University of Virginia Library

7. VII.

This terrible, but strictly just, punishment was the
signal for a greater rebellion than that which had been
recently put down. The nobles made common cause
in defence of their order, the privileges of which they
asserted to have been invaded. Witiza refused to make
any concessions, and they raised the standard of insurrection
throughout the kingdom. The common people
themselves, though truly without motive for coalition
with the nobles, joined with them against the sovereign,
in whose person they saw only the imbodied form of

that domination which had oppressed them. To these,
the Jews, glad of any chances for that commotion which
they had themselves laboured to provoke in vain, at once
gave all their assistance. Thus, welded into one, the
extreme castes of the nation stood up, a solid and headlong
power, in array against their common ruler. It
was Roderick, the son of Theodofred, that led them.
His wrong was that most present to their eyes, and his
valour and known recklessness, at the same time, lent
force to the suggestion that proposed him as their leader.
His first stroke against the sovereign was made in the
city of Cordova. The dungeon which enclosed his
sightless father was assaulted and stormed—the son
stood before the sire, and was unseen.

“Who is it that approaches?—what new danger awaits
me? Must Theodofred look now for death from the
hands of Witiza? Lo! I am ready,” was the speech
of the captive.

“Not death!—not death! but freedom!” exclaimed
the son.

“Who speaks?—that voice—” cried the victim, as
he tottered forward at the well-known sounds.

“Is thy son's—is Roderick's. He brings thee freedom
and vengeance. Father! I stand before thee.”

“I hear thee, but I see thee not, my son!”

“That is a word for strife and a fierce vengeance, and
thou shalt have it! I swear it on my sword, the tyrant
shall perish, even as thy sight.”

“Approach—let my hand press thy head—let me
feel, for I know thee not, my son.”

The son knelt to the blind old sire, and the guided
hands rested upon the uncovered head in benediction.
The warriors around hailed the auspices with a shout
of fierce enthusiasm, and they daringly began the war
which was destined to shake the kingdom of the Goths
to its centre. Three armies, at the same moment,
traversed the empire. One of these was led by Witiza,
who, lacking nothing of the valour come from his ancestors

in direct lineage, at once went forth against the
insurgents. Another, and the most numerous, was
that of Roderick. The third, infinitely inferior in every
respect to both of these, was led, in support of the reigning
monarch, by his two sons, Egiza and Pelayo; but
at too great a distance from the scene of war to co-operate
with their sire against the approaching power of his
enemy.