FOUR OLD PAINTINGS
The Moors said, "Three times three things a woman must have: white skin,
white teeth, and white hands; black eyes, black brows, and black lashes;
rosy lips, rosy cheeks, and rosy nails."
Little Pilar had all of these. She was a Spanish beauty. But she was not
only beautiful; she was also useful. She could sew and cook and take
care of a house.
If you had asked Pilar how she had learned to sew and to cook and to
take care of a house, she would have shrugged her shoulders and
answered, "I did not learn. I just knew."
She just knew, as she knew how to dance.
[Illustration: PILAR]
But poor Pilar had not been able to join her dancing companions in the
gardens or the squares for many a day now. Her grandfather's health had
not improved very much, and Pilar could seldom leave him.
As time went on, Pilar watched the money which Juan had given her
gradually disappear, and at last there was no more left. But fortunately
there were still souvenirs left in the chest, and these Pilar took to
Juan. Four of the remaining souvenirs were old paintings.
When Juan saw them, he remarked, "These paintings are of four famous
people. Let me tell you their stories."
These are the stories he told:
_Luis de Leon of Salamanca_
In the Middle Ages, when the University of Salamanca
(s[)a]l´[.a]-m[)a]ng´k[.a]) was one of the finest in Europe, there lived
a man named Luis de Leon. He was a friar. He was also one of Spain's
great poets and a professor at the university.
One day as Fray Luis de Leon was teaching his class, he was seized and
thrown into prison. This was during the time of the inquisition, when
people were arrested for their religious beliefs.
Fray Luis remained in prison for many years. When he returned to
Salamanca, everybody welcomed him, and all the important townspeople
came to the university to hear him make a speech.
But Fray Luis did not make a speech. He faced the schoolroom full of his
pupils and others who had come to hear him, and, taking up the daily
lesson, he remarked simply, "As we were saying yesterday--" just as if
he had never been away!
Salamanca sits upon the banks of the River Tormes (tôr´m[=a]s) across an
old Roman bridge. It is a city of domes and spires, of quiet memories of
art and culture.
_St. Teresa of Avila_
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived in the town of Avila
(ä´v[+e]-lä) a little girl named Teresa. Often Teresa would read stories
to her brother. These stories were not about fairies, kings, and queens,
nor even robbers. They were about saints.
Little Teresa wished very much to become a saint and to live in heaven.
So one day she and her brother set off for the country of the Moors.
Their reason for doing this was because they thought that they might be
beheaded.
But this great pleasure was to be denied them. An uncle found them on
the road and brought them home. It is a blessing that he did and that
young Teresa was allowed to grow up. For she became a very holy woman,
who did much good in the world.
The city of Avila seems to breathe the holiness of St. Teresa. It is
surrounded by a treeless desert and giant rocks. Its perfect Roman walls
clasp it tightly as if to safeguard its mystery and charm.
[Illustration: SALAMANCA]
Do you hear the ding-donging bells of the many churches? They carry one
off to dreamland. Do you hear the clink-clinking hoofs of the tiny
donkeys? They carry hens and roosters to market in crates upon their
backs. Avila is an old-fashioned town.
_The Cid of Valencia_
"Godfather, please give me a colt. You have so many. You will never miss
one."
Rodrigo de Bivar (r[+o]-dr[=e]´g[=o] de bevär´) stood in the paddock
beside his godfather, Don Pedro, a priest of Burgos (b[=oo]r´g[=o]s).
They were watching the horses, mares, and their colts running wild.
How free and beautiful they were, with their lovely manes flowing in
the breeze!
"You may choose the best for yourself, godson," said Don Pedro.
Young Rodrigo's keen eyes followed each graceful young horse as it
passed. But he said nothing. He said nothing until an ugly, shaggy
little animal came by.
Then he cried out, "This is the one I want, godfather!"
His godfather gave him a look of disgust.
"Babieca! (babie´ca) (Foolish one!)" he scolded. "This is indeed a
stupid choice!"
[Illustration: ST. TERESA CONVENT, AVILA]
Rodrigo was not dismayed. Smiling, he said, "Babieca shall be my horse's
name!"
It was this same Babieca, or Booby, who carried Rodrigo de Bivar through
his many famous battles. It was Babieca, too, who is supposed to have
wept over his master when the great warrior-lord died.
For young Rodrigo became Spain's most celebrated hero, the Cid, about
whom songs have been sung and tales have been spun. Many of these are,
of course, only romance and legend. But the Cid did indeed live and
triumph.
One of his greatest victories was the conquest of that rich and
beautiful city, Valencia (v[.a]-l[)e]n´sh[)i]-[.a]), which is still
called Valencia del Cid.
_Columbus of--Where?_
"Please, a little food and shelter. We are very hungry and tired!"
The man was Christopher Columbus, and the child, Diego, his son. Weary
and discouraged, they had arrived at the monastery of La Rabita.
For a long time, Christopher Columbus had been trying to interest the
Spanish court in his scheme to sail across the unknown ocean. He
thought that by sailing west he would reach Asia.
But the King and Queen were busy with their struggles against the Moors,
and they would not listen to him.
The kind monks at the monastery of La Rabita sheltered Columbus and his
little son. They also gave heed to his eager hopes and plans, and at
last Prior Perez of the monastery wrote a letter to Queen Isabella.
As we well know, Queen Isabella made it possible for Christopher
Columbus to sail across the ocean and discover America. But nobody yet
has really discovered Christopher Columbus.
Where was he born? Some say in Italy, others, in northern Spain. Perhaps
Columbus was a Jew who changed his religion and nationality. This could
well have been, because at that time the Jews in Spain were being
tortured and sent away from their country.
When Columbus returned from his famous voyage, he was received in
Barcelona by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. They made him Lord High
Admiral of the Ocean Sea and Hereditary Viceroy of the New World.
But after the death of the Queen, Columbus was badly treated by King
Ferdinand, and he died in poverty and despair at a miserable inn.
* * * * *
When Juan had finished telling the stories about the four paintings,
Pilar asked, "Will you buy them from me, Señor Juan?"
Juan answered, "Yes, if you really must sell them, Pilar. But I wish
that you might keep them, for they are very fine."
"I need the money," said Pilar simply.
"Then why not let me sell those ugly castanets?" inquired Juan. "The
dancing master will willingly pay for them."
"No, no!" cried Pilar. "They shall be the last to go."
So Juan took the four paintings and gave Pilar money for them. And now
there remained in the wooden chest only three souvenirs. One was a
bottle of old wine, one a small dagger, and one the magic castanets.