"Looke back, who list, unto the former ages,
And call to count, what is of them become,
Where be those learned wits and antique sages,
Which of all wisdom knew the perfect somme?
Where those great warriors which did overcome
The world with conquest of their might and maine,
And made one meare of th'earth and of their raigne."
Ruins of Time.
Two or three days had passed before the Christians began to feel at home
in the ancient seat of Mahommedan power. By that time, however, the
Alhambra and the town got to be more regulated than they were during the
hurry, delight, and grief, of taking possession and departing; and as
the politic and far from ill-disposed Ferdinand had issued strict orders
that the Moors should not only be treated with kindness, but with
delicacy, the place gradually settled down into tranquillity, and men
began to fall into their ancient habits and to interest themselves in
their customary pursuits.
Don Fernando was much occupied with new cares, as a matter of course;
but his illustrious consort, who reserved herself for great occasions,
exercising her ordinary powers in the quiet, gentle manner that became
her sex and native disposition, her truth and piety, had already
withdrawn, as far as her high rank and substantial authority would
allow, from the pageantry and martial scenes of a warlike court, and was
seeking, with her wonted readiness, the haunts of private affection, and
that intercourse which is most congenial to the softer affections of a
woman. Her surviving children were with her, and they occupied much of
her maternal care; but she had also many hours for friendship, and for
the indulgence of an affection that appeared to include all her subjects
within the ties of family.
On the morning of the third day that succeeded the evening of the
interview related in the preceding chapter, Dona Isabella had collected
about her person a few of those privileged individuals who might be said
to have the entree to her more private hours; for while that of Castile
was renowned among Christian courts for etiquette, habits that it had
probably derived from the stately oriental usages of its Mahommedan
neighbors, the affectionate nature of the queen had cast a halo around
her own private circle, that at once rendered it graceful as well as
delightful to all who enjoyed the high honor of entering it. At that
day, churchmen enjoyed a species of exclusive favor, mingling with all
the concerns of life, and not unfrequently controlling them. While we
are quick to detect blemishes of this sort among foreign nations, and
are particularly prone to point out the evils that have flowed from the
meddling of the Romish divines, we verify the truth of the venerable
axiom that teaches us how much easier it is to see the faults of others
than to discover our own; for no people afford stronger evidences of the
existence of this control, than the people of the United States, more
especially that portion of them who dwell in places that were originally
settled by religionists, and which still continue under the influence of
the particular sects that first prevailed; and perhaps the strongest
national trait that exists among us at this moment--that of a
disposition to extend the control of society beyond the limits set by
the institutions and the laws, under the taking and plausible
appellation of Public Opinion--has its origin in the polity of churches
of a democratic character, that have aspired to be an _imperium in
imperio_, confirmed and strengthened by their modes of government and by
provincial habits. Be the fact as it may among ourselves, there is no
question of the ascendency of the Catholic priesthood throughout
Christendom, previously to the reformation; and Isabella was too
sincerely devout, too unostentatiously pious, not to allow them every
indulgence that comported with her own sense of right, and among others,
that of a free access to her presence, and an influence on all her
measures.
On the occasion just named, among others who were present was Fernando
de Talavera, a prelate of high station, who had just been named to the
new dignity of Archbishop of Granada, and the Fray Pedro de Carrascal,
the former teacher of Luis de Bobadilla, an unbeneficed divine, who owed
his favor to great simplicity of character, aided by his high birth.
Isabella, herself, was seated at a little table, where she was employed
with her needle, the subject of her toil being a task as homely as a
shirt for the king, it being a part of her womanly propensities to
acquit herself of this humble duty, as scrupulously as if she had been
the wife of a common tradesman of her own capital. This was one of the
habits of the age, however, if not a part of the policy of princes; for
most travellers have seen the celebrated saddle of the Queen of
Burgundy, with a place arranged for the distaff, that, when its owner
rode forth, she might set an example of thrift to her admiring subjects;
and with our own eyes, in these luxurious times, when few private ladies
even condescend to touch any thing as useful as the garment that
occupied the needle of Isabella of Castile, we have seen a queen, seated
amid her royal daughters, as diligently employed with the needle as if
her livelihood depended on her industry. But Dona Isabella had no
affectations. In feelings, speech, nature, and acts, she was truth
itself; and matrimonial tenderness gave her a deeply felt pleasure in
thus being occupied for a husband whom she tenderly loved as a man,
while it was impossible she could entirely conceal from herself all his
faults as a monarch. Near her sat the companion of her girlish days, the
long-tried and devoted Beatriz de Cabrera. Mercedes occupied a stool, at
the feet of the Infanta Isabella, while one or two other ladies of the
household were placed at hand, with such slight distinctions of rank as
denoted the presence of royalty, but with a domestic freedom that made
these observances graceful without rendering them fatiguing. The king
himself was writing at a table, in a distant corner of the vast
apartment; and no one, the newly-created archbishop not excepted,
presumed to approach that side of the room. The discourse was conducted
in a tone a little lower than common; even the queen, whose voice was
always melody, modulating its tones in a way not to interfere with the
train of thought into which her illustrious consort appeared to be
profoundly plunged. But, at the precise moment that we now desire to
present to the reader, Isabella had been deeply lost in reflection for
some time, and a general silence prevailed in the female circle around
the little work-tables.
"Daughter-Marchioness"--for so the queen usually addressed her
friend--"Daughter-Marchioness," said Isabella, arousing herself from the
long silence, "hath aught been seen or heard of late of the Senor Colon,
the pilot who hath so long urged us on the subject of this western
voyage?"
The quick, hurried glance of intelligence and gratification, that passed
between Mercedes and her guardian, betrayed the interest they felt in
this question, while the latter answered, as became her duty and her
respect for her mistress--
"You remember, Senora, that he was written for, by Fray Juan Perez, Your
Highness' ancient confessor, who journeyed all the way from his convent
of Santa Maria de Rabida, in Andalusia, to intercede in his behalf, that
his great designs might not be lost to Castile."
"Thou thinkest his designs, then, great, Daughter-Marchioness?"
"Can any think them otherwise, Senora? They seem reasonable and natural,
and if just, is it not a great and laudable undertaking to extend the
bounds of the church, and to confer honor and wealth on one's own
country? My enthusiastic ward, Mercedes de Valverde, is so zealous in
behalf of this navigator's great project, that, next to her duty to her
God, and her duty to her sovereigns, it seemeth to make the great
concern of her life."
The queen turned a smiling face toward the blushing girl who was the
subject of this remark, and she gazed at her, for an instant, with the
expression of affection that was so wont to illuminate her lovely
countenance when dwelling on the features of her own daughters.
"Dost thou acknowledge this, Dona Mercedes?" she said; "hath Colon so
convinced thee, that thou art thus zealous in his behalf?"
Mercedes arose, respectfully, when addressed by the queen, and she
advanced a step or two nearer to the royal person before she made any
reply.
"It becometh me to speak modestly, in this presence," said the beautiful
girl; "but I shall not deny that I feel deep concern for the success of
the Senor Colon. The thought is so noble, Senora, that it were a pity it
should not be just."
"This is the reasoning of the young and generous-minded; and I confess
myself, Beatrice, almost as childish as any, on this matter, at
times--Colon, out of question, is still here?"
"Indeed he is, Senora," answered Mercedes, eagerly, and with a haste she
immediately repented, for the inquiry was not made directly to herself;
"I know of one who hath seen him as lately as the day the troops took
possession of the town."
"Who is that person?" asked the queen, steadily, but not severely, her
eye having turned again to the face of the girl, with an interest that
continued to increase as she gazed.
Mercedes now bitterly regretted her indiscretion, and, in spite of a
mighty effort to repress her feelings, the tell-tale blood mounted to
her temples, ere she could find resolution to reply.
"Don Luis de Bobadilla, Senora, the nephew of my guardian, Dona
Beatriz," she at length answered; for the love of truth was stronger in
this pure-hearted young creature, even, than the dread of shame.
"Thou art particular, Senorita," Isabella observed calmly, severity
seldom entering into her communication with the just-minded and good;
"Don Luis cometh of too illustrious a house to need a herald to proclaim
his alliances. It is only the obscure that the world doth not trouble
itself about. Daughter-Marchioness," relieving Mercedes from a state
scarcely less painful than the rack, by turning her eyes toward her
friend, "this nephew of thine is a confirmed rover--but I doubt if he
could be prevailed on to undertake an expedition like this of Colon's,
that hath in view the glory of God and the benefit of the realm."
"Indeed, Senora"--Mercedes repressed her zeal by a sudden and triumphant
effort.
"Thou wert about to speak, Dona Mercedes," gravely observed the queen.
"I crave Your Highness' forgiveness. It was improperly, as your own
words were not addressed to me."
"This is not the court of the Queen of Castile, daughter, but the
private room of Isabella de Trastamara," said the queen, willing to
lessen the effect of what had already passed. "Thou hast the blood of
the Admiral of Castile in thy veins, and art even akin to our Lord the
King. Speak freely, then."
"I know your gracious goodness to me, Senora, and had nearly forgotten
myself, under its influence. All I had to say was, that Don Luis de
Bobadilla desireth exceedingly that the Senor Colon might get the
caravels he seeketh, and that he himself might obtain the royal
permission to make one among the adventurers."
"Can this be so, Beatriz?"
"Luis is a truant, Senora, beyond a question, but it is not with ignoble
motives. I have heard him ardently express his desire to be one of
Colon's followers, should that person be sent by Your Highness in search
of the land of Cathay."
Isabella made no reply, but she laid her homely work in her lap, and sat
musing, in pensive silence, for several minutes. During this interval,
none near her presumed to speak, and Mercedes retired, stealthily, to
her stool, at the feet of the Infanta. At length the queen arose, and,
crossing the room, she approached the table where Don Fernando was still
busily engaged with the pen. Here she paused a moment, as if unwilling
to disturb him; but soon, laying a hand kindly on his shoulder, she drew
his attention to herself. The king, as if conscious whence such
familiarity could alone proceed, looked around immediately, and, rising
from his chair, he was the first to speak.
"These Moriscoes need looking to," he said, betraying the direction that
his thoughts had so early taken toward the increase of his power--"I
find we have left Abdallah many strongholds in the Apulxarras, that may
make him a troublesome neighbor, unless we can push him across the
Mediterranean"--
"Of this, Fernando, we will converse on some other opportunity,"
interrupted the queen, whose pure mind disliked every thing that even
had an approach to a breach of faith. "It is hard enough for those who
control the affairs of men, always to obey God and their own
consciences, without seeking occasions to violate their faith. I have
come to thee, on another matter. The hurry of the times, and the
magnitude of our affairs, have caused us to overlook the promise given
to Colon, the navigator"--
"Still busied with thy needle, Isabella, and for my comfort," observed
the king, playing with the shirt that his royal consort had
unconsciously brought in her hand; "few subjects have wives as
considerate and kind as thou!"
"Thy comfort and happiness stand next to my duty to God and the care of
my people," returned Isabella, gratified at the notice the King of
Aragon had taken of this little homage of her sex, even while she
suspected that it came from a wish to parry the subject that was then
uppermost in her thoughts. "I would do naught in this important concern,
without thy fullest approbation, if that may be had; and I think it
toucheth our royal words to delay no longer. Seven years are a most
cruel probation, and, unless we are active, we shall have some of the
hot-blooded young nobles of the kingdom undertaking the matter, as their
holiday sports."
"Thou say'st true, Senora, and we will refer the subject, at once, to
Fernando de Talavera, yonder, who is of approved discretion, and one to
be relied on." As the king spoke, he beckoned to the individual named,
who immediately approached the royal pair. "Archbishop of Granada,"
continued the wily king, who had as many politic arts as a modern
patriot intently bent on his own advancement--"Archbishop of Granada,
our royal consort hath a desire that this affair of Colon should be
immediately inquired into, and reported on to ourselves. It is our joint
command that you, and others, take the matter, before the next
twenty-four hours shall pass, into mature consideration and inquiry, and
that you lay the result before ourselves. The names of your associates
shall be given to you in the course of the day."
While the tongue of Ferdinand was thus instructing the prelate, the
latter read in the expression of the monarch's eye, and in the coldness
of his countenance, a meaning that his quick and practiced wits were not
slow in interpreting. He signified his dutiful assent, however; received
the names of his associates in the commission, of whom Isabella pointed
out one or two, and then waited to join in the discourse.
"This project of Colon's is worthy of being more seriously inquired
into," resumed the king, when these preliminaries were settled, "and it
shall be our care to see that he hath all consideration. They tell me
the honest navigator is a good Christian."
"I think him devotedly so, Don Fernando. He hath a purpose, should God
prosper his present undertaking, to join in a new effort to regain the
holy sepulchre."
"Umph! Such designs may be meritorious, but ours is the true way to
advance the faith--this conquest of our own. We have raised the cross,
my wife, where the ensigns of infidelity were lately seen, and Granada
is so near Castile that it will not be difficult to maintain our altars.
Such, at least, are the opinions of a layman--holy prelate--on these
matters."
"And most just and wise opinions are they, Senor," returned the
archbishop. "That which can be retained, it is wisest to seek, for we
lose our labors in gaining things that Providence hath placed so far
beyond our control, that they do not seem designed for our purposes."
"There are those, my Lord Archbishop," observed the queen, "who might
argue against all attempts to recover the holy sepulchre, hearing
opinions like these, from so high authority!"
"Then, Senora, they would misconceive that authority," the politic
prelate hurriedly replied. "It is well for all Christendom, to drive the
Infidels from the Holy Land; but for Castile it is better to dispossess
them of Granada. The distinction is a very plain one, as every sound
casuist must admit."
"This truth is as evident to our reason," added Ferdinand, casting a
look of calm exultation out at a window, "as that yonder towers were
once Abdallah's, and that they are now our own!"
"Better for Castile!" repeated Isabella, in the tones of one who mused.
"For her worldly power better, perhaps, but not better for the souls of
those who achieve the deed--surely, not better for the glory of God!"
"My much-honored wife, and beloved consort"--said the king.
"Senora"--added the prelate.
But Isabella walked slowly away, pondering on principles, while the eyes
of the two worldings she left behind her, met, with the sort of
free-masonry that is in much request among those who are too apt to
substitute the expedient for the right. The queen did not return to her
seat, but she walked up and down that part of the room which the
archbishop had left vacant when he approached herself and her husband.
Here she remained alone for several minutes, even Ferdinand holding her
in too much reverence to presume to disturb her meditations, uninvited.
The queen several times cast glances at Mercedes, and, at length, she
commanded her to draw near.
"Daughter," said Isabella, who frequently addressed those she loved by
this endearing term, "thou hast not forgotten thy freely-offered vow?"
"Next to my duty to God, Senora, I most consider my duty to my
sovereign."
Mercedes spoke firmly, and in those tones that seldom deceive. Isabella
riveted her eyes on the pale features of the beautiful girl, and when
the words just quoted were uttered, a tender mother could not have
regarded a beloved child with stronger proofs of affection.
"Thy duty to God overshadoweth all other feelings, daughter, as is
just," answered the queen; "thy duty to me is secondary and inferior.
Still, thou and all others, owe a solemn duty to your sovereign, and I
should be unfit for the high trust that I have received from Providence,
did I permit any of these obligations to lessen. It is not I that reign
in Castile, but Providence, through its humble and unworthy instrument.
My people are my children, and I often pray that I may have heart enough
to hold them all. If princes are sometimes obliged to frown on the
unworthy, it is but in humble and distant imitation of that Power which
cannot smile on evil."
"I hope, Senora," said the girl, timidly, observing that the queen
paused, "I have not been so unfortunate as to displease you; a frown
from Your Highness would indeed be a calamity!"
"Thou? No, daughter; I would that all the maidens of Castile, noble and
simple, were of thy truth, and modesty, and obedience. But we cannot
permit thee to become the victim of the senses. Thou art too well
taught, Dona Mercedes, not to distinguish between that which is
brilliant and that which is truly virtuous"--
"Senora!" cried Mercedes, eagerly--then checking herself, immediately,
for she felt it was a disrespect to interrupt her sovereign.
"I listen to what thou wouldst say, daughter," Isabella answered, after
pausing for the frightened girl to continue. "Speak freely; thou
addressest a parent."
"I was about to say, Senora, that if all that is brilliant is not
virtuous, neither is all that is unpleasant to the sight, or what
prudence might condemn, actually vicious."
"I understand thee, Senorita, and the remark hath truth in it. Now, let
us speak of other things. Thou appearest to be friendly to the designs
of this navigator, Colon?"
"The opinion of one untaught and youthful as I, can have little weight
with the Queen of Castile, who can ask counsel of prelates and learned
churchmen, besides consulting her own wisdom;" Mercedes modestly
answered.
"But thou thinkest well of his project; or have I mistaken thy meaning?"
"No, Senora, I _do_ think well of Colon's scheme; for to me it seemeth
of that nobleness and grandeur that Providence would favor, for the good
of man and the advancement of the church."
"And thou believest that nobles and cavaliers can be found willing to
embark with this obscure Genoese, in his bold undertaking?"
The queen felt the hand that she affectionately held in both her own,
tremble, and when she looked at her companion she perceived that her
face was crimsoned and her eyes lowered. But the generous girl thought
the moment critical for the fortunes of her lover, and she rallied all
her energies in order to serve his interests.
"Senora, I do," she answered, with a steadiness that both surprised and
pleased the queen, who entered into and appreciated all her feelings; "I
think Don Luis de Bobadilla will embark with him; since his aunt hath
conversed freely with him on the nature and magnitude of the enterprise,
his mind dwelleth on little else. He would be willing to furnish gold
for the occasion, could his guardians be made to consent."
"Which any guardian would be very wrong to do. We may deal freely with
our own, but it is forbidden to jeopard the goods of another. If Don
Luis de Bobadilla persevere in this intention, and act up to his
professions, I shall think more favorably of his character than
circumstances have hitherto led me to do."
"Senora!"
"Hear me, daughter; we cannot now converse longer on this point, the
council waiting my presence, and the king having already left us. Thy
guardian and I will confer together, and thou shalt not be kept in undue
suspense; but Mercedes de Valverde"--
"My Lady the Queen"--
"Remember thy vow, daughter. It was freely given, and must not be
hastily forgotten."
Isabella now kissed the pale cheek of the girl and withdrew, followed by
all the ladies; leaving the half-pleased and yet half-terrified Mercedes
standing in the centre of the vast apartment, resembling a beautiful
statue of Doubt.
[Illustration]