Now when from Covadonga down the vale Holding his way, the princely mountaineer Came with that happy family in sight
Of Cangas and his native towers, far off He saw before the gate, in fair array,
The assembled land. Broad banners were displayed, And spears were sparkling to the sun, shields shone, And helmets glittered, and the blairing horn, With frequent sally of impatient joy, Provoked the echoes round. Well he areeds, From yonder ensigns and augmented force, That Odoar and the Primate from the west Have brought their aid; but wherefore all were thus Instructed, as for some great festival,
He found not, till Favila's quicker eye
Catching the ready buckler, the glad boy
Leapt up, and clapping his exultant hands,
Shouted, King! King! my father shall be King This day! Pelayo started at the word,
And the first thought which smote him brought a sigh For Roderick's fall; the second was of hope, Deliverance for his country, for himself Enduring fame, and glory for his line.
That high prophetic forethought gathered strength, As looking to his honoured mate, he read Her soul's accordant augury; her eyes Brightened; the quickened action of the blood Tinged with a deeper hue her glowing cheek, And on her lips there sate a smile which spake The honourable pride of perfect love, Rejoicing, for her husband's sake, to share The lot he chose, the perils he defied, The lofty fortune which their faith foresaw.
Roderick, in front of all the assembled troops, Held the broad buckler, following to the end That steady purpose to the which his zeal Had this day wrought the Chiefs. Tall as himself, Erect it stood beside him, and his hands
Hung resting on the rim. This was an hour That sweetened life, repaid and recompensed All losses; and although it could not heal All griefs, yet laid them for awhile to rest. The active agitating joy that filled
The vale, that with contagious influence spread Through all the exulting mountaineers, that gave New ardour to all spirits, to all breasts Inspired fresh impulse of excited hope, Moved every tongue, and strengthened every limb,.. That joy which every man reflected saw From every face of all the multitude,
And heard in every voice, in every sound, Reached not the King. Aloof from sympathy, He from the solitude of his own soul
Beheld the busy scene. None shared or knew His deep and incommunicable joy;
None but that Heavenly Father, who alone Beholds the struggles of the heart, alone Knows and rewards the secret sacrifice.
Among the chiefs conspicuous Urban stood,
He whom, with well-weighed choice, in arduous time,
To arduous office the consenting Church
Had called when Sindered fear-smitten fled; Unfaithful shepherd, who for life alone Solicitous, forsook his flock, when most In peril and in suffering they required A pastor's care. Far off at Rome he dwells In ignominious safety, while the Church Keeps in her annals the deserter's name; But from the service which with daily zeal Deyout her ancient prelacy recalls, Blots it, unworthy to partake her prayers. Urban, to that high station thus being called, From whence disanimating fear had driven The former primate, for the general weal Consulting first, removed with timely care The relics and the written works of saints, Toledo's choicest treasure, prized beyond All wealth, their living and their dead remains; These to the mountain fastnesses he bore Of unsubdued Cantabria, there deposed, One day to be the boast of yet unbuilt Oviedo, and the dear idolatry
Of multitudes unborn. To things of state
Then giving thought mature, he held advice With Odoar, whom of counsel competent
And firm of heart he knew. What then they planned, Time and the course of over-ruled events To earlier act had ripened, than their hope Had ever in its gladdest dream proposed; And here by agents unforeseen, and means Beyond the scope of foresight brought about, This day they saw their dearest heart's desire Accorded them: All-able Providence
Thus having ordered all, that Spain this hour With happiest omens, and on surest base, Should from its ruins rear again her throne.
For acclamation and for sacring now
One form must serve, more solemn for the breach Of old observances, whose absence here Deeplier impressed the heart, than all display Of regal pomp and wealth pontifical,
Of vestments radiant with their gems, and stiff With ornature of gold; the glittering train, The long procession, and the full-voiced choir. This day the forms of piety and war,
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