to the -cistern, in quest of water for his ablutions.</p> - -<p>A year passed in this way, without anything to excite suspicion. -During all this time, however, the blindness of Muhamad was entirely -a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span> deception; -and he was concerting a plan of escape, through the aid of some -friends of his father, who found means to visit him occasionally. -One sultry evening in midsummer the guards had gone to bathe in the -Guadalquivir, leaving Muhamad alone, in the lower chambers of the -tower. No sooner were they out of sight and hearing, than he hastened -to a window of the staircase, leading down to the cistern, lowered -himself as far as his arms would reach, and dropped without injury to -the ground. Plunging into the Guadalquivir, he swam across to a thick -grove on the opposite side, where his friends were waiting to receive -him. Here, mounting a horse which they had provided for an event of -the kind, he fled across the country, by solitary roads, and made -good his escape to the mountains of Jaen.</p> - -<p>The guardians of the tower dreaded for some time to make known -his flight to Abderahman. When at length it was told to him, he -exclaimed,—“All is the work of eternal wisdom; it is intended to -teach us that we cannot benefit the wicked without injuring the -good. The flight of that blind man will cause much trouble and -bloodshed.”</p> - -<p>His predictions were verified. Muhamad reared the standard of -rebellion in the mountains; the seditious and discontented of all -kinds hastened to join it, together with soldiers of fortune, or -rather wandering banditti, and he had soon six thousand men, well -armed, hardy in habits, and desperate in character. His brother -Casim also reappeared about the same time, in the mountains<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span> of Ronda, at the -head of a daring band, that laid all the neighboring valleys under -contribution.</p> - -<p>Abderahman summoned his alcaids from their various military posts, -to assist in driving the rebels from their mountain fastnesses into -the plains. It was a dangerous and protracted toil, for the mountains -were frightfully wild and rugged. He entered them with a powerful -host, driving the rebels from height to height, and valley to valley, -and harassing them by a galling fire from thousands of cross-bows. At -length a decisive battle took place near the river Guadalemar. The -rebels were signally defeated; four thousand fell in action; many -were drowned in the river, and Muhamad, with a few horsemen, escaped -to the mountains of the Algarves. Here he was hunted by the alcaids -from one desolate retreat to another; his few followers grew tired of -sharing the disastrous fortunes of a fated man, one by one deserted -him, and he himself deserted the remainder, fearing they might give -him up, to purchase their own pardon.</p> - -<p>Lonely and disguised, he plunged into the depths of the forests, -or lurked in dens and caverns like a famished wolf, often casting -back his thoughts with regret to the time of his captivity in the -gloomy tower of Cordova. Hunger at length drove him to Alarcon, at -the risk of being discovered. Famine and misery, however, had so -wasted and changed him, that he was not recognized. He remained -nearly a year in Alarcon, unnoticed and unknown, yet constantly -tormenting himself with the dread of discovery, and with<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span> groundless fears of -the vengeance of Abderahman. Death at length put an end to his -wretchedness.</p> - -<p>A milder fate attended his brother Casim. Being defeated in the -mountains of Murcia, he was conducted in chains to Cordova. On coming -into the presence of Abderahman, his once fierce and haughty spirit, -broken by distress, gave way; he threw himself on the earth, kissed -the dust beneath the feet of the king, and implored his clemency. -The benignant heart of Abderahman was filled with melancholy, rather -than exultation, at beholding this wreck of the once haughty family -of Yusuf a suppliant at his feet, and suing for mere existence. He -thought upon the mutability of Fortune, and felt how insecure are -all her favors. He raised the unhappy Casim from the earth, ordered -his irons to be taken off, and, not content with mere forgiveness, -treated him with honor, and gave him possessions in Seville, where he -might live in state conformable to the ancient dignity of his family. -Won by this great and persevering magnanimity, Casim ever after -remained one of the most devoted of his subjects.</p> - -<p>All the enemies of Abderahman were at length subdued; he reigned -undisputed sovereign of the Moslems of Spain; and so benign was his -government, that every one blessed the revival of the illustrious -line of Omeya. He was at all times accessible to the humblest of -his subjects; the poor man ever found in him a friend, and the -oppressed a protector. He improved the administration of justice, -established schools for public instruction, encouraged poets and men -of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span> letters, -and cultivated the sciences. He built mosques in every city that he -visited; inculcated religion by example as well as by precept; and -celebrated all the festivals prescribed by the Koran with the utmost -magnificence.</p> - -<p>As a monument of gratitude to God for the prosperity with which -he had been favored, he undertook to erect a mosque in his favorite -city of Cordova that should rival in splendor the great mosque -of Damascus, and excel the one recently erected in Bagdad by the -Abbassides, the supplanters of his family.</p> - -<p>It is said that he himself furnished the plan for this famous -edifice, and even worked on it, with his own hands, one hour in each -day, to testify his zeal and humility in the service of God, and to -animate his workmen. He did not live to see it completed, but it was -finished according to his plans by his son Hixem. When finished, it -surpassed the most splendid mosques of the East. It was six hundred -feet in length, and two hundred and fifty in breadth. Within were -twenty-eight aisles, crossed by nineteen, supported by a thousand -and ninety-three columns of marble. There were nineteen portals, -covered with plates of bronze, of rare workmanship. The principal -portal was covered with plates of gold. On the summit of the grand -cupola were three gilt balls, surmounted by a golden pomegranate. At -night the mosque was illuminated with four thousand seven hundred -lamps, and great sums were expended in amber and aloes, which were -burnt as perfumes. The mosque remains to this<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span> day shorn of its ancient splendor, yet -still one of the grandest Moslem monuments in Spain.</p> - -<p>Finding himself advancing in years, Abderahman assembled in -his capital of Cordova the principal governors and commanders of -his kingdom, and in presence of them all, with great solemnity, -nominated his son Hixem as the successor to the throne. All present -made an oath of fealty to Abderahman during his life, and to Hixem -after his death. The prince was younger than his brothers, Suleiman -and Abdallah; but he was the son of Howara, the tenderly beloved -sultana of Abderahman, and her influence, it is said, gained him this -preference.</p> - -<p>Within a few months afterward Abderahman fell grievously sick -at Merida. Finding his end approaching, he summoned Hixem to his -bedside. “My son,” said he, “the angel of death is hovering over -me; treasure up, therefore, in thy heart this dying counsel, which -I give through the great love I bear thee. Remember that all empire -is from God, who gives and takes it away, according to his pleasure. -Since God, through his divine goodness, has given us regal power and -authority, let us do his holy will, which is nothing else than to do -good to all men, and especially to those committed to our protection. -Render equal justice, my son, to the rich and the poor, and never -suffer injustice to be done within thy dominion, for it is the road -to perdition. Be merciful and benignant to those dependent upon -thee. Confide the government of thy cities and provinces to men of -worth and experience; punish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg -310]</span> without compassion those ministers who oppress thy -people with exorbitant exactions. Pay thy troops punctually; -teach them to feel a certainty in thy promises; command them with -gentleness but firmness, and make them in truth the defenders of -the state, not its destroyers. Cultivate unceasingly the affections -of thy people; for in their good-will consists the security of the -state, in their distrust its peril, in their hatred its certain -ruin. Protect the husbandmen, who cultivate the earth and yield -us necessary sustenance; never permit their fields and groves and -gardens to be disturbed. In a word, act in such wise that thy people -may bless thee, and may enjoy, under the shadow of thy wing, a -secure and tranquil life. In this consists good government; if thou -dost practice it, thou wilt be happy among thy people, and renowned -throughout the world.”</p> - -<p>Having given this excellent counsel, the good King Abderahman -blessed his son Hixem, and shortly after died, being but in the -sixtieth year of age. He was interred with great pomp; but the -highest honors that distinguished his funeral were the tears of real -sorrow shed upon his grave. He left behind him a name for valor, -justice, and magnanimity, and forever famous as being the founder of -the glorious line of the Ommiades in Spain.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-5.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak"><big>CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ,</big><br /> - COUNT OF CASTILE.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-8.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <p class="fauxh2">CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ,<br /> - <small>COUNT OF CASTILE.</small></p> - <hr class="sep" /> - <h3 class="p1">INTRODUCTION.</h3> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">At the</span> -time of the general wreck of Spain by the sudden tempest of Arab -invasion, many of the inhabitants took refuge in the mountains of -the Asturias, burying themselves in narrow valleys difficult of -access, wherever a constant stream of water afforded a green bosom -of pasture-land and scanty fields for cultivation. For mutual -protection they gathered together in small villages called castros, -or castrellos, with watch-towers and fortresses on impending cliffs, -in which they might shelter and defend themselves in case of sudden -inroad. Thus arose the kingdom of the Asturias, subject to Pelayo and -the kings his successors, who gradually extended their dominions, -built towns and cities, and after a time fixed their seat of -government at the city of Leon.</p> - -<p>An important part of the region over which they bore sway was -ancient Cantabria, extending<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg -314]</span> from the Bay of Biscay to the Duero, and called Castile -from the number of castles with which it was studded. They divided it -into seigniories, over which they placed civil and military governors -called counts—a title said to be derived from the Latin <i>comes</i>, a -companion, the person enjoying it being admitted to the familiar -companionship of the king, entering into his councils in time of -peace, and accompanying him to the field in time of war. The title of -count was therefore more dignified than that of duke in the time of -the Gothic kings.</p> - -<p>The power of these counts increased to such a degree that four -of them formed a league to declare themselves independent of the -crown of Leon. Ordoño II., who was then king, received notice of it, -and got them into his power by force, as some assert, but as others -maintain, by perfidious artifice. At any rate, they were brought to -court, convicted of treason, and publicly beheaded. The Castilians -flew to arms to revenge their deaths. Ordoño took the field with a -powerful army, but his own death defeated all his plans.</p> - -<p>The Castilians now threw off allegiance to the kingdom of Leon, -and elected two judges to rule over them—one in a civil, the other in -a military capacity. The first who filled those stations were Nuño -Rasura and Lain Calvo, two powerful nobles, the former descended from -Diego Porcello, a count of Lara; the latter, ancestor of the renowned -Cid Campeador.</p> - -<p>Nuño Rasura, the civil and political judge, was succeeded by his -son Gonzalez Nuño, who <span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg -315]</span> married Doña Ximena, a daughter of one of the counts of -Castile put to death by Ordoño II. From this marriage came Fernan -Gonzalez, the subject of the following chronicle.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-3.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as Count of Castile. - His First Campaign against the Moors.— Victory of San Quirce.— How the - Count disposed of the Spoils.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -renowned Fernan Gonzalez, the most complete hero of his time, was -born about the year 887. Historians trace his descent to Nuño -Belchidez, nephew of the Emperor Charlemagne, and Doña Sula Bella, -granddaughter to the Prince Don Sancho, rightful sovereign of Spain, -but superseded by Roderick, the last of the Gothic kings.</p> - -<p>Fernan Gonzalez was hardily educated among the mountains in a -strong place called Maron, in the house of Martin Gonzalez, a gallant -and veteran cavalier. From his earliest years he was inured to all -kinds of toils and perils, taught to hunt, to hawk, to ride the -great horse, to manage sword, lance, and buckler; in a word, he was -accomplished in all the noble exercises befitting a cavalier.</p> - -<p>His father Gonzalvo Nuñez died in 903, and his elder brother -Rodrigo in 904, without issue; and such was the admiration already -entertained of Fernan Gonzalez by the hardy mountaineers and old -Castilian warriors, that though scarce<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span> seventeen years of age he was -unanimously elected to rule over them. His title is said to have been -Count, Duke, and Consul, under the seigniory of Alonzo the Great, -King of Leon. A cortes, or assemblage of the nobility and chivalry of -Castile and of the mountains, met together at the recently built city -of Burgos to do honor to his installation. Sebastian, the renowned -Bishop of Oca, officiated.</p> - -<p>In those stern days of Spain, the situation of a sovereign was not -that of silken ease and idle ceremonial. When he put the rich crown -upon his head, he encircled it likewise with shining steel. With the -sceptre were united the lance and shield, emblems of perpetual war -against the enemies of the faith. The cortes took this occasion to -pass the following laws for the government of the realm:—</p> - -<p>1. Above all things the people should observe the law of God, the -canons and statutes of the holy fathers, the liberty and privileges -of the Church, and the respect due to its ministers.</p> - -<p>2. No person should prosecute another out of Castile at any -tribunal of justice or of arms, under pain of being considered a -stranger.</p> - -<p>3. All Jews and Moors who refused to acknowledge the Christian -faith should depart from Castile within two months.</p> - -<p>4. That cavaliers of noble blood should treat their tenants and -vassals with love and gentleness.</p> - -<p>5. That he who slew another, or committed any other grave offense, -should make equal measure of atonement.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span></p> - -<p>6. That no one should take the property of another; but, if -oppressed by poverty, should come to the count, who ought to be as a -father to all.</p> - -<p>7. That all should unite and be of one heart, and aid one another -in defense of their faith and of their country.</p> - -<p>Such were the ordinances of the ancient Cortes of Burgos; brief -and simple, and easy to be understood; not, as at the present day, -multifarious and perplexed, to the confusion and ruin of clients and -the enrichment of lawyers.</p> - -<p>Scarce was the installation ended, and while Burgos was yet -abandoned to festivity, the young count, with the impatient ardor -of youth, caused the trumpets to sound through the streets a call -to arms. A captain of the Moorish king of Toledo was ravaging the -territory of Castile at the head of seven thousand troops, and -against him the youthful count determined to make his first campaign. -In the spur of the moment but one hundred horsemen and fifteen -hundred foot-soldiers could be collected; but with this slender -force the count prepared to take the field. Ruy Velasquez, a valiant -cavalier, remonstrated against such rashness, but in vain. “I owe,” -said the count, “a death to the grave; the debt can never be paid so -honorably as in the service of God and my country. Let every one, -therefore, address himself heart and hand to this enterprise; for if -I come face to face with this Moor, I will most assuredly give him -battle.” So saying, he knelt before Bishop Sebastian of Salamanca -and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span> craved his -benediction. The reverend prelate invoked on his head the blessing -and protection of Heaven, for his heart yearned toward him; but when -he saw the youthful warrior about to depart, he kindled as it were -with a holy martial fire, and ordering his steed to be saddled he -sallied forth with him to the wars.</p> - -<p>The little army soon came upon traces of the enemy in fields laid -waste, and the smoking ruins of villages and hamlets. The count sent -out scouts to clamber every height and explore every defile. From the -summit of a hill they beheld the Moors encamped in a valley which was -covered with the flocks and herds swept from the neighboring country. -The camp of the marauders was formidable as to numbers, with various -standards floating in the breeze; for in this foray were engaged the -Moorish chiefs of Saragossa, Denia, and Seville, together with many -valiant Moslems who had crossed the straits from Africa to share in -what they considered a holy enterprise. The scouts observed, however, -that the most negligent security reigned throughout the camp; some -reposing, others feasting and reveling, all evidently considering -themselves safe from any attack.</p> - -<p>Upon hearing this the count led his men secretly and silently to -the assault, and came upon the Moors in the midst of their revelry, -before they had time to buckle on their armor. The infidels, however, -made a brave though confused resistance; the camp was strewn -with their dead; many were taken prisoners, and the rest<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span> began to falter. The -count killed their captain-general with his own hand, in single -fight, as he was bravely rallying his troops. Upon seeing him fall, -the Moors threw down their weapons and fled.</p> - -<p>Immense booty was found in the Moorish camp,—partly the rich -arms and equipments of the infidel warriors, partly the plunder of -the country. An ordinary victor would have merely shared the spoils -with his soldiery, but the count was as pious as he was brave, and, -moreover, had by his side the venerable Bishop of Salamanca as -counselor. Contenting himself, therefore, with distributing one third -among his soldiery, he shared the rest with God, devoting a large -part to the Church, and to the relief of souls in purgatory—a pious -custom, which he ever after observed. He moreover founded a church on -the field of battle, dedicated to St. Quirce, on whose festival (the -16th July) this victory was obtained. To this church was subsequently -added a monastery where a worthy fraternity of monks were maintained -in the odor of sanctity, to perpetuate the memory of this victory. -All this was doubtless owing to the providential presence of the -good bishop on this occasion; and this is one instance of the great -benefit derived from those priests and monks and other purveyors of -the Church, who hovered about the Christian camps throughout all -these wars with the infidels.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-8.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-21.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Sally from Burgos and Surprise of - the Castle of Lara.— Capitulation of the Town.— Visit to - Alfonso the Great, King of Leon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-c.png" alt="Illustrated C" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Count Fernan Gonzalez</span> -did not remain idle after the victory of San Quirce. There was at -this time an old castle, strong but much battered in the wars, -which protected a small town, the remains of the once flourishing -city of Lara. It was the ancient domain of his family, but was at -present in possession of the Moors. In sooth it had repeatedly been -taken and retaken; for in those iron days no castle nor fortress -remained long under the same masters. One year it was in the hands -of the Christians; the next, of the Moors. Some of these castles, -with their dependent towns, were sacked, burnt, and demolished; -others remained silent and deserted, their original owners fearing -to reside in them; and their ruined towers were only tenanted by -bats and owls and screaming birds of prey. Lara had lain for a time -in ruins after being captured by the Moors, but had been rebuilt by -them with diminished grandeur, and they held a strong garrison in the -castle, whence they sallied forth occasionally to ravage the lands -of the Christians. The Moorish chieftain of <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span> Lara, as has been observed, was among -the associated marauders who had been routed in the battle of San -Quirce; and the Count Fernan Gonzalez thought this a favorable time -to strike for the recovery of his family domain, now that the infidel -possessor was weakened by defeat and could receive no succor.</p> - -<p>Appointing Rodrigo Velasquez and the Count Don Vela Alvarez to -act as governors of Castile during his absence, the count sallied -forth from Burgos with a brilliant train of chivalry. Among the -distinguished cavaliers who attended him were Martin Gonzalez, -Don Gustios Gonzalez, Don Velasco, and Don Lope de Biscaya, which -last brought a goodly band of stout Biscayans. The alferez, or -standard-bearer, was Orbita Velasquez, who had distinguished -himself in the battle of San Quirce. He bore as a standard a great -cross of silver, which shone gloriously in front of the host, and -is preserved, even to the present day, in the church of San Pedro -de Arlanza. One hundred and fifty noble cavaliers, well armed and -mounted, with many esquires and pages of the lance, and three -thousand foot-soldiers, all picked men, formed this small but -stout-hearted army.</p> - -<p>The count led his troops with such caution that they arrived -in the neighborhood of Lara without being discovered. It was the -vigil of St. John; the country was wrapped in evening shadows, and -the count was enabled to approach near to the place to make his -observations. He perceived that his force was too inconsiderable -to invest the town and fortress. Besides, about two<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span> leagues distant was the -gaunt and rock-built castle of Carazo, a presidio or stronghold of -the Moors, whence he might be attacked in the rear, should he linger -before the fortress. It was evident, therefore, that whatever was to -be effected must be done promptly and by sudden surprise. Revolving -these things in his mind he put his troops in ambush in a deep ravine -where they took their rest, while he kept watch upon the castle; -maturing his plans against the morrow. In this way he passed his -midsummer’s night, the vigil of the blessed St. John.</p> - -<p>The festival of St. John is observed as well by Mahometans as -Christians. During the night the bonfires blazed on the hill-tops and -the sound of music and festivity was heard from within the town. When -the rising sun shone along the valley of the Arlanza the Moors in the -castle, unsuspicious of any lurking danger, threw open the gates and -issued forth to recreate themselves in the green fields and along -the banks of the river. When they had proceeded to a considerable -distance, and a hill shut them from view, the count with his eager -followers issued silently but swiftly from their hiding-place and -made directly for the castle. On the way they met with another band -of Moors who had likewise come forth for amusement. The count struck -the leader to the earth with one blow of his lance; the rest were -either slain or taken prisoners; so that not one escaped to give the -alarm.</p> - -<p>Those of the garrison who had remained in the castle, seeing -a Christian force rushing up to the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span> very walls, hastened to close the -gates, but it was too late. The count and his cavaliers burst them -open and put every one to the sword who made opposition. Leaving -Don Velasco and a number of soldiers to guard the castle, the count -hastened with the rest in pursuit of the Moors who were solemnizing -the day on the banks of the Arlanza. Some were reclining on the -grass, others were amusing themselves with music and the popular -dance of the Zambra, while their arms lay scattered among the -herbage.</p> - -<p>At sight of the Christians, they snatched up their weapons and -made a desperate though vain resistance. Within two hours almost -all were either slain or captured; a few escaped to the neighboring -mountains of Carazo. The town, seeing the castle in the hands of -the Christians, and the garrison routed and destroyed, readily -capitulated; and the inhabitants were permitted to retain unmolested -possession of their houses, on agreeing to pay to the count the same -tribute which had been exacted from them by the Moorish king. Don -Velasco was left alcaid of the fortress, and the count returned, -covered with glory, to his capital of Burgos.</p> - -<p>The brilliant victories and hardy deeds of arms with which the -youthful Count of Castile had commenced his reign excited the -admiration of Alonzo the Great, King of Leon, and he sent missives -urging him to appear at his royal court. The count accordingly set -forth with a cavalcade of his most approved knights and many of his -relatives, sumptuously armed and arrayed and <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span> mounted on steeds richly caparisoned. -It was a pageant befitting a young and magnificent chief, in the -freshness and pleasance of his years.</p> - -<p>The king came out of the city to meet him, attended by all the -pomp and grandeur of his court. The count alighted, and approached -to kiss the king’s hand; but Alfonso alighted also, and embraced him -with great affection, and the friendship of these illustrious princes -continued without interruption throughout the life of the king.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-13.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Expedition against the Fortress of Muñon.— Desperate - Defense of the Moors.— Enterprise against Castro Xeriz.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-m.png" alt="Illustrated M" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">Many</span> -are the doughty achievements recorded in ancient chronicles of this -most valorous cavalier; among others is his expedition, with a chosen -band, against the castle of Muñon, a place of great importance, -which stood at no great distance from Burgos. He sallied from his -capital in an opposite direction, to delude the Moorish scouts; but -making a sudden turn, came upon the fortress by surprise, broke down -the gates, and forced his way in at the head of his troops, having -nothing but a dagger in his hand, his lance and sword having been -broken in the assault. The Moors fought desperately from court to -tower, from tower to wall; and when they saw all resistance vain, -many threw themselves from the battlements into the ditch rather than -be made captives. Leaving a strong garrison in the place, the count -returned to Burgos.</p> - -<p>His next enterprise was against Castro Xeriz, a city with a -strong castle, which had been a thorn in the side of Castile—the -Moorish garrison often sweeping the road between Burgos and <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span> Leon, carrying off -travellers, capturing cattle, and plundering convoys of provisions -and merchandise. The count advanced against this place in open day, -ravaging the country and announcing his approach by clouds of smoke -from the burning habitations of the Moors. Abdallah, the alcaid of -the fortress, would have made peace, but the count refused all terms. -“God,” said he, “has appointed me to rescue his holy inheritance from -the power of infidels; nothing is to be negotiated but by the edge of -the sword.”</p> - -<p>Abdallah then made a sally with a chosen band of his cavaliers. -They at first careered lightly with their Arabian steeds and launched -their Moorish darts, but the Christians closed in the old Gothic -style, fighting hand to hand. Abdallah fell by the sword of the -count, and his followers fled with loosened reins back to the city. -The Christians followed hard upon them, strewing the ground with -dead. At the gate of the city they were met by Almondir, the son -of Abdallah, who disputed the gateway and the street inch by inch, -until the whole place ran with blood. The Moors, driven from the -streets, took refuge in the castle, where Almondir inspirited them -to a desperate defense, until a stone struck him as he stood on the -battlements, and he fell to the earth dead. Having no leader to -direct them, the Moors surrendered. When the town was cleared of the -dead and order restored, the count divided the spoils—allotting the -houses among his followers, and peopling the place with Christians. -He gave the command of it to Layn Bermudez, with the <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span> title of count. From -him descended an illustrious line of cavaliers termed de Castro, -whose male line became extinct in Castile, but continued to flourish -in Portugal. The place is said to have been called Castro Xeriz, in -consequence of the blood shed in this conflict—xeriz, in the Arabic -language signifying bloody.<a id="FNanchor_62" href="#Footnote_62" -class="fnanchor">[62]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> - <p class="subhang">How the Count of Castile and the King of Leon - make a Triumphant Foray into the Moorish Country.— Capture of - Salamanca.— Of the Challenge brought by the Herald, and of the - Count’s Defiance.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-c.png" alt="Illustrated C" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Count Fernan Gonzalez</span> -was restless, daring, and impetuous; he seldom suffered lance to rest -on wall or steed in stable, and no Moorish commander could sleep -in quiet who held town or tower in his neighborhood. King Alonzo -the Great became emulous of sharing in his achievements, and they -made a campaign together against the Moors. The count brought a -splendid array of Castilian chivalry into the field, together with -a host of Montaneses, hardy and vigorous troops from the Asturias, -excellent for marauding warfare. The King of Leon brought his veteran -bands, seasoned to battle. With their united forces they ravaged -the Moorish country, marking their way with havoc and devastation; -arrived before Salamanca, they took that city by storm after a brave -defense, and gave it up to be sacked by the soldiery. After which -such of the Moors as chose to remain in it were suffered to retain -their possessions as vassals to the king. Having accomplished this -triumphant foray, they returned, each one to his capital.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span></p> - -<p>The Count of Castile did not repose long in his palace. One -day a Moorish herald magnificently dressed, rode into the city of -Burgos, bringing Fernan Gonzalez a cartel of defiance. It was from -a vaunting Moor named Acefali, who had entered the territories of -Castile with a powerful force of horse and foot, giving out that he -had come to measure strength and prowess with the count in battle. -Don Fernan Gonzalez replied to the defiance with weapon in hand at -the head of his warriors. A pitched battle ensued, which lasted from -early morn until evening twilight. In the course of the fight the -count was in imminent peril, his horse being killed under him and -himself surrounded, but he was rescued by his cavaliers. After great -bloodshed, the Moors were routed and pursued beyond the borders. The -spoil gained in this battle was devoutly expended in repairing the -churches of Castile and the Montaneses.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-1.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> - <p class="subh3">A Night Assault upon the Castle of Carazo.— The - Moorish Maiden who betrayed the Garrison.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">In those</span> -warlike times of Spain every one lived with sword in hand; there was -scarcely a commanding cliff or hill-top but had its castle. Moors -and Christians regarded each other from rival towers and battlements -perched on opposite heights, and were incessantly contending for the -dominion of the valleys.</p> - -<p>We have seen that Count Fernan Gonzalez had regained possession of -the ancient town and fortress of Lara, the domain of his ancestors; -but it will be recollected that within two leagues’ distance stood -the Moorish presidio of Carazo. It was perched like an eagle’s -nest on the summit of a mountain, and the cragged steepness of -its position, and its high and thick walls seemed to render it -proof against all assault. The Moors who garrisoned it were fierce -marauders, who used to sweep down like birds of prey from their lofty -nest, pounce upon the flocks and dwellings of the Christians, make -hasty ravages, and bear away their spoils to the mountain-top. There -was no living with safety or tranquillity within the scope of their -maraudings.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span></p> - -<p>Intelligence of their misdeeds was brought to the count at Burgos. -He determined to have that castle of Carazo, whatever might be the -cost: for this purpose he called a council of his chosen cavaliers. -He did not conceal the peril of the enterprise, from the crag-built -situation of the castle, its great strength, and the vigilance -and valor of its garrison. Still the Castilian cavaliers offered -themselves to carry the fortress or die.</p> - -<p>The count sallied secretly from Burgos with a select force, and -repaired in the night-time to Lara, that the Moors might have no -intimation nor suspicion of his design. In the midst of the next -night, the castle gate was quietly opened and they issued forth as -silently as possible, pursuing their course in the deep shadows of -the valley until they came to the foot of the mountain of Carazo. -Here they remained in ambush, and sent forth scouts. As the latter -prowled about the day began to dawn, and they heard a female voice -singing above them on the side of the mountain. It was a Moorish -damsel coming down, with a vessel upon her head. She descended to -a fountain which gushed forth beneath a grove of willows, and as -she sang she began to fill her vessel with water. The spies issued -from their concealment, seized her, and carried her to Count Fernan -Gonzalez.</p> - -<p>Overcome by terror or touched by conviction, the Moorish damsel -threw herself on her knees before the count, declared her wish to -turn Christian, and offered, in proof of her sincerity, to put him -in a way of gaining possession of the castle.<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span> Being encouraged to proceed, she told -him that there was to be a marriage feast that day in the castle, and -of course a great deal of revelry, which would put the garrison off -its guard. She pointed out a situation where he might lie in ambush -with his troops in sight of the tower, and promised when a favorable -moment presented for an attack to give a signal with a light.</p> - -<p>The count regarded her for a time with a fixed and earnest gaze, -but saw no faltering nor change of countenance. The case required -bold measures, combined with stratagem; so he confided in her, and -permitted her to return to the castle. All day he lay in ambush -with his troops, each man his hand upon his weapon to guard against -surprise. The distant sound of revelry from the castle, with now -and then the clash of cymbals, the bray of trumpets, and a strain -of festive music, showed the gayety that reigned within. Night came -on; lights gleamed from walls and windows, but none resembling the -appointed signal. It was almost midnight, and the count began to fear -the Moorish damsel had deceived him, when to his great joy he saw the -signal-light gleaming from one of the towers.</p> - -<p>He now sallied forth with his men, and all, on foot, clambered -up the steep and rugged height. They had almost attained the foot -of the towers when they were descried by a sentinel who cried with -a loud voice, “The foe! the foe! to arms! to arms!” The count, -followed by his hardy cavaliers, rushed forward to the gate, crying, -“God and Saint Millan!” The whole castle was<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span> instantly in an uproar. The Moors -were bewildered by the sudden surprise and the confusion of a night -assault. They fought bravely, but irregularly. The Christians had but -one plan and one object. After a hard struggle and great bloodshed, -they forced the gate and made themselves masters of the castle.</p> - -<p>The count remained several days, fortifying the place and -garrisoning it, that it might not fall again into the possession of -the Moors. He bestowed magnificent rewards on the Moorish damsel who -had thus betrayed her countrymen; she embraced the Christian faith, -to which she had just given such a signal proof of devotion, though -it is not said whether the count had sufficient confidence in her -conversion and her newly moulted piety to permit her to remain in the -fortress she had betrayed.</p> - -<p>Having completed his arrangements, the count departed on his -return, and encountered on the road his mother Doña Nuña Fernandez, -who, exulting in his success, had set out to visit him at Carazo. The -mother and son had a joyful meeting, and gave the name of Contreras -to the place of their encounter.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-15.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Death of Alfonso, King of Leon.— The Moors - determined to strike a fresh Blow at the Count, who summons - all Castile to his Standard.— Of his Hunt in the Forest while - waiting for the Enemy, and of the Hermit that he met with.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Alfonso the Great</span> -was now growing old and infirm, and his queen and sons, taking -advantage of his age and feebleness, endeavored by harsh treatment to -compel him to relinquish the crown. Count Fernan Gonzalez interceded -between them, but in vain; and Alfonso was at length obliged to -surrender his crown to his oldest son, Don Garcia. The aged monarch -then set out upon a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Iago; but, -falling ill of his mortal malady, sent for the count to come to him -to his death-bed at Zamora. The count hastened thither with all zeal -and loyalty. He succeeded in effecting a reconciliation between -Alfonso and his son Don Garcia in his dying moments, and was with -the monarch when he quietly breathed his last. The death of the king -gave fresh courage to the Moors, and they thought this a favorable -moment to strike a blow at the rising power of the count. Abderahman -was at this time king of Cordova and Miramamolin, or sovereign of the -Moors in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span> Spain. -He had been enraged at the capture of the castle of Carazo, and the -other victories of the count; and now that the latter had no longer -the King of Leon to back him, it was thought he might, by a vigorous -effort, be completely crushed. Abderahman accordingly assembled at -Cordova a great army of Moorish warriors, both those of Spain and -Africa, and sent them, under the command of Almanzor, to ravage the -country of Count Fernan Gonzalez. This Almanzor was the most valiant -Moorish general in Spain, and one on whom Abderahman depended as upon -his right hand.</p> - -<p>On hearing of the impending danger, Count Fernan Gonzalez summoned -all men of Castile capable of bearing arms to repair to his standard -at Muñon. His force when assembled was but small, but composed of -the bravest chivalry of Castile, any one knight of which he esteemed -equal to ten Moors. One of the most eminent of his cavaliers was -Don Gonzalo Gustios, of Lara, who brought seven valiant sons to the -field—the same afterwards renowned in Spanish story as the seven -princes of Lara. With Don Gonzalo came also his wife’s brother, Ruy -or Rodrigo Velasquez, a cavalier of great prowess.</p> - -<p>In the mean time tidings continued to arrive of the great force of -the enemy, which was said to cover the country with its tents. The -name of the Moorish general, Almanzor, likewise inspired great alarm. -One of the count’s cavaliers, therefore, Gonzalo Diaz, counseled -him not to venture upon an open battle against such fearful <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span> odds; but rather to -make a tula, or ravaging inroad into the country of the Moors, by -way of compelling them to make a truce. The count, however, rejected -his advice. “As to their numbers,” said he, “one lion is worth ten -sheep, and thirty wolves could kill thirty thousand lambs. As to that -Moor, Almanzor, be assured we shall vanquish him, and the greater his -renown the greater will be the honor of the victory.”</p> - -<p>The count now marched his little army to Lara, where he paused to -await the movements of the enemy. While his troops were lying there -he mounted his horse one day and went forth with a few attendants -to hunt in the forests which bordered the river Arlanza. In the -course of the chase he roused a monstrous boar and pursued it among -rocks and brakes until he became separated from his attendants. -Still following the track of the boar, he came to the foot of a -rocky precipice, up which the animal mounted by a rugged and narrow -path, where the horse could not follow. The count alighted, tied -his horse to an oak, and clambered up the path, assisting himself -at times with his boar-spear. The path led to a close thicket of -cedars, surrounding a small edifice partly built of stone and partly -hewn out of the solid rock. The boar had taken refuge within, and -had taken his stand behind what appeared to be a mass of stone. The -count was about to launch his javelin when he beheld a cross of stone -standing on what he now perceived was an altar, and he knew that he -was in a holy place. Being as pious as he was brave, the good <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span> count now knelt before -the altar and asked pardon of God for the sin he had been on the -point of committing; and when he had finished this prayer, he added -another for victory over the foe.</p> - -<p>While he was yet praying, there entered a venerable monk, Fray -Pelayo by name, who, seeing him to be a Christian knight, gave him -his benediction. He informed the count that he resided in this -hermitage in company with two other monks—Arsenio and Silvano. The -count marveled much how they could live there in a country overrun -by enemies, and which had for a long time, and but recently, been in -the power of the infidels. The hermit replied that in the service of -God they were ready to endure all hardships. It is true they suffered -much from cold and hunger, being obliged to live chiefly on herbs -and roots; but by secret paths and tracks they were in communication -with other hermitages scattered throughout the country, so that they -were enabled to aid and comfort each other. They could also secretly -sustain in the faith the Christians who were held in subjection by -the Moors, and afford them places of refuge and concealment in cases -of extremity.</p> - -<p>The count now opened his heart to the good hermit, revealing his -name and rank, and the perils impending over him from the invasion of -the infidel. As the day was far spent, Fray Pelayo prevailed upon him -to pass the night in the hermitage, setting before him barley bread -and such simple fare as his cell afforded.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span></p> - -<p>Early in the morning the count went forth and found the hermit -seated beneath a tree on a rock, whence he could look far and wide -out of the forest and over the surrounding country. The hermit then -accosted him as one whose holy and meditative life and mortifications -of the flesh had given to look into the future almost with the eye -of prophecy. “Of a truth, my son,” said he, “there are many trials -and hardships in store for thee; but be of good cheer, thou wilt -conquer these Moors, and wilt increase thy power and possessions.” -He now revealed to the count certain signs and portents which would -take place during battle. “When thou shalt see these,” said he, “be -assured that Heaven is on thy side, and thy victory secure.” The -count listened with devout attention. “If these things do indeed come -to pass,” said he, “I will found a church and convent in this place, -to be dedicated to St. Peter, the patron saint of this hermitage; -and when I die my body shall be interred here.” Receiving then the -benediction of the holy friar he departed.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-18.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -Count Fernan Gonzalez returned to his troops he found them in great -alarm at his absence, fearing some evil had befallen him; but he -cheered them with an account of his adventure and of the good fortune -predicted by the hermit.</p> - -<p>It was in the month of May, on the day of the Holy Cross, that the -Christian and Moslem armies came in sight of each other. The Moors -advanced with a great sound of trumpets, atabals, and cymbals, and -their mighty host extended over hill and valley. When they saw how -small was the force of the Christians they put up derisive shouts, -and rushed forward to surround them.</p> - -<p>Don Fernan Gonzalez remained calm and unmoved upon a rising -ground, for the hour was at hand when the sign of victory promised by -the hermit was to take place. Near by him was a youthful cavalier, -Pedro Gonzalez by name, native of La Puente de Hitero, of fiery -courage but vainglorious temper. He was cased in shining armor, and -mounted on a beautiful horse impatient of spirit as himself, and -incessantly foaming and champing on the bit and pawing the<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span> earth. As the Moors -drew near, while there was yet a large space between them and the -Christians, this fiery cavalier could no longer contain himself, but -giving reins to his steed set off headlong to encounter the foe; when -suddenly the earth opened, man and horse rushed downward into an -abyss, and the earth closed as before.</p> - -<p>A cry of horror ran through the Christian ranks, and a panic -was like to seize upon them, but Don Fernan Gonzalez rode in front -of them, exclaiming, “This is the promised sign of victory. Let -us see how Castilians defend their lord, for my standard shall be -borne into the thickest of the fight.” So saying, he ordered Orbita -Fernandez to advance his standard; and when his troops saw the silver -cross glittering on high and borne toward the enemy, they shouted, -“Castile! Castile!” and rushed forward to the fight. Immediately -around the standard fought Don Gonzalo Gustios and his seven sons, -and he was, say the old chroniclers, like a lion leading his whelps -into the fight. Wherever they fought their way, they might be traced -by the bodies of bleeding and expiring infidels. Few particulars of -this battle remain on record; but it is said the Moors were as if -struck with sudden fear and weakness, and fled in confusion. Almanzor -himself escaped by the speed of his horse, attended by a handful of -his cavaliers.</p> - -<p>In the camp of the Moors was found vast booty in gold and silver, -and other precious things, with sumptuous armor and weapons. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span> When the spoil -was divided and the troops were refreshed, Don Fernan Gonzalez -went with his cavaliers in pious procession to the hermitage of -San Pedro. Here he gave much silver and gold to the worthy Fray -Pelayo, to be expended in masses for the souls of the Christian -warriors who had fallen in battle, and in prayers for further -victories over the infidels; after which he returned in triumph -to his capital of Burgos.<a id="FNanchor_63" href="#Footnote_63" -class="fnanchor">[63]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Message sent by the Count to Sancho II., - King of Navarre; and the Reply.— Their Encounter in Battle.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">The</span> -good Count of Castile was so inspirited by this signal victory over -the Moors, and their great general Almanzor, that he determined, -now that he had a breathing-spell from infidel warfare, to redress -certain grievances sustained from one of his Christian neighbors. -This was Don Sancho II., King of Navarre, surnamed Abarca, either -from the abarcas or shepherd shoes which he had worn in early life, -when brought up in secrecy and indigence, during the overthrow of -his country by the Moors, or from making his soldiers wear shoes of -the kind in crossing the snowy Pyrenees. It was a name by which the -populace delighted to call him.</p> - -<p>This prince had recovered all Navarre from the infidels, and even -subjected to his crown all Biscay, or Cantabria, and some territory -beyond the Pyrenees, on the confines of France. Not content with -these acquisitions, he had made occasional inroads into Castile, in -consequence of a contest respecting the territories of Navarre and -Rioxa, to which he laid claim. These incursions<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span> he repeated whenever he had peace -or truce with the Moors.<a id="FNanchor_64" href="#Footnote_64" -class="fnanchor">[64]</a></p> - -<p>Count Fernan Gonzalez, having now time, as has been observed, to -attend to these matters, sent an ambassador to King Sancho, charged -with a courteous but resolute message. “I come, Señor,” said the -ambassador to the king, “by command of the Count Fernan Gonzalez -of Castile, and this is what I am told to say. You have done him -much wrong in times past, by leaguing with the infidels and making -inroads into his territories while he was absent or engaged in war. -If you will amend your ways in this respect, and remedy the past, -you will do him much pleasure; but if you refuse, he sends you his -defiance.”</p> - -<p>King Sancho Abarca was lost in astonishment and indignation at -receiving such a message from a count of Castile. “Return to the -count,” said he, “and tell him I will amend nothing; that I marvel -at his insolence, and hold him for a madman for daring to defy -me. Tell him he has listened to evil counsel, or a few trifling -successes against the Moors have turned his brain; but it will be -very different when I come to seek him, for there is not town or -tower from which I will not drag him forth.”<a id="FNanchor_65" -href="#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a></p> - -<p>The ambassador returned with this reply, nor did he spare the -least of its scorn and bitterness. Upon this the count assembled his -cavaliers and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span> -councilors, and represented the case. He exhorted them to stand by -him in seeking redress for this insult and injury to their country -and their chieftain. “We are not equal in numbers to the enemy, but -we are valiant men, united and true to each other, and one hundred -good lances, all in the hands of chosen cavaliers, all of one heart -and mind, are worth three hundred placed by chance in the hands of -men who have no common tie.” The cavaliers all assured him they would -follow and obey him as loyal subjects of a worthy lord, and would -prove their fealty in the day of battle.</p> - -<p>A little army of staunch Castilians was soon assembled, the -silver cross was again reared on high by the standard-bearer Orbita -Velasquez, and the count advanced resolutely a day’s journey into the -kingdom of Navarre, for his maxim was to strike quickly and sudden. -King Sancho wondered at his daring, but hastened to meet him with a -greatly superior force. The armies came in sight of each other at a -place called the Era de Gollanda.</p> - -<p>The count now addressed his men. “The enemy,” said he, “are more -numerous than we; they are vigorous of body and light of foot, and -are dexterous in throwing darts. They will have the advantage if they -attack us; but if we attack them and close manfully, we shall get the -field of them before they have time to hurl their darts and wound -us. For my part, I shall make for the king. If I can but revenge the -wrongs of Castile upon his person I care not how soon I die.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span></p> - -<p>As the armies drew near each other the Castilians, true to the -orders of their chieftain, put up the war-cry, “Castile! Castile!” -and rushing forward, broke through the squadrons of Navarre. Then -followed a fight so pitiless and deadly, says an old chronicler, that -the strokes of their weapons resounded through the whole country. -The count sought King Sancho throughout the whole field; they met -and recognized each other by their armorial bearings and devices. -They fought with fury, until both fell from their horses as if dead. -The Castilians cut their way through the mass of the enemy, and -surrounded their fallen chief. Some raised him from the earth while -others kept off the foe. At first they thought him dead, and were -loud in their lamentations; but when the blood and dust were wiped -from his face he revived and told them not to heed him, for his -wounds were nothing; but to press on and gain the victory, for he had -slain the King of Navarre.</p> - -<p>At hearing this they gave a great shout and returned to the fight; -but those of Navarre, seized with terror at the fall of their king, -turned their backs and fled.</p> - -<p>The count then caused the body of the king to be taken from among -the slain and to be conducted, honorably attended, to Navarre. Thus -fell Sancho Abarca, King of Navarre, and was succeeded by his son Don -Garcia, surnamed the Trembler.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-16.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">How the Count of Toulouse makes a Campaign - against Castile, and how he returns in his Coffin.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">While</span> -the Count Fernan Gonzalez was yet ill of his wounds in his capital, -and when his soldiers had scarce laid by their cuirasses and hung -up their shields and lances, there was a fresh alarm of war. The -Count of Toulouse and Poictiers, the close friend and ally of King -Sancho Abarca, had come from France with a host to his assistance, -but finding him defeated and slain, raised his standard to make a -campaign, in his revenge, against the Castilians. The Navarrese all -gathered round him, and now an army was on foot more powerful than -the one which had recently been defeated.</p> - -<p>Count Fernan Gonzalez, wounded as he was, summoned his troops to -march against this new enemy; but the war-worn Castilians, vexed at -being thus called again to arms before they had time to breathe, -began to murmur. “This is the life of the very devil,” said they, “to -go about day and night, without a moment’s rest. This lord of ours -is assuredly Satan himself, and we are lesser devils in his employ, -always busy <span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span> -entrapping the souls of men. He has no pity for us, so battered and -worn, nor for himself, so badly wounded. It is necessary that some -one should talk with him, and turn him from this madness.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly a hardy cavalier, Nuño Laynez, remonstrated with the -count against further fighting until he should be cured of his wounds -and his people should have time to repose; for mortal men could not -support this kind of life. “Nor is this urged through cowardice,” -added he, “for your men are ready to fight for and defend you as they -would their own souls.”</p> - -<p>“Well have you spoken, Nuño Laynez,” replied the count; “yet -for all this I am not minded to defer this fight. A day lost never -returns. An opportunity foregone can never be recalled. The warrior -who indulges in repose will never leave the memory of great deeds -behind him. His name dies when his soul leaves the body. Let us, -therefore, make the most of the days and hours allotted us, and crown -them with such glorious deeds that the world shall praise us in all -future time.”</p> - -<p>When Nuño Laynez repeated these generous words to the cavaliers, -the blood glowed in their veins, and they prepared themselves -manfully for the field; nor did the count give them time to cool -before he put himself at their head and marched to meet the enemy. -He found them drawn up on the opposite side of a river which was -swollen and troubled by recent rains. Without hesitation he advanced -to ford it, but his troops were galled by flights of darts and -arrows <span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span> as they -crossed, and received with lances on the water’s edge; the bodies -of many floated down the turbid stream, and many perished on the -banks. They made good their crossing, however, and closed with -the enemy. The fight was obstinate and the Castilians were hardly -pressed, being so inferior in number. Don Fernan Gonzalez galloped -along the front of the enemy. “Where is the Count of Toulouse?” -cried he; “let him come forth and face me,—me, Fernan Gonzalez of -Castile, who defy him to single combat!” The count answered promptly -to the defiance. No one from either side presumed to interfere while -the two counts encountered, man to man and horse to horse, like -honorable and generous cavaliers. They rushed upon each other with -the full speed of their horses; the lance of Don Fernan pierced -through all the armor and accoutrements of the Count of Toulouse -and bore him out of the saddle, and before he touched the earth -his soul had already parted from his body. The men of Toulouse, -seeing their chief fall dead, fled amain, but were pursued, and -three hundred of them taken.<a id="FNanchor_66" href="#Footnote_66" -class="fnanchor">[66]</a></p> - -<p>The field being won, Count Fernan Gonzalez alighted and took off -the armor of the Count of Toulouse, with his own hands, and wrapped -him in a xemete, or Moorish mantle, of great value, which he had -gained when he conquered Almanzor. He ordered a coffin to be made, -and covered with cloth of gold, and studded with silver nails, and he -put therein the body of the count, and deliv<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span>ered it to the captive cavaliers, whom -he released and furnished with money for their expenses, making them -swear not to leave the body of the count until they had conducted -it to Toulouse. So the count, who had come from France in such -chivalrous state, at the head of an array of shining warriors, -returned in his coffin with a mourning train of vanquished cavaliers, -while Count Fernan Gonzalez conducted his victorious troops in -triumph back to Burgos.</p> - -<p>This signal victory took place in the year of our Redemption 926, -in the beginning of the reign of Alfonso the Monk on the throne -of Leon and the Asturias.<a id="FNanchor_67" href="#Footnote_67" -class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-9.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-2.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> - <p class="subhang">How the Count went to receive the Hand of a Princess, - and was thrown into a Dungeon.— Of the Stranger that visited him in his - Chains, and of the Appeal that he made to the Princess for his - Deliverance.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-g.png" alt="Illustrated G" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Garcia II.</span>, -who had succeeded to the throne of Navarre on the death of his -father, was brave of soul, though surnamed El Tembloso, or The -Trembler. He was so called because he was observed to tremble on -going into battle; but, as has been said of others, it was only -the flesh that trembled, foreseeing the dangers into which the -spirit would carry it. This king was deeply grieved at the death of -his father, slain by Count Fernan Gonzalez, and would have taken -vengeance by open warfare, but he was counseled by his mother, -the Queen Teresa, to pursue a subtler course. At her instigation -overtures were made to the count to settle all the feuds between -Navarre and Castile by a firm alliance, and to this end it was -proposed that the count should take to wife Doña Sancha, the sister -of King Garcia and daughter of King Sancho Abarca. The count accepted -gladly the proffered alliance, for he had heard of the great merit -and beauty of the princess, and was pleased with so agreeable a -mode of putting an end to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg -352]</span> all their contests. A conference was accordingly -appointed between the count and King Garcia, to take place at -Ciruena, each to be attended only by five cavaliers.</p> - -<p>The count was faithful to his compact, and appeared at the -appointed place with five of the bravest of his cavaliers; but the -king arrived with five-and-thirty chosen men, all armed <i>cap-a-pie</i>. -The count, suspecting treachery, retreated with his cavaliers into a -neighboring hermitage, and, barricading the door, defended himself -throughout the day until nightfall. Seeing there was no alternative, -he at length capitulated and agreed to surrender himself a prisoner, -and pay homage to the king, on the latter assuring him, under oath, -that his life should be secure. King Garcia the Trembler, having in -this wily manner gained possession of the count, threw him in irons -and conducted him prisoner to Navarre, where he confined him in a -strong castle called Castro Viejo. At his intercession, however, his -five cavaliers were released, and carried back to Castile the doleful -tidings of his captivity.</p> - -<p>Now it came to pass that a brave Norman count, who was performing -a pilgrimage to St. Iago of Compostella, heard that the Count Fernan -Gonzalez, whose renown had spread far and wide, lay in chains in -Castro Viejo. Having a vehement desire to see the man of whom fame -had spoken so loudly, he repaired to the castle, and bribed his way -to the prison of the count. When he entered and beheld so noble a -cavalier in a solitary dungeon and in chains, he was sore <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span> at heart. The count -looked up with wonder as this stranger stood before him in pilgrim -garb and with sorrowful aspect, but when he learned his name and -rank, and the object of his visit, he gave him the right hand of -friendship.</p> - -<p>The pilgrim count left the castle more enamored than ever of the -character of Count Fernan Gonzalez. At a festival of the court he -beheld the Princess Sancha, who had served as a lure to draw the good -count into the power of his enemies, and he found her of surpassing -beauty, and of a gentle and loving demeanor; so he determined to seek -an opportunity to speak with her in private, for surely, thought he, -in such a bosom must dwell the soft pity of womanhood. Accordingly, -one day as the princess was walking in the garden with her ladies, -he presented himself before her in his pilgrim’s garb, and prayed -to speak with her apart, as if on some holy mission. And when they -were alone, “How is this, Princess,” said he, “that you are doing -such great wrong to Heaven, to yourself, and to all Christendom?” The -princess started, and said, “What wrong have I done?” Then replied -the pilgrim count, “Behold, for thy sake the noblest of cavaliers, -the pride of Spain, the flower of chivalry, the hope of Christendom, -lies in a dungeon, fettered with galling chains. What lady but -would be too happy to be honored with the love of Count Fernan -Gonzalez; and thou hast scorned it! How will it tell for thy fame in -future times, that thou wast made a snare to capture an honorable -knight; that the gentlest,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg -354]</span> the bravest, the most generous of cavaliers was inveigled -by the love of thee to be thrown into a dungeon? How hast thou -reversed the maxims of chivalry! Beauty has ever been the friend of -valor; but thou hast been its foe! The fair hands of lovely dames -have ever bestowed laurels and rewards on those gallant knights -who sought and deserved their loves; thou hast bestowed chains and -a dungeon. Behold, the Moors rejoice in his captivity, while all -Christians mourn. Thy name will be accursed throughout the land like -that of Cava; but shouldst thou have the heroism to set him free, -thou wilt be extolled above all Spanish ladies. Hadst thou but seen -him as I have done,—alone, abandoned, enchained; yet so noble, so -courteous, so heroic in his chains, that kings upon their thrones -might envy the majesty of his demeanor. If thou couldst feel love for -man, thou shouldst do it for this knight; for I swear to thee on this -cross which I bear, that never was there king or emperor in the world -so worthy of woman’s love.” When the pilgrim count had thus spoken, -he left the princess to meditate upon his words.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-10.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Meditations of the Princess, and their - Result.— Her Flight from the Prison with the Count, and Perils - of the Escape.— The Nuptials.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -Princess Sancha remained for some time in the garden, revolving in -her mind all that she had just heard, and tenderness for the Count -Fernan Gonzalez began to awaken in her bosom; for nothing so touches -the heart of woman as the idea of valor suffering for her sake. -The more the princess meditated the more she became enamored. She -called to mind all she had heard of the illustrious actions of the -count. She thought upon the pictures just drawn of him in prison—so -noble, so majestic in his chains. She remembered the parting words -of the pilgrim count—“Never was there king nor emperor so worthy -of a woman’s love.” “Alas!” cried she, “was there ever a lady more -unfortunate than I? All the love and devotion of this noble cavalier -I might have had, and behold it has been made a mockery. Both he and -myself have been wronged by the treachery of my brother.”</p> - -<p>At length the passion of the princess arose to such a height that -she determined to deliver the count from the misery of which she had -been made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span> the -instrument. So she found means one night to bribe the guards of his -prison, and made her way to his dungeon. When the count saw her, -he thought it a beautiful vision, or some angel sent from heaven -to comfort him, for certainly her beauty surpassed the ordinary -loveliness of woman.</p> - -<p>“Noble cavalier,” said the princess, “this is no time for idle -words and ceremonies. Behold before you the Princess Doña Sancha; the -word which my brother brake I am here to fulfill. You came to receive -my hand, and, instead, you were thrown in chains. I come to yield you -that hand, and to deliver you from those chains. Behold, the door of -your prison is open, and I am ready to fly with you to the ends of -the earth. Swear to me one word, and when you have sworn it, I know -your loyalty too well to doubt that you will hold your oath sacred. -Swear that if I fly with you, you will treat me with the honor of a -knight; that you will make me your wife, and never leave me for any -other woman.”</p> - -<p>The count swore all this on the faith of a Christian cavalier; and -well did he feel disposed to keep his oath, for never before had he -beheld such glorious beauty.</p> - -<p>So the princess led the way, and her authority and her money had -conquered the fidelity of the guards, so that they permitted the -count to sally forth with her from the prison.</p> - -<p>It was a dark night, and they left the great road and climbed -a mountain. The count was so fettered by his chains that he moved -with difficulty, but the princess helped and sometimes almost <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span> carried him; for what -will not delicate woman perform when her love and pity are fully -aroused. Thus they toiled on their way until the day dawned, when -they hid themselves in the cliffs of the mountain, among rocks and -thickets. While thus concealed they beheld an archpriest of the -castle, mounted on a mule with a falcon on his fist, hawking about -the lower part of the mountain. The count knew him to be a base and -malignant man, and watched his movements with great anxiety. He had -two hounds beating about the bushes, which at length got upon the -traces of the count and princess, and discovering them, set up a -violent barking. Alighting from his mule, the archpriest clambered -up to where the fugitives were concealed. He knew the count, and saw -that he had escaped. “Aha! traitor,” cried he, drawing his sword, -“think not to escape from the power of the king.” The count saw that -resistance was in vain, for he was without weapon and in chains, -and the archpriest was a powerful man, exceeding broad across the -shoulders; he sought, therefore, to win him by fair words, promising -that if he would aid him to escape he would give him a city in -Castile, for him and his heirs forever. But the archpriest was more -violent than ever, and held his sword at the breast of the count to -force him back to the castle. Upon this the princess rushed forward, -and with tears in her eyes implored him not to deliver the count into -the hands of his enemies. But the heart of the priest was inflamed by -the beauty of the princess, and thinking her at his mercy, “Gladly,” -said he,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span> “will -I assist the count to escape, but upon one condition.” Then he -whispered a proposal which brought a crimson glow of horror and -indignation into the cheeks of the princess, and he would have laid -his hand upon her, but he was suddenly lifted from the earth by the -strong grasp of the count, who bore him to the edge of a precipice -and flung him headlong down; and his neck was broken in the fall.</p> - -<p>The count then took the mule of the archpriest, his hawk, and his -hounds, and after keeping in the secret parts of the mountain all -day, he and the princess mounted the mule at night, and pursued their -way, by the most rugged and unfrequented passes, toward Castile.</p> - -<p>As the day dawned they found themselves in an open plain at the -foot of the mountains, and beheld a body of horsemen riding toward -them, conducting a car, in which sat a knight in armor, bearing a -standard. The princess now gave all up for lost. “These,” said she, -“are sent by my brother in pursuit of us; how can we escape, for -this poor animal has no longer strength nor speed to bear us up the -mountains?” Upon this Count Fernan alighted, and drawing the sword of -the archpriest, placed himself in a narrow pass. “Do you,” said he -to the princess, “turn back and hasten to the mountains, and dearly -shall it cost him who attempts to follow you.” “Not so,” replied the -princess; “for the love of me hast thou been brought from thine own -domain and betrayed into all these dangers, and I will abide to share -them with thee.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span></p> - -<p>The count would have remonstrated, when to his astonishment he -saw, as the car drew near, that the knight seated in it was clad in -his own armor, with his own devices, and held his own banner in his -hand. “Surely,” said he, crossing himself, “this is enchantment;” -but on looking still nearer, he recognized among the horsemen Nuño -Sandias and Nuño Laynez, two of his most faithful knights. Then his -heart leaped for joy. “Fear nothing,” cried he to the princess; -“behold my standard, and behold my vassals. Those whom you feared as -enemies shall kneel at your feet and kiss your hand in homage.”</p> - -<p>Now so it appears that the tidings of the captivity of the count -had spread mourning and consternation throughout Castile, and the -cavaliers assembled together to devise means for his deliverance. -And certain of them had prepared this effigy of the count, clad in -his armor and bearing his banner and devices, and having done homage -and sworn fealty to it as they would have done to the count himself, -they had placed it in this car and set forth with it as a leader, -making a vow, in the spirit of ancient chivalry, never to return -to their homes until they should have delivered the count from his -captivity.</p> - -<p>When the cavaliers recognized the count, they put up shouts of -joy, and kissed his hands and the hands of the princess in token -of devoted loyalty. And they took off the fetters of the count and -placed him in the car and the princess beside him, and returned -joyfully to Castile.</p> - -<p>Vain would be the attempt to describe the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span> transports of the multitude as Count -Fernan Gonzalez entered his noble capital of Burgos. The Princess -Sancha, also, was hailed with blessings wherever she passed, as -the deliverer of their lord and the savior of Castile, and shortly -afterwards her nuptials with the count were celebrated with feasting -and rejoicing and tilts and tournaments, which lasted for many -days.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-3.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">King Garcia confined in Burgos by the - Count.— The Princess intercedes for his Release.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -rejoicings for the marriage of Count Fernan Gonzalez with the -beautiful Princess Sancha were scarcely finished when King Garcia the -Trembler came with a powerful army to revenge his various affronts. -The count sallied forth to meet him, and a bloody and doubtful battle -ensued. The Navarrese at length were routed, and the king was wounded -and taken prisoner in single combat by Count Fernan, who brought him -to Burgos and put him in close confinement.</p> - -<p>The Countess Doña Sancha was now almost as much afflicted at the -captivity of her brother as she had been at that of the count, and -interceded with her husband for his release. The count, however, -retained too strong a recollection of the bad faith of King Garcia -and of his own treacherous and harsh imprisonment to be easily moved, -and the king was kept in duress for a considerable time. The countess -then interested the principal cavaliers in her suit, reminding them -of the services she had rendered them in aiding the escape of their -lord. Through their united<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[Pg -362]</span> intercessions the count was induced to relent; so King -Garcia the Trembler was released and treated with great honor, and -sent back to his dominions with a retinue befitting his rank.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Expedition against the ancient City of - Sylo.— The unwitting Trespass of the Count into a Convent, and - his Compunction thereupon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-v.png" alt="Illustrated V" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Volumes</span> -would it take to follow the Count Fernan Gonzalez in his heroic -achievements against the infidels,—achievements which give to sober -history almost the air of fable. I forbear to dwell at large upon one -of his campaigns, wherein he scoured the Valley of Laguna; passed -victoriously along the banks of the Douro, building towers and -castles to keep the country in subjection; how he scaled the walls of -the castle of Ormaz, being the first to mount, sword in hand; how by -the valor of his arm he captured the city of Orma; how he took the -town of Sandoval, the origin of the cavaliers of Sandoval, who were -anciently called Salvadores; how he made an inroad even to Madrid, -then a strongly fortified village, and having taken and sacked it, -returned in triumph to Burgos.</p> - -<p>But it would be wronging the memory of this great and good -cavalier to pass in silence over one of his exploits in which he -gave a singular instance of his piety. This was in an expedition -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span> against the -ancient city of Sylo. It was not a place of much value in itself, -being situated in a cold and sterile country, but it had become a -stronghold of the Moors, whence they carried on their warfare. This -place the count carried by assault, entering it in full armor, on his -steed, overturning and slaying all who opposed him. In the fury of -his career he rode into a spacious edifice which he supposed to be a -mosque, with the pious intention of slaying every infidel he might -find within. On looking round, however, great was his astonishment -at beholding images of saints, the blessed cross of our Saviour, and -various other sacred objects, which announced a church devoted to -the veritable faith. Struck with remorse, he sprang from his horse, -threw himself upon his knees, and with many tears implored pardon of -God for the sin he had unknowingly committed. While he was yet on his -knees, several monks of the order of St. Dominic approached, meagre -in looks and squalid in attire, but hailing him with great joy as -their deliverer. In sooth this was a convent of San Sebastian, the -fraternity of which had remained captives among the Moors, supporting -themselves poorly by making baskets, but permitted to continue in the -exercise of their religion.</p> - -<p>Still filled with pious compunction for the trespass he had made, -the count ordered that the shoes should be taken from his horse and -nailed upon the door of the church; for never, said he, shall they -tread any other ground after having trodden this holy place. From -that day, we are told, it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[Pg -365]</span> has been the custom to nail the shoes of horses on the -portal of that convent—a custom which has extended to many other -places.</p> - -<p>The worthy Fray Prudencio de Sandoval records a marvelous memento -of the expedition of the count against this city, which remained, -he says, until his day. Not far from the place, on the road which -passes by Lara, is to be seen the print of his horse’s hoofs in -a solid rock, which has received the impression as though it had -been made in softened wax.<a id="FNanchor_68" href="#Footnote_68" -class="fnanchor">[68]</a> It is to be presumed that the horse’s hoofs -had been gifted with miraculous hardness in reward to the count for -his pious oblation of the shoes.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-17.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Of the Moorish Host that came up from Cordova, - and how the Count repaired to the Hermitage of San Pedro, and - prayed for Success against them, and received Assurance of - Victory in a Vision.— Battle of Hazinas.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, from whose manuscripts this memoir is -extracted, passes by many of the striking and heroic deeds of the -count, which crowd the pages of ancient chroniclers; but the good -friar ever is sure to dwell with delight upon any of those miraculous -occurrences which took place in Spain in those days, and which -showed the marked interposition of Heaven in behalf of the Christian -warriors in their battles with the infidels. Such was the renowned -battle of Hazinas, which, says Agapida, for its miraculous events is -worthy of eternal blazon.</p> - -<p>Now so it was that the Moorish king of Cordova had summoned all -the faithful, both of Spain and Africa, to assist him in recovering -the lands wrested from him by the unbelievers, and especially by -Count Fernan Gonzalez in his late victories; and such countless -legions of turbaned warriors were assembled that it was said they -covered the plains of Andalusia like swarms of locusts.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</span></p> - -<p>Hearing of their threatening approach, the count gathered together -his forces at Piedrafita, while the Moors encamped in Hazinas. When, -however, he beheld the mighty host arrayed against him, his heart -for once was troubled with evil forebodings, and calling to mind the -cheering prognostications of the friar Pelayo on a like occasion, he -resolved to repair again to that holy man for counsel. Leaving his -camp, therefore, secretly, he set out, accompanied by two cavaliers, -to seek the chapel which he had ordered to be built at the hermitage -of San Pedro, on the mountain overhanging the river Arlanza, but when -arrived there he heard to his great grief that the worthy friar was -dead.</p> - -<p>Entering the chapel, however, he knelt down at the altar and -prayed for success in the coming fight; humbly representing that he -had never, like many of the kings and nobles of Spain, done homage to -the infidels and acknowledged them for sovereigns. The count remained -a long time at prayer, until sleep gradually stole over him; and as -he lay slumbering before the altar the holy Fray Pelayo appeared -before him in a vision, clad in garments as white as snow. “Why -sleepest thou, Fernan Gonzalez?” said he; “arise, and go forth, and -know that thou shalt conquer those Moors. For, inasmuch as thou art -a faithful vassal of the Most High, he has commanded the Apostle San -Iago and myself, with many angels, to come to thy aid, and we will -appear in the battle clad in white armor, with each of us a red cross -upon our pennon. Therefore arise, I say, and go hence with a valiant -heart.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</span></p> - -<p>The count awoke, and while he was yet musing upon the vision he -heard a voice saying, “Arise, and get thee hence; why dost thou -linger? Separate thy host into three divisions: enter the field of -battle by the east, with the smallest division, and I will be with -thee; and let the second division enter by the west, and that shall -be aided by San Iago; and let the third division enter by the north. -Know that I am San Millan who come to thee with this message.”</p> - -<p>The count departed joyfully from the chapel, and returned to his -army; and when he told his troops of this, his second visit to the -hermitage, and of the vision he had had, and how the holy friar San -Pelayo had again assured him of victory, their hearts were lifted -up, and they rejoiced to serve under a leader who had such excellent -counselors in war.</p> - -<p>In the evening preceding the battle Don Fernan Gonzalez divided -his forces as he had been ordered. The first division was composed of -two hundred horsemen and six thousand infantry; hardy mountaineers, -light of foot and of great valor. In the advance were Don Gustios -Gonzalez of Salas, and his seven sons and two nephews, and his -brother Ruy Velasquez, and a valiant cavalier named Gonzalo Diaz.</p> - -<p>The second division was led by Don Lope de Biscaya, with the -people of Burueba and Trevino, and Old Castile and Castro and the -Asturias. Two hundred horsemen and six thousand infantry.</p> - -<p>The third division was led by the count him<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</span>self, and with him went Ruy Cavia, and -Nuño Cavia and the Velascos, whom the count that day dubbed knights, -and twenty esquires of the count, whom he had likewise knighted. -His division consisted of four hundred and fifty horse and fifteen -hundred foot; and he told his men that if they should not conquer -the Moors on the following day, they should draw off from the battle -when he gave the word. Late at night, when all the camp, excepting -the sentinels and guards, were buried in sleep, a light suddenly -illumined the heavens, and a great serpent was seen in the air, -wounded and covered with blood, and vomiting flames, and making a -loud hissing that awakened all the soldiers. They rushed out of their -tents, and ran hither and thither, running against each other in -their affright. Count Fernan Gonzalez was awakened by their outcries, -but before he came forth the serpent had disappeared. He rebuked the -terrors of his people, representing to them that the Moors were great -necromancers, and by their arts could raise devils to their aid; and -that some Moorish astrologer had doubtless raised this spectrum to -alarm them; but he bade them be of good heart, since they had San -Iago on their side, and might set Moor, astrologer, and devil at -defiance.</p> - -<p>In the first day’s fight Don Fernan fought hand to hand with a -powerful Moor, who had desired to try his prowess with him. It was -an obstinate contest, in which the Moor was slain; but the count so -badly wounded that he fell to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[Pg -370]</span> the earth, and had not his men surrounded and defended -him, he would have been slain or captured. The battle lasted all day -long, and Gustios Gonzalez and his kindred warriors showed prodigies -of valor. Don Fernan, having had his wounds stanched, remounted his -horse and galloped about, giving courage to his men; but he was -covered with dust and blood, and so hoarse that he could no longer -be heard. The sun went down, the Moors kept on fighting, confiding -in their great numbers. The count, seeing the night approaching, -ordered the trumpets to be sounded, and, collecting his troops, made -one general charge on the Moors, and drove them from the field. He -then drew off his men to their tents, where the weary troops found -refreshment and repose, though they slept all night upon their -arms.</p> - -<p>On the second day the count rose before the dawn, and having -attended mass like a good Christian, attended next to his horses, -like a good cavalier, seeing with his own eyes that they were well -fed and groomed, and prepared for the field. The battle this day was -obstinate as the day before, with great valor and loss on either -side.</p> - -<p>On the third day the count led forth his forces at an early hour, -raising his silver standard of the cross, and praying devoutly for -aid. Then lowering their lances, the Castilians shouted San Iago! San -Iago! and rushed to the attack.</p> - -<p>Don Gustios Gonzalo de Salas, the leader of one of the divisions, -made a lane into the centre<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[Pg -371]</span> of the Moorish host, dealing death on either side. He -was met by a Moorish cavalier of powerful frame. Covering themselves -with their shields, they attacked each other with great fury; but the -days of Gustios Gonzalo were numbered, and the Moor slew him, and -with him fell a nephew of Count Fernan, and many of his principal -cavaliers.</p> - -<p>Count Fernan Gonzalez encountered the Moor who had just slain his -friend. The infidel would have avoided him, having heard that never -man escaped alive from a conflict with him; but the count gave him -a furious thrust with his lance, which stretched him dead upon the -field.</p> - -<p>The Moors, however, continued to press the count sorely, and -their numbers threatened to overwhelm him. Then he put up a prayer -for the aid promised in his vision, and of a sudden the Apostle San -Iago appeared, with a great and shining company of angels in white, -bearing the device of a red cross, and all rushing upon the Moors. -The Moors were dismayed at the sight of this reinforcement to the -enemy. The Christians, on the other hand, recovered their forces, -knowing the Apostle San Iago to be at hand. They charged the Moors -with new vigor, and put them to flight, and pursued them for two -days, killing and making captive. They then returned and gathered -together the bodies of the Christians who had been slain, and buried -them in the chapel of San Pedro of Arlanza and in other hermitages. -The bodies of the Moors were piled up and covered with earth, forming -a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</span> mound which is -still to be seen on the field of battle.</p> - -<p>Some have ascribed to the signal worn in this battle by the -celestial warriors the origin of the Cross of Calatrava.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> - <p class="subhang">The Count imprisoned by the King of - Leon.— The Countess concerts his Escape.— Leon and Castile - united by the Marriage of the Prince Ordoño with Urraca, - the Daughter of the Count by his first Wife.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-n.png" alt="Illustrated N" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">Not</span> -long after this most renowned and marvelous battle, a Moorish captain -named Aceyfa became a vassal of the Count Don Fernan. Under his -protection, and that of a rich and powerful Castilian cavalier named -Diego Muñon, he rebuilt Salamanca and Ledesma, and several places -on the river Tormes, which had been desolated and deserted in times -past.</p> - -<p>Ramiro the Second, who was at this time King of Leon, was alarmed -at seeing a strong line of Moorish fortresses erected along the -borders of his territories, and took the field with an army to drive -the Moor Aceyfa from the land. The proud spirit of Count Fernan -Gonzalez was aroused at this attack upon his Moorish vassal, which -he considered an indignity offered to himself; so being seconded by -Don Diego Muñon, he marched forth with his chivalry to protect the -Moor. In the present instance he had trusted to his own head, and had -neglected to seek advice of saint or hermit; so his army was defeated -by <span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</span> King Ramiro, -and himself and Don Diego Muñon taken prisoner. The latter was sent -in chains to the castle of Gordon; but the count was carried to Leon, -where he was confined in a tower of the wall, which to this day is -pointed out as his prison.<a id="FNanchor_69" href="#Footnote_69" -class="fnanchor">[69]</a></p> - -<p>All Castile was thrown into grief and consternation by this event, -and lamentations were heard throughout the land, as though the count -had been dead. The countess, however, did not waste time in idle -tears, for she was a lady of most valiant spirit. She forthwith -assembled five hundred cavaliers, chosen men of tried loyalty and -devotion to the count. They met in the chapel of the palace, and took -an oath upon the Holy Evangelists to follow the countess through all -difficulties and dangers, and to obey implicitly all her commands -for the rescue of their lord. With this band the countess departed -secretly at nightfall, and travelled rapidly until morning, when they -left the roads, and took to the mountains, lest their march should -be discovered. Arrived near to Leon, she halted her band in a thick -wood in the mountain of Samosa where she ordered them to remain -in secrecy. Then clothing herself as a pilgrim with her staff and -pannier, she sent word to King Ramiro that she was on a pilgrimage to -San Iago, and entreated that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[Pg -375]</span> she might have permission to visit her husband in his -prison. King Ramiro not merely granted her request, but sallied forth -above a league from the city with a great retinue to do her honor. So -the countess entered a second time the prison where the count lay in -chains, and stood before him as his protecting angel. At sight of him -in this miserable and dishonored state, however, the valor of spirit -which had hitherto sustained her gave way, and tears flowed from her -eyes. The count received her joyfully, and reproached her with her -tears; “for it becomes us,” said he, “to submit to what is imposed -upon us by God.”</p> - -<p>The countess now sent to entreat the king that while she remained -with the count his chains should be taken off. The king again granted -her request; and the count was freed from his irons and an excellent -bed prepared in his prison.</p> - -<p>The countess remained with him all night and concerted his escape. -Before it was daylight she gave him her pilgrim’s dress and staff, -and the count went forth from the chamber disguised as his wife. The -porter at the outer portal, thinking it to be the countess, would -have waited for orders from the king; but the count, in a feigned -voice, entreated not to be detained, lest he should not be able to -perform his pilgrimage. The porter, mistrusting no deceit, opened the -door. The count issued forth, repaired to a place pointed out by the -countess, where the two cavaliers awaited him with a fleet horse. -They all sallied quietly forth from the city at the opening of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</span> gates, until they -found themselves clear of the walls, when they put spurs to their -horses and made their way to the mountain of Samosa. Here the count -was received with shouts of joy by the cavaliers whom the countess -had left there in concealment.</p> - -<p>As the day advanced the keeper of the prison entered the apartment -of Don Fernan, but was astonished to find there the beautiful -countess in place of her warrior husband. He conducted her before the -king, accusing her of the fraud by which she had effected the escape -of the count. King Ramiro was greatly incensed, and he demanded of -the countess how she dared to do such an act. “I dared,” replied she, -“because I saw my husband in misery, and felt it my duty to relieve -him; and I dared because I was the daughter of a king, and the wife -of a distinguished cavalier; as such I trust to your chivalry to -treat me.”</p> - -<p>The king was charmed with her intrepidity. “Señora,” said he, -“you have acted well and like a noble lady, and it will redound to -your laud and honor.” So he commanded that she should be conducted -to her husband in a manner befitting a lady of high and noble rank; -and the count was overjoyed to receive her in safety, and they -returned to their dominions and entered Burgos at the head of their -train of cavaliers, amidst the transports and acclamations of their -people. And King Ramiro sought the amity of Count Fernan Gonzalez, -and proposed that they should unite their houses by some matrimonial -alliance which should serve as a bond of mutual<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</span> security. The count gladly listened -to his proposals. He had a fair daughter named Urraca, by his first -wife, who was now arrived at a marriageable age; so it was agreed -that nuptials should be solemnized between her and the Prince Ordoño, -son of King Ramiro; and all Leon and Castile rejoiced at this union, -which promised tranquillity to the land.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Moorish Incursion into Castile.— Battle of San - Estevan.— Of Pascual Vivas and the Miracle that Befell him.— Death - of Ordoño III.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-f.png" alt="Illustrated F" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">For</span> -several succeeding years of the career of this most redoubtable -cavalier, the most edifying and praiseworthy traces which remain, -says Fray Antonio Agapida, are to be found in the archives of various -monasteries, consisting of memorials of pious gifts and endowments -made by himself and his countess, Doña Sancha.</p> - -<p>In the process of time King Ramiro died, and was succeeded by -his son Ordoño III., the same who had married Urraca, the daughter -of Count Fernan. He was surnamed the Fierce, either from his savage -temper or savage aspect. He had a step-brother named Don Sancho, -nephew, by the mother’s side, of King Garcia of Navarre, surnamed the -Trembler. This Don Sancho rose in arms against Ordoño at the very -outset of his reign, seeking to deprive him of his crown. He applied -for assistance to his uncle Garcia and to Count Fernan Gonzalez, and -it is said both favored his pretensions. Nay, the count soon appeared -in the field in company with King Garcia the Trembler, in support -of Prince Sancho. It may<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[Pg -379]</span> seem strange that he should take up arms against his own -son-in-law; and so it certainly appeared to Ordoño III., for he was -so incensed against the count that he repudiated his wife Urraca and -sent her back to her father, telling him that since he would not -acknowledge him as king, he should not have him for son-in-law.</p> - -<p>The kingdom now became a prey to civil wars; the restless part of -the subjects of King Ordoño rose in rebellion, and everything was in -confusion. King Ordoño succeeded, however, in quelling the rebellion, -and defended himself so ably against King Garcia and Count Fernan -Gonzalez, that they returned home without effecting their object.</p> - -<p>About this time, say the records of Compostella, the sinful -dissensions of the Christians brought on them a visible and awful -scourge from Heaven. A great flame, or, as it were, a cloud of fire, -passed throughout the land, burning towns, destroying men and beasts, -and spreading horror and devastation even over the sea. It passed -over Zamora, consuming a great part of the place; it scorched Castro -Xerez likewise, and Brebiesco and Pan Corvo in its progress, and in -Burgos one hundred houses were consumed.</p> - -<p>“These,” says the worthy Agapida, “were fiery tokens of the -displeasure of Heaven at the sinful conduct of the Christians in -warring upon each other, instead of joining their arms like brethren -in the righteous endeavor to extirpate the vile sect of Mahomet.”</p> - -<p>While the Christians were thus fighting among themselves, -the Moors, taking advantage of their<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</span> discord, came with a great army, and -made an incursion into Castile as far as Burgos. King Ordoño and -Count Fernan Gonzalez, alarmed at the common danger, came to a -reconciliation, and took arms together against the Moors; though it -does not appear that the king received again his repudiated wife -Urraca. These confederate princes gave the Moors a great battle near -to San Estevan. “This battle,” says Fray Antonio Agapida, “is chiefly -memorable for a miracle which occurred there,” and which is recorded -by the good friar with an unction and perfect credence worthy of a -monkish chronicler.</p> - -<p>The Christians were incastellated at San Estevan de Gormaz, which -is near the banks of the Douro. The Moors had possession of the -fortress of Gormaz, about a league further up the river on a lofty -and rocky height.</p> - -<p>The battle commenced at the dawn of day. Count Fernan Gonzalez, -however, before taking the field, repaired with his principal -cavaliers to the church, to attend the first morning’s mass. Now, at -this time, there was in the service of the count a brave cavalier -named Pascual Vivas, who was as pious as he was brave, and would pray -with as much fervor and obstinacy as he would fight. This cavalier -made it a religious rule with himself, or rather had made a solemn -vow, that, whenever he entered a church in the morning, he would on -no account leave it until all the masses were finished.</p> - -<p>On the present occasion the firmness of this brave but pious -cavalier was put to a severe proof.<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</span> When the first mass was finished, the -count and his cavaliers rose and sallied from the church in clanking -armor, and soon after the sound of trumpet and quick tramp of steed -told that they were off to the encounter. Pascual Vivas, however, -remained kneeling all in armor before the altar, waiting, according -to custom, until all the masses should be finished. The masses that -morning were numerous, and hour after hour passed away; yet still the -cavalier remained kneeling all in armor, with weapon in hand, yet so -zealous in his devotion that he never turned his head.</p> - -<p>All this while the esquire of the cavalier was at the door of the -church, holding his war-horse, and the esquire beheld with surprise -the count and his warriors depart, while his lord remained in the -chapel; and, from the height on which the chapel stood, he could see -the Christian host encounter the Moors at the ford of the river, -and could hear the distant sound of trumpets and din of battle; and -at the sound the war-horse pricked his ears and snuffed the air -and pawed the earth, and showed all the eagerness of a noble steed -to be among the armed men, but still Pascual Vivas came not out of -the chapel. The esquire was wroth, and blushed for his lord, for he -thought it was through cowardice and not piety that he remained in -the chapel while his comrades were fighting in the field.</p> - -<p>At length the masses were finished, and Pascual Vivas was about -to sally forth when horsemen came riding up the hill with shouts -of victory, for the battle was over and the Moors completely -vanquished.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</span></p> - -<p>When Pascual Vivas heard this he was so troubled in mind that he -dared not leave the chapel nor come into the presence of the count, -for he said to himself, “Surely I shall be looked upon as a recreant -knight, who have hidden myself in the hour of danger.” Shortly, -however, came some of his fellow-cavaliers, summoning him to the -presence of the count; and as he went with a beating heart, they -lauded him for the valor he had displayed and the great services he -had rendered, saying that to the prowess of his arm they owed the -victory. The good knight, imagining they were scoffing at him, felt -still more cast down in spirit, and entered the presence of the count -covered with confusion. Here again he was received with praises and -caresses, at which he was greatly astonished, but still thought it -all done in mockery. When the truth came to be known, however, all -present were filled with wonder, for it appeared as if this cavalier -had been, at the same moment, in the chapel and in the field; for -while he remained on his knees before the altar, with his steed -pawing the earth at the door, a warrior exactly resembling him, with -the same arms, device, and steed, had appeared in the hottest of -the fight, penetrating and overthrowing whole squadrons of Moors; -that he had cut his way to the standard of the enemy, killed the -standard-bearer, and carried off the banner in triumph; that his -pourpoint and coat of mail were cut to pieces, and his horse covered -with wounds; yet still he fought on, and through his valor chiefly -the victory was obtained.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</span></p> - -<p>What more moved astonishment was that for every wound received by -the warrior and his steed in the field, there appeared marks on the -pourpoint and coat of mail and upon the steed of Pascual Vivas, so -that he had the semblance of having been in the severest press of the -battle.</p> - -<p>The matter was now readily explained by the worthy friars -who followed the armies in those days, and who were skillful in -expounding the miracles daily occurring in those holy wars. A -miraculous intervention had been vouchsafed to Pascual Vivas. That -his piety in remaining at his prayers might not put him to shame -before sinful men, an angel bearing his form and semblance had taken -his place in battle, and fought while he prayed.</p> - -<p>The matter being thus explained, all present were filled with -pious admiration, and Pascual Vivas, if he ceased to be extolled as -a warrior, came near being canonized as a saint.<a id="FNanchor_70" -href="#Footnote_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a></p> - -<p>King Ordoño III. did not long survive this battle. Scarce had he -arrived at Zamora on his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[Pg -384]</span> way homeward, when he was seized with a mortal malady of -which he died. He was succeeded by his brother Don Sancho, the same -who had formerly endeavored to dispossess him of his throne.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-18.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> - <p class="subhang">King Sancho the Fat.— Of the Homage he - exacted from Count Fernan Gonzalez, and of the strange - Bargain that he made with him for the purchase of his Horse - and Falcon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">King Sancho I.</span>, -on ascending the throne, held a cortes at Leon, where all the great -men of the kingdom and the princes who owed allegiance to him -were expected to attend and pay homage. As the court of Leon was -excessively tenacious of its claim to sovereignty over Castile, the -absence of Count Fernan Gonzalez was noticed with great displeasure -by the king, who sent missives to him commanding his attendance. The -count being proud of heart, and standing much upon the independence -of Castile, was unwilling to kiss the hand of any one in token of -vassalage. He was at length induced to stifle his repugnance and -repair to the court, but he went in almost regal style and with a -splendid retinue, more like a sovereign making a progress through his -dominions.</p> - -<p>As he approached the city of Leon, King Sancho came forth in great -state to receive him, and they met apparently as friends, but there -was enmity against each other in their hearts.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</span></p> - -<p>The rich and gallant array with which Count Fernan made his entry -in Leon was the theme of every tongue; but nothing attracted more -notice than a falcon, thoroughly trained, which he carried on his -hand, and an Arabian horse of wonderful beauty, which he had gained -in his wars with the Moors. King Sancho was seized with a vehement -desire to possess this horse and falcon, and offered to purchase -them of the count. Don Fernan haughtily declined to enter into -traffic; but offered them to the monarch as a gift. The king was -equally punctilious in refusing to accept a favor; but as monarchs do -not easily forego anything on which they have set their hearts, it -became evident to Count Fernan that it was necessary, for the sake -of peace, to part with his horse and falcon. To save his dignity, -however, he asked a price corresponding to his rank; for it was -beneath a cavalier, he said, to sell his things cheap, like a mean -man. He demanded, therefore, one thousand marks of silver for the -horse and falcon,—to be paid on a stipulated day; if not paid on that -day the price to be doubled on the next, and on each day’s further -delay the price should in like manner be doubled. To these terms the -king gladly consented, and the terms were specified in a written -agreement, which was duly signed and witnessed. The king thus gained -the horse and falcon, but it will be hereinafter shown that this -indulgence of his fancy cost him dear.</p> - -<p>This eager desire for an Arabian steed appears the more singular -in Sancho the First, from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[Pg -387]</span> his being so corpulent that he could not sit on -horseback. Hence he is commonly known in history by the appellation -of King Sancho the Fat. His unwieldy bulk, also, may be one reason -why he soon lost the favor of his warrior subjects, who looked upon -him as a mere trencherman and bed-presser, and not fitted to command -men who lived in the saddle, and had rather fight than either eat or -sleep.</p> - -<p>King Sancho saw that he might soon have hard fighting to maintain -his throne; and how could he figure as a warrior who could not mount -on horseback. In his anxiety he repaired to his uncle Garcia, king -of Navarre, surnamed the Trembler, who was an exceeding meagre man, -and asked counsel of him what he should do to cure himself of this -troublesome corpulency. Garcia the Trembler was totally at a loss for -a recipe, his own leanness being a gift of Nature; he advised him, -however, to repair to Abderahman, the Miramamolin of Spain and King -of Cordova, with whom he was happily at peace, and consult with him, -and seek advice of the Arabian physicians resident at Cordova—the -Moors being generally a spare and active people, and the Arabian -physicians skillful above all others in the treatment of diseases.</p> - -<p>King Sancho the Fat, therefore, sent amicable messages beforehand -to the Moorish miramamolin, and followed them as fast as his -corpulency would permit; and he was well received by the Moorish -sovereign, and remained for a long time<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</span> at Cordova, diligently employed in -decreasing his rotundity.</p> - -<p>While the corpulent king was thus growing leaner, discontent -broke out among his subjects at home; and, Count Fernan Gonzalez -taking advantage of it, stirred up an insurrection, and placed upon -the throne of Leon Ordoño the Fourth, surnamed the Bad, who was a -kinsman of the late King Ordoño III., and he moreover gave him his -daughter for wife—his daughter Urraca, the repudiated wife of the -late king.</p> - -<p>If the good Count Fernan Gonzalez supposed he had fortified -himself by this alliance, and that his daughter was now fixed for the -second time, and more firmly than ever, on the throne of Leon, he -was grievously deceived; for Sancho I. returned from Cordova at the -head of a powerful host of Moors, and was no longer to be called the -Fat, for he had so well succeeded under the regimen prescribed by the -miramamolin and his Arabian physicians, that he could vault into the -saddle with merely putting his hand upon the pommel.</p> - -<p>Ordoño IV. was a man of puny heart; no sooner did he hear of the -approach of King Sancho, and of his marvelous leanness and agility, -than he was seized with terror, and, abandoning his throne and -his twice-repudiated spouse Urraca, he made for the mountains of -Asturias, or, as others assert, was overtaken by the Moors and killed -with lances.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-8.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Further of the Horse and Falcon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">King Sancho I.</span>, -having reëstablished himself on the throne, and recovered the -good-will of his subjects by his leanness and horsemanship, sent a -stern message to Count Fernan Gonzalez to come to his cortes, or -resign his countship. The count was exceedingly indignant at this -order, and feared, moreover, that some indignity or injury would be -offered him should he repair to Leon. He made the message known to -his principal cavaliers, and requested their advice. Most of them -were of opinion that he should not go to the cortes. Don Fernan -declared, however, that he would not act disloyally in omitting to -do that which the counts of Castile had always performed, although -he felt that he incurred the risk of death or imprisonment. Leaving -his son, Garcia Fernandez, therefore, in charge of his councilors, he -departed for Leon with only seven cavaliers.</p> - -<p>As he approached the gates of that city, no one came forth -to greet him, as had always been the custom. This he considered -an evil sign. Presenting himself before the king, he would have -kissed his hand, but the monarch withheld<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</span> it. He charged the count with being -vainglorious and disloyal; with having absented himself from the -cortes and conspired against his throne;—for all which he should make -atonement, and should give hostages or pledges for his good faith -before he left the court.</p> - -<p>The count in reply accounted for absenting himself from the cortes -by the perfidious treatment he had formerly experienced at Leon. As -to any grievances the king might have to complain of, he stood ready -to redress them, provided the king would make good his own written -engagement, signed with his own hand and sealed with his own seal, to -pay for the horse and falcon which he had purchased of the count on -his former visit to Leon. Three years had now elapsed since the day -appointed for the payment, and in the mean time the price had gone on -daily doubling, according to stipulation.</p> - -<p>They parted mutually indignant; and, after the count had retired -to his quarters, the king, piqued to maintain his royal word, -summoned his major-domo, and ordered him to take a large amount of -treasure and carry it to the Count of Castile in payment of his -demand. So the major-domo repaired to the count with a great sack of -money to settle with him for the horse and hawk; but when he came -to cast up the account, and double it each day that had intervened -since the appointed day of payment, the major-domo, though an expert -man at figures, was totally confounded, and, returning to the king, -assured him that all the money in the world<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</span> would not suffice to pay the debt. King -Sancho was totally at a loss how to keep his word, and pay off a debt -which was more than enough to ruin him. Grievously did he repent his -first experience in traffic, and found that it is not safe even for a -monarch to trade in horses.</p> - -<p>In the mean time the count was suffered to return to Castile; -but he did not let the matter rest here; for, being sorely incensed -at the indignities he had experienced, he sent missives to King -Sancho, urging his demand of payment for the horse or falcon—menacing -otherwise to make seizures by way of indemnification. Receiving no -satisfactory reply, he made a foray into the kingdom of Leon, and -brought off great spoil of sheep and cattle.</p> - -<p>King Sancho now saw that the count was too bold and urgent a -creditor to be trifled with. In his perplexity he assembled the -estates of his kingdom, and consulted them upon this momentous -affair. His counselors, like himself, were grievously perplexed -between the sanctity of the royal word and the enormity of the debt. -After much deliberation they suggested a compromise—the Count Fernan -Gonzalez to relinquish the debt, and in lieu thereof to be released -from his vassalage.</p> - -<p>The count agreed right gladly to this compromise, being thus -relieved from all tribute and imposition, and from the necessity -of kissing the hand of any man in the world as his sovereign. Thus -did King Sancho pay with the sovereignty of<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</span> Castile for a horse and falcon, -and thus were the Castilians relieved, by a skillful bargain in -horse-dealing, from all subjection to the kingdom of Leon.<a -id="FNanchor_71" href="#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-11.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">The Last Campaign of Count Fernan.— His Death.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -good Count Fernan Gonzalez was now well stricken in years. The fire -of youth was extinct, the pride and ambition of manhood were over; -instead of erecting palaces and lofty castles, he began now to turn -his thoughts upon the grave and to build his last earthly habitation, -the sepulchre.</p> - -<p>Before erecting his own, he had one built of rich and stately -workmanship for his first wife, the object of his early love, and -had her remains conveyed to it and interred with great solemnity. -His own sepulchre, according to ancient promise, was prepared at the -chapel and hermitage of San Pedro at Arlanza, where he had first -communed with the holy Friar Pelayo. When it was completed, he merely -inscribed upon it the word “Obijt,” leaving the rest to be supplied -by others after his death.</p> - -<p>When the Moors perceived that Count Fernan Gonzalez, once so -redoubtable in arms, was old and infirm, and given to build tombs -instead of castles, they thought it a favorable time to make an -inroad into Castile. They passed the border,<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</span> therefore, in great numbers, laying -everything waste and bearding the old lion in his very den.</p> - -<p>The veteran had laid by sword and buckler, and had almost given -up the world; but the sound of Moorish drum and trumpet called him -back even from the threshold of the sepulchre. Buckling on once more -his armor and bestriding his war-steed, he summoned around him his -Castilian cavaliers, seasoned like him in a thousand battles, and -accompanied by his son Garcia Fernandez, who inherited all the valor -of his father, issued forth to meet the foe; followed by the shouts -and blessings of the populace, who joyed to see him once more in arms -and glowing with his ancient fire.</p> - -<p>The Moors were retiring from an extensive ravage, laden with booty -and driving before them an immense cavalgada, when they descried a -squadron of cavaliers, armed all in steel, emerging from a great -cloud of dust, and bearing aloft the silver cross, the well-known -standard of Count Fernan Gonzalez. That veteran warrior came on, as -usual, leading the way, sword in hand. The very sight of his standard -had struck dismay into the enemy; they soon gave way before one of -his vigorous charges, nor did he cease to pursue them until they -took shelter within the very walls of Cordova. Here he wasted the -surrounding country with fire and sword, and after thus braving the -Moor in his very capital, returned triumphant to Burgos.</p> - -<p>“Such,” says Fray Antonio Agapida, “was the last campaign in this -life of this most valorous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[Pg -395]</span> cavalier;” and now, abandoning all further deeds of -mortal enterprise in arms to his son Garcia Fernandez, he addressed -all his thoughts, as he said, to prepare for his campaign in the -skies. He still talked as a veteran warrior, whose whole life had -been passed in arms, but his talk was not of earthly warfare nor of -earthly kingdoms. He spoke only of the kingdom of heaven, and what he -must do to make a successful inroad and gain an eternal inheritance -in that blessed country.</p> - -<p>He was equally indefatigable in preparing for his spiritual as for -his mortal campaign. Instead, however, of mailed warriors tramping -through his courts, and the shrill neigh of steed or clang of trumpet -echoing among their walls, there were seen holy priests and barefoot -monks passing to and fro, and the halls resounded with the sacred -melody of litany and psalm. So pleased was Heaven with the good -works of this pious cavalier, and especially with rich donations to -churches and monasteries which he made under the guidance of his -spiritual counselors, that we are told it was given to him to foresee -in vision the day and hour when he should pass from this weary life -and enter the mansions of eternal rest.</p> - -<p>Knowing that the time approached, he prepared for his end like a -good Christian. He wrote to the kings of Leon and Navarre in terms -of great humility, craving their pardon for all past injuries and -offenses, and entreating them, for the good of Christendom, to live -in peace and amity, and make common cause for the defense of the -faith.</p> - -<p>Ten days before the time which Heaven had<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</span> appointed for his death he sent for -the abbot of the chapel and convent of Arlanza, and bending his aged -knees before him, confessed all his sins. This done, as in former -times he had shown great state and ceremony in his worldly pageants, -so now he arranged his last cavalgada to the grave. He prayed the -abbot to return to his monastery and have his sepulchre prepared for -his reception, and that the abbots of St. Sebastian and Silos and -Quirce, with a train of holy friars, might come at the appointed day -for his body; that thus, as he commended his soul to Heaven through -the hands of his confessor, he might, through the hands of these -pious men, resign his body to the earth.</p> - -<p>When the abbot had departed, the count desired to be left alone; -and clothing himself in a coarse friar’s garb, he remained in fervent -prayer for the forgiveness of his sins. As he had been a valiant -captain all his life against the enemies of the faith, so was he in -death against the enemies of the soul. He died in the full command of -all his faculties, making no groans nor contortions, but rendering up -his spirit with the calmness of a heroic cavalier.</p> - -<p>We are told that when he died voices were heard from heaven -in testimony of his sanctity while the tears and lamentations of -all Spain proved how much he was valued and beloved on earth. His -remains were conveyed, according to his request, to the monastery -of St. Pedro de Arlanza by a procession of holy friars with solemn -chant and dirge. In the church of that convent they still repose; -and two paintings are to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[Pg -397]</span> seen in the convent,—one representing the count valiantly -fighting with the Moors, the other conversing with St. Pelayo and -St. Millan, as they appeared to him in vision before the battle of -Hazinas.</p> - -<p>The cross which he used as his standard is still treasured up in -the sacristy of the convent. It is of massive silver, two ells in -length, with our Saviour sculptured upon it, and above the head, in -Gothic letters, I. N. R. I. Below is Adam awaking from the grave, -with the words of St. Paul, “Awake, thou who sleepest, and arise from -the tomb, for Christ shall give thee life.”</p> - -<p>This holy cross still has the form at the lower end by which the -standard-bearer rested it in the pommel of his saddle.</p> - -<p>“Inestimable,” adds Fray Antonio Agapida, “are the relics and -remains of saints and sainted warriors.” In after times, when -Fernando the Third, surnamed the Saint, went to the conquest of -Seville, he took with him a bone of this thrice-blessed and utterly -renowned cavalier, together with his sword and pennon, hoping through -their efficacy to succeed in his enterprise,—nor was he disappointed; -but what is marvelous to hear, but which we have on the authority -of the good Bishop Sandoval, on the day on which King Fernando the -Saint entered Seville in triumph, great blows were heard to resound -within the sepulchre of the count at Arlanza, as if veritably his -bones which remained behind exulted in the victory gained by those -which had been carried to the wars. Thus were marvelously fulfilled -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</span> words of the -holy psalm,—“<span lang="la">Exaltabant ossa humilitata.</span>”<a -id="FNanchor_72" href="#Footnote_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a></p> - -<p>Here ends the chronicle of the most valorous and renowned -Don Fernan Gonzalez, Count of Castile. <span lang="la"><i>Laus -Deo.</i></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-13.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-4.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak"><big>CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT.</big></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-2.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-21.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <p class="fauxh2">CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT.</p> - <hr class="sep" /> - <h3 class="p1">CHAPTER I.</h3> - <p class="subhang">The Parentage of Fernando.— Queen Berenguela.— The - Laras.— Don Alvar conceals the Death of King Henry.— Mission of Queen - Berenguela to Alfonso IX.— She renounces the Crown of Castile in favor - of her son Fernando.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-f.png" alt="Illustrated F" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Fernando III.</span>, -surnamed the Saint, was the son of Alfonso III. King -of Leon, and of Berenguela, a princess of Castile; but there were -some particulars concerning his parentage which it is necessary -clearly to state before entering upon his personal history.</p> - -<p>Alfonso III. of Leon, and Alfonso IX. King of Castile, were -cousins, but there were dissensions between them. The King of Leon, -to strengthen himself, married his cousin, the Princess Theresa, -daughter of his uncle, the King of Portugal. By her he had two -daughters. The marriage was annulled by Pope Celestine III. on -account of their consanguinity, and, on their making resistance, -they were excommunicated and the kingdom laid under an interdict. -This produced an unwilling separation in 1195. Alfonso III. did -not long remain single. Fresh dissensions<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</span> having broken out between him and -his cousin Alfonso IX. of Castile, they were amicably adjusted by -his marrying the Princess Berenguela, daughter of that monarch. -This second marriage, which took place about three years after the -divorce, came likewise under the ban of the Church, and for the same -reason, the near propinquity of the parties. Again the commands -of the Pope were resisted, and again the refractory parties were -excommunicated and the kingdom laid under an interdict.</p> - -<p>The unfortunate king of Leon was the more unwilling to give up -the present marriage, as the Queen Berenguela had made him the happy -father of several children, one of whom he hoped might one day -inherit the two crowns of Leon and Castile.</p> - -<p>The intercession and entreaties of the bishops of Castile so far -mollified the rigor of the Pope, that a compromise was made; the -legitimacy of the children by the present marriage was not to be -affected by the divorce of the parents, and Fernando, the eldest, -the subject of the present chronicle, was recognized as successor to -his father to the throne of Leon. The divorced Queen Berenguela left -Fernando in Leon, and returned in 1204 to Castile, to the court of -her father, Alfonso III. Here she remained until the death of her -father in 1214, who was succeeded by his son, Enrique, or Henry I. -The latter being only in his eleventh year, his sister, the ex-Queen -Berenguela, was declared regent. She well merited the trust, for she -was a woman of great pru<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[Pg -403]</span>dence and wisdom, and a resolute and magnanimous -spirit.</p> - -<p>At this time the house of Lara had risen to great power. There -were three brothers of that turbulent and haughty race, Don Alvar -Nuñez, Don Fernan Nuñez, and Don Gonzalo Nuñez. The Laras had -caused great trouble in the kingdom during the minority of Prince -Henry’s father, by arrogating to themselves the regency; and they -now attempted, in like manner, to get the guardianship of the son, -declaring it an office too important and difficult to be intrusted -to a woman. Having a powerful and unprincipled party among the -nobles, and using great bribery among persons in whom Berenguela -confided, they carried their point; and the virtuous Berenguela, to -prevent civil commotions, resigned the regency into the hands of -Don Alvar Nuñez de Lara, the head of that ambitious house. First, -however, she made him kneel and swear that he would conduct himself -toward the youthful king, Enrique, as a thorough friend and a loyal -vassal, guarding his person from all harm; that he would respect -the property of individuals, and undertake nothing of importance -without the counsel and consent of Queen Berenguela. Furthermore, -that he would guard and respect the hereditary possessions of Queen -Berenguela, left to her by her father, and would always serve her -as his sovereign, the daughter of his deceased king. All this Don -Alvar Nuñez solemnly swore upon the sacred evangelists and the holy -cross.</p> - -<p>No sooner, however, had he got the young<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</span> king in his power, than he showed the -ambition, rapacity, and arrogance of his nature. He prevailed upon -the young king to make him a count; he induced him to hold cortes -without the presence of Queen Berenguela; issuing edicts in the -king’s name, he banished refractory nobles, giving their offices -and lands to his brothers; he levied exactions on rich and poor, -and, what is still more flagrant, he extended these exactions to the -Church. In vain did Queen Berenguela remonstrate; in vain did the -Dean of Toledo thunder forth an excommunication; he scoffed at them -both, for in the king’s name he persuaded himself he had a tower of -strength. He even sent a letter to Queen Berenguela in the name of -the young king, demanding of her the castles, towns, and ports which -had been left to her by her father. The queen was deeply grieved at -this letter, and sent a reply to the king that, when she saw him -face to face, she would do with those possessions whatever he should -command, as her brother and sovereign.</p> - -<p>On receiving this message, the young king was shocked and -distressed that such a demand should have been made in his name; but -he was young and inexperienced, and could not openly contend with a -man of Don Alvar’s overbearing character. He wrote secretly to the -queen, however, assuring her that the demand had been made without -his knowledge, and saying how gladly he would come to her if he -could, and be relieved from the thraldom of Don Alvar.</p> - -<p>In this way the unfortunate prince was made<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</span> an instrument in the hands of this -haughty and arrogant nobleman of inflicting all kinds of wrongs and -injuries upon his subjects. Don Alvar constantly kept him with him, -carrying him from place to place of his dominions, wherever his -presence was necessary to effect some new measure of tyranny. He even -endeavored to negotiate a marriage between the young king and some -neighboring princess, in order to retain an influence over him, but -in this he was unsuccessful.</p> - -<p>For three years had he maintained this iniquitous sway, until one -day in 1217, when the young king was with him at Palencia, and was -playing with some youthful companions in the court-yard of the -episcopal palace, a tile, either falling from the roof of a tower, or -sportively thrown by one of his companions, struck him in the head, -and inflicted a wound of which he presently died.</p> - -<p>This was a fatal blow to the power of Don Alvar. To secure himself -from any sudden revulsion in the popular mind, he determined to -conceal the death of the king as long as possible, and gave out that -he had retired to the fortress of Tariego, whither he had the body -conveyed, as if still living. He continued to issue dispatches from -time to time in the name of the king, and made various excuses for -his non-appearance in public.</p> - -<p>Queen Berenguela soon learned the truth. According to the laws of -Castile she was heiress to the crown, but she resolved to transfer -it to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</span> her son -Fernando, who, being likewise acknowledged successor to the crown -of Leon, would unite the two kingdoms under his rule. To effect -her purpose she availed herself of the cunning of her enemy, kept -secret her knowledge of the death of her brother, and sent two of her -confidential cavaliers, Don Lope Diaz de Haro, Señor of Biscay, and -Don Gonzalo Ruyz Giron, and Don Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, to her late -husband, Alfonso IX., King of Leon, who, with her son Fernando, was -then at Toro, entreating him to send the latter to her to protect her -from the tyranny of Don Alvar. The prudent mother, however, forbore -to let King Alfonso know of her brother’s death, lest it might awaken -in him ambitious thoughts about the Castilian crown.</p> - -<p>This mission being sent, she departed with the cavaliers of her -party for Palencia. The death of the King Enrique being noised about, -she was honored as Queen of Castile, and Don Tello, the bishop, came -forth in procession to receive her. The next day she proceeded to the -castle of Duenas, and, on its making some show of resistance, took it -by force.</p> - -<p>The cavaliers who were with the queen endeavored to effect a -reconciliation between her and Don Alvar, seeing that the latter -had powerful connections, and through his partisans and retainers -held possession of the principal towns and fortresses; that haughty -nobleman, however, would listen to no proposals unless the Prince -Fernando was given into his guardianship, as had been the Prince -Enrique.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</span></p> - -<p>In the mean time the request of Queen Berenguela had been -granted by her late husband, the King of Leon, and her son Fernando -hastened to meet her. The meeting took place at the castle of -Otiella, and happy was the anxious mother once more to embrace her -son. At her command the cavaliers in her train elevated him on the -trunk of an elm-tree for a throne, and hailed him king with great -acclamations.</p> - -<p>They now proceeded to Valladolid, which at that time was a great -and wealthy town. Here the nobility and chivalry of Estremadura and -other parts hastened to pay homage to the queen. A stage was erected -in the market-place, where the assembled states acknowledged her for -queen and swore fealty to her. She immediately, in presence of her -nobles, prelates, and people, renounced the crown in favor of her -son. The air rang with the shouts of “Long live Fernando, King of -Castile!” The bishops and clergy then conducted the king in state to -the church. This was on the 31st of August, 1217, and about three -months from the death of King Enrique.</p> - -<p>Fernando was at this time about eighteen years of age, an -accomplished cavalier, having been instructed in everything befitting -a prince and a warrior.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-10.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> - <p class="subh3">King Alfonso of Leon ravages Castile.— Captivity - of Don Alvar.— Death of the Laras.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">King Alfonso</span> -of Leon was exceedingly exasperated at the furtive -manner in which his son Fernando had left him, without informing -him of King Henry’s death. He considered, and perhaps with reason, -the transfer of the crown of Castile by Berenguela to her son, as a -manœuvre to evade any rights or claims which he, King Alfonso, might -have over her, notwithstanding their divorce; and he believed that -both mother and son had conspired to deceive and outwit him; and, -what was especially provoking, they had succeeded. It was natural -for King Alfonso to have become by this time exceedingly irritable -and sensitive; he had been repeatedly thwarted in his dearest -concerns; excommunicated out of two wives by the Pope, and now, as he -conceived, cajoled out of a kingdom.</p> - -<p>In his wrath he flew to arms,—a prompt and customary recourse -of kings in those days when they had no will to consult but their -own; and notwithstanding the earnest expostulations and<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</span> entreaties of holy men, -he entered Castile with an army, ravaging the legitimate inheritance -of his son, as if it had been the territory of an enemy. He was -seconded in his outrages by Count Alvar Nuñez de Lara and his two -bellicose brothers, who hoped still to retain power by rallying under -his standard.</p> - -<p>There were at this time full two thousand cavaliers with the youthful -king, resolute men, well armed and well appointed, and they urged him -to lead them against the King of Leon. Queen Berenguela, however, -interposed and declared her son should never be guilty of the impiety -of taking up arms against his father. By her advice King Fernando -sent an embassy to his father, expostulating with him, and telling -him that he ought to be thankful to God that Castile was in the hands -of a son disposed at all times to honor and defend him, instead of a -stranger who might prove a dangerous foe.</p> - -<p>King Alfonso, however, was not so to be appeased. By the ambassadors -he sent proposals to Queen Berenguela that they reënter into wedlock, -for which he would procure a dispensation from the Pope; they would -then be jointly sovereigns of both Castile and Leon, and the Prince -Fernando, their son, should inherit both crowns. But the virtuous -Berenguela recoiled from this proposal of a second nuptials. “God -forbid,” replied she, “that I should return to a sinful marriage; and -as to the crown of Castile, it now belongs to my son, to whom I have -given it with the sanction of God and the good men of this realm.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</span></p> - -<p>King Alfonso was more enraged than ever by this reply, and, being -incited and aided by Count Alvar and his faction, he resumed his -ravages, laying waste the country and burning the villages. He would -have attacked Duenas, but found that place strongly garrisoned by -Diego Lopez de Haro and Ruy Diaz de los Cameros; he next marched upon -Burgos, but that place was equally well garrisoned by Lope Diez de -Faro and other stout Castilian cavaliers; so perceiving his son to -be more firmly seated upon the throne than he had imagined, and that -all his own menaces and ravages were unavailing, he returned deeply -chagrined to his kingdom.</p> - -<p>King Fernando, in obedience to the dictates of his mother as well -as of his own heart, abstained from any acts of retaliation on his -father; but he turned his arms against Muñon and Lerma and Lara, -and other places which either belonged to, or held out for, Count -Alvar, and, having subdued them, proceeded to Burgos, the capital -of his kingdom, where he was received by the bishop and clergy with -great solemnity, and whither the nobles and chivalry from all parts -of Castile hastened to rally round his throne. The turbulent Count -Alvar Nuñez de Lara and his brothers retaining other fortresses -too strong to be easily taken, refused all allegiance, and made -ravaging excursions over the country. The prudent and provident -Berenguela, therefore, while at Burgos, seeing that the troubles and -contentions of the kingdom would cause great expense and prevent much -revenue,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</span> gathered -together all her jewels of gold and silver and precious stones, and -all her plate and rich silks, and other precious things, and caused -them to be sold, and gave the money to her son to defray the cost of -these civil wars.</p> - -<p>King Fernando and his mother departed shortly afterwards for -Palencia; on their way they had to pass by Herrera, which at that -time was the stronghold of Count Alvar. When the king came in sight, -Count Fernan Nuñez, with his battalions, was on the banks of the -river, but drew within the walls. As the king had to pass close by -with his retinue, he ordered his troops to be put in good order and -gave it in charge to Alonzo Tellez and Suer Tellez and Alvar Ruyz to -protect the flanks.</p> - -<p>As the royal troops drew near, Count Alvar, leaving his people in -the town, sallied forth with a few cavaliers to regard the army as -it passed. Affecting great contempt for the youthful king and his -cavaliers, he stood drawn up on a rising ground with his attendants, -looking down upon the troops with scornful aspect, and rejecting all -advice to retire into the town.</p> - -<p>As the king and his immediate escort came nigh, their attention -was attracted to this little body of proud warriors drawn up upon -a bank and regarding them so loftily; and Alonzo Tellez and Suer -Tellez looking more closely, recognized Don Alvar, and putting spurs -to their horses, dashed up the bank, followed by several cavaliers. -Don Alvar repented of his vain confidence too late, and seeing great -numbers urging toward him, turned his reins and retreated toward the -town. Still his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</span> -stomach was too high for absolute flight, and the others, who spurred -after him at full speed, overtook him. Throwing himself from his -horse, he covered himself with his shield and prepared for defense. -Alonzo Tellez, however, called to his men not to kill the count, -but to take him prisoner. He was accordingly captured, with several -of his followers, and borne off to the king and queen. The count -had everything to apprehend from their vengeance for his misdeeds. -They used no personal harshness, however, but demanded from him that -he should surrender all the castles and strong places held by the -retainers and partisans of his brothers and himself, that he should -furnish one hundred horsemen to aid in their recovery, and should -remain a prisoner until those places were all in the possession of -the crown.</p> - -<p>Captivity broke the haughty spirit of Don Alvar. He agreed to those -conditions, and until they should be fulfilled was consigned to -the charge of Gonsalvo Ruyz Giron, and confined in the castle of -Valladolid. The places were delivered up in the course of a few -months, and thus King Fernando became strongly possessed of his -kingdom.</p> - -<p>Stripped of power, state, and possessions, Count Alvar and his -brothers, after an ineffectual attempt to rouse the King of Leon to -another campaign against his son, became savage and desperate, and -made predatory excursions, pillaging the country, until Count Alvar -fell mortally ill of hydropsy. Struck with remorse and melancholy, -he repaired to Toro and entered the chivalrous order of<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</span> Santiago, that he -might gain the indulgences granted by the Pope to those who die -in that order, and hoping, says an ancient chronicler, to oblige -God, as it were, by that religious ceremony, to pardon his sins.<a -id="FNanchor_73" href="#Footnote_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> His -illness endured seven months, and he was reduced to such poverty that -at his death there was not money enough left by him to convey his -body to Ucles, where he had requested to be buried, nor to pay for -tapers for his funeral. When Queen Berenguela heard this, she ordered -that the funeral should be honorably performed at her own expense, -and sent a cloth of gold to cover the bier.<a id="FNanchor_74" -href="#Footnote_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a></p> - -<p>The brother of Count Alvar, Don Fernando, abandoned his country -in despair and went to Marocco, where he was well received by the -miramamolin, and had lands and revenues assigned to him. He became a -great favorite among the Moors, to whom he used to recount his deeds -in the civil wars of Castile. At length he fell dangerously ill, -and caused himself to be taken to a suburb inhabited by Christians. -There happened to be there at that time one Don Gonsalvo, a knight -of the order of the Hospital of St. John de Acre, and who had -been in the service of Pope Innocent III. Don Fernando, finding -his end approaching, entreated of the knight his religious habit, -that he might die in it. His request was granted, and thus Count -Fernando died in the habit of a Knight Hospitaliere of St. John de -Acre, in Elbora, a suburb of Marocco. His<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</span> body was afterwards brought to Spain, -and interred in a town on the banks of the Pisuerga, in which repose -likewise the remains of his wife and children.</p> - -<p>The Count Gonsalvo Nuñez de Lara, the third of these brothers, -also took refuge among the Moors. He was seized with violent disease -in the city of Baeza, where he died. His body was conveyed to Campos -a Zalmos, which appertained to the Friars of the Temple, where the -holy fraternity gave it the rites of sepulture with all due honor. -Such was the end of these three brothers of the once proud and -powerful house of Lara, whose disloyal deeds had harassed their -country and brought ruin upon themselves.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-1.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-3.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Marriage of King Fernando.— Campaign against the - Moors.— Aben Mohamed, King of Baeza, declares himself the Vassal of - King Fernando.— They march to Jaen.— Burning of the Tower.— Fernando - commences the Building of the Cathedral at Toledo.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">King Fernando</span>, -aided by the sage counsels of his mother, reigned for some time -in peace and quietness, administering his affairs with equity and -justice. The good Queen Berenguela now began to cast about her -eyes in search of a suitable alliance for her son, and had many -consultations with the Bishop Maurice of Burgos, and other ghostly -counselors, thereupon. They at length agreed upon the Princess -Beatrix, daughter of the late Philip, Emperor of Germany, and the -Bishop Maurice and Padre Fray Pedro de Arlanza were sent as envoys to -the Emperor Frederick II., cousin of the princess, to negotiate the -terms. An arrangement was happily effected, and the princess set out -for Spain. In passing through France she was courteously entertained -at Paris by King Philip, who made her rich presents. On the borders -of Castile she was met at Vittoria by the Queen Berenguela, with -a great train of prelates, monks, and masters of the religious -orders,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</span> and of -abbesses and nuns, together with a glorious train of chivalry. In -this state she was conducted to Burgos, where the king and all his -court came forth to receive her, and their nuptials were celebrated -with great pomp and rejoicing.</p> - -<p>King Fernando lived happily with his fair Queen Beatrix, and his -kingdom remained in peace; but by degrees he became impatient of -quiet, and anxious to make war upon the Moors. Perhaps he felt called -upon to make some signal essay in arms at present, having, the day -before his nuptials, been armed a knight in the monastery of Las -Huelgas, and in those iron days knighthood was not a matter of mere -parade and ceremony, but called for acts of valor and proofs of stern -endurance.</p> - -<p>The discreet Berenguela endeavored to dissuade her son from taking -the field, considering him not of sufficient age. In all things else -he was ever obedient to her counsels, and even to her inclinations, -but it was in vain that she endeavored to persuade him from making -war upon the infidels. “God,” would he say, “had put into his hands -not merely a sceptre to govern, but a sword to avenge his country.”</p> - -<p>It was fortunate for the good cause, moreover, add the Spanish -chroniclers, that while the queen-mother was endeavoring to throw -a damper on the kindling fire of her son, a worthy prelate was at -hand to stir it up into a blaze. This was the illustrious historian -Rodrigo, Archbishop of Toledo, who now preached a crusade against the -Moors, promising like indulgences with those<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</span> granted to the warriors for the Holy -Sepulchre. The consequence was a great assemblage of troops from all -parts at Toledo.</p> - -<p>King Fernando was prevented for a time from taking the field in -person, but sent in advance Don Lope Diaz de Haro and Ruy Gonsalvo de -Giron and Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, with five hundred cavaliers well -armed and mounted. The very sight of them effected a conquest over -Aben Mohamed, the Moorish king of Baeza, insomuch that he sent an -embassy to King Fernando, declaring himself his vassal.</p> - -<p>When King Fernando afterwards took the field, he was joined by this -Moorish ally at the Navas or plains of Tolosa; who was in company -with him when the king marched to Jaen, to the foot of a tower, and -set fire to it, whereupon those Moors who remained in the tower were -burned to death, and those who leaped from the walls were received on -the points of lances.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the burnt-offering of this tower, Heaven did not -smile upon the attempt of King Fernando to reduce the city of Jaen. -He was obliged to abandon the siege, but consoled himself by laying -waste the country. He was more successful elsewhere. He carried the -strong town of Priego by assault, and gave the garrison their lives -on condition of yielding up all their property, and paying, moreover, -eighty thousand maravedis of silver. For the payment of this sum -they were obliged to give as hostages fifty-five damsels of great -beauty, and fifty cavaliers of rank, besides nine hundred of the -common<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</span> people. -The king divided his hostages among his bravest cavaliers and the -religious orders; but his vassal, the Moorish king of Baeza, obtained -the charge of the Moorish damsels.</p> - -<p>The king then attacked Loxa, and his men scaled the walls and burnt -the gates, and made themselves masters of the place. He then led his -army into the Vega of Granada, the inhabitants of which submitted to -become his vassals, and gave up all the Christian captives in that -city, amounting to thirteen hundred.</p> - -<p>Aben Mohamed, king of Baeza, then delivered to King Fernando the -towers of Martos and Andujar, and the king gave them to Don Alvar -Perez de Castro, and placed with him Don Gonzalo Ybañez, Master of -Calatrava, and Tello Alonzo Meneses, son of Don Alonzo Tellez, and -other stout cavaliers, fitted to maintain frontier posts. These -arrangements being made, and having ransacked every mountain and -valley, and taken many other places not herein specified, King -Fernando returned in triumph to Toledo, where he was joyfully -received by his mother Berenguela and his wife Beatrix.</p> - -<p>Clerical historians do not fail to record with infinite -satisfaction a signal instance of the devout and zealous spirit -which King Fernando had derived from his constant communion with -the reverend fathers of the Church. As the king was one day walking -with his ghostly adviser the archbishop, in the principal church -of Toledo, which was built in the Morisco fashion, having been -a mosque of the infidels, it occurred, or<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</span> more probably was suggested to him, -that, since God had aided him to increase his kingdom, and had given -him such victories over the enemies of his holy faith, it became him -to rebuild his holy temple, which was ancient and falling to decay, -and to adorn it richly with the spoils taken from the Moors. The -thought was promptly carried into effect. The king and the archbishop -laid the first stone with great solemnity, and in the fullness of -time accomplished that mighty cathedral of Toledo, which remains the -wonder and admiration of after ages.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Assassination of Aben Mohamed.— His Head carried as - a Present to Abullale, the Moorish King of Seville.— Advance of the - Christians into Andalusia.— Abullale purchases a Truce.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> worthy Fray -Antonio Agapida records various other victories and achievements -of King Fernando in a subsequent campaign against the Moors of -Andalusia; in the course of which his camp was abundantly supplied -with grain by his vassal Aben Mohamed, the Moorish king of Baeza. -The assistance rendered by that Moslem monarch to the Christian -forces in their battles against those of his own race and his own -faith, did not meet with the reward it merited. “Doubtless,” says -Antonio Agapida, “because he halted half way in the right path, and -did not turn thorough renegado.” It appears that his friendship -for the Christians gave great disgust to his subjects, and some of -them rose upon him, while he was sojourning in the city of Cordova, -and sought to destroy him. Aben Mohamed fled by a gate leading to -the gardens, to take shelter in the tower of Almodovar; but the -assassins overtook him, and slew him on a hill near the tower. They -then cut off his head and carried it as a present to Abullale, the -Moorish<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</span> king of -Seville, expecting to be munificently rewarded; but that monarch gave -command that their heads should be struck off and their bodies thrown -to the dogs, as traitors to their liege lords.<a id="FNanchor_75" -href="#Footnote_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p> - -<p>King Fernando was grieved when he heard of the assassination of his -vassal, and feared the death of Aben Mohamed might lead to a rising -of the Moors. He sent notice to Andujar, to Don Alvar Perez de Castro -and Alonzo Tellez de Meneses, to be on their guard; but the Moors, -fearing punishment for some rebellious movements, abandoned the town, -and it fell into the hands of the king. The Moors of Martos did the -like. The Alcazar of Baeza yielded also to the king, who placed in it -Don Lope Diaz de Haro with five hundred men.</p> - -<p>Abullale, the Moorish sovereign of Seville, was alarmed at seeing -the advances which the Christians were making in Andalusia; and -attempted to wrest from their hands these newly acquired places. He -marched upon Martos, which was not strongly walled. The Countess Doña -Yrenia, wife to Don Alvar Perez de Castro, was in this place, and her -husband was absent. Don Tello Alonzo, with a Spanish force, hastened -to her assistance. Finding the town closely invested, he formed his -men into a troop, and endeavored to cut his way through the enemy. -A rude conflict ensued, the cavaliers fought their way forward, and -Christian and Moor arrived pell-mell at the gate of the town. Here -the press was excessive. Fernan Gomez de Pudiello, a stout <span -class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</span>cavalier, who bore the -pennon of Don Tello Alonzo, was slain, and the same fate would have -befallen Don Tello himself, but that a company of esquires sallied -from the town to his rescue.</p> - -<p>King Abullale now encircled the town, and got possession of the -Peña, or rock, which commands it, killing two hundred Christians who -defended it.</p> - -<p>Provisions began to fail the besieged, and they were reduced to -slay their horses for food, and even to eat the hides. Don Gonsalvo -Ybañez, master of Calatrava, who was in Baeza, hearing of the -extremity of the place, came suddenly with seventy men and effected -an entrance. The augmentation of the garrison only served to increase -the famine, without being sufficient in force to raise the siege. At -length word was brought to Don Alvar Perez de Castro, who was with -the king at Guadalaxara, of the imminent danger to which his wife was -exposed. He instantly set off for her relief, accompanied by several -cavaliers of note, and a strong force. They succeeded in getting into -Martos, recovered the Peña, or rock, and made such vigorous defense -that Abullale abandoned the siege in despair. In the following year -King Fernando led his host to take revenge upon this Moorish king of -Seville; but the latter purchased a truce for one year with three -hundred maravedis of silver.<a id="FNanchor_76" href="#Footnote_76" -class="fnanchor">[76]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-2.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Aben Hud.— Abullale purchases another Year’s Truce.— - Fernando hears of the Death of his Father, the King of Leon, while - pressing the Siege of Jaen.— He becomes Sovereign of the Two Kingdoms - of Leon and Castile.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">About</span> -this time a valiant sheik, named Aben Abdallah Mohammed ben -Hud, but commonly called Aben Hud, was effecting a great revolution -in Moorish affairs. He was of the lineage of Aben Alfange, and -bitterly opposed to the sect of Almohades, who for a long time had -exercised a tyrannical sway. Stirring up the Moors of Murcia to rise -upon their oppressors, he put himself at their head, massacred all -the Almohades that fell into his hands, and made himself sheik or -king of that region. He purified the mosques with water, after the -manner in which Christians purify their churches, as though they had -been defiled by the Almohades. Aben Hud acquired a name among those -of his religion for justice and good faith as well as valor; and -after some opposition, gained sway over all Andalusia. This brought -him in collision with King Fernando...</p> - -<p class="centra"><img class="mano" src="images/hand.png" alt="image -of a pointing hand" /> (Something is wanting here.)<a -id="FNanchor_77" href="#Footnote_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a></p> - -<p class="ti0 p1"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</span> -laying waste fields of grain. The Moorish sovereign of Seville -purchased another year’s truce of him for three hundred thousand -maravedis of silver. Aben Hud, on the other hand, collected a great -force and marched to oppose him, but did not dare to give him battle. -He went, therefore, upon Merida, and fought with King Alfonso of -Leon, father of King Fernando, where, however, he met with complete -discomfiture.</p> - -<p>On the following year King Fernando repeated his invasion of -Andalusia, and was pressing the siege of the city of Jaen, which -he assailed by means of engines discharging stones, when a courier -arrived in all speed from his mother, informing him that his father -Alfonso was dead, and urging him to proceed instantly to Leon, to -enforce his pretensions to the crown. King Fernando accordingly -raised the siege of Jaen, sending his engines to Martos, and repaired -to Castile, to consult with his mother, who was his counselor on all -occasions.</p> - -<p>It appeared that in his last will King Alfonso had named his two -daughters joint heirs to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[Pg -425]</span> crown. Some of the Leonese and Gallegos were disposed to -place the Prince Alonzo, brother to King Fernando, on the throne; but -he had listened to the commands of his mother, and had resisted all -suggestions of the kind; the larger part of the kingdom, including -the most important cities, had declared for Fernando.</p> - -<p>Accompanied by his mother, King Fernando proceeded instantly into the -kingdom of Leon with a powerful force. Wherever they went the cities -threw open their gates to them. The princesses Doña Sancha and Doña -Dulce, with their mother Theresa, would have assembled a force to -oppose them, but the prelates were all in favor of King Fernando. On -his approach to Leon, the bishops and clergy and all the principal -inhabitants came forth to receive him, and conducted him to the -cathedral, where he received their homage, and was proclaimed king, -with the <i>Te Deums</i> of the choir and the shouts of the people.</p> - -<p>Doña Theresa, who, with her daughters, was in Galicia, finding -the kingdom thus disposed of, sent to demand provision for herself -and the two princesses, who in fact were step-sisters of King -Fernando. Queen Berenguela, though she had some reason not to feel -kindly disposed towards Doña Theresa, who she might think had been -exercising a secret influence over her late husband, yet suppressed -all such feelings, and undertook to repair in person to Galicia, -and negotiate this singular family question. She had an interview -with Queen Theresa at Valencia de Merlio<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</span> in Galicia, and arranged a noble dower -for her, and an annual revenue to each of her daughters of thirty -thousand maravedis of gold. The king then had a meeting with his -sisters at Benevente, where they resigned all pretensions to the -throne. All the fortified places which held for them were given up, -and thus Fernando became undisputed sovereign of the two kingdoms of -Castile and Leon.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-3.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-21.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Expedition of the Prince Alonzo against the - Moors.— Encamps on the Banks of the Guadalete.— Aben Hud marches - out from Xerez and gives Battle.— Prowess of Garcia Perez de - Vargas.— Flight and Pursuit of the Moors.— Miracle of the Blessed - Santiago.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">King Fernando III.</span> -having, through the sage counsel and judicious management of his -mother, made this amicable arrangement with his step-sisters, by -which he gained possession of their inheritance, now found his -territories to extend from the Bay of Biscay to the vicinity of the -Guadalquivir, and from the borders of Portugal to those of Aragon -and Valencia; and in addition to his titles of King of Castile and -Leon, called himself King of Spain by seigniorial right. Being at -peace with all his Christian neighbors, he now prepared to carry -on with more zeal and vigor than ever his holy wars against the -infidels. While making a progress, however, through his dominions, -administering justice, he sent his brother, the Prince Alonzo, to -make an expedition into the country of the Moors, and to attack the -newly-risen power of Aben Hud.</p> - -<p>As the Prince Alonzo was young and of little experience, the king -sent Don Alvar Perez de<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[Pg -428]</span> Castro, the Castilian, with him as captain, he being -stout of heart, strong of hand, and skilled in war. The prince and -his captain went from Salamanca to Toledo, where they recruited their -force with a troop of cavalry. Thence they proceeded to Andujar, -where they sent out corredores, or light foraging troops, who laid -waste the country, plundering and destroying and bringing off great -booty. Thence they directed their ravaging course toward Cordova, -assaulted and carried Palma, and put all its inhabitants to the -sword. Following the fertile valley of the Guadalquivir, they scoured -the vicinity of Seville, and continued onward for Xerez, sweeping -off cattle and sheep from the pastures of Andalusia; driving on long -cavalgadas of horses and mules laden with spoil; until the earth -shook with the tramping of their feet, and their course was marked by -clouds of dust and the smoke of burning villages.</p> - -<p>In this desolating foray they were joined by two hundred horse and -three hundred foot, Moorish allies, or rather vassals, being led by -the son of Aben Mohamed, the king of Baeza.</p> - -<p>Arrived within sight of Xerez, they pitched their tents on the banks -of the Guadalete—that fatal river, sadly renowned in the annals of -Spain for the overthrow of Roderick and the perdition of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Here a good watch was set over the captured flocks and herds -which covered the adjacent meadows, while the soldiers, fatigued -with ravage, gave themselves up to repose on the banks of<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</span> the river, or indulged -in feasting and revelry, or gambled with each other for their -booty.</p> - -<p>In the mean time Aben Hud, hearing of this inroad, summoned all his -chivalry of the seaboard of Andalusia to meet him in Xerez. They -hastened to obey his call; every leader spurred for Xerez with his -band of vassals. Thither came also the king of the Azules, with seven -hundred horsemen, Moors of Africa, light, vigorous and active; and -the city was full of troops.</p> - -<p>The camp of Don Alonzo had a formidable appearance at a distance, -from the flocks and herds which surrounded it, the vast number of -sumpter mules, and the numerous captives; but when Aben Hud came to -reconnoitre it, he found that its aggregate force did not exceed -three thousand five hundred men—a mere handful in comparison to his -army, and those encumbered with cattle and booty. He anticipated, -therefore, an easy victory. He now sallied forth from the city, and -took his position in the olive-fields between the Christians and the -city; while the African horsemen were stationed on each wing, with -instructions to hem in the Christians on either side, for he was only -apprehensive of their escaping. It is even said that he ordered great -quantities of cords to be brought from the city, and osier bands to -be made by the soldiery, wherewith to bind the multitude of prisoners -about to fall into their hands. His whole force he divided into seven -battalions, each containing from fifteen hundred to two thousand -cavalry. With these he prepared to give battle.</p> - -<p>When the Christians thus saw an overwhelming<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</span> force in front, cavalry hovering on -either flank, and the deep waters of the Guadalete behind them, they -felt the perils of their situation.</p> - -<p>In this emergency Alvar Perez de Castro showed himself the able -captain that he had been represented. Though apparently deferring -to the prince in council, he virtually took the command, riding -among the troops lightly armed, with truncheon in hand, encouraging -every one by word and look and fearless demeanor. To give the most -formidable appearance to their little host, he ordered that as many -as possible of the foot-soldiers should mount upon the mules and -beasts of burden, and form a troop to be kept in reserve. Before -the battle he conferred the honor of knighthood on Garcia Perez de -Vargas, a cavalier destined to gain renown for hardy deeds of arms.</p> - -<p>When the troops were all ready for the field, the prince exhorted -them as good Christians to confess their sins and obtain absolution. -There was a goodly number of priests and friars with the army, as -there generally was with all the plundering expeditions of this -holy war, but there were not enough to confess all the army; those, -therefore, who could not have a priest or monk for the purpose, -confessed to each other.</p> - -<p>Among the cavaliers were two noted for their valor; but who, -though brothers-in-law, lived in mortal feud. One was Diego Perez, -vassal to Alvar Perez and brother to him who had just been armed -knight; the other was Pero Miguel, both natives of Toledo. Diego -Perez was the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</span> -one who had given cause of offense. He now approached his adversary -and asked his pardon for that day only; that, in a time of such -mortal peril there might not be enmity and malice in their hearts. -The priests added their exhortations to this request, but Pero -Miguel sternly refused to pardon. When this was told to the prince -and Don Alvar, they likewise entreated Don Miguel to pardon his -brother-in-law. “I will,” replied he, “if he will come to my arms -and embrace me as a brother.” But Diego Perez declined the fraternal -embrace, for he saw danger in the eye of Pero Miguel, and he knew his -savage strength and savage nature, and suspected that he meant to -strangle him. So Pero Miguel went into battle without pardoning his -enemy who had implored forgiveness.</p> - -<p>At this time, say the old chroniclers, the shouts and yells of the -Moorish army, the sound of their cymbals, kettle-drums, and other -instruments of warlike music, were so great that heaven and earth -seemed commingled and confounded. In regarding the battle about to -overwhelm him, Alvar Perez saw that the only chance was to form the -whole army into one mass, and by a headlong assault to break the -centre of the enemy. In this emergency he sent word to the prince, -who was in the rear with the reserve and had five hundred captives -in charge, to strike off the heads of the captives and join him with -the whole reserve. This bloody order was obeyed. The prince came to -the front, all formed together in one dense column, and then, with -the war-cry<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</span> -“Santiago! Santiago! Castile! Castile!” charged upon the centre -of the enemy. The Moors’ line was broken by the shock, squadron -after squadron was thrown into confusion, Moors and Christians -were intermingled, until the field became one scene of desperate, -chance-medley fighting. Every Christian cavalier fought as if the -salvation of the field depended upon his single arm. Garcia Perez -de Vargas, who had been knighted just before the battle, proved -himself worthy of the honor. He had three horses killed under him, -and engaged in a desperate combat with the King of the Azules, whom -at length he struck dead from his horse. This king had crossed from -Africa on a devout expedition in the cause of the Prophet Mahomet. -“Verily,” says Antonio Agapida, “he had his reward.”</p> - -<p>Diego Perez was not behind his brother in prowess; and Heaven -favored him in that deadly fight, notwithstanding that he had not -been pardoned by his enemy. In the heat of the battle he had broken -both sword and lance; whereupon, tearing off a great knotted limb -from an olive-tree, he laid about him with such vigor and manhood -that he who got one blow in the head from that war-club never needed -another. Don Alvar Perez, who witnessed his feats, was seized with -delight. At each fresh blow that cracked a Moslem skull he would cry -out, “Assi! Assi! Diego, Machacha! Machacha!” (So! So! Diego, smash -them! smash them!) and from that day forward that strong-handed -cavalier went by the name of Diego Machacha, or Diego the<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</span> Smasher, and it -remained the surname of several of his lineage.</p> - -<p>At length the Moors gave way and fled for the gates of Xerez; being -hotly pursued they stumbled over the bodies of the slain, and thus -many were taken prisoners. At the gates the press was so great that -they killed each other in striving to enter; and the Christian sword -made slaughter under the walls.</p> - -<p>The Christians gathered spoils of the field, after this victory, -until they were fatigued with collecting them, and the precious -articles found in the Moorish tents were beyond calculation. Their -camp-fires were supplied with the shafts of broken lances, and they -found ample use for the cords and osier bands which the Moors had -provided to bind their expected captives.</p> - -<p>It was a theme of much marvel and solemn meditation that of all -the distinguished cavaliers who entered into this battle, not one -was lost, excepting the same Pero Miguel who refused to pardon his -adversary. What became of him no one could tell. The last that -was seen of him he was in the midst of the enemy, cutting down -and overturning, for he was a valiant warrior and of prodigious -strength. When the battle and pursuit were at an end, and the -troops were recalled by sound of trumpet, he did not appear. His -tent remained empty. The field of battle was searched, but he was -nowhere to be found. Some supposed that, in his fierce eagerness to -make havoc among the Moors, he had entered the gates of the city -and there been slain; but his fate remained a<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</span> mere matter of conjecture, and the -whole was considered an awful warning that no Christian should go -into battle without pardoning those who asked forgiveness.</p> - -<p>“On this day,” says the worthy Agapida, “it pleased Heaven to work -one of its miracles in favor of the Christian host; for the blessed -Santiago appeared in the air on a white horse, with a white banner in -one hand and a sword in the other, accompanied by a band of cavaliers -in white. This miracle,” he adds, “was beheld by many men of verity -and worth,” probably the monks and priests who accompanied the army; -“as well as by numbers of the Moors, who declared that the greatest -slaughter was effected by those sainted warriors.”</p> - -<p>It may be as well to add that Fray Antonio Agapida is supported in -this marvelous fact by Rodrigo, Archbishop of Toledo, one of the most -learned and pious men of the age, who lived at the time and records -it in his chronicle. It is a matter, therefore, placed beyond the -doubts of the profane.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Note by the Editor.</span>—A memorandum at the -foot of this page of the author’s manuscript, reminds him to “notice -death of Queen Beatrix about this time,” but the text continues -silent on the subject. According to Mariana, she died in the city of -Toro in 1235, before the siege of Cordova. Another authority gives -the 5th of November, 1236, as the date of the decease, which would -be some months after the downfall of that renowned city. Her body -was interred in the nunnery of Las Huelgas at Burgos, and many years -afterwards removed to Seville, where reposed the remains of her -husband.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-15.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">A bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish Power.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">About</span> -this time certain Christian cavaliers of the frontiers received -information from Moorish captives that the noble city of Cordova was -negligently guarded, so that the suburbs might easily be surprised. -They immediately concerted a bold attempt, and sent to Pedro and -Alvar Perez, who were at Martos, entreating them to aid them with -their vassals. Having collected a sufficient force, and prepared -scaling ladders, they approached the city on a dark night in January, -amid showers of rain and howling blasts, which prevented their -footsteps being heard. Arrived at the foot of the ramparts, they -listened, but could hear no sentinel. The guards had shrunk into the -watch-towers for shelter from the pelting storm, and the garrison was -in profound sleep, for it was the midwatch of the night.</p> - -<p>Some, disheartened by the difficulties of the place, were for -abandoning the attempt, but Domingo Muñoz, their adalid, or guide, -encouraged them. Silently fastening ladders together, so as to be of -sufficient length, they placed them against one of the towers. The -first who<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</span> mounted -were Alvar Colodro and Benito de Banos, who were dressed as Moors and -spoke the Arabic language. The tower which they scaled is to this day -called the tower of Alvar Colodro. Entering it suddenly but silently, -they found four Moors asleep, whom they seized and threw over the -battlements, and the Christians below immediately dispatched them. -By this time a number more of Christians had mounted the ladder, and -sallying forth, sword in hand, upon the wall, they gained possession -of several towers and of the gate of Martos. Throwing open the gate, -Pero Ruyz Tabur galloped in at the head of a squadron of horse, and -by the dawn of day the whole suburbs of Cordova, called the Axarquia, -were in their possession; the inhabitants having hastily gathered -such of their most valuable effects as they could carry with them, -and taken refuge in the city.</p> - -<p>The cavaliers now barricaded every street of the suburbs excepting -the principal one, which was broad and straight; the Moors, however, -made frequent sallies upon them, or showered down darts and arrows -and stones from the walls and towers of the city. The cavaliers soon -found that they had got into warm quarters, which it would cost them -blood and toil to maintain. They sent off messengers, therefore, to -Don Alvar Perez, then at Martos, and to King Fernando, at Benevente, -craving instant aid. The messenger to the king travelled day and -night, and found the king at table; when, kneeling down, he presented -the letter with which he was charged.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</span></p> - -<p>No sooner had the king read the letter than he called for horse and -weapon. All Benevente instantly resounded with the clang of arms and -tramp of steed; couriers galloped off in every direction, rousing -the towns and villages to arms, and ordering every one to join the -king on the frontier. “Cordova! Cordova!” was the war-cry,—that proud -city of the infidels! that seat of Moorish power! The king waited not -to assemble a great force, but, within an hour after receiving the -letter, was on the road with a hundred good cavaliers.</p> - -<p>It was the depth of winter; the rivers were swollen with rain. The -royal party were often obliged to halt on the bank of some raging -stream until its waters should subside. The king was all anxiety -and impatience. Cordova! Cordova! was the prize to be won, and the -cavaliers might be driven out of the suburbs before he could arrive -to their assistance.</p> - -<p>Arrived at Cordova, he proceeded to the bridge of Alcolea, where he -pitched his tents and displayed the royal standard.</p> - -<p>Before the arrival of the king, Alvar Perez had hastened from the -castle of Martos with a body of troops, and thrown himself into the -suburbs. Many warriors, both horse and foot, had likewise hastened -from the frontiers and from the various towns to which the king -had sent his mandates. Some came to serve the king, others out of -devotion to the holy faith, some to gain renown, and not a few to aid -in plundering the rich city of Cordova. There<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</span> were many monks, also, who had come for -the glory of God and the benefit of their convents.</p> - -<p>When the Christians in the suburbs saw the royal standard floating -above the camp of the king, they shouted for joy, and in the -exultation of the moment, forgot all past dangers and hardships.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> - <p class="subh3">A Spy in the Christian Camp.— Death of Aben - Hud.— A Vital Blow to Moslem Power.— Surrender of Cordova to - King Fernando.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Aben Hud</span>, -the Moorish chief, who had been defeated by Alvar Perez -and Prince Alonzo before Xerez, was at this time in Ecija with a -large force, and disposed to hasten to the aid of Cordova, but his -recent defeat had made him cautious. He had in his camp a Christian -cavalier, Don Lorenzo Xuarez by name, who had been banished from -Castile by King Fernando. This cavalier offered to go as a spy into -the Christian camp, accompanied by three Christian horsemen, and to -bring accounts of its situation and strength. His offer was gladly -accepted, and Aben Hud promised to do nothing with his forces until -his return.</p> - -<p>Don Lorenzo set out privately with his companions, and when he came -to the end of the bridge he alighted and took one of the three with -him, leaving the other two to guard the horses. He entered the camp -without impediment, and saw that it was small and of but little -force; for, though recruits had repaired from all quarters, they had -as yet arrived in but scanty numbers.</p> - -<p>As Don Lorenzo approached the camp he saw<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</span> a montero who stood sentinel. “Friend,” -said he, “do me the kindness to call to me some person who is about -the king, as I have something to tell him of great importance.” The -sentinel went in and brought out Don Otiella. Don Lorenzo took him -aside and said, “Do you not know me? I am Don Lorenzo. I pray you -tell the king that I entreat permission to enter and communicate -matters touching his safety.”</p> - -<p>Don Otiella went in and awoke the king, who was sleeping, and -obtained permission for Don Lorenzo to enter. When the king beheld -him he was wroth at his presuming to return from exile; but Don -Lorenzo replied,—“Señor, your majesty banished me to the land of the -Moors to do me harm, but I believe it was intended by Heaven for the -welfare both of your majesty and myself.” Then he apprised the king -of the intention of Aben Hud to come with a great force against him, -and of the doubts and fears he entertained lest the army of the king -should be too powerful. Don Lorenzo, therefore, advised the king -to draw off as many troops as could be spared from the suburbs of -Cordova, and to give his camp as formidable an aspect as possible; -and that he would return and give Aben Hud such an account of the -power of the royal camp as would deter him from the attack. “If,” -continued Don Lorenzo, “I fail in diverting him from his enterprise, -I will come off with all my vassals and offer myself, and all I can -command, for the service of your majesty, and hope to be accepted for -my good intentions. As to what takes place in<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</span> the Moorish camp, from hence, in three -days, I will send your majesty letters by this my squire.”</p> - -<p>The king thanked Don Lorenzo for his good intentions, and pardoned -him, and took him as his vassal; and Don Lorenzo said: “I beseech -your majesty to order that for three or four nights there be made -great fires in various parts of the camp, so that in case Aben Hud -should send scouts by night, there may be the appearance of a great -host.” The king promised it should be done, and Don Lorenzo took his -leave; rejoining his companions at the bridge, they mounted their -horses and travelled all night and returned to Ecija.</p> - -<p>When Don Lorenzo appeared in presence of Aben Hud he had the air of -one fatigued and careworn. To the inquiries of the Moor he returned -answers full of alarm, magnifying the power and condition of the -royal forces. “Señor,” added he, “if you would be assured of the -truth of what I say, send out your scouts, and they will behold the -Christian tents whitening all the banks of the Guadalquivir, and -covering the country as the snow covers the mountains of Granada; -or at night they will see fires on hill and dale illumining all the -land.”</p> - -<p>This intelligence redoubled the doubts and apprehensions of Aben -Hud. On the following day two Moorish horsemen arrived in all haste -from Zaen, king of Valencia, informing him that King James of Aragon -was coming against that place with a powerful army, and offering him -the supremacy of the place if he would hasten with all speed to its -relief.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</span></p> - -<p>Aben Hud, thus perplexed between two objects, asked advice of his -counselors, among whom was the perfidious Don Lorenzo. They observed -that the Christians, though they had possession of the suburbs of -Cordova, could not for a long time master the place. He would have -time, therefore, to relieve Valencia, and then turn his arms and -those of King Zaen against the host of King Fernando.</p> - -<p>Aben Hud listened to their advice, and marched immediately for -Almeria, to take thence his ships to guard the port of Valencia. -While at Almeria a Moor named Aben Arramin, and who was his especial -favorite, invited him to a banquet. The unsuspecting Aben Hud threw -off his cares for the time, and giving loose to conviviality in -the house of his favorite, drank freely of the winecup that was -insidiously pressed upon him, until he became intoxicated. He was -then suffocated by the traitor in a trough of water, and it was given -out that he had died of apoplexy.</p> - -<p>At the death of Aben Hud, his host fell asunder, and every one hied -him to his home, whereupon Don Lorenzo and the Christians who were -with him hastened to King Fernando, by whom they were graciously -received and admitted into his royal service.</p> - -<p>The death of Aben Hud was a vital blow to Moslem power, and spread -confusion throughout Andalusia. When the people of Cordova heard -of it, and of the dismemberment of his army, all courage withered -from their hearts. Day after day the army of King Fernando was -increasing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</span> the -roads were covered with foot-soldiers hastening to his standard; -every hidalgo who could bestride a horse spurred to the banks of the -Guadalquivir to be present at the downfall of Cordova. The noblest -cavaliers of Castile were continually seen marching into the camp -with banners flying and long trains of retainers.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants held out as long as there was help or hope; but they -were exhausted by frequent combats and long and increasing famine, -and now the death of Aben Hud cut off all chance of succor. With sad -and broken spirits, therefore, they surrendered their noble city -to King Fernando, after a siege of six months and six days. The -surrender took place on Sunday, the twenty-ninth day of July, the -feast of the glorious Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, in the year of -the Incarnation one thousand two hundred and thirty-six.</p> - -<p>The inhabitants were permitted to march forth in personal safety, -but to take nothing with them. “Thus,” exclaims the pious Agapida, -“was the city of Cordova, the queen of the cities of Andalusia, which -so long had been the seat of the power and grandeur of the Moors, -cleansed from all the impurities of Mahomet and restored to the -dominion of the true faith.”</p> - -<p>King Fernando immediately ordered the cross to be elevated -on the tower of the principal mosque, and beside it the royal -standard; while the bishops, the clergy, and all the people -chanted <i>Te Deum Laudamus</i>, as a song of triumph for this great -victory of the faith.<a id="FNanchor_78" href="#Footnote_78" -class="fnanchor">[78]</a></p> <p><span class="pagenum" -id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</span></p> <p>The king, having now gained -full possession of the city, began to repair, embellish, and improve -it. The grand mosque, the greatest and most magnificent in Spain, -was now converted into a holy Catholic church. The bishops and other -clergy walked round it in solemn procession, sprinkling holy water in -every nook and corner, and performing all other rites and ceremonies -necessary to purify and sanctify it. They erected an altar in it, -also, in honor of the Virgin, and chanted masses with great fervor -and unction. In this way they consecrated it to the true faith, and -made it the cathedral of the city.</p> - -<p>In this mosque were found the bells of the church of San Iago in -Gallicia, which the Alhagib Almanzor, in the year of our Redemption -nine hundred and seventy-five, had brought off in triumph and placed -here, turned with their mouths upward to serve as lamps, and remain -shining mementos of his victory. King Fernando ordered that these -bells should be restored to the church of San Iago; and as Christians -had been obliged to bring those bells hither on their shoulders, so -infidels were compelled in like manner to carry them back. Great -was the popular triumph when these bells had their tongues restored -to them, and were once more enabled to fill the air with their holy -clangor.</p> - -<p>Having ordered all things for the security and welfare of the -city, the king placed it under the government of Don Tello Alonzo -de Meneses; he appointed Don Alvar Perez de Castro, also,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</span> general of the -frontier, having his stronghold in the castle of the rock of Martos. -The king then returned, covered with glory, to Toledo.</p> - -<p>The fame of the recovery of the renowned city of Cordova, which -for five hundred and twenty-two years had been in the power of -the infidels, soon spread throughout the kingdom, and people came -crowding from every part to inhabit it. The gates which lately had -been thronged with steel-clad warriors were now besieged by peaceful -wayfarers of all kinds, conducting trains of mules laden with their -effects and all their household wealth; and so great was the throng -that in a little while there were not houses sufficient to receive -them.</p> - -<p>King Fernando, having restored the bells to San Iago, had others -suspended in the tower of the mosque, whence the muezzin had been -accustomed to call the Moslems to their worship. “When the pilgrims,” -says Fray Antonio Agapida, “who repaired to Cordova, heard the holy -sound of these bells chiming from the tower of the cathedral, their -hearts leaped for joy, and they invoked blessings on the head of the -pious King Fernando.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-8.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-8.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Marriage of King Fernando to the Princess Juana.— - Famine at Cordova.— Don Alvar Perez.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -Queen Berenguela beheld King Fernando returning in triumph from the -conquest of Cordova, her heart was lifted up with transport, for -there is nothing that more rejoices the heart of a mother than the -true glory of her son. The queen, however, as has been abundantly -shown, was a woman of great sagacity and forecast. She considered -that upwards of two years had elapsed since the death of the Queen -Beatrix, and that her son was living in widowhood. It is true he -was of quiet temperament, and seemed sufficiently occupied by the -cares of government and the wars for the faith; so that apparently -he had no thought of further matrimony; but the shrewd mother -considered likewise that he was in the prime and vigor of his days, -renowned in arms, noble and commanding in person, and gracious and -captivating in manners, and surrounded by the temptations of a -court. True, he was a saint in spirit, but after all in flesh he was -a man, and might be led away into those weaknesses very incident -to, but highly unbecoming of, the exalted state of princes. The -good mother was anxious, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">[Pg -447]</span>therefore, that he should enter again into the secure and -holy state of wedlock.</p> - -<p>King Fernando, a mirror of obedience to his mother, readily concurred -with her views in the present instance, and left it to her judgment -and discretion to make a choice for him. The choice fell upon the -Princess Juana, daughter of the Count of Pothier, and a descendant -of Louis the Seventh of France. The marriage was negotiated by Queen -Berenguela with the Count of Pothier; and the conditions being -satisfactorily arranged, the princess was conducted in due state -to Burgos, where the nuptials were celebrated with great pomp and -ceremony.</p> - -<p>The king, as well as his subjects, was highly satisfied with the -choice of the sage Berenguela, for the bride was young, beautiful, -and of stately form, and conducted herself with admirable suavity and -grace.</p> - -<p>After the rejoicings were over, King Fernando departed with his -bride, and visited the principal cities and towns of Castile and -Leon; receiving the homage of his subjects, and administering justice -according to the primitive forms of those days, when sovereigns -attended personally to the petitions and complaints of their -subjects, and went about hearing causes and redressing grievances.</p> - -<p>In the course of his progress, hearing while at Toledo of a -severe famine which prevailed at Cordova, he sent a large supply of -money to that city, and at the same time issued orders to various -parts, to transport thither as much grain as <span class="pagenum" -id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</span>possible. The calamity, however, went -on increasing. The conquest of Cordova had drawn thither great -multitudes, expecting to thrive on the well-known fertility and -abundance of the country. But the Moors, in the agitation of the -time, had almost ceased to cultivate their fields; the troops helped -to consume the supplies on hand; there were few hands to labor and -an infinity of mouths to eat, and the cry of famine went on daily -growing more intense.</p> - -<p>Upon this, Don Alvar Perez, who had command of the frontier, set -off to represent the case in person to the king; for one living -word from the mouth is more effective than a thousand dead words -from the pen. He found the king at Valladolid, deeply immersed in -the religious exercises of Holy Week, and much did it grieve this -saintly monarch, say his chroniclers, to be obliged even for a moment -to quit the holy quiet of the church for the worldly bustle of the -palace, to lay by the saint and enact the sovereign. Having heard -the representations of Don Alvar Perez, he forthwith gave him ample -funds wherewith to maintain his castles, his soldiers, and even the -idlers who thronged about the frontier, and who would be useful -subjects when the times should become settled. Satisfied, also, of -the zeal and loyalty of Alvar Perez, which had been so strikingly -displayed in the present instance, he appointed him adelantado of the -whole frontier of Andalusia—an office equivalent to that at present -called viceroy. Don Alvar hastened back to execute his mission and -enter upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</span> his -new office. He took his station at Martos, in its rock-built castle, -which was the key of all that frontier, whence he could carry relief -to any point of his command, and could make occasional incursions -into the territories. The following chapter will show the cares and -anxieties which awaited him in his new command.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-10.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra.— Fortifies - Granada and makes it his Capital.— Attempts to surprise the Castle of - Martos.— Peril of the Fortress.— A Woman’s Stratagem to save it.— Diego - Perez, the Smasher.— Death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-o.png" alt="Illustrated O" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">On the</span> -death of Aben Hud, the Moorish power in Spain was broken up -into factions, as has already been mentioned, but these factions -were soon united under one head, who threatened to be a formidable -adversary to the Christians. This was Mohammed ben Alhamar, or Aben -Alhamar, as he is commonly called in history. He was a native of -Arjona, of noble descent, being of the Beni Nasar, or race of Nasar, -and had been educated in a manner befitting his rank. Arrived at -manly years, he had been appointed alcayde of Arjona and Jaen, and -had distinguished himself by the justice and benignity of his rule. -He was intrepid, also, and ambitious, and during the late dissensions -among the Moslems had extended his territories, making himself master -of many strong places.</p> - -<p>On the death of Aben Hud, he made a military circuit through the -Moorish territories, and was everywhere hailed with acclamations as -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</span> only one who -could save the Moslem power in Spain from annihilation. At length -he entered Granada amidst the enthusiastic shouts of the populace. -Here he was proclaimed king, and found himself at the head of the -Moslems of Spain, being the first of his illustrious line that ever -sat upon a throne. It needs nothing more to give lasting renown to -Aben Alhamar than to say he was the founder of the Alhambra, that -magnificent monument which to this day bears testimony to Moorish -taste and splendor. As yet, however, Aben Alhamar had not time to -indulge in the arts of peace. He saw the storm of war that threatened -his newly-founded kingdom, and prepared to buffet with it. The -territories of Granada extended along the coast from Algeziras almost -to Murcia, and inland as far as Jaen and Huescar. All the frontiers -he hastened to put in a state of defense, while he strongly fortified -the city of Granada, which he made his capital.</p> - -<p>By the Mahometan law every citizen is a soldier, and to take arms in -defense of the country and the faith is a religious and imperative -duty. Aben Alhamar, however, knew the unsteadiness of hastily levied -militia, and organized a standing force to garrison his forts and -cities, the expense of which he defrayed from his own revenues. The -Moslem warriors from all parts now rallied under his standard, and -fifty thousand Moors, abandoning Valencia on the conquest of that -country by the king of Aragon, hastened to put themselves under the -dominion of Aben Alhamar.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</span></p> - -<p>Don Alvar Perez, on returning to his post, had intelligence of all -these circumstances, and perceived that he had not sufficient force -to make head against such a formidable neighbor, and that in fact the -whole frontier, so recently wrested from the Moors, was in danger of -being reconquered. With his old maxim, therefore, “There is more life -in one word from the mouth than in a thousand words from the pen,” he -determined to have another interview with King Fernando, and acquaint -him with the imminent dangers impending over the frontier.</p> - -<p>He accordingly took his departure with great secrecy, leaving his -countess and her women and donzellas in his castle of the rock of -Martos, guarded by his nephew Don Tello and forty chosen men.</p> - -<p>The departure of Don Alvar Perez was not so secret, however, but that -Aben Alhamar had notice of it by his spies, and he resolved to make -an attempt to surprise the castle of Martos, which, as has been said, -was the key to all this frontier.</p> - -<p>Don Tello, who had been left in command of the fortress, was a -young galliard, full of the fire of youth, and he had several hardy -and adventurous cavaliers with him, among whom was Diego Perez de -Vargas, surnamed Machacha, or the Smasher, for his exploits at the -battle of Xerez in smashing the heads of the Moors with the limb of -an olive-tree. These hot-blooded cavaliers, looking out like hawks -from their mountain hold, were seized with an irresistible<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</span> inclination to make a -foray into the lands of their Moorish neighbors. On a bright morning -they accordingly set forth, promising the donzellas of the castle to -bring them jewels and rich silks, the spoils of Moorish women.</p> - -<p>The cavaliers had not been long gone when the castle was alarmed by -the sound of trumpets, and the watchman from the tower gave notice -of a cloud of dust, with Moorish banners and armor gleaming through -it. It was, in fact, the Moorish king, Aben Alhamar, who pitched his -tents before the castle.</p> - -<p>Great was the consternation that reigned within the walls, for all -the men were absent, excepting one or two necessary for the service -of the castle. The dames and donzellas gave themselves up to despair, -expecting to be carried away captive, perhaps to supply some Moorish -harem. The countess, however, was of an intrepid spirit and ready -invention. Summoning her dueñas and damsels, she made them arrange -their hair, and dress themselves like men, take weapons in hand, -and show themselves between the battlements. The Moorish king was -deceived, and supposed the fort well garrisoned. He was deterred, -therefore, from attempting to take it by storm. In the mean time she -dispatched a messenger by the postern-gate, with orders to speed -swiftly in quest of Don Tello, and tell him the peril of the fortress.</p> - -<p>At hearing these tidings, Don Tello and his companions turned -their reins and spurred back for the castle, but on drawing nigh, -they saw from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</span> -a hill that it was invested by a numerous host who were battering -the walls. It was an appalling sight,—to cut their way through such -a force seemed hopeless,—yet their hearts were wrung with anguish -when they thought of the countess and her helpless donzellas. Upon -this, Diego Perez de Vargas, surnamed Machacha, stepped forward and -proposed to form a forlorn hope, and attempt to force a passage -to the castle. “If any of us succeed,” said he, “we may save the -countess and the rock; if we fall, we shall save our souls and -act the parts of good cavaliers. This rock is the key of all the -frontier, on which the king depends to get possession of the country. -Shame would it be if Moors should capture it; above all if they -should lead away our honored countess and her ladies captive before -our eyes, while our lances remain unstained by blood and we unscarred -with a wound. For my part, I would rather die than see it. Life is -but short; we should do in it our best. So, in a word, cavaliers, if -you refuse to join me I will take my leave of you and do what I can -with my single arm.”</p> - -<p>“Diego Perez,” cried Don Tello, “you have spoken my very wishes; -I will stand by you until the death, and let those who are good -cavaliers and hidalgos follow our example.”</p> - -<p>The other cavaliers caught fire at these words; forming a solid -squadron, they put spurs to their horses and rushed down upon the -Moors. The first who broke into the ranks of the enemy was Diego -Perez, the Smasher, and he opened a way for the others. Their only -object was to cut their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">[Pg -455]</span> way to the fortress; so they fought and pressed forward. -The most of them got to the rock; some were cut off by the Moors, and -died like valiant knights, fighting to the last gasp.</p> - -<p>When the Moorish king saw the daring of these cavaliers, and that -they had succeeded in reinforcing the garrison, he despaired of -gaining the castle without much time, trouble, and loss of blood. He -persuaded himself, therefore, that it was not worth the price, and, -striking his tents, abandoned the siege. Thus the rock of Martos was -saved by the sagacity of the countess and the prowess of Diego Perez -de Vargas, surnamed the Smasher.</p> - -<p>In the mean time, Don Alvar Perez de Castro arrived in presence of -the king at Hutiel. King Fernando received him with benignity, but -seemed to think his zeal beyond his prudence; leaving so important a -frontier so weakly guarded, sinking the viceroy in the courier, and -coming so far to give by word of mouth what might easily have been -communicated by letter. He felt the value, however, of his loyalty -and devotion, but, furnishing him with ample funds, requested him to -lose no time in getting back to his post. The count set out on his -return, but it is probable the ardor and excitement of his spirit -proved fatal to him, for he was seized with a violent fever when on -the journey, and died in the town of Orgaz.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of Murcia, - becomes the Vassal of King Fernando.— Aben Alhamar seeks to - drive the Christians out of Andalusia.— Fernando takes the - Field against him.— Ravages of the King.— His Last Meeting - with the Queen-Mother.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-t.png" alt="Illustrated T" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">The</span> -death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro caused deep affliction to King -Fernando, for he considered him the shield of the frontier. While he -was at Cordova, or at his rock of Martos, the king felt as assured -of the safety of the border as though he had been there himself. As -soon as he could be spared from Castile and Leon, he hastened to -Cordova, to supply the loss the frontier had sustained in the person -of his vigilant lieutenant. One of his first measures was to effect -a truce of one year with the king of Granada,—a measure which each -adopted with great regret, compelled by his several policy: King -Fernando to organize and secure his recent conquests; Aben Alhamar to -regulate and fortify his newly founded kingdom. Each felt that he had -a powerful enemy to encounter and a desperate struggle before him.</p> - -<p>King Fernando remained at Cordova until the spring of the -following year (1241), regulating the affairs of that noble city, -assigning houses<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</span> -and estates to such of his cavaliers as had distinguished themselves -in the conquest, and, as usual, making rich donations of towns -and great tracts of land to the Church and to different religious -orders. Leaving his brother Alfonso with a sufficient force to keep -an eye upon the king of Granada and hold him in check, King Fernando -departed for Castile, making a circuit by Jaen and Baeza and Andujar, -and arriving in Toledo on the fourth of April. Here he received -important propositions from Aben Hudiel, the Moorish king of Murcia. -The death of Aben Hud had left that kingdom a scene of confusion. The -alcaydes of the different cities and fortresses were at strife with -each other, and many refused allegiance to Aben Hudiel. The latter, -too, was in hostility with Aben Alhamar, the king of Granada, and he -feared he would take advantage of his truce with King Fernando, and -the distracted state of the kingdom of Murcia, to make an inroad. -Thus desperately situated, Aben Hudiel had sent missives to King -Fernando, entreating his protection, and offering to become his -vassal.</p> - -<p>The king of Castile gladly closed with this offer. He forthwith -sent his son and heir, the Prince Alfonso, to receive the submission -of the king of Murcia. As the prince was young and inexperienced -in these affairs of state, he sent with him Don Pelayo de Correa, -the Grand Master of Santiago, a cavalier of consummate wisdom and -address, and also Rodrigo Gonzalez Giron. The prince was received in -Murcia with regal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</span> -honors; the terms were soon adjusted by which the Moorish king -acknowledged vassalage to King Fernando, and ceded to him one half -of his revenues, in return for which the king graciously took him -under his protection. The alcaydes of Alicant, Elche, Oriola, and -several other places, agreed to this covenant of vassalage, but it -was indignantly spurned by the Wali of Lorca; he had been put in -office by Aben Hud; and, now that potentate was no more, he aspired -to exercise an independent sway, and had placed alcaydes of his own -party in Mula and Carthagena.</p> - -<p>As the Prince Alfonso had come to solemnize the act of homage and -vassalage proposed by the Moorish king, and not to extort submission -from his subjects by force of arms, he contented himself with making -a progress through the kingdom and receiving the homage of the -acquiescent towns and cities, after which he rejoined his father in -Castile.</p> - -<p>It is conceived by the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, as well as -by other monkish chroniclers, that this important acquisition of -territory by the saintly Fernando was a boon from Heaven in reward -of an offering which he made to God of his daughter Berenguela, -whom early in this year he dedicated as a nun in the convent -of Las Huelgas, in Burgos—of which convent the king’s sister -Constanza was abbess.<a id="FNanchor_79" href="#Footnote_79" -class="fnanchor">[79]</a></p> - -<p>About this time it was that King Fernando gave an instance -of his magnanimity and his chivalrous disposition. We have seen -the deadly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</span> -opposition he had experienced from the haughty house of Lara, and -the ruin which the three brothers brought upon themselves by their -traitorous hostility. The anger of the king was appeased by their -individual ruin; he did not desire to revenge himself upon their -helpless families, nor to break down and annihilate a house lofty -and honored in the traditions of Spain. One of the brothers, Don -Fernando, had left a daughter, Doña Sancha Fernandez de Lara; there -happened at this time to be in Spain a cousin-german of the king, -a prince of Portugal, Don Fernando by name, who held the -<span - class="cambiado" - title="In the printed book: señoria" - id="tn_3">señorio</span> -of Serpa. Between this prince and Doña Sancha the king effected a -marriage, whence has sprung one of the most illustrious branches of -the ancient house of Lara.<a id="FNanchor_80" href="#Footnote_80" -class="fnanchor">[80]</a> The other daughters of Don Fernando -retained large possessions in Castile; and one of his sons will be -found serving valiantly under the standard of the king.</p> - -<p>In the mean time the truce with Aben Alhamar, the king of Granada, -had greatly strengthened the hands of that monarch. He had received -accessions of troops from various parts, had fortified his capital -and his frontiers, and now fomented disturbances in the neighboring -kingdom of Murcia,—encouraging the refractory cities to persist in -their refusal of vassalage,—hoping to annex that kingdom to his own -newly consolidated dominions.</p> - -<p>The Wali of Lorca and his partisans, the alcaydes of Mula and -Carthagena, thus instigated<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">[Pg -460]</span> by the king of Granada, now increased in turbulence, and -completely overawed the feeble-handed Aben Hudiel. King Fernando -thought this a good opportunity to give his son and heir his first -essay in arms. He accordingly dispatched the prince a second time -to Murcia, accompanied as before by Don Pelayo de Correa, the Grand -Master of Santiago; but he sent him now with a strong military force, -to play the part of a conqueror. The conquest, as may be supposed, -was easy; Mula, Lorca, and Carthagena soon submitted, and the whole -kingdom was reduced to vassalage—Fernando henceforth adding to his -other titles King of Murcia. “Thus,” says Fray Antonio Agapida, “was -another precious jewel wrested from the kingdom of Antichrist, and -added to the crown of this saintly monarch.”</p> - -<p>But it was not in Murcia alone that King Fernando found himself -called to contend with his new adversary the king of Granada. That -able and active monarch, strengthened as has been said during the -late truce, had made bold forays in the frontiers recently conquered -by King Fernando, and had even extended them to the neighborhood -of Cordova. In all this he had been encouraged by some degree of -negligence and inaction on the part of King Fernando’s brother -Alfonso, who had been left in charge of the frontier. The prince took -the field against Aben Alhamar, and fought him manfully; but the -Moorish force was too powerful to be withstood, and the prince was -defeated.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</span></p> - -<p>Tidings of this was sent to King Fernando, and of the great danger of -the frontier, as Aben Alhamar, flushed with success, was aiming to -drive the Christians out of Andalusia. King Fernando immediately set -off for the frontier, accompanied by the Queen Juana. He did not wait -to levy a powerful force, but took with him a small number—knowing -the loyalty of his subjects and their belligerent propensities, and -that they would hasten to his standard the moment they knew he was in -the field and exposed to danger. His force accordingly increased as -he advanced. At Andujar he met his brother Alfonso with the relics -of his lately defeated army,—all brave and expert soldiers. He had -now a commanding force, and leaving the queen with a sufficient -guard at Andujar, he set off with his brother Alonzo and Don Nuño -Gonzalez de Lara, son of the Count Gonzalo, to scour the country -about Arjona, Jaen, and Alcaudete. The Moors took refuge in their -strong places, whence they saw with aching hearts the desolation of -their country—olive plantations on fire, vineyards laid waste, groves -and orchards cut down, and all the other modes of ravage practiced in -these unsparing wars.</p> - -<p>The king of Granada did not venture to take the field; and -King Fernando, meeting no enemy to contend with, while ravaging -the lands of Alcaudete, detached a part of his force under Don -Rodrigo Fernandez de Castro, a son of the brave Alvar Perez lately -deceased, and he associated with him Nuño Gonzalez, with orders to -besiege<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</span> Arjona. -This was a place dear to Aben Alhamar, the King of Granada, being his -native place, where he had first tasted the sweets of power. Hence he -was commonly called the king of Arjona.</p> - -<p>The people of the place, though they had quailed before King -Fernando, despised his officers and set them at defiance. The king -himself, however, made his appearance on the following day with the -remainder of his forces, whereupon Arjona capitulated.</p> - -<p>While his troops were reposing from their fatigues, the king made -some further ravages, and reduced several small towns to obedience. -He then sent his brother Don Alfonso with sufficient forces to -carry fire and sword into the Vega of Granada. In the mean time he -returned to Andujar to the Queen Juana. He merely came, say the -old chroniclers, for the purpose of conducting her to Cordova; -fulfilling, always, his duty as a cavalier, without neglecting that -of a king.</p> - -<p>The moment he had left her in her palace at Cordova, he hastened -back to join his brother in harassing the territories of Granada. He -came in time; for Aben Alhamar, enraged at seeing the destruction of -the Vega, made such a vigorous sally that had Prince Alfonso been -alone in command, he might have received a second lesson still more -disastrous than the first. The presence of the king, however, put -new spirits and valor into the troops: the Moors were driven back -to the city, and the Christians pursued them<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</span> to the very gates. As the king had not -sufficient forces with him to attempt the capture of this place, he -contented himself with the mischief he had done, and, with some more -which he subsequently effected, he returned to Cordova to let his -troops rest from their fatigues.</p> - -<p>While the king was in this city a messenger arrived from his -mother, the Queen Berenguela, informing him of her intention of -coming to pay him a visit. A long time had elapsed since they had -seen each other, and her extreme age rendered her anxious to embrace -her son. The king, to prevent her from taking so long a journey, set -off to meet her, taking with him his Queen Juana. The meeting took -place in Pezuelo near Burgos,<a id="FNanchor_81" href="#Footnote_81" -class="fnanchor">[81]</a> and was affecting on both sides, for never -did son and mother love and honor each other more truly. In this -interview, the queen represented her age and increasing weakness, -and her incapacity to cope with the fatigues of public affairs, of -which she had always shared the burden with the king; she therefore -signified her wish to retire to her convent, to pass the remnant of -her days in holy repose. King Fernando, who had ever found in his -mother his ablest counselor and best support, entreated her not to -leave his side in these arduous times, when the King of Granada on -one side, and the King of Seville on the other, threatened to put -all his courage and resources to the trial. A long and earnest, yet -tender and affectionate, conversation succeeded between them, which -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</span>resulted in the -queen-mother’s yielding to his solicitations. The illustrious son and -mother remained together six weeks, enjoying each other’s society, -after which they separated—the king and queen for the frontier, and -the queen-mother for Toledo. They were never to behold each other -again upon earth, for the king never returned to Castile.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-6.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-18.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> - <p class="subhang">King Fernando’s Expedition to Andalusia.— Siege - of Jaen.— Secret Departure of Aben Alhamar for the Christian Camp.— - He Acknowledges himself the Vassal of the King, who enters Jaen in - Triumph.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">It was</span> -in the middle of August, 1245, that King Fernando set out on his -grand expedition to Andalusia, whence he was never to return. -All that autumn he pursued the same destructive course as in his -preceding campaigns, laying waste the country with fire and sword in -the vicinity of Jaen and to Alcala la Real. The town, too, of Illora, -built on a lofty rock and fancying itself secure, was captured and -given a prey to flames, which was as a bale-fire to the country. -Thence he descended into the beautiful Vega of Granada, ravaging -that earthly paradise. Aben Alhamar sallied forth from Granada with -what forces he could collect, and a bloody battle ensued about -twelve miles from Granada. A part of the troops of Aben Alhamar were -hasty levies, inhabitants of the city, and but little accustomed -to combat; they lost courage, gave way, and threw the better part -of the troops in disorder; a retreat took place which ended in a -headlong flight, in which there was great carnage.<a id="FNanchor_82" -href="#Footnote_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a></p> <p><span -class="pagenum" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</span></p> <p>Content for the -present with the ravage he had made and the victory he had gained, -King Fernando now drew off his troops and repaired to his frontier -hold of Martos, where they might rest after their fatigues in -security.</p> - -<p>Here he was joined by Don Pelayo Perez Correa, the Grand Master -of Santiago. This valiant cavalier, who was as sage and shrewd in -council as he was adroit and daring in the field, had aided the -youthful Prince Alfonso in completing the tranquilization of Murcia, -and leaving him in the quiet administration of affairs in that -kingdom, had since been on a pious and political mission to the court -of Rome. He arrived most opportunely at Martos, to aid the king with -his counsels, for there was none in whose wisdom and loyalty the king -had more confidence.</p> - -<p>The grand master listened to all the plans of the king for the -humiliation of the haughty King of Granada; he then gravely but -most respectfully objected to the course the king was pursuing. He -held the mere ravaging the country of little ultimate benefit. It -harassed and irritated, but did not destroy the enemy, while it -fatigued and demoralized the army. To conquer the country, they must -not lay waste the field, but take the towns; so long as the Moors -retained their strongholds, so long they had dominion over the land. -He advised, therefore, as a signal blow to the power of the Moorish -king, the capture of the city of Jaen. This was a city of immense -strength, the bulwark of the kingdom; it was well supplied with -provisions and the munitions of war; strongly<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</span> garrisoned and commanded by Abu Omar, -native of Cordova, a general of cavalry, and one of the bravest -officers of Aben Alhamar. King Fernando had already besieged it in -vain, but the reasoning of the grand master had either convinced his -reason or touched his pride. He set himself down before the walls of -Jaen declaring he would never raise the siege until he was master -of the place. For a long time the siege was carried on in the depth -of winter, in defiance of rain and tempests. Aben Alhamar was in -despair: he could not relieve the place; he could not again venture -on a battle with the king after his late defeat. He saw that Jaen -must fall, and feared it would be followed by the fall of Granada. He -was a man of ardent spirit and quick and generous impulses. Taking a -sudden resolution, he departed secretly for the Christian camp, and -made his way to the presence of King Fernando. “Behold before you,” -said he, “the King of Granada. Resistance I find unavailing; I come, -trusting to your magnanimity and good faith, to put myself under your -protection and acknowledge myself your vassal.” So sayings, he knelt -and kissed the king’s hand in token of homage.</p> - -<p>“King Fernando,” say the old chroniclers, “was not to be outdone -in generosity. He raised his late enemy from the earth, embraced him -as a friend, and left him in the sovereignty of his dominions; the -good king, however, was as politic as he was generous. He received -Aben Alhamar as a vassal; conditioned for the delivery of Jaen<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</span> into his hands; for the -yearly payment of one half of his revenues; for his attendance at the -cortes as one of the nobles of the empire, and his aiding Castile in -war with a certain number of horsemen.”</p> - -<p>In compliance with these conditions, Jaen was given up -to the Christian king, who entered it in triumph about the -end of February.<a id="FNanchor_83" href="#Footnote_83" -class="fnanchor">[83]</a> His first care was to repair in grand -procession, bearing the holy cross, to the principal mosque, which -was purified and sanctified by the Bishop of Cordova, and erected -into a cathedral and dedicated to the most holy Virgin Mary.</p> - -<p>He remained some time in Jaen, giving repose to his troops, -regulating the affairs of this important place, disposing of houses -and estates among his warriors who had most distinguished themselves, -and amply rewarding the priests and monks who had aided him with -their prayers.</p> - -<p>As to Aben Alhamar, he returned to Granada, relieved from -apprehension of impending ruin to his kingdom, but deeply humiliated -at having to come under the yoke of vassalage. He consoled himself -by prosecuting the arts of peace, improving the condition of his -people, building hospitals, founding institutions of learning, and -beautifying his capital with those magnificent edifices which remain -the admiration of posterity; for now it was that he commenced to -build the Alhambra.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—There is some dispute among -historians as to the duration of the siege and the date of the -surrender of Jaen.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">[Pg -469]</span> Some make the siege endure eight months, from August into -the middle of April. The authentic Agapida adopts the opinion of the -author of <i>Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey</i>, etc., who makes the -siege begin on the 31st December and end about 26th February.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-7.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-11.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Axataf, King of Seville, exasperated at the - Submission of the King of Granada, rejects the Propositions of - King Fernando for a Truce.— The latter is encouraged by a Vision - to undertake the Conquest of the City of Seville.— Death of Queen - Berenguela.— A Diplomatic Marriage.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">King Fernando</span>, -having reduced the fair kingdom of Granada to vassalage, and -fortified himself in Andalusia by the possession of the strong city -of Jaen, bethought him now of returning to Castile. There was but -one Moorish potentate in Spain whose hostilities he had to fear: -this was Axataf, the King of Seville. He was the son of Aben Hud, -and succeeded to a portion of his territories. Warned by the signal -defeat of his father at Xerez, he had forborne to take the field -against the Christians, but had spared no pains and expense to put -the city of Seville in the highest state of defense; strengthening -its walls and towers, providing it with munitions of war of all -kinds, and exercising his people continually in the use of arms. -King Fernando was loth to leave this great frontier in its present -unsettled state, with such a powerful enemy in the neighborhood, who -might take advantage of his absence to break into open hostility; -still it was his pol<span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">[Pg -471]</span>icy to let the sword rest in the sheath until he had -completely secured his new possessions. He sought, therefore, to -make a truce with King Axataf, and, to enforce his propositions, it -is said he appeared with his army before Seville in May, 1246.<a -id="FNanchor_84" href="#Footnote_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> His -propositions were rejected, as it were, at the very gate. It appears -that the King of Seville was exasperated rather than dismayed by the -submission of the King of Granada. He felt that on himself depended -the last hope of Islamism in Spain; he trusted on aid from the coast -of Barbary, with which his capital had ready communication by water; -and he resolved to make a bold stand in the cause of his faith.</p> - -<p>King Fernando retired indignant from before Seville, and repaired to -Cordova, with the pious determination to punish the obstinacy and -humble the pride of the infidel, by planting the standard of the -cross on the walls of his capital. Seville once in his power, the -rest of Andalusia would soon follow, and then his triumph over the -sect of Mahomet would be complete. Other reasons may have concurred -to make him covet the conquest of Seville. It was a city of great -splendor and wealth, situated in the midst of a fertile country, in a -genial climate, under a benignant sky; and having by its river, the -Guadalquivir, an open highway for commerce, it was the metropolis of -all Morisma—a world of wealth and delight within itself.</p> - -<p>These were sufficient reasons for aiming at the<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</span> conquest of this famous -city, but these were not sufficient to satisfy the holy friars who -have written the history of this monarch, and who have found a reason -more befitting his character of saint. Accordingly we are told, by -the worthy Fray Antonio Agapida, that at a time when the king was in -deep affliction for the death of his mother, the Queen Berenguela, -and was praying with great fervor, there appeared before him Saint -Isidro, the great Apostle of Spain, who had been Archbishop of -Seville in old times, before the perdition of Spain by the Moors. As -the monarch gazed in reverend wonder at the vision, the saint laid -on him a solemn injunction to rescue from the empire of Mahomet his -city of Seville. “Que asi la llamo por suya en la patria, suya en la -silla, y suya en la proteccion.” “Such,” says Agapida, “was the true -reason why this pious king undertook the conquest of Seville;” and in -this assertion he is supported by many Spanish chroniclers; and by -the traditions of the Church—the vision of San Isidro being read to -this day among its services.<a id="FNanchor_85" href="#Footnote_85" -class="fnanchor">[85]</a></p> - -<p>The death of Queen Berenguela, to which we have just adverted, -happened some months after the conquest of Jaen and submission -of Granada. The grief of the king on hearing the tidings, we -are told, was past description. For a time it quite overwhelmed -him. “Nor is it much to be marveled at,” says an old chronicler; -“for never did monarch lose a mother so noble and magnanimous -in all her actions. She was indeed accom<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</span>plished in all things, an example of -every virtue, the mirror of Castile and Leon and all Spain, by whose -counsel and wisdom the affairs of many kingdoms were governed. This -noble queen,” continues the chronicler, “was deplored in all the -cities, towns, and villages of Castile and Leon; by all people, -great and small, but <i>especially by poor cavaliers</i>, to whom she -was ever a benefactress.”<a id="FNanchor_86" href="#Footnote_86" -class="fnanchor">[86]</a></p> - -<p>Another heavy loss to King Fernando, about this time, was that of -the Archbishop of Toledo, Don Rodrigo, the great adviser of the king -in all his expeditions, and the prelate who first preached the grand -crusade in Spain. He lived a life of piety, activity, and zeal, and -died full of years, of honors, and of riches—having received princely -estates and vast revenues from the king in reward of his services in -the cause.</p> - -<p>These private afflictions for a time occupied the royal mind; the -king was also a little disturbed by some rash proceedings of his son, -the hereditary Prince Alfonso, who, being left in the government of -Murcia, took a notion of imitating his father in his conquests, and -made an inroad into the Moorish kingdom of Valencia, at that time in -a state of confusion. This brought on a collision with King Jayme -of Aragon, surnamed the Conqueror, who had laid his hand upon all -Valencia, as his by right of arms. There was thus danger of a rupture -with Aragon, and of King Fernando having an enemy on his back, -while busied in his wars in Andalusia. Fortunately King Jayme<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</span> had a fair daughter, -the Princess Violante; and the grave diplomatists of the two courts -determined that it were better the two children should marry, than -the two fathers should fight. To this arrangement King Fernando and -King Jayme gladly assented. They were both of the same faith; both -proud of the name of Christian; both zealous in driving Mahometanism -out of Spain, and in augmenting their empires with its spoils. The -marriage was accordingly solemnized in Valladolid in the month of -November in this same year; and now the saintly King Fernando turned -his whole energies to this great and crowning achievement, the -conquest of Seville, the emporium of Mahometanism in Spain.</p> - -<p>Foreseeing, as long as the mouth of the Guadalquivir was open, the -city could receive reinforcements and supplies from Africa, the king -held consultations with a wealthy man of Burgos, Ramon Bonifaz, or -Boniface, by name,—some say a native of France,—one well experienced -in maritime affairs, and capable of fitting out and managing a fleet. -This man he constituted his admiral, and sent him to Biscay to -provide and arm a fleet of ships and galleys, with which to attack -Seville by water, while the king should invest it by land.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-16.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Investment of Seville.— All Spain aroused - to Arms.— Surrender of Alcala Del Rio.— The Fleet of Admiral - Ramon Bonifaz advances up the Guadalquivir.— Don Pelayo Correa, - Master of Santiago.— His Valorous Deeds and the Miracles - wrought in his Behalf.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -it was bruited abroad that King Fernando the Saint intended to -besiege the great city of Seville, all Spain was roused to arms. -The masters of the various military and religious orders, the ricos -hombres, the princes, cavaliers, hidalgos, and every one of Castile -and Leon capable of bearing arms, prepared to take the field. Many of -the nobility of Catalonia and Portugal repaired to the standard of -the king, as did other cavaliers of worth and prowess from lands far -beyond the Pyrenees.</p> - -<p>Prelates, priests, and monks likewise thronged to the army,—some to -take care of the souls of those who hazarded their lives in this holy -enterprise, others with a zealous determination to grasp buckler and -lance, and battle with the arm of flesh against the enemies of God -and the Church.</p> - -<p>At the opening of spring the assembled host issued forth in -shining array from the gates of Cordova. After having gained -possession of Carmona, and Lora and Alcolea, and of other neigh<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</span>boring places,—some -by voluntary surrender others by force of arms,—the king crossed -the Guadalquivir, with great difficulty and peril, and made himself -master of several of the most important posts in the neighborhood -of Seville. Among these was Alcala del Rio, a place of great -consequence, through which passed all the succors from the mountains -to the city. This place was bravely defended by Axataf in person, -the commander of Seville. He remained in Alcala with three hundred -Moorish cavaliers, making frequent sallies upon the Christians, and -effecting great slaughter. At length he beheld all the country around -laid waste, the grain burnt or trampled down, the vineyards torn up, -the cattle driven away and the villages consumed; so that nothing -remained to give sustenance to the garrison or the inhabitants. Not -daring to linger there any longer, he departed secretly in the night -and retired to Seville, and the town surrendered to King Fernando.</p> - -<p>While the king was putting Alcala del Rio in a state of defense. -Admiral Ramon Bonifaz arrived at the mouth of the Guadalquivir with a -fleet of thirteen large ships and several small vessels and galleys. -While he was yet hovering about the land, he heard of the approach -of a great force of ships from Tangier, Ceuta, and Seville, and of -an army to assail him from the shores. In this peril he sent in all -speed for succor to the king; when it reached the sea-coast the -enemy had not yet appeared; wherefore, thinking it a false alarm, -the reinforcement returned<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">[Pg -477]</span> to the camp. Scarcely, however, had it departed when the -Africans came swarming over the sea, and fell upon Ramon Bonifaz with -a greatly superior force. The admiral, in no way dismayed, defended -himself vigorously—sunk several of the enemy, took a few prizes, and -put the rest to flight, remaining master of the river. The king had -heard of the peril of the fleet, and, crossing the ford of the river, -had hastened to its aid; but when he came to the sea-coast, he found -it victorious, at which he was greatly rejoiced, and commanded that -it should advance higher up the river.</p> - -<p>It was on the twentieth of the month of August that King Fernando -began formally the siege of Seville, having encamped his troops, -small in number, but of stout hearts and valiant hands, near to the -city on the banks of the river. From hence Don Pelayo Correa, the -valiant Master of Santiago, with two hundred and sixty horsemen, many -of whom were warlike friars, attempted to cross the river at the ford -below Aznal Farache. Upon this, Aben Amaken, Moorish king of Niebla, -sallied forth with a great host to defend the pass, and the cavaliers -were exposed to imminent peril, until the king sent one hundred -cavaliers to their aid, led on by Rodrigo Flores and Alonzo Tellez -and Fernan Diañez.</p> - -<p>Thus reinforced, the Master of Santiago scoured the opposite -side of the river, and with his little army of scarce four hundred -horsemen, mingled monks and soldiers, spread dismay throughout<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</span> the country. They -attacked the town of Gelbes, and, after a desperate combat, entered -it, sword in hand, slaying or capturing the Moors, and making rich -booty. They made repeated assaults upon the castle of Triana, and -had bloody combats with its garrison, but could not take the place. -This hardy band of cavaliers had pitched their tents and formed their -little camp on the banks of the river, below the castle of Aznal -Farache. This fortress was situated on an eminence above the river, -and its massive ruins, remaining at the present day, attest its -formidable strength.</p> - -<p>When the Moors from the castle towers looked down upon this -little camp of Christian cavaliers, and saw them sallying forth -and careering about the country, and returning in the evenings -with cavalgadas of sheep and cattle, and mules laden with spoil, -and long trains of captives, they were exceedingly wroth, and they -kept a watch upon them, and sallied forth every day to fight with -them, and to intercept stragglers from their camp, and to carry off -their horses. Then the cavaliers concerted together, and they lay -in ambush one day in the road by which the Moors were accustomed to -sally forth, and when the Moors had partly passed their ambush, they -rushed forth and fell upon them, and killed and captured above three -hundred, and pursued the remainder to the very gates of the castle. -From that time the Moors were so disheartened that they made no -further sallies.</p> - -<p>Shortly after, the Master of Santiago receiving<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</span> secret intelligence -that a Moorish sea-captain had passed from Seville to Triana, on -his way to succor the castle of Aznal Farache, placed himself, with -a number of chosen cavaliers, in ambuscade at a pass by which the -Moors were expected to come. After waiting a long time, their scouts -brought word that the Moors had taken another road, and were nearly -at the foot of the hill on which stood the castle. “Cavaliers,” cried -the master, “it is not too late; let us first use our spurs and then -our weapons, and if our steeds prove good, the day will yet be ours.” -So saying, he put spurs to his horse, and the rest following his -example, they soon came in sight of the Moors. The latter, seeing -the Christians coming after them full speed, urged their horses up -the hill towards the castle, but the Christians overtook them and -slew seven of those in the rear. In the skirmish, Garci Perez struck -the Moorish captain from his horse with a blow of his lance. The -Christians rushed forward to take him prisoner. On seeing this, the -Moors turned back, threw themselves between their commander and his -assailants, and kept the latter in check while he was conveyed into -the castle. Several of them fell, covered with wounds; the residue, -seeing their chieftain safe, turned their reins and galloped for the -castle, just entering in time to have the gates closed upon their -pursuers.</p> - -<p>Time and space permit not to recount the many other valorous deeds -of Don Pelayo Correa, the good Master of Santiago, and his band<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</span> of cavaliers and monks. -His little camp became a terror to the neighborhood, and checked the -sallies of the Moorish mountaineers from the Sierra Morena. In one of -his enterprises he gained a signal advantage over the foe, but the -approach of night threatened to defraud him of his victory. Then the -pious warrior lifted up his voice and supplicated the Virgin Mary in -those celebrated words: “Santa Maria deten tu dia” (Holy Mary, detain -thy day), for it was one of the days consecrated to the Virgin. The -blessed Virgin listened to the prayer of her valiant votary; the -daylight continued in a supernatural manner, until the victory of -the good Master of Santiago was completed. In honor of this signal -favor, he afterwards erected a temple to the Virgin by the name of -Nuestra Señora de Tentudia.<a id="FNanchor_87" href="#Footnote_87" -class="fnanchor">[87]</a></p> - -<p>If any one should doubt this miracle, wrought in favor of this -pious warrior and his soldiers of the cowl, it may be sufficient -to relate another, which immediately succeeded, and which shows -how peculiarly he was under the favor of Heaven. After the battle -was over, his followers were ready to faint with thirst, and could -find no stream or fountain; and when the good master saw the -distress of his soldiers, his heart was touched with compassion, -and, bethinking himself of the miracle performed by Moses, in an -impulse of holy zeal and confidence, and in the name of the blessed -Virgin, he struck a dry and barren rock with his lance, and instantly -there gushed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</span> -forth a fountain of water, at which all his Christian soldiery -drank and were refreshed.<a id="FNanchor_88" href="#Footnote_88" -class="fnanchor">[88]</a> So much at present for the good Master of -Santiago, Don Pelayo Correa.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-13.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-9.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> - <p class="subh3">King Fernando changes his Camp.— Garci Perez - and the seven Moors.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-k.png" alt="Illustrated K" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">King Fernando</span> -the Saint soon found his encampment on the banks of the Guadalquivir -too much exposed to the sudden sallies and insults of the Moors. -As the land was level, they easily scoured the fields, carried off -horses and stragglers from the camp, and kept it in continual alarm. -He drew off, therefore, to a securer place, called Tablada, the same -where at present is situated the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de el -Balme. Here he had a profound ditch digged all round the camp, to -shut up the passes from the Moorish cavalry. He appointed patrols of -horsemen also, completely armed, who continually made the rounds of -the camp, in successive bands, at all hours of the day and night.<a -id="FNanchor_89" href="#Footnote_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> In a -little while his army was increased by the arrival of troops from all -parts,—nobles, cavaliers, and rich men, with their retainers,—nor -were there wanting holy prelates, who assumed the warrior, and -brought large squadrons of well-armed vassals to the army. Merchants -and artificers now daily ar<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">[Pg -483]</span>rived, and wandering minstrels, and people of all sorts, -and the camp appeared like a warlike city, where rich and sumptuous -merchandise was mingled with the splendor of arms; and the various -colors of the tents and pavilions, and the fluttering standards and -pennons bearing the painted devices of the proudest houses of Spain, -were gay and glorious to behold.</p> - -<p>When the king had established the camp in Tablada he ordered that -every day the foragers should sally forth in search of provisions and -provender, guarded by strong bodies of troops. The various chiefs of -the army took turns to command the guard who escorted the foragers. -One day it was the turn of Garci Perez, the same cavalier who had -killed the king of the Azules. He was a hardy, iron warrior, seasoned -and scarred in warfare, and renowned among both Moors and Christians -for his great prowess, his daring courage, and his coolness in the -midst of danger. Garci Perez had lingered in the camp until some time -after the foragers had departed, who were already out of sight. He at -length set out to join them, accompanied by another cavalier. They -had not proceeded far before they perceived seven Moorish genetes, or -light-horsemen, directly in their road. When the companion of Garci -Perez beheld such a formidable array of foes, he paused and said: -“Señor Perez, let us return; the Moors are seven and we but two, -and there is no law in the <i>duello</i> which obliges us to make front -against such fearful odds.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</span></p> - -<p>To this Garci Perez replied: “Señor, forward, always forward; let us -continue on our road; those Moors will never wait for us.” The other -cavalier, however, exclaimed such rashness, and turning the reins -of his horse, returned as privately as possible to the camp, and -hastened to his tent.</p> - -<p>All this happened within sight of the camp. The king was at the door -of his royal tent, which stood on a rising ground and overlooked the -place where this occurred. When the king saw one cavalier return and -the other continue, notwithstanding that there were seven Moors in -the road, he ordered that some horsemen should ride forth to his aid.</p> - -<p>Upon this Don Lorenzo Xuarez, who was with the king and had seen -Garci Perez sally forth from the camp, said: “Your majesty may leave -that cavalier to himself; that is Garci Perez, and he has no need -of aid against seven Moors. If the Moors know him they will not -meddle with him; and if they do, your majesty will see what kind of a -cavalier he is.”</p> - -<p>They continued to watch the cavalier, who rode on tranquilly as -if in no apprehension. When he drew nigh to the Moors, who were -drawn up on each side of the road, he took his arms from his squire -and ordered him not to separate from him. As he was lacing his -<i>morion</i>, an embroidered cap which he wore on his head fell to the -ground without his perceiving it. Having laced the capellina, he -continued on his way, and his squire after him.<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</span> When the Moors saw him near by they -knew by his arms that it was Garci Perez, and bethinking them of his -great renown for terrible deeds in arms, they did not dare to attack -him, but went along the road even with him, he on one side, they on -the other, making menaces.</p> - -<p>Garci Perez went on his road with great serenity, without making any -movement. When the Moors saw that he heeded not their menaces, they -turned round and went back to about the place where he dropped his -cap.</p> - -<p>Having arrived at some distance from the Moors, he took off his arms -to return them to his squire, and unlacing the capellina, found that -the cap was wanting. He asked the squire for it, but the latter -knew nothing about it. Seeing that it had fallen, he again demanded -his arms of the squire and returned in search of it, telling his -squire to keep close behind him and look out well for it. The squire -remonstrated. “What, señor,” said he, “will you return and place -yourself in such great peril for a mere capa? Have you not already -done enough for your honor, in passing so daringly by seven Moors, -and have you not been singularly favored by fortune in escaping -unhurt, and do you seek again to tempt fortune for a cap?”</p> - -<p>“Say no more,” replied Garci Perez; “that cap was worked for me -by a fair lady; I hold it of great value. Besides, dost thou not see -that I have not a head to be without a cap?” alluding to the baldness -of his head, which had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">[Pg -486]</span> no hair in front. So saying, he tranquilly returned -towards the Moors. When Don Lorenzo Xuarez saw this, he said to the -king: “Behold! your majesty, how Garci Perez turns upon the Moors; -since they will not make an attack, he means to attack them. Now -your majesty will see the noble valor of this cavalier, if the Moors -dare to await him.” When the Moors beheld Garci Perez approaching -they thought he meant to assault them, and drew off, not daring to -encounter him. When Don Lorenzo saw this he exclaimed,—</p> - -<p>“Behold! your majesty, the truth of what I told you. These Moors -dare not wait for him. I knew well the valor of Garci Perez, and it -appears the Moors are aware of it likewise.”</p> - -<p>In the mean time Garci Perez came to the place where the capa had -fallen, and beheld it upon the earth. Then he ordered his squire to -dismount and pick it up, and putting it deliberately on his head, he -continued on his way to the foragers.</p> - -<p>When he returned to the camp from guarding the foragers, Don Lorenzo -asked him, in presence of the king, who was the cavalier who had -set out with him from the camp, but had turned back on sight of the -Moors; he replied that he did not know him, and he was confused, for -he perceived that the king had witnessed what had passed, and he was -so modest withal, that he was ever embarrassed when his deeds were -praised in his presence.</p> - -<p>Don Lorenzo repeatedly asked him who was<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</span> the recreant cavalier, but he always -replied that he did not know, although he knew full well and saw -him daily in the camp. But he was too generous to say anything that -should take away the fame of another, and he charged his squire -that never, by word or look, he should betray the secret; so that, -though inquiries were often made, the name of that cavalier was never -discovered.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-9.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-17.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Of the Raft built by the Moors, and how it - was boarded by Admiral Bonifaz.— Destruction of the Moorish - Fleet.— Succor from Africa.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">While</span> -the army of King Fernando the Saint harassed the city by land -and cut off its supplies, the bold Bonifaz, with his fleet, shut up -the river, prevented all succor from Africa, and menaced to attack -the bridge between Triana and Seville, by which the city derived its -sustenance from the opposite country. The Moors saw their peril. If -this pass were destroyed, famine must be the consequence, and the -multitude of their soldiers, on which at present they relied for -safety, would then become the cause of their destruction.</p> - -<p>So the Moors devised a machine by which they hoped to sweep the -river and involve the invading fleet in ruin. They made a raft so -wide that it reached from one bank to the other, and they placed -all around it pots and vessels filled with resin, pitch, tar, and -other combustibles, forming what is called Greek fire, and upon it -was a great number of armed men; and on each shore—from the castle -of Triana on the one side, and from the city on the other—sallied -forth legions<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</span> -of troops, to advance at the same time with the raft. The raft was -preceded by several vessels well armed, to attack the Christian -ships, while the soldiers on the raft should hurl on board their pots -of fire; and at length, setting all the combustibles in a blaze, -should send the raft flaming into the midst of the hostile fleet, and -wrap it in one general conflagration.</p> - -<p>When everything was prepared, the Moors set off by land and water, -confident of success. But they proceeded in a wild, irregular manner, -shouting and sounding drums and trumpets, and began to attack the -Christian ships fiercely, but without concert, hurling their pots of -fire from a distance, filling the air with smoke, but falling short -of their enemy. The tumultuous uproar of their preparations had put -all the Christians on their guard. The bold Bonifaz waited not to be -assailed; he boarded the raft, attacked vigorously its defenders, -put many of them to the sword, and drove the rest into the water, -and succeeded in extinguishing the Greek fire. He then encountered -the ships of war, grappling them and fighting hand to hand from ship -to ship. The action was furious and bloody, and lasted all the day. -Many were cut down in flight, many fell into the water, and many in -despair threw themselves in and were drowned.</p> - -<p>The battle had raged no less fiercely upon the land. On the side -of Seville, the troops had issued from the camp of King Fernando, -while on the opposite shore the brave Master of Santiago, Don Pelayo -Perez Correa, with his war<span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">[Pg -490]</span>riors and fighting friars, had made sharp work with the -enemy. In this way a triple battle was carried on; there was the -rush of squadrons, the clash of arms, and the din of drums and -trumpets on either bank, while the river was covered with vessels, -tearing each other to pieces as it were, their crews fighting in the -midst of flames and smoke, the waves red with blood and filled with -the bodies of the slain. At length the Christians were victorious; -most of the enemies’ vessels were taken or destroyed, and on either -shore the Moors, broken and discomfited, fled,—those on the one side -for the gates of Seville, and those on the other for the castle of -Triana,—pursued with great slaughter by the victors.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the great destruction of their fleet, the Moors -soon renewed their attempts upon the ships of Ramon Bonifaz, for -they knew that the salvation of the city required the freedom of -the river. Succor arrived from Africa, of ships, with troops and -provisions; they rebuilt the fire-ships which had been destroyed, and -incessant combats, feints, and stratagems took place daily, both on -land and water. The admiral stood in great dread of the Greek fire -used by the Moors. He caused large stakes of wood to be placed in -the river, to prevent the passage of the fire-ships. This for some -time was of avail; but the Moors, watching an opportunity when the -sentinels were asleep, came and threw cables round the stakes, and -fastening the other ends to their vessels, made all sail, and, by -the help of wind and oars, tore away the stakes and carried<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</span> them off with shouts -of triumph. The clamorous exultation of the Moors betrayed them. -The Admiral Bonifaz was aroused. With a few of the lightest of -his vessels he immediately pursued the enemy. He came upon them -so suddenly that they were too much bewildered either to fight -or fly. Some threw themselves into the waves in affright; others -attempted to make resistance and were cut down. The admiral took -four barks laden with arms and provisions, and with these returned -in triumph to his fleet.<a id="FNanchor_90" href="#Footnote_90" -class="fnanchor">[90]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-15.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Of the Stout Prior Ferran Ruyz, and how he - rescued his Cattle from the Moors.— Further Enterprises of - the Prior, and of the Ambuscade into which he Fell.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">It happened</span> -one day that a great part of the cavaliers of the army were absent, -some making cavalgadas about the country, others guarding the -foragers, and others gone to receive the Prince Alfonso, who was on -his way to the camp from Murcia. At this time ten Moorish cavaliers, -of the brave lineage of the Azules, finding the Christian camp but -thinly peopled, came prowling about, seeking where they might make -a bold inroad. As they were on the lookout they came to that part -of the camp where were the tents of the stout Friar Ferran Ruyz, -prior of the hospital. The stout prior, and his fighting brethren, -were as good at foraging as fighting. Around their quarters there -were several sleek cows grazing, which they had carried off from -the Moors. When the Azules saw these, they thought to make a good -prize, and to bear off the prior’s cattle as a trophy. Careering -lightly round, therefore, between the cattle and the camp, they began -to drive them towards the city. The alarm was given in the camp, -and six sturdy friars sallied forth, on foot, with two cav<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</span>aliers, in pursuit -of the marauders. The prior himself was roused by the noise; when -he heard that the beeves of the Church were in danger his ire was -kindled; and buckling on his armor, he mounted his steed and galloped -furiously to the aid of his valiant friars, and the rescue of his -cattle. The Moors attempted to urge on the lagging and full-fed kine, -but finding the enemy close upon them, they were obliged to abandon -their spoil among the olive-trees, and to retreat. The prior then -gave the cattle in charge to a squire, to drive them back to the -camp. He would have returned himself, but his friars had continued -on for some distance. The stout prior, therefore, gave spurs to his -horse and galloped beyond them, to turn them back. Suddenly great -shouts and cries arose before and behind him, and an ambuscade of -Moors, both horse and foot, came rushing out of a ravine. The stout -Prior of San Juan saw that there was no retreat; and he disdained to -render himself a prisoner. Commending himself to his patron saint, -and bracing his shield, he charged bravely among the Moors, and -began to lay about him with a holy zeal of spirit and a vigorous arm -of flesh. Every blow that he gave was in the name of San Juan, and -every blow laid an infidel in the dust. His friars, seeing the peril -of their leader, came running to his aid, accompanied by a number -of cavaliers. They rushed into the fight, shouting, “San Juan! San -Juan!” and began to deal such sturdy blows as savored more of the -camp than of the cloister. Great and fierce was this struggle between -cowl<span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</span> and turban. -The ground was strewn with bodies of the infidels; but the Christians -were a mere handful among a multitude. A burly friar, commander of -Sietefilla, was struck to the earth, and his shaven head cleft by -a blow of a scimetar; several squires and cavaliers, to the number -of twenty, fell covered with wounds; yet still the stout prior -and his brethren continued fighting with desperate fury, shouting -incessantly, “San Juan! San Juan!” and dealing their blows with as -good heart as they had ever dealt benedictions on their followers.</p> - -<p>The noise of this skirmish, and the holy shouts of the fighting -friars, resounded through the camp. The alarm was given, “The Prior -of San Juan is surrounded by the enemy! To the rescue! to the -rescue!” The whole Christian host was in agitation, but none were so -alert as those holy warriors of the Church, Don Garcia, Bishop of -Cordova, and Don Sancho, Bishop of Coria. Hastily summoning their -vassals, horse and foot, they bestrode their steeds, with cuirass -over cassock, and lance instead of crosier, and set off at full -gallop to the rescue of their brother saints. When the Moors saw the -warrior bishops and their retainers scouring to the field, they gave -over the contest, and leaving the prior and his companions, they drew -off towards the city. Their retreat was soon changed to a headlong -flight; for the bishops, not content with rescuing the prior, -continued in pursuit of his assailants. The Moorish foot-soldiers -were soon overtaken and either slaughtered or made prisoners: -nor did the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</span> -horsemen make good their retreat into the city, until the powerful -arm of the Church had visited their rear with pious vengeance.<a -id="FNanchor_91" href="#Footnote_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> Nor -did the chastisement of Heaven end here. The stout prior of the -hospital, being once aroused, was full of ardor and enterprise. -Concerting with the Prince Don Enrique, and the Masters of Calatrava -and Alcantara, and the valiant Lorenzo Xuarez, they made a sudden -assault by night on the suburb of Seville called Benaljofar, and -broke their way into it with fire and sword. The Moors were roused -from their sleep by the flames of their dwellings and the shouts of -the Christians. There was hard and bloody fighting. The prior of the -hospital, with his valiant friars, was in the fiercest of the action, -and their war-cry of “San Juan! San Juan!” was heard in all parts of -the suburb. Many houses were burnt, many sacked, many Moors slain or -taken prisoners, and the Christian knights and warrior friars, having -gathered together a great cavalgada of the flocks and herds which -were in the suburb, drove it off in triumph to the camp, by the light -of the blazing dwellings.</p> - -<p>A like inroad was made by the prior and the same cavaliers, a few -nights afterwards, into the suburb called Macarena, which they laid -waste in like manner, bearing off wealthy spoils. Such was the pious -vengeance which the Moors brought upon themselves by meddling with -the kine of the stout prior of the hospital.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-2.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-8.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> - <p class="subhang">Bravado of the Three Cavaliers.— Ambush at - the Bridge over the Guadayra.— Desperate Valor of Garci Perez.— - Grand Attempt of Admiral Bonifaz on the Bridge of Boats.— Seville - dismembered from Triana.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-o.png" alt="Illustrated O" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">Of all</span> -the Christian cavaliers who distinguished themselves in this -renowned siege of Seville, there was none who surpassed in valor the -bold Garci Perez de Vargas. This hardy knight was truly enamored -of danger, and like a gamester with his gold, he seemed to have no -pleasure of his life except in putting it in constant jeopardy. -One of the greatest friends of Garci Perez was Don Lorenzo Xuarez -Gallinato, the same who had boasted of the valor of Garci Perez at -the time that he exposed himself to be attacked by seven Moorish -horsemen. They were not merely companions, but rivals in arms; for in -this siege it was the custom among the Christian knights to vie with -each other in acts of daring enterprise.</p> - -<p>One morning, as Garci Perez, Don Lorenzo Xuarez, and a third -cavalier, named Alfonso Tello, were on horseback, patrolling the -skirts of the camp, a friendly contest rose between them as to -who was most adventurous in arms. To settle the question, it was -determined to put<span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</span> -the proof to the Moors, by going alone and striking the points of -their lances in the gate of the city.</p> - -<p>No sooner was this mad bravado agreed upon than they turned the -reins of their horses and made for Seville. The Moorish sentinels, -from and towers of the gate, saw three Christian knights advancing -over the plain, and supposed them to be messengers or deserters from -the army. When the cavaliers drew near, each struck his lance against -the gate, and wheeling round, put spurs to his horse and retreated. -The Moors, considering this a scornful defiance, were violently -exasperated, and sallied forth in great numbers to revenge the -insult. They soon were hard on the traces of the Christian cavaliers. -The first who turned to fight with them was Alfonso Tello, being of -a fiery and impatient spirit. The second was Garci Perez; the third -was Don Lorenzo, who waited until the Moors came up with them, when -he braced his shield, couched his lance, and took the whole brunt of -their charge. A desperate fight took place, for though the Moors were -overwhelming in number, the cavaliers were three of the most valiant -warriors in Spain. The conflict was beheld from the camp. The alarm -was given; the Christian cavaliers hastened to the rescue of their -companions in arms; squadron after squadron pressed to the field, the -Moors poured out reinforcements from the gate; in this way a general -battle ensued, which lasted a great part of the<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</span> day, until the Moors were vanquished -and driven within their walls.</p> - -<p>There was one of the gates of Seville, called the gate of the -Alcazar, which led out to a small bridge over the Guadayra. Out of -this gate the Moors used to make frequent sallies, to fall suddenly -upon the Christian camp, or to sweep off the flocks and herds about -its outskirts, and then to scour back to the bridge, beyond which it -was dangerous to pursue them.</p> - -<p>The defense of this part of the camp was intrusted to those two -valiant compeers in arms, Garci Perez de Vargas and Don Lorenzo -Xuarez; and they determined to take ample revenge upon the Moors for -all the depredations they had committed. They chose, therefore, about -two hundred hardy cavaliers, the flower of those seasoned warriors on -the opposite side of the Guadalquivir, who formed the little army of -the good Master of Santiago. When they were all assembled together, -Don Lorenzo put them in ambush, in the way by which the Moors were -accustomed to pass in their maraudings, and he instructed them, in -pursuing the Moors, to stop at the bridge, and by no means to pass -beyond it; for between it and the city there was a great host of the -enemy, and the bridge was so narrow that to retreat over it would -be perilous in the extreme. This order was given to all, but was -particularly intended for Garci Perez, to restrain his daring spirit, -which was ever apt to run into peril.</p> - -<p>They had not been long in ambush when they<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</span> heard the distant tramp of the enemy -upon the bridge, and found that the Moors were upon the forage. -They kept concealed, and the Moors passed by them in careless and -irregular manner, as men apprehending no danger. Scarce had they gone -by when the cavaliers rushed forth, charged into the midst of them, -and threw them all into confusion. Many were killed or overthrown in -the shock, the rest took to flight, and made at full speed for the -bridge. Most of the Christian soldiers, according to orders, stopped -at the bridge; but Don Lorenzo, with a few of his cavaliers, followed -the enemy half way across, making great havoc in that narrow pass. -Many of the Moors, in their panic, flung themselves from the bridge, -and perished in the Guadayra; others were cut down and trampled under -the hoofs of friends and foes. Don Lorenzo, in the heat of the fight, -cried aloud incessantly, defying the Moors, and proclaiming his -name,—“Turn hither! turn hither! ’Tis I, Lorenzo Xuarez!” But few of -the Moors cared to look him in the face.</p> - -<p>Don Lorenzo now returned to his cavaliers, but on looking round, -Garci Perez was not to be seen. All were dismayed, fearing some evil -fortune had befallen him; when, on casting their eyes beyond the -bridge, they saw him on the opposite side, surrounded by Moors and -fighting with desperate valor.</p> - -<p>“Garci Perez has deceived us,” said Don Lorenzo, “and has passed -the bridge, contrary to agreement. But to the rescue, comrades! -never<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</span> let it be -said that so good a cavalier as Garci Perez was lost for want of our -assistance.” So saying, they all put spurs to their horses, rushed -again upon the bridge, and broke their way across, cutting down and -overturning the Moors, and driving great numbers to fling themselves -into the river. When the Moors who had surrounded Garci Perez saw -this band of cavaliers rushing from the bridge, they turned to defend -themselves. The contest was fierce, but broken; many of the Moors -took refuge in the river, but the Christians followed and slew them -among the waves. They continued fighting for the remainder of the -day, quite up to the gate of the Alcazar; and if the chronicles -of the times speak with their usual veracity, full three thousand -infidels bit the dust on that occasion. When Don Lorenzo returned to -the camp, and was in presence of the king and of numerous cavaliers, -great encomiums were passed upon his valor; but he modestly replied -that Garci Perez had that day made them good soldiers by force.</p> - -<p>From that time forward the Moors attempted no further inroads into -the camp, so severe a lesson had they received from these brave -cavaliers.<a id="FNanchor_92" href="#Footnote_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a></p> - -<p>The city of Seville was connected with the suburb of Triana by -a strong bridge of boats, fastened together by massive chains of -iron. By this bridge a constant communication was kept up between -Triana and the city, and mutual aid and<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</span> support passed and repassed. While this -bridge remained, it was impossible to complete the investment of the -city, or to capture the castle of Triana.</p> - -<p>The bold Admiral Bonifaz at length conceived a plan to break this -bridge asunder, and thus to cut off all communication between the -city and Triana. No sooner had this idea entered his mind than he -landed, and proceeded with great speed to the royal tent, to lay it -before the king. Then a consultation was summoned by the king of -ancient mariners and artificers of ships, and other persons learned -in maritime affairs; and after Admiral Bonifaz had propounded his -plan, it was thought to be good, and all preparations were made -to carry it into effect. The admiral took two of his largest and -strongest ships, and fortified them at the prows with solid timber -and with plates of iron; and he put within them a great number of -chosen men, well armed and provided with everything for attack and -defense. Of one he took the command himself. It was the third day of -May, the day of the most Holy Cross, that he chose for this grand and -perilous attempt; and the pious King Fernando, to insure success, -ordered that a cross should be carried as a standard at the masthead -of each ship.</p> - -<p>On the third of May, towards the hour of noon, the two ships -descended the Guadalquivir for some distance, to gain room to come up -with the greater violence. Here they waited the rising of the tide, -and as soon as it was in full force, and a favorable wind had sprung -up from the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</span> sea, -they hoisted anchor, spread all sail, and put themselves in the -midst of the current. The whole shores were lined on each side with -Christian troops, watching the event with great anxiety. The king and -the Prince Alfonso, with their warriors, on the one side had drawn -close to the city to prevent the sallying forth of the Moors, while -the good Master of Santiago, Don Pelayo Perez Correa, kept watch upon -the gates of Triana. The Moors crowded the tops of their towers, -their walls and house-tops, and prepared engines and weapons of all -kinds to overwhelm the ships with destruction.</p> - -<p>Twice the bold admiral set all sail and started on his career, -and twice the wind died away before he had proceeded half his -course. Shouts of joy and derision rose from the walls and towers -of Seville, while the warriors in the ships began to fear that -their attempt would be unsuccessful. At length a fresh and strong -wind arose that swelled every sail and sent the ships ploughing up -the waves of the Guadalquivir. A dead silence prevailed among the -hosts on either bank, even the Moors remained silent, in fixed and -breathless suspense. When the ships arrived within reach of the walls -of the city and the suburbs, a tremendous attack was commenced from -every wall and tower; great engines discharged stones and offensive -weapons of all kinds, and flaming pots of Greek fire. On the tower -of gold were stationed catapults and vast cross-bows that were -worked with cranks, and from hence an iron shower was rained upon -the ships.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</span> The -Moors in Triana were equally active; from every wall and turret, from -house-tops, and from the banks of the river, an incessant assault was -kept up with catapults, cross-bows, slings, darts, and everything -that could annoy. Through all this tempest of war, the ships kept -on their course. The first ship which arrived struck the bridge on -the part towards Triana. The shock resounded from shore to shore, -the whole fabric trembled, the ship recoiled and reeled, but the -bridge was unbroken; and shouts of joy rose from the Moors on each -side of the river. Immediately after came the ship of the admiral. -It struck the bridge just about the centre with a tremendous crash. -The iron chains which bound the boats together snapped as if they -had been flax. The boats were crushed and shattered and flung wide -asunder, and the ship of the admiral proceeded in triumph through -the open space. No sooner did the king and the Prince Alfonso see -the success of the admiral, than they pressed with their troops -closely round the city, and prevented the Moors from sallying forth; -while the ships, having accomplished their enterprise, extricated -themselves from their dangerous situation, and returned in triumph to -their accustomed anchorage. This was the fatal blow that dismembered -Seville from Triana, and insured the downfall of the city.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-5.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-14.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Investment of Triana.— Garci Perez and the Infanzon.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-o.png" alt="Illustrated O" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">On the</span> -day after the breaking of the bridge, the king, the Prince -Alfonso, the Prince Enrique, the various masters of the orders, and -a great part of the army, crossed the Guadalquivir and commenced an -attack on Triana, while the bold Admiral Bonifaz approached with his -ships and assaulted the place from the water. But the Christian army -was unprovided with ladders or machines for the attack, and fought to -great disadvantage. The Moors, from the safe shelter of their walls -and towers, rained a shower of missiles of all kinds. As they were -so high above the Christians, their arrows, darts, and lances came -with the greater force. They were skillful with the cross-bow, and -had engines of such force that the darts which they discharged would -sometimes pass through a cavalier all armed, and bury themselves in -the earth.<a id="FNanchor_93" href="#Footnote_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a></p> - -<p>The very women combated from the walls, and hurled down stones that -crushed the warriors beneath.</p> - -<p>While the army was closely investing Triana, and fierce encounters -were daily taking place be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">[Pg -505]</span>tween Moor and Christian, there arrived at the camp a -youthful Infanzon, or noble, of proud lineage. He brought with him -a shining train of vassals, all newly armed and appointed, and his -own armor, all fresh and lustrous, showed none of the dents and -bruises and abuses of the war. As this gay and gorgeous cavalier was -patrolling the camp, with several cavaliers, he beheld Garci Perez -pass by, in armor and accoutrements all worn and soiled by the hard -service he had performed, and he saw a similar device to his own, of -white waves, emblazoned on the scutcheon of this unknown warrior. -Then the nobleman was highly ruffled and incensed, and he exclaimed, -“How is this? who is this sorry cavalier that dares to bear these -devices? By my faith, he must either give them up or show his reasons -for usurping them.” The other cavaliers exclaimed, “Be cautious how -you speak; this is Garci Perez; a braver cavalier wears not sword in -Spain. For all he goes thus modestly and quietly about, he is a very -lion in the field, nor does he assume anything that he cannot well -maintain. Should he hear this which you have said, trust us he would -not rest quiet until he had terrible satisfaction.”</p> - -<p>Now so it happened that certain mischief-makers carried word to -Garci Perez of what the nobleman had said, expecting to see him burst -into fierce indignation, and defy the other to the field. But Garci -Perez remained tranquil, and said not a word.</p> - -<p>Within a day or two after, there was a sally<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</span> from the castle of Triana and a hot -skirmish between the Moors and Christians; and Garci Perez and the -Infanzon, and a number of cavaliers, pursued the Moors up to the -barriers of the castle. Here the enemy rallied and made a fierce -defense, and killed several of the cavaliers. But Garci Perez put -spurs to his horse, and couching his lance, charged among the -thickest of the foes, and followed by a handful of his companions, -drove the Moors to the very gates of Triana. The Moors seeing how -few were their pursuers turned upon them, and dealt bravely with -sword and lance and mace, while stones and darts and arrows were -rained down from the towers above the gates. At length the Moors -took refuge within the walls, leaving the field to the victorious -cavaliers. Garci Perez drew off coolly and calmly amidst a shower of -missiles from the wall. He came out of the battle with his armor all -battered and defaced; his helmet bruised, the crest broken off, and -his buckler so dented and shattered that the device could scarcely be -perceived. On returning to the barrier, he found there the Infanzon, -with his armor all uninjured, and his armorial bearing as fresh as -if just emblazoned, for the vaunting warrior had not ventured beyond -the barrier. Then Garci Perez drew near to the Infanzon, and eying -him from head to foot, “Señor cavalier,” said he, “you may well -dispute my right to wear this honorable device in my shield, since -you see I take so little care of it that it is almost destroyed. -You, on the other hand, are worthy of bearing it. You are the -guardian angel<span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</span> -of honor, since you guard it so carefully as to put it to no risk. I -will only observe to you that the sword kept in the scabbard rusts, -and the valor that is never put to the proof becomes sullied.”<a -id="FNanchor_94" href="#Footnote_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> - -<p>At these words the Infanzon was deeply humiliated, for he saw -that Garci Perez had heard of his empty speeches, and he felt how -unworthily he had spoken of so valiant and magnanimous a cavalier. -“Señor cavalier,” said he, “pardon my ignorance and presumption; you -alone are worthy of bearing those arms, for you derive not nobility -from them, but ennoble them by your glorious deeds.”</p> - -<p>Then Garci Perez blushed at the praises he had thus drawn upon -himself, and he regretted the harshness of his words towards the -Infanzon, and he not merely pardoned him all that had passed, but -gave him his hand in pledge of amity, and from that time they -were close friends and companions in arms.<a id="FNanchor_95" -href="#Footnote_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-8.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-7.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Capitulation of Seville.— Dispersion of the - Moorish Inhabitants.— Triumphant Entry of King Fernando.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-a.png" alt="Illustrated A" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">About</span> -this time there arrived in Seville a Moorish alfaqui, named -Orias, with a large company of warriors, who came to this war as if -performing a pilgrimage, for it was considered a holy war no less -by infidels than Christians. This Orias was of a politic and crafty -nature, and he suggested to the commander of Seville a stratagem by -which they might get Prince Alfonso in their power, and compel King -Fernando to raise the siege by way of ransom. The counsel of Orias -was adopted, after a consultation with the principal cavaliers, -and measures taken to carry it into execution; a Moor was sent, -therefore, as if secretly and by stealth, to Prince Alfonso, and -offered to put him in possession of two towers of the wall, if he -would come in person to receive them, which towers once in his -possession, it would be easy to overpower the city.</p> - -<p>Prince Alfonso listened to the envoy with seeming eagerness, -but suspected some deceit, and thought it unwise to put his person -in such jeopardy. Lest, however, there should be truth in his -proposals, a party of chosen cavaliers were<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</span> sent as if to take possession of the -towers, and with them was Don Pero Nuñez de Guzman, disguised as the -prince.</p> - -<p>When they came to the place where the Moors had appointed to meet -them, they beheld a party of infidels, strongly armed, who advanced -with sinister looks, and attempted to surround Don Nuñez, but he, -being on his guard, put spurs to his horse, and, breaking through the -midst of them, escaped. His companions followed his example, all but -one, who was struck from his horse and cut to pieces by the Moors.<a -id="FNanchor_96" href="#Footnote_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></p> - -<p>Just after this event there arrived a great reinforcement to -the camp from the city of Cordova, bringing provisions and various -munitions of war. Finding his army thus increased, the king had a -consultation with Admiral Bonifaz, and determined completely to cut -off all communication between Seville and Triana, for the Moors still -crossed the river occasionally by fording. When they were about to -carry their plan into effect, the crafty Alfaqui Orias crossed to -Triana, accompanied by a number of Ganzules. He was charged with -instructions to the garrison, and to concert some mode of reuniting -their forces, or of effecting some blow upon the Christian camp; -for unless they could effect a union and coöperation, it would be -impossible to make much longer resistance.</p> - -<p>Scarce had Orias passed, when the Christian sentinels gave -notice. Upon this, a detachment of the Christian army immediately -crossed and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</span> took -possession of the opposite shore, and Admiral Bonifaz stationed -his fleet in the middle of the river. Thus the return of Orias was -prevented, and all intercourse between the places, even by messenger, -completely interrupted. The city and Triana were now severally -attacked, and unable to render each other assistance. The Moors -were daily diminishing in number; many slain in battle, many taken -captive, and many dying of hunger and disease. The Christian forces -were daily augmenting, and were animated by continual success, -whereas mutiny and sedition began to break out among the inhabitants -of the city. The Moorish commander Axataf, therefore, seeing all -further resistance vain, sent ambassadors to capitulate with King -Fernando. It was a hard and humiliating struggle to resign this -fair city, the queen of Andalusia, the seat of Moorish sway and -splendor, and which had been under Moorish domination ever since the -Conquest.</p> - -<p>The valiant Axataf endeavored to make various conditions; that -King Fernando should raise the siege on receiving the tribute which -had hitherto been paid to the miramamolin. This being peremptorily -refused, he offered to give up a third of the city, and then half, -building at his own cost a wall to divide the Moorish part from the -Christian. King Fernando, however, would listen to no such terms. He -demanded the entire surrender of the place, with the exception of the -persons and effects of the inhabitants, and permitting the commander -to retain possession of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">[Pg -511]</span> St. Lucar, Aznal Farache, and Niebla. The commander of -Seville saw the sword suspended over his head, and had to submit; -the capitulations of the surrender were signed, when Axataf made one -last request, that he might be permitted to demolish the grand mosque -and the principal tower (or Giralda) of the city.<a id="FNanchor_97" -href="#Footnote_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> He felt that these -would remain perpetual monuments of his disgrace. The Prince Alfonso -was present when this last demand was made, and his father looked at -him significantly, as if he desired the reply to come from his lips. -The prince rose indignantly and exclaimed, that if there should be a -single tile missing from the temple or a single brick from the tower, -it should be paid by so many lives that the streets of Seville should -run with blood. The Moors were silenced by this reply, and prepared -with heavy hearts to fulfill the capitulation. One month was allowed -them for the purpose, - -the alcazar or citadel of Seville being given up to the Christians as -a security.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-third day of November this important fortress was -surrendered, after a siege of eighteen months. A deputation of the -principal Moors came forth and presented King Fernando with the keys -of the city; at the same time the aljamia, or council of the Jews, -presented him with the key of Jewry, the quarter of the city which -they inhabited. This key was notable for its curious workmanship. -It was formed of all kinds of metals. The guards of it were wrought -into letters, bearing the fol<span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">[Pg -512]</span>lowing signification,—“God will open—the king will enter.” -On the ring was inscribed in Hebrew,—“The King of kings will enter; -all the world will behold him.” This key is still preserved in the -cathedral of Seville, in the place where repose the remains of -the sainted King Fernando.<a id="FNanchor_98" href="#Footnote_98" -class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> - -<p>During the month of grace the Moors sold such of their effects as -they could not carry with them, and the king provided vessels for -such as chose to depart for Africa. Upwards of one hundred thousand, -it is said, were thus convoyed by Admiral Bonifaz, while upwards -of two hundred thousand dispersed themselves throughout such of -the territory of Andalusia as still remained in possession of the -Moors.</p> - -<p>When the month was expired, and the city was evacuated by its -Moorish inhabitants, King Fernando the Saint entered in solemn -triumph, in a grand religious and military procession. There were all -the captains and cavaliers of the army, in shining armor, with the -prelates, and masters of the religious and military orders, and the -nobility of Castile, Leon, and Aragon, in their richest apparel. The -streets resounded with the swelling notes of martial music and with -the joyous acclamations of the multitude.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</span></p> - -<p>In the midst of the procession was the venerable effigy of the most -Holy Mary, on a triumphal car of silver, wrought with admirable -skill; and immediately after followed the pious king, with a drawn -sword in his hand, and on his left was Prince Alfonso and the other -princes.</p> - -<p>The procession advanced to the principal mosque, which had been -purified and consecrated as a Christian temple, where the triumphal -car of the Holy Virgin was placed at the grand altar. Here the pious -king knelt and returned thanks to Heaven and the Virgin for this -signal victory, and all present chanted <i>Te Deum Laudamus</i>.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-11.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> - <p class="subh3">Death of King Fernando.</p> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-w.png" alt="Illustrated W" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">When</span> -King Fernando had regulated everything for the good government and -prosperity of Seville, he sallied forth with his conquering army to -subdue the surrounding country. He soon brought under subjection -Xerez, Medina Sidonia, Alua, Bepel, and many other places near the -sea-coast; some surrendered voluntarily, others were taken by force; -he maintained a strict peace with his vassal the King of Granada, -but finding not sufficient scope for his arms in Spain, and being -inflamed with a holy zeal in the cause of the faith, he determined to -pass over into Africa, and retaliate upon the Moslems their daring -invasion of his country. For this purpose he ordered a powerful -armada to be prepared in the ports of Cantabria, to be put under the -command of the bold Admiral Bonifaz.</p> - -<p>In the midst of his preparations, which spread consternation -throughout Mauritania, the pious king fell dangerously ill at -Seville of a dropsy. When he found his dying hour approaching, he -made his death-bed confession, and requested the holy Sacrament to -be administered to him. A train of bishops and other clergy, among -whom<span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</span> was his -son Philip, Archbishop of Seville, brought the Sacrament into his -presence. The king rose from his bed, threw himself on his knees, -with a rope round his neck and a crucifix in his hand, and poured -forth his soul in penitence and prayer. Having received the <i>viatica</i> -and the holy Sacrament, he commanded all ornaments of royalty to be -taken from his chamber. He assembled his children round his bedside, -and blessed his son the Prince Alfonso, as his first-born and the -heir of his throne, giving him excellent advice for the government -of his kingdom, and charging him to protect the interests of his -brethren. The pious king afterwards fell into an ecstasy or trance, -in which he beheld angels watching round his bed to bear his soul -to heaven. He awoke from this in a state of heavenly rapture, and, -asking for a candle, he took it in his hand and made his ultimate -profession of the faith. He then requested the clergy present to -repeat the litanies, and to chant the <i>Te Deum Laudamus</i>. In chanting -the first verse of the hymn, the king gently inclined his head, -with perfect serenity of countenance, and rendered up his spirit. -“The hymn,” says the ancient chronicle, “which was begun on earth -by men, was continued by the voices of angels, which were heard by -all present.” These doubtless were the angels which the king in -his ecstasy had beheld around his couch, and which now accompanied -him, in his glorious ascent to heaven, with songs of holy triumph. -Nor was it in his chamber alone that these voices were heard, but -in all the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</span> -royal alcazars of Seville, the sweetest voices were heard in the -air and seraphic music, as of angelic choirs, at the moment that -the sainted king expired.<a id="FNanchor_99" href="#Footnote_99" -class="fnanchor">[99]</a> He died on the 30th of May, the vespers -of the Holy Trinity, in the year of the Incarnation one thousand -two hundred and forty-two, aged seventy-three years—having reigned -thirty-five years over Castile and twenty over Leon.</p> - -<p>Two days after his death he was interred in his royal chapel in -the Holy Church, in a sepulchre of alabaster, which still remains. -It is asserted by grave authors that at the time of putting -his body in the sepulchre, the choir of angels again was heard -chanting his eulogium, and filling the air with sweet melody in -praise of his virtues.<a id="FNanchor_100" href="#Footnote_100" -class="fnanchor">[100]</a></p> - -<p>When Alhamar, the Moorish king of Granada, heard of his death, he -caused great demonstrations of mourning to be made throughout his -dominions. During his life he sent yearly a number of Moors with one -hundred wax tapers, to assist at his exequies, which ceremony was -observed by his successors, until the time of the conquest of Granada -by Fernando the Catholic.<a id="FNanchor_101" href="#Footnote_101" -class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-10.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-5.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h2 class="nobreak"><big>SPANISH ROMANCE.</big></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figsep pd4"> - <img src="images/tail-14.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-15.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>SPANISH ROMANCE.</h3> - <hr class="sep" /> -</div> - -<p class="ti0"><i>To the Editor of “The Knickerbocker”:—</i></p> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-s.png" alt="Illustrated S" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-03"><span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—I -have already given you a legend or two, drawn from ancient -Spanish sources, and may occasionally give you a few more. I love -these old Spanish themes, especially when they have a dash of the -Morisco in them, and treat of the times when the Moslems maintained -a foothold in the peninsula. They have a high, spicy, oriental -flavor, not to be found in any other themes that are merely European. -In fact, Spain is a country that stands alone in the midst of -Europe—severed in habits, manners, and modes of thinking from all -its continental neighbors. It is a romantic country; but its romance -has none of the sentimentality of modern European romance; it is -chiefly derived from the brilliant regions of the East, and from the -high-minded school of Saracenic chivalry.</p> - -<p>The Arab invasion and conquest brought a higher civilization, -and a nobler style of thinking into Gothic Spain. The Arabs were -a quick-witted, sagacious, proud-spirited, and poetical people, -and were imbued with oriental science<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</span> and literature. Wherever they -established a seat of power, it became a rallying-place for the -learned and ingenious; and they softened and refined the people -whom they conquered. By degrees, occupancy seemed to give them a -hereditary right to their foothold in the land; they ceased to be -looked upon as invaders, and were regarded as rival neighbors. The -peninsula, broken up into a variety of states, both Christian and -Moslem, became for centuries a great campaigning ground, where the -art of war seemed to be the principal business of man, and was -carried to the highest pitch of romantic chivalry. The original -ground of hostility, a difference of faith, gradually lost its -rancor. Neighboring states, of opposite creeds, were occasionally -linked together in alliances, offensive and defensive; so that the -Cross and Crescent were to be seen side by side, fighting against -some common enemy. In times of peace, too, the noble youth of either -faith resorted to the same cities, Christian or Moslem, to school -themselves in military science. Even in the temporary truces of -sanguinary wars, the warriors who had recently striven together in -the deadly conflicts of the field, laid aside their animosity, met at -tournaments, jousts, and other military festivities, and exchanged -the courtesies of gentle and generous spirits. Thus the opposite -races became frequently mingled together in peaceful intercourse, -or if any rivalry took place, it was in those high courtesies and -nobler acts which bespeak the accomplished cavalier. Warriors of -opposite creeds<span class="pagenum" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</span> -became ambitious of transcending each other in magnanimity as well -as valor. Indeed, the chivalric virtues were refined upon to a -degree sometimes fastidious and constrained, but at other times -inexpressibly noble and affecting. The annals of the times teem with -illustrious instances of high-wrought courtesy, romantic generosity, -lofty disinterestedness, and punctilious honor, that warm the very -soul to read them. These have furnished themes for national plays -and poems, or have been celebrated in those all-pervading ballads, -which are as the life-breath of the people, and thus have continued -to exercise an influence on the national character which centuries -of vicissitude and decline have not been able to destroy; so that, -with all their faults, and they are many, the Spaniards, even at -the present day, are, on many points, the most high-minded and -proud-spirited people of Europe. It is true, the romance of feeling -derived from the sources I have mentioned has, like all other -romance, its affectations and extremes. It renders the Spaniard at -times pompous and grandiloquent; prone to carry the -“<span - class="cambiado" - title="In the printed book: pundoner" - id="tn_5">pundonor</span>,” -or point of honor, beyond the bounds of sober sense and sound -morality; disposed, in the midst of poverty, to affect the “grande -caballero,” and to look down with sovereign disdain upon arts -“mechanical,” and all the gainful pursuits of plebeian life; but this -very inflation of spirit, while it fills his brain with vapors, lifts -him above a thousand meannesses; and though it often keeps him in -indigence, ever protects him from vulgarity.</p> - -<p>In the present day when popular literature is<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</span> running into the -low levels of life, and luxuriating on the vices and follies of -mankind; and when the universal pursuit of gain is trampling down the -early growth of poetic feeling, and wearing out the verdure of the -soul, I question whether it would not be of service for the reader -occasionally to turn to these records of prouder times and loftier -modes of thinking, and to steep himself to the very lips in old -Spanish romance.</p> - -<p>For my own part, I have a shelf or two of venerable, parchment-bound -tomes, picked up here and there about the peninsula, and filled with -chronicles, plays, and ballads about Moors and Christians, which -I keep by me as mental tonics, in the same way that a provident -house-wife has her cupboard of cordials. Whenever I find my mind -brought below par, by the common-place of every-day life, or jarred -by the sordid collisions of the world, or put out of tune by the -shrewd selfishness of modern utilitarianism, I resort to these -venerable tomes, as did the worthy hero of La Mancha to his books -of chivalry, and refresh and tone up my spirit by a deep draught -of their contents. They have some such effect upon me as Falstaff -ascribes to a good Sherris sack, “warming the blood, and filling the -brain with fiery and delectable shapes.”</p> - -<p>I here subjoin, Mr. Editor, a small specimen of the cordials I have -mentioned, just drawn from my Spanish cupboard, which I recommend to -your palate. If you find it to your taste, you may pass it on to your -readers.</p> - -<p>Your correspondent and well-wisher,</p> - -<p class="firma"><span class="smcap">Geoffrey Crayon</span>.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-12.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> - <p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</span></p> - <div class="figsep"> - <img src="images/head-6.png" - alt="Top of chapter ornament" /> - </div> - <h3>LEGEND OF DON MUNIO SANCHO DE HINOJOSA.</h3> - <hr class="sep" /> -</div> - -<div class="drop-cap"> - <img src="images/drop-i.png" alt="Illustrated I" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap ti-06"><span class="smcap">In the</span> -cloisters of the ancient Benedictine convent of San Domingo, -at Silos, in Castile, are the mouldering yet magnificent monuments -of the once powerful and chivalrous family of Hinojosa. Among these -reclines the marble figure of a knight, in complete armor, with the -hands pressed together, as if in prayer. On one side of his tomb -is sculptured, in relief, a band of Christian cavaliers capturing -a cavalcade of male and female Moors; on the other side, the same -cavaliers are represented kneeling before an altar. The tomb, like -most of the neighboring monuments, is almost in ruins, and the -sculpture is nearly unintelligible, excepting to the keen eye of the -antiquary. The story connected with the sepulchre, however, is still -preserved in the old Spanish chronicles, and is to the following -purport:—</p> - -<p class="p2">In old times, several hundred years ago, there was a -noble Castilian cavalier, named Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa, lord of -a border castle, which had stood the brunt of many a Moorish<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</span> foray. He had seventy -horsemen as his household troops, all of the ancient Castilian proof; -stark warriors, hard riders, and men of iron: with these he scoured -the Moorish lands, and made his name terrible throughout the borders. -His castle hall was covered with banners and scimetars and Moslem -helms, the trophies of his prowess. Don Munio was, moreover, a keen -huntsman; and rejoiced in hounds of all kinds, steeds for the chase, -and hawks for the towering sport of falconry. When not engaged in -warfare, his delight was to beat up the neighboring forests; and -scarcely ever did he ride forth without hound and horn, a boar-spear -in his hand, or a hawk upon his fist, and an attendant train of -huntsmen.</p> - -<p>His wife, Doña Maria Palacin, was of a gentle and timid nature, -little fitted to be the spouse of so hardy and adventurous a knight; -and many a tear did the poor lady shed when he sallied forth upon his -daring enterprises, and many a prayer did she offer up for his safety.</p> - -<p>As this doughty cavalier was one day hunting, he stationed himself -in a thicket, on the borders of a green glade of the forest, and -dispersed his followers to rouse the game and drive it towards his -stand. He had not been here long when a cavalcade of Moors, of both -sexes, came pranking over the forest lawn. They were unarmed, and -magnificently dressed in robes of tissue and embroidery, rich shawls -of India, bracelets and anklets of gold, and jewels that sparkled in -the sun.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</span></p> - -<p>At the head of this gay cavalcade rode a youthful cavalier, superior -to the rest in dignity and loftiness of demeanor, and in splendor -of attire; beside him was a damsel, whose veil, blown aside by the -breeze, displayed a face of surpassing beauty, and eyes cast down in -maiden modesty, yet beaming with tenderness and joy.</p> - -<p>Don Munio thanked his stars for sending him such a prize, and exulted -at the thought of bearing home to his wife the glittering spoils of -these infidels. Putting his hunting-horn to his lips, he gave a blast -that rung through the forest. His huntsmen came running from all -quarters, and the astonished Moors were surrounded and made captives.</p> - -<p>The beautiful Moor wrung her hands in despair, and her female -attendants uttered the most piercing cries. The young Moorish -cavalier alone retained self-possession. He inquired the name of the -Christian knight who commanded this troop of horsemen. When told -that it was Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa, his countenance lighted -up. Approaching that cavalier, and kissing his hand, “Don Munio -Sancho,” said he, “I have heard of your fame as a true and valiant -knight, terrible in arms, but schooled in the noble virtues of -chivalry. Such do I trust to find you. In me you behold Abadil, son -of a Moorish alcaid. I am on the way to celebrate my nuptials with -this lady; chance has thrown us in your power, but I confide in your -magnanimity. Take all our treasure and jewels; demand what ransom -you think proper for our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_526">[Pg -526]</span> persons, but suffer us not to be insulted or -dishonored.”</p> - -<p>When the good knight heard this appeal, and beheld the beauty -of the youthful pair, his heart was touched with tenderness and -courtesy. “God forbid,” said he, “that I should disturb such happy -nuptials. My prisoners in troth shall ye be, for fifteen days, and -immured within my castle, where I claim, as conqueror, the right of -celebrating your espousals.”</p> - -<p>So saying, he dispatched one of his fleetest horsemen in advance, -to notify Doña Maria Palacin of the coming of this bridal party; -while he and his huntsmen escorted the cavalcade, not as captors, but -as a guard of honor. As they drew near to the castle, the banners -were hung out, and the trumpets sounded from the battlements; and on -their nearer approach, the drawbridge was lowered, and Doña Maria -came forth to meet them, attended by her ladies and knights, her -pages and her minstrels. She took the young bride, Allifra, in her -arms, kissed her with the tenderness of a sister, and conducted her -into the castle. In the mean time, Don Munio sent forth missives in -every direction, and had viands and dainties of all kinds collected -from the country round; and the wedding of the Moorish lovers was -celebrated with all possible state and festivity. For fifteen days -the castle was given up to joy and revelry. There were tiltings and -jousts at the ring, and bull-fights, and banquets, and dances to the -sound of minstrelsy. When the fifteen days were at an end,<span -class="pagenum" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</span> he made the bride -and bridegroom magnificent presents, and conducted them and their -attendants safely beyond the borders. Such, in old times, were the -courtesy and generosity of a Spanish cavalier.</p> - -<p>Several years after this event, the king of Castile summoned his -nobles to assist him in a campaign against the Moors. Don Munio -Sancho was among the first to answer to the call, with seventy -horsemen, all stanch and well-tried warriors. His wife, Doña Maria, -hung about his neck. “Alas, my lord!” exclaimed she, “how often wilt -thou tempt thy fate, and when will thy thirst for glory be appeased?”</p> - -<p>“One battle more,” replied Don Munio, “one battle more, for the honor -of Castile, and I here make a vow that when this is over, I will -lay by my sword, and repair with my cavaliers in pilgrimage to the -Sepulchre of our Lord at Jerusalem.” The cavaliers all joined with -him in the vow, and Doña Maria felt in some degree soothed in spirit; -still, she saw with a heavy heart the departure of her husband, and -watched his banner with wistful eyes, until it disappeared among the -trees of the forest.</p> - -<p>The king of Castile led his army to the plains of Salmanara, where -they encountered the Moorish host, near to Ucles. The battle was long -and bloody; the Christians repeatedly wavered, and were as often -rallied by the energy of their commanders. Don Munio was covered with -wounds, but refused to leave the field. The Christians at length -gave way, and the king was hardly pressed, and in danger of being -captured.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_528">[Pg 528]</span></p> - -<p>Don Munio called upon his cavaliers to follow him to the rescue. “Now -is the time,” cried he, “to prove your loyalty. Fall to, like brave -men! We fight for the true faith, and if we lose our lives here, we -gain a better life hereafter.”</p> - -<p>Rushing with his men between the king and his pursuers, they checked -the latter in their career, and gave time for their monarch to -escape; but they fell victims to their loyalty. They all fought -to the last gasp. Don Munio was singled out by a powerful Moorish -knight, but having been wounded in the right arm, he fought to -disadvantage, and was slain. The battle being over, the Moor paused -to possess himself of the spoils of this redoubtable Christian -warrior. When he unlaced the helmet, however, and beheld the -countenance of Don Munio, he gave a great cry; and smote his breast. -“Woe is me?” cried he, “I have slain my benefactor! the flower of -knightly virtue! the most magnanimous of cavaliers!”</p> - -<p>While the battle had been raging on the plain of Salmanara, Doña -Maria Palacin remained in her castle, a prey to the keenest anxiety. -Her eyes were ever fixed on the road that led from the country of the -Moors, and often she asked the watchman of the tower, “What seest -thou?”</p> - -<p>One evening, at the shadowy hour of twilight, the warden sounded -his horn. “I see,” cried he, “a numerous train winding up the valley. -There are mingled Moors and Christians. The banner of my lord is -in the advance. Joyful<span class="pagenum" id="Page_529">[Pg -529]</span> tidings!” exclaimed the old seneschal; “my lord returns -in triumph, and brings captives!” Then the castle courts rang with -shouts of joy; and the standard was displayed, and the trumpets were -sounded, and the drawbridge was lowered, and Doña Maria went forth -with her ladies, and her knights, and her pages, and her minstrels, -to welcome her lord from the wars. But as the train drew nigh, she -beheld a sumptuous bier, covered with black velvet, and on it lay -a warrior, as if taking his repose; he lay in his armor, with his -helmet on his head, and his sword in his hand, as one who had never -been conquered, and around the bier were the escutcheons of the house -of Hinojosa.</p> - -<p>A number of Moorish cavaliers attended the bier, with emblems -of mourning and with dejected countenances; and their leader cast -himself at the feet of Doña Maria, and hid his face in his hands. She -beheld in him the gallant Abadil, whom she had once welcomed with his -bride to her castle, but who now came with the body of her lord, whom -he had unknowingly slain in battle!</p> - -<p class="p2">The sepulchre erected in the cloisters of the Convent -of San Domingo was achieved at the expense of the Moor Abadil, as a -feeble testimony of his grief for the death of the good knight Don -Munio, and his reverence for his memory. The tender and faithful -Doña Maria soon followed her lord to the tomb. On one of the stones -of a small arch, beside his sepulchre,<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</span> is the following simple inscription: -“<i>Hic jacet Maria Palacin, uxor Munonis Sancij De Hinojosa</i>:” Here -lies Maria Palacin, wife of Munio Sancho de Hinojosa.</p> - -<p>The legend of Don Munio Sancho does not conclude with his death. -On the same day on which the battle took place on the plain of -Salmanara, a chaplain of the Holy Temple at Jerusalem, while standing -at the outer gate, beheld a train of Christian cavaliers advancing, -as if in pilgrimage. The chaplain was a native of Spain, and as the -pilgrims approached, he knew the foremost to be Don Munio Sancho de -Hinojosa, with whom he had been well acquainted in former times. -Hastening to the patriarch, he told him of the honorable rank of the -pilgrims at the gate. The patriarch, therefore, went forth with a -grand procession of priests and monks, and received the pilgrims with -all due honor. There were seventy cavaliers, beside their leader, all -stark and lofty warriors. They carried their helmets in their hands, -and their faces were deadly pale. They greeted no one, nor looked -either to the right or to the left, but entered the chapel, and -kneeling before the Sepulchre of our Saviour, performed their orisons -in silence. When they had concluded, they rose as if to depart, and -the patriarch and his attendants advanced to speak to them, but they -were no more to be seen. Every one marveled what could be the meaning -of this prodigy. The patriarch carefully noted down the day, and sent -to Castile to learn tidings of Don Munio Sancho<span class="pagenum" -id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</span> de Hinojosa. He received for reply, -that on the very day specified that worthy knight, with seventy of -his followers, had been slain in battle. These, therefore, must have -been the blessed spirits of those Christian warriors, come to fulfill -their vow of a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. Such -was Castilian faith in the olden time, which kept its word, even -beyond the grave.</p> - -<p>If any one should doubt of the miraculous apparition of these -phantom knights, let him consult the “History of the Kings of Castile -and Leon,” by the learned and pious Fray Prudencio de Sandoval, -Bishop of Pamplona, where he will find it recorded in the History of -the King Don Alonzo VI., on the hundred and second page. It is too -precious a legend to be lightly abandoned to the doubter.</p> - - -<p class="fin">THE END.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/tail-4.png" - alt="End of chapter ornament" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="footnotes"> - -<p class="fauxh2">FOOTNOTES</p> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_1"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_1">[1]</a></span> Many of the facts in this legend are taken from an old -chronicle, written in quaint and antiquated Spanish, and professing -to be a translation from the Arabian chronicle of the Moor Rasis, -by Mohammed, a Moslem writer, and Gil Perez, a Spanish priest. It -is supposed to be a piece of literary mosaic work, made up from -both Spanish and Arabian chronicles; yet, from this work most of -the Spanish historians have drawn their particulars relative to the -fortunes of Don Roderick.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_2"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_2">[2]</a></span> Florain, <i>de Ocampo</i>, lib. 3, c. 12. Justin, <i>Abrev. -Trog Pomp.</i>, lib. 44. Bleda, <i>Cronica</i>, lib. 2, c. 3.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_3"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_3">[3]</a></span> <i>Chron. de Luitprando</i>, 709. Abarca, <i>Anales de Aragon</i> -(el Mahometismo, fol. 5).</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_4"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_4">[4]</a></span> Mariana, <i>Hist. Esp.</i>, lib. 6, c. 21.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_5"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_5">[5]</a></span> <i>Perdida de España</i>, por Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, -lib. 1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_6"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_6">[6]</a></span> Lope de Vega.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_7"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_7">[7]</a></span> By some she is called Zara.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_8" lang="es"><span class="label"><a -href="#FNanchor_8">[8]</a></span> “Como esta Infanta era muy hermosa, -y el Rey [Don Rodrigo] dispuesto y gentil hombre, entro por medio -el amor y aficion, y junto con el regalo con que la avia mandado -hospedar y servir ful causa que el rey persuadio esta Infanta que -si se tornava a su ley de christiano la tomaria por muger, y que la -haria señora de sus Reynos. Con esta persuasion ella fue contenta, y -aviendose vuelto christiana, se caso con ella, y se celebraron sus -bodas con muchas fiestas y regozijos, como era razon.”—Abulcasim, -<i>Conq’st de Espan</i>, cap. 3.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_9"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_9">[9]</a></span> Condes Espatorios; so called from the drawn swords -of ample size and breadth with which they kept guard in the -ante-chambers of the Gothic kings. <span lang="la"> Comes Spathariorum, custodum -corporis Regis Profectus. Hunc et Propospatharium appellatum -existimo.</span>—<i>Patr. Pant. de Offic. Goth.</i></p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_10"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_10">[10]</a></span> <i>Perdida de España</i>, por Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, -L. 1, c. 6. <i>Cronica del Rey Don Rodrigo</i>, por el Moro Rasis, L. 1, -c. 1. Bleda, <i>Cron.</i> cap. vii.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_11"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_11">[11]</a></span> From the minute account of the good friar, drawn from -the ancient chronicles, it would appear that the walls of the tower -were pictured in mosaic work.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_12"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_12">[12]</a></span> Bleda, <i>Cronica</i>, cap. 7.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_13"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_13">[13]</a></span> Bleda, <i>Cronica</i> cap. 7.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_14"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_14">[14]</a></span> Bleda, cap. 5.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_15"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_15">[15]</a></span> Bleda, cap. 4.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_16"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_16">[16]</a></span> Beuter, <i>Cron. Gen. de España</i>, L. 1, c. 28. Marmol -Descrip. de Africa, L. 2, c. 10.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_17"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_17">[17]</a></span> Bleda, <i>Cron.</i> c. 5.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_18"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_18">[18]</a></span> Conde, <i>Hist. Dom. Arab.</i> part 1, c. 8.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_19"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_19">[19]</a></span> Conde, part 1, c. 8.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_20"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_20">[20]</a></span> Conde, part 1, c. 9.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_21"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_21">[21]</a></span> <i>La Perdida de España</i>, cap. 9. Bleda, L. 2, c. 8.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_22"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_22">[22]</a></span> This name was given to it subsequently by the Arabs. It -signifies the River of Death. <i>Vide</i> Pedraza, <i>Hist. Granad.</i> p. 3, -c. 1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_23"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_23">[23]</a></span> Bleda, <i>Cronica</i>.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_24"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_24">[24]</a></span> Entrand. <i>Chron. an. Chris.</i> 714.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_25"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_25">[25]</a></span> This battle is called indiscriminately by historians -the battle of Guadalete, or of Xeres, from the neighborhood of that -city.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_26"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_26">[26]</a></span> Bleda, <i>Cron.</i> L. 2, c. 9. Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, -L. 1, c. 10.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_27"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_27">[27]</a></span></p> -<p class="m30 p-15">Here lies Roderick,</p> -<p class="m30">The last King of the Goths.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_28"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_28">[28]</a></span> Salazar, <i>Hist. Gran. Cardinal. Prologo</i>, vol. i. plan -1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_29"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_29">[29]</a></span> Mr. D. W—kie.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_30"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_30">[30]</a></span> Lord Mah—n.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_31"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_31">[31]</a></span> In this legend most of the facts respecting the Arab -inroads into Spain are on the authority of Arabian writers, who -had the most accurate means of information. Those relative to the -Spaniards are chiefly from old Spanish chronicles. It is to be -remarked that the Arab accounts have most the air of verity, and the -events as they relate them are in the ordinary course of common life. -The Spanish accounts, on the contrary, are full of the marvelous; for -there were no greater romancers than the monkish chroniclers.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_32"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_32">[32]</a></span> Conde, p. 1, c. 10.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_33"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_33">[33]</a></span> <i>Chronica de España</i>, de Alonzo el Sabio. P. 3, c. 1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_34"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_34">[34]</a></span> The house shown as the ancient residence of Aben Habuz -is called <i>la Casa del Gallo</i>, or the house of the weathercock; -so named, says Pedraza, in his history of Granada, from a bronze -figure of an Arab horseman, armed with lance and buckler, which once -surmounted it, and which varied with every wind. On this warlike -weathercock was inscribed, in Arabic characters,—</p> - -<p class="m25 p1" lang="es">“Dice el sabio Aben Habuz</p> -<p class="m25" lang="es">Que asi se defiende el Andaluz.”</p> - -<p class="m25 p1">(In this way, says Aben Habuz the Wise,</p> -<p class="m25">The Andalusian his foe defies.)</p> - -<p class="ti1 p1">The Casa del Gallo, even until within twenty years, -possessed two great halls beautifully decorated with morisco reliefs. -It then caught fire and was so damaged as to require to be nearly -rebuilt. It is now a manufactory of coarse canvas, and has nothing of -the Moorish character remaining. It commands a beautiful view of the -city and the vega.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_35"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_35">[35]</a></span> Pedraza, <i>Hist. Granad.</i> p. 3, c. 2. Bleda, <i>Cronica</i>, -L 2 c. 10.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_36"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_36">[36]</a></span> Conde, <i>Hist. de los Arabes en España</i>, c. 12.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_37"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_37">[37]</a></span> The stratagem of the Jews of Toledo is recorded briefly -by Bishop Lucas de Tuy, in his chronicle, but is related at large in -the chronicle of the Moor Rasis.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_38"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_38">[38]</a></span> According to Arabian legends, this table was a mirror -revealing all great events; insomuch that by looking on it the -possessor might behold battles and sieges and feats of chivalry, and -all actions worthy of renown; and might thus ascertain the truth of -all historic transactions. It was a mirror of history therefore; and -had very probably aided King Solomon in acquiring that prodigious -knowledge and wisdom for which he was renowned.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_39"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_39">[39]</a></span> Abulcasim, <i>Perdida de España</i>, L. 1, c. 13.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_40"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_40">[40]</a></span> <i>Cron. gen. de España</i>, por Alonzo el Sabio. P. 3, c. -1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_41"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_41">[41]</a></span> Bleda, <i>Cronica</i>, L. 2, c. 11.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_42"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_42">[42]</a></span> <i>Conde</i>, p. 1, c. 13. Ambrosio de Morales. N. B.—In -the chronicle of Spain, composed by order of Alonzo the Wise, this -anecdote is given as having happened at the siege of Seville.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_43"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_43">[43]</a></span> Marmol, <i>Descrip. de Africa</i>, T. 1, L. 2.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_44"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_44">[44]</a></span> Abulcasim, <i>Perdida de España</i>, L. 1, c. 13.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_45"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_45">[45]</a></span> Espinosa, <i>Antq. y Grand. de Seville</i>, L. 2, c. 3.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_46"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_46">[46]</a></span> Conde, P. 1, c. 14.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_47"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_47">[47]</a></span> Conde, p. 1. <i>Cronica del Moro Rasis.</i>—<i>Cron. gen. -España</i>, por Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3, c. 1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_48"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_48">[48]</a></span> Conde, pt. 1. c. 15.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_49"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_49">[49]</a></span> Conde, pt. 1, c. 15.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_50"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_50">[50]</a></span> Conde, pt. 1, c. 16.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_51"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_51">[51]</a></span> Conde, pt. 1, c. 17.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_52"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_52">[52]</a></span> Algarbe, or Algarbia, in Arabic signifies the west, as -Axarkia is the east, Algufia the north, and Aquibla the south. This -will serve to explain some of the geographical names on the peninsula -which are of Arabian origin.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_53"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_53">[53]</a></span> Faxardo, <i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 1, p. 492.—Joan. <i>Mar. de -Reb. Hisp.</i> L. 6, c. 27.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_54"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_54">[54]</a></span> Conde, pt. 1, c. 17.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_55"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_55">[55]</a></span> <i>Chron. gen.</i> de Alonzo el Sabio, p. 3. Joan <i>Mar. de -Reb. Hisp.</i> lib. 6, c. 27. Conde, pt. 1, c. 19.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_56"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_56">[56]</a></span> Abarca, <i>Anales de Aragon</i>. Ante regno, § 2.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_57"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_57">[57]</a></span> El Moro Rasis, <i>La Destruycion de España</i>. Rojas, -<i>Hist. Toledo</i>, pt. 2, L. 4, cl.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_58"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_58">[58]</a></span> El Moro Rasis, <i>Destruycion de España</i>, pt. 2, c. 101.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_59"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_59">[59]</a></span> Morales, <i>Cronicon de España</i>, L. 13, c. 2.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_60" lang="la"><span class="label"><a -href="#FNanchor_60">[60]</a></span> Judicio Domini actum est, ut -ipsius montis pars se a fundamentis evolvens, sexaginta tria millia -caldeorum stupenter in fulmina projecit, atque eos omnes opressit. -Ubi usque nunc ipse fluvius dum tempore hyemali alveum suum implet, -ripasque dissoluit, signa armorum et ossa eorum evidentissime -ostendit.—<i>Sebastianus Salmanticensis Episc.</i></p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_61"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_61">[61]</a></span> <i>La Destruycion de España</i>, part 3.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_62"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_62">[62]</a></span> Sandoval, p. 301.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_63"><span class="label"><a -href="#FNanchor_63">[63]</a></span> It does not appear that Count -Fernan Gonzalez kept his promise of founding a church and monastery -on the site of the hermitage. The latter edifice remained to after -ages. “It stands,” says Sandoval, “on a precipice overhanging the -river Arlanza, insomuch that it inspires dread to look below. It is -extremely ancient; large enough to hold a hundred persons. Within the -chapel is an opening like a chasm, leading down to a cavern larger -than the church, formed in the solid rock, with a small window which -overlooks the river. It was here the Christians used to conceal -themselves.”</p> - -<p class="ti1">As a corroboration of the adventure of the Count of -Castile, Sandoval assures us that in his day the oak still existed -to which Don Fernan Gonzalez tied his horse, when he alighted -to scramble up the hill in pursuit of the boar. The worthy Fray -Agapida, however, needed no corroboration of the kind, swallowing -the whole story with the ready credence of a pious monk. The action -here recorded was known by the name of the battle of the Ford of -Cascajares.</p> - -<p class="ti1">Sandoval gives a different account of the fate of -the hermits. He says that Almanzor, in a rage at their prognostics, -overthrew their chapel, and, without alighting from his horse, -ordered the three monks to be beheaded in his presence. “This -martyrdom,” he adds, “is represented in an ancient painting of the -chapel which still exists.”</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_64"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_64">[64]</a></span> Sandoval. <i>The Five Bishops.</i> Mariana, lib. 8, c. 5, p. -367. <i>Cron. Gen. de España</i>, part 3, c. 18, fol. 53.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_65"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_65">[65]</a></span> <i>Cron. Gen. de España</i>, ut supra.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_66"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_66">[66]</a></span> <i>Cron. Gen. de España.</i></p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_67"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_67">[67]</a></span> Mariana, lib. 8, c. 5, p. 367.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_68"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_68">[68]</a></span> Sandoval, p. 313.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_69"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_69">[69]</a></span> In the <i>Cronica General de España</i>, this imprisonment -is said to have been by King Sancho the Fat; but the cautious Agapida -goes according to his favorite Sandoval in attributing it to King -Ramiro, and in so doing he is supported by the <i>Chronicle</i> of Bleda, -L. 3, c. 19.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_70"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_70">[70]</a></span> Exactly the same kind of miracle is recorded as -happening in the same place to a cavalier of the name of Don Fernan -Antolenez, in the service of the Count Garcia Fernandez. Fray Antonio -Agapida has no doubt that the same miracle did actually happen to -both cavaliers; “for in those days,” says he, “there was such a -demand for miracles that the same had frequently to be repeated;” -witness the repeated appearance of Santiago in precisely the same -manner, to save Christian armies from imminent danger of defeat, and -achieve wonderful victories over the infidels, as we find recorded -throughout the Spanish chronicles.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_71"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_71">[71]</a></span> <i>Cronica</i> de Alonzo el Sabio, pt. 3 c. 19.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_72"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_72">[72]</a></span> Sandoval, p. 334.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_73"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_73">[73]</a></span> <i>Cronica Gotica</i>, por Don Alonzo Nuñez de Castro, p. -17.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_74"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_74">[74]</a></span> <i>Cronica General de España</i>, pt. 3, p. 370.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_75"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_75">[75]</a></span> <i>Cron. Gen. de España</i>, pt. 4, fol. 373.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_76"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_76">[76]</a></span> <i>Cron. Gen. de España</i>, pt. 4, c. ii.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_77"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_77">[77]</a></span> The hiatus, here noted by the author, has evidently -arisen from the loss of a leaf of his manuscript. The printed line -which precedes the parenthesis concludes page 32 of the manuscript; -the line which follows it begins page 34. The intermediate page is -wanting. I presume the author did not become conscious of his loss -until he had resorted to his manuscript for revision, and that he -could not depend upon his memory to supply what was wanting without -a fresh resort to authorities not at hand. Hence a postponement and -ultimate omission. The missing leaf would scarce have filled half a -page of print, and, it would seem from the context, must have related -the invasion of Andalusia by Fernando and the ravages committed by -his armies.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_78"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_78">[78]</a></span> <i>Cron. Gen. de España</i>, pt. 4. Bleda, lib. 4, c. 10.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_79"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_79">[79]</a></span> <i>Cronica del Rey Santo</i>, cap. 13.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_80"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_80">[80]</a></span> <i>Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey</i>, p. 554.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_81"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_81">[81]</a></span> Some chronicles, through mistake, make it Pezuelo near -Ciudal Real, in the mountains on the confines of Granada.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_82"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_82">[82]</a></span> Conde, tom. iii. c. 5.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_83"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_83">[83]</a></span> <i>Notas para la Vida</i>, etc., p. 562.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_84"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_84">[84]</a></span> <i>Notas para la Vida del Santo Rey</i>, p. 572.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_85"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_85">[85]</a></span> Rodriguez, <i>Memorias del Santo Rey</i>, c. lviii.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_86"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_86">[86]</a></span> <i>Cronica del Rey Don Fernando</i>, c. XIII.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_87"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_87">[87]</a></span> Zuniga, <i>Annales de Sevilla</i>, L. 1.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_88"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_88">[88]</a></span> Jacob Paranes, <i>Lib. de los Maestros de St. Iago.</i> -<i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 3, § xiii. Zuniga, <i>Annales de Sevilla</i>.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_89"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_89">[89]</a></span> <i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 3, § viii.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_90"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_90">[90]</a></span> <i>Cronica Gotica</i>, L. 3, § 13. <i>Cronica General</i>, pt. 4. -<i>Cronica de Santo Rey</i>, c. 55.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_91"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_91">[91]</a></span> <i>Cronica General</i>, pt. 4, p. 338.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_92"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_92">[92]</a></span> <i>Cronica General de España</i>, pt. 4. <i>Cronica del Rey -Fernando el Santo</i>, c. 60. <i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 3, p. 126.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_93"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_93">[93]</a></span> <i>Cronica General</i>, pt. 4, 341.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_94"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_94">[94]</a></span> <i>Cronica General</i>, pt. 4. <i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 3, § 16.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_95"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_95">[95]</a></span> <i>Cronica General</i>, pt. 4. <i>Cronica del Rey Santo.</i> -<i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 3, § 16.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_96"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_96">[96]</a></span> <i>Cronica General</i>, pt. 4, p. 424.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_97"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_97">[97]</a></span> <i>Mariana</i>, L. 13, c. 7.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_98"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_98">[98]</a></span> In Castile, whenever the kings entered any place where -there was a synagogue, the Jews assembled in council and paid to the -Monteros, or bull-fighters, twelve maravedis each, to guard them, -that they should receive no harm from the the Christians; being held -in such contempt and odium, that it was necessary they should be -under the safeguard of the king, not to be injured or insulted.<a id="FNanchor_A" href="#Footnote_A" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_A"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_A">[A]</a></span> Zuniga, <i>Annales de Sevilla</i>.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_99"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_99">[99]</a></span> Pablo de Espinosa, <i>Grandesas de Sevilla</i>, fol. 146. -<i>Cronica del Santo Rey</i>, c. 78. <i>Corona Gothica</i>, T. 3, p. 166.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_100"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_100">[100]</a></span> -<span - class="cambiado" - title="In the printed book: Argoti" - id="tn_4">Argote</span> -de Molina, <i>Nobleza de Andaluzia</i>, L. 1, c. 21. -Tomas Bocio, <i>Signales de la Iglesia</i>, L. 20. Don Rodrigo Sanchez, -Bishop of Palencia, pt. 3, c. 40.</p> -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> -<p id="Footnote_101"><span class="label"><a href="#FNanchor_101">[101]</a></span> Pablo de Espinosa, fol. 146.</p> -</div> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="transnote" id="tnote"> - <p class="tnotetit">Transcriber's note</p> - <ul> - <li>Original spelling was kept, but variant spellings were made consistent when a predominant usage was found.</li> - <li>Obvious printer errors have been silently corrected.</li> - <li>The following changes were also made: - <table class="cambios" summary="Changes also made."> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">Page  29</a>:</td> - <td class="tdr">“cheek”</td> - <td>→</td> - <td>“<a href="#tn_1">check</a>”</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_31">Page  31</a>:</td> - <td class="tdr">“potents”</td> - <td>→</td> - <td>“<a href="#tn_2">portents</a>”</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_459">Page 459</a>:</td> - <td class="tdr">“señoria”</td> - <td>→</td> - <td>“<a href="#tn_3">señorio</a>”</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Footnote_100">Page 516,<br />note 100</a>:</td> - <td class="tdr">“Argoti”</td> - <td>→</td> - <td>“<a href="#tn_4">Argote</a>”</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_521">Page 521</a>:</td> - <td class="tdr">“pundoner”</td> - <td>→</td> - <td>“<a href="#tn_5">pundonor</a>”</td> - </tr> - </table> - </li> - <li>Blank pages have been skipped.</li> - <li>Footnotes have been renumbered and moved to the end of the book.</li> - <li>The text of chapter headings and of Table of Contents entries have been made consistent.</li> - <li>All chapters end with ornated illustrations, even when they were not present in the printed book.</li> - </ul> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Spanish Papers, by Washington Irving - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPANISH PAPERS *** - -***** This file should be named 50352-h.htm or 50352-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/3/5/50352/ - -Produced by Josep Cols Canals, Ramon Pajares Box and the -Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net -(This file was produced from images generously made -available by the Library of Congress.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/50352-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3a55dec..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-a.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-a.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 584b91b..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-a.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-b.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-b.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 27d47a3..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-b.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-c.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-c.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2e4c46e..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-c.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-f.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-f.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f956d0d..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-f.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-g.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-g.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a7880be..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-g.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-i.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-i.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fc65ca1..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-i.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-k.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-k.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c8e1263..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-k.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-l.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-l.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index adf56f2..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-l.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-m.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-m.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 67cc0e7..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-m.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-n.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-n.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 10314d3..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-n.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-o.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-o.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 368b7fb..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-o.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-p.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-p.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 93bf049..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-p.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-s.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-s.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1623da2..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-s.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-t.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-t.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 574eca8..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-t.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-v.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-v.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a8e8303..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-v.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/drop-w.png b/old/50352-h/images/drop-w.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 491995f..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/drop-w.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/frontispiece.jpg b/old/50352-h/images/frontispiece.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4070add..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/frontispiece.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/hand.png b/old/50352-h/images/hand.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 9464019..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/hand.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-1.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-1.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index de39824..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-1.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-10.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-10.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e04f178..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-10.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-11.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-11.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b14b5e4..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-11.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-12.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-12.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 21ffb33..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-12.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-13.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-13.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 29edae4..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-13.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-14.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-14.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4ad2015..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-14.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-15.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-15.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2a990ad..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-15.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-16.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-16.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5be2a8a..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-16.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-17.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-17.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8467d47..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-17.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-18.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-18.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8c2341e..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-18.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-2.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-2.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5164dab..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-2.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-21.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-21.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1ec2127..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-21.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-3.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-3.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c0f4fea..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-3.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-4.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-4.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8bd064f..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-4.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-5.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-5.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 264df7b..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-5.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-6.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-6.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1e6dabf..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-6.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-7.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-7.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f50dc98..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-7.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-8.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-8.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ea0ea9b..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-8.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/head-9.png b/old/50352-h/images/head-9.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index acf43d2..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/head-9.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-1.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-1.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d91f0d5..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-1.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-10.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-10.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 83b5c9a..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-10.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-11.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-11.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7e957d9..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-11.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-12.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-12.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 657e622..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-12.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-13.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-13.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f72428b..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-13.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-14.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-14.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 032a7ca..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-14.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-15.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-15.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 47c8a37..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-15.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-2.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-2.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fbd8492..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-2.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-3.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-3.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 65f7984..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-3.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-4.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-4.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 3d66c86..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-4.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-5.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-5.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ea351b4..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-5.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-6.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-6.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6cad726..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-6.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-7.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-7.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ccbe671..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-7.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-8.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-8.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 86b303f..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-8.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50352-h/images/tail-9.png b/old/50352-h/images/tail-9.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8616eae..0000000 --- a/old/50352-h/images/tail-9.png +++ /dev/null |
