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The stubborn heart! But yesterday I said
One Heaven could not contain mine enemy
And me; and now I lift my dying voice
To say, Forgive me, Lord, as I forgive
eyes
Him who hath done the wrong!.. He closed his
A moment; then with sudden impulse cried,..
Roderick, thy wife is dead,.. the Church hath power
To free thee from thy vows, the broken heart

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Might yet be healed, the wrong redressed, the throne
Rebuilt by that same hand which pulled it down,
And these curst Africans... Oh for a month
Of that waste life which millions misbestow!..
His voice was passionate, and in his eye
With glowing animation while he spake
The vehement spirit shone: its effort soon
Was past, and painfully with feeble breath
In slow and difficult utterance he pursued, ..
Vain hope, if all the evil was ordained,

And this wide wreck the will and work of Heaven,
We but the poor occasion! Death will make

All clear, and joining us in better worlds,
Complete our union there! Do for me now

One friendly office more:...draw forth the spear,

And free me from this pain!... Receive his soul, Saviour! exclaimed the Goth, as he performed The fatal service. Julian cried, O friend!.. True friend!.. and gave to him his dying hand. Then said he to Florinda, I go first,

Thou followest!.. kiss me, child!.. and now good night!

When from her father's body she arose,

Her cheek was flushed, and in her eyes there beamed
A wilder brightness. On the Goth she gazed
While underneath the emotions of that hour
Exhausted life gave way. O God! she said,
Lifting her hands, thou hast restored me all,..
All.. in one hour!.. and round his neck she threw
Her arms and cried, My Roderick! mine in Heaven!
Groaning, he claspt her close, and in that act
And agony her happy spirit fled.

XXV.

EIGHT thousand men had to Asturias marched
Beneath Count Julian's banner; the remains
Of that brave army which in Africa

So well against the Mussleman made head,
Till sense of injuries insupportable,

And raging thirst of vengeance, overthrew
Their leader's noble spirit. To revenge
His quarrel, twice that number left their bones,
Slain in unnatural battle, on the field

Of Xeres, where the sceptre from the Goths
By righteous Heaven was reft. Others had fallen
Consumed in sieges, alway by the Moor
To the front of war opposed. The policy,
With whatsoever show of honour cloaked,
Was gross, and this surviving band had oft
At their carousals of the flagrant wrong

Held such discourse as stirs the mounting blood, The common danger with one discontent Affecting chiefs and men. Nor had the bonds Of rooted discipline and faith attached,

Thus long restrained them, had they not known well That Julian in their just resentment shared,

And fixed their hopes on him. Slight impulse now
Sufficed to make these fiery martialists

Break forth in open fury; and though first
Count Pedro listened with suspicious ear
To Julian's dying errand, deeming it
Some new decoy of treason,.. when he found
A second legate followed Virimar,

And then a third, and saw the turbulence

Of the camp, and how against the Moors in haste
They formed their lines, he knew that Providence
This hour had for his country interposed,

And in such faith advanced to use the aid
Thus wonderously ordained. The eager Chiefs
Hasten to greet him, Cottila and Paul,
Basil and Miro, Theudered, Gunderick,
Felix, and all who held authority;

The zealous services of their brave host

They proffered, and besought him instantly
To lead against the African their force
Combined, and in good hour assail a foe
Divided, not for such attack prepared.

While thus they communed, Roderick from the church
Came forth, and seeing Pedro, bent his way
Toward them. Sirs, said he, the Count is dead:
He died a Christian, reconciled to Heaven,
In faith; and when his daughter had received
His dying breath, her spirit too took flight.
One sacrament, one death, united them;
And I beseech ye, ye who from the work
Of blood which lies before us may return, ..
If, as I think, it should not be my fate..
That in one grave with Christian ceremonies
Ye lay them side by side. In Heaven I ween
They are met through mercy:.. ill befall the man
Who should in death divide them!... Then he turned
His speech to Pedro in an under voice;

The King, said he, I know with noble mind
Will judge of the departed; christian-like

He died, and with a manly penitence:

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