CHAPTER XI.
Voila le precipice ou l'ont enfin jete Les attraits enchanteurs de la prosperite.
_La Fontaine._
Oh di destino avverso Fatal possanza! a mie tante sventure Cio sol mancava.
_Alfieri._
Forget! forgive!--I must indeed forget When I forgive.
_Southern._
Every hope was now extinct--the fatal morning arrived. Theodora, thehapless Theodora, against whom fate seemed to have exhausted all hermalice, after a night of restless grief, had left her couch betimes, andin a gloomy reverie was sitting by the casement, her hands claspedtogether, and her eyes vacantly fixed on the moving groups below.
The door opened, and her father entered--the wretched man was in a mostpitiable state.
"My child," he said, tenderly, "my dear child, you must leave thisplace."
"Never," cried the melancholy Theodora, "unless it is to be carried tothe grave. Oh! my poor, my dear father, you will soon have to fulfilthat last mournful duty towards your hapless child."
"Theodora, speak not thus; your words are daggers. We must submit to thewill of Providence--raise your streaming eyes to that heaven, mybeloved, and cherish the fond hope that this life of sorrow is topurchase an eternity of pure uninterrupted bliss. Throw yourself intothe arms of religion, and your evils will appear lighter to bear."
"Yes, my father, now my only friend," replied Theodora, in a tumult ofagony, "I will consider my misfortunes as a just atonement to offendedheaven, for the ingratitude of which I have been guilty towards thebest of parents."
"Heaven bless thee, Theodora," returned the affectionate father, "andrestore to thee peace and tranquillity; and now grant me a request--youmust away with me."
"But whither are we going?" demanded Theodora, "I cannot--I will notquit Granada until I see _him_ laid in the ground. I am now his wife,and I shall religiously fulfil the duties of such a character, for cruelas he was," she added, mournfully, "to refuse me permission to see himwhen alive, he cannot prevent me from showing my attachment when he isdead."
"Theodora," said Monteblanco, "it is not my intention to take you awayfrom Granada. I merely wish you to accompany me to the dwelling of ourkinsman, Don Antonio de Leyva. He has repeatedly demanded to see you,but you have always denied his request. You surely cannot dislike him?"
"Father! father!" cried Theodora, in a tone of reproach and sadness;"why this eagerness to renew an intimacy with a man whom I havewronged? Think you that Theodora will be able to sustain his reproach?"
"No, Theodora, such thoughts are far from the minds of Don Antonio andyour father. But the gallant young man lies prostrate on the bed ofsickness. The wounds he received at the disastrous affair of the SierraBermeja, have reduced him to the last stage of debility. He has thisvery instant earnestly requested to see you; for he has something toannounce which may affect the fate of us all."
Theodora answered not, but rising immediately, signified her readinessto obey, and supported by her father, she proceeded towards theresidence of Don Antonio. Dismay and confusion reigned throughout thecity. At every step Theodora met with some object to impress herforcibly with the dreariness of the fate which was at hand. Busily themoving groups were talking of the melancholy event. She beheld thetroops that were collecting and marching about to insure the publictranquillity, and this testimony of the hopeless situation of herhusband filled her bursting heart with new terrors. How dismally soundedthe trumpets and clarions! And now the ponderous bell of the cathedralsent forth its reverberating tones, and it sounded like the summons ofdeath to Theodora. It struck eight, and in two hours Gomez Arias wouldcease to exist. A chill seized on the very soul of Theodora, at eachstroke of the dreadful monitor, and as if its terrors had not beensufficiently multiplied, a hundred different clocks, with their bodingvoices, repeated the same sad tale to the agonizing heart of thewretched girl.
Next came the sight of the ministers of religion hurrying about; sadheralds of mortality, in Christian charity, earnestly wishing to offertheir prayers for the departing soul, or holding out the example of theapproaching execution to the young and inexperienced.
Theodora shuddered at every object she saw--at every sound that struckher ear, and in this state she reached the mansion of Don Antonio deLeyva, which happily was situated at a short distance. She trembled withemotion as she found herself before young De Leyva, nor was herappearance productive of less astonishment to Don Antonio. They wereboth much altered--she by intense suffering--he by his wounds andlingering sickness. Don Antonio, extremely faint, was reclining on acouch, from which he attempted to rise when he saw his kinsman enter,but was prevented by Monteblanco. The countenance of the gallant youngman seemed suddenly to brighten up.
"Theodora," he kindly said, "tremble not thus, for you are in thepresence of a friend, a sincere friend; one who bitterly laments having,though unconsciously, been instrumental in your misfortunes. Alas! dearlady, had you placed more confidence in me, perchance so much misery hadbeen prevented. However, this is no time for reproach; the moments speedswiftly away, and we have none to spare. Had you not at this momentarrived, weak and wounded as I am, I was about to be carried to yourhabitation, though the exertion had proved fatal to my recovery.Theodora, look upon me as a friend--as a dear valued friend, and receivethe greatest proof a man can give of pure disinterested regard. Here,"he then added, presenting a little casket to Theodora, "take thisprecious gage; look, it is the portrait of our Queen, given by her ownroyal hands, when fortune favoured my exertions in the last tournament.The bearer of this gift is entitled to claim any boon from Isabella.Dispatch--present her with this beauteous copy of herself. Reclaim thepromise--demand the life of Gomez Arias--it will be granted."
"Merciful heavens!" cried Theodora, overpowered with emotion, "Can it bepossible!" Then falling at the feet of young deLeyva--"Generous--generous Don Antonio; is this the way that you repayan injury?"
"I might," replied Don Antonio nobly, "satisfy the cravings of a paltryrevenge, by leaving my rival to perish ignominiously, when I have it inmy power to save him. But no; my heart shudders at such reprisals, andfinds joy in contributing to the happiness of Theodora."
Struck with admiration at such noble and manly conduct, Theodora seizedthe hand of the high-minded Don Antonio, and would have imprinted on ita thousand kisses of gratitude, but he modestly prevented her, urgingher to depart.
"My dear Theodora, begone; you have no time to lose. Think that theleast delay may perhaps prove fatal."
These words acted like magic on the mind of Theodora. The thought of herhusband's danger absorbed every other consideration. She rushed withimpetuous alacrity towards the palace, pressing with convulsive firmnessthe valuable pledge on which all her hopes depended. Upon her arrival atthe entrance, the guards, struck with the wildness of her manner, andsympathising with her misfortunes, expeditiously opened a passage, asshe exclaimed almost incoherently, that she must see the queen.
Meantime the Plaza de Bivarrambla was thronged with a vast multitude,for the novelty and exemplary justice of such an execution had thrownthe people into a ferment. It was long since a nobleman had sufferedthus, and no instance occurred to their recollection of a conquerorstepping from the car of victory to the platform of a scaffold.
All lamented the fate of Gomez Arias, and yet most of the lower classes,amidst the feelings of pity, experienced a kind of satisfaction at theidea that so great a personage was doomed to suffer, as well as themeanest of their own class. In the middle of the Plaza rose a highscaffold, covered with costly black velvet, and most of the housesaround were likewise draperied with mourning symbols of the sorrow oftheir owners. A strong body of veterans lined the square, whilst otherdetached parties of horse patrolled the neighbouring places to preventany obstruction from the multitude. The hurry and agitation of thepeople now became extreme; but when at last the tremendous
knell fromthe cathedral gave the mournful signal for Gomez Arias to set out forthe goal of his mortal career, a simultaneous murmur of horror rose fromthe surrounding crowd. The dismal tolling of bells, accompanied atintervals by the sad and hollow strains of trumpets, announced that theprocession was ready to move.
Gomez Arias had descended from his apartment perfectly composed. Indeed,no other feeling could be descried in his features but stern pride andresentment. He walked with a firm step towards the melancholy train thatawaited him. But when about to mount his horse, he perceived theCountess de Tendilla bathed in tears, approaching to bid him farewell.He kindly thanked this lady for all the attentions he had experienced ather house during the time he had remained there, and having bidden her alast adieu, he bounded on his favorite charger. The spirited animalbegan to curvet and rear, as if proud of his burthen.
"Gently, gently, Babieca," said his master, caressing the noble steed:"be not impatient, for this is the last time thou wilt carry thymaster."
He then looked around, and as he saw a party of his victorious troops,chosen for his escort according to his desire, all plunged in thedeepest grief, in a soothing tone he bade them be of good cheer.
Don Lope being determined to set at defiance every appearance ofdespondency, had assumed an air of martial and dignified composure. Hishandsome figure never looked to greater advantage than at thisdisastrous moment; he was attired in a most sumptuous suit, while allthe friends and relatives who accompanied him were habited in deepmourning. The procession moved slowly on amidst the confused murmur ofthe multitude, deeply lamenting the fate, and admiring the firmness ofthe hero of the dismal tragedy. He was attended by a crowd of theministers of religion; but two friars of the order of St. Francisattached themselves more particularly to his person. The whole presenteda most singularly contrasted scene; for in the same view appearedmingled all the panoplies of war, stirring the soul to martial deeds,and the solemn emblems of religion inviting the mind to abandon the pompof the world, and turn its thoughts towards eternity. Warriors andpriests, banners and crosses, moved promiscuously along, while thesubdued blast of clarions united their strains to the deep-toned andgloomy cadences of the chaunting monks.
In this manner the procession reached at length the Plaza deBivarrambla. At the sight of the scaffold, Gomez Arias gave aninvoluntary start, for he was unable to stifle the impression which thefirst view of that dreadful spot made on his mind. He soon, however,recovered his usual composure, and cast an inquiring and intense look onthe assembled multitude. Sorrow and consternation were every wherevisible, but all was tranquil and quiet. The last lingering hope nowvanished from the breast of Gomez Arias, and he seemed resigned to thefate that awaited him. The murmur of the multitude was hushed into adeadly silence. Don Lope dismounted, ascended the scaffold, and turningto his soldiers, he said--
"Farewell, my brave companions; this is the last expedition in which weshall meet; but in this, as well as in all the former, Gomez Arias willdisplay the coolness and courage which becomes a soldier." He then withequal resolution was about to bare his neck for the fatal stroke, when apiercing scream was heard at a distance in the crowd. Presently a femaleform was seen flying towards the scaffold--
"A pardon! a pardon!" shouted various voices; and the multitude joyfullyopened a passage to the unfortunate. She ran with frantic speed, untilshe arrived at length, exhausted, at the foot of the scaffold,exhibiting in the disorder of her person and the wild expression of herfeatures, all the workings of terror, anxiety, and joy. Every one stoodmute with astonishment when they beheld in this apparition the wretchedTheodora, who flew up the steps of the scaffold, holding aloft in hertrembling hand a paper; then throwing herself into the arms of herhusband--
"Oh it is not too late," she cried eagerly; "I have brought your pardon.Here! here! You are safe--it is the Queen's signet."
Count de Tendilla took the paper from her hand, and read joyfully aloudthe pardon of Gomez Arias. Theodora looked wildly around, her largebeautiful eyes fraught with terror: she gazed upon the appalling scene,as though still fearful that the execution would not be suspended.
"Read! read!" she cried vehemently to Count de Tendilla: "it is theQueen's order. A messenger will soon arrive; but I am here first. I cameto save my husband."
These few electric words were followed by a shout of tumultuous applausefrom the assembled throng.
The messenger indeed arrived. Theodora uttered a wild scream of joy, andher feelings, unable any longer to support the efforts she had made,overpowered her, and she fainted in the arms of Gomez Arias.
Even Gomez Arias, that man so hardened to all the tender pleadings ofgratitude, was at length overcome. As he beheld her who had returnedhis coldness with affection, and repaid his cruelty with kindness--as heconsidered that miracle of love and goodness lying lifeless in his arms,a tear stood trembling in his eye--one solitary tear; but thattestimonial of feeling in Gomez Arias was equivalent to years of sorrowin other men. He tenderly pressed Theodora to his heart, and the fondembrace seemed to recall her suspended animation. She opened her languideyes and was happy; for she saw the object of all her care and affectionnow watching with tender solicitude her returning life.
"Oh Theodora," cried Don Lope, in a voice almost inarticulate withemotion, "I am unworthy of you. How can I ever atone for so many wrongs?This is indeed a noble vengeance."
The queen had ordered that Gomez Arias should be conducted to herpresence, and accordingly, accompanied by the happy Theodora, heproceeded towards the palace, followed by the immense crowd, who rentthe air with joyful acclamations.
When they arrived at the palace, they found the gracious Isabella seatedin the large public hall, ready to receive them. Her countenance wasradiant with delight in the consciousness of having been able to saveDon Lope from an untimely end.
"Gomez Arias," she said, "your life is saved by the most fortunate, asit was the most unexpected of incidents. Nobles of Granada," she thenadded, turning to the surrounding court, "you cannot accuse your Queenof partiality in the distribution of justice. At the moment when DonLope was approaching the end of his mortal career, this gage was broughtto me and the guerdon claimed. It was a pledge of regard given to DonAntonio de Leyva for his conduct at the tournament, with my sacredpromise that any boon should be granted to the bearer. Theodora producedit, and I could not resist her just appeal--my royal word had passed.Gomez Arias, you owe your life to the generous Don Antonio de Leyva andyour wife. Let then your future life show that you are not insensible ofthe magnitude of the obligation. To yourself you owe nothing; for hadit not been for this happy circumstance, by this time you would havebeen numbered with the dead. Go, and rejoice with your friends over yourfortunate deliverance, and then I will receive you as becomes a victor."
A shout of unfeigned approbation burst from every one. Theodora seemedintoxicated with happiness. She looked on Gomez Arias, and in thosefeatures which had so successfully enraptured her young heart, again sawa display of tenderness to recompense her affection. All her sufferingswere forgotten; the cup of misery had been drained, and happiness,boundless, uninterrupted happiness, was to be hers for ever. GomezArias, moved with kindly and generous feelings which had long beendormant in his heart, had as yet been unable to give utterance to hisdemonstrations of gratitude. He now disengaged himself from the hands ofTheodora, moved forwards, and threw himself at the feet of the queen.Every eye was joyfully turned on him, when suddenly one of the friars,who had attended him at the scaffold, broke from the surrounding group.In his hand gleamed a poniard, and before any arm could arrest the blow,he buried the fatal weapon in the breast of Gomez Arias, who started onhis feet, reeled, and fell at the foot of the throne. In an instantevery thing was wild confusion. Theodora, with a piercing scream, threwherself beside her murdered husband, while several leaches hastened tothe assistance of the fallen knight.
The queen alone seemed to preserve her presence of mind amidst theuproar that prevailed.
"Seize the ass
assin!" she exclaimed, and the guards immediately securedhis person. He was one of the Franciscans who had accompanied GomezArias to the scaffold. He still held in his sinewy hand the ensanguinedponiard, and with the savage laugh of a fiend exulted over his deed.
"Now, God be thanked!" exclaimed the leach who had examined the wound ofGomez Arias, "if my skill fail me not, the knight may yet live."
"Never!" cried the friar, in a voice that chilled the reviving hopes ofevery one; "Never! your skill is vain--the dagger is poisoned."
A shudder of horror ran through the court.
"Man of darkness," exclaimed Count de Tendilla, "fiend under the holygarb of religion, what could prompt thee to such a crime? But a shorttime since I saw thee attend thy victim to administer to him hope andconsolation."
"Yes," replied the friar, grimly, "yes, I did accompany him to the stageof his despair and my glory: yes, I was beside my victim, like thevulture watching for the moment to lacerate his heart. But I went not towhisper hope into his dying ear, or to bid him rely on the mercies ofHeaven; no, it was to speak the words of horror; to bid him despair, andpoint the way to that hell whither soon I was to follow him. My soul wasdrunk with joy; my heart was wild with happiness: gladly would Ipurchase with a whole existence of misery and crime those few rapturousmoments when I could watch the dreadful workings of his mind, as thelast peal of my ominous voice rung in his ear, ere his soul took itsflight from this world."
"Peace, wretch!" exclaimed the queen. "Leave thy blasphemy; tremble forthe profanation of thy sacred calling; tremble for the punishment whichawaits thy crime."
"I tremble at nought," sternly replied the assassin. "No canting friaram I; no preaching monk; but a man deeply wronged, and now amplyrevenged. Look on me," he continued in a wild tone, throwing off hisdisguise, "I am Bermudo, the renegade!"
Every one shrunk back with instinctive horror at the well known name;but the consternation increased, when in the person of the apostate wasrecognised the Moor who had played so principal a part in thecondemnation of Gomez Arias.
"Look on me," proceeded the renegade; "look on me, Gomez Arias; beholdthe man by you condemned to misery and shame--I am Bermudo the outcast,the maddened lover of the unfortunate Anselma. Call back, Don Lope, thepowers of thy fleeting soul, and fix its fading recollection on thycrimes and my misfortunes: remember Anselma--remember her frightfulfate--your wrongs to me--the despair to which I was driven. But forthee, proud man, I might have been a hero, and for thee I am a traitorand a renegade. But, oh! now thou art laid low--no, not even princelyfortune and favour could save thee from the hand of a desperate man.Die, then, die in despair: it is in the hour of rapturous happiness thatthe blow is struck, and think with agony that it is struck byBermudo.--Anselma, thou art revenged!"
A wild and savage laugh closed this apostrophe, and the renegade stoodcalmly gazing on his victim with an expression of ferocious joy: hisdark features seemed to brighten in the glare of infernal revenge, andhis strong frame shook with the rapture of the fiend that inspired him.
Meantime, Gomez Arias was rapidly approaching his end; the blood flowedthick and heavy through his veins, and the film of death was fastdimming his sight: still his noble features shewed no symptoms ofunmanly emotion; but fixing his dying eyes upon the renegade, in a firmtone he said--
"Bermudo, thy hellish desire is but partially fulfilled; I die not indespair; despair is the attribute of cowards, not of Gomez Arias: I feelthy poison burning in my veins, yet my soul takes its flight withcalmness. Wretched man," he then added, "may God forgive thee as I do:and thou, dear and last object of my solicitude," he said, faintlyaddressing himself to the disconsolate Theodora, who, in a paroxysm ofagony, was kneeling beside him, "Theodora, injured and unfortunate girl,too late I appreciate thy value; too late I deplore my fault. Oh! if Iregret existence, it is because I cannot live to prove my love andgratitude. Forgive me, Theodora! forgive the repentant Gomez Arias!"
His dim eyes were cast tenderly on her despairing countenance, andpressing gently her clammy hand, he breathed his last.
The piercing cries and lamentations of Theodora deeply affected thespectators of this tragic scene: she tore her flowing tresses, andfalling on the bleeding corpse, in a wild incoherent tone poured forthher anguish. The renegade himself appeared somewhat moved at theexhibition of her frantic sorrow. The darksome deed was done; his enemywas dead, and Bermudo seemed no longer to live in this world; stupor andapathy were overshadowing his countenance, for the principle that fedhis life was now no more.
The soldiers were about to move away with the prisoner, when a ministerof religion addressed him:--
"Sinner," he cried, "behold your deadly crime and repent; repent ere'tis too late; thy mortal career is short; employ it, then, in calmingthe offended justice of heaven."
"Friar," said firmly the renegade, "my conscience is seared; my soul hasno longer sympathy with human feelings; I cannot, will not now repent meof a deed which has been the sole object of my existence. Lead me totorture, and when ye tear this flesh, and suffering nature is unable tosustain the racking pangs, then, even then, my eyes, faithfulinterpreters of my soul, will tell you I shrink not from my fate; theponiard that struck my foe I might have plunged in this breast, but Idisdained to evade the recompense of my deed. Lead me to torture, butmock me not with words of penitence."
"Oh horror! art thou a man and speakest thus!" exclaimed the priest.
"I was a man; I know not what I am; let me return to my kindred clay,and hide from the face of the earth the monster at which ye shudder."
He ceased, and his features stiffened into a horrid tranquillity moreappalling to behold than his wildest ebullition of passion. One lastsavage look he cast on his prostrate enemy, and then, with a firm step,he walked away to meet the punishment due to his crimes.
The wretched Theodora could not be torn from the mortal bleeding remainsof her adored Gomez Arias, until the paroxysm of her grief wassucceeded by insensibility. In this melancholy state she was borne fromthe fatal spot, while sorrow and compassion swelled the hearts of everyone who had witnessed the events of that disastrous day!