--- title: Chapter XI. — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Chapter XI., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: MEASURES OF DON RODERICK ON HEARING OF THE INVASION.—EXPEDITION OF ATAULPHO.—VISION OF TARIC. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/12/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/) / Chapter XI. # Chapter XI. Chapter XI. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 42 sentences and 1243 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. MEASURES OF DON RODERICK ON HEARING OF THE INVASION.—EXPEDITION OF ATAULPHO.—VISION OF TARIC.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") When Don Roderick heard that legions of turbaned troops had poured into the land from Africa, he called to mind the visions and predictions of the necromantic tower, and great fear came upon him.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") But, though sunk from his former hardihood and virtue, though enervated by indulgence, and degraded in spirit by a consciousness of crime, he was resolute of soul, and roused himself to meet the coming danger.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") He summoned a hasty levy of horse and foot, amounting to forty thousand; but now were felt the effects of the crafty council of Count Julian, for the best of the horses and armour intended for the public service had been sent into Africa, and were really in possession of the traitors.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Many nobles, it is true, took the field with the sumptuous array with which they had been accustomed to appear at tournaments and jousts; but most of their vassals were destitute of weapons, and cased in cuirasses of leather, or suits of armour almost consumed by rust.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") They were without discipline or animation; and their horses, like themselves, pampered by slothful peace, were little fitted to bear the heat, the dust, and toil, of long campaigns.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") This army Don Roderick put under the command of his kinsman Ataulpho, a prince of the royal blood of the Goths, and of a noble and generous nature; and he ordered him to march with all speed to meet the foe, and to recruit his forces on the way with the troops of Theodomir.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") In the meantime, Taric el Tuerto had received large re-enforcements from Africa, and the adherents of Count Julian, and all those discontented with the sway of Don Roderick, had flocked to his standard; for many were deceived by the representations of Count Julian, and thought that the Arabs had come to aid him in placing the sons of Witiza upon the throne.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Guided by the count, the troops of Taric penetrated into various parts of the country, and laid waste the land; bringing back loads of spoil to their stronghold at the rock of Calpe.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince Ataulpho marched with his army through Andalusia, and was joined by Theodomir with his troops; he met with various detachments of the enemy foraging the country, and had several bloody skirmishes; but he succeeded in driving them before him, and they retreated to the rock of Calpe, where Taric lay gathered up with the main body of his army.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince encamped not far from the bay which spreads itself out before the promontory.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") In the evening he despatched the veteran Theodomir, with a trumpet, to demand a parley of the Arab chieftain, who received the envoy in his tent, surrounded by his captains.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Theodomir was frank and abrupt in speech, for the most of his life had been passed far from courts.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") He delivered, in round terms, the message of the Prince Ataulpho; upbraiding the Arab general with his wanton invasion of the land, and summoning him to surrender his army, or to expect no mercy.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The single eye of Taric el Tuerto glowed like a coal of fire at this message.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tell your commander,” replied he, “that I have crossed the strait to conquer Spain, nor will I return until I have accomplished my purpose.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell him I have men skilled in war, and armed in proof, with whose aid I trust soon to give a good account of his rabble host.”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") A murmur of applause passed through the assemblage of Moslem captains.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Theodomir glanced on them a look of defiance, but his eye rested on a renegado Christian, one of his own ancient comrades, and a relation of Count Julian.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “As to you, Don Greybeard,” said he, “you who turn apostate in your declining age, I here pronounce you a traitor to your God, your king, and country; and stand ready to prove it this instant upon your body, if field be granted me.”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The traitor knight was stung with rage at these words, for truth rendered them piercing to the heart.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") He would have immediately answered to the challenge, but Taric forbade it, and ordered that the Christian envoy should be conducted from the camp.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “’Tis well,” replied Theodomir; “God will give me the field which you deny.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Let yon hoary apostate look to himself to-morrow in the battle, for I pledge myself to use my lance upon no other foe until it has shed his blood upon the native soil he has betrayed.”[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he left the camp; nor could the Moslem chieftains help admiring the honest indignation of this patriot knight, while they secretly despised his renegado adversary.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The ancient Moorish chroniclers relate many awful portents, and strange and mysterious visions, which appeared to the commanders of either army during this anxious night.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Certainly it was a night of fearful suspense, and Moslem and Christian looked forward with doubt to the fortune of the coming day.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") The Spanish sentinel walked his pensive round, listening occasionally to the vague sounds from the distant rock of Calpe, and eyeing it as the mariner eyes the thunder cloud, pregnant with terror and destruction.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") The Arabs, too, from their lofty cliffs beheld the numerous camp-fires of the Christians gradually lighted up, and saw that they were a powerful host; at the same time the night breeze brought to their ears the sullen roar of the sea which separated them from Africa.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") When they considered their perilous situation, an army on one side, with a whole nation aroused to re-enforce it, and on the other an impassable sea, the spirits of many of the warriors were cast down, and they repented the day when they had ventured into this hostile land.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Taric marked their despondency, but said nothing.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Scarce had the first streak of morning light trembled along the sea, however, when he summoned his principal warriors to his tent.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") “Be of good cheer,” said he: “Allah is with us, and has sent his prophet to give assurance of his aid.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Scarce had I retired to my tent last night, when a man of a majestic and venerable presence stood before me.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") He was taller by a palm than the ordinary race of men: his flowing beard was of a golden hue, and his eyes were so bright that they seemed to send forth flashes of fire.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") I have heard the Emir Bahamet, and other ancient men, describe the prophet, whom they had seen many times while on earth, and such was his form and lineament.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") ‘Fear nothing, O Taric, from the morrow,’ said he, ‘I will be with thee in the fight.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Strike boldly, then, and conquer.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Those of thy followers who survive the battle will have this land for an inheritance; for those who fall, a mansion in paradise is prepared, and immortal houris await their coming.’[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") He spake and vanished; I heard a strain of celestial melody, and my tent was filled with the odours of Arabia the Happy.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") “Such,” say the Spanish chroniclers, “was another of the arts by which this arch son of Ishmael sought to animate the hearts of his followers;” and the pretended vision had been recorded by the Arabian writers as a veritable occurrence.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Marvellous, indeed, was the effect produced by it upon the infidel soldiery, who now cried out with eagerness to be led against the foe.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Letter of Muza to the Caliph.—second Expedition of Taric El Tuerto.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/11/) - next →: [Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/13/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)