Historical Tales, Volume VII | Page 9

became one of the richest
spoils of the Romans when they captured and sacked Jerusalem. It
afterwards became the prize of a king of Spain, perhaps in the way
stated above.
Thus fancy has adorned the rich and beautiful work of art which Don
Roderic is said to have found in the enchanted palace, and which he
placed as the noblest of the treasures of Spain in the splendid church of
Toledo, the Gothic capital. This city fell into the hands of Tarik el
Tuerto in his conquering progress through the realm of Spain, and the
emerald table, whose fame had reached the shores of Africa, was
sought by him far and near.
It had disappeared from the church, perhaps carried off by the bishop in
his flight. But fast as the fugitives fled, faster rode the Arab horsemen
on their track, one swift troop riding to Medina Celi, on the high road
to Saragossa. On this route they came to a city named by them
Medinatu-l-Mayidah (city of the table), in which they found the famous
talisman. They brought it to Tarik as one of the choicest spoils of
Spain.
Its later history is as curious and much more authentic than its earlier.
Tarik, as we have told in the previous tale, had been sent to Andalusia
by Musa, the caliph's viceroy in Africa, simply that he might gain a
footing in the land, whose conquest Musa reserved for himself. But the
impetuous Tarik was not to be restrained. No sooner was Roderic slain
and his army dispersed than the Arab cavaliers spread far and wide
through Spain, city after city falling into their hands, until it seemed as
if nothing would be left for Musa to conquer.
This state of affairs was far from agreeable to the jealous and ambitious
viceroy. He sent messengers to the caliph at Damascus, in which he
claimed the conquest of Spain as his own, and barely mentioned the
name of the real conqueror. He severely blamed Tarik for presuming to

conquer a kingdom without direct orders, and, gathering an army, he
crossed to Spain, that he might rightfully claim a share in the glory of
the conquest.
Tarik was not ignorant of what Musa had done. He expected to be
called sharply to account by his jealous superior, and knew well that his
brilliant deeds had been overlooked in the viceroy's despatches to
Damascus, then the capital of the Arab empire. The daring soldier was
therefore full of joy when the table of Solomon fell into his hands. He
hoped to win favor from Al-Walid, the caliph, by presenting him this
splendid prize. Yet how was he to accomplish this? Would not Musa,
who was well aware of the existence and value of the table, claim it as
his own and send it to Al-Walid with the false story that he had won it
by the power of his arms?
To defeat this probable act Tarik devised a shrewd stratagem. The table,
as has been stated, was abundantly provided with feet, but of these four
were larger than the rest. One of the latter Tarik took off and concealed,
to be used in the future if what he feared should come to pass.
As it proved, he had not misjudged his jealous lord. In due time Musa
came to Toledo and rode in state through the gate-way of that city,
Tarik following like a humble servitor in his train. As soon as he
reached the palace he haughtily demanded a strict account of the spoils.
These were at hand, and were at once delivered up. Their number and
value should have satisfied his avarice, but the wonderful table of
Solomon, of which he had heard such marvellous accounts, was not
among them, and he demanded that this, too, should be brought
forward. As Tarik had foreseen, he designed to send it to the caliph, as
an acceptable present and an evidence of his victorious career.
The table was produced, and Musa gazed upon it with eyes of delight.
His quick glance, however, soon discovered that one of the emerald
feet was missing.
"It is imperfect," he said. "Where is the missing foot?"
"That I cannot tell you," replied Tarik; "you have the table as it was

brought to me."
Musa, accepting this answer without suspicion, gave orders that the lost
foot should be replaced with one of gold. Then, after thanking the other
leading officers for their zeal and valor, he turned upon Tarik and
accused him in severe tones of disobedience. He ended by depriving
him of his command and putting him under arrest, while he sent the
caliph a report in which Tarik was sharply blamed and the merit of his
exploits made light of. He would have gone farther and put