The procession had now nearly reached the prisoners, and even Edric’s firmness gave way, as he saw the executioner spring upon the terrace, and advance towards him. A convulsive throb of anguish seemed to rend his heart, and his lips and cheeks turned of a livid paleness. But how was he surprised, and what a sudden revulsion of feeling did he not experience, when the supposed executioner, after having unbound his arms, put a sword into his hands, and whispering—“Now is the time, defend yourself!—our soldiers are in green,” left him completely free.
Quite overcome, Edric stood for a moment lost in amazement, unable to credit the evidence of his senses, and gazing after his deliverer, who, the moment he had also unbound the doctor, threw off his disguise, and shouting “Roderick forever!” disclosed to the multitude below the dreaded form of the Irish hero himself. Shouts of “Roderick forever!” now rent the skies; the soldiers who had followed their monarch, and several others who had lurked concealed amongst the crowd, threw off their disguises at the same moment, and formed round their leader; whilst the main body of his troops, left behind in the care of experienced generals, tutored for the purpose, charged the affrighted Spaniards in the rear.
The confusion and dismay that now prevailed were quite beyond description. The terrified Spaniards, who, naturally superstitious, had long fancied the wonderful acts of heroic valour attributed to Roderick could only be performed by magic, were now firmly convinced that his sudden appearance amongst them was an act of especial favour from his Infernal Majesty himself! and finding themselves attacked on all sides, imagined their enemies multiplied by the powers of darkness, and fled without striking a blow. Roderick and his soldiers returned laughing, after they had pursued them a little way, to ransack and burn their camp; after doing which they retired to their former station: having previously promised the alcaide to spare the town, and not to push the consequences of their victory farther.
The doctor and Edric, who had been too much agitated to take any very active part in the combat, were conveyed by the guards of Roderick to their master’s camp, to await there the return of the monarch, in whose hands destiny had now placed them. Neither of our travellers had noticed the person of the Irish king in the bustling moment of their deliverance; but the almost magical celerity with which he had contrived to disperse their enemies; the evident terror with which his very name seemed to inspire the Spaniards; and the wondrous feats the guards around them seemed to delight in attributing to him, made them now almost tremble at the thought of being presented to so tremendous a personage: whom they amused themselves in picturing as a stern, fearful tyrant, breathing nothing but war and desolation.
Roderick the Second, surnamed the Great, was then in the flower of his age. He had not long ascended the throne; and his father, who had been a prudent prince, having left behind him a well-established Government, able statesmen, and a considerable sum in the treasury, Roderick had little to employ his mind at home. Brave, ardent, and enterprising, burning for conquest, and spurning the quiet of domestic peace, the overtures of the Spaniards had met his most ardent wishes; and he embraced their cause with an eagerness and impetuosity which had hitherto carried everything before it. The greatest part of Spain lay at his feet. Even Madrid was his! but it was to attack Seville, that queen of cities, that he was now in Andalusia. This city was still in the power of his enemies, and Roderick, having made Cadiz his headquarters, was about removing thither, when the message of the Alcaide had induced him to undertake the romantic enterprise he had just so successfully accomplished. Romance was, indeed, a leading feature in Roderick’s character, he delighted in surprises and disguises, and loved to give a kind of theatrical effect to everything he did.
He had not been upon good terms with the late King, his father; in fact, no two characters could be more diametrically opposite: it had been the policy of the late King, to foment secretly the discontents nourished amongst the English; but the spirit of Roderick revolted at conduct he considered so base and mean. The Spanish war, on the contrary, exactly suited his disposition: to aid an oppressed people to throw off the yoke of their oppressors, seemed noble and generous; and he engaged in the enterprise with all the energy of his bold and daring temper. His soldiers adored him, and his people warmly seconded his efforts; for, as the seat of war was far removed from them, and as the treasury
