"John Joseph," she said to her husband, "we have heard nothing, and that means that they can't take Tetuan."
"Hold your tongue, you foolish woman," answered her husband; "wherever the sun enters the Spaniards can enter. And don't you know that Zamora wasn't taken in an hour, and that the artillery2 can't cross over swamps, and that a causeway has to be built? Women, who know nothing about war, think that to take a fortress3 in an enemy's country is as easy as to toss a pan-cake."
But on the 5th of February a muleteer, who came from Xerez, brought the news to Bornos, which had been transmitted to Xerez by telegraph, that a hard-fought battle had taken place the preceding day before Tetuan, in which, as in all the previous ones, the Spaniards had come off victorious4, having made themselves masters of five encampments of the enemy, although at the cost of many lives.
His patriotic5 ardor6, added to a feeling of deep anxiety, made it impossible for John Joseph to remain in the village, and he set out for Xerez. There he learned that the wounded of that memorable7 day were to be taken to Seville, and as a train of materials for the railroad was just leaving for that city, he begged to be taken on board.
The 7th of February dawned—a day memorable for ever in the annals of Spain. Day had scarcely broken when the sonorous8 and soul-stirring bells of the Cathedral of Seville, diffusing9, authorizing10, and solemnizing joy, announced to the sleeping people the great and auspicious11 event of the taking of Tetuan. It would be impossible to give an idea of the impression caused by those sounds, for who can describe the apogee12 of the most unanimous, ardent13, and national enthusiasm? But let a few facts speak for themselves.
The priests who repaired to the churches to say mass recited it solemnly in chorus, and afterward14 chanted the Te Deum, that august hymn15 of thanks to the Lord.
The venerable Generals Guajardo and Hernandez, military authorities of the district, and both veterans, in whose laurels16 there is not a leaf that time can wither17, when they met fell into each other's arms, unable to utter a word; the sight of this noble spectacle drawing tears from the eyes of the officers who were present. When the alcalde presented himself before the archbishop to ask his consent to take in procession the image of the Immaculate Virgin18, the patroness of Spain, and the standard and sword of St. Ferdinand, the venerable Prince of the Church burst into tears, causing the alcalde to shed tears also; seeing which, a man of the people rushed to the latter, saying: "Senor Alcalde, let me embrace your worship!" The people called for their venerable pastor19, and the latter, showing himself on the balcony, blessed his flock, who cheered him enthusiastically. The various sodalities of women entered their magnificent chapel20 in procession, giving thanks aloud to the Virgin. Musicians paraded the streets, followed by a multitude intoxicated21 with joy, who cheered the Queen, Spain, the army, and the generals who had led it to victory, and who stopped before the houses where the commanders and officers wounded in this glorious war were lodged22, to cheer them also.
In the public square, a vender23 of oranges abandoned his stall and his merchandise, leaving behind him a notice which said: "The owner of this stall has turned crazy with joy, and here he leaves this trash." Others broke the jars of a water-seller (the value of which they gave him promptly), saying, "What is this? Water? Today nothing but wine is to be drunk in Seville." Further on, another group shouted, "No one sleeps to-night; whoever sleeps to-night is an Englishman!" Flags on the towers, hangings on the houses, the pleasing noise of joy everywhere.
"A telegraphic despatch," shouted the blind men, beside themselves with joy, "announcing the entrance of our valiant24 troops into the great city of Tetuan, and the utter annihilation of the Moors25. Long live Spain! Long live the Queen! Long live the army! Long live the Moors!" "What is that you are saying, man? Long live the Moors?" "Yes, so that we may kill them again!"
Such is the enthusiasm of the Spanish people when it is unanimous, legitimate26, and genuine; they go to their churches, take out in procession the Immaculate Virgin, cheer their queen, their prelates, their authorities, their country, applaud their army, which gives them power and greatness, its commander and the generals who lead it, and those who bring back from the war glorious wounds; and not even for its most ferocious27 enemies does it find the odious28 "Death!"
And that you, brave soldiers who remain in Africa, who have bestowed29 so great a joy upon your country, should be unable to witness the gratitude30 with which it repays you!
Perhaps the universal and frantic31 enthusiasm inspired by the taking of a Moorish32 city, however heroic the exploit which had put it in the power of the Spaniards, may seem disproportioned to the occasion; but this is not the case, for in the first place, the people, with their admirable instinct, know that the result is, in everything, what gives it its value; they feel, besides, that it is not only a Moorish city and the advantages its capture may bring, which its army has gained for Spain, but also that from the Moorish fire the Spanish phoenix33 has arisen, directing its flight to a glorious future; and in the second place, because in these public demonstrations34, in this ardent expansion, the country gives expression to three months of admiration35, of interest, and of sympathy. This was owed to the army for its constancy, for its unequalled valor36, for its boundless37 humanity. This debt the country owed, and it paid it in love, in admiration, and enthusiasm.
On the 8th, the same rejoicings were continued; processions, salvos, and so much firing of guns everywhere, that it was said as much powder was expended38 in it as in the taking of Tetuan. On the 9th, one of the principal streets of the city was named the street of Tetuan; the ceremony taking place at eight o'clock in the evening, when the municipal council went in procession to the street, carrying the Queen's likeness39.
But meantime Maria had had no news of John Joseph. Exaggerated reports of the losses by which the victory had been gained were spread. Maria was unable to control her anxiety, and she set out, as many other mothers of the peasantry did, for the capital, where the wounded, who might perhaps be able to give her some news of her sons, were to be brought.
Mother and daughter reached Seville on the evening of the 9th, and after resting for a few moments at an inn, went out to inquire where the wounded, who had been recently brought to the city, had been taken.
A vast crowd of people and enthusiastic cheering announced to them the approach of the procession. They stood on a bench in a porch to watch it as it passed. Five mounted pioneers and a numerous band headed the procession; the municipal guard followed on foot; then came four men carrying flags, followed by a number of men bearing torches; and then the soldiers who had been wounded in Africa, wearing laurel wreaths and carrying ensigns with the names, in silver letters, of the principal victories gained by the army. After these came the municipal council headed by the civil governor and two councillors carrying the likeness of the Queen, and the procession was closed by a detachment of infantry40 with another band of music at its head.
"Here come the wounded soldiers!" cried the crowd, and the cheering became more enthusiastic, and tears ran down the cheeks of the women as they stopped to look admiringly at the wounded heroes, and then joined the procession. "Look at that one! Look at that poor fellow; he isn't able to walk alone; they are supporting him," some one said close beside Maria, pointing to a young man, who with his arm in a sling41, his pale forehead crowned with laurel, and carrying in his hand an ensign bearing on it the word "Tetuan," walked with a modest expression on his thin but pleasing face, leaning on the arm of a robust42 old man whose proud and enraptured43 expression seemed to say to every one, "This brave man is my son!" Maria, whose heart had for many days past been agitated44 alternately by fear, hope, enthusiasm, and anguish45, uttered a cry drawn46 from her by all these mingled47 feelings, as she recognized in the emaciated48 and glory-covered wounded soldier her son, and fell into Catherine's arms.
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1
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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2
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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3
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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6
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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8
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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9
diffusing
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| （使光）模糊，漫射，漫散( diffuse的现在分词 )； （使）扩散； （使）弥漫； （使）传播 | |
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10
authorizing
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| 授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 ) | |
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11
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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12
apogee
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| n.远地点；极点；顶点 | |
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13
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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14
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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16
laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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17
wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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18
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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19
pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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23
vender
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| n.小贩 | |
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24
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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28
odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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29
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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31
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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32
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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33
phoenix
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| n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生 | |
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34
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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35
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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36
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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37
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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38
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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39
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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40
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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41
sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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42
robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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43
enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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45
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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46
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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47
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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48
emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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