"How beautiful is genius when combined
With holiness! Oh! how divinely sweet
The tones of earthly harp, whose cords are touch'd
By the soft hand of Piety, and hung
Upon Religion's shrine, there vibrating
With solemn music in the air of God!"
John Wilson.
Columbus was received by his friends, Luis de St. Angel and Alonzo de
Quintanilla, with a gratification they found it difficult to express.
They were loud in their eulogiums on Isabella, and added to the
assurances of Don Luis, such proofs of the seriousness of the queen's
intentions, as to remove all doubts from the mind of the navigator. He
was then, without further delay, conducted to the presence.
"Senor Colon," said Isabella, as the Genoese advanced and knelt at her
feet, "you are welcome back again. All our misunderstandings are finally
removed, and henceforth, I trust that we shall act cheerfully and
unitedly to produce the same great end. Rise, Senor, and receive this as
a gage of my support and friendship."
Columbus saluted the offered hand, and arose from his knees. At that
instant, there was probably no one present whose feelings were not
raised to the buoyancy of hope; for it was a peculiarity connected with
the origin and execution of this great enterprise, that, after having
been urged for so long a period, amid sneers, and doubts, and ridicule,
it was at first adopted with something very like enthusiasm.
"Senora," returned Columbus, whose grave aspect and noble mien
contributed not a little to the advancement of his views--"Senora, my
heart thanks you for this kindness--so welcome because so little hoped
for this morning--and God will reward it. We have great things in
reserve, and I devoutly wish we may all be found equal to our several
duties. I hope my Lord the King will not withhold from my undertaking
the light of his gracious countenance."
"You are a servitor of Castile, Senor Colon, though little is attempted
for even this kingdom, without the approbation and consent of the King
of Aragon. Don Fernando hath been gained over to our side, though his
greater caution and superior wisdom have not as easily fallen into the
measure, as woman's faith and woman's hopes."
"I ask no higher wisdom, no truer faith than those of Isabella's," said
the navigator, with a grave dignity that rendered the compliment so much
the more acceptable, by giving it every appearance of sincerity. "Her
known prudence shall turn from me the derision of the light-minded and
idle, and on her royal word I place all my hopes. Henceforth, and I
trust forever, I am Your Highness' subject and servant."
The queen was deeply impressed with the air of lofty truth that elevated
the thoughts and manners of the speaker. Hitherto she had seen but
little of the navigator, and never before under circumstances that
enabled her so thoroughly to feel the influence of his air and
deportment. Columbus had not the finish of manner that it is fancied
courts only can bestow, and which it would be more just to refer to
lives devoted to habits of pleasing; but the character of the man shone
through the exterior, and, in his case, all that artificial training
could supply fell short of the noble aspect of nature, sustained by high
aspirations. To a commanding person, and a gravity that was heightened
by the loftiness of his purposes, Columbus added the sober earnestness
of a deeply-seated and an all-pervading enthusiasm, which threw the
grace of truth and probity on what he said and did. No quality of his
mind was more apparent than its sense of right, as right was then
considered in connection with the opinions of the age; and it is a
singular circumstance that the greatest adventure of modern times was
thus confided by Providence, as it might be with especial objects, to
the care of a sovereign and to the hands of an executive leader, who
were equally distinguished by the possession of so rare a
characteristic.
"I thank you, Senor, for this proof of confidence," returned the queen,
both surprised and gratified; "and so long as God giveth me power to
direct, and knowledge to decide, your interests as well as those of this
long-cherished scheme, shall be looked to. But we are not to exclude the
king from our confederacy, since he hath been finally gained to our
opinions, and no doubt now as anxiously looketh forward to success as we
do ourselves."
Columbus bowed his acquiescence, and the conjugal affection of Isabella
was satisfied with this concession to her husband's character and
motives; for, while it was impossible that one so pure and ardent in the
cause of virtue, and as disinterested as the queen, should not detect
some of the selfishness of Ferdinand's cautious policy, the feelings of
a wife so far prevailed in her breast over the sagacity of the
sovereign, as to leave her blind to faults that the enemies of Aragon
were fond of dwelling on. All admitted the truth of Isabella, but
Ferdinand had far less credit with his contemporaries, either on the
score of faith or on that of motives. Still he might have been ranked
among the most upright of the reigning princes of Europe, his faults
being rendered more conspicuous, perhaps, from being necessarily placed
in such close connection with, and in such vivid contrast to, the truer
virtues of the queen. In short, these two sovereigns, so intimately
united by personal and political interests, merely exhibited on their
thrones a picture that may be seen, at any moment, in all the inferior
gradations of the social scale, in which the worldly views and
meretricious motives of man serve as foils to the truer heart, sincerer
character, and more chastened conduct of woman.
Don Fernando now appeared, and he joined in the discourse in a manner to
show that he considered himself fully committed to redeem the pledges
given by his wife. The historians have told us that he had been won over
by the intercessions of a favorite, though the better opinion would seem
to be that deference for Isabella, whose pure earnestness in the cause
of virtue often led him from his more selfish policy, lay at the bottom
of his compliance. Whatever may have been the motive, however, it is
certain that the king never entered into the undertaking with the
ardent, zealous endeavors to insure success, which from that moment
distinguished the conduct of his royal consort.
"We have recovered our truant," said Isabella, as her husband
approached, her eyes lighting and her cheeks flushed with a pious
enthusiasm, like those of Mercedes de Valverde, who was an entranced
witness of all that was passing. "We have recovered our truant, and
there is not a moment of unnecessary delay to be permitted, until he
shall be sent forth on this great voyage. Should he truly attain Cathay
and the Indies, it will be a triumph to the church even exceeding this
conquest of the territories of the Moor."
"I am pleased to see the Senor Colon at Santa Fe, again," courteously
returned the king, "and if he but do the half of that thou seemest to
expect, we shall have reason to rejoice that our countenance hath not
been withheld. He may not render the crown of Castile still more
powerful, but he may so far enrich himself that, as a subject, he will
have difficulty in finding the proper uses for his gold."
"There will always be a use for the gold of a Christian," answered the
navigator, "while the Infidel remaineth the master of the Holy
Sepulchre."
"How is this!" exclaimed Ferdinand, in his quick, sharp voice: "dost
thou think, Senor, of a crusade, as well as of discovering new regions?"
"Such, Your Highness, it hath long been my hope, would be the first
appropriation of the wealth that will, out of question, flow from the
discovery of a new and near route to the Indies. Is it not a blot on
Christendom that the Mussulman should be permitted to raise his profane
altars on the spot that Christ visited on earth; where, indeed he was
born, and where his holy remains lay until his glorious resurrection?
This foul disgrace there are hearts and swords enough ready to wipe out;
all that is wanted is gold. If the first desire of my heart be to become
the instrument of leading the way to the East, by a western and direct
passage, the second is, to see the riches that will certainly follow
such a discovery, devoted to the service of God, by rearing anew his
altars and reviving his worship, in the land where he endured his agony
and gave up the ghost for the sins of men."
Isabella smiled at the navigator's enthusiasm, though, sooth to say, the
sentiment found something of an echo in her pious bosom; albeit the age
of crusades appeared to have gone by. Not so exactly with Ferdinand. He
smiled also, but no answering sentiment of holy zeal was awakened within
him. He felt, on the contrary, a strong distrust of the wisdom of
committing the care of even two insignificant caravels, and the fate of
a sum as small as three thousand crowns, to a visionary, who had
scarcely made a commencement in one extremely equivocal enterprise,
before his thoughts were running on the execution of another, that had
baffled the united efforts and pious constancy of all Europe. To him,
the discovery of a western passage to the Indies, and the repossession
of the holy sepulchre, were results that were equally problematical, and
it would have been quite sufficient to incur his distrust, to believe in
the practicability of either. Here, however, was a man who was about to
embark in an attempt to execute the first, holding in reserve the last,
as a consequence of success in the undertaking in which he was already
engaged.
There were a few minutes, during which Ferdinand seriously contemplated
the defeat of the Genoese's schemes, and had the discourse terminated
here, it is uncertain how far his cool and calculating policy might have
prevailed over the good faith, sincere integrity, and newly awakened
enthusiasm of his wife. Fortunately, the conversation had gone on while
he was meditating on this subject, and when he rejoined the circle he
found the queen and the navigator pursuing the subject with an
earnestness that had entirely overlooked his momentary absence.
"I shall show Your Highness all that she demandeth," continued Columbus,
in answer to a question of the queen's. "It is my expectation to reach
the territories of the Great Khan, the descendant of the monarch who was
visited by the Polos, a century since; at which time a strong desire to
embrace the religion of Christ was manifested by many in that gorgeous
court, the sovereign included. We are told in the sacred books of
prophecy, that the day is to arrive when the whole earth will worship
the true and living God; and that time, it would seem, from many signs
and tokens that are visible to those who seek them, draweth near, and is
full of hope to such as honor God and seek his glory. To bring all those
vast regions in subjection to the church, needeth but a constant faith,
sustained by the delegated agencies of the priesthood, and the
protecting hands of princes."
"This hath a seeming probability," observed the queen, "and Providence
so guide us in this mighty undertaking, that it may come to pass! Were
those Polos pious missionaries, Senor?"
"They were but travellers; men who sought their own advantage, while
they were not altogether unmindful of the duties of religion. It may be
well, Senora, first to plant the cross in the islands, and thence to
spread the truth over the main land. Cipango, in particular, is a
promising region for the commencement of the glorious work, which, no
doubt, will proceed with all the swiftness of a miracle."
"Is this Cipango known to produce spices, or aught that may serve to
uphold a sinking treasury, and repay us for so much cost and risk?"
asked the king, a little inopportunely for the zeal of the two other
interlocutors.
Isabella looked pained, the prevailing trait in Ferdinand's character
often causing her to feel as affectionate wives are wont to feel when
their husbands forget to think, act, or speak up to the level of their
own warm-hearted and virtuous propensities; but she suffered no other
sign of the passing emotions to escape her.
"According to the accounts of Marco Polo, Your Highness," answered
Columbus, "earth hath no richer island. It aboundeth especially in gold;
nor are pearls and precious stones at all rare. But all that region is a
quarter of infinite wealth and benighted infidelity. Providence seemeth
to have united the first with the last, as a reward to the Christian
monarch who shall use his power to extend the sway of the church. The
sea, thereabouts, is covered with smaller islands, Marco telling us that
no less than seven thousand four hundred and forty have been enumerated,
not one of all which doth not produce some odoriferous tree, or plant of
delicious perfume. It is then, thither, gracious Lord and Lady, my
honored sovereigns, that I propose to proceed at once, leaving all
meaner objects, to exalt the two kingdoms and to serve the church.
Should we reach Cipango in safety, as, by the blessing of God, acting on
a zeal and faith that are not easily shaken, I trust we shall be able to
do, in the course of two months' diligent navigation, it will be my next
purpose to pass over to the continent, and seek the Khan himself, in his
kingdom of Cathay. The day that my foot touches the land of Asia will be
a glorious day for Spain, and for all who have had a part in the
accomplishment of so great an enterprise!"
Ferdinand's keen eyes were riveted on the navigator, as he thus betrayed
his hopes with the quiet but earnest manner of deep enthusiasm, and he
might have been at a loss, himself, just at that moment, to have
analyzed his own feelings. The picture of wealth that Columbus had
conjured to his imagination, was as enticing, as his cold and
calculating habits of distrust and caution rendered it questionable.
Isabella heard only, or thought only, of the pious longings of her pure
spirit for the conversion and salvation of the Infidels, and thus each
of the two sovereigns had a favorite impulse to bind him, or her, to the
prosecution of the voyage.
After this, the conversation entered more into details, and the heads of
the terms demanded by Columbus were gone over again, and approved of by
those who were most interested in the matter. All thought of the
archbishop and his objections was momentarily lost, and had the Genoese
been a monarch, treating with monarchs, he could not have had more
reason to be satisfied with the respectful manner in which his terms
were heard. Even his proposal to receive one-eighth of the profits of
this, and all future expeditions to the places he might discover, on
condition of his advancing an equal proportion of the outfits, was
cheerfully acceded to; making him, at once, a partner with the crown, in
the risks and benefits of the many undertakings that it was hoped would
follow from the success of this.
Luis de St. Angel and Alonzo de Quintanilla quitted the royal presence,
in company with Columbus. They saw him to his lodgings, and left him
with a respect and cordiality of manner, that cheered a heart which had
lately been so bruised and disappointed. As they walked away in company,
the former, who, notwithstanding the liberality of his views and his
strong support of the navigator, was not apt to suppress his thoughts,
opened a dialogue in the following manner.
"By all the saints! friend Alonzo," he exclaimed, "but this Colon
carrieth it with a high hand among us, and in a way, sometimes, to make
me doubt the prudence of our interference. He hath treated with the two
sovereigns like a monarch, and like a monarch hath he carried his
point!"
"Who hath aided him more than thyself, friend Luis?" returned
Alonzo de Quintanilla; "for, without thy bold assault on Dona Isabella's
patience, the matter had been decided against this voyage, and the
Genoese would still be on his way to the court of King Louis."
"I regret it not; the chance of keeping the Frenchman within modest
bounds being worth a harder effort. Her Highness--Heaven and all the
saints unite to bless her for her upright intentions and generous
thoughts--will never regret the trifling cost, even though bootless,
with so great an aim in view. But now the thing is done, I marvel,
myself, that a Queen of Castile and a King of Aragon should grant such
conditions to an unknown and nameless sea-farer; one that hath neither
services, family, nor gold, to recommend him!"
"Hath he not had Luis de St. Angel of his side?"
"That hath he," returned the receiver-general, "and that right stoutly,
too; and for good and sufficient cause. I only marvel at our success,
and at the manner in which this Colon hath borne himself in the affair.
I much feared that the high price he set upon his services might ruin
all our hopes."
"And yet thou didst reason with the queen, as if thou thoughtst it
insignificant, compared with the good that would come of the voyage."
"Is there aught wonderful in this, my worthy friend? We consume our
means in efforts to obtain our ends, and, while suffering under the
exhaustion, begin first to see the other side of the question. I am
chiefly surprised at mine own success! As for this Genoese, he is,
truly, a most wonderful man, and, in my heart, I think him right in
demanding such high conditions. If he succeed, who so great as he? and,
if he fail, the conditions will do him no good, and Castile little
harm."
"I have remarked, Senor de St Angel, that when grave men set a light
value on themselves, the world is apt to take them at their word, though
willing enough to laugh at the pretensions of triflers. After all, the
high demands of Colon may have done him much service, since their
Highnesses could not but feel that they were negotiating with one who
had faith in his own projects."
"It is much as thou sayest, Alonzo; men often prizing us as we seem to
prize ourselves, so long as we act at all up to the level of our
pretensions. But there is sterling merit in this Colon to sustain him in
all that he sayeth and doth; wisdom of speech, dignity and gravity of
mien, and nobleness of feeling and sentiment. Truly, I have listened to
the man when he hath seemed inspired!"
"Well, he hath now good occasion to manifest whether this inspiration be
of the true quality or not," returned the other. "Of a verity, I often
distrust the wisdom of our own conclusions."
In this manner did even these two zealous friends of Columbus discuss
his character and chances of success; for, while they were among the
most decided of his supporters, and had discovered the utmost readiness
to uphold him when his cause seemed hopeless, now that the means were
likely to be afforded to allow him to demonstrate the justice of his
opinions, doubts and misgivings beset their minds. Such is human nature.
Opposition awakens our zeal, quickens our apprehension, stimulates our
reason, and emboldens our opinions; while, thrown back upon ourselves
for the proofs of what we have been long stoutly maintaining under the
pressure of resistance, we begin to distrust the truth of our own
theories and to dread the demonstrations of a failure. Even the first
disciples of the Son of God faltered most in their faith as his
predictions were being realized; and most reformers are never so
dogmatical and certain as when battling for their principles, or so
timid and wavering as when they are about to put their own
long-cherished plans in execution. In all this we might see a wise
provision of Providence, which gives us zeal to overcome difficulties,
and prudence when caution and moderation become virtues rather than
faults.
Although Luis de St. Angel and his friend conversed thus freely
together, however, they did not the less continue true to their original
feelings. Their doubts were transient and of little account; and it was
remarked of them, whenever they were in the presence of Columbus
himself, that the calm, steady, but deeply seated enthusiasm of that
extraordinary man, did not fail to carry with him the opinions, not only
of these steady supporters, but those of most other listeners.