Chapter I: Preface

Few events in history have been so signal 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, characters, and actions of the agents have been enveloped in more doubt 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 colouring 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 the 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 savour of the pious labours 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, every thing wild and marvellous 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 every thing up into extravagant enterprise 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 neighbours, 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.

CONTENTS.

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LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.

CHAPTER I.

Of the ancient Inhabitants of Spain.—Of the Misrule of Witiza
the Wicked 1

CHAPTER II.

The Rise of Don Roderick.—His Government 11

CHAPTER III.

Of the Loves of Roderick and the Princess Elyata 18

CHAPTER IV.

Of Count Julian 27

CHAPTER V.

The Story of Florinda 31

CHAPTER VI.

Don Roderick receives an extraordinary Embassy 44

CHAPTER VII.

Story of the marvellous and portentous Tower 50

CHAPTER VIII.

Count Julian.—His Fortunes in Africa.—He hears of the Dishonour
of his Child.—His Conduct thereupon 66

CHAPTER IX.

Secret Visit of Count Julian to the Arab Camp.—First Expedition
of Taric el Tuerto 78

CHAPTER X.

Letter of Muza to the Caliph.—Second Expedition of Taric el Tuerto 85

CHAPTER XI.

Measures of Don Roderick on hearing of the Invasion.—Expedition
of Ataulpho.—Vision of Taric 94

CHAPTER XII.

Battle of Calpe.—Fate of Ataulpho 102

CHAPTER XIII.

Terror of the Country.—Roderick rouses himself to Arms 112

CHAPTER XIV.

March of the Gothic Army.—Encampment on the Banks of the
Guadalete.—Mysterious Predictions of a Palmer.—Conduct
of Pelistes thereupon 121

CHAPTER XV.

Skirmishing of the Armies.—Pelistes and his Son.—Pelistes and
the Bishop 129

CHAPTER XVI.

Traitorous Message of Count Julian 136

CHAPTER XVII.

Last Day of the Battle 141

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Field of Battle after the Defeat.—The Fate of Roderick 150

ILLUSTRATIONS TO THE FOREGOING LEGEND.

The Tomb of Roderick 158

The Cave of Hercules 160

LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN.

CHAPTER I.

Consternation of Spain.—Conduct of the Conquerors.—Missives
between Taric and Muza 173

CHAPTER II.

Capture of Granada.—Subjugation of the Alpuxarra Mountains 181

CHAPTER III.

Expedition of Magued against Cordova.—Defence of the Patriot
Pelistes 192

CHAPTER IV.

Defence of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes 198

CHAPTER V.

Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor Julian 207

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 213

CHAPTER VII.

Muza ben Nozier.—His Entrance into Spain, and Capture of Carmona 223

CHAPTER VIII.

Muza marches against the City of Seville 230

CHAPTER IX.

Muza besieges the City of Merida 233

CHAPTER X.

Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and the “Land of Tadmir” 245

CHAPTER XI.

Muza arrives at Toledo.—Interview between him and Taric 259

CHAPTER XII.

Muza prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest.—Siege of
Saragossa.—Complete Subjugation of Spain 266

CHAPTER XIII.

Feud between the Arab Generals.—They are summoned to appear
before the Caliph at Damascus.—Reception of Taric 273

CHAPTER XIV.

Muza arrives at Damascus.—His Interview with the Caliph—The
Table of Solomon.—A rigorous Sentence 282

CHAPTER XV.

Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of Spain 289

CHAPTER XVI.

Loves of Abdalasis and Exilona 296

CHAPTER XVII.

Fate of Abdalasis and Exilona.—Death of Muza 303

LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY 313

Note to the preceding Legend 339

THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.

THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.[1]