llen with honor, and are spared the wretchedness I
feel in witnessing the thraldom of my country. I have seen my only son,
the pride and hope of my age, cut down at my side; I have beheld kindred
friends and followers falling one by one around me, and have become so
seasoned to those losses that I have ceased to weep. Yet there is one man
over whose loss I will never cease to grieve. He was the loved companion
of my youth, and the steadfast associate of my graver years. He was one of
the most loyal of Christian knights. As a friend he was loving and
sincere; as a warrior his achievements were above all praise. What has
become of him, alas! I know not. If fallen in battle, and I knew where his
bones were laid, whether bleaching on the plains of Xeres, or buried in
the waters of the Gaudalete, I would seek them out and enshrine them as
the relics of a sainted patriot. Or if, like many of his companions in
arms, he should be driven to wander in foreign lands, I would join him in
his hapless exile, and we would mourn together over the desolation of our
country!'

Even the hearts of the Arab warriors were touched by the lament of the
good Pelistes, and they said: 'Who was this peerless friend, in whose
praise thou art so fervent?'

'His name,' replied Pelistes, 'was Count Julian.'

The Moslem warriors stared with surprise. 'Noble cavalier,' exclaimed
they, 'has grief disordered thy senses? Behold thy friend, living and
standing before thee, and yet thou dost not know him! This, this is Count
Julian!'

Upon this, Pelistes turned his eyes upon the count, and regarded him for a
time, with a lofty and stern demeanor; and the countenance of Julian
darkened, and was troubled, and his eye sank beneath the regard of that
loyal and honorable cavalier. And Pelistes said, 'In the name of God, I
charge thee, man unknown! to answer. Dost thou presume to call thyself
Count Julian?'

The count reddened with anger at these words. 'Pelistes,' said he, 'what
means this mockery? Thou knowest me well; thou knowest me for Count
Julian?'

'I know thee for a base imposter!' cried Pelistes. 'Count Julian was a
noble Gothic knight; but thou appearest in mongrel Moorish garb. Count
Julian was a Christian, faithful and devout; but I behold in thee a
renegado and an infidel. Count Julian was ever loyal to his king, and
foremost in his country's cause: were he living, he would be the first to
put shield on neck and lance in rest, to clear the lan