THE ASTRONOMER AND THE JEW.
Peace being thus happily established, King Edward transferred the
residence of his queen from the rugged strength of Caernarvon to the
magnificent refinements of Conway castle; where, surrounded by her ladies
and children, she enjoyed, for a brief period, a repose from anxiety and
care.
Here seated in a chamber of state, whose windows of stained glass opened
upon a terrace, commanding a beautiful view of the varied landscape,
Eleanora passed her mornings, receiving those who were honored by being
present at her levee, while her tire-women combed and braided the long
silken tresses which shaded and adorned her serene and lovely features.
This condescension of the queen, had a most gracious and softening effect
upon the rude customs of the Welsh, and the first aspirations of this
semi-barbarous nation for christian refinement, date from the period in
which they felt the winning influence of her gentle manners.
But though Eleanora was thus happy in her domestic relations, blessed in
the love of her subjects, and thrice blessed in the consciousness of
exercising her power for the happiness of others, she did not forget the
kindred ties that bound her to her native Spain.
Indeed there seems to be this peculiarity, observable in the influence of
the gospel on the character, a paradox in philosophy, but a fact in
christian experience, that while it increases the intensity of the social
affections, it expands the heart to the remoter relations of life,
awakening a cordial response to the command, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself."
For Eleanora to know that she could render assistance to another, was
sufficient motive to arouse her activity; and constant habit made that an
inspiring impulse, which had commenced in a rigid adherence to the
requisitions of duty. When she learned, therefore, that her beloved
brother Alphonso X. had been deposed by his undutiful son, Sancho, she
besought her heroic husband to undertake the difficult task of his
restoration.
Edward, whose principles of government were of a very different character
from those of the royal philosopher, listened somewhat reluctantly to her
anxious pleadings, but at last consented to accompany her into Castile.
The royal progress was one of the utmost pomp and splendor. Their cousin
Philip received them in Paris with the greatest distinction. They reposed
some months among the elegancies of Bordeaux, and thence journeyed across
the Pyrenees to Burgos.
The brave Sancho welcomed them to his palace with unaffected pleasure, and
listened with easy good-humor to the questions and remonstrances of the
queen.
"My father," said he, "is happier in the retirement of his prison, than he
was ever in the administration of public affairs. In truth, he has for
these last years been so occupied with the motions of Mars and Jupiter,
that he has had little leisure to attend to the movements of his subjects,
and, but for what seemeth my undutiful interposition, our fair Castile
would have been one scene of anarchy and confusion."
"But if my brother desired the repose of private life, he had surely the
right to appoint his successor," suggested Eleanora.
"Nay, concerning that, men differ in opinion," replied Sancho. "Our
ancestors, the Goths, confer the crown upon the second son, in preference
to the heirs of the elder brother, and by this right I reign."
"But by this right, thou takest from the prince all power," returned the
queen.
"And wherefore," said Sancho, "should the word of a prince prevail against
the will of the people, whose interest no king has a right to sacrifice to
his ambition?"
"Certes, there is great semblance of truth in what thou sayest," added
Eleanora, thoughtfully; "and much I wonder me that, while some are born to
such high estate, others in heart possessed of noble feelings are doomed
to perpetual servitude. My poor brain has been ofttimes sadly puzzled in
this matter; but when I bethink me of the miseries fair England suffered
during the rebellion of Leicester, I content myself to believe the holy
writ, 'The powers that be, are ordained of God.'"
"Thy scripture well establishes my claim," cried Sancho, laughing
heartily.
Eleanora sighed. "Forgettest thou, brave Sancho," said she, "that the God
who gave to thee the estate and rule of king, (since thou dost so wrest my
words to prove thy usurpation,) forgettest thou that _He_ hath also
ordained, 'Thou shalt honor thy father?'"
"Nay, nay, my most gracious aunt, now thou accusest me beyond my desert.
The wise Alphonso is not restrained from his clerkly studies, but--"
"He is in prison," interrupted Eleanora.
"It is my care," continued Sancho, "to grant him everything, but freedom
to disturb my kingdom. Jews and Arabs, his chosen friends, doctors of
Salerno and Salamanca, friars and priests, (though, sooth to say for them,
he careth little save as they bring him mouldy manuscripts from the
monasteries,) jugglers and mummers, a worthy retinue, have free access to
his presence. To-morrow thou mayest see the philosopher, surrounded by his
motley courtiers, and methinks thou wilt then pronounce him as do others,
either fool or madman."
King Edward, who from conversation with the nobles of Castile, no less
than with Sancho, had arrived at the same conclusion with his royal
nephew, made no efforts to release Alphonso from his confinement, but
gladly accepted an invitation to accompany the King of Castile on an
expedition against the Moors in southern Spain.
During their absence Eleanora remained in Burgos, and devoted herself to
the care of her brother, for whose sanity she began to entertain serious
fears. Alphonso's affection for his lovely sister so far prevailed over
his excitable temperament, that he permitted her to enter his apartments
at all hours without exhibiting any annoyance, and often turned aside from
his abstruse studies to indulge in reminiscences of their youthful sports,
and to satisfy her inquiries concerning his present pursuits.
Eleanora possessed that genial spirit which discovers something of
interest in every occupation, and that exquisite tact which enabled her to
insinuate a truth, even while seeming not to contradict an error; and it
was soon apparent that, though the philosopher still uttered his
absurdities with great complacency,--his temper became more tranquil, and
his manners far more affable to all who approached him. The queen listened
patiently to his tedious explanations of the motions of the planets, and
exerted her utmost powers of perception to comprehend the diagrams which
he contended were illustrative of the whole theory of Nature, and the
great end and purpose of her solemn mysteries inscribed on the scroll of
the heavens, forming an elder Scripture more authoritative than the
divine oracles themselves.
"Thou seest, my sister," said the enthusiast, "that our maturity like our
childhood is amused by fables: hence do the ignorant believe that this
great array of worlds was formed for the contemptible purpose of revolving
around our insignificant planet, and all the glittering circle of the
stars made to serve no better end than to enliven a winter night."
"In truth the doctrine savors much of the arrogance of man," gently
returned the queen, "and reminds one of the false systems of a monarch who
considers his subjects but tributaries to his pleasure."
"False systems," returned the astronomer, apparently unheeding the point
of her remark, "have disgraced the world in every age. Pythagoras
approached nearest the true idea, and yet was lost in the wilderness of
error."
"Heaven save us from a fate so evil," solemnly ejaculated the queen.
"The philosopher, who rejecting the dogmas of the church, listens to the
voice of Nature speaking to the ear of reason, is in no danger of error,"
said Alphonso pompously. "Thy Mosaic Testament asserts that God created
the heavens and the earth in six days; but they bear no marks of such
creation. Their course is eternal. And as for appointing the glorious sun
with no higher mission than to enlighten the earth, had the Almighty
called me to his counsel, I would have taught Him a wiser plan of
compassing day and night."
Shocked at his impiety, Eleanora calmly replied, "The Holy Word which thou
despisest, directs us to 'prove all things.' How canst thou sustain such
assertions?"
Alphonso, pleased with what he considered her docility, lifted a small
globe, and placing it at a convenient distance from the lamp, caused it to
revolve upon its axis, making her observe that the regular vicissitudes of
light and darkness were produced without any change in the position of the
luminary.
"At what infinite expense," said he, "would the lamp revolve around the
globe to produce only the same effect, and to furnish only one world with
light; while any number of globes might gyrate about the lamp without
loss, save an occasional eclipse."
Struck with the simplicity and evident truth of the illustration, Eleanora
gazed admiringly upon her brother, but scarcely had she essayed to frame
an answer, when the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of an
individual--the expression of whose countenance awoke a painful
association in her mind, although in vain she tasked her memory to decide
where or when she had before beheld him. His figure, though concealed by a
Spanish doublet, and slightly bent with age, had evidently been once tall
and commanding, and his swarthy countenance was illuminated by keen black
eyes, whose quick penetrating glance, seemed at once to fathom the
purposes, and divine the thoughts of those about him; and a long flowing
beard, somewhat inclining to gray, imparted an air of dignity to his whole
appearance. With a profound, though silent salutation to the royal pair,
he crossed the apartment, and carefully laying aside his cloak, quietly
seated himself at a side table covered with manuscripts, and commenced his
labors; while Alphonso answered the inquiring gaze of Eleanora, by
remarking, "'Tis our excellent Procida, my trusty Hebrew scribe."
"Hebrew or Arab," said Eleanora, in a low tone, "I have seen that face
before."
At the sound of her voice the stranger looked up, while Eleanora placed
her hands before her eyes, as if to shut out some dreadful vision.
"It cannot, cannot be," she exclaimed, "but so looked the Jew, slain at my
feet on that dreadful day when I first entered London."
"My good Procida," said Alphonso, misinterpreting her emotion, "I fear me
we must dispense with thy presence, since my sister is too good a
Christian to look upon a Jew, save with feelings of abhorrence."
The Jew arose. "Nay, my good brother," said the queen, "forgive this
weakness. I would fain speak with thy friend."
Procida came forward and stood in respectful silence waiting her commands.
"Hast ever been in London?" inquired she, earnestly regarding him.
"My noble queen recalls not then the face of Raymond Lullius, who coined
_rose nobles_ for her royal lord. She may, perhaps, remember the curiosity
of the young Prince Alphonso, whose little hand no doubt still bears the
scar of the melted metal he snatched from the crucible."
At the mention of her son, the mother's tears began to flow. "My sweet
Alphonso sleeps in the tomb of his ancestors," replied she, when she had
somewhat recovered her composure; "but I mind me of the accident, though
surely 'tis another scene that hath impressed thy features on my memory."
"Your majesty refers to the slaughter of the Jews," returned Procida, in a
sorrowful tone, "and the victim slain at your feet was my aged father
Ben-Abraham. Of all my family I alone escaped, through the timely
interposition of the gallant Prince Edward."
"Ah! now I comprehend thy haste to serve my brother," interrupted
Alphonso. "Thou must know, sweet sister mine," said he, turning to the
queen, "that the secrets of our art are for the learned alone, but king as
I am, I found it impossible to prevent my worthy Procida from leaving my
court to aid the English sovereign in increasing his revenue by
transmuting mercury into gold."
"It is then true that metals can be thus transmuted," said Eleanora, with
an incredulous smile.
The alchemists exchanged glances of intelligence, but Alphonso,
remembering her ready appreciation of his astronomical theory, answered
Procida's hesitating look, with "Nay, 'tis but for once--our sister is an
earnest seeker of truth, and if she comprehend will not betray our
secret." Thus saying, Alphonso threw open a door and conducted the queen,
followed by Procida, into a small laboratory filled with all the
mysterious appurtenances of his art. The learned doctor busied himself in
clearing a space in the centre of the apartment and arranging in a circle
sundry jars and a brazier, while the philosopher king, opening a cabinet,
took thence some dried and withered sea-weed, which he threw into the
brazier and kindled into a flame. The blazing kelp was soon reduced to
ashes, which Procida carefully gathered into an old empty crucible, and
set before the queen. Alphonso advancing took up the crucible, saying,
"What seest thou, my sister?"
"A dull, gray powder," she replied.
He then placed a tube from one of the jars within the crucible, and
bidding her regard it attentively, submitted it to a chemical process
which she did not understand, repeating his question.
"I now see," replied Eleanora, with astonishment, "the dull powder
transformed into little shining globules like silver."
"Thou mayst take them in thine hand," said the philosopher, after a pause;
"they will not harm thee."
With some timidity the wondering queen received the metallic drops, almost
fearing that her brother was a necromancer as the priests affirmed.
"Canst judge if it be a metal?" said Alphonso, enjoying her confusion.
"My sight and touch assure me of the fact. Yet whence--"
"Is it not a miracle," interrupted the philosopher, laughing, "more real
than thy fancied transubstantiation?"
A frown gathered on the serene brow of the lovely queen--but commiserating
his impiety as sincerely as he pitied her ignorance, with forced gayety
she replied, "Nay, heaven works not miracles by the hands of such
unbelievers as thou. I fear me lest evil spirits have aided thee, as they
did the Egyptians with their enchantments;" and she handed the globules to
the philosopher.
"Keep them safely until the morrow," said he, "they may form the basis of
another experiment."
As the Queen of England left the prison, Procida followed her and craved
an audience.