SKIRMISHING OF THE ARMIES.—PELISTES AND HIS SON.—PELISTES AND THE BISHOP.
On the following day, the two armies remained regarding each other with
wary but menacing aspect. About noontide, King Roderick sent forth a
chosen force of five hundred horse and two hundred foot, the best armed
of his host, to skirmish with the enemy, that, by gaining some partial
advantage, they might raise the spirits of the army. They were led on
by Theodomir, the same Gothic noble who had signalised himself by first
opposing the invasion of the Moslems.
The Christian squadrons paraded with flying pennons in the valley which
lay between the armies. The Arabs were not slow in answering their
defiance. A large body of horsemen sallied forth to the encounter,
together with three hundred of the followers of Count Julian. There was
hot skirmishing about the field, and on the banks of the river; many
gallant feats were displayed on either side, and many valiant warriors
were slain. As the night closed in, the trumpets from either camp
summoned the troops to retire from the combat. In this day’s action the
Christians suffered greatly in the loss of their distinguished cavaliers;
for it is the noblest spirits who venture most, and lay themselves open
to danger; and the Moslem soldiers had instructions to single out the
leaders of the adverse host. All this is said to have been devised by the
perfidious Bishop Oppas, who had secret communications with the enemy,
while he influenced the councils of the king; and who trusted that by
this skirmishing warfare the power of the Christian troops would be cut
off, and the rest disheartened.
On the following morning, a larger force was ordered out to skirmish,
and such of the soldiery as were unarmed were commanded to stand ready
to seize the horses and strip off the armour of the killed and wounded.
Among the most illustrious of the warriors who fought that day was
Pelistes, the Gothic noble who had so sternly checked the tongue of the
Bishop Oppas. He led to the field a large body of his own vassals and
retainers, and of cavaliers trained up in his house, who had followed
him to the wars in Africa, and who looked up to him more as a father
than a chieftain. Beside him was his only son, who now for the first
time was fleshing his sword in battle. The conflict that day was more
general and bloody than the day preceding; the slaughter of the Christian
warriors was immense, from their lack of defensive armour; and as nothing
could prevent the flower of the Gothic chivalry from spurring to the
combat, the field was strewed with the bodies of the youthful nobles.
None suffered more, however, than the warriors of Pelistes. Their leader
himself was bold and hardy, and prone to expose himself to danger; but
years and experience had moderated his early fire; his son, however,
was eager to distinguish himself in this, his first essay, and rushed
with impetuous ardour into the hottest of the battle. In vain his father
called to caution him; he was ever in the advance, and seemed unconscious
of the perils that surrounded him. The cavaliers and vassals of his
father followed him with devoted zeal, and many of them paid for their
loyalty with their lives. When the trumpets sounded in the evening for
retreat, the troops of Pelistes were the last to reach the camp. They
came slowly and mournfully, and much decreased in number. Their veteran
commander was seated on his war-horse, but the blood trickled from the
greaves of his armour. His valiant son was borne on the shields of his
vassals; when they laid him on the earth near to where the king was
standing, they found that the heroic youth had expired of his wounds. The
cavaliers surrounded the body and gave utterance to their grief; but the
father restrained his agony, and looked on with the stern resignation of
a soldier.
Don Roderick surveyed the field of battle with a rueful eye, for it was
covered with the mangled bodies of his most illustrious warriors; he saw,
too, with anxiety, that the common people, unused to war, and unsustained
by discipline, were harassed by incessant toils and dangers, and were
cooling in their zeal and courage.
The crafty bishop Oppas marked the internal trouble of the king, and
thought a favourable moment had arrived to sway him to his purpose. He
called to his mind the various portents and prophecies which had forerun
their present danger. “Let not my lord the king,” said he, “make light
of these mysterious revelations, which appear to be so disastrously
fulfilling. The hand of Heaven appears to be against us. Destruction is
impending over our heads. Our troops are rude and unskilful, but slightly
armed, and much cast down in spirit. Better is it that we should make a
treaty with the enemy, and, by granting part of his demands, prevent the
utter ruin of our country. If such counsel be acceptable to my lord the
king, I stand ready to depart upon an embassy to the Moslem camp.”
Upon hearing these words, Pelistes, who had stood in mournful silence,
regarding the dead body of his son, burst forth with honest indignation.
“By this good sword,” said he, “the man who yields such dastard counsel
deserves death from the hand of his countrymen rather than from the foe;
and, were it not for the presence of the king, may I forfeit salvation if
I would not strike him dead upon the spot.”
The bishop turned an eye of venom upon Pelistes. “My lord,” said he, “I,
too, bear a weapon, and know how to wield it. Were the king not present
you would not dare to menace, nor should you advance one step without my
hastening to meet you.”
The king interposed between the jarring nobles, and rebuked the
impetuosity of Pelistes, but at the same time rejected the counsel of
the bishop. “The event of this conflict,” said he, “is in the hand of
God; but never shall my sword return to its scabbard while an infidel
invader remains within the land.”
He then held a council with his captains, and it was determined to offer
the enemy general battle on the following day. A herald was despatched
defying Taric ben Zeyad to the contest, and the defiance was gladly
accepted by the Moslem chieftain.[24] Don Roderick then formed the plan
of action, and assigned to each commander his several station, after
which he dismissed his officers, and each one sought his tent, to prepare
by diligence or repose for the next day’s eventful contest.