--- title: Chapter XIV. — Legends of the conquest of Spain · full text with trees description: Chapter XIV., «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: MUZA ARRIVES AT DAMASCUS.—HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE CALIPH.—THE TABLE OF SOLOMON.—A RIGOROUS SENTENCE. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/35/) [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 XIV. # Chapter XIV. Chapter XIV. of «Legends of the conquest of Spain» by Washington Irving: the whole text, 39 sentences and 1048 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. MUZA ARRIVES AT DAMASCUS.—HIS INTERVIEW WITH THE CALIPH.—THE TABLE OF SOLOMON.—A RIGOROUS SENTENCE.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Shortly after the arrival of Taric el Tuerto at Damascus the caliph fell dangerously ill, insomuch that his life was despaired of.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") During his illness, tidings were brought that Muza ben Nozier had entered Syria with a vast cavalcade, bearing all the riches and trophies gained in the western conquests.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Now Suleiman ben Abdelmelec, brother to the caliph, was successor to the throne; and he saw that his brother had not long to live, and wished to grace the commencement of his reign by this triumphant display of the spoils of Christendom: he sent messengers, therefore, to Muza, saying, “The caliph is ill, and cannot receive thee at present; I pray thee tarry on the road until his recovery.”[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Muza, however, paid no attention to the messages of Suleiman, but rather hastened his march to arrive before the death of the caliph.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") And Suleiman treasured up his conduct in his heart.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Muza entered the city in a kind of triumph, with a long train of horses and mules and camels laden with treasure, and with the four hundred sons of Gothic nobles as hostages, each decorated with a diadem and a girdle of gold; and with one hundred Christian damsels, whose beauty dazzled all beholders.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") As he passed through the streets he ordered purses of gold to be thrown among the populace, who rent the air with acclamations.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") “Behold,” cried they, “the veritable conqueror of the unbelievers\![9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Behold the true model of a conqueror, who brings home wealth to his country!”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") And they heaped benedictions on the head of Muza.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph Walid Almanzor rose from his couch of illness to receive the emir; who, when he repaired to the palace, filled one of its great courts with treasures of all kinds: the halls, too, were thronged with the youthful hostages, magnificently attired, and with Christian damsels, lovely as the houries of Paradise.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") When the caliph demanded an account of the conquest of Spain, he gave it with great eloquence; but, in describing the various victories, he made no mention of the name of Taric, but spoke as if every thing had been effected by himself.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") He then presented the spoils of the Christians as if they had been all taken by his own hands; and when he delivered to the caliph the miraculous table of Solomon, he dwelt with animation on the virtues of that inestimable talisman.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Upon this Taric, who was present, could no longer hold his peace.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “Commander of the faithful!” said he, “examine this precious table, if any part be wanting.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph examined the table, which was composed of a single emerald, and he found that one foot was supplied by a foot of gold.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph turned to Muza and said, “Where is the other foot of the table?”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Muza answered, “I know not; one foot was wanting when it came into my hands.”[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Upon this, Taric drew from beneath his robe a foot of emerald of like workmanship to the others, and fitting exactly to the table.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “Behold, O commander of the faithful!” cried he, “a proof of the real finder of the table; and so is it with the greater part of the spoils exhibited by Muza as trophies of his achievements.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") It was I who gained them, and who captured the cities in which they were found.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") If you want proof, demand of these Christian cavaliers here present, most of whom I captured; demand of those Moslem warriors who aided me in my battles.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") Muza was confounded for a moment, but attempted to vindicate himself.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") “I spake,” said he, “as the chief of your armies, under whose orders and banners this conquest was achieved.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The actions of the soldier are the actions of the commander.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") In a great victory, it is not supposed that the chief of the army takes all the captives, or kills all the slain, or gathers all the booty, though all are enumerated in the records of his triumph.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph, however, was wroth, and heeded not his words.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “You have vaunted your own deserts,” said he, “and have forgotten the deserts of others; nay, you have sought to debase another who has loyally served his sovereign: the reward of your envy and covetousness be upon your head!”[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he bestowed a great part of the spoils upon Taric and the other chiefs, but gave nothing to Muza; and the veteran retired amidst the sneers and murmurs of those present.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") In a few days the Caliph Walid died, and was succeeded by his brother Suleiman.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") The new sovereign cherished deep resentment against Muza for having presented himself at court contrary to his command, and he listened readily to the calumnies of his enemies; for Muza had been too illustrious in his deeds not to have many enemies.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") All now took courage when they found he was out of favour, and they heaped slanders on his head; charging him with embezzling much of the share of the booty belonging to the sovereign.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The new caliph lent a willing ear to the accusation, and commanded him to render up all that he had pillaged from Spain.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The loss of his riches might have been borne with fortitude by Muza, but the stigma upon his fame filled his heart with bitterness.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") “I have been a faithful servant to the throne from my youth upwards,” said he, “and now am I degraded in my old age.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") I care not for wealth, I care not for life, but let me not be deprived of that honour which God has bestowed upon me!”[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") The caliph was still more exasperated at his repining, and stripped him of his commands; confiscated his effects; fined him two hundred thousand pesants of gold, and ordered that he should be scourged and exposed to the noontide sun, and afterwards thrown into prison.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") \[51\] The populace, also, reviled and scoffed at him in his misery; and as they beheld him led forth to the public gaze, and fainting in the sun, they pointed at him with derision, and exclaimed—“Behold the envious man and the impostor: this is he who pretended to have conquered the land of the unbelievers!”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Chapter XIII.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/34/) - next →: [Conduct of Abdalasis As Emir of Spain.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/36/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the conquest of Spain](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg77685/)