The Sun.
London, England, 1829-11-07 00:00:00

evidence of M. Bourrienne to have its dtie weight
must be corroborated ; single and unassisted it
is nothing, or worse than nothing. We have
ventured these few remarks in no ungracious
spirit either towards the repentant Bourbonist or
his Reviewer, but simply that justice—that cold
cautious, common-sense meed of justice, which
is awarded to the worst malefactor at the 01(1
Bailey—may be rendered to the memory of one
of the greatest men that the world ever yet pro-
duced.

The remaining articles in the present number
we must dismiss with the remark that they are
clever, intelligent, and amusing. The " History
of the Cid" is particularly entertaining, in proof
of which we give the following extract, descrip-
tive of this chivalrous Spaniard's character, with
which we must conclude :

"In closing our remarks on the character of the Cid,
we may say that it is one of the proudest monuments of
social perfection of which a noble nation has ever been
justly proud. In youth Rodrigo sacrificed love to honour,
avenging the latter by the death of the father of his be-
loved. As a Councillor and defender of his King, hesup-
ported him against the Emperor and Pope. As a sub•
ject, he suffered with magnanimous forbearance the treat-
ment of the Sovereign, and only opposed him when the
true dignity of the Crown called for such interference, in
order to remove a (lark suspicion from the minds of the
people. As a warrior he joined the most consummate
prudence with the noblest daring, and having been all his
life unconquered, he after death obtained the title of un-
conquerable. As a victor, he pardoned even those who
had personally outraged him ; but he took terrible ven-
geance on the traitor, the usurper, the murderer, and the
offender of the weaker sex. As a ruler he was enabled,
by his integrity and love of order and justice, to govern in
harmony a newly-conquered kingdom, encompassed on all
sides with enemies, and inhabited by people differing in
religion, language, customs, and interests. Finally, as a
private man, as a husband, a father, and a friend, he re-
signed himself to every gentler feeling in the bosom of his
family, and made himself adored by all who surrounded
him. Such is the moral and political history of the Cid
Rui Diaz. Few nations can present such a character in
their annals, and yet the schoolmeu would seek to strip
this character of its brightest colours, and is extinguish
the noble sentiments of bravery and enthusiasm which its
contemplation is calculated to inspire. To a certain ex-
tent they have unhappily succeeded, and the chronicles and
romances of the magnanimous Cid Campeador are seldom
mentioned by the scholar, save in terms of contempt ap-
plied equally—and we may say with equal justice—to
their historic and poetical value. For ourselves, we must
aver, that the delightful simplicity of style, and elevation
of thought and feeling, which pervade these precious relics
from a glorious former time, cannot be too strongly incul-
cated and encouraged among the Spanish people of our
own unromantic period. Soon may the day arrive when
the hills and vales of Spain shall resound, as of yore, with
the praises of her loyal, just, and valorous Cid : for then
might we hail the return of that noble, but now slumber-
' ing spirit, which once led the Spaniards to conquest and
fame in the fields alike of martial and literary glory, and
which must, at no distant day, restore her to her rank
among the nations!"