CHAPTER XXXI.
"A perfect woman, nobly planned To warn, to comfort, and command; And yet a spirit still, and bright, With something of an angel light."
Wordsworth.
The lustre that was thrown around the voyage of Columbus, brought theseas into favor. It was no longer deemed an inferior occupation, orunsuited to nobles to engage in enterprises on its bosom; and that verypropensity of our hero, which had so often been mentioned to hisprejudice in former years, was now frequently named to his credit.Though his real connection with Columbus is published, for the firsttime, in these pages, the circumstance having escaped the superficialinvestigations of the historians, it was an advantage to him to be knownas having manifested what might be termed a maritime disposition, in anage when most of his rank and expectations were satisfied with theadventures of the land. A sort of fashion was got up on behalf of theocean; and the cavalier who had gazed upon its vast and unbrokenexpanse, beyond the view of his mother earth, regarded him who had not,much as he who had won his spurs looked down upon him who had sufferedthe proper period of life to pass without making the effort. Many of thenobles whose estates touched the Mediterranean or the Atlantic, fittedout small coasters--the yachts of the fifteenth century--and were metfollowing the sinuosities of the glorious coasts of that part of theworld, endeavoring to derive a satisfaction from a pursuit that itseemed meritorious to emulate. That all succeeded who attempted thus totransfer the habits of courts and castles to the narrow limits of xebecsand feluccas, it would be hazarding too much to assert; but there islittle doubt that the spirit of the period was sustained by theexperiments, and that men were ashamed to condemn that, which it wasequally the policy and the affectation of the day to extol. The rivalrybetween Spain and Portugal, too, contributed to the feeling of thetimes; and there was soon greater danger of the youth who had neverquitted his native shores, being pointed out for his want of spirit,than that the adventurer should be marked for his eccentric and vagrantinstability.
In the meanwhile, the seasons advanced, and events followed, in theirusual course, from cause to effect. About the close of the month ofSeptember, the ocean, just without that narrow and romantic pass thatseparates Europe from Africa, while it connects the transcendentMediterranean with the broader wastes of the Atlantic, was glitteringwith the rays of the rising sun, which, at the same time, was gildingthe objects that rose above the surface of the blue waters. The latterwere not numerous, though a dozen different sails were moving slowly ontheir several courses, impelled by the soft breezes of the season. Ofthese, our business is with one alone, which it may be well to describein a few general terms.
The rig of the vessel in question was latine, perhaps the mostpicturesque of all that the ingenuity of man has invented as theaccessory of a view, whether given to the eye by means of the canvas, orin its real dimensions and substance. Its position, too, was preciselythat which a painter would have chosen as the most favorable to hispencil, the little felucca running before the wind, with one of its highpointed sails extended on each side, resembling the pinions of someenormous bird that was contracting its wings as it settled toward itsnest. Unusual symmetry was apparent in the spars and rigging; while thehull, which was distinguished by lines of the fairest proportions, had aneatness and finish that denoted the yacht of a noble.
The name of this vessel was the "Ozema," and she carried the Count ofLlera with his youthful bride. Luis, who had acquired much of themariner's skill, in his many voyages, directed the movements in person,though Sancho Mundo strutted around her decks with an air of authority,being the titular, if not the real patron of the craft.
"Ay--ay--good Bartolemeo, lash that anchor well," said the last, as heinspected the forecastle, in his hourly rounds; "for fair as may be thebreezes, and mild as is the season, no one can know what humor theAtlantic may be in, when it fairly waketh up. In the great voyage toCathay, nothing could have been more propitious than our outwardpassage, and nothing savor more of devils incarnate, than the homeward.Dona Mercedes maketh an excellent sailor, as ye all may see; and no onecan tell which way, or how far, the humor of the conde may carry him,when he hath once taken his departure. I tell ye, fellows, that gloryand gold may alight upon ye all, any minute, in the service of such anoble; and I hope none of ye have forgotten to come provided withhawk's-bells, which are as remarkable for assembling doblas, as thebells of the Seville cathedral are for assembling Christians."
"Master Mundo," called out our hero, from the quarter-deck, "let therebe a man sent to the extremity of the fore-yard, and bid him look alongthe sea to the north and east of us."
This command interrupted one of Sancho's self-glorifying discourses, andcompelled him to see the order executed. When the seaman who was sentaloft, had "shinned" his way to the airy and seemingly perilous positionhe had been told to occupy, an inquiry went up from the deck, to demandwhat he beheld.
"Senor Conde," answered the fellow, "the ocean is studded with sails, inthe quarter your Excellency hath named, looking like the mouth of theTagus, at the first of a westerly wind."
"Canst thou tell them, and let me know their numbers?" called out Luis.
"By the mass, Senor," returned the man, after taking time to make hiscount, "I see no less than sixteen--nay, now I see another, a smallerjust opening from behind a carrack of size--seventeen, I make them inall."
"Then are we in season, love!" exclaimed Luis, turning toward Mercedeswith delight--"once more shall I grasp the hand of the admiral, ere hequitteth us again for Cathay. Thou seemest glad as myself, that oureffort hath not failed."
"That which gladdeneth thee, Luis, is sure to gladden me," returned thebride; "where there is but one interest, there ought to be but onewish."
"Beloved--beloved Mercedes--thou wilt make me every thing thou canstdesire. This heavenly disposition of thine, and this ready consenting tovoyage with me, will be sure to mould me in such a way that I shall beless myself than thee."
"As yet, Luis," returned the young wife, smiling, "the change promisethto be the other way, since thou art much likelier to make me a rover,than I to make thee a fixture of the castle of Llera."
"Thou comest not out upon the sea, Mercedes, contrary to thine ownwishes?" demanded Luis, with the earnest quickness of one who wasfearful he might unconsciously have done an act of indiscretion.
"No, dearest Luis; so far from it, that I have come with satisfaction,apart from the pleasure I have had in obliging thee. Fortunately, I feelno indisposition from the motion of the felucca, and the novelty is ofthe most agreeable and exciting kind."
To say that Luis rejoiced to hear this on more accounts than one, is butto add that he still found a pleasure in the scenes of the ocean.
In half an hour the vessel of the admiral was visible from the Ozema'sdeck, and ere the sun had reached the meridian, the little felucca wasgliding into the centre of the fleet, holding her course toward thecarrack of Columbus. The usual hailing passed, when, apprised of thepresence of Mercedes, the admiral gallantly repaired on board the Ozema,to pay his respects in person. The scenes through which they had passedtogether, had created in Columbus a species of paternal regard for Luis,in which Mercedes shared, through the influence of her noble conductduring the events that occurred at Barcelona. He met the happy pair,therefore, with dignified affection, and his reception partook of thefeelings that the count and countess so fully reciprocated.
Nothing could be more striking to one who had an opportunity ofwitnessing both, than the contrast between the means with which theGenoese sailed on this, and on his former voyage. Then he had set forthneglected, almost forgotten, in three vessels, ill-found, and worsemanned, while now, the ocean was whitened with his canvas, and he wassurrounded by no inconsiderable portion of the chivalry of Spain. Assoon as it was known that the Countess of Llera was in the felucca thathad stopped the fleet, boats put off from most of the vessels, andMercedes held a sort of court on the broad Atlantic; her own femaleattendants, among whom were two o
r three of the rank of ladies,assisting her in doing proper honor to the cavaliers who thronged thedeck. The balmy influence of the pure air of the ocean, contributed tothe happiness of the moment; and, for an hour, the Ozema presented ascene of gaiety and splendor, such as had never before been witnessed byany person present.
"Beautiful Countess," cried one, who had been a rejected suitor of ourheroine, "you see to what acts of desperation your cruelty hath drivenme, who am going forth on an adventure to the furthest east. It is wellfor Don Luis that I did not make this venture before he won your favor;as no damsel in Spain is expected, henceforth, to withstand the suit ofone of the admiral's followers."
"It may be as you say, Senor," returned Mercedes, her heart swellingwith the consciousness that he whom she had chosen had made this sameboasted adventure, while others shrunk from its hazard, and when itsresult was still a mystery in the unknown future--"It may be as you say;but one of moderate wishes, like myself, must be content with theseunambitious voyages along the coast, in which, happily, a wife may beher husband's companion."
"Lady," cried the gallant and reckless Alonzo de Ojeda, in his turn,"Don Luis caused me to roll upon the earth, in the tourney, by a fairand manly effort, that hath left no rancor behind it; but I shall outdohim now, since he is content to keep the shores of Spain in view,leaving to us the glory of seeking the Indies, and of reducing theInfidels to the sway of the two sovereigns!"
"It is a sufficient honor to my husband, Senor, that he can boast of thesuccess you name, and he must rest satisfied with the reputationacquired in that one deed."
"Countess, a year hence you would love him better, did he come forthwith us, and show his spirit among the people of the Grand Khan!"
"Thou see'st, Don Alonzo, that the illustrious admiral doth notaltogether despise him as it is. They seek a private interview in mycabin together; an attention Don Christopher would not be apt to pay arecreant, or a laggard."
"'Tis surprising!" resumed the rejected suitor; "the favor of the condewith our noble admiral hath surprised us all, at Barcelona. Can it be,de Ojeda, that they have met in some of their earlier nauticalwanderings?"
"By the mass! Senor," cried Alonzo, laughing, "if Don Luis ever met theadmiral, as he met me in the lists, I should think one interview wouldanswer for the rest of their days!"
In this manner did the discourse proceed, some speaking in levity, somein more sober mood, and all in amity. While this was passing on deck,Columbus had, indeed, retired to a cabin with our hero.
"Don Luis," said the admiral, when they were seated near each other, andalone, "thou know'st the regard I bear thee, and I feel certain thatthou returnest it with an equal degree of esteem. I now go forth fromSpain, on a far more perilous adventure than that in which thou wert mycompanion. Then I sailed concealed in contempt, and veiled from humaneyes by ignorance and pity; now, have I left the old world, followed bymalignancy and envy. These facts am I too old not to have seen, andforeseen. In my absence, many will be busy with my name. Even they whonow shout at my heels will become my calumniators, revenging themselvesfor past adulation by present detraction. The sovereigns will be besetwith lies, and any disappointment in the degree of success will bedistorted into crimes. I leave friends behind me, too--friends, such asJuan Perez, de St. Angel, Quintanilla, and thyself. On ye, then, do Igreatly rely, not for favors, but for the interest of truth andjustice."
"Senor, you may count upon my small influence under all circumstances. Ihave seen you in the day of trial, and it exceedeth ordinarymisrepresentations to weaken my faith in you."
"This did I believe, Luis, even before it was so warmly and sincerelysaid," returned the admiral, squeezing the young man's hand with fervor."I doubt if Fonseca, who hath now so much power in the affairs of India,is truly my friend. Then, there is one of thy blood and name, who hathalready regarded me with unfavorable eyes, and whom I distrustexceedingly, should an occasion offer in which he might do me injury."
"I know him well, Don Christopher, and account him as doing no credit tothe house of Bobadilla."
"He hath credit, nevertheless, with the king, which is of moreimportance, just now!"
"Ah! Senor, to that wily and double-faced monarch, you must look fornothing generous. So long as Dona Isabella's ear can be kept open to thetruth, there is nothing to fear, but Don Ferdinand groweth each day moreworldly and temporizing. Mass!--that one who, in youth, was so bold andmanly a knight, should in his age betray so many of the meannesses thatwould disgrace a Moor! My noble aunt, however, is a host in herself, andwill ever remain true to you, as she commenced."
"God overruleth all, and it were sinful to distrust either his wisdom orjustice. And now, Luis, one word touching thyself. Providence hath madethee the guardian of the happiness of such a being as is seldom foundthis side the gates of heaven. The man who is blessed with a virtuousand amiable wife, like her thou hast wedded, should erect an altar inhis heart, on which he ought to make daily, nay, hourly sacrifices ofgratitude to God for the boon; since of all earthly blessings, heenjoyeth the richest, the purest, and the most lasting, should he not beunmindful of his own riches. But a woman like Dona Mercedes is acreature as delicate as she is rare. Let her equanimity check thyimpetuosity; her purity rebuke the less refined elements of thycomposition; her virtue stimulate thine own; her love keep thine in anunceasing flame, and her tenderness be a constant appeal to thy manlyindulgence and protection. Fulfil all thy duties as a Spanish grandee,son, and seek felicity in the partner of thy bosom, and in love to God."
The admiral now gave Luis his blessing, and, taking leave of Mercedes inthe same solemn manner, he hastened to his carrack. Boat after boatquitted the felucca, many calling out their leave-takings even afterthey were at a distance. In a few minutes, the heavy yards swung around,and the fleet was again sweeping off toward the south-west, holding itsway, as was then fancied, toward the distant shores of India. For anhour the Ozema lay where she had been left by Columbus, as if gazing ather retiring friends; then her canvas filled, and she hauled up towardthat bight of the coast, at the bottom of which lay the port of Palos deMoguer.
The afternoon was deliciously balmy, and when the felucca drew in withthe land, the surface of the sea was as smooth as that of an inlandlake. There was just wind enough to cool the air, and to propel thelittle vessel three or four knots through the water. The day apartmentoccupied by our hero and heroine, was on the quarter-deck. It wasformed, on the exterior, by a tarpauling, bent like the tilt of a wagon,while the interior was embellished with a lining of precious stuffs thatconverted it into a beautiful little saloon. In front, a canvas bulkheadprotected it from the gaze of the crew; and, toward the stearn a richcurtain fell, when it became necessary to shut out the view. The latterwas now carelessly festooned, permitting the eye to range over a broadexpanse of the ocean, and to watch the glories of the setting sun.
Mercedes reclined on a luxurious couch, gazing on the ocean, and Luistouched a guitar, seated on a stool at her feet. He had just played afavorite national air, which he had accompanied with his voice, and hadlaid aside the instrument, when he perceived that his young wife did notlisten, with her usual fondness and admiration, to his music.
"Thou art thoughtful, Mercedes," he said, leaning forward to read themelancholy expression of those eyes that were so often glowing withenthusiasm.
"The sun is setting in the direction of the land of poor Ozema, Luis,"Mercedes answered, a slight tremor pervading her voice; "thecircumstance, in connection with the sight of this boundless ocean, thatso much resembleth eternity, hath led me to think of her end.Surely--surely--a creature so innocent can never be consigned to eternalmisery, because her unenlightened mind and impassioned feelings wereunable to comprehend all the church's mysteries!"
"I would that thou thought'st less on this subject, love; thy prayers,and the masses that have been said for her soul, should content thee;or, if thou wilt, the last can be repeated, again and again."
"We will offer still more," returned
the young wife, scarce speakingabove her breath, while the tears fell down her cheeks. "The best of uswill need masses, and _we_ owe this to poor Ozema. Didst thou bethinkthee, to intercede again with the admiral, to do all service toMattinao, on reaching Espanola?"
"That hath been attended to, and so dismiss the subject from thy mind.The monument is already erected at Llera, and we may feel regret for theloss of the sweet girl, but can scarce mourn for her. Were I not Luis deBobadilla, thy husband, dearest, I could think her the subject of envy,rather than of pity."
"Ah! Luis, thy flattery is too pleasing to bring reproof, but it isscarce seemly. Even the happiness I feel, in being assured of thylove--that our fortunes, fate, name, interests are one--is, in truth,but misery, compared with the seraphic joys of the blessed; and to suchjoys I could wish Ozema's spirit might be elevated."
"Doubt it not, Mercedes; she hath all that her goodness and innocencecan claim. Mass! If she even have half that I feel, in holding thee thusto my heart, she is no subject for grief, and thou say'st she hath, orwilt have, ten-fold more."
"Luis--Luis--speak not thus! We will have other masses said at Seville,as well as at Burgos and Salamanca."
"As thou wilt, love. Let them be said yearly, monthly, weekly, forever,or as long as the churchmen think they may have virtue."
Mercedes smiled her gratitude, and the conversation became less painful,though it continued to be melancholy. An hour passed in this manner,during which, the communion was of the sweet character that pervades theintercourse of those who love tenderly. Mercedes had already acquired apowerful command over the headlong propensities and impetuous feelingsof her husband, and was gradually moulding him, unknown to herself, tobe the man that was necessary to her own feelings. In this change, whichwas the result of influence, and not of calculation or design, she wasaided by the manly qualities of our hero, which were secretly persuadinghim that he had now the happiness of another in his keeping, as well ashis own. This is an appeal that a really generous mind seldomwithstands, and far oftener produces the correction of minor faults,than any direct management, or open rebukes. Perhaps Mercedes' strongestarm, however, was her own implicit confidence in her husband'sexcellence, Luis feeling a desire to be that which she so evidentlythought him; an opinion that his own conscience did not, in the fullestextent, corroborate.
Just as the sun had set, Sancho came to announce that he had let go theanchor.
"Here we are, Senor Conde--here we are, at last, Senora Dona Mercedes,lying off the town of Palos, and within a hundred yards of the very spotwhere Don Christopher and his gallant companions departed for thediscovery of the Indies--God bless him a hundred-fold, and all who wentwith him. The boat is ready to take you to the shore, Senora; and there,if you do not find Seville, or Barcelona, cathedrals and palaces, youwill find Palos, and Santa Clara, and the ship-yard-gate--three placesthat are, henceforth, to be more renowned than either: Palos, as havingsent forth the expedition; Santa Clara, as having saved it fromdestruction, by vows fulfilled at its altars; and the gate, for havinghad the ship of the admiral built within it."
"And other great events, good Sancho!" put in the count.
"Just so, your Excellency; and for other great events. Am I to land you,lady?"
Mercedes assented, and in ten minutes she and her husband were walkingon the beach, within ten yards of the very spot where Columbus and Luishad embarked the previous year. The firm sands were now covered withpeople, walking in the cool of the evening. Most of them were of thehumbler classes, this being the only land, we believe, in which thepopulation of countries that possess a favorable climate, do not thusmingle in their public promenades, at that witching hour.
Luis and his beautiful wife had landed merely for exercise andrelaxation, well knowing that the felucca possessed betteraccommodations than any hosteria of Palos; and they fell into thecurrent of the walkers. Before them was a group of young matrons, whowere conversing eagerly, and sufficiently loud to be overheard. Our heroand heroine instantly ceased their own discourse, when they found thatthe subject was the voyage to Cathay.
"This day," said one of the party, in a tone of authority, "did DonChristopher sail from Cadiz; the sovereigns deeming Palos too small aport for the equipment of so great an enterprise. You may depend on whatI tell ye, good neighbors; my husband, as you all well know, holding anappointment in the admiral's own ship."
"You are to be envied, neighbor, that he is in so good repute with sogreat a man!"
"How could he be otherwise, seeing that he was with him before, when fewhad courage to be his companions, and was ever faithful to his orders.'Monica'--nay, it was '_good_ Monica'--said the admiral to me, with hisown mouth, 'thy Pepe is a true-hearted mariner, and hath conducted to myentire satisfaction. He shall be made the boatswain of my own carrack,and thou, and thy posterity, to the latest antiquity, may boast that youbelong to so good a man.' These were his words; and what he said, hedid--Pepe being now a boatswain. But the _paters_ and _aves_ that I saidto reach this good fortune, would pave this beach!"
Luis now stepped forward and saluted the party, making curiosity to knowthe particulars of the first departure, his excuse. As he expected,Monica did not recognize him in his present rich attire, and shewillingly related all she knew, and not a little more. The interviewshowed how completely this woman had passed from despair to exultation,reducing the general and more public change of sentiment, down to theindividual example of a particular case.
"I have heard much of one Pinzon," added Luis, "who went forth as pilotof a caravel in the voyage; what hath become of him?"
"Senor, he is dead!" answered a dozen voices, Monica's, however, so fargetting the ascendency, as to tell the story. "He was once a great manin this quarter; but now his name is lost, like his life. He was untrue,and died of grief, it is said, when he found the Nina lying in theriver, when he expected to have had all the glory to himself."
Luis had been too much engrossed with his own feelings to have heardthis news before, and he continued his walk, musing and sad.
"So much for unlawful hopes, and designs that God doth not favor!" heexclaimed, when they had walked a considerable distance. "Providencehath, I think, been of the admiral's side; and certainly, my love, ithath been of mine."
"This is Santa Clara," observed Mercedes. "Luis, I would enter, andreturn a thanksgiving at its altars for thy safety and return, and offera prayer for the future success of Don Christopher."
They both entered the church, and they knelt together at the principalaltar; for, in that age, the bravest warriors were not as much ashamed,as in our own times, of publicly acknowledging their gratitude to, andtheir dependence on God. This duty performed, the happy pair returnedsilently to the beach, and went off to the felucca.
Early in the morning, the Ozema sailed for Malaga again, Luis beingfearful he might be recognized if he continued at Palos. Their port wasreached in safety; and shortly after the party arrived at Valverde, theprincipal estate of Mercedes, where we shall leave our hero and heroinein the enjoyment of a felicity that was as great as could be produced bythe connection between manly tenderness on one side, and purity offeeling and disinterested womanly love on the other.
At a late day, there were other Luis de Bobadillas in Spain, among hergallant and noble, and other Mercedes', to cause the hearts of the gayand aspiring to ache; but there was only one Ozema. She appeared atcourt, in the succeeding reign, and, for a time, blazed like a star thathad just risen in a pure atmosphere. Her career, however, was short,dying young and lamented; since which time, the name itself hasperished. It is, in part, owing to these circumstances, that we havebeen obliged to drag so much of our legend from the lost records of thateventful period.
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