"How often, O my knights,
Your places being vacant at my side,
This chance of noble deeds will come and go."
The Princes Enrique and Fernando, having matured their ideas by much
discussion, decided on proposing to the King to make an expedition for
the taking of Tangier, similar to the one that their father had sent out
against Ceuta. Should he, however, be unwilling to make a great
national expedition, they would obtain from him his consent, and as much
aid as he thought proper, and would devote to the cause all their own
resources, which were considerable. Their eagerness grew as their ideas
developed, and some inkling of their wishes getting abroad, all the
younger nobility caught fire at the notion, and the princes soon saw
that their cause would be a popular one.
It was therefore with some confidence in the result that they sought
their brother in his private apartments, to lay their plans before him.
Duarte's life was one of unceasing toil for the good of his subjects.
He had already worked out a great scheme for improving the legal system
of Portugal, and his industry was immense. His difficulties were much
increased by the over-liberality with which his father had given away
the crown-lands to his nobility, and many an anxious hour was spent by
Duarte in trying to find means to fill his empty exchequer. He set an
example of economy in his household, closer than his young queen
altogether approved of; but the remedy for this great evil was still to
seek. Busy as he was, however, he retained the scholarly tastes of his
youth, and his book, _El Leal Conselheiro_; or, _The Faithful
Counsellor_, a collection of moral and political sayings, was in its day
of great value. Nor, however hurried, did he ever fail in kindness and
consideration, especially to Fernando, whom he regarded with almost the
protecting affection of a father.
He rose now from the table at which he was writing, and greeted his
brothers warmly.
"Ah! Enrique," he said, "have you come to tell me how matters go in
your new dominions?"
For Duarte had made Enrique a present of his recent discovery, the
island of Madeira.
"Not now, sire," said Enrique, with some formality. "We have a request
to make to you."
"You can hardly ask me for what I will not grant," said the King. "Sit
here, Fernando," pointing to a couch by the fire. "You look pale--are
you well to-day?"
"I am well and strong," said Fernando. "You think too much of my
weakness."
And he remained standing, while Enrique, whose words of course carried
greater weight, unfolded their cherished scheme. Duarte's face grew
very grave as he listened.
"This is your wish, my Fernando?" he said, moving over to him.
"The wish of my heart--of my life!" said Fernando, as he grasped
Duarte's hand.
"I fear that I see not the way to grant it," said Duarte, with a
reluctant gentleness difficult to contradict.
"Tangier," said Enrique, "would be a splendid jewel to set in the crown
of Portugal. We were young and untried when we took Ceuta; it is little
likely that we should now fail."
"I do not fear failure," said Duarte; "assuredly not under your leading.
Yet my father could not see his way to further conquests in Barbary,
nor can I."
"How so?" said Enrique, bluntly. He was quite as great a man as his
brother, and though thoroughly loyal to Duarte, was not much accustomed
to opposition from him, but rather to admiring assistance in whatever he
proposed.
"I will tell you," said Duarte, gently. "You are a greater soldier than
I, Enrique, and your eyes see far into the possible future; but it is I
who must consider the well-being of Portugal."
"Pardon," said Enrique, "if I spoke in haste. Without your good will we
could do nothing."
Duarte sat down on the couch and drew Fernando to a place beside him,
watching his face while he spoke.
"First," said Duarte, "I cannot tell where the funds to engage in such a
war are to be found. We have no money to spare; it costs me much care
to consider how to support the state."
"We put our resources at your disposal," said Enrique.
"But yours, my brother, are already hardly pressed for purposes which
will, to my thinking, do more in the end for the spread of the Cross
than even the taking of Tangier."
Enrique was silent; he knew well enough the truth of this. Scientific
discoveries were not made for nothing in days when only one man saw the
necessity of them.
"But," said Fernando, "it seems to me that a small force, well armed and
full of zeal, would be sufficient."
"You think so?" said Duarte, as if weighing words. "War is very costly,
and even if the council consent, that would be no holy war for which
unjust taxes were levied."
Justice was too strongly impressed on the sons of King Joao for this
principle to be resisted, however unfamiliar it was to the fifteenth
century. Fernando, however, spoke pleadingly.
"You speak of the well-being of Portugal. Surely it is for the highest
well-being of a nation to engage in a noble and self-sacrificing
struggle. There are better things than prosperity and ease."
"Yes," said Duarte. "There are good laws and honest living, education,
and the due support of Holy Church. See you, if my father's reign had
been, as we all once wished, one long war against the Infidel, where
would have been his translation of the Holy Scriptures into Portuguese--
where Batalha and our other great abbeys, to say nothing of the general
reform of the kingdom? Do not mistake me, my brothers; my heart glows
like yours to fight for the Cross. But, as I read my duty, God has
given me this piece of ground to till, and it calls for all my care.
You, too, would both be missed much from all the good works you have
taken in hand."
"We can return to them with new ardour," said Enrique.
"Yes, and Fernando longs rightly to bear arms. I would it could be so."
"I live but half a life," said Fernando, low and earnestly.
"But then, bear with me while I tell you another difficulty. What
pretext have I for making war on the Moorish king? He has in no way
injured me!"
"There is never a prisoner taken but offers no pretext, but a reason,"
said Fernando, eagerly. "Every captive groaning in those dungeons is a
good cause."
"There has been less kidnapping of late," said Duarte.
"Yes, since Ceuta was ours," replied Enrique. "Take Tangier and there
will be none."
Perhaps Duarte was more inclined to the scheme by the ardour of
Fernando's wish than by any other cause. He was still hesitating, when
there was a summons at the door, and the two other brothers were
admitted.
"Consult them on the matter," said Enrique; and Duarte, after the first
greetings, rehearsed Enrique's arguments and his own, demanding the
opinion of the new-comers.
"I say," said Pedro, decidedly, "that the scheme is a foolish one. What
is the good of plunging Portugal into a rash war with a prince who is a
tolerable neighbour, as times go? I give my voice against it."
"If it is done," said Dom Joao, "it must be by the force of the whole
country. No smaller expedition could have a chance. If Fernando had
seen anything of warfare, even his hot head could make no such
proposal."
"I do not rest on my own judgment, my brother," said Fernando, gently.
"Enrique's experience is beyond dispute."
"Enrique once tried to take Gibraltar," said Joao, referring to a rash
attempt of Enrique's youth, "and took me with him."
"When you were glad enough to go," said Enrique, smiling.
"Ay, but since then I have grown wiser. Look you here. Your ardour
runs away with you, and Fernando knows nought of the matter. Tangier
would be a hard nut to crack, and he could not bear the campaign needful
for taking it."
"You have no right so to put me aside," exclaimed Fernando; then checked
himself. "Pardon me, I am hasty. I think indeed little enough of my
own powers. I do but wish to devote my uselessness to the service of
Holy Church."
"Holy Church would take the will for the deed!" said Joao, with a
contemptuous good nature which was hard to bear. He was very fond of
Fernando, but his practical and less tender nature had less sympathy for
him than any of the others. Fernando coloured, but said nothing; and
Duarte, with an elder's authority, said--
"The wishes of our brothers, Enrique and Fernando, and their opinions,
have due weights I give way to them so far that I shall lay this matter
before the Council of Portugal, when all may speak their mind. But, my
brothers, let not our difference of opinion bring the first cloud
between us."
"Nay," said Fernando, with rather a painful smile, "Joao does but prove
the truth of my complaint, that I have hitherto been the idle one among
you. But we have taken enough of the king's time. I would but ask him
to forgive me for urging my wishes on him."
"Nay, it is well to be reminded of our higher aims," said Duarte, who
had not quite approved of the way in which Fernando had been put down by
the others. "We will speak of it again in Council."
In spite of Duarte's warning there was a good deal of hot discussion
between Enrique, Pedro, and Joao, which certainly resulted in fixing
Enrique's own view of the matter. Duarte declined to speak of it
further in private, and Fernando's desire grew so strong that he feared
to trust his own temper in the dispute. He spoke, however, in the
council well and to the point, urging his view of what number would be
sufficient for the attack, and the reasons why he thought that it should
be made. Enrique supported him with all the weight of his influence,
and the war was exceedingly popular among the younger nobility. Pedro
opposed it entirely; Joao declared it to be only possible with a very
large force and at great expense; and the king, finding his council
divided, at last appealed to the decision of the Pope. If he authorised
the war, and would give a Bull of Crusade, well and good; if not, the
project must be abandoned.
But meanwhile Enrique and Fernando made their preparations, to be ready
to start at once when the consent, of which they never doubted, arrived.