End of the Romance
“Venezuela is wounded in the heart!” exclaimed Miranda in a deep voice as he read the despatch telling of the loss of Puerto Cabello.
It was Simon Bolivar, the fiery, impetuous, young Patriot, who had lost this important fortress and city to Monteverde. He was in despair, Bolivar said, because his own body had not been left under the ruins of that city.
But the fortress was irretrievably lost, and the tide of Fortune was turned against Independence. The cause of Venezuela seemed hopeless. Miranda was worn and weary. So he capitulated.
He capitulated to Monteverde, with the agreement that none of the Patriots should be made to suffer for their rebellion; and that any of them who so wished, might leave the country.
After signing the capitulation, Miranda prepared to leave on an English vessel and seek refuge in the West Indies. He sent his servants with his money and precious papers aboard. He then decided to sleep that night on land, and embark the next morning.
But he never embarked. Bolivar, with some of Miranda’s officers, indignant it is said because Miranda had capitulated, seized him while he was asleep, and threw him into a dungeon.
After which they surrendered him to Monteverde, who had him transferred in chains to Puerto Cabello, the same Fortress in which our young Americans from the Mystery Ship had suffered so terribly.
Meanwhile, Simon Bolivar obtained a passport from Monteverde and fled to the West Indies.
As for Miranda, he continued to languish in Spanish-American prisons for some time. Then he was carried to Spain and cast into a dungeon.
Though Miranda’s existence was miserable, he received comfort from his books, for he delighted to read. In his cell after his death, were found Horace, Virgil, Cicero, Don Quixote,—and even a copy of the New Testament.
Early on the morning of July 14, 1816, he “gave his soul to God, his name to history, and his body to the earth.” Whether he died by poison, execution, or natural death, no one knows.
Thus perished the Flaming Son of Liberty, the Knight-Errant of Freedom, the Chief of the Apostles of Spanish-American Independence.
So his romance was ended. But his work was only begun; it lived on for others to finish.
For how his work lived on, read Simon Bolivar the Liberator, page 371.