"Why," said the knight1, "did you not tell me, that this water was from the well of your blessed patron, St. Dunstan?"
"Ay, truly," said the hermit2, "and many a hundred pagans did he baptize there; but I never heard that he drank any of it. Every thing should be put to its proper use in this world. St. Dunstan knew, as well as any one, the prerogatives3 of a jovial4 friar."
IVANHOE.
It was nearly six months after the warlike and portentous5 visit of the puissant6 governor to the Porte, when he was roused one morning by intelligence, that an American whale-ship had arrived in the night, and was then at anchor just within Pedro Blanco. He immediately commenced, in his usual style of vaporing7 and flourish, as though this Yankee ship, arriving without his knowledge and consent, had compromised the welfare of the Spanish monarchy8. Before his zeal9 had half done effervescing10, a sergeant11 brought word that the captain and first officer were at his usual place of transacting12 business, or bureau d'office, and wished to see him. This piece of information had by no means a sedative13 effect. Here was a heretic, not only stealing into the bay, like a thief in the night, but carrying his impudence14 still farther, by insisting upon an interview, and that too out of business hours, with the representative of His Most Catholic Majesty15, by the grace of God, King of Two Spains and the Indies.
However, he very graciously sent word, that he would attend to them in a few minutes; and having drank his chocolate, he proceeded to his office, where he found waiting for him a grave elderly man, and a handsome young one. The American captain could speak no Spanish, but the young man could fluently, and he immediately proceeded to inform his excellency, that the parties who had ventured to intrude16 upon his valuable time, were Captain Hazard, commander of the American whaling ship Orion, and himself, Charles Morton, first officer of that ship; that the ship was filled with oil, and bound home; that they were out of wood, short of water, and desirous of obtaining fruit, vegetables, fresh and salt provisions, and live stock, previous to their commencing their long and tedious passage towards home; and, finally, that trusting to the well-known kindness and humanity of his Excellency General de Luna, they had presumed to anchor in the outer harbor, till they had obtained his permission to move further in shore, and to purchase their supplies.
The old hero of Gibraltar was delighted: he had heard himself called general, and "vuestra excellencia" half a dozen times at least; and that too by a gentleman, whose modest deportment and language convinced him of his seriousness. He instantly acceded17 to their request, and would, at that moment perhaps, have given them his house, if he thought they could store it away on deck, or get it down the main hatchway. Still it seemed as if there was something lacking on their part; and he was soon set at ease. The two Americans communicated for a moment, when the young man, in polite and set phrase, gave the wished-for, and expected, invitation to the governor and his family to visit and dine on board the Orion, the next day at twelve o'clock; for sailors, and some others, stick to the primitive18 and convenient habit of dining in the middle of the day--fashionable people, I believe, don't dine till to-morrow morning.
The parties then separated, mutually pleased with each other; the Americans at having their request so easily and cheerfully granted, and the old Castilian in high glee with the prospect19 before him, of a good dinner, plenty of punch, and plenty of wine. Being gifted with olfactory20 powers equal to Job's war-horse, he smelled, not a battle, but a dinner, afar off, or within thirty divisions of "old Time, the clock-setter's" dial.
The Orion was indeed the American whaleman in sight when the governor visited the waterside, and was then coming in, but just as the sea-breeze commenced, the look-out at the masthead reported a large school of sperm21 whales in the offing. Although the want of vegetables and fresh provisions did grieve him sore, yet want of oil did grieve him more; and accordingly, Captain Hazard, whose ship was but little more than half full, commenced beating out towards his huge game, which led him away from the land and to the northward22; where, in a little more than five months, he had made up his quantum of oil; and preferring St. Blas to Monterey, or St. Josef, he made the best of his way thither23.
The governor, having notified his womankind of the whale-catching captain's invitation, proceeded to hold grave and high communication with Father Josef, his ghostly counsellor, and the keeper of his conscience.
Father Josef was a priest, turned of fifty; and, like most of the Spanish American clergy24, who are turned of fifty, and are of any thing like fair standing25 for sanctity, was somewhat rotund about the abdominal26 regions, and of an apoplectic27 appearance; that is, his head was firmly plunged28 down, and imbedded between his shoulders, without being plagued with the intervening isthmus29 of neck, which is so expensive to modern fashionable ladies and gentlemen, being considered by one sex as a part of the body expressly created to hang neck-laces, gold chains, and lace pelerines upon; and by the other, as intended merely as a place of lodgment for the stock and shirt-collar. This priest's nose and cheeks bore a large and bountiful crop of, what are sometimes called, "the fruits of good living;" indeed, his parochial duties were not of a kind calculated to mortify30 the flesh; and as his church was well endowed, and he received many presents from the wealthy members of his flock, it was not a matter of wonder, that he enjoyed such creature-comforts as lay in his way; and the Catholic clergy are generally possessed31 of a sufficient degree of modest asurance in taking possession of them. In disposition32 he was mild, and good-natured, (fat people generally are;) was much attached to the governor's family, and possessed great influence over him. He was, over and above all, a man of considerable learning and intelligence: spoke33 English quite passably; and, as a proof of good taste, we add, that he was the only masculine biped, who visited Don Gaspar's house, who really understood, and rightly appreciated, Isabella's beauty of person, and intellectual character. As it was well known that the governor placed great confidence in him, all who had a suit to the civil or rather military potentate34, in the first place made interest with the ecclesiastical one; and this was soon perceived and imitated by the commanders of foreign vessels35, from whom he received many presents. This was the clergyman whom the governor now summoned to a council.
"Father," said he, when the priest made his appearance and bestowed36 his benediction37, "you are doubtless aware of the arrival of an American ship in this harbor, and that I and my family have been invited on board to-morrow."
Father Josef bowed in the affirmative.
"I am not sure that I am doing right," resumed the Don, "in accepting such invitations, as it throws me into the society of heretics so often; and you know we cannot touch pitch without defilement38."
"But duty does not call me there."
"Nay40, but hear me, my son; duty requires that you should see that his majesty's laws against unlawful trading are not violated."
"That is very true."
"And there can be no better opportunity of ascertaining41 the real character of these foreigners than by a personal visit."
"A most just observation, father."
"Therefore, make yourself easy on the score of its sinfulness, for there is none in it."
"I don't see how there can be," said his excellency, who was thinking of the future punch and dinner.
"If I can assist you farther--"
"Oh, true! you will accompany us to-morrow?"
"Most cheerfully."
"And now, father, I wish to consult you upon another subject. You know that it is my wish to marry my niece to Don Gregorio Nunez."
"You have said something of this before."
"And she is most obstinately42 opposed to such a union."
"I can easily conceive it," said the priest drily.
"He is rich and well connected."
"Riches and rank do not charm all women."
"It is my wish to see her well married."
"The woman that marries Don Gregorio is not necessarily well married; besides, I believe you know his character."
"I think I do."
"That he is a fool."
"He is certainly rather weak in intellect."
"And a coward."
"I cannot deny it."
"He is certainly very vain of his high birth and of his rank in the army: young men are apt to be in such cases."
"You would not consent to his marrying one of your daughters?"
"No; I have other views for them."
"You know I do, father."
"And loving her as you profess, you are striving to render that niece miserable45 for life by uniting her with one whom you admit to be a fool, a coward, and a vain fop."
The old Don, whose intellectuals were none of the brightest, had got himself, without perceiving it, completely into a premunire, by the Socratic mode of reasoning adopted by his more skilful46 antagonist47, who at parting once more addressed him:--
"Take my advice, Signor de Luna, and leave your niece to herself on this subject: a young female heart cannot be made, like one of your soldiers, to march and countermarch at the word of command; it is, besides, of very frail48 materials, and, when once injured or broken, can never be repaired. The happiness of one so dear to you as your niece, may be destroyed forever, by forcing her into a match she detests49; but it will then be too late to repair your fault, and it will always be to you a subject of the bitterest regret and unavailing remorse50."
With these words he departed. But the governor, although convinced by the priest's arguments, and set into profound meditation51 by his last words, was one of those people, of whom we see so many at every step we take through life, who ask advice when they need it, are convinced of its soundness when given, and yet, though their natural good sense assents52 to dispassionate reasoning, return to their old, foolish, absurd, and ruinous opinions and intentions.
Don Gaspar, therefore, although convinced that he was a fool, and an unfeeling relation in attempting to force his niece into a marriage with such a worthless puppy as he readily admitted the proposed lover was in every respect, continued to adhere to his original intention, which he thought best, however, to defer53 for a time.
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1
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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prerogatives
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| n.权利( prerogative的名词复数 )；特权；大主教法庭；总督委任组成的法庭 | |
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jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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puissant
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| adj.强有力的 | |
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vaporing
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| n.说大话，吹牛adj.蒸发的，自夸的v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的现在分词 ) | |
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8
monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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effervescing
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| v.冒气泡，起泡沫( effervesce的现在分词 ) | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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transacting
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的现在分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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sedative
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| adj.使安静的，使镇静的；n. 镇静剂，能使安静的东西 | |
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impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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acceded
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| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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olfactory
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| adj.嗅觉的 | |
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sperm
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| n.精子，精液 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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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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abdominal
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| adj.腹（部）的，下腹的；n.腹肌 | |
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apoplectic
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| adj.中风的；愤怒的；n.中风患者 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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isthmus
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| n.地峡 | |
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mortify
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| v.克制，禁欲，使受辱 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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32
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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33
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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38
defilement
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| n.弄脏，污辱，污秽 | |
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defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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40
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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41
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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coxcomb
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| n.花花公子 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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45
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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48
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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49
detests
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的第三人称单数 ) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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51
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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52
assents
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| 同意，赞同( assent的名词复数 ) | |
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53
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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