(FROM THE HISTORY OF AL MAGGARI)
When Tarik had been informed of the approach of the enemy, he rose in
the midst of his companions and, after having glorified God in the
highest, he spoke to his soldiers thus:
"Oh my warriors, whither would you flee? Behind you is the sea, before
you, the enemy. You have left now only the hope of your courage and
your constancy. Remember that in this country you are more unfortunate
than the orphan seated at the table of the avaricious master. Your
enemy is before you, protected by an innumerable army; he has men in
abundance, but you, as your only aid, have your own swords, and, as
your only chance for life, such chance as you can snatch from the
hands of your enemy. If the absolute want to which you are reduced is
prolonged ever so little, if you delay to seize immediate success,
your good fortune will vanish, and your enemies, whom your very
presence has filled with fear, will take courage. Put far from you the
disgrace from which you flee in dreams, and attack this monarch who
has left his strongly fortified city to meet you. Here is a splendid
opportunity to defeat him, if you will consent to expose yourselves
freely to death. Do not believe that I desire to incite you to face
dangers which I shall refuse to share with you. In the attack I myself
will be in the fore, where the chance of life is always least.
"Remember that if you suffer a few moments in patience, you will
afterward enjoy supreme delight. Do not imagine that your fate can
be separated from mine, and rest assured that if you fall, I shall
perish with you, or avenge you. You have heard that in this country
there are a large number of ravishingly beautiful Greek maidens, their
graceful forms are draped in sumptuous gowns on which gleam pearls,
coral, and purest gold, and they live in the palaces of royal kings.
The Commander of True Believers, Alwalid, son of Abdalmelik, has chosen
you for this attack from among all his Arab warriors; and he promises
that you shall become his comrades and shall hold the rank of kings in
this country. Such is his confidence in your intrepidity. The one fruit
which he desires to obtain from your bravery is that the word of God
shall be exalted in this country, and that the true religion shall be
established here. The spoils will belong to yourselves.
"Remember that I place myself in the front of this glorious charge
which I exhort you to make. At the moment when the two armies meet hand
to hand, you will see me, never doubt it, seeking out this Roderick,
tyrant of his people, challenging him to combat, if God is willing.
If I perish after this, I will have had at least the satisfaction of
delivering you, and you will easily find among you an experienced
hero, to whom you can confidently give the task of directing you. But
should I fall before I reach to Roderick, redouble your ardor, force
yourselves to the attack and achieve the conquest of this country, in
depriving him of life. With him dead, his soldiers will no longer defy
you."