The dreadful tale! I told him of my vow; Of obstinate will perverse, the which, with pride And shame and self-reproach, doth sometimes make A woman's tongue, her own worst enemy, Run counter to her dearest heart's desire,.. In that unhappy mood did I resist Old Barret tells the story as Ancient Pistol would have done : "In Ulit's time there regalized in Spain A piece by Nature quaintly symmetrized, This piece the king in his Love's-closet shrined, It is thus related in the fabulous Chronicle:-"Despues que el Rey ovo descubierto su coraçon à la Cava, no era dia que la no requiriesse una vez ó dos, y ella se defendia con buena razon empero al cabo como el Rey no pensava cosa como en esto, un dia en la siesta embio con un donzel suyo por la Cava; y ella vino á su mandado; y como en essa bora no avia en toda su camara otro ninguno sino ellos todos tres, el cumplio con ella todo lo que puso. Empero tanto sabed que si ella quisiera dar bozes que bien fuera oyda de la reyna, mas callosse con lo que el Rey quiso fazer." - P. 1. c. 172. In this fabulous Chronicle Roderick's fall is represented as the work of his stars:-"Y aunque á las vezes pensava el gran yerro en que tocava, y en la maldad que su coraçon avia cometido, tanto era el ardor que tenia que lo olvidava todo, y esto acarreava la malandança que le avia de venir, y la destruycion de España que avia de aver comienço para se hazer; y quiero vos dezir que su constelacion no podia escusar que esto no passasse assi; y ya Dios lo avia dexado en su discrecion; y el por cosa que fuesse no se podia arredrar que no topasse en ello."- P. 1. c. 164. "Certes," says the fabulous Chronicler," he was a Lord of greater bounty than ever had been seen before his time. —- He used to say, that if all the world were his, he would rather lose it than one friend; for the world was a thing which, if it were lost, might be recovered; but a friend, once lost, could never be recovered for all the treasure in the world. And because he was thus bountiful, all those of Spain were likewise and they had the fame of being the most liberal men in the world, especially those of the lineage of the Goths. Never a thing was asked at his hands, whether great or small, to which he could say no; and never king nor other great lord asked aid of him that he denied, but gave them of his treasures and of his people as much as they needed. And doubt not, but that if fortune had not ordered that in his time the lineage of the Goths should be cut off, and Spain destroyed, there was no king or emperor whom he would not have brought into subjection; and if the whole world ought to be placed in the power of one man (speaking of worldly things), there never was, nor will be, a man deserving to possess it, save he alone. But as envy is the beginning of all evil, and saw how great was the goodness of this king, she never rested till she had brought about that things should be utterly reversed, even till she had destroyed him. Oh what great damage to the world will it be when God shall consent that so much bounty, and courage, and frankness, and loyalty should be destroyed for ever! All nations ought to clad themselves in wretched weeds one day in the week to mourn for the flower of the world, and especially ought the people of Spain to make such mourning."- Chronica del Rey Don Ro drigo, p. 1. c. 55. And again, when the last battle is approaching, he praises All his most earnest prayers to let the power With kindling warmth his suit, like one whose life My cruel self-reproaches, nor my grief, Yet desperately maintain'd the rash resolve; Dost thou recall that curse? ... The reins to wrath too long,.. because I wrought Speak not of that, I charge thee! On his fame For ever will abide; so it must be, So should be: 'tis his rightful punishment; His hand, and pointed where Siverian lay For whom they mourn with anguish unallay'd, Venturing towards her an imploring look, Of sympathy was like Heaven's influence, One whose stern virtue, feeling in itself Of weakness and of guilt. I wrong'd thee, Father!.. the king: "Y el Rey era el mas esforçado hombre de coraçon que nunca se oyo dezir: y el mas franco de todo lo que podia aver; y preciava mas cobrar amigos que no quanto tesoro pudiesse estar en su reyno, hasta el dia que creyo el consejo del traydor del conde Don Julian; y á maravilla era buen cavallero que al tiempo que el no era rey, no se hallava cavallero que á la su bondad se ygualasse, y tanto sabed que sino por estas malandanças que le vinieron, nunca cavallero al mundo de tales condiciones fue; que nunca á el vino chico ni grande que del se partiesse despagado á culpa suya."Pl. 1. c. 213. The manner in which Florinda calls upon her father to revenge her is curiously expressed by Lope de Vega: "Al escrivirle tiemblan pluma y mano, Llega el agravio, la piedad retira, Pues quanto escrive la vengança, tanto Quiere borrar de la verguença el llanto. "No son menos las letras que soldados, Los ringlones yleras y esquadrones, Que al son de los suspiros van formados Haciendo las distancias las diciones: Los mayores caracteres, armados "Breve processo escrive, aunque el sucesso Jerusalen Conquistada, 1. 6. f. 138. I remember but one of the old poets who has spoken with compassion of Florinda: It is the Portugueze Bras Garcia Mascarenhas, a writer who, with many odd things in his poem, has some fine ones. "Refresca em Covilham a gente aflita, Por nascer nella a desditada Cava. Nam a deslustra, antes a acredita Filha que a honra mais que hum Rey presava; Viriato Tragico, Canto ii. St. 118. XI. COUNT PEDRO'S CASTLE. TWELVE weary days with unremitting speed, Pursued their way; the mountain path they chose, Cautious with course circuitous they shunn'd The embattled city, which in eldest time Thrice-greatest Hermes built, so fables say, Now subjugate, but fated to behold Ere long the heroic Prince (who passing now Of rout and death through many an age of blood. How then, Alphonso, did thy eager soul Chide the slow hours and painful way, which seem'd Lengthening to grow before their lagging pace! Youth of heroic thought and high desire, 'Tis not the spur of lofty enterprize That with unequal throbbing hurries now The unquiet heart, now makes it sink dismay'd; His soul is sick with hope. So near his home, The long'd-for meeting may be yet far off As earth from heaven. Sorrow in these long months Or what if at his flight the bloody Moor Just then that faithful servant raised his hand, From whom to learn if time or chance had wrought Is it the spoiler's work? At yonder door Return'd to tell the symbols of good hope, Fronting the gate the standard-bearer holds Doth aught of fear find utterance, though perchance. But, Pedro, thou art calm; thou dost not share XII. THE VOW. ALWAYS I knew thee for a generous foe, Our ancient houses, that those happy days, Her smiles had been its daily food of love. I need not tell thee what Alphonso is,.. Already had that hope, Here, in thy presence, thus we pledge our hands! Strange hour to plight espousals! yielding half Our enterprize, when strong in heart and hope Peace! he replied: thou know'st there is no choice, Of piety and love. I did not raise the storm; I cannot turn Even as he spake, the astonish'd troop set up A shout of joy which rung through all the hills. Alphonso heeds not how they break their ranks And gather round to greet him; from his horse Precipitate and panting off he springs. Pedro grew pale, and trembled at his sight; Favinia claspt her hands, and looking up To Heaven as she embraced the boy, exclaim'd, Lord God, forgive me for my sinful fears; Unworthy that I am,.. my son, my son! I yielded to my people's general voice, Then Pedro told Pelayo how from vale To vale the exalted Adosinda went, Exciting sire and son, in holy war Conquering or dying, to secure their place In Paradise and how reluctantly, And mourning for his child by his own act Thus doom'd to death, he bade with heavy heart His banner be brought forth. Devoid alike Of purpose and of hope himself, he meant To march toward the western Mountaineers, Where Odoar by his counsel might direct To shine amid the pageantry of war, Their force conjoin'd. Now, said he, we must haste And for the proof of battle. Many a time To Cangas, there, Pelayo, to secure, Then looking to his men, he cried, Bring forth The armour which in Wamba's wars1 I wore... Alphonso's heart leapt at the auspicious words. Count Pedro mark'd the rising glow of joy,.. Doubly to thee, Alphonso, he pursued, This day above all other days is blest, From whence as from a birth-day thou wilt date Thy life in arms! Rejoicing in their task, The servants of the house with emulous love In the valuable history of this king by a contemporary writer, the following character of the French is given: -"Hujus igitur gloriosis temporibus, Galliarum terra altrix perfidiæ infami denotatur elogio, quæ utique inestimabili infidelitatis febre vexata, genita a se infidelium depasceret membra. Quid enim non in illa crudele vel lubricum? ubi conjuratorum conciliabulum, perfidiæ signum, obscœnitas operum, fraus negotiorum, venale judicium, et quod pejus his omnibus est, contra ipsum Salvatorem nostrum et Dominum, Judæorum blasphemantium prostibulum habebatur. Hæc enim terra suo, ut ita dixerim, partu, perditionis suæ sibimet præparavit excidium, et ex ventris sui generatione viperea eversionis suæ nutrivit decipulam. Etenim dum multo jam tempore his febrium diversitatibus ageretur, subito in ea unius nefandi capitis prolapsione turba infidelitatis adsurgit, et conscensio perfidiæ per unum ad plurimos transit." -S. Julian, Hist. Wambæ, § 5. España Sagrada, vi. 544. 2 The Partidas have some curious matter upon this subject. "Cleanliness makes things appear well to those who behold them, even as propriety makes them seemly, each in its way. And therefore the ancients held it good that knights should be made cleanly. For even as they ought to have cleanliness within them in their manners and customs, so ought they to have it without in their garments, and in the arms which they wear. For albeit their business is hard and cruel, being to strike and to slay; yet notwithstanding they may not so far forego their natural inclinations, as not to be pleased with fair and goodly things, especially when they wear them. For on one part they give joy and delight, and on the other make them fearlessly perform feats of arms, because they are aware that by them they are known, and that because of them men take more heed to what they do. Therefore, for this reason, cleanliness and propriety do not diminish the hardihood and cruelty which they ought to have. Moreover, as is aforesaid, that which appears without is the signification of what they have in their inclinations within. And therefore the ancients ordained that the squire, who is of noble lineage, should keep vigil the day before he receives knighthood. And after midday the squires shall bathe him, and wash his head with their hands, and lay him in the goodliest bed that may be. And there the knights shall draw on his hose, and clothe him with the best garments that can be had. And when the cleansing of the body has been performed, they shall do as much to the soul, taking him to the church, where he is to labour in watching and beseeching mercy of God, that he will forgive Alphonso from his nurse's lap had stretch'd No season this for old solemnities, For wassailry and sport;.. the bath, the bed, The vigil,.. all preparatory rites him his sins, and guide him so that he may demean himself well in that order which he is about to receive; to the end that he may defend his law, and do all other things according as it behoveth him, and that he would be his defender and keeper in all dangers and in all difficulties. And he ought to bear in mind how God is powerful above all things, and can show his power in them when he listeth, and especially in affairs of arms. For in his hand are life and death, to give and to take away, and to make the weak strong, and the strong weak. And when he is making this prayer, he must be with his knees bent, and all the rest of the time on foot, as long as he can bear it. For the vigil of knights was not ordained to be a sport, nor for any thing else, except that they, and those who go there, should pray to God to protect them, and direct them in the right way, and support them, as men who are 1 entering upon the way of death."- Part. ii. Tit. 21. Ley 13. "When the vigil is over, as soon as it is day, he ought first to hear mass, and pray God to direct all his feats to his service. And afterwards he who is to knight him shall come and ask him, if he would receive the order of knighthood; and if he answereth yea, then shall it be asked him, if he will maintain it as it ought to be maintained; and when he shall have promised to do this, that knight shall fasten on his spurs, or order some other knight to fasten them on, according to what manner of man he may be, and the rank which he holdeth. And this they do to signify, that as a knight putteth spurs on the right and on the left, to make his horse gallop straight forward, even so he ought to let his actions be straightforward, swerving on neither side. And then shall his sword be girt on over his brial. Formerly it was ordained that when noble men were made knights, they should be armed at all points, as if they were about to do battle. But it was not held good that their heads should be covered, for they who cover their heads do so for two reasons: the one to hide something there which hath an ill look, and for that reason they may well cover them with any fair and becoming covering. The other reason is, when a man hath done some unseemly thing of which he is ashamed. And this in no wise becometh noble knights. For when they are about to receive so noble and so honourable a thing as knighthood, it is not fitting that they should enter into it with any evil shame, neither with fear. And when they shall have girded on his sword, they shall draw it from out the scabbard, and place it in his right hand, and make him swear these three things: first, That be shall not fear to die for his faith, if need be; secondly, For |