part10-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　Legend　of　Don　Munio　Sancho　de　Hinojosa。



　　IN　THE　cloisters　of　the　ancient　Benedictine　convent　of　San

Domingo；　at　Silos；　in　Castile；　are　the　mouldering　yet　magnificent

monuments　of　the　once　powerful　and　chivalrous　family　of　Hinojosa。

Among　these　reclines　the　marble　figure　of　a　knight；　in　complete　armor；

with　the　hands　pressed　together；　as　if　in　prayer。　On　one　side　of　his

tomb　is　sculptured　in　relief　a　band　of　Christian　cavaliers；

capturing　a　cavalcade　of　male　and　female　Moors；　on　the　other　side；　the

same　cavaliers　are　represented　kneeling　before　an　altar。　The　tomb；

like　most　of　the　neighboring　monuments；　is　almost　in　ruins；　and　the

sculpture　is　nearly　unintelligible；　excepting　to　the　keen　eye　of　the

antiquary。　The　story　connected　with　the　sepulchre；　however；　is　still

preserved　in　the　old　Spanish　chronicles；　and　is　to　the　following

purport：



　　IN　old　times；　several　hundred　years　ago；　there　was　a　noble　Castilian

cavalier；　named　Don　Munio　Sancho　de　Hinojosa；　lord　of　a　border　castle；

which　had　stood　the　brunt　of　many　a　Moorish　foray。　He　had　seventy

horsemen　as　his　household　troops；　all　of　the　ancient　Castilian

proof；　stark　warriors；　hard　riders；　and　men　of　iron；　with　these　he

scoured　the　Moorish　lands；　and　made　his　name　terrible　throughout　the

borders。　His　castle　hall　was　covered　with　banners；　cimeters；　and

Moslem　helms；　the　trophies　of　his　prowess。　Don　Munio　was；　moreover；

a　keen　huntsman；　and　rejoiced　in　hounds　of　all　kinds；　steeds　for　the

chase；　and　hawks　for　the　towering　sport　of　falconry。　When　not

engaged　in　warfare；　his　delight　was　to　beat　up　the　neighboring

forests；　and　scarcely　ever　did　he　ride　forth；　without　hound　and

horn；　a　boar…spear　in　his　hand；　or　a　hawk　upon　his　fist；　and　an

attendant　train　of　huntsmen。

　　His　wife；　Dona　Maria　Palacin；　was　of　a　gentle　and　timid　nature；

little　fitted　to　be　the　spouse　of　so　hardy　and　adventurous　a　knight；

and　many　a　tear　did　the　poor　lady　shed；　when　he　sallied　forth　upon　his

daring　enterprises；　and　many　a　prayer　did　she　offer　up　for　his　safety。

　　As　this　doughty　cavalier　was　one　day　hunting；　he　stationed　himself

in　a　thicket；　on　the　borders　of　a　green　glade　of　the　forest；　and

dispersed　his　followers　to　rouse　the　game；　and　drive　it　toward　his

stand。　He　had　not　been　here　long；　when　a　cavalcade　of　Moors；　of　both

sexes；　came　prankling　over　the　forest　lawn。　They　were　unarmed；　and

magnificently　dressed　in　robes　of　tissue　and　embroidery；　rich　shawls

of　India；　bracelets　and　anklets　of　gold；　and　jewels　that　sparkled　in

the　sun。

　　At　the　head　of　this　gay　cavalcade　rode　a　youthful　cavalier；　superior

to　the　rest　in　dignity　and　loftiness　of　demeanor；　and　in　splendor　of

attire；　beside　him　was　a　damsel；　whose　veil；　blown　aside　by　the

breeze；　displayed　a　face　of　surpassing　beauty；　and　eyes　cast　down　in

maiden　modesty；　yet　beaming　with　tenderness　and　joy。

　　Don　Munio　thanked　his　stars　for　sending　him　such　a　prize；　and

exulted　at　the　thought　of　bearing　home　to　his　wife　the　glittering

spoils　of　these　infidels。　Putting　his　hunting　horn　to　his　lips；　he

gave　a　blast　that　rung　through　the　forest。　His　huntsmen　came　running

from　all　quarters；　and　the　astonished　Moors　were　surrounded　and　made

captives。

　　The　beautiful　Moor　wrung　her　hands　in　despair；　and　her　female

attendants　uttered　the　most　piercing　cries。　The　young　Moorish　cavalier

alone　retained　self…possession。　He　inquired　the　name　of　the

Christian　knight；　who　commanded　this　troop　of　horsemen。　When　told　that

it　was　Don　Munio　Sancho　de　Hinojosa；　his　countenance　lighted　up。

Approaching　that　cavalier；　and　kissing　his　hand；　〃Don　Munio　Sancho；〃

said　he；　〃I　have　heard　of　your　fame　as　a　true　and　valiant　knight；

terrible　in　arms；　but　schooled　in　the　noble　virtues　of　chivalry。

Such　do　I　trust　to　find　you。　In　me　you　behold　Abadil；　son　of　a　Moorish

alcayde。　I　am　on　the　way　to　celebrate　my　nuptials　with　this　lady；

chance　has　thrown　us　in　your　power；　but　I　confide　in　your　magnanimity。

Take　all　our　treasure　and　jewels；　demand　what　ransom　you　think

proper　for　our　persons；　but　suffer　us　not　to　be　insulted　nor

dishonored。〃

　　When　the　good　knight　heard　this　appeal；　and　beheld　the　beauty　of　the

youthful　pair；　his　heart　was　touched　with　tenderness　and　courtesy。

〃God　forbid；〃　said　he；　〃that　I　should　disturb　such　happy　nuptials。

My　prisoners　in　troth　shall　ye　be；　for　fifteen　days；　and　immured

within　my　castle；　where　I　claim；　as　conqueror；　the　right　of

celebrating　your　espousals。〃

　　So　saying；　he　dispatched　one　of　his　fleetest　horsemen　in　advance；　to

notify　Dona　Maria　Palacin　of　the　coming　of　this　bridal　party；　while　he

and　his　huntsmen　escorted　the　cavalcade；　not　as　captors；　but　as　a

guard　of　honor。　As　they　drew　near　to　the　castle；　the　banners　were　hung

out；　and　the　trumpets　sounded　from　the　battlements；　and　on　their

nearer　approach；　the　draw…bridge　was　lowered；　and　Dona　Maria　came

forth　to　meet　them；　attended　by　her　ladies　and　knights；　her　pages

and　her　minstrels。　She　took　the　young　bride；　Allifra；　in　her　arms；

kissed　her　with　the　tenderness　of　a　sister；　and　conducted　her　into　the

castle。　In　the　mean　time；　Don　Munio　sent　forth　missives　in　every

direction；　and　had　viands　and　dainties　of　all　kinds　collected　from　the

country　round；　and　the　wedding　of　the　Moorish　lovers　was　celebrated

with　all　possible　state　and　festivity。　For　fifteen　days；　the　castle

was　given　up　to　joy　and　revelry。　There　were　tiltings　and　jousts　at　the

ring；　and　bull…fights；　and　banquets；　and　dances　to　the　sound　of

minstrelsy。　When　the　fifteen　days　were　at　an　end；　he　made　the　bride

and　bridegroom　magnificent　presents；　and　conducted　them　and　their

attendants　safely　beyond　the　borders。　Such；　in　old　times；　were　the

courtesy　and　generosity　of　a　Spanish　cavalier。

　　Several　years　after　this　event；　the　king　of　Castile　summoned　his

nobles　to　assist　him　in　a　campaign　against　the　Moors。　Don　Munio　Sancho

was　among　the　first　to　answer　to　the　call；　with　seventy　horsemen；

all　stanch　and　well…tried　warriors。　His　wife；　Dona　Maria　hung　about

his　neck。　〃Alas；　my　lord！〃　exclaimed　she；　〃how　often　wilt　thou　tempt

thy　fate；　and　when　will　thy　thirst　for　glory　be　appeased！〃

　　〃One　battle　more；〃　replied　Don　Munio；　〃one　battle　more；　for　the

honor　of　Castile；　and　I　here　make　a　vow；　that　when　this　is　over；　I

will　lay　by　my　sword；　and　repair　with　my　cavaliers　in　pilgrimage　to

the　sepulchre　of　our　Lord　at　Jerusalem。〃　The　cavaliers　all　joined　with

him　in　the　vow；　and　Dona　Maria　felt　in　some　degree　soothed　in

spirit；　still；　she　saw　with　a　heavy　heart　the　departure　of　her

husband；　and　watched　his　banner　with　wistful　eyes；　until　it

disappeared　among　the　trees　of　the　forest。

　　The　king　of　Castile　led　his　army　to　the　plains　of　Salmanara；　where

they　encountered　the　Moorish　host；　near　to　Ucles。　The　battle　was

long　and　bloody；　the　Christians　repeatedly　wavered；　and　were　as

often　rallied　by　the　energy　of　their　commanders。　Don　Munio　was　covered

with　wounds；　but　refused　to　leave　the　field。　The　Christians　at

length　gave　way；　and　the　king　was　hardly　pressed；　and　in　danger　of

being　captured。

　　Don　Munio　called　upon　his　cavaliers　to　follow　him　to　the　rescue。

〃Now　is　the　time；〃　cried　he；　〃to　prove　your　loyalty。　Fall　to；　like

brave　men！　We　fight　for　the　true　faith；　and　if　we　lose　our　lives　here；

we　gain　a　better　life　hereafter。〃

　　Rushing　with　his　men　between　the　king　and　his　pursuers；　they　checked

the　latter　in　their　career；　and　gave　time　for　their　monarch　to　escape；

but　they　fell　victims　to　their　loyalty。　They　all　fought　to　the　last

gasp。　Don　Munio　was　singled　out　by　a　powerful　Moorish　knight；　but

having　been　wounded　in　the　right　arm；　he　fought　to　disadvantage；　and

was　slain。　The　battle　being　over；　the　Moor　paused　to　possess　himself

of　the　spoils　of　this　redoubtable　Christian　warrior。　When　he　unlaced

the　helmet；　however；　and　beheld　the　countenance　of　Don　Munio；　he

gave　a　great　cry；　and　smote　his　breast。　〃Woe　is　me！〃　cried　he；　〃I　have

slain　my　benefactor！　The　flower　of　knightl