D. John was thunderstruck at this letter, and it amazed the faithful secretary Juan de Soto, the only person to whom D. John dared to confide4 it. Up to a certain point the fact was true, because it is certain that nobles and people, great and small, regarded and respected D. John, both in Spain and out of it, as an Infante of Castille, as he was a son of the great Emperor and brother to the present King, and because his personal gifts and deeds made him worthy5 of the high dignity. But that which was the spontaneous act of nations and peoples had been transformed by those envious6 of D. John into intrigues7 and presumptuous8 efforts to occupy a rank he did not possess, and this had been treacherously9 whispered in the Monarch10's ear. It seems certain that D. John's enemies had carried their tittle-tattle and misrepresentations to Philip II himself; it was also certain that he believed them, and equally certain—and this is what so pained D. John's loyal heart—that D. Philip had hidden his displeasure as King and brother, and had said good-bye to him with false words of kindness and confidence, condemning11 him unheard, in his absence, and deputing a minister to sanction, by a letter, the grave humiliation12 which he was imposing13.
D. John's youthful blood boiled at these thoughts, and, depressed14 and dismayed under the weight of his first disillusion15, he seriously thought of renouncing16 his dreams of glory, and of taking refuge in the ecclesiastical state, as the Emperor, his father, had counselled, as being quieter and more peaceful. Juan de Soto comforted him with much wise reasoning, and for his counsel and encouragement wrote to the Prince de évoli, to whom Soto owed his appointment as secretary, the following letter, asking for advice and explanations, which clearly shows the trouble and fears which perturbed17 him:
"Lord Ruy Gómez, as you well know of H.M.'s new wishes for me since I came here, I will not weary you by mentioning them; but availing myself of your knowledge, and the permission you gave me to go to you as to a father about my concerns, I will say that I have resented and do feel it, as I cannot help doing; not so much, my lord, is my vanity wounded—as I take God to witness that I am free from that—but it gives me much pain that I, alone in the world, have deserved such fresh orders, as I lived in the utmost confidence that H.M. would show to all that he held to me, and that he would be pleased by my being more honoured. I confess that the disfavour of putting me on the common level has wounded me so much that at times I feel inclined to find some other way of serving God and H.M., as in the one I am following I am so clearly shown that I do not succeed; however, if anything deters18 me, it is that, as I do not deserve it, it is not H.M.'s wish, but that of someone who has more influence with him than I have. Consequently, then, Lord Ruy Gómez, if one could see through people, perhaps those who enjoy the public confidence would have most need of advisers19 and of reform, and this truth I feel the more as the present and future punishment is bitter, not through the fault of those less opinionated, who have less say in the matter, but by means of those who through being so much in favour, and this is certainly seen, show themselves finding fault in every way. All this moves me to speak and hear others more than to be silent, believing that I am pursued by false stories; at all events, I have great cause to complain, when you come to think of the little value that has been placed on all that I have done, to find myself, which is what I feel most, now ordered by H.M. to be placed on a level with those whom God, having made me his brother, did not place between him and me. I well know that my services do not deserve crowns of laurel; but that what I desired to arrive at, and for which I worked, should be so little esteemed20, and that instead of being appreciated it should be thought less of by H.M. is what weighs on my mind. I put my trust again in you, whom I implore21 without keeping anything back to write and tell me what are the causes of H.M. treating me thus, because if you will only let me know that I do not deserve his favours, I would rather serve him in some other way than weary him in my present one. On which matters, if it appears well to you, I would like you to talk to him and give me your advice, reminding him how much he will be worthy of God's pleasure in acting22 as a father to one who has no other, but a thousand people who will take advantage of my youth and want of experience to compass my ruin, as if that were an honour and glory to them. And as far as this concerns me I again commend myself and it to your notice, to you whom alone I entirely23 trust.
"Our Lord, etc. From Barcelona, July 8, 1571."
CARDINAL24 DE GRANVELLE
From his portrait by Gaetano in Musées Municipaux, Besan?on
But not satisfied with this, and thinking that it was disloyal not to tell the King what he was feeling, he wrote this other letter on the 12th of July, humble25 and submissive, as a vassal26 of the King, but dignified27, loyal and energetic, as was always his heart and conduct.
"Sir! For the grace and favour Y.M. has done me by writing with your own hand, from the bottom of my heart I kiss your hands. I have also received the instructions and other dispatches for my journey, and they have arrived in such good time that it annoys me how much is being lost here, and consequently so much for Y.M.'s service; every day I expect the Marqués de Santa Cruz, on whose arrival we can set out, as everything is ready. As to following the instructions and opinions of those whom Y.M. has designated to help and counsel me, particularly the Knight28 Commander, I will certainly do so, as I know it is my duty, and this being so, it will be my pleasure to care for Y.M.'s affairs, with as much sincerity29 and prudence30 as the one I am at present entrusted31 with. In truth, I have no other desire, and it is my duty to arrive at this object, postponing32 the things of less importance, and Y.M. must not doubt that I will continue to act thus, and I beg you to tell me always what I do not understand, for, as I have written before, I trust so little to my youth, experience and judgment33, that I well see the want I have of another's help; for which reason I again beg Y.M., with all humility34, that you will continue to warn and reprimand me as you think well (after having heard) of what I have left undone35, because it will not be want of devotion which will prevent me doing my duty. The instructions Y.M. gave me on my first setting out on a galley, I look on as very precious, and they will be the more so now that I realise that it gave Y.M. pleasure, and nothing I hold dearer than fulfilling your desires.
"I answered the Pope as the Knight Commander thought it was best not to wait for Y.M.'s reply; and that it was well to let him know how the matter stood: however, in future I will keep such things secret.
"You have done me a great favour in ordering Antonio Pérez to let me know what he is writing to the ministers in Italy, about the way I am to be addressed, and not only shall I be very pleased to conform to the wishes of Y.M. in this, but also it will be my delight to guess your desires, in order that I may follow them as I ought to do; only I make bold to say, with all the humility and respect due, that it would be a boundless36 favour and grace if Y.M. would be pleased to communicate directly with me about what you desire, for two reasons; the chief one being that it is now your pleasure that any of your ministers should confer with me as to your wishes, as none of them are under as great an obligation to do them as I am; the other reason is that before leaving I ought to have given some notice that what Y.M. wished should have been done and with less fuss; and inasmuch as God has made me Y.M.'s brother, I cannot help saying, or continuing to feel, that personally I am worth little, but when everyone thought that I deserved more from Y.M., and expected to see it, by Y.M.'s orders I see exactly the opposite, putting me on the common level, which I do not deserve, because I have put the service of Y.M. before vanity and everything else, of which God is my witness, and it has given me so much pain to see how little you are satisfied with me, that often I think that if it is Y.M.'s pleasure I will seek some other way of serving you, as in the present one I seem so unfortunate in obtaining what I yearn37 for. Meanwhile I will obey Y.M.'s orders as far as possible, although it will be difficult amid the adulation I am told exists in Italy. Y.M. will believe me that I desire neither honour nor good except that with it one can serve the better, but the consideration of this detail does not affect me, only to execute your orders, which for no reason will I fail to do.
"Our Lord, etc. From Barcelona, July 12, 1571."
This was the first sign that Philip II gave his brother D. John of Austria of the unjust want of confidence which the ingenious Antonio Pérez knew how to sow in his path, to whom belongs the doubtful honour of being the only man who for long years could deceive and often pervert38 the straight and calm judgment of the prudent39 Monarch.
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1
galley
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| 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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2
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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7
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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8
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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9
treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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10
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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11
condemning
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| v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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12
humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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13
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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14
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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15
disillusion
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| vt.使不再抱幻想，使理想破灭 | |
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16
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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17
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
deters
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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20
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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21
implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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22
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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23
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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26
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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28
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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30
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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31
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
postponing
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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33
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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undone
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| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
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36
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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37
yearn
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| v.想念；怀念；渴望 | |
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38
pervert
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| n.堕落者，反常者；vt.误用，滥用；使人堕落，使入邪路 | |
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39
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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