--- title: Chapter XIII. — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Chapter XIII., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: FEUD BETWEEN THE ARAB GENERALS.—THEY ARE SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE CALIPH AT DAMASCUS.—RECEPTION OF TARIC. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/34/) [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 XIII. # Chapter XIII. Chapter XIII. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 52 sentences and 1338 words. 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FEUD BETWEEN THE ARAB GENERALS.—THEY ARE SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE CALIPH AT DAMASCUS.—RECEPTION OF TARIC.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The heart of Muza ben Nozier was now lifted up, for he considered his glory complete.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") He held a sway that might have gratified the ambition of the proudest sovereign, for all western Africa and the newly acquired peninsula of Spain were obedient to his rule; and he was renowned throughout all the lands of Islam as the great conqueror of the west.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") But sudden humiliation awaited him in the very moment of his highest triumph.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Notwithstanding the outward reconciliation of Muza and Taric, a deep and implacable hostility continued to exist between them; and each had busy partisans who distracted the armies by their feuds.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Letters were incessantly despatched to Damascus by either party, exalting the merits of their own leader and decrying his rival.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Taric was represented as rash, arbitrary, and prodigal, and as injuring the discipline of the army, by sometimes treating it with extreme rigour, and at other times giving way to licentiousness and profusion.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Muza was lauded as prudent, sagacious, dignified, and systematic in his dealings.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The friends of Taric, on the other hand, represented him as brave, generous, and high-minded; scrupulous in reserving to his sovereign his rightful share of the spoils, but distributing the rest bounteously among his soldiers, and thus increasing their alacrity in the service.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") “Muza, on the contrary,” said they, “is grasping and insatiable: he levies intolerable contributions, and collects immense treasure, but sweeps it all into his own coffers.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph was at length wearied out by these complaints, and feared that the safety of the cause might be endangered by the dissensions of the rival generals.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") He sent letters, therefore, ordering them to leave suitable persons in charge of their several commands, and appear, forthwith, before him at Damascus.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Such was the greeting from his sovereign that awaited Muza on his return from the conquest of northern Spain.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a grievous blow to a man of his pride and ambition; but he prepared instantly to obey.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") He returned to Cordova, collecting by the way all the treasures he had deposited in various places.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") At that city he called a meeting of his principal officers, and of the leaders of the faction of apostate Christians, and made them all do homage to his son Abdalasis, as emir or governor of Spain.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave this favourite son much sage advice for the regulation of his conduct, and left with him his nephew Ayub, a man greatly honoured by the Moslems for his wisdom and discretion; exhorting Abdalasis to consult him on all occasions, and consider him as his bosom counsellor.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") He made a parting address to his adherents, full of cheerful confidence; assuring them that he would soon return, loaded with new favours and honours by his sovereign, and enabled to reward them all for their faithful services.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") When Muza sallied forth from Cordova to repair to Damascus, his cavalgada appeared like the sumptuous pageant of some Oriental potentate; for he had numerous guards and attendants splendidly armed and arrayed, together with four hundred hostages, who were youthful cavaliers of the noblest families of the Goths, and a great number of captives of both sexes, chosen for their beauty, and intended as presents for the caliph.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Then there was a vast train of beasts of burden, laden with the plunder of Spain; for he took with him all the wealth he had collected in his conquests, and all the share that had been set apart for his sovereign.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") With this display of trophies and spoils, showing the magnificence of the land he had conquered, he looked forward with confidence to silence the calumnies of his foes.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") As he traversed the valley of the Guadalquivir, he often turned and looked back wistfully upon Cordova; and, at the distance of a league, when about to lose sight of it, he checked his steed upon the summit of a hill, and gazed for a long time upon its palaces and towers.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “O Cordova!” exclaimed he, “great and glorious art thou among cities, and abundant in all delights.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") With grief and sorrow do I part from thee; for sure I am it would give me length of days to abide within thy pleasant walls!”[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") When he had uttered these words, say the Arabian chronicles, he resumed his wayfaring; but his eyes were bent upon the ground, and frequent sighs bespoke the heaviness of his heart.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Embarking at Cadiz, he passed over to Africa with all his people and effects, to regulate his government in that country.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") He divided the command between his sons Abdelola and Meruan, leaving the former in Tangier, and the latter in Cairvan.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus having secured, as he thought, the power and prosperity of his family, by placing all his sons as his lieutenants in the country he had conquered, he departed for Syria, bearing with him the sumptuous spoils of the west.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") While Muza was thus disposing of his commands, and moving cumbrously under the weight of wealth, the veteran Taric was more speedy and alert in obeying the summons of the caliph.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He knew the importance, where complaints were to be heard, of being first in presence of the judge; beside, he was ever ready to march at a moment’s warning, and had nothing to impede him in his movements.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") The spoils he had made in his conquests had either been shared among his soldiers, or yielded up to Muza, or squandered away with open-handed profusion.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") He appeared in Syria with a small train of war-worn followers, and had no other trophies to show than his battered armour, and a body seamed with scars.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") He was received, however, with rapture by the multitude, who crowded to behold one of those conquerors of the west, whose wonderful achievements were the theme of every tongue.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") They were charmed with his gaunt and martial air, his hard sunburnt features, and his scathed eye.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") “All hail,” cried they, “to the sword of Islam, the terror of the unbelievers\![35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Behold the true model of a warrior, who despises gain, and seeks for nought but glory!”[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Taric was graciously received by the caliph, who asked tidings of his victories.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave a soldier-like account of his actions, frank and full, without any feigned modesty, yet without vainglory.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “Commander of the faithful,” said he, “I bring thee no silver, nor gold, nor precious stones, nor captives; for what spoils I did not share with my soldiers I gave up to Muza as my commander.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") How I have conducted myself, the honourable warriors of thy host will tell thee; nay, let our enemies, the Christians, be asked if I have ever shown myself cowardly, or cruel, or rapacious.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") “What kind of people are these Christians?” demanded the caliph.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") “The Spaniards,” replied Taric, “are lions in their castles, eagles in their saddles, but mere women when on foot.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") When vanquished they escape like goats to the mountains, for they need not see the ground they tread on.”[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") “And tell me of the Moors of Barbary.”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are like Arabs in the fierceness and dexterity of their attacks, and in their knowledge of the stratagems of war; they resemble them, too, in feature, in fortitude, and hospitality; but they are the most perfidious people upon earth, and never regard promise or plighted faith.”[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") “And the people of Afranc; what sayest thou of them?”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are infinite in number, rapid in the onset, fierce in battle, but confused and headlong in flight.”[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") “And how fared it with thee among these people?[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Did they sometimes vanquish thee?”[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") “Never, by Allah!” cried Taric with honest warmth, “never did a banner of mine fly the field.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Though the enemy were two to one, my Moslems never shunned the combat!”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph was well pleased with the martial bluntness of the veteran, and showed him great honour; and wherever Taric appeared he was the idol of the populace.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Chapter XII.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/33/) - next →: [Chapter XIV.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/35/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)