The evening of the day of her arrival at Madrid she seized a splendid opportunity. In the town{25} of Badajoz, the capital of the Province of Estremadura, was a man condemned3 to death and whose sentence was to have been carried out the day following the arrival of the bride-elect. On the evening of her arrival in Spain, the people of the town, representatives of all classes, telegraphed to the Princess an earnest petition beseeching4 her to exercise her influence with the King for him to exercise his prerogative5 of Royal clemency6 and pardon the condemned man. The Princess went immediately to the King and told him that almost the first message she had received upon her arrival in Spain was this petition asking her to save the life of a man. This wedding present, she said, would please her more than any gift she might receive. King Alfonso instantly granted her request and the Royal pardon was despatched by telegraph, arriving at Badajoz less than one hour before the sentence was to have been carried out. Upon receipt of the news, all the bells of the town were set ringing and there was a scene of extraordinary demonstration7; the whole community gathering8 in the streets crying: “Long live Queen Victoria Eugenie.”
Thursday the 31st of May, 1906, had been appointed for the wedding. The day broke bright and clear in Madrid, a glorious sun tempered by a cooling breeze shone throughout the day and with not a cloud in the sky. The King arrived at the Palace of the Pardo just outside of Madrid where the Princess and her suite9 had remained during{26} the few days preceding the wedding, in a motor car at 6.30 in the morning; he appeared in the uniform of an Admiral. The first act of the day was an attendance at Mass in company with his bride-elect. Shortly after 8 o’clock the couple were driven in an electric brougham straight to the Ministry10 of Marine11 where the Princess donned her bridal robes. In this she was assisted by ladies-in-waiting, who had come in her suite from London, the last touch being added by Queen Maria Cristina who placed upon the head of the Princess the bridal veil. This veil was of Alen?on lace and was the very one worn by herself at the time of her marriage to King Alfonso XII. This veil is being carefully preserved by Queen Victoria, who says that at the marriage of her first daughter she hopes to place it upon her head.
In Spain it is customary for the bridegroom to present his bride with her wedding gown; this is a universal custom common in all ranks of society. Don Alfonso, aided by his Royal Mother, had had prepared one of the most elaborate and exquisitely13 embroidered14 gowns ever seen at the Spanish Court Forty of the most expert Spanish women were engaged for fifty-six days in making this wonderful creation. Or, to put it another way, one woman, working constantly every day of the year, Sundays excepted, would have required almost precisely15 seven years to the task! The material was of the richest white satin and cloth of silver, cut in the style of dress known as Louis XVI. The dress
[Image unavailable.]
“To the Marquis of Villalobar.
{27}
was bordered with dull silver, slightly burnished16 and shaded at intervals17 and trimmed with exquisite12 rose-point lace, which was festooned over a background of cloth of silver. The lace flounce was eighteen inches in width and the whole gown was relieved with loops of orange blossoms.
The wedding took place in the Church of San Jeronimo, which is on the far side of the city from the Royal Palace. The church is not large, but there are no large churches in Madrid, Madrid being one of the most modern of all continental18 capitals, and big churches of the cathedral order are mostly relics19 of the Middle Ages. The selection of St. Jeronimo for the event was made in order that the bridal procession should of necessity pass across practically the entire city, thus affording the largest number of people an opportunity to view the spectacle.
The marriage service conformed to every last detail with the etiquette20 and rites21 of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain. The Archbishop of Toledo, Cardinal23 Sancha, was assisted by Dr. Brindle, Bishop22 of Nottingham, who had come from England especially for this occasion.
The bridal procession advanced very slowly, receiving the homage of the distinguished25 congregation section by section, the Spanish legislators, the courtiers, Ambassadors, the Special Missions, and the foreign Princes saluting26 in turn. Preceded by a crucifix, while the band continued playing the National Anthem27, the King and his bride ad{28}vanced and took their places before the altar. After kneeling for a short period, King Alfonso rose, and passing behind the Princess approached his mother, who was on the bride’s left, and knelt and kissed her hand. Queen Cristina, bending over, affectionately embraced her son who thereupon returned to his prie-dieu before the altar. Following the bridegroom’s example Princess Victoria Eugenie descended28 the altar steps and passed down the nave29 to where her mother stood beside the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and warmly embraced her. The Princess then returned to the altar and the religious ceremony began.
Cardinal Sancha, arrayed in his Pontifical30 robes and having on either side the assisting bishops31, gave his archiepiscopal crozier to the Master of Ceremonies, and addressed King Alfonso and his bride as follows:
“High and Mighty32 Senor Don Alfonso XIII, of Bourbon and Austria, Catholic King of Spain, I demand of your Majesty33, as I also demand of your Royal Highness Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena Maria Cristina, Princess of Battenberg, to say if you know of any impediment against the celebration of this marriage, or against the validity or legality; That is to say, if there exists between your Majesty and your Royal Highness any impediment either of consanguinity34, affinity35, or spiritual relationship; if you have made a vow36 of chastity or of religion; and, finally, if there is any other impediment, your{29} Majesty and your Royal Highness shall declare it. And the same I demand of all those here present. For the second and the third time I require that if there exist any impediment whatsoever37 you shall freely make it known.”
Having concluded these questions, the Cardinal paused for a while, and then, turning to the Princess, said:
“Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena Maria Cristina, Princess of Battenberg, does your Royal Highness desire to have Don Alfonso XIII, of Bourbon and Austria, Catholic King of Spain, for your lawful38 spouse39 and husband by words de presente, as is ordained40 by the Holy Catholic Apostolic and Roman Church?”
This was a very solemn moment, and not a whisper broke the almost painful silence. All eyes were turned toward the Princess who replied, in a clear voice:
“Yes, I do desire him.” (Si, quiero.)
“Does your Royal Highness consent to be the lawful spouse and wife of the high and mighty Se?or Don Alfonso XIII, of Bourbon and Austria, Catholic King of Spain?”
Looking at His Majesty, Princess Victoria Eugenie replied, in clear tones:
“Yes, I consent.” (Si, otorgo.)
Continuing, Cardinal Sancha asked:
“Does your Royal Highness accept the said Se?or Don Alfonso XIII, of Bourbon and Aus{30}tria, King of Spain, for your lawful spouse and husband?”
With even stronger emphasis, the Princess replied:
“Yes, I accept him.” (Si, recibo.)
Cardinal Sancha thereupon asked the three questions, in identical terms of King Alfonso. His Majesty, with his eyes fixed42 upon his bride, and in a strong and clear voice, which was distinctly heard in every part of the church, answered to the several questions, “I desire,” “I consent,” and “I accept.”
At this moment, Princess Ena betrayed emotion and glanced toward the place where her mother sat. Queen Maria Cristina was scarcely able to restrain her tears and looked alternately from the King to his bride and from the bride to her son. King Alfonso, who was perfectly43 calm, gave his hand to the Princess according to the directions of the Master of the Ceremonies, and while the Royal couple had their hands joined, Cardinal Sancha took his archiepiscopal staff and said:
“And I, on the part of Almighty44 God and of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, and of the Holy Mother Church, do join in matrimony your Majesty, Don Alfonso XIII, of Bourbon and Austria, Catholic King of Spain, to your Royal Highness, Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena Maria Cristina, Princess of Battenberg, and I confirm this Sacrament of matrimony in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.—Amen.”
Then the Bridal Mass began, the King and{31} Queen kneeling, and as the swell45 of music filled the church and died away, a faintly tinkling46 bell announced the Elevation47 of the Host. All knelt with heads bowed low—the most impressive moment of great silence broken only by the clinking of swords and the hum of distant voices outside the church. Mass over, the Royal bride and bridegroom proceeded to the da?s. A little lower down the Queen-Mother, in her beautiful robes and splendid jewels, stood beside her Chair of State, while kneeling on either side were the heralds48, in their gorgeous uniforms. Princess Victoria Eugenie, now Queen of Spain, lovely, young, dignified49 and looking “every inch a Queen,” standing50 beside the youthful and most charming King-Bridegroom, whose face was beaming with proud happiness, all made a picture, touching51, beautiful and never to be forgotten by any of those present.
Then came a most picturesque52 and ideal scene. The newly-married Royal pair proceeded arm-in-arm to the spot nearby where formerly53 a grand old monastery54 had stood, and where there still remains55 a ruined cloister56, and here the register was signed, the King having chosen this spot a few days before the wedding. One corner of the cloister had been screened off with magnificent tapestries57 of world-wide renown58, on which were depicted59 scenes from Don Quixote; on a wide table, covered with crimson60 cloth, stood the necessary implements—a silver inkstand, pens, and the books in which the signatures were to be entered. The procession of{32} Royal personages who followed the bride and bridegroom in pairs through the quaint61 old cloister was led by the Prince of Wales, who conducted the Queen-Mother; then came the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria with the Princess of Wales, followed by the other Royalties62 in order of rank.
On the return of the procession to the church, the assemblage dispersed63 according to Spanish Court etiquette, in order of precedence, commencing with the lowest, each couple advancing to the da?s, where they bowed and curtsied to the King and Queen, who were seated in their Chairs of State. The Prince and Princess of Wales were the last of the Royal guests to go. The Queen-Mother then rose, and, advancing to the front of the da?s, made a reverence64 to her son and his bride, both of whom rose simultaneously65 and returned the salutation. Last of all the Royal personages, the King and Queen passed down the nave under the baldaquin and the gorgeous scene melted away.
Just before midday, the sound of saluting cannon66 announced to all that the King and Queen had left the church, and the procession started for the palace in the following order:
THE BRONZE LANDAU
The Kings of Arms.
STATE CARRIAGE
Miss Cochrane
Lord and Lady William Cecil
{33}Gentlemen-in-Waiting on Her Majesty the Queen.
STATE CARRIAGE
Her Majesty Queen Maria Cristina’s
Mistress of the Robes
The First Huntsman
Gentlemen-of-the-Chamber-in-Waiting on
His Majesty the King.
SEMI-GALA CARRIAGE
Mistress of the Robes of the Palace
Grand Chamberlain of Queen Maria Cristina.
STATE CARRIAGE
Superior Chief of the Palace
Commandant-General of the Halberdiers.
SEMI-GALA CARRIAGE
Princes Leopold and Maurice of Battenberg
STATE CARRIAGE
Princess Marie of Battenberg
(Princess of Erbach-Sch?nberg)
Prince Alexander of Teck
Prince Alexander of Battenberg.
CARRIAGE
The Infante Don Alfonso of Orleans
Princes Rainer and Philip of Bourbon.
SEMI-GALA CARRIAGE
The Infantas Do?a Paz and Do?a Eulalia.
STATE CARRIAGE
The Infantas Do?a Maria Teresa and Do?a
Maria Isabel
The Infante Don Fernando of Bavaria and Prince
{34}Gennaro of Bourbon.
GALA CARRIAGE
Princess Frederica of Hanover
Princess Alexander of Teck.
COACH OF THE DUCAL CROWN
The Duchess of Saxe-Coburg
Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg
Prince Henry of Prussia.
THE AMARANTH COACH
Prince Eugene of Sweden
Crown Prince of Monaco
Princes Louis Ferdinand and Alfonso of Bavaria.
The Duke and Duchess of Genoa
Prince Albert of Prussia
Prince Andrew of Greece.
THE TORTOISE-SHELL COACH
Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria
Crown Prince of Portugal
Prince Albert of Belgium
The Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia.
GALA CARRIAGE
The Prince and Princess of Wales.
THE MAHOGANY COACH
Her Majesty the Queen, Do?a Maria Cristina
Princess Henry of Battenberg
The Infante Don Carlos
The Infante Don Alfonso (Heir-presumptive).
THE COACH OF GOLD PANELS
(Unoccupied)
THE CROWN COACH
Their Majesties the KING and QUEEN.
{35}
The spectacle along the route of the return journey was one of indescribable rejoicing and excitement. The Pageant69 was magnificent, and the procession took nearly an hour to pass. The batteries of artillery70 thundered out a royal salute71, trumpets72 blared, the bells of the churches pealed73 forth74, and the populace raised a mighty roar of acclamation. Coach after coach passed along the route—each to be greeted with cheers by the delighted crowds. The beautiful “mahogany coach,” in which were seated Queen Cristina, Princess Henry of Battenberg, Don Carlos, and his son Don Alfonso, came in for a specially24 warm greeting. That containing the Prince and Princess of Wales was also received with shouts of welcome. At last came that which most of all the multitude had assembled to see, and to greet with demonstrations75 of the greatest enthusiasm—the coach of the Royal Crown drawn76 by eight superb horses, with nodding white plumes77, and containing the Royal couple. That the young King and his beautiful bride were immensely popular there could be no doubt. One had only to hear the hearty78 and repeated cries of “Viva el Rey!” “Viva la Reina!” to know that the young couple had won the hearts of the people and all Spain was rejoicing at their wedding.
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1
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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2
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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3
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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4
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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5
prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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6
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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7
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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8
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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9
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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10
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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11
marine
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| adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵 | |
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12
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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13
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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14
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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15
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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16
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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17
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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18
continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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19
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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20
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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21
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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22
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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23
cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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24
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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25
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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26
saluting
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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27
anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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28
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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29
nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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30
pontifical
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| adj.自以为是的，武断的 | |
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31
bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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32
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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33
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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34
consanguinity
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| n.血缘；亲族 | |
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35
affinity
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| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
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36
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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37
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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38
lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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39
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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40
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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41
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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42
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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43
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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45
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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46
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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47
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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48
heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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49
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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51
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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52
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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53
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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54
monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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55
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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56
cloister
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| n.修道院；v.隐退，使与世隔绝 | |
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57
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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58
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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59
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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61
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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royalties
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| 特许权使用费 | |
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dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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64
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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65
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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66
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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67
majesties
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| n.雄伟( majesty的名词复数 )；庄严；陛下；王权 | |
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68
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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69
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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70
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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71
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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72
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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73
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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75
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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76
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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77
plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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78
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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