faltering out a few words of humility and gratitude: Sebastian hastened
to raise, and clasp her in his arms, while he explained his intention
of recalling her father from France in order to witness their immediate
marriage. Donna Gonsalva changed colour, averted her eyes, hesitated,
panted for breath, and at length apprehensively confessed that she was
under engagements to a young nobleman; nay, that her father had given
her to him in marriage at the age of seven years.
Had the earth opened at the feet of Sebastian, he could not have felt
more horror.--Speechless with emotion, his looks only continued to
interrogate Gonsalva: she trembled and wept, but conjured him to
believe that after the ceremony was performed, she had almost forgotten
it, as her bridegroom had gone out to Goa with his grandfather the
viceroy of India, and was but lately returned.
“And you have seen him Gonsalva?” asked the King mournfully. “Yes,
I have seen him thrice, but without giving him the least hope that
I would ratify the cruel engagement in which my infant mind had no
share.--When he visited me last, you were absent, your love was
doubtful, your real rank unknown, I was uncertain whether you might
ever return to me, and yet I told him my resolution.”
“Then you loved me from the first?” cried the transported Sebastian,
“let not my Gonsalva ever again torture me with assumed indifference,
when this conduct shews that she preferred the pain of concealment
to the hazard of losing me by the early mention of this hateful
obstacle. Take courage, dearest! ties like these may be broken without
dishonour; and thank God! I am a King.”
The impetuous and imperious Sebastian forgot at this moment his
character of _just_; he was incapable of admitting either a parent’s or
a husband’s right, when the one had used his power tyrannically, and
the other had been forced upon a child incapable of choice. To obtain
the pope’s bull for annulling this marriage, seemed not a matter of
difficulty; the consent of Vimiosa was of course certain; and as the
rival husband had not been long returned from India, he was not likely
to oppose the divorce from any motive of attachment: at all events,
Sebastian resolved to use his prerogative if necessary, since Gonsalva
had expressed for him the most passionate preference, and ought not
her happiness to be the first object of his life!--She now repeated
her promise of living for him alone, and at that sound the momentary
obstacle disappeared from her lover’s sight.
After this conference the rash young monarch dispatched couriers into
France with letters to the count Vimiosa, demanding his daughter, and
inviting him to return and assist in dissolving the bands which tied
her to Don Emanuel de Castro: at the same time he sent a magnificent
embassy to Rome, praying for a divorce; and commissioned his cousin
Antonio to see and converse with Don Emanuel.
Meanwhile Donna Gonsalva had hinted to Sebastian the impropriety
of exposing her reputation to the scandal of being discovered in a
clandestine intercourse with her sovereign: having no longer a reason
for concealment, Sebastian embraced the permission this hint gave him,
and came with a splendid retinue to Vimiosa. His lords saw nothing
extraordinary in a young monarch paying a courteous visit to the sister
and daughter of one of his greatest subjects, but no sooner did they
behold the transcendent beauty of Donna Gonsalva, and the emotion of
their royal master, than a suspicion of the truth was awakened amongst
them.
Lost in a round of new and delightful enjoyments, Sebastian was
from that hour continually at the house of his mistress: his cousin
accompanied him in these visits, and warmly applauded his choice. But
the eloquence of the latter had been used in vain to obtain an hearing
from Don Emanuel De Castro; that young nobleman refusing to converse on
the subject of her marriage with any other than the King himself.
Sebastian’s nature was too generous not to revolt from some arbitrary
measures which Antonio suggested in the height of his zeal and
displeasure: he refused to degrade or distress his rival; and the
dictates of delicacy forbade him to attempt purchasing his acquiescence
by mere honours.
De Castro was indeed worthy of this liberal treatment: he had
distinguished himself in the Indies under his grandfather, by the
most brilliant services. His intrepidity and genius for war were not
the only themes of praise; to these were added justice, temperance,
a benevolent attention to the natural propensities, habits, and even
prejudices of the Indians, and a conciliating manner which subdued them
still more than his arms. Filial piety was the first of his virtues:
after twelve years residence in India, a dangerous disease fastened
upon his aged parent, which compelled him to return home: Don Emanuel
was advised to remain at Goa, where he would in all probability receive
an immediate nomination to succeed the viceroy in his government; but
he refused to act thus:--abandoning this expectation, and resigning his
military command, he left the eastern world, chiefly for the sake of
softening the discomforts of a tedious voyage to a relation he revered;
though the idea of claiming his young bride sweetened the sacrifice.
On reaching Portugal, the viceroy had gone to his seat at Santaren,
from whence Don Emanuel had twice visited Gonsalva: but the death
of his beloved grandfather quickly followed, and prevented him from
seeing her again, till the first days of his mourning were passed.--Don
Emanuel was preparing to appear at court for the first time, when the
King’s pleasure was intimated to him by the prior of Crato. Refusing to
discuss so important a matter with a third person, he was ordered into
the presence of his sovereign.--The King alone, and secretly at war
with himself, received him with embarrassment: his excessive emotion
formed a decided contrast to the grave and dignified composure of De
Castro. The latter was just going to pay the usual mark of homage to
princes, when Sebastian impetuously caught him by the arm, exclaiming,
“Bend not your knee to one who would dismiss from your mind in this
conference all thought of his authority: I wish you to hear me, Don
Emanuel, not as a King, who might insist, but as a man who is willing
to submit to the decision of equity.--In conversing on this interesting
topic, let us think only of the rights and the happiness of Donna
Gonsalva--let us forget, if possible, our own desires.--Believe me, if
I did not flatter myself with being inexpressibly dear to her, if I did
not abhor and renounce with my whole heart this unnatural practice of
infant nuptials, I would not seek to release her hand, though certain
of commanding it the next instant:--nay, had I known earlier of her
engagements, preposterous as I deem them, I would have avoided the
scandal and the pain of dissolving them.”
De Castro fixed his eyes upon the ingenuous though disturbed
countenance of the King: esteem and compassion were in the look.--“This
is the first time,” he said, “in which I have had the honour of
seeing and conversing with my sovereign, and I foresee it will add to
my former loyalty, the sentiments of gratitude and admiration.--my
fortunes, my services, my life, sire, are at your feet, dispose of
them henceforth as you will; but I beseech you for your own honour
and happiness, for the sake of your people, proceed no further in
dissolving my union with Donna Gonsalva.”
“How! Don Emanuel,” exclaimed Sebastian, “do you pretend to persuade me
of these animated sentiments, and yet deny me the only favor peculiarly
your own to bestow? as your sovereign I may command your services and
life; but when I ask of you with the simplicity of an equal, to resign
the shadow of a right over a woman whom _you_ cannot love, whom _I_
love with all the ardour of virtuous tenderness, and who blesses me in
return, when I ask _this_ at your hands, you capriciously, tyrannically
deny me. What conduct is this? how dare you mock me with expressions of
devoted regard?”
Embarrassed yet not confounded, Don Emanuel was silent; the king
pressed his remark with increased ardour, adding, in a tone of greater
emotion, “You were contracted to Donna Gonsalva at the age of thirteen,
you went immediately after to India, from whence you are returned
but three months; in that period you have seen the fair Gonsalva
only thrice, and that in reserved interviews before her aunt, where
nothing beyond personal graces could speak to your senses. No charm
of varied discourse; no enchantment of sensibility could penetrate to
your soul; the coldness of her feelings must have chilled yours: love
feeds, grows, lives upon love! Can you then, will you then have the
injustice to place your mere admiration of her beauty upon a par with
my lively preference of her character, and my tender sympathy with her
disinterested affection? Have a care, Don Emmanuel, force me not to
resume the King; you may rouse me into measures which otherwise I would
have spurned.”
“I trust, Sire, to your own conviction of the justice of my claim,
replied De Castro firmly, the king of Portugal is born to be the glory
and the examplar of Kings: he will teach the Portuguese to obey the
laws, by first obeying them himself; he will respect even the simplest
rights of his subjects; he will reflect that absolute power tempts to
oppression, and renders self-denial the greatest effort of virtue; and
in proportion as injustice is easy to him, his magnanimity will render
it difficult.” Don Emanuel paused, but Sebastian was silent; for there
was something in Don Emanuel’s manner which at once inspired respect,
and rivetted attention: interpreting his sovereign’s looks, that
nobleman continued--“Pardon my boldness, sire, if I venture to tell
you, that in marrying a subject, and that subject a woman ravished from
her husband, you will stain your unsullied name, and disappoint your
people. Hitherto, monarchs of Portugal have strengthened their power
by foreign alliances--you, sire, have refused daughters of France and
Spain; and when it is known that you have refused them for a private
person, may we not dread the consequences?”
“What! Don Emanuel,” interrupted Sebastian, “does your otherwise
admirable theory of a prince’s duties, lead to this extravagant
conclusion, that he is bound to sacrifice his domestic happiness to a
mere shew of benefitting his people?--Is a powerful alliance more than
a political pageant?--When did you ever find the dearest connections
amongst earthly potentates, (and I blush for them whilst I urge it,)
able to counterbalance the promptings of ambition and opportunity?
every solid advantage would be as firmly secured to Portugal by my
union with a subject as with a princess. I am not the first King of
Portugal who has declared that ‘marriage is the prerogative of every
man.’”
“True, Sire!” returned De Castro, respectfully, “but your majesty will
remember that the august monarch who made this declaration, coupled it
with these words--_I promise never to invade this prerogative in the
person of another, and for that reason expect never to have it invaded
in my own._”
“De Castro,” said the King earnestly, “tell me that you tenderly,
exclusively love her--swear it to me by your hope of eternal salvation,
and whatever it may cost me, I will relinquish my own happiness, but
never again expect to behold the face of your sovereign: for the man
who would force to his arms an unwilling bride, must have a soul with
which mine can have no fellowship.”
Extremely affected by the honourable emotion of his royal master, Don
Emanuel’s voice faltered as he replied, “My nature, sire, is incapable
of deriving gratification from any forced submission; much less from
that submission of woman’s heart, which must be voluntary to be
sweet:--be assured Donna Gonsalva shall not be compelled into my arms.
To swear I love her dearer than any thing on earth, would be false,
for I love my King better: I take Heaven to witness it is more for his
honor and prosperity, than for my own wishes, that I thus desperately
risk his displeasure. Time, perhaps, may plead in my justification,
and convince you, sire, that though I refuse every other ground of
discussion except that of right, yet am I sincere when I repeat, that
for loyalty and the most passionate wish for your majesty’s real
happiness, my heart may challenge any heart in Portugal.”
Sebastian’s indignant eyes searched the countenance of Don Emanuel;
“There is a proud mystery about you, sir,” he said, “which displeases
me:--I have humbled myself too much.--Since it is to be a question of
right, learn to respect the rights of your prince. From this hour know
that I will be obeyed.”
Don Emanuel threw himself at the King’s feet.--“Then I must _implore_
for justice, and conjure my sovereign to decide on my claim as he
would have done in a similar cause in which he was not a party. Ah,
sire! you turn pale! your upright soul feels the force of that plain
appeal. Would to God, for your own august sake, that you would not
precipitately do an act of violence.--Have you no fears, sire, that
the woman who could so long conceal, and so lightly break a sacred tie
(however imposed,) has been actuated by less disinterested motives than
those of virtuous love?”
At this unexpected question, the King lost all command of his passions,
and fiercely motioned for Don Emanuel to withdraw; his look and gesture
were too violent not to warn de Castro that he trod on the brink of a
precipice: that young nobleman rose from the ground, and as he bowed
respectfully, a deep sigh escaped him, he bowed again, and left the
King to his own thoughts.
CHAP. III.
Sebastian’s mind was a tempest of angry feelings. It was now
evident, that unless the presence and arguments of the Count Vimiosa
should prevail over De Castro’s obstinacy, he must be forced to use
compulsion: such measures were so abhorrent to his nature that he felt
increased aversion for the man who thus rendered them necessary.
Don Emanuel was forbid to appear at court; yet his still generous,
though indignant sovereign, neither abridged his honours nor his
liberty: he testified his displeasure merely by banishing him from his
presence. The prior of Crato observed this moderation and blamed it:
Sebastian answered him by saying, “De Castro has to thank me for much
more forbearance: were I to follow the dictates of my proud spirit, I
would crush him with benefits, and render this perseverance odious to
the whole world. But I disdain to take so unfair an advantage.” Antonio
was not reconciled to such a refinement of honour, yet he attempted not
to ridicule it. The arrival of the Count Vimiosa revived the spirits
of the King; from him he expected implicit submission, and he found
it. The Count had early learned the court lesson of obedience; and was
besides intoxicated with the height to which his daughter’s elevation
would raise himself: he professed his willingness to repair in person
to Rome for the dispensation; inveighing bitterly against the rash and
selfish man who thus ventured to contend with his prince.
Sebastian could not conceal from his own thoughts that he despised this
pliant father, who boasted acquiescence as the fruit of reverence to
royal authority, not as springing from the conviction of woman’s right
to dispose of her affection and her hand: Sebastian was accustomed
to estimate the value of men’s actions by their motives; and scorning
those of Vimiosa, scarcely brooked his presence even in the society of
his daughter. However, for her sake he gave him the palace of Xabregas,
to which she was shortly after removed with her discreet aunt from the
vicinity of Crato.
Though debarred from personally appearing before the King, Don Emanuel
addressed a letter to him full of duteous affection, in which he
offered to forego all claim upon Donna Gonsalva, provided she continued
to wish it at the expiration of six months: but for that period he
stipulated that she must either retire into a convent, or accept the
protection of his aunt Donna Garcia di Nugnez, a lady of unblemished
reputation, under her roof she might receive his visits, and those of
the King also.
This proposal De Castro pressed with such earnestness (offering to
pledge himself under forfeiture of his estates and life, to use no
authority over the will of Donna Gonsalva,) that Sebastian was induced
to consider it--there was such an air of sincerity in the whole of
that young nobleman’s conduct, and his character had hitherto been so
irreproachable, that it was impossible even for the passion-blinded
King to refuse believing him innocent of wanton insolence. Whatever
romantic notions of right and honour might tempt him into the present
opposition, it was evident that he rather sought to give his prince
time to recollect himself, than finally to thwart his wishes.
Stimulated to convince Don Emanuel that his choice arose not from a
temporary gust of passion, Sebastian half-resolved to accept these
offered terms, and consent to six months probation. With this view he
hastened from the palace of Ribera to that of Xabregas, to communicate
the letter to Donna Gonsalva: he found her in the midst of her little
court, like the Queen of beauty surrounded by graces and loves. On his
entrance the nobles retired, leaving only the prior of Crato, and Donna
Sancha Vimiosa.
While the fair Portuguese read De Castro’s letter, the blood suddenly
forsook her lips and cheeks; she fixed her amazed eyes on Don Antonio,
as if unconscious of what they looked on, repeating aloud “for six
months!”--at that moment Sebastian forgot his rational resolution; “but
we are not to be debarred the society of each other all that time, my
Gonsalva!” said he, tenderly kissing her hand.
Gonsalva gazed at him with a mixture of astonishment and
apprehension--“already so indifferent!” she exclaimed--“artful De
Castro, thou knowest but too well, I fear, how those six months would
end!”
“Donna Gonsalva!” cried the prior, with no very respectful roughness,
“are you in your senses?--observe the king.”
Instantaneously recalled, the beautiful Gonsalva recovered from her
extraordinary agitation, and turning to her lover, beheld on his
countenance such an expression of grateful surprize and fond regret,
then she half sunk into his arms, repeating with the voice of a syren
“you will not banish me from happiness for six long months? you will
not kill your Gonsalva with fears which your authority may end for
ever!”
Sebastian pressed her to him in a transport of love--“what is it you
fear!” he exclaimed, “what is it alarms my Gonsalva!”
His charming mistress cast down her eyes abashed, “I fear, without
cause perhaps,” she said, “yet, you have yourself often remarked, that
true tenderness trembles at every delay of what it sighs for.--These
six months passed with a relation of the man who calls himself my
husband--these six months in which you may be wrought on to abandon
me--are so frightful--so sad--alas! how shall I live through them!”
Antonio, who was reading the important letter, now broke in upon
Sebastian’s soothings: he spoke with peculiar warmth on the weakness
of allowing himself to be thus trifled with by an inferior. He could
not understand, he observed, any of those romantic notions which his
royal master urged in defence of Don Emanuel; but frankly gave it as
his opinion that De Castro, so far from being sincere in his promise
of resigning the lady in half a year, was more likely to take a base
advantage of a husband’s authority, and whenever Donna Gonsalva should
be removed from her own family, render it impossible for her to return
to her lover.
“I am not a deep reasoner, my honoured cousin,” added the prior, with
his usual good-humoured levity--“but depend on it I see actions as
they are; and never am out in men’s motives,--shall I tell you what I
would do in your majesty’s place?--I would flatly refuse this insidious
offer, and send the proposer of it back to the Indies: give him the
viceroyalty by way of consolation.”
“Not to get him quietly out of the way:” replied the King, “do not
injure yourself so in my thoughts Antonio, by urging such unworthy
conduct!--no, he shall be heard at the tribunal to which I appeal. I am
not going to _rob_ him.”
“Your majesty’s apprehension is so quick, and so erring sometimes!”
cried the smiling prior, “I simply meant him to be complimented with
the government of India, _after_ the cause had gone against him.”
“No, nor that either,” answered Sebastian, “I will not purchase the
silence of an enemy at the expense of my people. If I am to believe
De Castro insincere and unworthy, he is not to be trusted with the
destinies of thousands.”
“Well, you must pardon my zeal, sire!--I would perform a ten
year’s penance for your sake, (and your majesty knows how ill long
fasts and sleepless nights suit my taste,) and it chafes me into
uncharitableness, perhaps, to find a fellow cheating your generous
nature with mere breath.”
“I know your affectionate heart!” said the King, with one of his benign
smiles: then turning to Gonsalva, who had been all this time resting
her fair cheek on his shoulder, and moistening it with tears, he
besought her to pronounce her will, and it should be obeyed.
“Renew your solicitations at Rome!” she exclaimed, pleasure sparkling
in her eyes--“suffer me still to remain at Xabregas with my kind aunt
here--and from this hour till the blessed one which makes me yours,
refuse to see or hear from Don Emanuel.--Never, never again let me be
tortured with his presence.”
The King kissed her hand in token of assent; and De Castro’s proposal
was rejected.
A second embassy was now dispatched under the Count Vimiosa into Italy;
while Don Emanuel, wearied with fruitless efforts to see the King
again, and secretly supported by many of the nobility, who envied the
elevation of the Vimiosas, went himself to Rome to ask for justice
at the feet of the pope. His cause was strengthened by the French
court, exasperated at the refusal of their alliance with Portugal;
and strenuously promoted by the influence of a high Italian family
with whom he was connected by blood.--But Sebastian felt secure of
success, and intoxicated by the delight of love, could not conceive the
possibility of disappointment.
His beautiful idol was now the idol of the people and the nobles;
wherever she moved, crowds hung upon her charms; the graces of her
air, and the bewitching playfulness of her manner, attracted hearts as
well as eyes, and among the young lords who approached the fascination
of her accomplishments, scarcely any one preserved himself from the
torment of fruitless desires.--This admiration from others, increased
the passion, because it flattered the pride of the King; and assured of
being exclusively beloved, he no longer blushed to display the excess
and tenderness of his feelings.
At length the pope’s decision arrived;--Count Vimiosa returned
triumphant; De Castro foiled.
Transported with joy, Sebastian flew to impart the tidings to Donna
Gonsalva: how was she struck on finding that her father had obtained
her lover’s suit, only by promising his holiness the performance of an
imprudent vow once made by the King to Don Antonio!--that vow would
leave her still without perfect security; it would take him into
Africa, amidst danger and death!
The most violent bursts of tears, shrieks, and fits, followed this
unhappy disclosure; Sebastian had never before seen her so moved:
ravished with such convincing proofs of his empire over her heart, he
renewed his protestations of eternal fidelity, accompanying them with
many a fond endearment. By degrees his arguments and caresses produced
soothing effects, and the weeping beauty was pacified.--Nature indeed
had blessed her with a disposition so averse from thought and care,
that grief dwelt with her but an instant: she made her lover repeat all
his vows of love and truth, and the assurance of denying De Castro’s
return to court, and then she revived to smiling happiness.