man and namesake, the younger Colombo, as he was called,
to distinguish him from his uncle, the ancient admiral of
the same name, which took place not far north from Cape
St. Vincent. On that bloody day, we contended with the
foe, Venetians richly laden, from morn till even, and yet
the Lord carried me through the hot contest unharmed.
On another occasion, the galley in which I fought was con
sumed by fire, and I had to find my way to land, no trifling
distance, by the aid of an oar. To me it seemeth that the
hand of God was in this, and that he would not have taken
so signal and tender a care of one of his insignificant crea
tures, unless to use him largely for his own honour and
glory."
Although the eye of the navigator grew brighter as he
uttered this, and his cheek flushed with a species of holy
MERCEDES OF CASTILE. 67
enthusiasm, it was impossible to confound one so grave, so
dignified, so measured even in his exaggerations if such
they were with the idle and light-minded who mistake
momentary impulses for indelible impressions, and passing
vanities for the convictions that temper character. Fray
Pedro, instead of smiling, or in any manner betraying that
he regarded the other's opinions lightly, devoutly crossed
himself again, and showed by the sympathy expressed in
his countenance, how much he entered into the profound
religious faith of the speaker.
" The ways of God are often mysteries to his creatures,"
said the friar ; " but we are taught that they all lead to the
exaltation of his name, and to the glory of his attributes."
" It is so that I consider it, father ; and with such views
have I always regarded my own humble efforts to honour
him. We are but instruments, and useless instruments,
too, when we look at how little proceedeth from our own
spirits and power."
" There cometh the blessed symbol that is our salvation
and guide !" exclaimed the friar, holding out both arms
eagerly, as if to embrace some distant object in the hea
vens, immediately falling to his knees, and bowing his
shaven and naked head, in deep humility, to the earth.
Columbus turned his eyes in the direction indicated by
his companion's gestures, and he beheld the large silver
cross that the sovereigns had carried with them throughout
the late war, as a pledge of its objects, glittering on the
principal tower of the Alhambra. At the next instant, the
banners of Castile and of St. James were unfolded from
other elevated places. Then came the song of triumph,
mingled with the chants of the church. Te Deum was
sung, and the choirs of the royal chapel chanted in the
open fields the praises of the Lord of Hosts. A scene of
magnificent religious pomp, mingled with martial array,
followed, that belongs rather to general history than to the
particular and private incidents of our tale.
68 MERCEDES OF CASTILE.
CHAPTER V.
"Who hath not proved how feebly words essay
To fix one spark of beauty's heavenly ray ?
Who doth not feel, until his failing sight
Faints into dimness with its own delight,
His changing cheek, his sinking heart confess
The might the majesty of loveliness!"
BYRON.
THAT night 'be court of Castile and Aragon slept in
the palace of the Alhambra. As soon as the religious cere
mony alluded to in the last chapter had terminated, the
crowd rushed into the place, and the princes followed, with a
dignity and state better suited to their high character. The
young Christian nobles, accompanied by their wives and
sisters for the presence of Isabella, and the delay that
attended the surrender, had drawn together a vast many of
the gentler sex, in addition to those whose duty it was to
accompany their royal mistress hurried eagerly through
the celebrated courts and fretted apartments of this remark
able residence; nor was curiosity appeased even when
night came to place a temporary stay to its indulgence.
The Court of the Lions, in particular, a place still renowned
throughout Christendom for its remains of oriental beauty,
had been left by Boabdil in the best condition ; and, although
it was mid-winter, by the aid of human art it was even then
gay with flowers ; while the adjacent halls, those of the Two
Sisters, and of Abencerrages, were brilliant with light, and
alive with warriors and courtiers, dignified priests and lux
uriant beauty.
Although no Spanish eye could be otherwise than familiar
with the light peculiar graces of Moorish architecture, these
of the Alhambra so much surpassed those of any other pa
lace which had been erected by the Mussulman dynasties
of that part of the world, that their glories struck the be
holders with the freshness of novelty, as well as with the
MERCEDES OF CASTILE. 69
magnificence of royalty. The rich conceits in stucco, an
art of eastern origin, then little understood in Christendom ;
the graceful and fanciful Arabesques which, improved on
by the fancies of some of the greatest geniuses the world
ever saw, have descended to our own times, and got to be
so familiar in Europe, though little known on this side of
the Atlantic decorated the walls, while brilliant fountains
cast their waters into the air, and fell in glittering spray,
resembling diamonds.
Among the throng that moved through this scene of
almost magical beauty, was Beatriz de Bobadilla, who had
long been the wife of Don Andres de Cabrera, and was now
generally known as the Marchioness of Moya; the con
stant, near, and confidential friend of the queen, a char
acter she retained until her royal mistress was numbered
with the dead. On her arm leaned lightly, a youthful
female, of an appearance so remarkable, that few strangers
would have passed her without turning to take a second
look at features and a countenance that were seldom seeti
and forgotten. This was Dona Mercedes de Valverde, one
of the noblest and richest heiresses of Castile; the relative,
ward, and adopted daughter of the queen's friend ; favour
ite being hardly the term one would apply to the relation
in which Doiia Beatriz stood towards Isabella. It was not
the particular beauty of Dona Mercedes, however, that ren
dered her appearance so remarkable and attractive ; for,
though feminine, graceful, of exquisite form, and even of
pleasing features, there were many in that brilliant court
who would generally be deemed fairer. But no other
maiden of Castile had a countenance so illuminated by the
soul within, or no other female face habitually wore so deep
an impression of sentiment and sensibility ; and the pro
fessed physiognomist would have delighted to trace the evi
dences of a deeply-seated, earnest, but unobtrusive enthu
siasm, which even cast a shade of melancholy over a face
that fortune and the heart had equally intended should be
sunny and serene. Serene it was, notwithstanding; the
shadow that rested on it seeming to soften and render in
teresting its exprcfialou r -*i*fecr than to disturb its tran
quillity or to cloud its loveliness.
Qn the other side of the noble matron walked Luis de
70 MERCEDES OF CASTILE.
Bobadilla, keeping a little in advance of his aunt, in a way
to permit his own dark flashing looks to meet, whenever
feeling and modesty would allow it, the fine, expressive,
blue eyes of Mercedes. The three conversed freely, for
the royal personages had retired to their private apart
ments, and each group of passengers was so much en
tranced with the novelty of its situation and its own con
versation, as to disregard the remarks of others.
" This is a marvel, Luis," observed Dona Beatriz, in
continuation of a subject that evidently much interested
them all, " that thou, a truant and a rover thyself, should
now have heard for the first time of this Colon ! It is
many years since he has been soliciting their Highnesses
for their royal aid in effecting his purposes. The matter
of his schemes was solemnly debated before a council at
Salamanca ; and he hath not been without believers at the
Court, itself."
"Among whom is to be classed Doiia Beatriz de Ca
brera," said Mercedes, with that melancholy smile that had
the effect to bring out glimpses of all the deep but latent
feeling that lay concealed beneath the surface : " I have
often heard Her Highness declare that Colon hath no truer
friend in Castile."
" Her Highness is seldom mistaken, child and never in
my heart. I do uphold the man ; for to me he seemeth
one fitted for some great and honourable undertaking ; and
surely none greater hath ever been proposed or imagined
by human mind, than this he urgeth. Think of our be
coming acquainted with the nations of the other side of the
earth, and of finding easy and direct means of communi
cating with them, and of imparting to them the consola
tions of Holy Church !"
" Ay, Senora my aunt," cried Luis, laughing, " and of
walking in their delightful company with all our heels in
the air, and our heads downwards ! I hope this Colon hath
not neglected to practise a little in the art, for it will need
some time to gain a sure foot, in such circumstances. He
might commence on the sides of these mountains, by way
of a horn-book, throwing the head boldly off at. a right -
angle; after which, the walls and towers of this Allvnnbrn
MERCEDES OF CASTILE. 71
would make a very pretty grammar, or stepping-stone to
new progress."
Mercedes had unconsciously but fervently pressed the
arm of her guardian, as Dona Beatriz admitted her interest
in the success of the great project ; but at this sally of Don
Luis, she looked serious, and threw a glance at him, that
he himself felt to be reproachful. To win the love of his
aunt's ward was the young man's most ardent wish ; and a
look of dissatisfaction could at any moment repress that
exuberance of spirits which often led him into an appear
ance of levity that did injustice to the really sterling quali
ties of both his heart and mind. Under the influence of
that look, then, he was not slow to repair the wrong he had
done himself, by adding almost as soon as he had ceased to
speak
" The Dona Mercedes is of the discovering party, too,
I see ; this Colon appeareth to have had more success with
the dames of Castile than with her nobles"
" Is it extraordinary, Don Luis," interrupted the pensive-
looking girl, " that women should have more confidence in
merit, more generous impulses, more zeal for God, than
men ?"
" It must be even so, since you and my aunt, Dofia Bea
triz, side with the navigator. But I am not always to be
understood in the light I express myself;" Mercedes now
smiled, but this time it was archly " I have never stu
died with the minstrels, nor, sooth to say, deeply with the
churchmen. To be honest with you, I have been much
struck with this noble idea ; and if Senor Colon doth, in
reality, sail in quest of Cathay and the Indies, I shall pray
their Highnesses to let me be of the party, for, now that
the Moor is subdued, there remaineth little for a noble to
do in Spain."
" If tiiou should'st really go on this expedition," said
Dona Beatriz, with grave irony, " there will, at least, be
one human being topsy-turvy, in the event of thy reaching
Cathay. But yonder is an attendant of the court ; I doubt
if Her Highness doth not desire my presence."
The Lady of Moya was right the messenger coming to
announce to her that the queen required her attendance.
The manners of the day and country rendered it unseemly
72 MERCEDES OP CASTILE.
that Dona Mercedes should continue her promenade accom
panied onty by Don Luis, and the marchioness led the way
to her own apartments, where a saloon suitable to her rank
and to her favour with the queen, had been selected for her
from among the numberless gorgeous rooms of the Moorish
kings. Even here, the marchioness paused a moment, in
thought, before she would leave her errant nephew alone
with her ward.
" Though a rover, he is no troubadour, and cannot charm
thy ear with false rhymes. It were better, perhaps, that I
sent him beneath thy balcony, with his guitar ; but know-
ing so well his dulness, I will confide in it, and leave him
with thee, for the few minutes that I shall be absent. A
cavalier who hath so strong a dislike to reversing the order
of nature, will not surely condescend to go on his knees,
even though it be to Avin a smile from the sweetest maiden
in all Castile."
Don Luis laughed ; Dona Beatriz smiled, as she kissed
her ward, and left the room ; while Dona Mercedes blushed,
and riveted her gaze on the floor. Luis de Bobadilla was
the declared suitor and sworn knight of Mercedes de Val-
verde; but, though so much favoured by birth, fortune,
affinity, and figure, there existed some serious impediments
to his success. In all that was connected with the consi
derations that usually decide such things, the union was
desirable; but there existed, nevertheless, a strong influ
ence to overcome, in the scruples of Dona Beatriz, herself.
High-principled, accustomed to the just-minded views of
her royal mistress, and too proud to do an unworthy act,
the very advantages that a marriage with her ward offered
to her nephew, had caused the marchioness to hesitate.
Don Luis had little of the Castilian gravity of character
and, by many, his animal spirits were mistaken for light
ness of disposition and levity of thought. His mother was
a woman of a very illustrious French family ; and national
pride had induced most observers to fancy that the son in
herited a constitutional disposition to frivolity, that was to
be traced to the besetting weakness of a whole people. A
consciousness of his being so viewed at home, had, indeed,
driven the youth abroad ; and as, like all observant tra
vellers, he was made doubly sensible of the defects of his
MERCEDES OP CASTILE. 73
own state of society, on his return, a species of estrange
ment had grown up between him and his natural associates,
that had urged the young man, again and again, to wander
into foreign lands. Nothing, indeed, but his early and con
stantly increasing passion for Mercedes had induced him to
return; a step that, fortunately for himself, he had last
taken in time to assist in the reduction of Granada. Not
withstanding these traits, which, in a country like Castile,
might be properly enough termed peculiarities, Don Luis
de Bobadilla was a knight worthy of his lineage and name.
His prowess in the field and in the tourney, indeed, was so
very marked as to give him a high military character, in
despite of what were deemed his failings ; and he passed
rather as an inconsiderate and unsafe young man, than as
one who was either debased or wicked. Martial qualities,
in that age in particular, redeemed a thousand faults ; and
Don Luis had even been known to unhorse, in the tourney,
Alonzo de Ojeda, then the most expert lance in Spain.
Such a man could not be despised, though he might be dis
trusted. But the feeling which governed his aunt, referred
quite as much to her own character as to his. Deeply con
scientious, while she understood her nephew's real qualities
much better than mere superficial observers, she had her
doubts about the propriety of giving the rich heiress who
was entrusted to her care, to so near a relative, when all
could not applaud the act. She feared, too, that her own
partiality might deceive her, and that Luis might in truth
be the light and frivolous being he sometimes appeared to
be in Castilian eyes, and that the happiness of her ward
would prove the sacrifice 'of the indiscretion. With these
doubts, then, while she secretly desired the union, she had
in public looked coldly on her nephew's suit; and, though
unable, without a harshness that circumstances would not
warrant, to prevent all intercourse, she had not only taken
frequent occasions to let Mercedes understand her distrust,
but she had observed the precaution not to leave so hand
some a suitor, notwithstanding he was often domiciliated in
her own house, much alone with her ward.
The state of Mercedes' feelings was known only to her
self. She was beautiful, of an honourable family, and an
heiress; and, as human infirmities were as besetting be-
VOL. I. 7
74 MERCEDES OF CJASTILE.
neath the stately mien of the fifteenth century, as they are
to-day, she had often heard the supposed faults of Don
Luis's character sneered at, by those who felt distrustful of
his good looks and his opportunities. Few young females
would have had the courage to betray _any marked prefer
ence under such circumstances, until prepared to avow their
choice, and to take sides with its subject against the world ;
and the quiet but deep enthusiasm that prevailed in the
moral system of the fair young Castilian, was tempered by
a prudence that prevented her from running into most of its
lighter excesses. The forms and observances that usually
surround young women of rank, came in aid of this native
prudence ; and even Don Luis, himself, though he had
watched the countenance and emotions of her to whom he
had so long urged his suit, with a lover's jealousy and a
lover's instincts, was greatly in doubt whether he had suc
ceeded in the least, in touching her heart. By one of those
unlooked-for concurrences of circumstances that so often
decide the fortunes of men, whether as lovers or in more
worldly-minded pursuits, these doubts were now about to be
unexpectedly and suddenly removed.
The triumph of the Christian arms, the novelty of her
situation, and the excitement of the whole scene, had
aroused the feelings of Mercedes from that coy conceal
ment in which they usually lay smothered beneath the co
vering of maiden diffidence; and throughout the evening
her smile had been more open, her eye brighter, and her
cheeks more deeply flushed, than was usual even with one
whose smiles were always sweet, whose eyes were never
dull, and whose cheeks answered so sensitively to the vary
ing impulses within.
As his aunt quitted the room, leaving him alone with Mer
cedes for the first time since his return from his last ramble,
Don Luis eagerly threw himself on a stool that stood near
the feet of his adored, who placed herself on a sumptuous
couch, that, twenty-four hours before, had held the person
of a princess of Abdallah's family.
" Much as I honour and reverence Her Highness," the
young man hurriedly commenced, " my respect and venera
tion are now increased ten-fold ! Would that she might
send for mv beloved aunt thrice where sho now wants her
MERCEDES OF CASTILE. T5
services only once ! and may her presence become so ne
cessary to her sovereign (hat the affairs of Castile cannot
go on without her counsel, if so blessed an opportunity as
this, to tell you all I feel, Dona Mercedes, is to follow her
obedience !"
" It is not they who are most fluent of speech, or the
most vehement, who always feel the deepest, Don Luis de
Bobadilla."
" Nor do they feel the least. Mercedes, thou canst not
doubt my love ! It hath grown with my growth increased
with each increase of my ideas until it hath got to be so
interwoven with my mind itself, that I can scarce use a
faculty that thy dear image doth not mingle with it. In all
that is beautiful, I behold thee ; if I listen to the song .of a
bird, it is thy carol- to the lute ; or if I feel the gentle south
wind from the fragrant isles fanning my cheek, I would
fain think it thy sigh."
" You have dwelt so much among the light conceits of
the French court, Don Luis, you appear to have forgotten
that the heart of a Castilian girl is too true, -and too sin
cere, to meet such rhapsodies with favour."
Had Don Luis been older, or more experienced in the
sex, he would have been flattered by this rebuke for he
would have detected in the speaker's manner, both feeling
of a gentler nature than her words expressed, and a tender
regret.
" If thou ascribes! to me rhapsodies, thou dost me great
injustice. I may not do credit to my own thoughts and
feelings ; but never hath my tongue uttered aught to thee,
Mercedes, that the heart hath not honestly urged. Have I
not loved thee since thou and I were children ? Did I ever
fail to show my preference for thee when we were boy and
girl, in all the sports and light-hearted enjoyments of that
guileless period ?"
" Guileless, truly," answered Mercedes, her look bright
ening as it might be with agreeable fancies and a flood of
pleasant recollections doing more, in a single instant, to
break down the barriers of her reserve, than years of
schooling had effected towards building them up. " Thou
wert then, at least, sincere, Luis, and I placed full faith in
thy friendship, and in thy desire to please."
76 MERCEDES OF CASTILE.
" Bless thee, bless thee, for these precious words, Mer
cedes ! for the first time in two years, hast thou spoken to
me as thou wert wont to do, and called me Luis, without
that courtly, accursed, Don."
"A noble Castilian should never regard his honours
lightly, and he oweth it to his rank to see that others re-
spect them, too ;" answered our heroine, looking down, as
if she already half repented of the familiarity. " You are
quick to remind me of my forgetfulness, Don Luis de Bo-
badilla."
" This unlucky tongue of mine can never follow the path
that its owner wisheth ! Hast thou not seen in all my looks
all my acts all my motives a desire to please thee,
and .thee alone, lovely Mercedes? When Her Highness
gave her royal approbation of my success, in the last
tourney, did I not seek thine eye, in order to ask if thou
noted'st it 1 Hast thou ever expressed a wish, that I have
not proved an eager desire to. see it accomplished?"
" Nay, now, Luis, thou emboldenest me to remind thee
that I expressed a wish that thou Avould'st not go on thy
last voyage to the north, and yet thou didst depart ! I felt
that it would displease Dona Beatriz ; thy truant dispo
sition having made her uneasy lest thou should'st get alto
gether into the habits of a rover, and into disfavour with
the queen."
"It was for this that thou mad'st the request, and it
wounded my pride to think that Mercedes de Valverde
should so little understand my character, as to believe it
possible a noble of my name and lineage could so far for
get his duties as to sink into the mere associate of pilots
and adventurers."
" Thou didst not know that I believed this of thee."
" Hadst thou asked of me, Mercedes, to remain for thy
sake nay, hadst thou imposed the heaviest services on
me, as thy knight, or, as one who enjoyed the smallest de
gree of thy favour I would have parted with life sooner than
I would have parted from Castile. But not even a look of
kindness could I obtain, in reward for all the pain I had
felt on thy account"
"Pain, Luis!"
"Is it not pain to love to the degree that one might kiss
MERCEDES OF CASTILE* 77
the earth that received the foot-print of its object and yet
to meet with no encouragement from fair words, no friendly
glance of the eye, nor any sign or symbol to betoken that
the being one hath enshrined in his heart's core, ever think-
eth of her suitor except as a reckless rover and a hare
brained adventurer?"
" Luis de Bobadilla, no one that really knoweth thy
character, can ever truly think thus of thee."
" A million of thanks for these few words, beloved girl,
and ten millions for the gentle smile that hath accompanied
them ! Thou might'st mould me to all thy wishes"
" My wishes, Don Luis !"
" To all thy severe opinions of sobriety and dignity of
conduct, would'st thou but feel sufficient interest in me to let
me know that my acts can give thee either pain or plea
sure."
" Can it be otherwise ? Could'st thou, Luis, see with in
difference the proceedings of one thou hast known from
childhood, and esteemed as a friend ?"
" Esteem ! Blessed Mercedes ! dost thou own even that
little in my favour?"
" It is not little, Luis, to esteem but much. They who
prize virtue never esteem the unworthy ; and it is not pos
sible to know thy excellent heart and manly nature, with
out esteeming thee. Surely I have never concealed my
esteem from thee, or from any one else."
" Hast thou concealed aught ? Ah ! Mercedes, complete
this heavenly condescension, and admit that one as lightly
as thou wilt but, that one soft sentiment hath, at times,
mingled with this esteem."
Mercedes blushed brightly, but she Would not make the
often-solicited acknowledgment. It was some little time
before she answered at all. When she did speak, it was
hesitatingly, and with frequent pauses, as if she distrusted
the propriety or the discretion of that which she was about
to utter.
"Thou hast travelled much and far, Luis," she said,
" and hast lost some favour on account of thy roving pro