Finding there was yet life in the Christian knight, they laid him upon
one of their horses, and, aiding Magued to remount his steed, proceeded
slowly to the city. As the convoy passed by the convent, the cavaliers
looked forth and beheld their commander borne along bleeding and a
captive. Furious at the sight, they sallied forth to the rescue, but
were repulsed by a superior force, and driven back to the great portal
of the church. The enemy entered pell-mell with them, fighting from
aisle to aisle, from altar to altar, and in the courts and cloisters
of the convent. The greater part of the cavaliers died bravely, sword
in hand; the rest were disabled with wounds and made prisoners. The
convent, which was lately their castle, was now made their prison, and in
after-times, in commemoration of this event, was consecrated by the name
of St. George of the Captives.
CHAPTER V.
MEETING BETWEEN THE PATRIOT PELISTES AND THE TRAITOR JULIAN.
The loyalty and prowess of the good knight Pelistes had gained him the
reverence even of his enemies. He was for a long time disabled by his
wounds, during which he was kindly treated by the Arab chieftains, who
strove by every courteous means to cheer his sadness and make him forget
that he was a captive. When he was recovered from his wounds they gave
him a magnificent banquet, to testify their admiration of his virtues.
Pelistes appeared at the banquet clad in sable armour, and with a
countenance pale and dejected; for the ills of his country evermore
preyed upon his heart. Among the assembled guests was Count Julian, who
held a high command in the Moslem army, and was arrayed in garments of
mingled Christian and Morisco fashion. Pelistes had been a close and
bosom friend of Julian in former times, and had served with him in the
wars in Africa; but when the Count advanced to accost him with his wonted
amity, he turned away in silence and deigned not to notice him; neither,
during the whole of the repast, did he address to him ever a word, but
treated him as one unknown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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