--- title: Terror of the Country.—roderick Rouses Himself to Arms. — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Terror of the Country.—roderick Rouses Himself to Arms., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The scattered fugitives of the Christian army spread terror throughout the land. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/14/) [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/) / Terror of the Country.—roderick Rouses… # Terror of the Country.—roderick Rouses Himself to Arms. Terror of the Country.—roderick Rouses Himself to Arms. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 47 sentences and 1398 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. The scattered fugitives of the Christian army spread terror throughout the land.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The inhabitants of the towns and villages gathered around them as they applied at their gates for food, or laid themselves down, faint and wounded, beside the public fountains.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") When they related the tale of their defeat, old men shook their heads and groaned, and the women uttered cries and lamentations.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") So strange and unlooked-for a calamity filled them with consternation and despair; for it was long since the alarm of war had sounded in their land: and this was a warfare that carried chains and slavery, and all kinds of horrors, in its train.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Don Roderick was seated with his beauteous queen, Exilona, in the royal palace which crowned the rocky summit of Toledo, when the bearer of ill-tidings came galloping over the bridge of the Tagus.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") “What tidings from the army?” demanded the king, as the panting messenger was brought into his presence.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") “Tidings of great woe!” exclaimed the soldier.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") “The prince has fallen in battle.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") I saw his head and surcoat upon a Moorish lance; and the army was overthrown and fled!”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") At hearing these words, Roderick covered his face with his hands, and for some time sat in silence; and all his courtiers stood mute and aghast, and no one dared to speak a word.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") In that awful space of time passed before his thoughts all his errors and his crimes, and all the evil that had been predicted in the necromantic tower.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") His mind was filled with horror and confusion, for the hour of his destruction seemed at hand: but he subdued his agitation by his strong and haughty spirit; and, when he uncovered his face, no one could read on his brow the trouble and agony of his heart.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Still, every hour brought fresh tidings of disaster.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Messenger after messenger came spurring into the city, distracting it with new alarms.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The infidels, they said, were strengthening themselves in the land; host after host were pouring in from Africa: the sea coast of Andalusia glittered with spears and scimitars.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Bands of turbaned horsemen had overrun the plains of Sidonia, even to the banks of the Guadiana.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Fields were laid waste, towns and cities plundered, the inhabitants carried into captivity, and the whole country lay in smoking desolation.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Roderick heard all these tidings with an undaunted aspect; nor did he ever again betray sign of consternation: but the anxiety of his soul was evident in his warlike preparations.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") He issued orders that every noble and prelate of his kingdom should put himself at the head of his retainers, and take the field; and that every man capable of bearing arms should hasten to his standard, bringing whatever horse, and mule, and weapon he possessed: and he appointed the plain of Cordova for the place where the army was to assemble.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Throwing by, then, all the trappings of his late slothful and voluptuous life, and arming himself for warlike action, he departed from Toledo at the head of his guard, composed of the flower of the youthful nobility.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") His queen, Exilona, accompanied him; for she craved permission to remain in one of the cities of Andalusia, that she might be near her lord in this time of peril.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the first who appeared to hail the arrival of the king at Cordova, was the Bishop Oppas, the secret partisan of the traitor Julian.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") He brought with him his two nephews, Evan and Siseburto, the sons of the late king Witiza; and a great host of vassals and retainers, all well armed and appointed, for they had been furnished, by Count Julian, with a part of the arms sent by the king to Africa.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The bishop was smooth of tongue, and profound in his hypocrisy: his pretended zeal and devotion, and the horror with which he spoke of the treachery of his kinsman, imposed upon the credulous spirit of the king, and he was readily admitted into his most secret council.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The alarm of the infidel invasion had spread throughout the land, and roused the Gothic valour of the inhabitants.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") On receiving the orders of Roderick, every town and hamlet, every mountain and valley, had sent forth its fighting men, and the whole country was on the march towards Andalusia.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") In a little while there were gathered together, on the plain of Cordova, near fifty thousand horsemen, and a countless host of foot-soldiers.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") The Gothic nobles appeared in burnished armour, curiously inlaid, and adorned with chains and jewels of gold, and ornaments of precious stones, and silken scarfs, and surcoats of brocade, or velvet richly embroidered; betraying the luxury and ostentation with which they had declined from the iron hardihood of their warlike sires.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") As to the common people, some had lances and shields and swords and cross-bows, but the greater part were unarmed, or provided merely with slings, and clubs studded with nails, and with the iron implements of husbandry; and many had made shields for themselves from the doors and windows, of their habitations.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") They were a prodigious host, and appeared, say the Arabian chroniclers, like an agitated sea; but, though brave in spirit, they possessed no knowledge of warlike art, and were ineffectual through lack of arms and discipline.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Several of the most ancient and experienced cavaliers, beholding the state of the army, advised Don Roderick to await the arrival of more regular troops, which were stationed in Iberia, Cantabria, and Gallia Gothica; but this counsel was strenuously opposed by the Bishop Oppas; who urged the king to march immediately against the infidels.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") “As yet,” said he, “their number is but limited; but every day new hosts arrive, like flocks of locusts, from Africa.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") They 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.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") King Roderick listened to the crafty counsel of the bishop, and determined to advance without delay.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") He addressed them in words calculated to touch their hearts and animate their courage.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “The Saracens,” said he, “are ravaging our land, and their object is our conquest.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Should they prevail, your very existence as a nation is at an end.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") No safety remains for you but in the prowess of your arms.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.”[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") When they were about to march, the king called to him a noble cavalier named Ramiro, and delivering 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.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") 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.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") \[22\][47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Battle of Calpe.—fate of Ataulpho.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/13/) - next →: [Chapter XIV.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/15/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)