Part 11 (1/2)
”True. Tried by the standard of G.o.d's perfect law, the purest life must appear a miserable failure. We may call the marble of our churches and dwellings white, until we see G.o.d's snow, pure and fresh from heaven, upon it.”
”Ay, senor,” said Carlos, wild joyful eagerness; ”but the Hand that points out the stains can cleanse them. No snow is half so pure as the linen clean and white which is the righteousness of saints.”
It was De Seso's turn to be astonished now. In the look that, half leaning over the table, he bent upon the eager face of Carlos, surprise and emotion blended. For a moment their eyes met with a flash, like that which flint strikes from steel, of mutual intelligence and sympathy. But it pa.s.sed again as quickly. De Seso said, ”I suspect that I see in you, Senor Don Carlos, one of those admirable scholars who have devoted their talents to the study of that sacred language in which the words of the holy apostles are handed down to us. You are a Grecian?”
Carlos shook his head. ”Greek is but little studied at Complutum now,”
he said, ”and I confined myself to the usual theological course.”
”In which, I have heard, your success has been brilliant. But it is a sore disgrace to us, and a heavy loss to the youth of our nation, that the language of St. John and St. Paul should be deemed unworthy of their attention.”
”Your Excellency is aware that it was otherwise in former years,”
returned Carlos. ”Perhaps the present neglect is owing to the suspicion of heresy which, truly or falsely, has attached itself to most of the accomplished Greek scholars of our time.”
”A miserable misapprehension; the growth of monkish ignorance and envy, and popular superst.i.tion. Heresy is a convenient stigma with which men ofttimes brand as evil the good they are incapable of comprehending.”
”Most true, senor. Even Fray Constantino has not escaped.”
”His crime has been, that he has sought to turn the minds of men from outward acts and ceremonies to the great spiritual truths of which these are the symbols. To the vulgar, Religion is nothing but a series of shows and postures.”
”Yes,” answered Carlos; ”but the heart that loves G.o.d, and truly believes in our Lord and Saviour, is taught to put such in their proper place. 'These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.'”
”Senor Don Carlos,” said De Seso, with surprise he could no longer suppress, ”you are evidently a devout and earnest student of the Scriptures.”
”I search the Scriptures; in them I think I have eternal life. And they testify of Christ,” promptly responded the less cautious youth.
”I perceive that you do not quote the Vulgate.”
Carlos smiled. ”No, senor. To a man of your enlightened views I am not afraid to acknowledge the truth. I have seen--nay, why should I hesitate?--I possess a rare treasure--the New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in our own n.o.ble Castilian tongue.”
Even through the calm and dignified deportment of his companion Carlos could perceive the thrill that this communication caused. There was a pause; then he said softly, ”And your treasure is also mine.” The low quiet words came from even greater depths of feeling than the eager tremulous tones of Carlos. For _his_ convictions, slowly reached and dearly purchased, were ”built below” the region of the soul that pa.s.sions agitate,--
”Based on the crystalline sea Of thought and its eternity.”
The heart of Carlos glowed with sudden ardent love towards the man who shared his treasure, and, he doubted not, his faith also. He could joyfully have embraced him on the spot. But the force of habit and the sensitive reserve of his character checked this impetuous demonstrativeness. He only said, with a look that was worth an embrace, ”I knew it. Your Excellency spoke as one who held our Lord and his truth in honour.”
”_Ella es pues honor a vosotros que creeis._”[#]
[#] ”Unto you who believes he is precious,” or ”an honour.”
It would have been hard to begin a verse that Carlos could not at this time have instantly completed. He went on: ”_Mas para los que no creen, la piedra que los edificatores reprobaron_.”[#]
[#] ”But unto them that believe not, the stone that the builders reject.”
”A sorrowful truth,” said De Seso, ”which my young friend must needs bear in mind. His Word, like himself, is rejected by the many. Its very mention may expose to obloquy and danger.”
”Only another instance, senor, of those lamentable prejudices about heresy about which we spoke anon. I am aware that there are those that would brand me (_me_, a scholar too!) with the odious name of heretic, merely for reading G.o.d's Word in my own tongue. But how utterly absurd the charge! The blessed Book has but confirmed my faith in all the doctrines of our holy Mother Church.”
”Has it?” said De Seso, quietly, perhaps a little drily.