The magnificent Roman gate called Guadalajara still existed then, its strong blocks of rock united by an enormous arch with railings and balustrades of the same golden stone. Above this archway, and standing6 out bravely between two towers, was the beautiful chapel7 with two altars, one to venerate8 the figure of Our Lady, called la Mayor, the other that of a Guardian9 Angel, with a naked sword in his right hand and a model of Madrid in his left. All travellers used to pray there, and following the usual custom, D. John alighted and mounted to the chapel; and he appeared afterwards at the railing to bow to the people, who were acclaiming10 him, and such were the cries of blessing11, good-byes and hurrahs, that, according to a writer of the time, "it resounded12 more than was necessary in some crooked13 ears."
D. John slept that night at Guadalajara, in the country house of the Duque del Infantado, who was waiting there for D. John, with his two brothers D. Rodrigo and D. Diego de Mendoza, his brother-in-law the Duque de Medina de Rioseco, and the Conde de Orgaz, all most intimate friends of D. John. He spent Thursday there, and on Friday, after dinner, continued his journey, with more haste and courage, says Vander Hammen, than pleased those who followed him. D. John truly journeyed with a light heart, and the way seemed long which separated him from his dreams of glory. His absolute confidence in Do?a Magdalena and her promises had dispelled14 the fears he had for his mother's future, and the affectionate farewell, and fatherly, prudent15 warnings of his brother the King, had made him believe that the murmurs16 and tittle-tattle of those envious17 of him had made no impression on the severe monarch18. So D. John was at peace, and he smiled at life, as fortune smiled on him; he received everywhere honours and ovations19, and, what pleased him more, sincere marks of love and appreciation20. A courier overtook him at Calatayud with a papal brief and letters from Marco Antonio Colonna, General of the pontifical21 fleet, and from the Cardinal22 Granvelle, temporary Viceroy of Naples, urging him to come to Messina, which was the meeting-place of the fleets of the Holy League.
He stopped two days at Montserrat to visit the celebrated23 sanctuary24 of the Virgin25, and on Saturday, the 16th of June, he entered Barcelona at five in the evening, amidst the salutes26 of artillery28 on land and sea, the pealing29 of bells and the cheers of an enormous crowd. The Prior D. Hernando de Toledo, who was Viceroy of Catalonia, received him, with all the magistrates30 and nobility and the Knight31 Commander D. Luis de Requesens, D. John's naval32 lieutenant33, who had been awaiting him there for three days. The city overflowed with the noise and animation34 natural to a seaport35 on the eve of the embarkation36 of a great enterprise. Flags were plentiful37 at sea, and on land soldiers, adventurers, and those seeking to be enlisted38, long strings39 of slaves destined40 to row in the galleys41, noble volunteers with brilliant suites43, workmen from other arsenals44 who had come to work in these dockyards, merchandise of all kinds, pedlars, friars looking for souls, women seeking gain, and the curious who thronged45 the streets and encumbered46 the dock, already full of chests of provisions and ammunition47, piles of arms, and pieces of artillery waiting to be put on board ship.
D. John was in his element, and with intelligent and methodical activity at once began to receive information and to take measures to hasten the embarkation. He took counsel of the Knight Commander, the Viceroy of Catalonia, and the secretary Juan de Soto, and decided48 first to send an urgent message to the Marqués de Santa Cruz, who was at Cartagena, and to Sancho de Leiva and Gil de Andrade, who were waiting at Majorca, to come with the galleys they commanded to Barcelona; these last were to bring all the biscuit they possibly could. The Archdukes Rudolph and Ernest then arrived, as they were to embark with D. John to go from Genoa to their own home, and the next day, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the merry pealing of all the bells and the shouts of the people announced that the galleys of Gil Andrade and of Sancho de Leiva were in sight.
They entered the bay at nine that night, in battle array, with beautiful illuminations on yards and sides, firing salutes of arquebuses, which were answered by all the cannon49 of the city's walls and dockyards.
D. John's royal galley42 came with these, the same built for him on his first expedition against the corsairs of the Mediterranean50. The next morning, very early, he went to visit her, and was pleased with the new improvements, made under Sancho de Leiva's directions, following the original plan of Bergamesco and Tortilla. The hull51 had been carefully careened, the paintings and ornaments52 renovated53, the sails and rigging renewed, and the artillery reinforced. The figure-head was changed, and instead of the former Hercules with his club was a Neptune54, holding his trident, riding on a dolphin, and at the stern a new goddess—Thetis, between two golden eagles with black outlines, and above two life-sized lions, also gilded55, supporting the arms of the King, those of D. John of Austria, and the Golden Fleece, whose chains ran along each side, standing out well on the red background, and joining at the prow56. The old lantern with its statue of Fame had disappeared, and in its place, crowning the stern, were three great lanterns of bronze and copper57, gilt58 outside and silvered inside, with figures of Faith, Hope and Charity, more than a palm high. The deck of the round-house was also new, formed of ninety squares of walnut59, with outlines of ebony, boxwood, tin and blue enamel60, with a large flower in gilt bronze in the centre of each; one could open these squares by means of a key, and beneath appeared chests in which were stored, in beautiful little wicker baskets, fresh bread, fruit, and all the service for the table. The crew wore as uniform jerkins of crimson61 damask, with little caps of the same, and the greatest order and cleanliness reigned62 everywhere.
D. John was very pleased with his galley, and on the 1st of July he took his two nephews, the Archdukes Rudolph and Ernest, to visit her and gave them a collation63. The galley was decked with streamers and pennons, and was adorned64 from stem to stern with red cloth, with many flowers and ribbons and crimson damask, which covered the bows. They arrived in a big boat, all hung with tapestry65, and with a canopy66 of damask at the stern, under which their Highnesses sat; the twelve rowers wearing jerkins of crimson damask, and caps of the same slashed67 and trimmed with gold and feathers.
When the Princes embarked68 on the galley, the slaves made their "salva de forzado," which was a kind of song, or rather a sad complaining but not disagreeable cry, by which these wretches69 implored70 mercy of the visitors. Then a royal salute27 was fired from all her guns, which was answered by the galleys in the port. The Princes sat at a table in front of the roundhouse, under an awning71 of damask with crimson and white stripes, and there was served a collation of fruit, sweetmeats, green and cool drinks, which the heat of the day made delicious.
Meanwhile, at the stern a band of musicians dressed in turquoise72 brocade were playing, and to their music the crew were executing a sort of flying dance, jumping, climbing, and doing a thousand feats73 among the yards, topsails, masts and rigging, with such agility74, quickness and order that it was a spectacle of real merit.
When the Princes rose, the Viceroy, the Knight Commander and all the gentlemen of the suites were served at the same table, with equal plenty, and at nightfall D. John regained75 the Viceroy's palace, where he was living, and where was waiting for him the greatest blow, perhaps, he ever received in his life, as it was the first and the most unexpected.
点击收听单词发音
1 embark | |
vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机 | |
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2 caterer | |
n. 备办食物者,备办宴席者 | |
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3 steward | |
n.乘务员,服务员;看管人;膳食管理员 | |
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4 manifestations | |
n.表示,显示(manifestation的复数形式) | |
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5 overflowed | |
溢出的 | |
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6 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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7 chapel | |
n.小教堂,殡仪馆 | |
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8 venerate | |
v.尊敬,崇敬,崇拜 | |
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9 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
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10 acclaiming | |
向…欢呼( acclaim的现在分词 ); 向…喝彩; 称赞…; 欢呼或拥戴(某人)为… | |
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11 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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12 resounded | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
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13 crooked | |
adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 | |
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14 dispelled | |
v.驱散,赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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16 murmurs | |
n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 );低语声;怨言;嘀咕 | |
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17 envious | |
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的 | |
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18 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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19 ovations | |
n.热烈欢迎( ovation的名词复数 ) | |
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20 appreciation | |
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨 | |
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21 pontifical | |
adj.自以为是的,武断的 | |
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22 cardinal | |
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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23 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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24 sanctuary | |
n.圣所,圣堂,寺庙;禁猎区,保护区 | |
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25 virgin | |
n.处女,未婚女子;adj.未经使用的;未经开发的 | |
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26 salutes | |
n.致敬,欢迎,敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎,致敬( salute的第三人称单数 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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27 salute | |
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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28 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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29 pealing | |
v.(使)(钟等)鸣响,(雷等)发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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30 magistrates | |
地方法官,治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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31 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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32 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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33 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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34 animation | |
n.活泼,兴奋,卡通片/动画片的制作 | |
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35 seaport | |
n.海港,港口,港市 | |
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36 embarkation | |
n. 乘船, 搭机, 开船 | |
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37 plentiful | |
adj.富裕的,丰富的 | |
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38 enlisted | |
adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持) | |
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39 strings | |
n.弦 | |
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40 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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41 galleys | |
n.平底大船,战舰( galley的名词复数 );(船上或航空器上的)厨房 | |
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42 galley | |
n.(飞机或船上的)厨房单层甲板大帆船;军舰舰长用的大划艇; | |
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43 suites | |
n.套( suite的名词复数 );一套房间;一套家具;一套公寓 | |
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44 arsenals | |
n.兵工厂,军火库( arsenal的名词复数 );任何事物的集成 | |
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45 thronged | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46 encumbered | |
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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48 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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49 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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50 Mediterranean | |
adj.地中海的;地中海沿岸的 | |
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51 hull | |
n.船身;(果、实等的)外壳;vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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52 ornaments | |
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 );点缀;装饰品;首饰v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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53 renovated | |
翻新,修复,整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54 Neptune | |
n.海王星 | |
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55 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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56 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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57 copper | |
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的 | |
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58 gilt | |
adj.镀金的;n.金边证券 | |
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59 walnut | |
n.胡桃,胡桃木,胡桃色,茶色 | |
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60 enamel | |
n.珐琅,搪瓷,瓷釉;(牙齿的)珐琅质 | |
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61 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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62 reigned | |
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
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63 collation | |
n.便餐;整理 | |
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64 adorned | |
[计]被修饰的 | |
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65 tapestry | |
n.挂毯,丰富多采的画面 | |
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66 canopy | |
n.天篷,遮篷 | |
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67 slashed | |
v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 );鞭打;割破;削减 | |
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68 embarked | |
乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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69 wretches | |
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋 | |
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70 implored | |
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71 awning | |
n.遮阳篷;雨篷 | |
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72 turquoise | |
n.绿宝石;adj.蓝绿色的 | |
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73 feats | |
功绩,伟业,技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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74 agility | |
n.敏捷,活泼 | |
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75 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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