A Short History of Spain

e the pride and glory of the proudest nation in Europe. The Goths had come as only rude intruders into that country; but to be descended from the Visigoth Kings was hereaft

the vicious and cruel Witiza reigned at Toledo, Roderick, the son of Theodofred, also reigned in Andalusia. There had been a long struggle, during which it is said that Theodofred's eyes had been put out by his victorious rival, and

Florinda, had his own wrongs to avenge, accepted the leadership of these rebels. The power of the Visigoths had extended across the narrow strait (cut by the Phenicians) over to the opposite shore, where Morocco seems to be reaching out in vain endeavor to touch the land from which she was long ago severed; and there, at Tangiers, this arch-tra

mmedanism, which was destined to become the scourge of Christendom, had subjected Syria, Mesopotamia, E

as a protecting wall beyond which

looking with covetous eyes across at the Spanish Peninsula, he was suddenly surprised by a visit from Count Julian; and still more astonished when that commander offer

at once accepted his infamous proposition. In Spanish legend and history this man is always designated

dalusia. The name of this Mussulman chief, Tarif, was given to the spot first touched by the feet of the Mahommedan, which was called Tarifa; and as Tarifa was afterward the place where customs were collected, the word tariff is an imperishable

nvaded by a horde of people from the African coast. Theodemir wrote to him: "So strange is their appearance that we might take them

er existed near Toledo, which was built by Hercules, soon after Adam, with the command that no king or lord of Spain should e

r, "right subtly wrought," and far inside of that he reached the final mystery,-only this,-a white cloth folded between two pieces of copper. With trembling eagerness Roderick opened and found painted thereon men with turbans, carryin

their necks," were assuredly now in Andalusia, led by Tarik, who had literally burned

e silk embroidered with gold, sitting on a car of ivory, drawn by white mules. Tarik's men, who were fighting for victory or Paradise, overwhelmed the

the Spaniards to rally. One after another the cities of Toledo, Cordova, and Granada capitulated,

the Saracens through the breach made by "the Traitor," Count Julian! In less than two years Spain was a conquered province, rende

e Saracen flood as had its ill-fated King Roderick under the waters of the Guadalquivir; and fastened upon Christian Europe was a Mahommedan empire; an empire which all the combined powers of that continent have never since been able entirely t