STORY OF THE MARVELLOUS AND PORTENTOUS TOWER.
The morning sun shone brightly upon the cliff-built towers of Toledo,
when King Roderick issued out of the gate of the city, at the head of a
numerous train of courtiers and cavaliers, and crossed the bridge that
bestrides the deep rocky bed of the Tagus. The shining cavalcade wound up
the road that leads among the mountains, and soon came in sight of the
necromantic tower.
Of this renowned edifice marvels are related by the ancient Arabian and
Spanish chroniclers; “and I doubt much,” adds the venerable Agpaida,
“whether many readers will not consider the whole as a cunningly devised
fable, sprung from an oriental imagination; but it is not for me to
reject a fact which is recorded by all those writers who are the fathers
of our national history: a fact, too, which is as well attested as most
of the remarkable events in the story of Don Roderick. None but light
and inconsiderate minds,” continues the good friar, “do hastily reject
the marvellous. To the thinking mind the whole world is enveloped in
mystery, and every thing is full of type and portent. To such a mind
the necromantic tower of Toledo will appear as one of those wondrous
monuments of the olden time; one of those Egyptian and Chaldaic piles,
storied with hidden wisdom and mystic prophecy, which have been devised
in past ages, when man yet enjoyed an intercourse with high and spiritual
natures, and when human foresight partook of divination.”
This singular tower was round, and of great height and grandeur; erected
upon a lofty rock, and surrounded by crags and precipices. The foundation
was supported by four brazen lions, each taller than a cavalier on
horseback. The walls were built of small pieces of jasper, and various
coloured marbles, not larger than a man’s hand; so subtilely joined,
however, that, but for their different hues, they might be taken for
one entire stone. They were arranged with marvellous cunning, so as to
represent battles and warlike deeds of times and heroes long since passed
away; and the whole surface was so admirably polished that the stones
were as lustrous as glass, and reflected the rays of the sun with such
resplendent brightness as to dazzle all beholders.[11]
King Roderick and his courtiers arrived wondering and amazed, at the foot
of the rock. Here there was a narrow arched way cut through the living
stone; the only entrance to the tower. It was closed by a massive iron
gate, covered with rusty locks of divers workmanship, and in the fashion
of different centuries, which had been affixed by the predecessors
of Don Roderick. On either side of the portal stood the two ancient
guardians of the tower, laden with the keys appertaining to the locks.
The king alighted, and, approaching the portals, ordered the guardians
to unlock the gate. The hoary-headed men drew back with terror. “Alas!”
cried they, “what is it your majesty requires of us. Would you have the
mischiefs of this tower unbound, and let loose to shake the earth to its
foundations?”
The venerable archbishop Urbino likewise implored him not to disturb a
mystery which had been held sacred from generation to generation, within
the memory of man; and which even Cæsar himself, when sovereign of Spain,
had not ventured to invade. The youthful cavaliers, however, were eager
to pursue the adventure, and encouraged him in his rash curiosity.
“Come what come may,” exclaimed Don Roderick, “I am resolved to penetrate
the mystery of this tower.” So saying, he again commanded the guardians
to unlock the portal. The ancient men obeyed with fear and trembling,
but their hands shook with age, and when they applied the keys, the
locks were so rusted by time, or of such strange workmanship, that they
resisted their feeble efforts; whereupon the young cavaliers pressed
forward and lent their aid. Still the locks were so numerous and
difficult, that with all their eagerness and strength a great part of the
day was exhausted before the whole of them could be mastered.
When the last bolt had yielded to the key, the guardians and the reverend
archbishop again entreated the king to pause and reflect. “Whatever is
within this tower,” said they, “is as yet harmless, and lies bound under
a mighty spell: venture not then to open a door which may let forth a
flood of evil upon the land.” But the anger of the king was roused, and
he ordered that the portal should be instantly thrown open. In vain,
however, did one after another exert his strength; and equally in vain
did the cavaliers unite their forces, and apply their shoulders to the
gate: though there was neither bar nor bolt remaining, it was perfectly
immoveable.
The patience of the king was now exhausted, and he advanced to apply his
hand; scarcely, however, did he touch the iron gate, when it swung slowly
open, uttering, as it were, a dismal groan, as it turned reluctantly upon
its hinges. A cold, damp wind issued forth, accompanied by a tempestuous
sound. The hearts of the ancient guardians quaked within them, and their
knees smote together; but several of the youthful cavaliers rushed in,
eager to gratify their curiosity, or to signalise themselves in this
redoubtable enterprise. They had scarcely advanced a few paces, however,
when they recoiled, overcome by the baleful air, or by some fearful
vision.[12] Upon this, the king ordered that fires should be kindled to
dispel the darkness, and to correct the noxious and long imprisoned air:
he then led the way into the interior; but, though stout of heart, he
advanced with awe and hesitation.
After proceeding a short distance, he entered a hall, or antechamber,
on the opposite side of which was a door; and before it, on a pedestal,
stood a gigantic figure, of the colour of bronze, and of a terrible
aspect. It held a huge mace, which it whirled incessantly, giving such
cruel and resounding blows upon the earth as to prevent all further
entrance.
The king paused at sight of this appalling figure; for whether it were a
living being, or a statue of magic artifice, he could not tell. On its
breast was a scroll, whereon was inscribed in large letters, “I do my
duty.”[13] After a little while Roderick plucked up heart, and addressed
it with great solemnity: “Whatever thou be,” said he, “know that I
come not to violate this sanctuary, but to inquire into the mystery it
contains; I conjure thee, therefore, to let me pass in safety.”
Upon this the figure paused with uplifted mace, and the king and his
train passed unmolested through the door.
They now entered a vast chamber, of a rare and sumptuous architecture,
difficult to be described. The walls were incrusted with the most
precious gems, so joined together as to form one smooth and perfect
surface. The lofty dome appeared to be self-supported, and was studded
with gems, lustrous as the stars of the firmament. There was neither
wood, nor any other common or base material to be seen throughout the
edifice. There were no windows or other openings to admit the day, yet a
radiant light was spread throughout the place, which seemed to shine from
the walls, and to render every object distinctly visible.
In the centre of this hall stood a table of alabaster, of the rarest
workmanship, on which was inscribed in Greek characters, that Hercules
Alcides, the Theban Greek, had founded this tower in the year of the
world three thousand and six. Upon the table stood a golden casket,
richly set round with precious stones, and closed with a lock of
mother-of-pearl; and on the lid were inscribed the following words:—
“In this coffer is contained the mystery of the tower. The hand of none
but a king can open it; but let him beware! for marvellous events will be
revealed to him, which are to take place before his death.”
King Roderick boldly seized upon the casket. The venerable archbishop
laid his hand upon his arm, and made a last remonstrance. “Forbear,
my son!” said he; “desist while there is yet time. Look not into the
mysterious decrees of Providence. God has hidden them in mercy from our
sight, and it is impious to rend the veil by which they are concealed.”
“What have I to dread from a knowledge of the future?” replied Roderick,
with an air of haughty presumption. “If good be destined me, I shall
enjoy it by anticipation: if evil, I shall arm myself to meet it.” So
saying, he rashly broke the lock.
Within the coffer he found nothing but a linen cloth, folded between
two tablets of copper. On unfolding it, he beheld painted on it figures
of men on horseback, of fierce demeanour, clad in turbans and robes of
various colours, after the fashion of the Arabs, with scimitars hanging
from their necks, and cross-bows at their saddle backs, and they carried
banners and pennons with divers devices. Above them was inscribed in
Greek characters, “Rash monarch! behold the men who are to hurl thee from
thy throne, and subdue thy kingdom!”
At sight of these things the king was troubled in spirit, and dismay
fell upon his attendants. While they were yet regarding the paintings,
it seemed as if the figures began to move, and a faint sound of
warlike tumult arose from the cloth, with the clash of cymbal and bray
of trumpet, the neigh of steed and shout of army; but all was heard
indistinctly, as if afar off, or in a reverie or dream. The more they
gazed, the plainer became the motion, and the louder the noise; and the
linen cloth rolled forth, and amplified and spread out, as it were, a
mighty banner, and filled the hall, and mingled with the air, until its
texture was no longer visible, or appeared as a transparent cloud: and
the shadowy figures became all in motion, and the din and uproar became
fiercer and fiercer; and whether the whole were an animated picture, or
a vision, or an array of embodied spirits, conjured up by supernatural
power, no one present could tell. They beheld before them a great field
of battle, where Christians and Moslems were engaged in deadly conflict.
They heard the rush and tramp of steeds, the blast of trump and clarion,
the clash of cymbal, and the stormy din of a thousand drums. There was
the clash of swords, and maces, and battle-axes, with the whistling of
arrows, and the hurling of darts and lances. The Christians quailed
before the foe; the infidels pressed upon them and put them to utter
rout; the standard of the cross was cast down, the banner of Spain was
trodden under foot, the air resounded with shouts of triumph, with yells
of fury, and with the groans of dying men. Amidst the flying squadrons,
King Roderick beheld a crowned warrior, whose back was turned towards
him, but whose armour and device were his own, and who was mounted on a
white steed that resembled his own war horse Orelia. In the confusion of
the flight, the warrior was dismounted, and was no longer to be seen, and
Orelia galloped wildly through the field of battle without a rider.
Roderick stayed to see no more, but rushed from the fatal hall, followed
by his terrified attendants. They fled through the outer chamber, where
the gigantic figure with the whirling mace had disappeared from his
pedestal; and on issuing into the open air, they found the two ancient
guardians of the tower lying dead at the portal, as though they had been
crushed by some mighty blow. All nature, which had been clear and serene,
was now in wild uproar. The heavens were darkened by heavy clouds; loud
bursts of thunder rent the air, and the earth was deluged with rain and
rattling hail.
The king ordered that the iron portal should be closed; but the door was
immoveable, and the cavaliers were dismayed by the tremendous turmoil and
the mingled shouts and groans that continued to prevail within. The king
and his train hastened back to Toledo, pursued and pelted by the tempest.
The mountains shook and echoed with the thunder, trees were uprooted and
blown down, and the Tagus raged and roared and flowed above its banks.
It seemed to the affrighted courtiers as if the phantom legions of the
tower had issued forth and mingled with the storm; for amidst the claps
of thunder and the howling of the wind, they fancied they heard the sound
of the drums and trumpets, the shouts of armies and the rush of steeds.
Thus beaten by tempest, and overwhelmed with horror, the king and his
courtiers arrived at Toledo, clattering across the bridge of the Tagus,
and entering the gate in headlong confusion, as though they had been
pursued by an enemy.
In the morning the heavens were again serene, and all nature was restored
to tranquillity. The king, therefore, issued forth with his cavaliers
and took the road to the tower, followed by a great multitude, for he
was anxious once more to close the iron door, and shut up those evils
that threatened to overwhelm the land. But lo! on coming in sight of the
tower, a new wonder met their eyes. An eagle appeared high in the air,
seeming to descend from heaven. He bore in his beak a burning brand, and
lighting on the summit of the tower, fanned the fire with his wings. In a
little while the edifice burst forth into a blaze as though it had been
built of rosin, and the flames mounted into the air with a brilliancy
more dazzling than the sun; nor did they cease until every stone was
consumed and the whole was reduced to a heap of ashes. Then there came a
vast flight of birds, small of size and sable of hue, darkening the sky
like a cloud; and they descended and wheeled in circles round the ashes,
causing so great a wind with their wings that the whole was borne up into
the air and scattered throughout all Spain, and wherever a particle of
those ashes fell it was as a stain of blood. It is furthermore recorded
by ancient men and writers of former days, that all those on whom this
dust fell were afterwards slain in battle, when the country was conquered
by the Arabs, and that the destruction of this necromantic tower was a
sign and token of the approaching perdition of Spain.
“Let all those,” concludes the cautious friar, “who question the verity
of this most marvellous occurrence, consult those admirable sources of
our history, the chronicle of the Moor Rasis, and the work entitled, ‘The
Fall of Spain,’ written by the Moor, Abulcasim Tarif Abentarique. Let
them consult, moreover, the venerable historian Bleda, and the cloud of
other Catholic Spanish writers, who have treated of this event, and they
will find I have related nothing that has not been printed and published
under the inspection and sanction of our holy mother church. God alone
knoweth the truth of these things; I speak nothing but what has been
handed down to me from times of old.”