Looking at the fortress they were approaching, L’Isle remarked:  “From the times of Saguntum, Numantia, and Astapa, Spain has been noted for cities that perished utterly rather than yield in submission to their foes—­Zaragoza, Gerona, and other places have in our day maintained the old national fame.  But Badajoz,” he added, shaking his finger at the towers before him, “is not one of them.  It cannot be denied that in this struggle the Spaniards have proved themselves a nation.  ’Every Spaniard remembers that his country was once great, and is familiar with the names of its heroes; speaks with enthusiasm of the Cid, of Ferdinand Cortes, and a host of others.’  When the hour of trial come, ‘the nation instinctively felt,’ to use the language of one of their own juntas, that ’there is a kind of peace more fatal than the field of battle drenched with blood, and strewed with the bodies of the slain.’  The patriotic fire may have flamed the higher for the holy oil of superstition poured upon it, but it was kindled by noble pride and generous shame and indignation, by the remembrance of what their fathers had been, and the thought of what their children were to be.’”

“In spite of the blunders, disasters, and treachery that have been rife in the land,” said Lady Mabel, “more than one name has been added to the list of its heroes—­Palafox and the Maid of Zaragoza have won immortal fame.”

“And others less famous have deserved as well,” said L’Isle.  “Before Augustina, this second Joan of Arc, had stepped out of her sex, to display her heroism, she and others, behind the same shattered, crumbling wall, had been showing an equal heroism within their sex’s sphere.  Women of all ranks were zealous in the patriotic cause.  They formed themselves into companies, some to assist the wounded, some to carry water, wine and food to those who defended the gates.  The Countess Burita raised a corps for this service.  She was young, delicate and beautiful.  In the midst of the most tremendous fire of shot and shells, she was seen coolly attending to those occupations, which were now become her duty; nor through the whole of a two month’s siege did the imminent danger, to which she incessantly exposed herself, produce the slightest apparent effect upon her; her step never faltered, her eye never quailed.  What a partial thing is fame,” he continued, “and how poor a motive to duty!  The names of Palafox and Zaragoza are forever wedded.  How few remember the old plebeian, Tio Jorge, who counseled and spurred on both governor and populace to their heroic defence!”

“When we remember all that the Spaniards have undergone in this war,” said Lady Mabel, “we cannot but think that their atrocities in the new world have been visited on them at home.”

“How far we must answer for the sins of our forefathers,” said L’Isle, “is a nice question.  We have some scriptural authority for asserting that responsibility; and as there is no hereafter for nations, they must be punished in this world, or not at all.  I would be sorry to bear my share of the penalty of all that immaculate England has done.  But I do not fear the fate of Spain for England: