Part 21 (1/2)
The party stopped on the sh.o.r.e, in waiting for a boat to arrive, at a place where they were removed from any houses. There Fray Juan Perez took his leave of the two adventurers. The long silence that all three had maintained, was more impressive than any ordinary discourse could have been; but it was now necessary to break it. The prior was deeply affected, and it was some little time before he could even trust his voice to speak.
”Senor Christoval,” he at length commenced, ”it is now many years since thou first appeared at the gate of Santa Maria de Rabida--years of friends.h.i.+p and pleasure have they proved to me.”
”It is full seven, Fray Juan Perez,” returned Columbus--”seven weary years have they proved to me, as a solicitor for employment--years of satisfaction, father, in all that concerneth thee. Think not that I can ever forget the hour, when, leading Diego, houseless, impoverished, wanderers, journeying on foot, I stopped to tax the convent's charity for refreshment! The future is in the hands of G.o.d, but the past is imprinted here”--laying his hand on his heart--”and can never be forgotten. Thou hast been my constant friend, holy prior, and that, too, when it was no credit to favor the nameless Genoese. Should my estimation ever change in men's opinions”--
”Nay, Senor Almirante, it hath changed already,” eagerly interrupted the prior. ”Hast thou not the commission of the queen--the support of Don Fernando--the presence of this young n.o.ble, though still as an incognito--the wishes of all the learned? Dost thou not go forth, on this great voyage, carrying with thee more of our hopes than of our fears?”
”So far as thou art concerned, dear Juan Perez, this may be so. I feel that I have all thy best wishes for success; I know that I shall have thy prayers. Few in Spain, notwithstanding, will think of Colon with respect, or hope, while we are wandering on the great desert of the ocean, beyond a very narrow circle. I fear me, that, even at this moment, when the means of learning the truth of our theories is in actual possession--when we stand, as it might be, on the very threshold of the great portal which opens upon the Indies--that few believe in our chances of success.”
”Thou hast Dona Isabella of thy side, Senor!”
”And Dona Mercedes!” put in Luis; ”not to speak of my decided and true-hearted aunt!”
”I ask but a few brief months, Senores,” returned Columbus, his face turned to heaven with uncovered head, his gray hair floating in the wind, and his eye kindling with the light of enthusiasm--”a few short months, that will pa.s.s away untold with the happy--that even the miserable may find supportable, but which to us will seem ages, must now dispose of this question. Prior, I have often quitted the sh.o.r.e feeling that I carried my life in my hand, conscious of all the dangers of the ocean, and as much expecting death as a happy return; but at this glorious moment no doubts beset me; as for life, I know it is in the keeping of G.o.d's care; as for success, I feel it is in G.o.d's wisdom!”
”These are comfortable sentiments, at so serious a moment, Senor, and I devoutly hope the end will justify them. But, yonder is thy boat, and we must now part. Senor, my son, thou knowest that my spirit will be with thee in this mighty undertaking.”
”Holy prior, remember me in thy prayers. I am weak, and have need of this support. I trust much to the efficacy of thy intercessions, aided by those of thy pious brotherhood. Thou wilt bestow on us a few ma.s.ses?”
”Doubt us not, my friend; all that la Rabida can do with the blessed Virgin, or the saints, shall be exercised, without ceasing, in thy behalf. It is not given to man to foresee the events that are controlled by Providence; and, though we deem this enterprise of thine so certain, and so reasonable, it may nevertheless fail.”
”It may _not_ fail, father; G.o.d hath thus far directed it, and he will not permit it to fail.”
”We know not, Senor Colon; our wisdom is but as a grain of mustard seed among the sands of this sh.o.r.e, as compared with his inscrutable designs.
I was about to say, as it is possible thou may'st return a disappointed, a defeated man, that thou wilt still find the gate of Santa Maria open to thee; since, in our eyes, it is as meritorious to attempt n.o.bly, as it is often, in the eyes of others, to achieve successfully.”
”I understand thee, holy prior; and the cup and the morsel bestowed on the young Diego, were not more grateful than this proof of thy friends.h.i.+p! I would not depart without thy blessing.”
”Kneel, then, Senor; for, in this act it will not be Juan Perez de Marchena that will speak, and p.r.o.nounce, but the minister of G.o.d and the church. Even these sands will be no unworthy spot to receive such an advantage.”
The eyes of both Columbus and the prior were suffused with tears, for at that moment the heart of each was touched with the emotions natural to a moment so solemn. The first loved the last, because he had proved himself a friend when friends were few and timid; and the worthy monk had some such attachment for the great navigator as men are apt to feel for those they have cherished. Each, also, respected and appreciated the other's motives, and there was a bond of union in their common reverence for the Christian religion. Columbus kneeled on the sands, and received the benediction of his friend, with the meek submission of faith, and with some such feelings of reverence as those with which a pious son would have listened to a blessing p.r.o.nounced by a natural father.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Columbus kneeled on the sands, and received the benediction.”]
”And thou, young lord,” resumed Fray Juan Perez, with a husky voice--”thou, too, wilt be none the worse for the prayers of an aged churchman.”
Like most of that age, Luis, in the midst of his impetuous feelings, and youthful propensities, had enshrined in his heart an image of the Son of G.o.d, and entertained an habitual respect for holy things. He knelt without hesitation, and listened to the trembling words of the priest with thankfulness and respect.
”Adieu, holy prior,” said Columbus, squeezing his friend's hand. ”Thou hast befriended me when others held aloof; but I trust in G.o.d that the day is not now distant, when those who have ever shown confidence in my predictions will cease to feel uneasiness at the mention of my name.
Forget us in all things but thy prayers, for a few short months, and then expect tidings that, of a verity, shall exalt Castile to a point of renown which will render this Conquest of Granada but an incident of pa.s.sing interest amid the glory of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella!”
This was not said boastfully, but with the quiet earnestness of one who saw a truth that was concealed from most eyes, and this with an intensity so great, that the effect on his moral vision produced a confidence equalling that which is the fruit of the evidence of the senses in ordinary men. The prior understood him, and the a.s.surance thus given cheered the mind of the worthy Franciscan long after the departure of his friend. They embraced and separated.
By this time the boat of Columbus had reached the sh.o.r.e. As the navigator moved slowly toward it, a youthful female rushed wildly past him and Luis, and, regardless of their presence, she threw her arms around a young mariner who had quitted the boat to meet her, and sobbed for a minute on his bosom, in uncontrollable agony, or as women weep in the first outbreak of their emotions.
”Come, then, Pepe,” the young wife at length said, hurriedly, and with low earnestness, as one speaks who would fain persuade herself that denial was impossible--”come, Pepe; thy boy hath wept for thee, and thou hast pushed this matter, already, much too far.”
”Nay, Monica,” returned the husband, glancing his eye at Columbus, who was already near enough to hear his words--”thou knowest it is by no wish of mine that I am to sail on this unknown voyage. Gladly would I abandon it, but the orders of the queen are too strong for a poor mariner like me, and they must be obeyed.”
”This is foolish, Pepe,” returned the woman, pulling at her husband's doublet to drag him from the water-side--”I have had enough of this; sufficient to break my heart. Come, then, and look again upon thy boy.”