Fall to, like
brave men! We fight for the true faith, and if we lose our lives here,
we gain a better life hereafter."
Rushing with his men between the king and his pursuers, they checked
the latter in their career, and gave time for their monarch to escape;
but they fell victims to their loyalty. They all fought to the last
gasp. Don Munio was singled out by a powerful Moorish knight, but
having been wounded in the right arm, he fought to disadvantage, and
was slain. The battle being over, the Moor paused to possess himself
of the spoils of this redoubtable Christian warrior. When he unlaced
the helmet, however, and beheld the countenance of Don Munio, he
gave a great cry, and smote his breast. "Woe is me!" cried he, "I have
slain my benefactor! The flower of knightly virtue! the most
magnanimous of cavaliers!"
While the battle had been raging on the plain of Salmanara, Dona
Maria Palacin remained in her castle, a prey to the keenest anxiety.
Her eyes were ever fixed on the road that led from the country of
the Moors, and often she asked the watchman of the tower, "What
seest thou?"
One evening, at the shadowy hour of twilight, the warden sounded his
horn. "I see," cried he, "a numerous train winding up the valley.
There are mingled Moors and Christians. The banner of my lord is in
the advance. Joyful tidings!" exclaimed the old seneschal: "my lord
returns in triumph, and brings captives!" Then the castle courts
rang with shouts of joy; and the standard was displayed, and the
trumpets were sounded, and the draw-bridge was lowered, and Dona Maria
went forth with her ladies, and her knights, and her pages, and her
minstrels, to welcome her lord from the wars.
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