Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/406

378 II 378 DEATH OF GONSALVO. PART as familiar to his countrymen as that of the Cid, which, floating down the stream of popular melo- dy, has been treasured up as a part of the national history. His shining qualities, even more than his exploits, have been often made the theme of fic- tion ; and fiction, as usual, has dealt with them in a fashion to leave only confused and erroneous con- ceptions of both. More is known of the Spanish hero, for instance, to foreign readers from Florian's agreeable novel, than from any authentic record of his actions. Yet Florian, by dwelling only on the dazzling and popular traits of his hero, has depict- ed him as the very personification of romantic chiv- alry. This certainly was not his character, which might be said to have been formed after a riper peri- od of civilization than the age of chivalry. At least, it had none of the nonsense of that age, — its fan- ciful vagaries, reckless adventure, and wild roman- tic gallantry. '^ His characteristics were prudence, coolness, steadiness of purpose, and intimate knowl- edge of man. He understood, above all, the tem- per of his own countrymen. He may be said in some degree to have formed their military charac- ter ; their patience of severe training and hardship, their unflinching obedience, their inflexible spirit under reverses, and their decisive energy in the hour of action. It is certain, that the Spanish soldier under his hands assumed an entirely new 19 Gonsalvo assumed for his de- mind trusting more to policy than vice a cross-bow moved by a pulley, force and daring exploit. Bran- ■with the motto, " Ingenium superat tdme, CEuvres, torn. i. p. 75. vires." It vv-as characteristic of a