dalmaticas and with all things requisite, they took leave of their
generous and hospitable friend, the knight Don Sancho de Cardona, a man
of most illustrious blood and personally famous; and they pledged
themselves that they and their descendants, to whom they should bequeath
it as a duty, should perpetually preserve the memory of the singular
favours received from him, in order that they might not be wanting at
least in grateful feeling, if they could not repay them in any other
way. Don Sancho embraced them all, and said it was a matter of course
with him to render such services or others to all whom he knew or
supposed to be Castilian hidalgos. They repeated their embraces twice,
and departed with gladness, mingled with some sorrow. Travelling by easy
stages to suit the strength of the lady pilgrims, they reached
Monserrate in three days, remained as many more there, fulfilling their
duties as good Catholic Christians, and resuming their journey, arrived
without accident at Santiago, where they accomplished their vows with
all possible devotion. They determined not to quit their pilgrim garbs
until they reached their homes. After travelling towards them leisurely,
they came at last to a rising ground whence Leocadia and Teodosia
looked down upon their respective birth-places, nor could they restrain
their tears at the glad sight which brought back to their recollection
all their past vicissitudes.
From the same spot they discovered a broad valley, which divided the two
townships, and in it they saw under the shades of an olive a stalwart
knight, mounted on a powerful charger, armed with a strong keen lance
and a dazzlingly white shield. Presently they saw issuing from among
some olive trees two other knights similarly armed, and of no less
gallant appearance. These two rode up to the first, and after remaining
awhile together they separated. The first knight and one of the two
others set spurs to their horses, and charging each other like mortal
enemies, began mutually to deal such vigorous thrusts, and to avoid or
parry them with such dexterity, that it was plain they were masters in
that exercise. The third knight remained a spectator of the fight
without quitting his place. Don Rafael, who could not be content with a
distant view of the gallant conflict, hurried down the hill, followed by
the other three, and came up close to the two champions just as they had
both been slightly wounded. The helmet of one of them had fallen off,
and as he turned his face towards Don Rafael, the latter recognised his
father, and Marco Antonio knew that the other was his own, whilst
Leocadia discovered hers in the third knight who had not fought.
Astounded at this spectacle, the two brothers instantly rushed between
the champions, crying out "Stop, cavaliers! Stop! We who call on you to
do so are your own sons! Father, I am Marco Antonio, for whose sake, as
I guess, your honoured life is put to this peril. Allay your anger; cast
away your weapons, or turn them against another enemy; for the one
before you must henceforth be your brother."
The two knights instantly stopped; and looking round they observed that
Don Sancho had dismounted and was embracing his daughter, who briefly
narrated to him the occurrences at Barcelona. Don Sancho was proceeding
to make peace between the combatants, but there was no need of that, for
he found them already dismounted and embracing their sons with tears of
joy. There now appeared at the entrance of the valley a great number of
armed men on foot and on horseback: these were the vassals of the three
knights, who had come to support the cause of their respective lords;
but when they saw them embracing the pilgrims they halted, and knew not
what to think until Don Sancho briefly recounted to them what he had
learned from his daughter. The joy of all was unbounded. Five of the
vassals immediately mounted the pilgrims on their own horses, and the
whole party set out for the house of Marco Antonio's father, where it
was arranged that the two weddings should be celebrated. On the way Don
Rafael and Marco Antonio learned that the cause of the quarrel which had
been so happily ended was a challenge sent to the father of the latter
by the fathers of Teodosia and Leocadia, under the belief that he had
been privy to the acts of seduction committed by his son. The two
challengers having found him alone would not take any advantage of him,
but agreed to fight him one after the other, like brave and generous
knights. The combat, nevertheless, must have ended in the death of one
or all of them but for the timely arrival of their children, who gave
thanks to God for so happy a termination of the dispute.
The day after the arrival of the pilgrims, Marco Antonio's father
celebrated the marriages of his son and Teodosia, Don Rafael and
Leocadia, with extraordinary magnificence. The two wedded pairs lived
long and happily together, leaving an illustrious progeny which still
exists in their two towns, which are among the best in Andalusia. Their
names, however, we suppress, in deference to the two ladies, whom
malicious or prudish tongues might reproach with levity of conduct. But
I would beg of all such to forbear their sentence, until they have
examined themselves and seen whether they too have not been assailed
some time or other by what are called the arrows of Cupid, weapons whose
force is truly irresistible. Calvete was made happy with the gift of the
mule which Don Rafael had left at Salamanca, and with many other
presents; and the poets of the time took occasion to employ their pens
in celebrating the beauty and the adventures of the two damsels, as bold
as they were virtuous, the heroines of this strange story.
* * * * *
LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND
CHARING CROSS.