Roderick, the last of the Goths : $b A tragic poemSouthey, Robert
General
Roderick, the last of the Goths : $b A tragic poem
Southey, Robert
Roderick, King of the Visigoths, -711? -- Poetry
it. See now in what manner Hercules was wise and fortunate, and right
valiant, and acquainted with the things which were to come. And when he
was Lord of Spain, he made it after this guise, which we have related
unto you. And he commanded that neither King nor Lord of Spain who might
come after him, should seek to know that which was within; but that every
one instead should put a lock upon the doors thereof, even as he himself
did, for he first put on a lock, and fastened it with his key. And after
him there has been no King nor Lord in Spain, who has thought it good
to go from his bidding; but every one as he came put on each his lock,
according to that which Hercules appointed. And now that we have told
thee the manner of the house, and that which we know concerning it, we
require of thee that thou shouldest go thither, and put on thy lock on
the gates thereof, even as all the kings have done who have reigned in
Spain until this time. And the King Don Rodrigo hearing the marvellous
things of this house, and desiring to know what there was within, and
moreover being a man of a great heart, wished to know of all things how
they were and for what guise. He made answer, that no such lock would
he put upon that house, and that by all means he would know what there
was within. And they said unto him, Sire, you will not do that which has
never been done in Spain; be pleased therefore to observe that which
the other kings have observed. And the king said unto them, Leave off
now, and I will appoint the soonest that may be how I may go to see this
house, and then I will do that which shall seem good. And he would give
them no other reply. And when they saw that he would give them no other
reply, they dared not persist farther, and they dispeeded themselves of
him, and went their way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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