--- title: Expedition of Magued Against Cordova.—defence of the Patri… — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Expedition of Magued Against Cordova.—defence of the Patriot Pelistes., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: While the veteran Taric was making this wide circuit through the land, the expedition --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/24/) [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/) / Expedition of Magued Against Cordova.—… # Expedition of Magued Against Cordova.—defence of the Patriot Pelistes. Expedition of Magued Against Cordova.—defence of the Patriot Pelistes. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 38 sentences and 984 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. While the veteran Taric was making this wide circuit through the land, the expedition under Magued the renegado proceeded against the city of Cordova.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The inhabitants of that ancient place had beheld the great army of Don Roderick spreading like an inundation over the plain of the Guadalquivir, and had felt confident that it must sweep the infidel invaders from the land.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") What then was their dismay, when scattered fugitives, wild with horror and affright, brought them tidings of the entire overthrow of that mighty host, and the disappearance of the king\![3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") In the midst of their consternation, the Gothic noble, Pelistes, arrived at their gates, haggard with fatigue of body and anguish of mind, and leading a remnant of his devoted cavaliers, who had survived the dreadful battle of the Guadalete.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The people of Cordova knew the valiant and steadfast spirit of Pelistes, and rallied round him as a last hope.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") “Roderick is fallen,” cried they, “and we have neither king nor captain: be unto us as a sovereign; take command of our city, and protect us in this hour of peril!”[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The heart of Pelistes was free from ambition, and was too much broken by grief to be flattered by the offer of command; but he felt above every thing for the woes of his country, and was ready to assume any desperate service in her cause.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") “Your city,” said he, “is surrounded by walls and towers, and may yet check the progress of the foe.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Promise to stand by me to the last, and I will undertake your defence.”[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The inhabitants all promised implicit obedience and devoted zeal: for what will not the inhabitants of a wealthy city promise and profess in a moment of alarm?[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The instant, however, that they heard of the approach of the Moslem troops, the wealthier citizens packed up their effects and fled to the mountains, or to the distant city of Toledo.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Even the monks collected the riches of their convents and churches, and fled.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Pelistes, though he saw himself thus deserted by those who had the greatest interest in the safety of the city, yet determined not to abandon its defence.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") He had still his faithful though scanty band of cavaliers, and a number of fugitives of the army; in all amounting to about four hundred men.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") He stationed guards, therefore, at the gates and in the towers, and made every preparation for a desperate resistance.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") In the mean time, the army of Moslems and apostate Christians advanced, under the command of the Greek renegado, Magued, and guided by the traitor Julian.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") While they were yet at some distance from the city, their scouts brought to them a shepherd, whom they had surprised on the banks of the Guadalquivir.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The trembling hind was an inhabitant of Cordova, and revealed to them the state of the place, and the weakness of its garrison.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") “And the walls and gates,” said Magued, “are they strong and well guarded?”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “The walls are high, and of wondrous strength,” replied the shepherd; “and soldiers hold watch at the gates by day and night.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") But there is one place where the city may be secretly entered.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") In a part of the wall, not far from the bridge, the battlements are broken, and there is a breach at some height from the ground.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Hard by stands a fig tree, by the aid of which the wall may easily be scaled.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Having received this information, Magued halted with his army, and sent forward several renegado Christians, partisans of Count Julian, who entered Cordova as if flying before the enemy.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") On a dark and tempestuous night, the Moslems approached to the end of the bridge which crosses the Guadalquivir, and remained in ambush.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Magued took a small party of chosen men, and, guided by the shepherd, forded the stream, and groped silently along the wall to the place where stood the fig tree.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The traitors, who had fraudulently entered the city, were ready on the wall to render assistance.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Magued ordered his followers to make use of the long folds of their turbans instead of cords, and succeeded without difficulty in clambering into the breach.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Drawing their scimitars, they now hastened to the gate which opened towards the bridge; the guards, suspecting no assault from within, were taken by surprise, and easily overpowered; the gate was thrown open, and the army that had remained in ambush rushed over the bridge, and entered without opposition.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The alarm had by this time spread throughout the city; but already a torrent of armed men was pouring through the streets.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Pelistes sallied forth with his cavaliers and such of the soldiery as he could collect, and endeavoured to repel the foe; but every effort was in vain.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The Christians were slowly driven from street to street, and square to square, disputing every inch of ground; until, finding another body of the enemy approaching to attack them in rear, they took refuge in a convent, and succeeded in throwing to and barring the ponderous doors.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") The Moors attempted to force the gates, but were assailed with such showers of missiles from the windows and battlements that they were obliged to retire.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Pelistes examined the convent, and found it admirably calculated for defence.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") It was of great extent, with spacious courts and cloisters.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") The gates were massive, and secured with bolts and bars; the walls were of great thickness; the windows high and grated; there was a great tank or cistern of water, and the friars, who had fled from the city, had left behind a good supply of provisions.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Here, then, Pelistes proposed to make a stand, and to endeavour to hold out until succour should arrive from some other city.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") His proposition was received with shouts by his loyal cavaliers; not one of whom but was ready to lay down his life in the service of his commander.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Capture of Granada.—subjugation of the Alpuxarra Mountains.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/23/) - next →: [Defence of the Convent of St. George By Pelistes.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/25/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)