Roderick, the last of the Goths : $b A tragic poemSouthey, Robert
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Roderick, the last of the Goths : $b A tragic poem
Southey, Robert
Roderick, King of the Visigoths, -711? -- Poetry
And the Abbot ordered that a
loaf should be brought of pannick and maize mixed together, and a jar of
water, and on the other side he had food placed such as the monks used;
and the King would eat only of the pannick bread, as he had been wont to
do, and he drank of the water. And when he had eaten, the Abbot asked
him if he would remain that night or not, and the King said that he knew
not, but that he would go out and see whether he were to go or to remain.
And the Abbot said that it was the hour of vespers, and that he ought
to remain; and the King went out and saw that the cloud moved, and that
it behoved him to go, and he dispeeded himself from the Abbot, and they
commended themselves each to the other in his prayers. And the Abbot saw
plainly how that cloud had guided him, and how there was no other in the
sky, and he marvelled greatly, and said, Certes this is some holy man,
and he gave thanks to God. And the King went on that evening till he came
to a church which was solitary and remote from peopled places: and there
the cloud stopt, and he abode there that night. And the King went into
the church, and found in it a lamp burning, and it rejoiced him much,
for by the light of it he said his hours as well before he should sleep
as after. And on the morrow when he had made his prayer, he went out of
the church and beheld the cloud, and saw that it moved; and he went after
it, and after two days’ journey he came to a place which where it is, or
what it is called, is not said, save that it is the place of his burial,
for such it is. And there the cloud stopt and proceeded no farther; and
it rested without the town over an ancient hermitage. And the elder of
that place incontinently knew by the Holy Spirit how King Don Rodrigo was
come there: but he knew not his name, neither who he was; and he asked
him if he meant to lead his life there, and he answered that it was to be
as God should please. And the Elder said to him, Friend, I am the Elder
of this place, for all the others, when they knew that King Don Rodrigo
and his chivalry were slain and vanquished, fled from hence for fear of
the Moors, and of the traitor Count Don Julian, and they all went to
the mountains to escape. And I remained, putting my trust in our Lord
God, and in his holy hands: for that I would rather abide that which may
befall and take my adventure here, than utterly forsake our mother holy
church; while I am able I will remain here and not forsake it, but rather
receive my death. And therefore I say, that if you are to abide here you
must provide yourself of that whereof you have need. And the King said,
Friend of God, concerning my tarriance I cannot certify you; though
surely I think that I shall abide; and if for the service of God you
will be pleased to send me every day that I remain a loaf of pannick and
water, I shall be contented therewith. And the Elder promised this, and
departed forthwith and went to his home, and sent him a loaf of pannick
and water.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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