To play the pleader’s part. Didst thou then save The Baron from thy comrades? Let my Lord Show mercy to me, said the Musselman, As I am free from falsehood. We were left, I and another, holding him in charge; My fellow would have slain him when he saw How the fight fared: I turn’d the scymitar Aside, and trust that life will be the meed For life by me preserved. Nor shall thy trust, Rejoin’d the Count, be vain. Say farther now, From whence ye came? ... your orders what? ... what force In Gegio? and if others like yourselves Are in the field? The African replied, We came from Gegio, order’d to secure This Baron on the way, and seek thee here To bear thee hence in bonds. A messenger From Cordoba, whose speed denoted well He came with urgent tidings, was the cause Of this our sudden movement. We went forth Three hundred men; an equal force was sent For Cangas, on like errand as I ween. Four hundred in the city then were left. If other force be moving from the south, I know not, save that all appearances Denote alarm and vigilance. The Prince Fix’d upon Eudon then his eye severe; Baron, he said, the die of war is cast; What part art thou prepared to take? against, Or with the oppressor? Not against my friends, ... Not against you!... the irresolute wretch replied, Hasty, yet faltering in his fearful speech: But ... have ye weigh’d it well?... It is not yet Too late, ... their numbers, ... their victorious force, Which hath already trodden in the dust The sceptre of the Goths: ... the throne destroy’d, ... Our towns subdued, ... our country overrun, ... The people to the yoke of their new Lords Resign’d in peace.... Can I not mediate?... Were it not better through my agency To gain such terms, ... such honourable terms....