hosts arrive like flocks of locusts, from Africa. They | was far inferior in number to the christians, but then 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 defence 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 armour, and but scantily provided with weapons.

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.

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 marvellous 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 When they were about to march, the king called Oppas, to sound the loyalty of the christian cavato him a noble cavalier named Ramiro, and deliver- liers. ing him the royal standard, charged him to guard it well for the honour 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 counselled 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 soldiery, El campo de la verdad; or, The field of Truth; a name, says the sage chronicler Abul Cassim, which it bears even to the present day.*

CHAPTER XIV.

MARCH OF THE GOTHIC ARMY-ENCAMPMENT ON

THE BANKS OF THE GUADALETE.-MYSTERIOUS
PREDICTIONS OF A PALMER-CONDUCT OF PE-

LISTES 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 in 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,† where that beautiful stream winds through the fertile land of Xeres. The infidel host

La Perdida de España, cap. 9. Bleda Lib. 2, c. 8.

+ This name was given to it subsequently by the Arabs. It signifies the River of Death. Vide Pedruza, Hist. Granad. p. 3. c. I.

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 way-worn, 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 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, Hasten then to Spain, and seek the camp of thy and he has given him up to be invaded and destroyed. 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 no where 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 behoves 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, be 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!"

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 power 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 armour 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 When the young man had risen to speak, his body of his own vassals and retainers, and of cavafather had fixed his eyes upon him with a grave and liers trained up in his house, who had followed him stern demeanour, leaning upon a two-handed sword. to the wars in Africa, and who looked up to him As soon as the youth had finished, Pelistes embraced more as a father than a chieftain. Beside him was him with a father's fondness. "Thou hast spoken his only son, who now for the first time was fleshing well, my son," said he; "if I held my peace at the his sword in battle. The conflict that day was counsel of this losel pilgrim, it was but to hear thy more general and bloody than the day preceding; opinion, and to learn whether thou wert worthy of the slaughter of the christian warriors was immense. thy lineage and of the training I had given thee. from their lack of defensive armour; and as nothing Hadst thou counselled otherwise than thou hast could prevent the flower of the Gothic chivalry from done, hadst thou shown thyself craven and disloyal; spurring to the combat, the field was strewed with 35 help me God, I would have struck off thy head the bodies of the youthful nobles. None suffered with this weapon which I hold in my hand. But more, however, than the warriors of Pelistes. Their thou hast counselled like a loyal and a christian leader himself was bold and hardy, and prone to exknight, and I thank God for having given me a son pose himself to danger; but years and experience worthy to perpetuate the honours of my line. As to had moderated his early fire; his son, however, was this pilgrim, be he saint or be he devil, I care not; eager to distinguish himself in this, his first essay, this much I promise, that if I am to die in defence and rushed with impetuous ardour into the hottest of my country and my king, my life shall be a costly of the battle. In vain his father called to caution purchase to the foe. Let each man make the same him; he was ever in the advance, and seemed unresolve, and I trust we shall yet prove the pilgrim a conscious of the perils that surrounded him. The lying prophet." The words of Pelistes roused the cavaliers and vassals of his father followed him with spirits of many of the cavaliers; others, however, devoted zeal, and many of them paid for their loyalty remained full of anxious foreboding, and when this with their lives. When the trumpets sounded in the fearful prophecy was rumoured about the camp, as evening for retreat, the troops of Pelistes were the it presently was by the emissaries of the bishop, it last to reach the camp. They came slowly and spread awe and dismay among the soldiery. mournfully, and much decreased in number. Their veteran commander was seated on his war-horse, but the blood trickled from the greaves of his armour. 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 AND 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.

CHAPTER XV.

SKIRMISHING OF THE ARMIES.-PELISTES

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.

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 favourable moment had arrived to sway him to his purpose. He called to his mind the various portents and prophe

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 ad-rior who bad crawled among the reeds on the mar vance 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."

visions troubled his repose. If he fell into a slumber, from his lofty throne, reminding them of the hor he beheld in his dreams the shadowy phantoms of ror and desolation which had already been spread the necromantic tower, or the injured Florinda, pale | through the land by the invaders. He called upon and dishevelled, imprecating the vengeance of heaven them to summon up the ancient valour of their race upon his head. In the mid-watches of the night, and avenge the blood of their brethren. "One day when all was silent except the footsteps of the of glorious fighting," said he, "and this infidel horde sentinel, pacing before his tent, the king rose from will be driven into the sea or will perish beneath his couch, and walking forth looked thoughtfully your swords. Forward bravely to the fight; your upon the martial scene before him. The pale cres- families are behind you praying for your success; cent of the moon hung over the Moorish camp, the invaders of your country are before you; God and dimly lighted up the windings of the Guadalete. is above to bless his holy cause, and your king leads The heart of the king was heavy and oppressed; but you to the field." The army shouted with one ache felt only for himself, says Antonio Agapida; he cord, "Forward to the foe, and death be his portion thought nothing of the perils impending over the who shuns the encounter!" 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 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 lash of Moorish cymbal, were as the warlike thunder within that stormy cloud of battle.

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 As the armies drew near each other, the sun dishim to the camp, and, laying aside his regal crown, he appeared among gathering clouds, and the gloom of knelt with head uncovered, and confessed his sins the day was increased by the columns of dust which before the holy man. After this a solemn mass was rose from either host. At length the trumpets soundperformed in the royal tent, and the eucharist ad-ed for the encounter. The battle commenced with ministered to the monarch. When these ceremonies showers of arrows, stones, and javelins. The chriswere concluded, he besought the archbishop to depart tian foot-soldiers fought to disadvantage, the greater forthwith for Cordova, there to await the issue of the part being destitute of helm or buckler. A battalion battle, and to be ready to bring forward reinforce- of light Arabian horsemen, led by a Greek renegado ments and supplies. The archbishop saddled his named Maguel el Rumi, careered in front of the mule and departed just as the faint blush of morn- christian line, launching their darts, and then wheeling began to kindle in the east. Already the camp ing off beyond the reach of the missiles hurled after resounded with the thrilling call of the trumpet, the them. Theodomir now brought up his seasoned clank of armour, and the tramp and neigh of steeds. troops into the action, seconded by the veteran PeAs the archbishop passed through the camp, he listes, and in a little while the battle became furious looked with a compassionate heart on this vast mul- and promiscuous. It was glorious to behold the old titude, of whom so many were soon to perish. The Gothic valour shining forth in this hour of fearful warriors pressed to kiss his hand, and many a cava- trial. Wherever the Moslems fell, the christians lier full of youth and fire received his benediction, rushed forward, seized upon their horses, and stripwho was to lie stiff and cold before the evening. ped them of their armour 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 strown with slain, and the Moors, overcome by the multitude and fury of their foes, began to falter.

When the troops were marshalled 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 apparelled, 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.* 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.

When Roderick issued forth in this resplendent state, says an Arabian writer, surrounded by his guards in gilded armour 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 Entrand. Chron. an. Chris. 714.

When Taric beheld his troops retreating before the enemy, he threw himself before them, and, rising in his stirrups, "Oh 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 valour 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 dan- | flying christians; hunting them over the face of the ger. Throwing off the cumbrous robes of royalty country; so that but a scanty number of that mighty and descending from his car, he sprang upon his host escaped to tell the tale of their disaster. steed Orelia, grasped his lance and buckler, and endeavoured 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 defence; 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.*

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE FIELD OF BATTLE AFTER THE DEFEAT.-
THE FATE OF RODERICK.

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 ON the morning after the battle, the Arab leader, hapless Florinda; but the archbishop stands alone Taric ben Zeyad, rode over the bloody field of the in his record of the fact. It seems generally admitGuadalete, strewed with the ruins of those splendid ted that Orelia, the favourite war-horse, was found armies, which had so lately passed like glorious entangled in a marsh on the borders of the Guadapageants along the river banks. There Moor and lete, with the sandals and mantle and royal insigchristian, horseman and horse, lay gashed with hid-nia of the king lying close by him. The river at eous wounds; and the river, still red with blood, was this place ran broad and deep, and was encumbered filled with the bodies of the slain. The gaunt Arab with the dead bodies of warriors and steeds; it has was as a wolf roaming through the fold he had been supposed, therefore, that he perished in the laid waste. On every side his eye revelled on stream; but his body was not found within its the ruin of the country, on the wrecks of haughty waters. 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.

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 rumour 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 Taric then ordered that the bodies of the Moslem of the mountains, there came a cavalier on a horse warriors should be interred; as for those of the chris- wearied and spent and ready to sink beneath the tians, they were gathered in heaps, and vast pyres of spur. That the cavalier with an authoritative voice wood were formed on which they were consumed. and menacing air commanded him to exchange garThe flames of these pyres rose high in the air, and ments with him, and clad himself in his rude garb of were seen afar off in the night; and when the chris-sheep-skin, and took his crook and his scrip of protians beheld them from the neighbouring 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 past and gone, the husbandman, turning up the soil, would still find fragments of Gothic cuirasses and helms, and Moorish scimitars, the relics of that dreadful fight.

For three days the Arabian horsemen pursued the

This battle is called indiscriminately by historians the battle of Guadalete, or of Xeres, from the neighbourhood of that city.

visions, and continued up the rugged defiles of the mountains leading towards Castile, until he was lost to view.*

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.

C. 10.

Bleda, Cron. L. 2. c. 9. Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique, L. i