Literature: an illustrated Weekly Magazine, December 22, 1888 Page: 140
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140 LITERATURE: A TVEEKLY MAGAZINE. [Dec. 22, 1888.
the fact. It seems generally admitted that Orelia, the favorite war-
horse, was found entangled in a marsh on the borders of the Guadalete,
with the sandals and mantle and royal insignia of the kifig lyiig close
by him. The river at this place ran broad and deep, and was encum-
bered with the dead bodies of warriors and steeds; it has been supposed,
therefore, that he perished in the stream ; but his body was not found
within its waters.
When several years had passed away, and men's minds, being re-
stored to some degree of tranquillity, began to occupy themselves about
the events of this dismal day, a rumor arose that Roderick had escaped
from the carnage on the banks of the Guadalete, and was still alive. It
was said, that having from a rising ground caught a view of the whole
field of battle, and seen that the day was lost, and his army flying in
all directions, he likewise sought his safety in flight. It is added, that
the Arab horsemen, while scouring the mountains in quest of fugitives,
found a shepherd arrayed in the royal robes, and brought him before
the conqueror, believing him to be the king himself. Count Julian
soon dispelled the error. On being questioned, the trembling rustic
declared that while tending his sheep in the folds of the mountains,
there came a cavalier on a horse wearied and spent and ready to sink
beneath the spur. That the cavalier with an authoritative voice and
menancing air commanded him to exchange garments with him, and
clad himself in his rude garb of sheep-skin, and took his crook and his
scrip of provisions, and continued up the rugged defiles of the moun-
tains leading towards Castile, until he was lost to view.
This tradition was fondly cherished by many, who clung to the belief
in the existence of their monarch as their main hope for the redemp-
tion of Spain. It was even affirmed that lie had taken refuge, with
many of his host, in an island of the ' Ocean sea,' from whence he
might yet return once more to elevate his standard, and battle for the
recovery of his throne.
Year after year, however, elapsed, and nothing was heard of Don
Roderick; yet, like Sebastian of Portugal and Arthur of England,
his name continued to be a rallying point for popular faith, and the
mystery of his end to give rise to romantic fables. At length, when
generation after generation had sunk into the grave, and near two cen-
turies had passed and gone, traces were said to be discovered that threw
a light on the final fortunes of the unfortunate Roderick. At that
time, Don Alphonso the Great, King of Leon, had wrested the city of
Viseo in Lusitania from the hands of the Moslems. As his soldiers
were ranging about the city and its environs, one of them discovered
in a field, outside of the walls, a small chapel or hermitage, with a
sepulchre in front, on which was inscribed this epitaph in Gothic char-
acters:
HIC REQUIESCIT RUDERICUS,
ULTIMUS REX GOTHORUM.'N
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Literature: an illustrated Weekly Magazine, December 22, 1888, periodical, December 22, 1888; [New York]. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth207706/m1/16/: accessed May 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.