Of Heaven be best accomplish’d. All too long, Here in their own inheritance, the sons Of Spain have groan’d beneath a foreign yoke, Punic and Roman, Kelt, and Goth, and Greek: This latter tempest comes to sweep away All proud distinctions which commingling blood And time’s long course have fail’d to efface; and now Perchance it is the will of Fate to rear Upon the soil of Spain a Spanish throne, Restoring in Pelayo’s native line The sceptre to the Spaniard. Go thou, then, And seek Pelayo at the Conqueror’s court. Tell him the mountaineers are unsubdued; The precious time they needed hath been gain’d By Auria’s sacrifice, and all they ask Is him to guide them on. In Odoar’s name And Urban’s, tell him that the hour is come. Then pausing for a moment, he pursued: The rule which thou hast taken on thyself Toledo ratifies: ’tis meet for Spain, And as the will divine, to be received, Observed, and spread abroad. Come hither thou, Who for thyself hath chosen the good part; Let me lay hands on thee, and consecrate Thy life unto the Lord. Me! Roderick cried; Me? sinner that I am!... and while he spake His wither’d cheek grew paler, and his limbs Shook. As thou goest among the infidels, Pursued the Primate, many thou wilt find Fallen from the faith; by weakness some betray’d, Some led astray by baser hope of gain, And haply too by ill example led Of those in whom they trusted. Yet have these Their lonely hours, when sorrow, or the touch Of sickness, and that aweful power divine Which hath its dwelling in the heart of man, Life of his soul, his monitor and judge, Move them with silent impulse; but they look For help, and finding none to succour them, The irrevocable moment passeth by. Therefore, my brother, in the name of Christ Thus I lay hands on thee, that in His name Thou with His gracious promises may’st raise The fallen, and comfort those that are in need, And bring salvation to the penitent. Now, brother, go thy way: the peace of God Be with thee, and his blessing prosper us! V. RODERICK AND SIVERIAN.