Pause, we entreat you, while the truce is yet
unbroken. Await within the borders the reply of the king of Granada to
your challenge. If he agree to meet you singly, or with champions
two or three, it will be your individual contest, and fight it out
in God's name; if he refuse, you may return home with great honor
and the disgrace will fall upon the Moors."
Several cavaliers, who had hitherto followed the grand master with
devoted zeal, were moved by these expostulations, and suggested to him
the policy of listening to this advice.
"Cavaliers," said he, addressing himself to Alonzo Fernandez de
Cordova and his companions, "I thank you for the counsel you have so
kindly bestowed upon me, and if I were merely in pursuit of individual
glory I might be swayed by it. But I am engaged to achieve a great
triumph of the faith, which God is to effect by miracle through my
means. As to you, cavaliers," turning to those of his followers who
had wavered, "if your hearts fail you, or you repent of having put
your hands to this good work; return in God's name, and my blessing go
with you. For myself, though I have none to stand by me but this
holy hermit, yet will I assuredly proceed; until I have planted this
sacred standard on the walls of Granada, or perished in the attempt."
"Don Martin Yanez de Barbudo," replied the cavaliers, "we are not
men to turn our backs upon our commander, however rash his enterprise.
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