_From the Chevalier De Rabilier’s remarkable
Events of the present Century._
Francis Anthony De Sandoval, duke of Medina Celi, and of St. Lucar, in
the province of Andalusia, was not only a grandee of the first class,
but exceedingly beloved in the country where he usually resided, on
account of his great benevolence and affability to all ranks of people
who approached him. Having a prodigious estate in lands, besides the
duties and customs of the port of St. Lucar, near Seville, which were
conferred on his family by Roderick the last monarch of the Gothic race,
he kept a sort of vice royal court, to which the nobility, gentry, and
merchants, around his wide domain, were always welcomed with the
grandeur of a prince, the hospitality of a burgher, and the smiles of a
friend. Young, rich, powerful, and revered by thousands, who considered
him as the pride of their country, and an honour to the whole nation,
nothing seemed wanting to complete the felicity of this worthy nobleman,
but an alliance suitable to his elevated rank and more distinguished
virtues. Many were the overtures on that head, from the most illustrious
families in every part of Spain; but his grace, who was of a domestic
turn, and averse from the vanities of high life, declined entering into
any engagement which might subject him to the impertinence, folly, and
etiquette, to which the major part of the fashionable world seem to
abound, either as servile imitators, or involuntary slaves. He loved
magnificence, but abhorred ceremony as much as the amusements wherein
persons of fortune usually lose the best part of their time. Hunting he
considered as a manly exercise, calculated to brace the nerves, and give
circulation to the blood, therefore to be taken occasionally as physic,
not followed as a trade. It may be asked by some fantastic man of
pleasure of the court, or jolly squire of the country, how then could a
person of his quality spend his leisure hours? Why, in reading, walking,
entertaining his numerous friends at home, and returning the necessary
visits abroad, in various innocent parties on land and water, in keeping
up his gardens and improvements, in examining his vast houshold
accounts, inspecting the state of his vassals and farmers, hearing and
redressing their grievances, portioning the marriageable daughters of
his poor tenantry, and presiding at those nuptials, where he is
considered in the threefold light of father, benefactor, and guardian;
as the ministering angel of comfort, and deputed commissioner of a
bountiful Providence, to dispense his gracious mercies amongst the sons
and daughters of affliction. If to these healthful avocations and
duties, so worthy elevated rank and rich possessions, we add the public
and private attendance on religious worship, frequent self-examination,
and the distribution of super-abundant wealth, to modest indigence and
clamorous distress, as a small tribute for the distinguished blessings,
which rightly enjoyed, will confer the purest happiness here, and a
crown of glory in the regions of everlasting day hereafter, little or no
time can be spared for frivolous amusements or sinful pursuits. Think of
this, ye extravagant and debauched men of quality without peace, morals,
or good faith, whose hours are sacrificed to folly, whose minds are the
sport of delusion, whose bodies are the sinks of disease, and whose
fortunes are hastening to the hands of the extortioner who sooner or
later, will consume all you possess! Let the example of the duke of
Medina point out the true man of sense, honour and distinction; act like
him and be happy!
Whilst this model of real nobility was thus blessed, and blessing all
around, chance led him to the house of a tradesman in Seville, whose
only son was that very day to be married to an amiable girl of that
city. The condescension with which his grace always accepted an offer of
contributing to the pleasure of his friends and neighbours, rendered
much solicitation needless, and he determined to stand bridesman on the
occasion. The guests were a company of genteel citizens, who with their
wives and daughters, made a very tolerable appearance, and the duke
seemed delighted with manners not viciously refined, where elegance,
unsullied by pride or affectation, and beauty, unassisted by art, shone
out in native meridian lustre. But, with what joy did he behold a plain,
modest maiden, daughter to a linen-draper, named Anthony de Valdez, who
came with her mother to the wedding! He gazed, he admired, he loved,
this picture of rural innocence, with as much elegance and sensibility
as suited his ideas of a perfect form, joined to an amiable and virtuous
mind. After some acquaintance and private enquiries, which terminated to
the advantage of the young lady and her family, the duke demanded the
fair Elvira de Valdez in marriage, and was received with equal joy and
astonishment by the honest couple, who shed tears of gratitude for the
happiness offered their beloved child by the richest and most
illustrious lord in the whole monarchy of Spain. Miss Elvira expressed
no reluctance, but what proceeded from her own demerit and total
inequality; but this was soon got over, and the happy day fixed for the
Sunday following.
(_To be concluded in our next._)
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