--- title: Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho. — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The grey summits of the rock of Calpe brightened with the first rays of morning, as the Christian army issued forth from --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/13/) [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/) / Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho. # Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho. Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 65 sentences and 1683 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. The grey summits of the rock of Calpe brightened with the first rays of morning, as the Christian army issued forth from its encampment.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The Prince Ataulpho rode from squadron to squadron, animating his soldiers for the battle.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") “Never should we sheath our swords,” said he, “while these infidels have a footing in the land.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") They are pent up within yon rocky mountain, we must assail them in their rugged hole.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") We have a long day before us: let not the setting sun shine upon one of their host, who is not a fugitive, a captive, or a corpse.”[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") The words of the prince were received with shouts, and the army moved towards the promontory.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") As they advanced, they heard the clash of cymbals and the bray of trumpets, and the rocky bosom of the mountain glittered with helms and spears and scimitars; for the Arabs, inspired with fresh confidence by the words of Taric, were sallying forth, with flaunting banners, to the combat.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The gaunt Arab chieftain stood upon a rock as his troops marched by; his buckler was at his back, and he brandished in his hand a double-pointed spear.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Calling upon the several leaders by their names, he exhorted them to direct their attacks against the Christian captains, and especially against Ataulpho; “for the chiefs being slain,” said he, “their followers will vanish from before us like the morning mist.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The Gothic nobles were easily to be distinguished by the splendour of their arms; but the Prince Ataulpho was conspicuous above all the rest for the youthful grace and majesty of his appearance, and the bravery of his array.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") He was mounted on a superb Andalusian charger, richly caparisoned with crimson velvet, embroidered with gold.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") His surcoat was of like colour and adornment, and the plumes that waved above his burnished helmet were of the purest white.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Ten mounted pages, magnificently attired, followed him to the field, but their duty was not so much to fight as to attend upon their lord, and to furnish him with steed or weapon.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") The Christian troops, though irregular and undisciplined, were full of native courage; for the old warrior spirit of their Gothic sires still glowed in their bosoms.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") There were two battalions of infantry, but Ataulpho stationed them in the rear; “for God forbid,” said he, “that foot soldiers should have the place of honour in the battle, when I have so many valiant cavaliers.”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") As the armies drew nigh to each other, however, it was discovered that the advance of the Arabs was composed of infantry.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Upon this the cavaliers checked their steeds, and requested that the foot soldiery might advance and disperse this losel crew, holding it beneath their dignity to contend with pedestrian foes.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince, however, commanded them to charge; upon which, putting spurs to their steeds, they rushed upon the foe.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The Arabs stood the shock manfully, receiving the horses upon the points of their lances; many of the riders were shot down with bolts from cross-bows, or stabbed with the poniards of the Moslems.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The cavaliers succeeded, however, in breaking into the midst of the battalion and throwing it into confusion, cutting down some with their swords, transpiercing others with their spears, and trampling many under the hoofs of their horses.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") At this moment, they were attacked by a band of Spanish horsemen, the recreant partisans of Count Julian.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Their assault bore hard upon their countrymen, who were disordered by the contest with the foot soldiers, and many a loyal Christian knight fell beneath the sword of an unnatural foe.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") The foremost among these recreant warriors was the renegado cavalier whom Theodomir had challenged in the tent of Taric.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") He dealt his blows about him with a powerful arm and with malignant fury, for nothing is more deadly than the hatred of an apostate.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") In the midst of his career he was espied by the hardy Theodomir, who came spurring to the encounter: “Traitor,” cried he, “I have kept my vow.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") This lance has been held sacred from all other foes to make a passage for thy perjured soul.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The renegado had been renowned for prowess before he became a traitor to his country, but guilt will sap the courage of the stoutest heart.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") When he beheld Theodomir rushing upon him, he would have turned and fled; pride alone withheld him; and, though an admirable master of defence, he lost all skill to ward the attack of his adversary.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") At the first assault the lance of Theodomir pierced him through and through; he fell to the earth, gnashed his teeth as he rolled in the dust, but yielded his breath without uttering a word.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The battle now became general, and lasted throughout the morning with varying success.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") The stratagem of Taric, however, began to produce its effect.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The Christian leaders and most conspicuous cavaliers were singled out, and severally assailed by overpowering numbers.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") They fought desperately, and performed miracles of prowess; but fell, one by one, beneath a thousand wounds.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Still the battle lingered on throughout a great part of the day; and as the declining sun shone through the clouds of dust, it seemed as if the conflicting hosts were wrapped in smoke and fire.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The Prince Ataulpho saw that the fortune of battle was against him.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") He rode about the field calling out the names of the bravest of his knights, but few answered to his call; the rest lay mangled on the field.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") With this handful of warriors he endeavoured to retrieve the day, when he was assailed by Tenderos, a partisan of Count Julian, at the head of a body of recreant Christians.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") At sight of this new adversary, fire flashed from the eyes of the prince, for Tenderos had been brought up in his father’s palace.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “Well dost thou, traitor!” cried he, “to attack the son of thy lord, who gave thee bread; thou, who hast betrayed thy country and thy God!”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he seized a lance from one of his pages, and charged furiously upon the apostate; but Tenderos met him in mid career, and the lance of the prince was shivered upon his shield.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Ataulpho then grasped his mace, which hung at his saddle bow, and a doubtful fight ensued.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Tenderos was powerful of frame and superior in the use of his weapons, but the curse of treason seemed to paralyse his arm.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") He wounded Ataulpho slightly between the greaves of his armour, but the prince dealt a blow with his mace that crushed through helm and skull, and reached the brains; and Tenderos fell dead to the earth, his armour rattling as he fell.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") At the same moment a javelin, hurled by an Arab, transpierced the horse of Ataulpho, which sunk beneath him.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince seized the reins of the steed of Tenderos; but the faithful animal, as though he knew him to be the foe of his late lord, reared and plunged, and refused to let him mount.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince, however, used him as a shield to ward off the press of foes: while, with his sword, he defended himself against those in front of him.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Taric ben Zeyad arrived at the scene of conflict, and paused, for a moment, in admiration of the surpassing prowess of the prince: recollecting, however, that his fall would be a death-blow to his army, he spurred upon him, and wounded him severely with his scimitar.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Before he could repeat his blow, Theodomir led up a body of Christian cavaliers to the rescue, and Taric was parted from his prey by the tumult of the fight.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince sank to the earth, covered with wounds, and exhausted by the loss of blood.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") A faithful page drew him from under the hoofs of the horses, and, aided by a veteran soldier, an ancient vassal of Ataulpho, conveyed him to a short distance from the field of battle, by the side of a small stream that gushed out from among rocks.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") They stanched the blood that flowed from his wounds, and washed the dust from his face, and laid him beside the fountain.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The page sat at his head, and supported it on his knees; and the veteran stood at his feet, with his brow bent, and his eyes full of sorrow.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince gradually revived, and opened his eyes.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") “How fares the battle?” said he.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") “The struggle is hard,” replied the soldier, “but the day may yet be ours.”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") The prince felt that the hour of his death was at hand, and ordered that they should aid him to rise upon his knees.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") They supported him between them, and he prayed fervently for a short time, when, finding his strength declining, he beckoned the veteran to sit down beside him on the rock.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Continuing to kneel, he confessed himself to that ancient soldier; having no priest or friar to perform that office in this hour of extremity.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") When he had so done, he sunk again upon the earth, and pressed it with his lips, as if he would take a fond farewell of his beloved country.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") The page would then have raised his head, but found that his lord had yielded up the ghost.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") A number of Arab warriors, who came to the fountain to slake their thirst, cut off the head of the prince, and bore it in triumph to Taric, crying, “Behold the head of the Christian leader!”[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Taric immediately ordered that the head should be put upon the end of a lance, together with the surcoat of the prince, and borne about the field of battle, with the sound of trumpets, atabels, and cymbals.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Christians beheld the surcoat, and knew the features of the prince, they were struck with horror, and heart and hand failed them.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Theodomir endeavoured in vain to rally them; they threw by their weapons and fled; and they continued to fly, and the enemy to pursue and slay them, until the darkness of the night.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") The Moslems then returned, and plundered the Christian camp, where they found abundant spoil.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Chapter XI.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/12/) - next →: [Terror of the Country.—roderick Rouses Himself to Arms.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/14/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)