n act,
contented himself with retaining Gonzalvo as a prisoner. In the mean
time, the perfidious Velasquez, under pretence of conducting an attack
against the Moors, led his nephews into the midst of an ambuscade,
where, overpowered by numbers, they all perished, after a most heroic
defence, accompanied by circumstances which render their end truly
affecting. The barbarous uncle sent the gory heads of the murdered
youths to the royal palace of Cordova, and caused them to be presented
to the unhappy father, in a golden dish covered with a veil. No sooner
did Gonzalvo behold the ghastly contents of the dish, than he fell to
the earth, deprived of sense. The Caliph of the West, filled with
indignation at the demoniac cruelty of Velasquez, restored his captive
to liberty. But the foe of his race was too powerful to permit the
childless Gonzalvo to avenge the murder of his offspring. He
attempted, indeed, to do so; but old age had deprived him of his former
strength and vigour. With his wife, therefore, he mourned in solitude
over the untimely fate of his sons, and entreated Heaven to permit him
to follow them to the tomb: but a champion of his cause unexpectedly
arose in the person of an illegitimate son of Gonzalvo's at the Moorish
court. When this boy had attained the age of twelve years, he was
informed of his parentage by his mother, who was the sister of the
sovereign of Cordova, and of the wrongs which his father had suffered.

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The heroic youth, who bore the name of _Mendarra Gonzalvo_, resolved to
become the avenger of his brothers. Hastening to execute his purpose,
he left Cordova, challenged Valasquez, and slew him. Cutting off the
head of his father's foe, he sought with his burden the presence of the
old man, demanded to be acknowledged as his son, and admitted into the
Christian church. The wife of Gonzalvo joyfully consented to receive
the brave Mendarra as her son, and he was solemnly adopted by the
venerable pair. The wife of Velasquez, who, it will be remembered, had
instigated the ferocious uncle to his murderous deed, was stoned to
death and afterward burned. It is from this valiant Mendarra Gonzalvo
that the Mauriques de Lara, one of the most important Spanish families,
seek to trace their descent.

THIRD EPOCH.

A, page 86.

_Three bishops of Catalonia, &c._

These three bishops of Catalonia, who died fighting for the Mussulmans
at the battle of Albakara, which took place in