His gorget's iron rings the pall was thrown
Of wool undyed, which on the Apostle's tomb Gregory had laid 1, and sanctified with prayer; That from the living Pontiff and the dead Replete with holiness, it might impart Doubly derived its grace. One Page beside Bore his broad-shadow'd helm; another's hand Held the long spear, more suited in these times For Urban, than the crosier richly wrought With silver foliature, the elaborate work Of Grecian or Italian artist, train'd In the eastern capital, or sacred Rome, Still o'er the West predominant, though fallen. Better the spear befits the shepherd's hand When robbers break the fold. Now he had laid The weapon by, and held a natural cross Of rudest form, unpeel'd, even as it grew On the near oak that morn.
Of royal rites was this solemnity. Where was the rubied crown, the sceptre where, And where the golden pome, the proud array Of ermines, aureate vests, and jewelry,
With all which Leuvigild for after kings Left, ostentatious of his power? 2 The Moor Had made his spoil of these, and on the field Of Xeres, where contending multitudes Had trampled it beneath their bloody feet, The standard of the Goths forgotten lay Defiled, and rotting there in sun and rain, Utterly is it lost; nor ever more Herald or antiquary's patient search Shall from forgetfulness avail to save Those blazon'd arms, so fatally of old Renown'd through all the affrighted Occident. That banner, before which imperial Rome First to a conqueror bow'd her head abased; Which when the dreadful Hun, with all his powers, Came like a deluge rolling o'er the world, Made head, and in the front of battle broke His force, till then resistless; which so oft Had with alternate fortune braved the Frank: Driven the Byzantine from the farthest shores Of Spain, long lingering there, to final flight; And of their kingdoms and their name despoil'd The Vandal, and the Alan, and the Sueve; 9
ornaments. Three mysteries were couched therein. First, Humility, which beautifies the clergy above all their costly copes. Secondly, Innocency, to imitate lamb-like simplicitie. And, Thirdly, Industry, to follow him who fetched his wandering sheep home on his shoulders. But to speak plainly, the mystery of mysteries in the pall was, that the archbishops receiving it shewed therein their dependence on Rome; and a mote in this manner ceremoniously taken was a sufficient acknowledgement of their subjection. And as it owned Rome's power, so in after ages it increased their profit. For, though now such palls were freely given to archbishops, whose places in Britain for the present were rather cumbersome than commodious, having little more than their paines for their labour; yet in after ages the archbishop of Canter. burie's pall was sold for five thousand florenes, so that the pope might well have the golden fleece if he could sell all his lamb's wooll at that rate. Onely let me add, that the author of Canterbury-book stiles this pall Tanquam grande Christi Sacramentum. It is well tanquam came in to help it, or else we should have had eight sacraments."- Fuller's Church History, page 71.
aureis vel argenteis ; sed vel aliquibus parvis margaritis altar, put about their necks, above their other pontificall composita, vel ex serico albo auro intermisto, vel ex tela aurea simplici sine laminis et margaritis; tertia, quæ simplex vocatur, sine auro, ex simplici serico Damasceno, vel alio, aut etiam linea, ex tela alba confecta, rubeis laciniis seu frangiis et vittis pendentibus. Pretiosa utitur Episcopus in solemnioribus festis, et generaliter quandocumque in officio dicitur hymnus Te Deum laudamus, &c., et in missa Gloria in excelsis Deo. Nihilominus in eisdem festis etiam auriphrygiata uti poterit, sed potius ad commoditatem quam ex necessitate; ne scilicet Episcopus nimis gravetur, si in toto officio pretiosa utatur: propterea usu receptum est, tam in Vesperis, quam in Missis, ut pretiosa utatur Episcopus in principio et in fine Vesperarum et Missarum solemnium, ac eundo ad Ecclesiam et redeundo ab ea; et quando lavat manus et dat benedictionem solemnem. Intermedio autem spatio loco pretiosæ accipit auriphrygiatam. - Auriphrygiata mitra utitur Episcopus ab Adventu Domini usque ad festum Nativitatis, excepta Dominica tertia Adventus, in qua dicitur Introitus Gaudete, &c., ideoque in signum lætitiæ utitur tune pretiosa. Item a Septuagesima usque ad feriam quartam majoris hebdomadæ inclusivè, excepta Dominica quarta Quadragesimæ, in qua dicitur Introitus Lætare, &c. Item in omnibus vigiliis, quæ jejunantur, et in omnibus quatuor temporibus; in Rogationibus, Litaniis, et processionibus, quæ ex causa penitentiæ fiunt; in festo Innocentium, nisi veniat in Dominica; et benedictionibus, et consecrationibus, quæ private aguntur. Quibus quidem temporibus abstinet Episcopus a mitra pretiosa. Poterit tamen Episcopus dum utitur auriphrygiata, uti etiam simplici eodem modo et forma, prout de pretiosa et auriphrygiata dictum est. Simplici vero mitra utitur Episcopus feria sexta in Parasceve, et in officiis et Missis defunctorum.” — Cæremoniale Episcoporum, 1. i. c. 17.
"By the way, the pall is a pontifical vestment, considerable for the matter, making, and mysteries thereof. For the matter, it is made of lamb's wooll and superstition. I say of lamb's wooll, as it comes from the sheep's back, without any other artificiall colour, spun, say some, by a peculiar order of nunnes, first cast into the tombe of St. Peter, taken from his body, say others, surely most sacred if from both; and superstitiously adorned with little black crosses. For the form thereof; the breadth exceeded not three fingers, one of our bachelours' lambskin hoods in Cambridge would make three of them, having two labells hanging down before and behind, which the archbishops onely, when going to the
2" Postremum bellum Suevis intulit, regnumque eorum in jura gentis suæ mirà celeritate transmisit. Hispania magna ex parte potitus, nam antea gens Gothorum angustis finibus arctabatur. Fiscum quoque primus iste locupletavit, primusque ærarium de rapinis civium, hostiumque manubiis auxit. Primusque etiam inter suos regali veste opertus in solio resedit. Nam ante eum et habitus et consessus communis, ut populo, ita et regibus erat."-S. Isidor. Hist. Goth. España Sagrada, vi. 498, 499.
3 As late as the age of the Philips, the Portugueze were called Sevosos by the Castillians, as an opprobrious name. Brito says, "It was the old word Suevos continued and corrupted, and used contemptuously, because its origin was for. gotten.". - Monarchi Lusitana, 2. 6. 4.
When the Sueves and Alans over-ran Spain, they laid siege to Lisbon, and the Saints Maxima, Julia, and Verissimus (a most undoubted personage), being Lisbonians, were applied to by their town's people to deliver them. Accordingly, a sickness broke out in the besieger's camp, and they agreed to depart upon payment of a sum of money. Bernardo de Brito complains that Blondus and Sabellicus, in their account of this transaction, have been so careless as to mention the money, and omit the invocation of the Saints. Mon. Lus. 2. 5. 23.
Rose not the vision then upon thy soul, O Roderick, when within that argent field Thou saw'st the rampant Lion, red as if Upon some noblest quarry he had roll'd, Rejoicing in his satiate rage, and drunk With blood and fury? Did the auguries Which open'd on thy spirit bring with them A perilous consolation, deadening heart
And soul, yea worse than death,.. that thou through all
Thy chequer'd way of life, evil and good, Thy errors and thy virtues, hadst but been The poor mere instrument of things ordain'd,.. Doing or suffering, impotent alike
To will or act,.. perpetually bemock'd With semblance of volition, yet in all Blind worker of the ways of destiny!
That thought intolerable, which in the hour Of woe indignant conscience had repell'd, As little might it find reception now, When the regenerate spirit self-approved Beheld its sacrifice complete. With faith Elate, he saw the banner'd Lion float Refulgent, and recall'd that thrilling shout Which he had heard when on Romano's grave The joy of victory woke him from his dream, And sent him with prophetic hope to work Fulfilment of the great events ordain'd, There in imagination's inner world Prefigured to his soul.
Before the ranks, the Goth in silence stood, While from all voices round, loquacious joy Mingled its buzz continuous with the blast Of horn, shrill pipe, and tinkling cymbals' clash, And sound of deafening drum. But when the Prince Drew nigh, and Urban with the cross upheld Stept forth to meet him, all at once were still'd With instantaneous hush; as when the wind, Before whose violent gusts the forest oaks, Tossing like billows their tempestuous heads, Roar like a raging sea, suspends its force, And leaves so dead a calm that not a leaf Moves on the silent spray. The passing air Bore with it from the woodland undisturb'd The ringdove's wooing, and the quiet voice Of waters warbling near.
Son of a race Of Heroes and of Kings! the Primate thus
Address'd him, Thou in whom the Gothic blood, Mingling with old Iberia's, hath restored To Spain a ruler of her native line,
Stand forth, and in the face of God and man Swear to uphold the right, abate the wrong,
With equitable hand, protect the Cross Whereon thy lips this day shall seal their vow, And underneath that hallow'd symbol, wage Holy and inextinguishable war
Against the accursed nation that usurps Thy country's sacred soil!
So speak of me Now and for ever, O my countrymen ! Replied Pelayo; and so deal with me Here and hereafter, thou, Almighty God, In whom I put my trust!
Lord God of Hosts,1 Urban pursued, of Angels and of Men Creator and Disposer, King of Kings, Ruler of Earth and Heaven,.. look down this day, And multiply thy blessings on the head
Of this thy servant, chosen in thy sight!
Be thou his counsellor, his comforter,
His hope, his joy, his refuge, and his strength; Crown him with justice, and with fortitude, Defend him with thine all-sufficient shield, Surround him every where with the right hand Of thine all-present power, and with the might Of thine omnipotence, send in his aid Thy unseen Angels forth, that potently And royally against all enemies
He may endure and triumph! Bless the land O'er which he is appointed; bless thou it With the waters of the firmament, the springs Of the low-lying deep, the fruits which Sun And Moon mature for man, the precious stores Of the eternal hills, and all the gifts Of Earth, its wealth and fulness!
Pelayo's hand, and on his finger placed The mystic circlet... With this ring, O Prince, To our dear Spain, who like a widow now Mourneth in desolation, I thee wed: For weal or woe thou takest her, till death Dispart the union: Be it blest to her, To thee, and to thy seed!
Thus when he ceased, He gave the awaited signal. Roderick brought The buckler: Eight for strength and stature chosen Came to their honour'd office: Round the shield Standing, they lower it for the Chieftain's feet, Then, slowly raised upon their shoulders, lift The steady weight. Erect Pelayo stands, And thrice he brandishes the burnish'd sword, While Urban to the assembled people cries, Spaniards, behold your King! The multitude Then sent forth all their voice with glad acclaim,
De pies encima el Principe membrudo Lo levantan assi del suelo iguales:
Y alçarlo en peso, quanto alçar se pudo De alçarlo por su Rey fueron señales, Real, Real, Real, diziendo todos, Segun contumbre antiqua de los Godos." Ch. de Messa. Restauracion de España, 1. iv. f. 34.
Raising the loud Real; thrice did the word Ring through the air, and echo from the walls Of Cangas. Far and wide the thundering shout, Rolling among reduplicating rocks,
Peal'd o'er the hills, and up the mountain vales. The wild ass starting in the forest glade Ran to the covert; the affrighted wolf Skulk'd through the thicket to a closer brake; The sluggish bear, awaken'd in his den, Roused up and answer'd with a sullen growl, Low-breathed and long; and at the uproar scared, The brooding eagle from her nest took wing.
Heroes and Chiefs of old! and ye who bore Firm to the last your part in that dread strife, When Julian and Witiza's viler race Betray'd their country, hear ye from yon Heaven The joyful acclamation which proclaims That Spain is born again! O ye who died In that disastrous field, and ye who fell Embracing with a martyr's love your death Amid the flames of Auria; and all ye Victims innumerable, whose cries unheard On earth, but heard in Heaven, from all the land Went up for vengeance; not in vain ye cry Before the eternal throne!.. Rest innocent blood! Vengeance is due, and vengeance will be given, Rest innocent blood! The appointed age is come! The star that harbingers a glorious day Hath risen! Lo there the Avenger stands! Lo there He brandishes the avenging sword! Lo there The avenging banner spreads its argent field Refulgent with auspicious light!.. Rejoice, O Leon, for thy banner is displayed,1 Rejoice with all thy mountains, and thy vales And streams! And thou,O Spain, through all thy realms, For thy deliverance cometh ! Even now,
As from all sides the miscreant hosts move on ; .. From southern Betis; from the western lands, Where through redundant vales smooth Minho flows, And Douro pours through vine-clad hills the wealth Of Leon's gathered waters; from the plains Burgensian, in old time Vardulia call'd, But in their castellated strength ere long To be design'd Castille, a deathless name; From midland regions where Toledo reigns
1 "La primera ciudad qu egaño dizen fue Leon, y desde alli se llamo Rey de Leon, y tomo por armas un Leon roxo en campo blanco, dexando las antiguas armas de los Godos, que eran un Leon bermejo rampante, en campo azul, buelta la cara atras, sobre tres ondas blancas y azules."- Fran. de Pisa. Desc. de Toledo, 1. iii. c. 2.
"Fue la del quinto globo roxa estrella
rayo de su valor, voz de su fama,
y Leon de su escudo y luzimiento, heredado blason, Signo sangriento."
Coro de las Musas, p. 102.
"Les anciennes armes estoient parlantes, comme l'on void en celles des Comtes de Castille, et des Rois de Leon, qui prindrent des Chateaux et des Lions, pour signifier les noms vulgaires des Provinces, par le blason de leurs armes ; qui ne se reportent pas à l'ancienne denomination de Castulo et de Legio, chés Pline."- Pierre de Marca, Hist de Bearn, 1. i. c. 12. § 11.
The Lion's grinders are, relevées de trois pointes un peu
Proud city on her royal eminence,
And Tagus bends his sickle round the scene Of Roderick's fall; from rich Rioja's fields; Dark Ebro's shores; the walls of Salduba, Seat of the Sedetanians old, by Rome Cæsarian and August denominate, Now Zaragoza, in this later time Above all cities of the earth renown'd For duty perfectly perform'd ;.. East, West And South, where'er their gather'd multitudes Urged by the speed of vigorous tyranny, With more than with commeasurable strength Haste to prevent the danger, crush the hopes Of rising Spain, and rivet round her neck The eternal yoke,... the ravenous fowls of heaven Flock there presentient of their food obscene, Following the accursed armies, whom too well They know their purveyors long. Pursue their march, Ominous attendants! Ere the moon hath fill'd Her horns, these purveyors shall become the prey, And ye on Moorish not on Christian flesh Wearying your beaks, shall clog your scaly feet With foreign gore. Soon will ye learn to know, Followers and harbingers of blood, the flag Of Leon where it bids you to your feast! Terror and flight shall with that flag go forth, And Havoc and the Dogs of War and Death. Thou Covadonga with the tainted stream Of Deva, and this now rejoicing vale, Soon its primitial triumphs wilt behold! Nor shall the glories of the noon be less Than such miraculous promise of the dawn: Witness Clavijo, where the dreadful cry Of Santiago, then first heard, o'erpower'd The Akbar, and that holier name blasphemed By misbelieving lips! Simancas, thou Be witness! And do ye your record bear, Tolosan mountains, where the Almohade Beheld his myriads scatter'd and destroy'd, Like locusts swept before the stormy North! Thou too, Salado, on that later day When Africa received her final foil, And thy swoln stream incarnadined, roll'd back The invaders to the deep,.. there shall they toss Till on their native Mauritanian shore The waves shall cast their bones to whiten there.
creusées dans leur centre, dans lesquelles les speculatifs croyent voir la figure d'une fleur de lys. "Je n'ay garde de dire le contraire," says P. Labat, "il est permis à bien des gens de voir dans les nuës et dans les charbons ardens tout ce qu'il plaît à leur imagination de s'y representer; pourquoy ne sera-t-il pas libre de voir sur les dents du Liou la figure des fleurs de lys? Je doute que les Espagnols en conviennent, eux qui prennent le Lion pour les armes et le symbole de leur monarchie; car on pourroit leur dire que c'est une marque que sans le secours de la France, leur Lion ne seroit pas fort à craindre." — Afrique Occidentale, t. ii. p. 14.
2 There is a place at Toledo called la Alcurnia. "El nombre de Alcurnia es Arabigo, que es dezir cosa de cuerno, 6 en forma de cuerno, lo que Christianos llamavan foz, ó hoz de Taje. Llamase assi porque desde que este rio passa por debaxo de la puente de Alcantara, va haziendo una buelta y torcedura, que en una escritura antigua se llama hoz de Tajo. Lo mesmo acontecio á Arlança cerca de Lara, de donde se llamo la hoz de Lara, como lo nota Ambrosio de Morales; y en el Reyno de Toledo ay la hoz de Jucar."- Francisco de Pisa. Desc. de Toledo, 1. i. c. 14.
WHEN all had been perform'd, the royal Goth Look'd up towards the chamber in the tower. Where gazing on the multitude below, Alone Rusilla stood. He met her eye, For it was singling him amid the crowd; Obeying then the hand which beckon'd him, He went with heart prepared, nor shrinking now, But arm'd with self-approving thoughts that hour. Entering in tremulous haste, he closed the door, And turn'd to clasp her knees; but lo, she spread Her arms, and catching him in close embrace, Fell on his neck, and cried, My Son, my Son!... Ere long, controlling that first agony With effort of strong will, backward she bent, And gazing on his head now shorn and grey, And on his furrow'd countenance, exclaim'd, Still, still, my Roderick! the same noble mind! The same heroic heart! Still, still, my Son; ... Changed,.. yet not wholly fallen, . . not wholly lost, He cried,.. not wholly in the sight of Heaven Unworthy, O my Mother, nor in thine! She lock'd her arms again around his neck, Saying, Lord, let me now depart in peace! And bow'd her head again, and silently Gave way to tears.
A lofty spirit train'd in palaces, And not alone amid the flatteries
Of youth with thoughts of high ambition fed When all is sunshine, but through years of woe, When sorrow sanctified their use, upheld By honourable pride and earthly hopes. I thought I yet might nurse upon my knee Some young Theodofred, and see in him Thy Father's image and thine own renew'd, And love to think the little hand which there Play'd with the bauble, should in after days Wield the transmitted sceptre; . . that through him The ancient seed should be perpetuate,.. That precious seed revered so long, desired So dearly, and so wondrously preserved.
Nay, he replied, Heaven hath not with its bolts Scathed the proud summit of the tree, and left The trunk unflaw'd; ne'er shall it clothe its boughs Again, nor push again its scyons forth, Head, root, and branch, all mortified alike!.. Long ere these locks were shorn had I cut off The thoughts of royalty! Time might renew Their growth, as for Manoah's captive son, And I too on the miscreant race, like him, Might prove my strength regenerate; but the hour, When in its second best nativity,
My soul was born again through grace, this heart Died to the world. Dreams such as thine pass now Like evening clouds before me; if I think
How soon they fade, how fast the night shuts in. But in that World to which my hopes look on, Time enters not, nor Mutability; Beauty and goodness are unfading there; Whatever there is given us to enjoy,
That we enjoy for ever, still the same...
When that first force was spent, How beautiful they seem, 'tis but to feel And passion in exhaustment found relief, . . I knew thee, said Rusilla, when the dog Rose from my feet, and lick'd his master's hand. All flash'd upon me then; the instinctive sense That goes unerringly where reason fails,.. The voice, the eye,. . a mother's thoughts are quick,.. Miraculous as it seem'd,.. Siverian's tale,.. Florinda's,.. every action,. . every word,.. Each strengthening each, and all confirming all, Reveal'd thee, O my Son! but I restrain'd My heart, and yielded to thy holier will The thoughts which rose to tempt a soul not yet Wean'd wholly from the world.
What thoughts? replied Roderick. That I might see thee yet again Such as thou wert, she answer'd; not alone To Heaven and me restored, but to thyself,.. Thy Crown,.. thy Country,. . all within thy reach; Heaven so disposing all things, that the means Which wrought the ill, might work the remedy. Methought I saw thee once again the hope,.. The strength,.. the pride of Spain! The miracle Which I beheld made all things possible. I know the inconstant people, how their mind, With every breath of good or ill report, Fluctuates, like summer corn before the breeze; Quick in their hatred, quicker in their love, Generous and hasty, soon would they redress All wrongs of former obloquy... I thought Of happiness restored,.. the broken heart
Much might Count Julian's sword achieve for Spain And me, but more will his dear daughter's soul Effect in Heaven; and soon will she be there An Angel at the throne of Grace, to plead In his behalf and mine.
I knew thy heart, She answer'd, and subdued the vain desire. It was the World's last effort. Thou hast chosen The better part. Yes, Roderick, even on earth There is a praise above the monarch's fame, A higher, holier, more enduring praise, And this will yet be thine!
O tempt me not, Mother! he cried; nor let ambition take That specious form to cheat us! What but this, Fallen as I am, have I to offer Heaven? The ancestral sceptre, public fame, content Of private life, the general good report, Power, reputation, happiness,.. whate'er The heart of man desires to constitute His earthly weal, . . unerring Justice claim'd In forfeiture. I with submitted soul Bow to the righteous law and kiss the rod. Only while thus submitted, suffering thus, ..
Heal'd, . . and Count Julian, for his daughter's sake, Only while offering up that name on earth,
Turning in thy behalf against the Moors His powerful sword:.. all possibilities That could be found or fancied, built a dream Before me; such as easiest might illude
Perhaps in trial offer'd to my choice, Could I present myself before thy sight; Thus only could endure myself, or fix
My thoughts upon that fearful pass, where Dea.h
Stands in the Gate of Heaven!.. Time passes on, The healing work of sorrow is complete ; All vain desires have long been weeded out, All vain regrets subdued; the heart is dead, The soul is ripe and eager for her birth.
Bless me, my Mother! and come when it will The inevitable hour, we die in peace.
So saying, on her knees he bow'd his head; She raised her hands to Heaven and blest her child; Then bending forward, as he rose, embraced And claspt him to her heart, and cried, Once more Theodofred, with pride behold thy son!
THE times are big with tidings; every hour From east and west and south the breathless scouts Bring swift alarums in; the gathering foe, Advancing from all quarters to one point, Close their wide crescent. Nor was aid of fear To magnify their numbers needed now, They came in myriads. Africa had pour'd Fresh shoals upon the coast of wretched Spain; Lured from their hungry deserts to the scene Of spoil, like vultures to the battle-field, Fierce, unrelenting, habited in crimes, Like bidden guests the mirthful ruffians flock To that free feast which in their Prophet's name Rapine and Lust proclaim'd. Nor were the chiefs Of victory less assured, by long success Elate, and proud of that o'erwhelming strength, Which, surely they believed, as it had roll'd Thus far uncheck'd would roll victorious on, Till, like the Orient, the subjected West Should bow in reverence at Mahommed's name; And pilgrims, from remotest Arctic shores, Tread with religious feet the burning sands Of Araby, and Mecca's stony soil. Proud of his part in Roderick's overthrow, Their leader Abulcacem came, a man Immitigable, long in war renown'd.
Here Magued comes, who on the conquered walls
Of Cordoba, by treacherous fear betray'd, Planted the moony standard: Ibrahim here,
He, who by Genil and in Darro's vales, Had for the Moors the fairest portion won
Of all their spoils, fairest and best maintain'd, And to the Alpuxarras given in trust His other name, through them preserved in song. Here too Alcahman, vaunting his late deeds At Auria, all her children by the sword Cut off, her bulwarks rased, her towers laid low, Her dwellings by devouring flames consumed, Bloody and hard of heart, he little ween'd, Vain-boastful chief! that from those fatal flames The fire of retribution had gone forth Which soon should wrap him round.
Here too were seen, Ebba and Sisibert; A spurious brood, but of their parent's crimes
True heirs, in guilt begotten, and in ill Train'd up. The same unnatural rage that turn'd Their swords against their country, made them seek, Unmindful of their wretched mother's end, Pelayo's life. No enmity is like
Domestic hatred. For his blood they thirst, As if that sacrifice might satisfy
Witiza's guilty ghost, efface the shame
Of their adulterous birth, and one crime more Crowning a hideous course, emancipate Thenceforth their spirits from all earthly fear. This was their only care: but other thoughts Were rankling in that elder villain's mind, Their kinsman Orpas, he of all the crew Who in this fatal visitation fell,
The foulest and the falsest wretch that e'er Renounced his baptism. From his cherish'd views
Of royalty cut off, he coveted
Count Julian's wide domains, and hopeless now To gain them through the daughter, laid his toils Against the father's life, . . the instrument Of his ambition first, and now design'd
Its victim. To this end with cautious hints, At favouring season ventured, he possess'd The leader's mind; then, subtly fostering The doubts himself had sown, with bolder charge He bade him warily regard the Count, Lest underneath an outward show of faith The heart uncircumcised were Christian still: Else, wherefore had Florinda not obey'd Her dear loved sire's example, and embraced The saving truth? Else, wherefore was her hand, Plighted to him so long, so long withheld, Till she had found a fitting hour to fly
With that audacious Prince, who now in arms, Defied the Caliph's power;.. for who could doubt That in his company she fled, perhaps
The mover of his flight? What if the Count Himself had plann'd the evasion which he feign'd In sorrow to condemn ? What if she went
A pledge assured, to tell the mountaineers
That when they met the Musselmen in the heat Of fight, her father passing to their side Would draw the victory with him?.. Thus he breathed Fiend-like in Abulcacem's ear his schemes
Of murderous malice; and the course of things, Ere long, in part approving his discourse, Aided his aim, and gave his wishes weight. For scarce on the Asturian territory
Had they set foot, when, with the speed of fear, Count Eudon, nothing doubting that their force Would like a flood sweep all resistance down, Hasten'd to plead his merits; . . he alone, Found faithful in obedience through reproach And danger, when the madden'd multitude Hurried their chiefs along, and high and low With one infectious frenzy seized, provoked The invincible in arms. Pelayo led
The raging crew,. . he doubtless the prime spring Of all these perilous movements; and 'twas said He brought the assurance of a strong support, Count Julian's aid, for in his company From Cordoba, Count Julian's daughter came.
Thus Eudon spake before the assembled chiefs; When instantly a stern and wrathful voice
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