Part 28 (2/2)
_The Rev. Dr. Opimian._ Inez de Castro was the daughter, singularly beautiful and accomplished, of a Castilian n.o.bleman, attached to the court of Alphonso the Fourth of Portugal. When very young, she became the favourite and devoted friend of Constance, the wife of the young Prince Don Pedro. The princess died early, and the grief of Inez touched the heart of Pedro, who found no consolation but in her society. Thence grew love, which resulted in secret marriage. Pedro and Inez lived in seclusion at Coimbra, perfectly happy in each other, and in two children who were born to them, till three of Alphonso's courtiers, moved by I know not what demon of mischief--for I never could discover an adequate motive--induced the king to attempt the dissolution of the marriage, and failing in this, to authorise them to murder Inez during a brief absence of her husband. Pedro raised a rebellion, and desolated the estates of the a.s.sa.s.sins, who escaped, one into France, and two into Castile. Pedro laid down his arms on the entreaty of his mother, but would never again see his father, and lived with his two children in the strictest retirement in the scene of his ruined happiness. When Alphonso died, Pedro determined not to a.s.sume the crown till he had punished the a.s.sa.s.sins of his wife. The one who had taken refuge in France was dead; the others were given up by the King of Castile. They were put to death, their bodies were burned, and their ashes were scattered to the winds.
He then proceeded to the ceremony of his coronation. The mortal form of Inez, veiled and in royal robes, was enthroned by his side: he placed the queenly crown on her head, and commanded all present to do her homage. He raised in a monastery, side by side, two tombs of white marble, one for her, one for himself. He visited the spot daily, and remained inconsolable till he rejoined her in death. This is the true history, which has been sadly perverted by fiction.
_Miss Ilex._ There is, indeed, something grand in that long-enduring constancy: something terribly impressive in that veiled spectral image of robed and crowned majesty. You have given this, doctor, as an instance that the first love is not necessarily the strongest, and this, no doubt, is frequently true. Even Romeo had loved Rosalind before he saw Juliet. But love which can be so superseded is scarcely love. It is acquiescence in a semblance: acquiescence, which may pa.s.s for love through the entire s.p.a.ce of life, if the latent sympathy should never meet its perfect counterpart.
_The Rev. Dr. Opimian._ Which it very seldom does; but acquiescence in the semblance is rarely enduring, and hence there are few examples of lifelong constancy. But I hold with Plato that true love is single, indivisible, unalterable.
_Miss Ilex._ In this sense, then, true love is first love; for the love which endures to the end of life, though it may be the second in semblance, is the first in reality.
The next morning Lord Curryfin said to Miss Niphet. 'You took no part in the conversation of last evening. You gave no opinion on the singleness and permanence of love.'
_Miss Niphet._ I mistrust the experience of others, and I have none of my own.
_Lord Curryfin._ Your experience, when it comes, cannot but confirm the theory. The love which once dwells on you can never turn to another.
_Miss Niphet._. I do not know that I ought to wish to inspire such an attachment.
_Lord Curryfin._ Because you could not respond to it?
_Miss Niphet._. On the contrary; because I think it possible I might respond to it too well.
She paused a moment, and then, afraid of trusting herself to carry on the dialogue, she said: 'Come into the hall, and play at battledore and shuttlec.o.c.k.'
He obeyed the order: but in the exercise her every movement developed some new grace, that maintained at its highest degree the intensity of his pa.s.sionate admiration.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Her every movement developed some new grace 275-235]
CHAPTER x.x.x
A CAPTIVE KNIGHT--RICHARD AND ALICE
---dum fata, sinunt. jungamus am_ores: mox veniet tenebris Mors adoperta caput: jam subrepet incrs otas, nee amare deeebii, dicere nee ucuio blanditias capite.
Let us, while Fate allows, in love combine, Ere our last night its shade around us throw, Or Ages slow-creeping quench the fire divine, And tender words befit not locks of snow.
The shuttlec.o.c.k had been some time on the wing, struck to and fro with unerring aim, and to all appearances would never have touched the ground, if Lord Curryfin had not seen, or fancied he saw, symptoms of fatigue on the part of his fair antagonist. He therefore, instead of returning the shuttlec.o.c.k, struck it upward, caught it in his hand, and presented it to her, saying, 'I give in. The victory is yours.' She answered, 'The victory is yours, as it always is, in courtesy.'
She said this with a melancholy smile, more fascinating to him than the most radiant expression from another. She withdrew to the drawing-room, motioning to him not to follow.
In the drawing-room she found Miss Gryll, who appeared to be reading; at any rate, a book was open before her.
_Miss Gryll._ You did not see me just now, as I pa.s.sed through the hall.
You saw only two things: the shuttlec.o.c.k, and your partner in the game.
_Miss Niphet._. It is not possible to play, and see anything but the shuttlec.o.c.k.
_Miss Gryll._ And the hand that strikes it.
_Miss Niphet._. That comes unavoidably into sight.
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