His reception in Caracas surpassed any one that Bolivar had ever been
given. He could not walk because of the crowd. He had to listen to
addresses, hymns and eulogies, receive crowns, attend banquets and accept
all kinds of homage. His modesty was recognized by an inscription on one of
the banquet tables: "To conquer in the field of battle may be the work of
fortune; to conquer the pride of victory is the work of the conqueror."
Paez, who had been presented a sword by Bolivar, expressed his gratitude
in the warmest terms, and pledged himself to the service of his fellow
citizens.
"I should rather die a hundred times," he said, "and lose every drop of
my blood than to permit this sword to leave my hand, or ever attempt to
shed the blood which up to now it has set free.... Bolivar's sword is
in my hands. For you and for him I shall go with it to eternity. This
oath is inviolable."
CHAPTER XVIII
_The Convention of Ocana. Full Powers. An Attempt at Murder_
(1828)
It was Bolivar's fortune to dispel the effect of evil with his presence,
but in his absence evil was certain to raise its head. While he triumphed
in Caracas, he was being severely criticised in Bogota, even by Santander.
His generosity with regard to Paez irritated the people of Nueva Granada to
the extreme.
When Congress convened, Bolivar tendered his resignation, as usual, but
this time he insisted still more. "For fourteen years," he wrote, "I have
been Supreme Chief and President of the Republic.
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