Gómez Arias

  CHAPTER III.

  Cada uno dellos mientes tiene al so, Abrazan los escudos delant los corazones: Abaxan las lauzas abueltas con los pendones; Enclinaban las caras sobre los arzones: Batien los cavallos con los espolones, Tembrar quierie la tierra dod eran movedores.

  _Poema del Cid._

  The morning arrived, and the entrances to the lists were thronged by theinhabitants of Granada and their visitors; all anxious to witness adisplay which it was expected would surpass in magnificence any thing ofthe kind they had ever seen. A large piece of ground, perfectly leveland free from impediment, had been appropriately chosen without thewalls of the city, for the exhibition of the games of strength, valour,and skill, and a temporary gallery had been constructed, extending oneither side to the extremity of the lists. At the end nearest the city,was erected a temporary wooden fortress, painted in imitation ofstone-work, curiously fabricated, covered over with canvas, and capableof containing a number of men-at-arms. On the front turret of thiscastle streamed a large banner, on which was emblazoned a red crossdecorated with gold, being the arms of the order of Calatrava, of whichthe _Mantenedor_[3] was the grand master. Other smaller banners wereplaced around it, and they appertained to the four knights, who hadvolunteered to support the _Mantenedor_, and who, in conjunction withhim, were bound to accept the challenge of all knights adventurersdisposed to encounter them. On each side of the castle were two tents,before which were placed the pennon and shield of the knights to whomthey belonged, and at the entrance stood a squire, ready to meet thedemands of all comers.

  Directly facing the castle, at the other extremity of the lists, waspitched a large and magnificent pavilion, ornamented with littlepennons, and numberless armorial devices curiously interwoven with goldand silver thread on green silk brocade. Before it were artificiallygrouped swords, lances, shields, and every description of armour,emblematical of the intent to which the pavilion was appropriated, itbeing set apart for the use of those knights who were willing to enterthe lists against the _Mantenedor_ and his assistants. About the middleof the gallery on the right of the castle, a platform had been erectedfor the accommodation of the queen and her retinue. It was covered withscarlet cloth, and shaded by a rich canopy of purple brocade, on the topof which were seen the royal and united arms of Arragon and Castileshining in burnished gold. The whole of this platform was occupied bythe maids of honour, and other principal ladies, as well as thenoblemen and gentlemen of the court. In front of the place occupied bythe queen, were stationed the umpires of the tournament, whose duty itwas to decide the merits of the candidates, and award the prizes. Otherplaces on either side of the throne were allotted to the variousnobility and gentry of Granada, whilst the two extremities of thisgallery and the whole of the other were assigned to the public, withoutany claim to precedence, but that of a priority of occupation.

  And now the ponderous bells of the cathedral filled the air with theirtolling; and immediately the bands of martial instruments within thelists, struck up a glorious and enlivening strain, in signal of thequeen's approach.

  At length she made her appearance, surrounded by a numerous suite, andheartily was she welcomed by the multitude, whose joy at the sight oftheir beloved sovereign was equal to the anticipated pleasure of thetournament.

  Isabella was sumptuously attired in a rich dress of crimson velvet,ornamented with pearls. A delicate and costly scarf, of the finest lace,was attached to the back part of her head, and covered with its gracefulfolds her beautiful neck and shoulders. On this splendid scarf werewrought in gold thread, lions and castles, and other insignia of thearms of Spain. The queen wore likewise the crosses of the orders ofSantiago and Calatrava, richly studded with diamonds and precious gemsof immense value.

  The lists now offered a most dazzling and noble spectacle. On one sidewas displayed all the splendour of the court, and the sparklingjewellery, the costly attire, and the waving plumes indicated the spotwhere the rank and beauty of Spain was assembled in all its glory andmagnificence. Indeed towards this part of the lists the attention wasmore particularly directed, as in all courteous exhibitions of martialprowess, the interest is chiefly centered in those objects, to win whosesmile lances are broken and helmets shivered.--Nor was the feeling ofenthusiasm on beholding this scene lessened by the appearance of theopposite gallery, which, though more humble, nevertheless contributed,by the variety and gaiety of their costume, together with the cheerfulanimation expressed in their countenances, to the general effect of thepicture. Then the proud display of all the panoplies of the court; therich waving plumage of the crests; the lustre of the burnished shieldsand polished armour, together with the neighing of the spirited chargerthat caracolled the lists, and the warlike strains that at intervalsfloated on the air, powerfully tended to strike the imagination andinspire the heart to deeds of chivalry and arms.

  A flourish of trumpets and clarions now indicated that the tournamentwas about to commence. In a few moments therefore the lists werecleared, with the exception of the heralds, who, gorgeously equipped insuits of crimson and gold, and attended by trumpeters, advanced to thefour corners of the lists to proclaim the challenge. It was couched inthe formula of chivalric language, which it would be superfluous here totranscribe. The meaning, however, was, that the _Mantenedor_ and hissupporters, Don Manuel Ponce de Leon, the Alcayde de los Donceles, CountCifuentes, and Don Antonio de Leyva, invited all knights adventurers tobreak lances, if they were hardy enough to dispute their right to thelists. As soon as the challenge had been pronounced, the heralds retiredto their posts; when the trumpets sounded again, the gates of the castlewere thrown open, and the five challengers came forward.

  Nothing could surpass the richness of their harness, the splendour oftheir armour, and the gallantry of their bearing. The grand master wasattired in a costly suit of steel, the corslet of which was entirelyburnished with silver, and the ornaments chased with the same preciousmetal. Over this he wore a short mantle of white velvet, which was thecolour he had adopted. On his shield, upon a field argent, was portrayedthe red cross of Calatrava, which he also bore on his breast, and whichwas surrounded with the following device--"_Por esta y por mi Rey._"[4]

  Don Manuel Ponce de Leon next fixed the attention of the spectators; hisarmour was the same as the _Mantenedor_'s, excepting that the _ropa_[5]which hung from his shoulder was crimson. On his ample buckler wereemblazoned the bars of the arms of Arragon, granted to his warlikeancestors by the kings of that country; and likewise quartered thereon,was a lion rampant, in field argent, a device which, tradition says, wasadopted by the famous Trojan, Hector, from whom the old Frenchchroniclers assert the Ponces de Leon to be descended. Beneath the armswas legible in red letters the motto--"_Soy como mi nombre._"[6]

  The armour of the other knights was made to correspond with that of the_Mantenedor_, the only distinguishing mark being the colour of the_ropas_, and the different device which each bore upon his shield,either as indicative of his feelings, or from the armorial bearings ofhis family. The colour of the spirited chargers of these challengers wassnow white. Nothing could exceed the beauty of their proportions and thesplendour of their trappings. They beat the ground with short quicktramp, and shook the white foam from their mouths, as they fretted atthe discipline by which their fiery ardour was restrained. They werecaparisoned with long housings of costly brocade, and ornamented withgold or silver, according to the colour of the rider's dress, and theirmanes and tails were decorated with knots of gay ribbons.

  The five challengers now advanced at a stately pace, till they arrivedbefore the queen, when, with a graceful and simultaneous motion, theymade their horses kneel down; and after saluting the courtly retinuewith their lances, they caracolled round the lists, as if to reconnoitretheir dominions. At last, after various martial evolutions, in whichthey were accompanied by the animating strains of the music, theyproceeded to the middle of the lists--there they halted, and, throwingdown their gauntlets, retreate
d to the castle in the same order in whichthey had advanced. The trumpets then sounded, and immediately there wasa rush of gallant knights, who pricked into the lists, all eager to takeup these tokens of defiance. So upon retiring, five of their number, whohad succeeded in securing the gage, came forward from the pavilion. Thechampions wore fine Spanish shirts of mail, with a polished breast-plateinlaid with gold, and their pliant barbs of raven black, seemed to havebeen chosen to contrast with those of the challengers. The helmets ofthe knights were almost hidden in a shadowing plumage of white and redfeathers. The chief of this gallant band declined giving his name,though he was known to his four companions, who pledged themselves forhim. However, from the superior courage and address which the strangeknight afterwards displayed, it was generally believed that he could beno other than the renowned Gonzalo de Cordova, who, from a pique in amomentary fit of passion, had withdrawn from court, and lost thefriendship of the queen. The other four knights were easilydistinguished by their devices and colours. Amongst them, the mostconspicuous, appeared the young Don Pedro, son of Don Alonso de Aguilar.He carried himself with a bearing far superior to his years, andinspired a general interest, both on his own account and for that of hisillustrious sire. On his shield he bore a golden eagle, emblematical ofhis name, flying towards heaven, and carrying in his claws a bleedingMoor. Underneath was the motto--

  "Le subire hasta el cielo, Porque de mayor caida."[7]

  This shield belonged to Alonso de Aguilar himself, who was no lesspleased than surprised that his son should have chosen such a device forthe occasion. But every one applauded the young Don Pedro for thatunconquerable hatred towards the enemies of his country, which he hadinherited from his ancestors, and which engrossed their thoughts even inpastimes and games. By the side of Don Pedro, rode Garcilaso de la Vega,who was proud to bear the brazen shield which he had inherited from hisfather, and upon which was displayed the bleeding head of a Moor,hanging on a black charger's tail, and round which were the words--"_AveMaria_"--a device which the Garcilasos wore in commemoration of thefamous single combat which one of their house had sustained against thefierce Moor Audala, who, with impious insolence, had interwoven thesacred salutation to the virgin, in token of derision, in his horse'stail. The two other champions were the Count de Urena and youngSayavedra, both equally renowned in that age of chivalry, brave andgallant knights.

  They now proceeded to the castle, and after the ceremony of strikingtwice the gong which was placed beside it, and selecting their tents,they again retreated. The five challengers next presented themselves,and a desperate encounter was anticipated. Indeed ten more valiantknights were scarcely to be found in all Spain, and their acknowledgedskill promised a display of more than usual interest for the beholders.

  At the signal given, they rushed impetuously forward, yet such was theirperfection in horsemanship, and so well trained and disciplined weretheir chargers, that they all arrived at the middle of the lists at thesame time, meeting in a shock, the abrupt and fearful clash of whichseemed as if it had been the effect of a single but awful concussion.The lances were splintered to the very hilts, but the knights resumedtheir places amidst the loud applause of the multitude. Again theydarted with the velocity of the wind, and again they met with the sameprecision, but not with the same success; for in this encounter thechallengers were considered the victors--the two chiefs alone havingsustained no injury--their lances broke as before, but they remainedfirm and erect in their saddle. Not so with the rest--for young DonPedro was not able to withstand the superior force of Ponce de Leon'smore manly age. Garcilaso was unhorsed by Don Antonio de Leyva, and thetwo others sustained great inconvenience from the Alcayde and CountCifuentes.

  The shouts of the spectators, and the flourish of instruments,proclaimed the victory of the _Mantenedor_ and his supporters, whoretired to the castle with their good fortune, ready to meet the demandsof all other adventurers. The chief of the vanquished party who had sohandsomely maintained his ground against the Maestre, now signified hisintention of encountering that champion singly; but in this he wasopposed by the marshals of the games, who declared that after the demandof his challenge had been acceded to, he could not, according to therules, encounter again the same knight on that day. The matter wasreferred to the judges, who decided against the stranger chief, and hewas accordingly obliged to desist from his purpose.

  Great was the joy of the _Mantenedor_ and his associates, who, havingvanquished the most formidable knights, proudly imagined that all whomight now appear, would afford an easy victory. Indeed this opinionseemed generally to prevail, as for some time no one shewed himself inthe lists to dispute their supremacy.

  Don Pedro, vexed at heart, now mounted a strong charger--rode up to thecastle, and challenged the _Mantenedor_ himself. Don Alonso de Aguilarsaw the noble daring of his son at once with pleasure and dismay; foralthough he was overjoyed to perceive him possessed of such undauntedcourage, he yet trembled for the consequences of his temerity.

  The gong sounded twice--the Maestre appeared, and was struck at thepresumption of the young adventurer.--They took their places--thetrumpets gave the signal--forward the champions started, and at thefirst meeting displayed such an equality that the whole place rung withacclamations. Indeed this was the most important encounter, and everyone waited its issue in breathless expectation--the ladies inparticular, always interested where youth dares against manhood, wavedtheir kerchiefs and scarfs to animate the young knight, whose heart insooth needed no such stimulus. In the second encounter, however, he wasnot equally fortunate; for the _Mantenedor_, jealous of his fame, nowrisked against a youth, stood more on his guard, and summoned all hismight and skill to his assistance.--Don Pedro was unable to withstandthe shock; the lance flew unharmed from his grasp, and he was compelledto leave the field honorably, but still in possession of thechallengers.

  The castle now sent forth a blast of clarions, in sign of triumph anddefiance, whilst at the pavilion, no knight evinced any desire ofrenewing the engagement. In this state of suspense, some time elapsed,and the heralds, according to form, proceeded to summon the knightsadventurers, but no one appeared--again ten minutes elapsed, and asecond summons was pronounced, but again it met with no answer. Thetriumph of the _Mantenedor_ now seemed certain, and the heralds wereabout to utter the third and last proclamation, when, lo! a knight wasseen riding at full speed towards the lists, and, after thundering atthe barrier for admittance, without further ceremony, was directing hiscourse to the castle, when his career was arrested by the marshals, asno one could pretend to enter the lists against the challengers, withoutpreviously delivering his name and titles, or at least presenting aknown friend to vouch for his being a true and loyal knight.

  The incognito knight was accordingly obliged to give way; but making asign to the herald not to proceed to the third summons, he rode up toDon Pedro and, taking him aside, conferred with him in secret. YoungAguilar immediately advanced with visible surprise and pleasure, andpledged himself for his new companion. This circumstance, no less thanthe general appearance of the champion in question, commanded universalinterest and attention. He was completely accoutred in a blue steelarmour, over which he wore a short mantle of black velvet, sumptuouslyadorned with gold. On his burnished helmet he wore a profusion of whiteand sable feathers, and on his lance streamed a pennon of the samecolours. His breast was covered with a ponderous shield, bearing nodevice, but the solitary motto--"_Conocelle por sus fechos._"[8] Theincognito knight brought with him neither squire nor page, and there wasan air of mystery about his person that tended considerably to heightenthe interest which his sudden appearance had already excited.

  He now rushed impetuously towards the castle, when the charger seemed tobe under no command, and the knight was apparently in peril of beingdashed to pieces;--a simultaneous cry of terror burst from thesurrounding multitude, when the incognito knight on the point of beinghurled against the wall of the castle, and at the distance of scarcelytwo feet, suddenly reined up
, and both he and his charger appearedrooted to the ground. A burst of admiration now superseded the terrorwhich his precipitous career had occasioned, and every one was lost inconjectures relating to the incognito knight. The noble arrogance of themotto--"_Conocelle por sus fechos_," made them better appreciate thefeat he had just performed. He advanced to the gong, and sounded aredoubled and protracted peal, and flourishing his lance in the face ofthe castle and tents, indicated his willingness to do battle with all.This daring act excited a second burst of applause, and the astonishedchallengers appeared at the castle in a mood of mixed perplexity andindignant pride. The incognito knight, however, vaulted on his charger,and then retreated to await the pleasure of the _Mantenedor_; who,according to rank, was the first to engage. The flourish of trumpetsacted as a signal, and the champions rushed against each other at fullspeed; the shock was tremendous--the lances were shivered, and thepowerful chargers staggered with the violent concussion. The championstaking new lances, prepared for a second encounter, when the horse ofthe _Mantenedor_, either from sudden fright or other cause, swerved inthe middle of its career, and its master, being obliged to deviate fromhis intended aim, would have offered an easy victory to his antagonist.The knight, however, generously refused to take advantage of thisaccident, and, making a demi-volte, returned to await the _Mantenedor_'sleisure. But the latter, overcome by the courteous behaviour of hisadversary, declined a second encounter, and retired to the castle.

  Don Manuel Ponce de Leon next advanced, happy in the opportunity whichchance offered him of gathering the laurels, which his principal hadforgone. This knight, in the opinion of many, was the most formidable ofthe five challengers--the repeated single combats in which he hadengaged against the Moors, and other feats of arms, having won for himvery great reputation. He came therefore into the lists, as if consciousof his powers, and fully confident of success. In the first shock,there was a slight advantage on his part, having succeeded in strikinghis lance so forcibly, and directly on the breast-plate of hisadversary, that the incognito knight was observed somewhat to stagger;while Don Manuel remained immoveable as a rock--however, as no decidedadvantage could be claimed, the two champions prepared to renew theengagement. Again the swift-footed steeds fly over the lists, and againthe combatants meet with a terrific clash. It proved unfortunate forPonce de Leon, who was dealt such a severe blow, that had it not beenfor the extreme goodness of his armour, the queen would have lost one ofher most gallant warriors. As it was, the saddle girths broke, and thehorse, unable to withstand the shock, staggered backward--tottered, androlled over, throwing his rider, with a tremendous fall, into the middleof the lists. Ponce de Leon with difficulty arose, having received asore contusion, and was assisted back to the castle, from whence theAlcayde de los Donceles soon issued forth, intent upon revenging thedisgrace of his companion. He offered, however, a faint resistance; forthe incognito knight, at every encounter, appeared to acquire newstrength. The opposition afforded by Count de Cifuentes was stillweaker; the unfortunate knight being fairly unhorsed in such a manner,that he seemed for a moment to be carried on the point of hisantagonist's lance to the ground. The shouts of the spectators, and thepeal of instruments redoubled at every new proof of strength and skillthus manifested, and the triumph of the incognito knight was hailed ascertain. He had now only to meet the youngest; and, to the opinion ofall, the least renowned of the challengers. Young Don Antonio de Leyva,however, by the martial and undaunted manner in which he came forward,showed that he was in no ways intimidated by the repeated andextraordinary good fortune of the doughty champion.

  The trumpets sounded--the lances are couched--the horses started--thesilence is intense--when, with one fearful resounding clash, theknights meet--the charm is broken, and all is converted into an uproarof wonder and delight.--The champions, though so unequal in allappearances, now proved to be fairly matched--both lances descended fromthe air in splinters, and the tremendous shock which the combatants hadsustained, appeared to produce no other effect than to check theirsteeds in their impetuous course. The knights soon recovered andregained their stations.--Again the signal is heard--and again theyspeed with the swiftness of the arrow--the lances break, and both thehorses recede with the violent shock.--Surprise and delight agitate thebosom of the spectators.--Hope inspires the drooping spirits of the_Mantenedor_ and those of the castle.--Disappointment and vexation ragein the heart of the incognito knight. He made a movement of impatientanger, as he grasped firmly the lance which was now presented to him,and poised it as if to ascertain its consistency; then, making a circuitwith his steed, he appeared resolved to put a termination to the hopesof his adversary in the present encounter.--With a desperate start herushed headlong against his opponent, who, aware of the furious attackhe was about to sustain, collected all his might to meet it with asuitable resistance.--The incognito knight inclined himself more forwardon his horse, and turned his aim full at the breast of his antagonist,while Don Antonio, who perceived his intention, resolved to direct hislance towards his adversary's head, which, though a difficultmanoeuvre, would, if successful, insure the advantage.--The incognitoknight, however, broke the tendency of the blow by suddenly inclininghis head forward, while the anger that boiled within his bosom, sopowerfully seconded his efforts, that the gallant Don Antonio fell,bearing, however, his adversary backwards on his seat, and carryingaway, on the point of his lance, the plumage that adorned his casque.

  The victory was now completed, and the whole place resounded with shoutsof admiration. The incognito knight having thus vanquished thechampions, for some time gallantly paraded the lists, making hisobedient and tutored steed perform several graceful evolutions. Thensuddenly advancing before the throne of the queen, he lowered the pointof his lance and made his charger to kneel. Passing onwards to Leonor deAguilar, he again made the graceful salute, whilst a shower ofmany-colored ribbons, white and highly-scented gloves, flowers, andother favors, fell profusely from fair hands--a due tribute to braveryand skill. Having performed this mark of courtesy, without waiting toreceive the guerdon he had so well merited, he applied spurs to hishorse and was soon lost to the sight of the delighted and admiringmultitude.

  The incognito knight became the subject of general speculation--he hadovercome five champions to whom the court of Isabella could afford noequals--only one man perhaps might be capable of such valorousachievements, but he was now an exile whom the law pursued, and whoseappearance in the lists would be attended with danger. Still theextraordinary prowess of the knight, and the circumstance of Don Pedrocoming forward to answer for him when he entered the lists, left no roomto doubt that he was that illustrious exile. Indeed the significantsmile which the queen directed to Alonso de Aguilar, when the championsaluted his daughter, and the blush that mantled on the cheek of thatlady implied a perfect recognition of her lover.

  His absence from the lists gave the judges an opportunity of awardingthe principal prize to Don Antonio de Leyva, by whom, according to theirown, as well as the general opinion, it was more justly merited. Thedifferent bands now struck up a martial air; the queen departed with hernumerous and splendid train, and every one retired from the lists,perfectly satisfied with the sports of the day, to spend the remainderof it in feasting and discussing the various merits of the knights whohad afforded them so much pleasure.