But as the cry swept over the bosom of old father Tagus, the golden Tagus who reflects the glories of all Spain, he bore the cry along gladly and soft, but yet inverting the order,—
“All Spain hails thee first,
And then her chief city Toledo!”
Thus they conducted the good king to the palace, and there they led him to the bath; and then they trimmed his red melena[2], and arranged it so that it might not fall into his eyes; and they combed out the hair of his beard, but left it long and noble; and they put on him a royal robe with gold embroidery and an ermine collar, though he would have it sober in colour, and on his breast a blood-red cross.
Queen Sancha, too, they arrayed in a robe of green velvet, with gold and jewels round the border, her beautiful golden hair unbound, falling loose over her shoulders and reaching down to her palfrey.
The ladies went before, and strewed the ground with flowers, and filled the air with benedictions.
And thus they went forth to the cathedral to be crowned. And all the people ran to their balconies as they passed along, and cried,—
“Toledo and Spain for Vamba!
And also for Queen Sancha!”
But as the cry swept over the bosom of old father Tagus, the golden Tagus, who reflects the glories of all Spain, he bore the cry along, gladly and soft, but inverting the order,—