50 Modem Spanish Literature
it. When we look back over the whole history of Spain we
see one great race emerging from the ceaseless internal
struggles of peppery little states. Then comes the period
when the country gradually unites to drive out the Moors
who were the most progressive element in their own na-
tion, and centuries it took before this was accomplished. As
one of Spain’s early kings once said: “There is no need for
us to go on the Crusades because we have enough crusades
at home.” And yet in all this internecine strife we find very
little bitterness until quite late in the twelfth century; all
through the struggle the people live together and inter-
marry as if there were no war on. The true prototype of
Spanish heroism is to be found in the Cid Campeador1 who
spent part of his life fighting with the Christians against
the Moors, and part of it fighting with the Moors. In his
personality we may see the tensions that are always to be
found in the Spaniard. Another interesting point is that it
was in the year 1492 that the Moors were finally driven out
of their last stronghold, Granada—the same year in which
America was discovered. In those two outstanding histori-
cal events we may read the fate of Spain. Their empire
was a guerdon for their faith : the same qualities that had
enabled them to persevere in the war against the Moors in-
spired them to become the Conquistador. It is a curious
coincidence of history that those two wonderful events
should take place in the same year.
As we visualize that day when the Silver Cross of the
Catholic King and Queen was planted on the town of the
Alhambra and the succeeding years of the Empire, we feel
inclined to agree with the Spanish writer who said that all
that bid for world empire was a wonderful gesture—and a
rapid gesture at that—for it all took place between 1492
and 1588, the year when we notice the decline of power.