下载辰思小说免费APP
IrestedJuanLepeinthehouseholdofDonEnriquedeCerda,onefigureamongmany,involvedintheswarmoffightingandservingmen.Therewasasquirewhohadservedhimlong.Tothisman,DiegoLopez,Iwascommitted,withenoughtoldtoenlisthisintelligence.HemanagedformeintheintricatelifeoftheplacewithaskilltomakegodMercuryapplaud.DonEnriqueandIwererarelytogether,rarelywereseenbymentospeakonetotheother.
Butintheinnerworldweweretogether.
Dayspassed.WefoundnothingyettodowhilealllisteninganddoingatSantaFewereboundupinthecrum-
blingofGranadaintoSpanishhands.Itseemedbesttowait,watchingchances.
Meantimetheshowglittered,andman\'sstrongstomachcried``Life!Morelife!\'\'ItglitteredatSantaFebeforeGranada,anditwasadyingemberinGranadabeforeSantaFe.Theoneglitteredandtriumphedbecausetheotherglitteredandtriumphednot.AndwhoaboveheldthebalancesevenandneithersorrowednorwasfeverishlyelatedbutwenthisownwaycouldonlybeseenfromtheVegalikeadreamoralinefromapoet.
ForthemostpartthenoblesandcavaliersinSantaFespentasthoughhardgoldwerespiritualgoldtobegatheredendlessly.Onemightsay,``Theygointoagardenandshaketreeeachmorning,whichtreeputsforthagaininthenight.\'\'NoneseemedtoseeasonamaplaiddownSpainandthebrokenpeasantandthediggerofthegold.Noneseemedtofeelthattoilwhichorsoonorlatetheymustrecognizefortheirowntoil.ToilinSpain,toilinotherandfarlandswhencecametheirrichthings,toilinEurope,ArabiaandIndia!ApparelatSantaFewasathingtomarvelat.Thesteednolessthanhisriderwentgorgeous.
TheKingandQueen,itwassaid,didnotlikethispeacocking,butmightnothelpit.
TheythemselveswerepouringgoldintothelapoftheChurch.Itwasacapaciouslap.
Warsweregeneralenough,Godknew!Butnoteveryyearcouldonefindacampwherethefriarwasascommonasthearcherorthepikeman,andtheprelateastheplumedchieftain.
SantaFewascourtnolessthancamp,courtalmostasthoughitwereCordova.ThisQueenandKingatleastdidnotliveateaseinpalaceswhileothersfoughttheirwars.
North,south,eastandwest,throughthetenyears,theyhadbeenthemovingsprings.ItwasanableKingandQueen,apoliticKingandasincereandgodlyQueen,evenalovingQueen.Ifonly——ifonly——
IhadbeenaweekandmoreinSantaFewhenKingBoab-
dilsurrenderedGranada.HeleftforevertheAlhambra.
Granadagatesopened;herodeoutwithafewofhisemirsandservantstomeetKingFerdinandandQueenIsabella.
Thedayshonebright.Spaintowered,afiguredressedingoldandred.
SantaFepouredouttoviewthespectacle,andwiththerestwentDiegoLopezandJuanLepe.Sogreatfestival,sovividthecolor,soechoingthesound,sostatelyandvariousthemovement!LookingatthegreatstrengthmassingthereontheplainIsaidaloud,asIthought,toDiegoLopez,``Nowtheymightdosomeworthygreatthing!\'\'
Thesquirenotanswering,Ibecameawarethataswirlinthethronghadpushedhimfromme.Stilltherecameananswerinadeepandpeculiarlythrillingvoice.``Thatisatruesayingandagoodaugury!\'\'
IlearnmuchbyvoicesandbeforeIturnedIknewthatthiswasanenthusiast\'svoice,butnotanenthusiastwithoutknowledge.Whoeverspokewasstrongenough,realenough.
Ilikedthevoiceandfeltacertaininnermovementoffriendship.
Someshiftamongthegreatactors,somepartingofbanners,keptussuspendedandstaringforamoment,thentheviewclosedagainstuswhocouldonlybeholdbysnatches.
Freed,Iturnedtoseewhohadspokenandfoundatall,stronglymade,white-hairedman.Thesilverhairwastoosoon;hecouldhardlyhavebeentenyearsmyelder.Hehadalong,fairfacethatmightoncehavebeentannedandhardenedbygreatexposure.Hisskinhadthatlook,butnowthebronzewasfaded,andyoucouldseethathehadbeenbornveryfairintint.Acrossthehighnoseandcheekboneswentapowderingoffreckles.Hiseyeswerebluish-grayandIsawatoncethathehabituallylookedatthingsafaroff.
HewasratherpoorlydressedandpushedaboutasIwas.
Whenthesurgeagaingavehimfooting,hespokebesideme.
```Nowthatthisisover,theymightdosomegreat,worthything!\'Verytrue,friend,theymight!Itakeyourwordsforgoodomen.\'\'Thethrongshotoutanarmandwewereparted.ThesameactionbroughtbacktomeDiegoLopez.
Speakingtohimlaterofthetallman,hesaidthathehadnoticedhim,andthatitwastheItalianwhowouldgotoIndiabywayofOcean-Sea.
KingBoabdilgaveuphiscitytoKingFerdinandandQueenIsabella.OverGranada,highagainstthebrightsky,roseandfloatedthebanners.Cannon,thebiglombards,roared.Mars\'musiccrashedout,thenthetrumpetsceasedtheircryingandinsteadspreadamightychanting._TeDeumLaudamus!_
Atlastthemassedbrightnessoutintheplainquiveredandparted.Thepageantrybroke,widecurvingandreturningwithsomefreedombutwithordertoo,intoSantaFe.
IsawtheQueenandtheKingwiththeirchildren,andtheGrandCardinal,andprelatesandprelates,andtheMarquisofCadiz,andmanyagrandeeandfamousknight.DonEnriquedeCerdaandhistroopcameby.
DiegoLopezandIreturnedtothetown.IsawagainthemanwhowouldfindIndiabyawayunpassed,asfarasoneknew,sincetheworldbegan!Hewasenteringahousewithafriarbesidehim.SomethingcameintomymindoftheconventofLaRabida.
CHAPTERV
SOMEdayswentby.TheKingandtheQueenwiththecourtandagreattrainofprelatesandgrandeesandknightsrodeinstatethroughGranada.DonEnrique,returning,toldmeofitinhisroomatnight,oftheChristianserviceinthemosqueandthethroningintheAlhambra.
``Now,\'\'hesaid,``aftergreataffairs,ouraffairs!IhavehadspeechwiththeMarchionessofMoya.\'\'
``ThatistheQueen\'sfriend?\'\'
``Yes.DonaBeatrixdeBoabdilla.Westoodtogetherbyafountain,andwhenshesaid,`WhatcanIdoforyou?\'
Ianswered,`Thereissomething.\'Thenwhileallwentinpageantrybeforeus,Itoldherofthehermitageintheoakwoodandoftheunhappysmalltower,andofyouandmeandthoseothers,andwhatwasdonethatday.DonJayme,Itolditlikeaminstrelwhobelieveswhathesings!AndthenIspokeofto-day.Sheisnopunysoul,norissheinpriest\'sgrip.Sheactsfromherownvision,notfromthatofanother.TheQueenisnoweaksouleither!Shealsohasvision,buttoooftensheletsthechurchmentakehervisionfromher.ButDonaBeatrixisstrongerthere.
Well,shepromiseshelpifwecanshowherhowtohelp.\'\'
Isaid,``Ihavebeenthinking.Itseemstomethatitwaswrongtocomehereandputmyweightuponyou.\'\'
``No!\'\'heanswered.``Didwenotswearthen,whenwewereyoungmen?Andweneedednooathsneither.
Letsuchthoughtsbe——Iamgoingtothepalaceto-morrow,andyouwithme.TheKingandtheQueenridewithagreattrainintoGranada.ButDonaBeatrixwillexcuseherselffromgoing.Thepalacewillbealmostempty,andweshallfindherinthelittlegalleryabovetheQueen\'sgarden.\'\'
Thenextmorningwewentthere,DonEnriquedeCerdaandhissquire,JuanLepe.Thepalacerosegreatandgoodlyenough,withthechurchathand.Allhadbeenbuiltasbymagic,silkenpavilionsflyingawayandstouthousessettlingthemselvesdown.SunkamongthewallshadbeenmanagedasmallgardenfortheQueenandherladies.A
narrow,latticedandroofedgallerybuiltwithouttheQueen\'sroomslookeddownuponorangeandmyrtletreesandafountain.HerewefoundtheMarchionessdeMoya,withhertwowaitingdamselswhomshesetbythegallerydoor.
DonEnriquekissedherhandandthenmotionedtome.
DonJaymedeMarchenamadehisreverence.
Shewasastrongwomanwhowouldgodirectlytotheheartofthings.Alwaysshewouldlearnfromthemanhimself.SheaskedmethisandIanswered;thatandtheotherandIanswered.``DonPedro——?\'\'Itoldtheenmitythereandthereasonforit.``TheJewishrabbi,mygreat-grandfather?\'\'Iavowedit,butbythreeCastilianandChristiangreat-grandfatherscouldnotbecountedasJew!PractiseJudaism?No.MygrandmotherJudithhadbeenChristian.
Shedrovetotheheartofit.``YouyourselfareChristian.
Whatdoyoumeanbythat?WhattheQueenmeans?
WhattheGrandCardinalandtheArchbishopofGranadameans?WhattheHolyOfficemeans?\'\'
Ikeptsilenceforamoment,thenItoldheraswellasI
might,withoutfeverandwithoutmelancholy,whatIhadwrittenandoftheDominican.
``Youhavebeen,\'\'shesaid,``animprudentcavalier.\'\'
Thefountainflashedbelowus,agraydoveflewovergarden.Isaid,``Thereisatext,`Withallthygetting,getunderstanding.\'Thereisanother,`ForGodsolovedtheworld\'——thatHewishedtoimpartunderstanding.\'\'
Shesatquiet,seemingtolistentothefountain.Thenshesaid,``AreyoureadytoavowwhentheyaskyouthatineveryparticulartowhichtheGrandInquisitormaypointyouarewrong,andthatallthatHolyChurchthroughmouthofHolyOfficesaysisright?\'\'
Isaid,``No,Madam!PresentChurchisnotaslargeasTruth,norasfairasBeauty.\'\'
``Youmaythinkthat,butwillyousaytheother?\'\'
``SaythatchurchorkingdomexactlymatchesTruthandBeauty?\'\'
``ThatiswhatIamsureyouwillhavetosay.\'\'
``Then,no!\'\'
``Idonotsee,\'\'shesaid,``thatIcandoanythingforyou.\'\'
Therewasachairbesideher.Shesatdown,herchinonherhandandhereyeslowered.Silenceheldsaveforthefountainplashing.DonEnriquestoodbytherailing,andJaymedeMarchenafelthisconcern.Buthehimselfwalkedjustthen——DonJaymeorJuanLepe——intolongpatience,intogreatersteadfastness.Intotheinnerfieldscametranslucence,goldlight;cameandfaded,butleftstrength.
DonaBeatrixraisedhereyesandletthemdwelluponme.``Spainbreedsboldknights,\'\'shesaid,``butnotsomanyafterallwhoareboldwithin!Notsomany,Ithink,asarefoundinItalyorinFrance.\'\'Shepausedamoment,lookingattheskyabovetheroofs,thencamebacktome.
``Itishopeless,andyoumustseeit,totalkinthosetermstotheonlypowersthatcanleadtheHolyOfficetoforgetthatyoulive!ItishopelesstotalktotheQueen,tellingherthat.Shewouldholdthatshehadentertainedheresy,andherimaginationwouldnotletheralone.Iseenaughtinthisworldforyoutodobuttogooutofitintoanother!
Thereareotherlands——\'\'
Adamselhurriedtoherfromthedoor.``There\'sastirbelow,Madam!SomethinghasbroughttheQueenhomeearlierthanwethought——\'\'
TheMarchionessdeMoyarose.DonEnriquekissedherhand,andJaymedeMarchenakisseditandthankedher.``I
wouldhelpifIcould!\'\'shesaid.``ButinSpainto-dayitisdeadlydangeroustotalkorwriteasthoughtherewerefreedom!\'\'
Shepassedfromthegallery,DonEnriqueandIfollowing.
Wecameuponalandingwithagreatstairbeforeus.
Quickashadbeenhermaidens,theywerenotquickenough.
Manyfolkwerecomingupthebroadsteps.DonaBeatrixglanced,thenopenedadoorgivingintoagreatroom,apparentlyempty.Shepointedtoanoppositedoor.``Thelittlestair!Gothatway!\'\'DonEnriquenoddedcomprehension.
Wewereintheroom;thedoorclosed.
Atfirstitseemedanemptygreatchamber.Thenfrombehindasquareofstretchedclothcameaman\'shead,followedbythefigurepertainingtoit.Thefullmanwascladafterarichfancyandheheldinhishandabrushandlookedatusatfirstdreamilyandthenwithkeenness.
Heknewme,differentlyarrayedthoughIwas,andlookedfrommetoDonEnrique.``MasterManuelRodriguez,\'\'
saidthelatter,``IwouldstopforgoodtalkandtoadmiretheQueen\'slikeness,butdutycallsmeoutofpalace!
Adios!\'\'Hemadetowardthedooracrossfromthatbywhichwehadentered.Thepainterspokeafterus.``Thatdoorisbolted,DonEnrique,ontheotherside.Idonotknowwhy!Itisnotusuallyso.\'\'
DonEnrique,turning,hurriedtothefirstdoorandveryslightlyopenedit.Ahummingenteredthelarge,quietroom.
Heclosedthedoor.``TheQueeniscomingupthegreatstair.TheArchbishopofGranadaiswithherandawholetrainbeside!\'\'Hespoketothepainter.``Ihavenoaudience,andforreasonswouldnotchoosethismomentasoneinwhichtoencountertheleastdisfavor!Iwillstayherebeforeyourpictureandadmireuntillandingandstairwaysarebare.\'\'
``Iftobeinvisibleisyourdesire,\'\'answeredManuelRodriguez,``youhavewalkedintotrouble!TheQueeniscominghere.\'\'
DonEnriqueexclaimed.JuanLepeturnedeyestothepainter.Theblueeyesmetmine——thererosetherushypool,theredozedthebrokenboat.ManuelRodriguezspokeinhisvoicethatwasatoncecoolandfineanddryandwarm.``Itisbesttodarethoroughly!PerhapsImayhelpyou——asthus!WishingtospeakwithDonEnriqueofanaltarpaintingfortheChurchofSaintDominic,I
askedhimhereandhecame.Wetalked,andhewillgivethepicture.Then,hearingtheQueen\'sapproach,hewouldinstantlyhavebeengone,butalack,thesmalldoorisbarred!——
Asforfishermanyonder,fewlookatsquirewhenknightisinpresence!\'\'
Notimetodebatehisoffer,whichindeedwasbothwiseandkind!Chamberlainsflungopenthedoor.IncametheQueen,withherthePrincessJuanaandseveralofherladies.BesideherwalkedFernandodeTalavera,HerHighness\'sconfessor,yesterdayBishopofAvilabutnowArchbishopofGranada.Behindhimmovedtwolesserecclesiastics,andwiththeseDonAlonzodeQuintanella,Comptroller-
GeneralofCastile.Othersfollowed,noblesandcavaliers,twosoberlycladmenwholookedlikesecretaries,aFranciscanfriar,threeorfourpages.Theroomwaslargeandhadatablecoveredwitharichcloth,twogreatchairsandafewlesserones.
ThepainterandDonEnriquebentlowtotheMajestyofCastile.InthebackgroundJuanLepemadesquire\'sobeisance.IwasbeardedandmyfacestainedwithaMoorishstain,andIwasinshadow;itwasidletofearrecognitionthatmightnevercome.TheQueenseatedherself,andherdaughterbesideher,andwithhergoodsmilemotionedtheArchbishoptoachair.Thetwoecclesiastics,bothvenerablemen,weregivenseats.Therestofthecompanystood.TheQueen\'sblueeyesrestedonDonEnrique.
Shespokeinaclear,mildvoice,threadedwithdignity.
Wereyousummonedthither,DonEnriquedeCerda?\'\'
Heanswered,``No,Highness!IcametothepalacetoseekMasterManuelRodriguezwhoistopaintformeanaltarpiecefortheChurchofSaintDominic.YouandtheKing,Madam,IthoughtwereinGranada.Notfindinghiminhisownlodging,Imadeboldtocomehere.Thenatonce!beforeIcouldhastenaway,youreturned!\'\'
ThetruenatureofthisQueenwastothinknoevil.Hercountenanceremainedmild.Hehaddonevaliantservice,andshewassisterly-mindedtowardthegreaterpartoftheworld.Nowshesaidwithserenity,``Thereisnofault,DonEnrique.Staywithusnowthatyouarehere.\'\'
Bowingdeeply,hejoinedabrother-in-arms,DonMigueldeSilva.Hissquirestoodintheshadowbehindhim,butfoundachance-leftlaneofvisiondownwhichmuchmightbeseen.
TheQueencomposedherself,inherchair.``Thisistheposition,MasterManuel?\'\'Thefairman,sofineandquickthatIlovedtolookathim,bowedandsteppedbacktohiscanvas,wherehetookuphisbrushandfelltowork.TheQueenandtheArchbishopbegantospeakearnestlytogether.
WordsandsentencesfloatedtoJuanLepestandingbythearras.TheQueenmadethoughtfulpauses,lookingbeforeherwithsteadyblueeyesandasomewhatliftedface.I
notedthatwhenshedidthisManuelRodriguezpaintedfast.
Therefellapauseintheirtalk.Somethingdifferingfromthesubjectofdiscourse,whateverinitsfullnessthatmightbe,seemedtocomeintohermind.Shesentherglanceacrosstheroom.
``DonEnriquedeCerda——\'\'
Thetonesummoned.Whenhewasbeforeher,``Itwasinmymind,\'\'saidtheQueen,``tosendforyouwithinadayortwo.Butnowyouarehere,andthismomentwhileweawaittheKingisasgoodasanother.WehavehadlettersfromtheBishopofSevillewhomwereverence,andfromDonPedroEnriqueztowhomweowemuch.TheyhavetodowithJaymedeMarchenawhohaslongbeensuspectbytheHolyOffice.HehasfledSeville,gonenoneknowwhere!DonPedroinformsus,DonEnrique,thatyearsagothismanstoodamongyourfriends.Hedoesnotthinkitprobablethatthisisyetso——nordoI,DonEnrique,knowingthatyoumustholdinabhorrencetheheretic!\'\'
Shelookedmildlyuponhim.``InyouthwemakechancefriendshipsthickasMay,butmanhoodweedsthegarden!
Andyetwethinkitpossiblethatthismanmayinhishearttradeonoldthingsandmakehiswaytoyouorsendyouappeal.\'\'Shepaused,thensaidinaquietvoice,``Shouldthathappen,DonEnrique,onyourallegiance,andasagoodChristian,youwilldoallthatyoucantoputhiminthehandsoftheHolyOffice.\'\'
Shewaitedwithherblueeyesuponhim.Hesaid,andsaidquietly,``Itwaslongago,Madam,whenIwasayoungmanandcareless.Iwilldoallthatliesinmetodo.ButSpainiswideandthereareshipstoAfricaandothershores.\'\'
Shesaid,``Yes,IdonotseesuchanonedaringtocometoSantaFe!Buttheysaythattendemonspossessaheretic,andthathecrossesstreamsuponahairorwalksedgesofhighwalls.\'\'
Withherringedhandshemadegestureofdismissal.Hebowedlowandsteppedbacktohisformerplace.
Thesunfloodedinatwindow.ManuelRodriguezpaintedsteadily.TheQueensatstill,withliftedfaceandeyesstrainedintodistance.ShesighedandcamebackfromwasteswhereshewouldbeChristian,oh,whereshewouldbeChristian!andbeganwithatender,maternallooktotalkwithherdaughter.
CHAPTERVI
THEdoorgivinguponthegreatcorridoropened.Onesaid,``TheKing,Madam!\'\'KingFerdinandenteredquietly,inthesoberfashionofasoberandableman.
Hewascoolandbalanced,truealwaystohisownconceptionofhisowndues.TheQueenroseandsteppedtomeethim.Theyspoke,standingtogether,afterwhichhehandedhertoherchairandtookbesidehertheothergreatchairwhichthepageshadswiftlyplaced.AftergreetinghisdaughterandtheArchbishophelookedacrosstothepainter.
``MasterManuelRodriguez,goodday!\'\'
Therefellamomentofsun-drenchedquietinwhichtheyallsatfortheirpicture.ThensaidtheKing,``Madam,wearetogether,andherearethosewhohavebeenourchiefadvisersinthisaffairofdiscoveries.MasterChristopherusisbelow.Wenotedhiminthecourt.Letushavehimhereandseethistoo-long-draggingmatterfinished!Onceforallabatehisdemands,oronceforalllethimgo!\'\'
Theysentapage.Againtherewassunnysilence,theninatthedoorcamethetall,muscular,gray-eyed,silver-
hairedmanwhomIhadmetthedayKingBoabdilsurrenderedGranada.
HemadereverencetotheQueenandtheKingandtotheArchbishop.ItwastheQueenwhospoketohimandthatgently.
``MasterChristopherus,wehavehadathousandbusinesses,andsoourmatterherehaswaitedandwaited.To-
daycomesunawarethisquiethourandwewillgiveittoyou.HerewithusaretheArchbishopandotherswhohavebeenourcounsellors,andhereisDonAlonzodeQuin-
tantellawhohathalwaysstoodyourfriend.Inallthehurly-
burlyweyettooktime,twodaysago,tositincouncilandcometoconclusion.Andnowwegiveyouourdetermination.
Inallreasonitshouldgiveyoujoy!\'\'Shesmileduponhim.``Howmanyyearssincefirstyoulaidyourplanbeforeus?\'\'
Heansweredherinadeepvoice,thrillingandcrowdedwithfeeling.``Sevenyears,MadamyourHighness!Likeaninfantlaidatyourfeet.Andwinterhasblownuponit,andsunshinecarryinghopehaswalkedaroundit,andthenagainthecoldwindrises——\'\'
TheKingspoke.``MasterChristopherus,inwarmuchelsehastocease!Inmuchwehavehadtofindpatience,andyouhavetofindit.\'\'
``MylordKing,yes!\'\'repliedthetallman.``ItiseighteenyearssinceinLisbon,lookingupontheseaoneday,Isaidtomyself,`Isthereaquestionthatisnottobeanswered?Thisoceanistobecrossed.ThenwhydonotI
crossit?ThereisCipango,CathayandIndia!Goldandspicesarethere,andherelieships,andbetween,whenallissaid,isonlysea!Godmadetheseatobesailed!Yondertheyworshipidols,hereweworshipChrist.Thereareidols,hereisChrist.OnceaChristopheruscarriedChristacrosswater!\'Eighteenyearsago.Isaid,`Icandoit!\'
Isayitto-day,mylordandmylady.Icandoit!\'\'
OftheseatedgreatonesonlytheQueen\'sspiritappearedtoanswerhis.Heseemedtoenchanther,totakeherwithhim.ButtheKing\'scoolfaceregardedhimwithsomethinglikedislike.Hespokeinanedgedvoice.``SaintChristopheraskednogreatwage.Thatisthepoint,MasterChristopherus,soletustoit!AtlasttheQueenandI
say`Weagree\'tothisenterprise,whichmaybringforthfruitormaynot,ormaymeanmereemptylossofshipsandmenandofourmonies!Yetwesay`yea.\'Butwedonotsay`yea\',MasterChristopherus,tothetoogreatferryfeewhichyouask!Isay`ask\',butverilythetoneisofcommand!\'\'
ThemanwhomtheycalledMasterChristopherusmadeaslow,widegestureofdeprecation.TheArchbishoptooktheword.``Toomuch!Youaskahundredtimestoomuch!Imustsaytoyouthatitisunchristianlyarrogance.
Youtalklikeasoldan!\'\'Anassentingmurmurcamefromtheotherecclesiastics.
TheQueenspoke.``MasterChristopherus,ifitbeagreatthingtodo,isnotthedoingitandtherebyblessingyourselfnolessthanothers——isnotthatreward?NotthatCastileshalldenyyoureward,no!TrustmethatifyoubringusthekeyofIndiayoushallnotfindusniggardly!
Butweandtheywhoadviseusstumbleatyourprescribingwealth,honorsandgiftsthattheysaytrulyarebetterfittingagreatprince!Trustusforenrichmentandforhonordoyoucomebackwiththegreatthingdone!LeaveitallnowtoTimethatbringstopass.SoyouwillbeclearertogoforthtotheblessedcarryingofChrist!\'\'
Shespokeearnestly,aQueen,butwithmuchaboutherofwomanly,motherlysweetness.Isawthatshegreatlylikedthemanandsomewheremethisspirit.ButtheKingwasgatheringhardness.Hespoketoasecretarystandingbehindhim.``Haveyouittherewrittendown,theItalian\'sdemand?\'\'
Themanproducedapaper.``Read!\'\'Butbeforeitcouldbeunfolded,MasterChristopherusspoke.
```Italian!\'SevenyearsinSpainandteninPortugal,andagoodwhileinPortoSantothatbelongstoPortugal,alittleinEnglandandinUltimaThuleorIceland,andlong,longyearsuponshipsdeckedandundeckedinalltheseasthatareknown——fourteenyears,childhoodandboyhood,inGenoaandatPaviawhereIwenttoschool,andallmyyearsofhopeinChrist\'sKingdom,andintheuplandsofgreatdoers-andyourHighnesssaystomeforaslightingword,`Italian!\'IwasborninItaly,butto-day,forthisturn,KingFerdinand,youshouldcallme`Spaniard\'!As,ifKingJohnsendsmeforthbewillcallmePortuguese!
OrKingHenrywillsay,`ChristophertheEnglishman\'
orKingCharles,towhomverilyIseethatImaygo,shallsay,`Frenchman,towhomallowethemarriageofEastandWest,butFranceowesEmpire!\'\'\'
TheKingsaid,``Itmaybeso,oritmaynotbeso,MasterChristopherus——Read!\'\'
Thesecretaryread:TheGenoese,CristoforoColombo,calledinSpainCristobalColon,andintheLatinChristopherusColumbus,statesanddemandsinsubstanceasfollows:
SailingwestwardhewilldiscoverfortheKingandQueenoftheSpainstheIndiesandCathayandCipango,tothegreatgloryandenrichmentoftheseSovereignsandthepassingtherebyofSpainaheadofPortugal,andlikewiseandabovealltothegreatgloryofChristandofHolyChurch.Hewilldothis,havingseenitclearformanyyearsthatitistobedone,andhetheinstrument.AndforthefindingbygoingwestwardofthesaidIndiaandallthegainoftheworldandtheKingdomofGodandofourSovereignstheKingDonFerdinandandtheQueenDonaIsabella,hebargaineththus:
``HeshallbenamedAdmiraloftheOcean-Sea,wherebyhemeansthewholewaterwestofthelinedrawnbytheHolyFatherfortheKingofPortugal.HeshallbemadeViceroyandGovernorofallcontinentsandislandsthathemaydiscover,claimandoccupyfortheSovereigns.AndthesaidChristopherusColumbus\'seldestsonshallholdtheseofficesafterhim,andtheheirofhisson,andhisheir,downtime.Heshallbegrantedonetenthofallgold,pearls,preciousstones,spices,orothermerchandisefoundorboughtorexchangedwithinhisadmiraltyandviceroyship,andthistitheislikewisetobetakenbyhisheirsfromgenerationtogeneration.Heoronethatheshallnameshallbejudgeinalldisputesthatariseinthesecontinentsandislands,sobeitthatthehonoroftheSovereignsofSpainisnottouched.
HeshallhavethesalarythathaththeHighAdmiralofCastile.HeandhisfamilyshallbeennobledandhenceforthbecalledDonandDona.Andfortheimmediatesailingofshipshemay,ifhesodesire,beataneighthoftheexpenseofoutfitting,forwhichheshallbereturnedaneighthofalltheprofitofthisthefirstvoyage.\'\'
Thesecretarydidnotmakethetermslesssoundingbyhisreading.Windinleaves,wentastirthroughtheroom.
Iheardapagenearmewhispering,``OSanctaMaria!
Thehanger-on,theneedyone!SincethebeginningoftimeI\'veseenhimatdoors,sunnyandcloudydays,thebig,droningbee!\'\'ManuelRodriguezpaintedon.Ifelthisthought.``Ishouldliketopaint_you_,AdmiraloftheOcean-Sea!\'\'
Theroomrecomposeditself.OutofsilencecametheKing\'svoice,chillanddry.``Weabatesovastaclaimforsovastreward!Butwewouldbenaughtelsebutjust,andinourabilitylavish.Readnowwhatwewilldo!\'\'
Thesecretaryread.Ithadacertainlargenessandgoodliness,asgorewardsforadventure,evenforgreatadventure,whatthesovereignswoulddo.Theroomthoughtitshouldanswer.TheKingspoke,``Wecanpromisenomorenorotherthanthis.Itcontentsyou,MasterChristopherus?\'\'
Thelong-faced,high-nosed,gray-eyedmananswered,``No,mylordKing.\'\'
``Yourowntermsornone?\'\'
``Mineornone,yourHighness.\'\'
TheKing\'svoicegrewacuttingwind.``TothattheQueenandIanswer,`Oursornone!\'\'\'Pushingbackhischair,heglancedatsunoutofwindow.``Itisover.I
inclinetothinkthatitwasatbestbutanemptyvision.Youaredismissed,MasterChristopherus!\'\'
TheGenoese,bowing,steppedbackwardfromthetable.
Inhisfaceandcarriagewasnothingbroken.Hekeptcolor.TheQueen\'sglancewentafterhim,``Whatwillyoudonow,MasterChristopherus?\'\'
Heanswered,``Mylady,yourHighness,Ishalltakehorseto-morrowforFrance.\'\'
TheKingsaid,``France?——KingCharlesbuyseverlow,nothigh!\'\'
TheSovereignsandthegreatchurchmenandthelessgreatwentawaytogether.Afterthemflowedthehighattendance.
Allwent,DonEnriqueamongthelast.Followinghim,Iturnedhead,forIwishedtoobserveagaintwopersons,thepainterManuelRodriguezandtheAdmiraloftheOcean-Sea.Theformerpaintedon.Thelatterwalkedforthquitealone,comingbehindthegrinningpages.
InthecourtbelowIsawhimagain.Thearchwaytostreetsenttowardusadeepwedgeofshadow.Hehadacloakwhichhewrappedaroundhimandalargeroundbatwhichhedrewlowoverhisgray-blueeyes.Withafirmstephecrossedtothearchwaywherethepurpleshadowtookhim.
JuanLepemustturntohisownpartwhichnowmustbedecided.IwalkedbehindDonEnriquedeCerdathroughSantaFe.WithhimkeptDonMigueldeSilva,wholovedDonEnrique\'ssisterandwouldstilltalkof_devoir_andofplans,nowthatthewarwasended.WhenthehousewasreachedhewouldenterwithusandstilladheretoDonEnrique.Butatthestairfootthelatterspoketothesquire.
``Findmeinanhour,JuanLepe.Ihavesomethingtosaytothee!\'\'Histonecarried,``Doyouthinktheplacetheremakesanydifference?No,bythegodoffriends!\'\'
IlethimgothinkingthatIwouldcometohimpresently.
ButI,too,hadtoactunderthegodoffriends.InDiegoLopez\'sroomIfoundquillandinkandpaper,andthereI
wrotealettertoDonEnrique,andfindingDiegogaveittohimtobegivenintwohoursintoDonEnrique\'shand.
ThenJuanLepethesquirechangedinhisownroom,narrowandbareasacell,totheclothingofJuanLepethesailor.
CHAPTERVII
DUSKwasdrawingdownasIstolewithlittletroubleoutofthehouseintothestreetandthenceintothemazeofSantaFe.ThatnightIsleptwithminstrelsandjugglers,andatsunriseslippedoutofCordovagatewithmuleteers.TheywereforCordovaandImeanttogotoMalaga.Imeanttofindthereaship,maybeforAfrica,maybeforItaly,thoughinItaly,too,sitstheInquisition.
Butwhoknowswhatitisthatturnsaman,unlesswecallithisGenius,unlesswecallitGod?IletthemuleteerspassmeontheroadtoCordova,letthemdwindleinthedistance.AndstillIwalkedanddidnotturnbackandfindtheMalagaroad.ItwasasthoughIwereonthesea,andmybark,washanginginacalm,waitingforawindtoblow.AmanmountedonahorsewascomingtowardmefromSantaFe.Watchingthesmallfiguregrowlarger,I
said,``Whenheisevenwithmeandhaspassedandisalittlefigureagaininthedistance,Iwillturnsouth.\'\'
Hecamenearer.SuddenlyIknewhimtobethatMasterChristopheruswhohadenteredthewedgeofshadowyesterdayinthepalacecourt.Hewasoutofitnow,inthebroadlight,onthewhiteroad——onthewaytoFrance.Heapproached.
TheoceanbeforePaloscameandstoodagainbeforeme,saltandpowerful.Thekeen,far,skylineofitawokeanddrew!
ChristopherusColumbuscameupwithme.Isaid,``A
Palossailorgivesyougoodmorning!\'\'
Checkingthehorse,hesatlookingatmeoutofblue-grayeyes.Isawhimrecollecting.``Dressisdifferentandpoorer,butyouarethesquireinthecrowd!`SailorPalossailor\'——There\'ssomemeaningtheretoo!\'\'
Heseemedtoponderit,thenaskedifIwasforCordova.
``No.IamgoingtoMalagawhereItakeship.\'\'
``ThisisnottheMalagaroad.\'\'
``No.ButIaminnohurry!Ishouldliketowalkamilewithyou.\'\'
``Thendoit,\'\'heanswered.``Somethingtellsmethatweshallnotbeilltravelerstogether.\'\'
Ifeltthatalsoandnomorethanhecouldexplainit.
Butthereason,Iknow,standsintheforestbehindtheseedling.
Hewalkedhishorse,andIstrodebeside.HeaskedmynameandIgaveit.JuanLepe.WetraveledCordovaroadtogether.Presentlyhesaid,``IleaveSpainforFrance,anddoyouknowwhy?\'\'
SaidJuanLepe,``Ihavebeentoldsomething,andIhavegatheredsomethingwithmyowneyesandears.YouwouldreachAsiabygoingwest.\'\'
Hespokeinthemeasuredtoneofarecitaloftenmadealiketohimselfandtoothers.``IholdthatthevoyagefromPalos,say,firstsouthtotheCanariesandthenduewestwouldnotexceedthreemonths.YetIbegantogowesttoIndiafulleighteenyearsago!Ihavevoyagedeighteenyears,withdeadcalmsandheadwinds,withstormsandback-puttings,withpiratesandmutinies,withfoodandwaterlacking,withonlyGodandmypurposeforfriend!I
havetouchedatthecourtofPortugalandatthecourtofSpain,and,roundaboutway,atthecourtofEngland,andatthehousesoftheDogesofVeniceandofGenoa.Theyallkeptmeswinginglongatanchor,buttheyhavenevergivenmeafurtheringwind.EighteenyearsgoingtoIndia!ButwhydoIsayeighteen?TheLordputmeforthfromlandsidethedayIwasborn.BeforeIwasfourteen,attheschoolinPavia,Hesaid,`Gotosea.SailunderthycousinColomboandlearnthroughlongyearsalltheinchesofsaltwater.\'LaterHesaid,onedaywhenwewereswingingoffAlexandria,`Study!Teachthyself!Buybooks,notwinenorfineclothesnorfavorofwomen.Studyonlandandstudyatsea.Lookateverymapthatcomesbeforeyou.
Learntomakemaps.Whenaworldmapcomesbeforeyou,lookatthewesternsideofitandthinkhowtofillitoutknowingly.Listentoseamen\'stales.Learntoviewtheinvisibleandtofeelunderfoottheroundnessofmyearth!\'
``AndHesaidthatsameyearoffAleppo,`Learntocommandships.LearninKingReinier\'swarandinwhatotherwarGenoamakes.Learntodirectmenandpatientlytohearthem,windinginandoutoftheircounsels,keepingthyselfalwayswiserthanthey.\'Well,Istudied,andlearned,andcancommandashiporships,andknownavigation,andcanmakemapsandchartswiththebest,andcanruleseamen,lovingthemthewhile.Longago,IwenttothatschoolwhichHeset,andcameforth_magister!_LongafterHisfirstspeaking,IwasatPortoSanto,wellnamed,andthereHesaid,`SeekIndia,goingwestward.\'\'\'Heturnedhisfacetothesun.``IhavebeengoingtoIndiafifty-sixyears.\'\'
JuanLepeasked,``Why,onyesterday,wereyounotcontentwiththeKingandQueen\'sterms?Theygrantedhonorandcompetence.Itwastheestateofaprincethatyouasked.\'\'
Somemomentspassedbeforeheanswered.Thesunwasshining,theroadwhiteanddusty,themountainsofElvirapurpletothetopsandtheresplashedwithsilver.Whenhespoke,hisvoicewaschanged.Neithernownorhereafterdidhediscourseofmoney-goldandnobilityflowingfromearthlykingswiththatimpersonalexaltationwithwhichhetalkedofhiserrandfromGodtolinktogethereastandwest.
Buthedrewthemsomehowintrainfromthelast,hidinghereIthought,anearthlyweaknessfromhimself,andtheweaknesssointertwinedwithstrengththatitwashardtodivideparasitefromoak.
``Didyousee,\'\'heasked,``aboywithme?ThatwasmysonDiegowhomIhaveleftwithafriendinSantaFe.
Fernando,hishalf-brother,isbutachild.IshallseehiminCordova.Ihavetwobrothers,deartomebothofthem,DiegoandBartholomew.Myoldfather,DominicoColombo,stilllivesinGenoa.Helivesinpoverty,asIhavelivedinpovertythesemanyyears.AndthereisPedroCorreo,towhomIowemuch,husbandofmywife\'ssister.
Mywifeisdead.ThemotherofFernandoisnotmywife,butIloveher,andsheispoorthoughbeautifulandgood.
Iwouldhaveherlesspoor;Iwouldgiveherbeautifulthings.Ihaveloveformykindred,——loveandyearningandcareanddesiretodothemgood,alikethosewhotrustmeandthosewhothinkthatIhadfailedthem.Idonotfailthem!\'\'
Wepaddedonuponthedustyroad.Ifelthisinnerwarmth,divinedhislife.ButatlastIsaid,``WhattheQueenandKingpromisewouldgiverichcare——\'\'
``Ihavefriendstoo,forallthatIrideoutofSpainandseemsopooranddesolate!Iwouldrepay——ay,tentimesover——theirfaithandtheirhelp.\'\'
``Still——\'\'
``Therearemoreoverthepoor,andthosewhostudyandneedbooksandmapsthattheycannotpurchase.Thereareconvents——oneconventespecially——thatbefriendedmewhenIwasaloneandnighhopelessandfurtheredmycause.Iwouldgivethatconventgreatgifts.\'\'Turninginthesaddlehelookedsouthwest.``FrayJuanPerez——\'\'
