CHAPTER XVIII.
LEONTES.--These sessions, to our great grief, we pronounce Even pushes 'gainst our heart. Let us be cleared Of being tyrannous, since we openly Proceed in justice--which shall have due course, Even to the guilt, or the purgation. Produce the prisoner!--SHAKSPEARE.
The day of trial dawned, bright, sunny, cloudless, as was usualin beautiful Spain--a joyous elasticity was in the atmosphere, abrilliance in the heavens, which thence reflected on the earth, sopainfully contrasted with misery and death, that the bright skyseemed to strike a double chill on the hearts of those most deeplyinterested.
Never had the solemn proceedings of justice created so great anexcitement; not only in Segovia itself, but the towns and villages,many miles round, sent eager citizens and rustic countrymen to learnthe issue, and report it speedily to those compelled to stay at home.The universal mourning for Morales was one cause of the popularexcitement; and the supposition of the young foreigner being hismurderer another.
The hall of the castle was crowded at a very early hour, Isabellahaving signified not only permission, but her wish that as many of hercitizen subjects as space would admit should be present, to witnessthe faithful course of justice. Nearest to the seat destined for theKing, at the upper end of the hall, were ranged several fathers froman adjoining convent of Franciscans, by whom a special service hadbeen impressively performed that morning in the cathedral, in whichall who had been summoned to preside at the trial had solemnly joined.
The Monks of St. Francis were celebrated alike for their sterlingpiety, great learning, and general benevolence. Their fault, if suchit could be termed in a holy Catholic community, was their rigidexclusiveness regarding religion; their uncompromising and strict lovefor, and adherence to, their own creed; and stern abhorrence towards,and violent persecution of, all who in the slightest degree departedfrom it, or failed to pay it the respect and obedience which theybelieved it demanded. At their head was their Sub-Prior, a characterwhose influence on the after position of Spain was so great, that wemay not pass it by, without more notice than our tale itself perhapswould demand. To the world, as to his brethren and superiors, in themonastery, a stern unbending spirit, a rigid austerity, and unchangingseverity of mental and physical discipline, characterized his wholebearing and daily conduct. Yet, his severity proceeded not from thesuperstition and bigotry of a weak mind or misanthropic feeling.Though his whole time and thoughts appeared devoted to the interestof his monastery, and thence to relieving and guiding the poor, andcurbing and decreasing the intemperate follies and licentious conductof the laymen, in its immediate neighborhood; yet his extraordinaryknowledge, not merely of human nature, but of the world at large--hisprofound and extensive genius, which, in after years was displayed,in the prosecution of such vast schemes for Spain's advancement, thatthey riveted the attention of all Europe upon him--naturally won himthe respect and consideration of Ferdinand and Isabella, whose acutepenetration easily traced the natural man, even through the thick veilof monkish austerity. They cherished and honored him, little thinkingthat, had it not been for him, Spain would have sunk at their death,into the same abyss of anarchy and misery, from which their vigorousmeasures had so lately roused, and, as they hoped, So effectuallyguarded her.
When Torquemada, Isabella's confessor, was absent from court, whichnot unfrequently happened, for his capacious mind was never at peaceunless actively employed--Father Francis, though but the Sub-Prior ofa Franciscan monastery, always took his place, and frequently wereboth sovereigns guided by his privately asked and frankly givenopinions, not only on secular affairs, but on matters of state, andeven of war. With such a character for his Sub-Prior, the lordly Abbotof the Franciscans was indeed but a nominal dignitary, quite contentedto enjoy all the indulgences and corporeal luxuries, permitted, orperhaps winked at, from his superior rank, and leaving to FatherFrancis every active duty; gladly, therefore, he deputed on himthe office of heading the Monks that day summoned to attend KingFerdinand.
Not any sign of the benevolence and goodness--in reality thecharacteristics of this extraordinary man--was visible on hiscountenance as he sat. The very boldest and haughtiest of thearistocracy, involuntarily perhaps, yet irresistibly, acknowledged hissuperiority. Reverence and awe were the emotions first excited towardshis person: but already was that reverence largely mingled withthe love which some three years afterwards gave him such powerfulinfluence over the whole sovereignty of Spain. Next to the holyfathers, and ranged according to rank and seniority, were the nobleswho had been selected to attend, the greater number of whom, wereCastilians, as countrymen of the deceased. Next to them were theSanta Hermandad, or Brethren of the Associated Cities, without whosepresence and aid, no forms of justice, even though ruled and guided byroyalty itself, were considered valid or complete. A semicircle wasthus formed, the centre of which was the King's seat; and opposite tohim, in the hollow, as it were of the crescent, a space left for theprisoner, accusers, and witnesses. Soldiers lined the hall; a trebleguard being drawn up at the base of the semicircle, and extending in awide line right and left, behind the spot destined for the prisoner.There was still a large space left, and this was so thronged withcitizens, that it presented the appearance of a dense mass of humanheads, every face turned in one direction, and expressive in variousways of but one excitement, one emotion.
There was not a smile on either of the stern countenances within thehall. As the shock and horror of Don Ferdinand's fate in some measuresubsided, not only the nobles, but the soldiers themselves, began torecall the supposed murderer in the many fields of honorable warfare,the many positions of mighty and chivalric bearing in which they hadhitherto seen the young Englishman play so distinguished a part; anddoubts began to arise as to the possibility of so great a change, andin so short a time. To meet even a supposed enemy in fair field,and with an equality of weapons, was the custom of the day; such,therefore, between Stanley and Morales, might have excited marvel asto the _cause_, but not as to the _act_. But murder! it was so whollyincompatible with even the very lowest principles of chivalry (exceptwhen the unfortunate victim was of too low a rank to be removed by anyother means), that when they recalled the gallantry, the frankness ofspeech and deed, the careless buoyancy, the quickly subdued passion,and easily accorded forgiveness of injury, which had ever beforecharacterized young Stanley, they could not believe his guilt: butthen came the recollection of the startling proofs against him, andsuch belief was almost involuntarily suspended. There was not amovement in that immense concourse of human beings, not a word spokenone to the other, not a murmur even of impatience for the appearanceof the King. All was so still, so mute, that, had it not been for thevaried play of countenances, any stranger suddenly placed within thecircle might have imagined himself in an assemblage of statues.
Precisely at noon, the folding-doors at the upper end of the hall werethrown widely but noiselessly back, and King Ferdinand, attended by afew pages and gentlemen, slowly entered, and taking his seat, gazeda full minute, inquiringly and penetratingly around him, and thenresting his head on his hand, remained plunged in earnest meditationsome moments before he spoke.
It was a strange sight--the noiseless, yet universal rising of theassemblage in honor to their Sovereign, changing their position as byone simultaneous movement. Many an eye turned towards him to readon his countenance the prisoner's doom; but its calm, almost sternexpression, baffled the most penetrating gaze. Some minutes passed ereFerdinand, rousing himself from his abstraction, waved his hand,and every seat was instantaneously resumed, and so profound was thesilence, that every syllable the Monarch spoke, though his voice wasnot raised one note above his usual pitch, was heard by every memberof those immense crowds, as individually addressing each.
"My Lords and holy Fathers, and ye Associated Brethren," he said, "thecause of your present assemblage needs no repetition. Had the murderedand the supposed murderer been other than they are, we should haveleft the course of justice in the hands of those appoint
ed toadminister it, and interfered not ourselves save to confirm or annulthe sentence they should pronounce. As the case stands, we are deputedby our illustrious Consort and sister Sovereign, Isabella of Castile,to represent her as Suzerain of the deceased (whom the saintsassoilize), and so ourselves guide the proceedings of justice on hismurderer. Our prerogative as Suzerain and Liege would permit us tocondemn to death at once; but in this instance, my Lords and holyFathers, we confess ourselves unwilling and incapable of pronouncingjudgment solely on our own responsibility. The accused is a friendlessforeigner, to whom we have been enabled to show some kindness, andtherefore one towards whom we cannot feel indifference: he has,moreover, done us such good service both in Spain and Sicily, thateven the grave charge brought against him now, cannot blot out thememories of the past. We find it difficult to believe that a young,high-spirited, honorable warrior, in whose heart every chivalricfeeling appeared to beat, could become, under any temptation, underany impulse, that base and loathsome coward--a midnight murderer! Onyour counsels, then, we implicitly depend: examine, impartially anddeliberately, the proofs for and against, which will be laid beforeyou. But let one truth be ever present, lest justice herself be but acover for prejudice and hate. Let not Europe have cause to say, thathe who, flying from the enemies and tyrants of his own land, tookrefuge on the hearths of our people, secure there of kindness andprotection, has found them not. Were it a countryman we were about tojudge, this charge were needless; justice and mercy would, if it werepossible, go hand in hand. The foreigner, who has voluntarily assumedthe name and service of a son of Spain, demands yet more at our hands.My Lords and holy Fathers, and ye Associated Brethren, rememberthis important truth, and act accordingly: but if, on a strict,unprejudiced examination of the evidence against the prisoner, yepronounce him guilty, be it so: the scripture saith, 'blood must flowfor blood!'"
A universal murmur of assent filled the hall as the King ceased: hiswords had thrilled reprovingly on many there present, particularlyamongst the populace, who felt, even as the Monarch spoke, the realcause of their violent wrath against the murderer. Ere, however, theyhad time to analyze why the violent abhorrence of Stanley should beso calmed merely at the King's words, the command, "Bring forth theprisoner!" occasioned an intensity of interest and eager movementof the numerous heads towards the base of the hall, banishing everycalmer thought. The treble line of soldiers, forming the base of thecrescent, divided in the centre, and wheeling backwards, formed twofiles of dense thickness, leaving a lane between them through whichthe prisoner and his guards were discerned advancing to the placeassigned. He was still heavily fettered, and his dress, which he hadnot been permitted to change, covered with dark, lurid stains, hung soloosely upon him, that his attenuated form bore witness, even as thewhite cheek and haggard eye, to the intense mental torture of the lastfortnight. His fair hair lay damp and matted on his pale forehead; butstill there was that in his whole bearing which, while it breathed ofsuffering, contradicted every thought of guilt. He looked round himsteadily and calmly, lowered his head a moment in respectful deferenceto the King, and instantly resumed the lofty carriage which sufferingitself seemed inadequate to bend. King Ferdinand fixed his eyes uponhim with an expression before which the hardiest guilt must for themoment have quailed; but not a muscle of the prisoner's countenancemoved, and Ferdinand proceeded to address him gravely, yet feelingly.
"Arthur Stanley," he said, "we have heard from Don Felix d'Estabanthat you have refused our proffered privilege of seeking andemploying some friends, subtle in judgment, and learned in all thetechnicalities of such proceedings, as to-day will witness, toundertake your cause. Why is this? Is your honor of such small amount,that you refuse even to accept the privilege of defence? Are you sowell prepared yourself to refute the evidence which has been collectedagainst you, that you need no more? Or have we indeed heard aright,that you have resolved to let the course of justice proceed, withoutone effort on your part to avert an inevitable doom? This would seem atacit avowal of guilt; else, wherefore call your doom inevitable? Ifconscious of innocence, have you no hope, no belief in the DivineJustice, which can as easily make manifest innocence as punishcrime? Ere we depute to others the solemn task of examination, andpronouncing sentence, we bid you speak, and answer as to the whereforeof this rash and contradictory determination--persisting in words thatyou are guiltless, yet refusing the privilege of defence. Is life sovalueless, that you cast it degraded from you? As Sovereign and Judge,we command you answer, lest by your own rash act the course of justicebe impeded, and the sentence of the guilty awarded to the innocent.As man to man, I charge thee speak; bring forward some proof ofinnocence. Let me not condemn to death as a coward and a murderer,one whom I have loved and trusted as a friend! Answer--wherefore thisstrange callousness to life--this utter disregard of thine honor andthy name?"
For a moment, while the King addressed him as man to man, the pallidcheek and brow of the prisoner flushed with painful emotion, and therewas a scarcely audible tremulousness in his voice as he replied:
"And how will defence avail me? How may mere assertion deny proof, andso preserve life and redeem honor? My liege, I had resolved to attemptno defence, because I would not unnecessarily prolong the torture ofdegradation. Had I one proof, the slightest proof to produce, whichmight in the faintest degree avail me, I would not withhold it;justice to my father's name would be of itself sufficient to commanddefence. But I have none! I cannot so perjure myself as to deny oneword of the charges brought against me, save that of murder! Ofthoughts of hate and wrath, ay, and blood, but such blood as honorablemen would shed, I am guilty, I now feel, unredeemably guilty, but notof murder! I am not silent because conscious of enacted guilt. I willnot go down to the dishonored grave, now yawning for me, permitting,by silence, your Highness, and these your subjects, to believe methe monster of ingratitude, the treacherous coward which appearancespronounce me. No!" he continued, raising his right hand as high ashis fetters would permit, and speaking in a tone which fell withthe eloquence of truth, on every heart--"No: here, as on thescaffold--now, as with my dying breath, I will proclaim aloud myinnocence; I call on the Almighty Judge himself, as on every Saintin heaven, to attest it--ay, and I believe it WILL be attested, whennought but my memory is left to be cleared from shame--I am not themurderer of Don Ferdinand Morales! Had he been in every deed myfoe--had he given me cause for the indulgence of those ungovernablepassions which I now feel were roused against him so causelessly andsinfully, I might have sought their gratification by honorable combat,but not by midnight murder! I speak not, I repeat, to save my life: itis justly forfeited for thoughts of crime! I speak that, when in afteryears my innocence will be made evident by the discovery of the realassassin, you will all remember what I now say--that I have not sobasely requited the King and Country who so generously and trustinglybefriended me--that I am no murderer!"
"Then, if so convinced of innocence, young man, wherefore not attemptdefence?" demanded the Sub-Prior of St. Francis. "Knowest thou notthat wilfully to throw away the life intrusted to you, for somewise purpose, is amenable before the throne of the Most High asself-committed murder? Proofs of this strongly asserted innocence,thou must have."
"I have none," calmly answered the prisoner, "I have but words, andwho will believe them? Who, here present, will credit the strangetale, that, tortured and restless from mental suffering, I courted thefury of the elements, and rushed from my quarters on the night of themurder _without_ my sword?--that, in securing the belt, I missed theweapon, but still sought not for it as I ought?--who will believe thatit was accident, not design, which took me to the Calle Soledad? andthat it was a fall over the murdered body of Don Ferdinand whichdeluged my hands and dress with the blood that dyed the ground? Whowill credit that it was seeing him thus which chained me, paralyzed,horror-stricken, to the spot? In the wild fury of my passions I hadbelieved him my enemy, and sworn his death; then was it marvel thatthus beholding him turned me well-nigh to stone, and that, in myhorror, I ha
d no power to call for aid, or raise the shout after themurderer, for my own thoughts arose as fiends, to whisper, such mighthave been nay work--that I had wished his death? Great God! the awfulwakening from the delusion of weeks--the dread recognition in thatmurdered corse of my own thoughts of sin!" He paused involuntarily,for his strong agitation completely choked his voice, and shook hiswhole frame. After a brief silence, which none in the hall had heartto break, he continued calmly, "Let the trial proceed, graciousSovereign. Your Highness's generous interest in one accused of acrime so awful, comprising the death, not of a subject only, but of afriend, does but add to the heavy weight of obligation already mine,and would of itself excite the wish to live, to prove that I am notso utterly unworthy; but I feel that not to such as I, may the Divinemercy be so shown, as to bring forward the real murderer. The miseryof the last fortnight has shown me how deeply I have sinned inthought, though not in deed; and how dare I, then, indulge the wilddream that my innocence will be proved, until too late, save formine honor? My liege, I have trespassed too long on the time of thisassemblage; let the trial proceed."
So powerful was the effect of his tone and words, that the impulse wasstrong in every heart to strike off his fetters, and give him lifeand freedom. The countenance of the Sub-Prior of St. Francis aloneretained its unmoved calmness, and its tone, its imperturbablegravity, as he commanded Don Felix d'Estaban to produce the witnesses;and on their appearance, desired one of the fathers to administer theoath.