Bereft thy faculty,.. she is crazed with grief,
And her delirium hath infected these:"
But, Pedro, thou art calm; thou dost not share
The madness of the crowd; thy sober mind
Surveys the danger in its whole extent,
And sees the certain ruin, . . for thou know'st
I know thou hast no hope. Unhappy man,
Why then for this most desperate enterprize
Wilt thou devote thy son, thine only child?
Not for myself I plead, nor even for thee;
Thou art a soldier, and thou canst not fear
The face of death; and I should welcome it
As the best visitant whom Heaven could send.
Not for our lives I speak then, . . were they worth
The thought of preservation; . . Nature soon
Must call for them; the sword that should cut short
Sorrow's slow work were merciful to us.
But spare Alphonso! there is time and hope
In store for him. O thou who gavest him life,
Seal not his death, his death and mine at once!

Peace! he replied: thou know'st there is no choice, I did not raise the storm; I cannot turn

Its course aside! but where yon banner goes
Thy Lord must not be absent! Spare me then,
Favinia, lest I hear thy honour'd name
Now first attainted with deserved reproach.
The boy is in God's hands. He who of yore
Walk'd with the sons of Judah in the fire,
And from the lion's den drew Daniel forth
Unhurt, can save him, if it be his will.

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;

XII.

THE VOW.

ALWAYS I knew thee for a generous foe,
Pelayo ! said the Count; and in our time
Of enmity, thou too, I know, didst feel
The feud between us was but of the house,
Not of the heart. Brethren in arms henceforth
We stand or fall together: nor will I

Look to the event with one misgiving thought, . .
That were to prove myself unworthy now
Of Heaven's benignant providence, this hour,
Scarcely by less than miracle, vouchsafed.

I will believe that we have days in store
Of hope, now risen again as from the dead, . .
Of vengeance, . of portentous victory, .

Yea, maugre all unlikelihoods, . . of peace.

Let us then here indissolubly knit

Our ancient houses, that those happy days,

When they arrive, may find us more than friends,
And bound by closer than fraternal ties.
Thou hast a daughter, Prince, to whom my heart
Yearns now, as if in winning infancy

Her smiles had been its daily food of love.
I need not tell thee what Alphonso is,.
Thou know'st the boy!

Already had that hope,

Replied Pelayo, risen within my soul.

O Thou, who in thy mercy from the house
Of Moorish bondage hast deliver❜d us,

Fulfil the pious purposes for which

Here, in thy presence, thus we pledge our hands!

Strange hour to plight espousals! yielding half To superstitious thoughts, Favinia cried,

And these strange witnesses!.. The times are strange,
With thoughtful speech composed her Lord replies,
And what thou seest accords with them. This day
Is wonderful; nor could auspicious Heaven
With fairer or with fitter omen gild

Our enterprize, when strong in heart and hope
We take the field, preparing thus for works
Of piety and love. Unwillingly

I yielded to my people's general voice,
Thinking that she who with her powerful words
To this excess had roused and kindled them,
Spake from the spirit of her griefs alone,
Not with prophetic impulse. Be that sin
Forgiven me! and the calm and quiet faith
Which, in the place of incredulity,
Hath fill'd me, now that seeing I believe,
Doth give of happy end to righteous cause
A presage, not presumptuous, but assured.

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
Their force conjoin'd. Now, said he, we must haste
To Cangas, there, Pelayo, to secure,

With timely speed, I trust in God, thy house.

Then looking to his men, he cried, Bring forth The armour which in Wamba's wars 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
Dispute the charge. One brings the cuirass, one
The buckler; this exultingly displays

The sword, his comrade lifts the helm on high:
The greaves, the gauntlets they divide; a spur
Seems now to dignify the officious hand
Which for such service bears it to his Lord.
Greek artists in the imperial city forged
That splendid armour, perfect in their craft;
With curious skill they wrought it, framed alike
To shine amid the pageantry of war,

And for the proof of battle. Many a time