The celebrated combat between four Spanish knights and four Arabs of the tribe of Zegris, the implacable foes23 of the Abencerrages, has been the subject both of poetical24 fiction and historical record. This meeting was to vindicate25 the honour of the Sultana Zoraide, accused by the Zegris of an adulterous intercourse26 with Aben Hamet. The indignant husband had decapitated the offender27, and exiled the Abencerrages. Zoraide was condemned28 to the stake, unless some champion came forward to maintain her innocence29. Juan Chacon, of Carthagena, answered the appeal of honour, and, accompanied by three other knights, appeared in the square of Grenada in front of the Alhambra, and in presence of the whole court. The beautiful princess was covered 332 with a black veil, and placed on a scaffold, round which were heaped the faggots that were to consume her, in the event of her champions being conquered; but they, fortunately for her, overthrew30 their infidel antagonists31, and proved her innocence.
In 1491 a young Spaniard fought and killed a Moor3, when Ferdinand, as a reward of his valour, authorised him to bear as his motto the letters of the Ave Maria; and Roderic Telles, grand master of Calatrava, was renowned for his many combats with the infidels. The annals of Spanish valour abound32 with instances of duelling, which was sanctioned and even encouraged by various laws, more especially in Castile and Aragon.
It appears that in 1165 the King and council of Aragon abolished the practice; yet, in 1519, we find it to have been so frequent, that Charles V. issued an edict to forbid it. Nor can we be surprised at the state of barbarism in which Spain was involved: the continued incursions of the Moors, the undisciplined state of the troops, without pay or provisions, and the incessant33 feuds34, not only between the nobles and their sovereigns, but amongst each other and their vassals35, must have occasioned constant tumult36 and discord37. Society was not secured by any pact38; and rude passions alone dictated39 the actions of these unruly barbarians40, for such, 333 despite their affectation of gallantry, they must be called. The unfortunate inhabitants, exposed to these continued depredations41, were obliged to incorporate themselves into military bodies, to protect life and property; and we find in 1260 they had assembled in a brotherhood42, under the protection of their saints, forming what was called the Santa Hermandada, a corps43 which gradually dwindled44 into a paid police force, resembling the maréchaussée and gendarmerie of France. The immortal45 author of Don Quixote often refers to this military jurisdiction46, which in reality mainly contributed to put an end to the atrocities47 that were daily committed; and it was chiefly during the reign15 of Ferdinand the Catholic that these excesses were restrained.
Not unfrequently was religion mixed up with these ferocious48 broils49; and we find the founder50 of the order of the Jesuits, Loyola, offering to fight a Moor who denied the Divinity of the Saviour51. In the council of Pennafiel, in 1302, it had been found necessary to prohibit challenges being sent to bishops52 or canons; a prohibition53 renewed in 1669. In Portugal duelling was punished by transportation to Africa, with confiscation54 of goods and chattels55; and in that country duels56 to the present day are very rare, and considered a deadly sin. Subjects of dispute are carried before a competent tribunal, and the complaint 334 is called querelar; when the parties are ordered to enter into security for keeping the peace, and are bound bene vivere. Not long since, when the Portuguese57 court was at Brazil, the Count Linhares had offended in a ball-room the Marquis de Lavradro, who sent him a message; but Linhares having fallen from his horse, the offended party felt satisfied and withdrew the challenge. Gaston de Camara, since Count Paypa, had offended in a sonnet58 Castello Branco, son of the Marquis de Bellari: a meeting took place, and the poet was wounded; but such meetings, both in Spain and Portugal, are very uncommon59. In the late disastrous60 conflict between Carlists and Christinos, the challenge sent by General O’Donnel to the Christino Brigadier Lopez was considered a singular event. The chivalric bombast61 of this challenge is worthy62 of record, and highly illustrative of the Spanish character:—
“The cavalry63 of Don Carlos ardently64 desires to measure itself with that of Donna Christina; but, as the results of battles are uncertain from position, or from the number of the combatants, let us, chiefs of party, imitate the knights of old, and select an equal number of warriors65 who, sword in hand, will decide the question by their sheer valour. On my side, I swear upon my honour not to bring into the field a greater number of combatants than shall be agreed upon. Trusting 335 that my enemy will follow my example, I salute66 all my numerous friends and former companions who now serve in the Christino ranks, wishing them every prosperity, excepting in battle, for I know no enemy save those I meet in the field.”
This challenge was accepted by the Christino general, who issued the following order of the day:—“I merely wait to know the appointed ground, to lead you into the conflict. Death is a noble reward to all those who feel Spanish blood flowing in their veins67; and you will find your commander at the head of this romantic duel6.” It is needless to add, that this gasconading did not even end in smoke.
Notwithstanding the barbarous nature of duels, they are rarely resorted to by ferocious nations, who prefer the more certain revenge that assassination68 affords. There is a civilization and an honourable69 bearing in a duel, foreign to the Spanish character; and it cannot be expected that men capable of murdering women can meet a brave adversary70 in single combat, governed by the laws of honour. What can be thought of a nation whose generals issued orders to put any surgeon to death who had been known to dress the wounds of an enemy? It is painful to reflect, that after the events of June in 1833, the French police issued an order nearly as barbarous to all medical men, to send in the 336 names of the wounded they had been called upon to dress. Frederic the Great had also issued an edict in which surgeons were prohibited from attending any person wounded in a duel!
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1
trifling
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adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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2
dishonoured
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a.不光彩的,不名誉的 | |
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3
moor
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n.荒野,沼泽;vt.(使)停泊;vi.停泊 | |
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moors
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v.停泊,系泊(船只)( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5
yoke
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n.轭;支配;v.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶 | |
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6
duel
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n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争 | |
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chivalry
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n.骑士气概,侠义;(男人)对女人彬彬有礼,献殷勤 | |
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recital
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n.朗诵,独奏会,独唱会 | |
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chivalric
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有武士气概的,有武士风范的 | |
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10
adventurous
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adj.爱冒险的;惊心动魄的,惊险的,刺激的 | |
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11
cardinal
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n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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12
celebrated
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adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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dexterity
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n.(手的)灵巧,灵活 | |
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14
devoted
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adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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15
reign
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n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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imbibe
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v.喝,饮;吸入,吸收 | |
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17
mingled
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混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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18
invaders
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入侵者,侵略者,侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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19
moorish
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adj.沼地的,荒野的,生[住]在沼地的 | |
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20
disposition
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n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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21
knights
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骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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22
renowned
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adj.著名的,有名望的,声誉鹊起的 | |
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23
foes
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敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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24
poetical
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adj.似诗人的;诗一般的;韵文的;富有诗意的 | |
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25
vindicate
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v.为…辩护或辩解,辩明;证明…正确 | |
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26
intercourse
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n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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27
offender
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n.冒犯者,违反者,犯罪者 | |
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28
condemned
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adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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29
innocence
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n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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30
overthrew
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overthrow的过去式 | |
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31
antagonists
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对立[对抗] 者,对手,敌手( antagonist的名词复数 ); 对抗肌; 对抗药 | |
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32
abound
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vi.大量存在;(in,with)充满,富于 | |
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33
incessant
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adj.不停的,连续的 | |
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34
feuds
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n.长期不和,世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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35
vassals
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n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 );(封建时代)诸侯;从属者;下属 | |
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36
tumult
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n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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37
discord
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n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐 | |
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38
pact
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n.合同,条约,公约,协定 | |
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39
dictated
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v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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40
barbarians
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n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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41
depredations
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n.劫掠,毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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42
brotherhood
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n.兄弟般的关系,手中情谊 | |
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43
corps
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n.(通信等兵种的)部队;(同类作的)一组 | |
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44
dwindled
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v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
immortal
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adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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46
jurisdiction
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n.司法权,审判权,管辖权,控制权 | |
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47
atrocities
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n.邪恶,暴行( atrocity的名词复数 );滔天大罪 | |
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48
ferocious
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adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的 | |
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49
broils
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v.(用火)烤(焙、炙等)( broil的第三人称单数 );使卷入争吵;使混乱;被烤(或炙) | |
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50
Founder
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n.创始者,缔造者 | |
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51
saviour
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n.拯救者,救星 | |
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52
bishops
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(基督教某些教派管辖大教区的)主教( bishop的名词复数 ); (国际象棋的)象 | |
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53
prohibition
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n.禁止;禁令,禁律 | |
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54
confiscation
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n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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55
chattels
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n.动产,奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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56
duels
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n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 );竞争,斗争 | |
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57
Portuguese
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n.葡萄牙人;葡萄牙语 | |
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58
sonnet
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n.十四行诗 | |
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59
uncommon
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adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
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60
disastrous
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adj.灾难性的,造成灾害的;极坏的,很糟的 | |
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61
bombast
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n.高调,夸大之辞 | |
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62
worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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63
cavalry
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n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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64
ardently
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adv.热心地,热烈地 | |
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65
warriors
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武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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66
salute
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vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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67
veins
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n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理 | |
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68
assassination
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n.暗杀;暗杀事件 | |
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69
honourable
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adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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70
adversary
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adj.敌手,对手 | |
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