ing words:

'In this coffer is contained the mystery of the tower. The hand of none
but a king can open it; but let him beware! for marvellous events will be
revealed to him, which are to take place before his death.'

King Roderick boldly seized upon the casket. The venerable archbishop laid
his hand upon his arm, and made a last remonstrance. 'Forbear, my son!'
said he; 'desist while there is yet time. Look not into the mysterious
decrees of Providence. God has hidden them in mercy from our sight, and it
is impious to rend the veil by which they are concealed.'

'What have I to dread from a knowledge of the future?' replied Roderick,
with an air of haughty presumption. 'If good be destined me, I shall enjoy
it by anticipation: if evil, I shall arm myself to meet it.' So saying, he
rashly broke the lock.

Within the coffer he found nothing but a linen cloth, folded between two
tablets of copper. On unfolding it, he beheld painted on it figures of men
on horseback, of fierce demeanor, clad in turbans and robes of various
colors, after the fashion of the Arabs, with scimetars hanging from their
necks, and cross-bows at their saddle backs, and they carried banners and
pennons with divers devices. Above them was inscribed in Greek characters,
'Rash monarch! behold the men who are to hurl thee from thy throne, and
subdue thy kingdom!'

At sight of these things the king was troubled in spirit, and dismay fell
upon his attendants. While they were yet regarding the paintings, it
seemed as if the figures began to move, and a faint sound of warlike
tumult arose from the cloth, with the clash of cymbal and bray of trumpet,
the neigh of steed and shout of army; but all was heard indistinctly, as
if afar off, or in a reverie or dream. The more they gazed, the plainer
became the motion, and the louder the noise; and the linen cloth rolled
forth, and amplified and spread out, as it were, a mighty banner, and
filled the hall, and mingled with the air, until its texture was no longer
visible, or appeared as a transparent cloud: and the shadowy figures
become all in motion, and the din and uproar became fiercer and fiercer;
and whether the whole were an animated picture, or a vision, or an array
of embodied spirits, conjured up by supernatural power, no one present
could tell. They beheld before them a great field of battle, where
Christians and Moslems were engaged in deadly conflict. They heard the
rush and tramp of steeds, the bl