--- title: Skirmishing of the Armies.—pelistes and His Son.—pelistes… — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Skirmishing of the Armies.—pelistes and His Son.—pelistes and the Bishop., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: On the following day, the two armies remained regarding each other with wary but m --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/16/) [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/) / Skirmishing of the Armies.—pelistes an… # Skirmishing of the Armies.—pelistes and His Son.—pelistes and the Bishop. Skirmishing of the Armies.—pelistes and His Son.—pelistes and the Bishop. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 43 sentences and 1115 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. On the following day, the two armies remained regarding each other with wary but menacing aspect.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") About noontide, King Roderick sent forth a chosen force of five hundred horse and two hundred foot, the best armed of his host, to skirmish with the enemy, that, by gaining some partial advantage, they might raise the spirits of the army.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") They were led on by Theodomir, the same Gothic noble who had signalised himself by first opposing the invasion of the Moslems.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The Christian squadrons paraded with flying pennons in the valley which lay between the armies.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The Arabs were not slow in answering their defiance.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") A large body of horsemen sallied forth to the encounter, together with three hundred of the followers of Count Julian.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") There was hot skirmishing about the field, and on the banks of the river; many gallant feats were displayed on either side, and many valiant warriors were slain.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") As the night closed in, the trumpets from either camp summoned the troops to retire from the combat.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") In this day’s action the Christians suffered greatly in the loss of their distinguished cavaliers; for it is the noblest spirits who venture most, and lay themselves open to danger; and the Moslem soldiers had instructions to single out the leaders of the adverse host.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") All this is said to have been devised by the perfidious Bishop Oppas, who had secret communications with the enemy, while he influenced the councils of the king; and who trusted that by this skirmishing warfare the power of the Christian troops would be cut off, and the rest disheartened.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") On the following morning, a larger force was ordered out to skirmish, and such of the soldiery as were unarmed were commanded to stand ready to seize the horses and strip off the armour of the killed and wounded.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Among the most illustrious of the warriors who fought that day was Pelistes, the Gothic noble who had so sternly checked the tongue of the Bishop Oppas.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") He led to the field a large body of his own vassals and retainers, and of cavaliers trained up in his house, who had followed him to the wars in Africa, and who looked up to him more as a father than a chieftain.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Beside him was his only son, who now for the first time was fleshing his sword in battle.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The conflict that day was more general and bloody than the day preceding; the slaughter of the Christian warriors was immense, from their lack of defensive armour; and as nothing could prevent the flower of the Gothic chivalry from spurring to the combat, the field was strewed with the bodies of the youthful nobles.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") None suffered more, however, than the warriors of Pelistes.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") Their leader himself was bold and hardy, and prone to expose himself to danger; but years and experience had moderated his early fire; his son, however, was eager to distinguish himself in this, his first essay, and rushed with impetuous ardour into the hottest of the battle.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") In vain his father called to caution him; he was ever in the advance, and seemed unconscious of the perils that surrounded him.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The cavaliers and vassals of his father followed him with devoted zeal, and many of them paid for their loyalty with their lives.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") When the trumpets sounded in the evening for retreat, the troops of Pelistes were the last to reach the camp.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") They came slowly and mournfully, and much decreased in number.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Their veteran commander was seated on his war-horse, but the blood trickled from the greaves of his armour.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") His valiant son was borne on the shields of his vassals; when they laid him on the earth near to where the king was standing, they found that the heroic youth had expired of his wounds.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The cavaliers surrounded the body and gave utterance to their grief; but the father restrained his agony, and looked on with the stern resignation of a soldier.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Don Roderick surveyed the field of battle with a rueful eye, for it was covered with the mangled bodies of his most illustrious warriors; he saw, too, with anxiety, that the common people, unused to war, and unsustained by discipline, were harassed by incessant toils and dangers, and were cooling in their zeal and courage.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The crafty bishop Oppas marked the internal trouble of the king, and thought a favourable moment had arrived to sway him to his purpose.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") He called to his mind the various portents and prophecies which had forerun their present danger.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let not my lord the king,” said he, “make light of these mysterious revelations, which appear to be so disastrously fulfilling.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") The hand of Heaven appears to be against us.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Destruction is impending over our heads.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Our troops are rude and unskilful, but slightly armed, and much cast down in spirit.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Better is it that we should make a treaty with the enemy, and, by granting part of his demands, prevent the utter ruin of our country.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") If such counsel be acceptable to my lord the king, I stand ready to depart upon an embassy to the Moslem camp.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Upon hearing these words, Pelistes, who had stood in mournful silence, regarding the dead body of his son, burst forth with honest indignation.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") “By this good sword,” said he, “the man who yields such dastard counsel deserves death from the hand of his countrymen rather than from the foe; and, were it not for the presence of the king, may I forfeit salvation if I would not strike him dead upon the spot.”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The bishop turned an eye of venom upon Pelistes.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “My lord,” said he, “I, too, bear a weapon, and know how to wield it.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Were the king not present you would not dare to menace, nor should you advance one step without my hastening to meet you.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") The king interposed between the jarring nobles, and rebuked the impetuosity of Pelistes, but at the same time rejected the counsel of the bishop.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") “The event of this conflict,” said he, “is in the hand of God; but never shall my sword return to its scabbard while an infidel invader remains within the land.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") He then held a council with his captains, and it was determined to offer the enemy general battle on the following day.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") A herald was despatched defying Taric ben Zeyad to the contest, and the defiance was gladly accepted by the Moslem chieftain.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") \[24\] Don Roderick then formed the plan of action, and assigned to each commander his several station, after which he dismissed his officers, and each one sought his tent, to prepare by diligence or repose for the next day’s eventful contest.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Chapter XIV.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/15/) - next →: [Traitorous Message of Count Julian.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/17/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)