Calling together his nobles and generals, he had represented to them his grievances, and solicited their aid in sustaining the right that he thought he had acquired. At his call had assembled all the force and chivalry of the kingdom, and already an immense army, headed by those renowned paladins whose deeds were the wonder of Christendom, only waited the word of the sovereign to scale the Pyrenees.

Don Alfonso, meanwhile, had returned to Leon, where after a few days he received the agreeable news that an auxiliary army, sent by Almanzor, King of Toledo, and led by Mahomet Alamar, a commander of great fame, was coming to his assistance, and was now marching along the fertile banks of the Duero. Messengers arrived at the same time announcing that the troops of Marsilio, King of Zaragoza, were on the march through Moncayo towards Burgos, to make common cause with the Christians.

At this news the King of Castile hastened to establish his court at Burgos, where he thought to form his camp and to unite the forces that were to oppose the army of Charlemagne. Setting out for that place with a splendid retinue, in which were many ladies, and among them Edelfrida, he arrived there just as the thick columns and glittering battalions of Marsilio, which approached with martial music and with floating banners, became visible from the towers of the city. The

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troops of Almanzor had already arrived, and were encamped in a neighbouring plain, between the city and Castrogeriz. The king, ascending to a balcony of his castle, which from its height overlooked a great part of the road by which the troops were approaching, looked down upon the martial and picturesque scene which they presented in their march. The burnished steel of the lances and scimitars reflected the rays of the sun, which was now near its meridian, and the polished surface of the shields and breastplates from time to time emitted flashes of light. The standard of Mahomet, covered with crescents, waved above the lesser ensigns, casting its shadow upon the sea of splendid plumes and turbans of different colours, while mingled with the neighing of the steeds was heard the harsh sound of the drums and the sharp voices of the trumpets. On the other side the tents of the army of Almanzor whitened the fields of Castrogeriz, and the sumptuous pavilion of Mahomet Alamar reared itself in the midst of an encampment resplendent with arms, trophies, and devices.

The troops being now near the city, the king came down from the balcony, and mounting his horse, went out into the field to receive them. The leader of the vanguard was the same Abindarraez, formerly alcaide of Carpio, whom Bernardo had conquered. He made the due homage to the king, who returned it courteously, and

directed him to a suburb without the walls where there were accommodations for him and his troops, there being no room for them within the city, which was wholly occupied by the Castilian troops. Abindarraez, following the directions that were given to him, filed off before the king with all the cavalry, who were remarkably beautiful and worthy of admiration, on account of the splendour of their arms and trappings. The vanguard having passed, then came the principal body of the army, and at its head a young warrior, whose elegant form and noble appearance excited the attention of the king, who, inquiring his name, learned that it was Bravonel. He was richly dressed in the Turkish costume, and mounted on an Arabian steed, who by his agility and restlessness gave good evidence of his mettle, and the generous race from which he sprung. A large turban covered the head of the Moor and part of his forehead, and a thick and black beard covered half of his face, which, had it not been for a scar which deformed it, might have been considered handsome. Notwithstanding this, the Moor was a very elegant-looking fellow, and in the brilliancy and expression of his eye shone forth the soul of a hero. Having saluted the king, Bravonel passed on, and, followed by other officers with their respective battalions, they all took possession of the quarters prepared for them.

With the aid of these forces, united to those of

a choice army, which, under the conduct of the nobles of Castile, had assembled at Burgos, the king had no doubt of being able to resist the invasion that Charlemagne meditated; and supported by this hope, he became impatient to march against the enemy. But before entering upon the campaign, it seemed expedient for him to prove the strength of those knights, as well Spanish as Moorish, in a public tournament, which being the image of war, should reveal to him the spirit and strength of each one. With this design he commanded that in a few days there should be a tournament, and having notified the knights of his army, and those who had come from Toledo and Zaragoza to his service, he ordered that in a field near the city there should be constructed lists for the celebration of the festival.

CHAPTER XI.

THE day appointed for the tournament having arrived, the king went to the circus, accompanied by a numerous and brilliant court, and occupied the seat which was prepared for him under a canopy of crimson velvet bordered and fringed with gold. On one side of the throne were placed the grandees of the kingdom and the heads of the hierarchy, who assisted about the person of the sovereign; on the other were seated the principal ladies of the city and the court, whose beauty, enhanced by the gold and precious stones which shone upon their persons, dazzled the sight, and captivated the heart. One of these was Edelfrida, who was distinguished from the rest as the great luminary of heaven among the inferior stars,-not by the splendour of her dress, but simply by the uncommon graces which nature had lavished upon her. Her dress was of plain white satin, her waist being girded with a golden cord whose tassels fell before her to the ground: a veil of the finest lace, which reached from the head to the feet; her hair beautifully dressed, and adorned with a