The Battle of Pamplona
The Battle of Pamplona |
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| For twenty-six years of his life he had given himself to the vanities of the world. In | |
| quest of honor, he had especially devoted himself to, and thrilled in the mastery of | |
| arms. Thus, finding himself in a fort besieged by French troops, and everyone being of | |
| the opinion that, to save their own lives, the defenders would have to surrender--for , it | |
| was impossible to hold out any longer--he argued with such persuasiveness with the | |
| commander that the latter (against the advice of all the officers) decided to put up a | |
| defense. And with his fiery zeal, he revived courage in his comrades-in-arms. | |
| Eventually the French drew up their battery against the fort... The fort had sustained | |
| volley after volley of fire from the battery when a cannon ball smashed him in the | |
| leg, crushing it completely; and since the ball shot between his legs, the other leg was | |
| also badly hurt. | |
| Thus he fell, and soon afterwards the defenders surrendered to the French. After | |
| they had taken over the fort, the French treated the wounded man well enough, with | |
| kindness and respect. (Chapter I.1) |