The Generals of the League were in a great hurry to separate; old Veniero was anxious to find himself in Venice to have the wound he had gained in the battle cared for; Colonna wished to be back in Rome to enjoy the merited honours of the triumph, and D. John of Austria, shut up in Messina by the definite orders of his brother Philip II, who had instructed him to retire there and not to move, or do anything without fresh orders from him, was consumed with impatience3 at seeing the opportunity of plucking the fruits of the battle of Lepanto slip away, and, as a natural consequence, the fulfilment of the promise made by the Pope at the investiture, of granting him the first kingdom gained from the Turks.
A mysterious event, then very secret, but afterwards known by everyone, came to spur on in D. John his desire to continue the campaign according to the treaty of the League, and according to the continual demands of Pius V, the only one who raised his voice, without worldly interests, in absolute and saintly independence. D. John had entered Messina on All Saints' day at the head of the Venetian fleet, towing the innumerable captive galleys5, with their standards lowered, their flags dragging through the water, their cannon6 and arms crossed, forming trophies7 of war. Nothing seemed enough in Messina with which to feast and welcome the hero of Lepanto; the city, Archbishop and clergy8 received him under a pall9, and there on the mole10 they gave him the munificent11 present of 30,000 golden crowns, which D. John divided between the hospitals and the wounded soldiers of the fleet. In his honour they gave the name of Austria to the magnificent doorway12 which they had constructed on the mole to receive him, and also to the street which ran from it. In the most prominent site of Messina, in front of the palace and in the centre of the square of Our Lady del Piller they erected13, at that time, a colossal14 statue, the work of the renowned15 sculptor16 and architect Andres Calamech. This was (and is, for it still stands in the same place) of gilded17 bronze; the right hand holds the triple baton18 of the Generalissimo of the League, and it is placed on a very high column also of bronze, on the pedestal of which are sculptured Latin verses and allegories alluding19 to the short but glorious life of D. John of Austria.
While the feastings and rejoicings which lasted many days were still going on, there glided20 one night, among the many boats in the harbour, a Greek galley4, of the kind which at that time brought the merchandise of the East to Italy. It was there several days, without attracting anyone's attention, moored21 to the mole, unloading its cargo22 under the direction of the Captain, a portly Albanian, who was acquainted with the principal merchants of Messina. But one night, after the curfew had sounded, three men secretly disembarked from the Greek galley, and, guided by the Captain himself, went through the deserted23 streets, shrouded24 in ample cloaks, with hoods25 that hid their faces, two of whom seemed to regulate their firm steps by those of the third man, who went slowly and with fatigue26. They gained the square del Piller, where was the statue of D. John; the great mole of the old castle stretched in front, constructed in the time of Arcadio and renovated27 lately by D. Garcia de Toledo, and towards it the hooded28 men went, stopping at a little door, which opened in the side looking towards the old arsenal29. They were, no doubt, expected, as at the sound of their steps the door opened, and D. John of Austria's secretary appeared in person, lantern in hand. Soto guided them, without a word, through dark and winding30 passages to a distant room, luxuriously31 furnished, in which he left them by themselves: the three mysterious visitors then took off their cloaks, and appeared in rich Albanian dresses, embroidered32 with gold and silver, with jewels of precious stones. Two of them were strong men in the prime of life, the third one was very old and bent33, with a long white beard: the captain had remained respectfully behind at the entrance. D. John of Austria appeared at once, followed by Juan de Soto, and the three Albanians threw themselves at his feet, with marks of the greatest respect: the old man was unable to do this as quickly as he wished, and D. John was in time to prevent him.
Photo Brogi
STATUE OF D. JOHN OF AUSTRIA
By Calamech at Messina
The captain acted as interpreter when they presented their credentials34 and said who they were and where they came from. They were ambassadors from Albania and Morea and were come to offer D. John of Austria the crown of those kingdoms oppressed by the Turk, and to offer him their allegiance at once in the name of the Albanian Christians36. The old man lifted up his voice and talked very quietly and with courtly ease, laying great stress on the points which might decide D. John to accept the offer, and insisting over and over again that it was necessary to take advantage of the panic and despair that the terrible defeat of Lepanto had produced in Constantinople and throughout the Ottoman Empire.
D. John was not in the least disturbed by the unexpected proposal which had come so suddenly to realise the brilliant dreams of his school-days. To conquer a kingdom for Christ! Was not the dream of his youthful imagination intensified37 by the reading of romances at Alcalá, being realized? and the kingdom calling to him, opening its doors, and holding out its arms and offering sceptre and crown in exchange for the Christian35 faith in Albania and Morea being safeguarded by the conquering sword of Lepanto.
The temptation was great to a youth of twenty-four, greedy of glory and enthusiastic for his faith, spoiled by fortune and protected by the great power that the Court of Rome then was; but the knightly38 ambition of D. John, great and active as it was from his lineage and noble qualities, was always subordinate to the obedience39 and loyalty40 that he owed to Philip II as King and brother: so, without hesitating for a moment, he answered the ambassadors, thanking them and making much of the honour they were doing him, but frankly41 confessing that he could settle nothing which was not the will of the King his Lord and brother, who was the master of his person and all his actions. That he would communicate with him to gain his consent, and that time would show what best to do, and Our Lord would dispose as was best, as he (D. John) placed the business in His hands.
The ambassadors retired42 in good heart, much pleased with D. John, who at once sent a courier to Philip II telling him of the circumstance. He did not have to wait long for the answer: D. Philip neither accepted or refused the offer, which came at a bad time, he said, as his acceptance might displease43 the Venetians: however, he advised D. John to keep up the hopes of the ambassadors, as the opportunity might come for him to gain his desires: and he reiterated44 his orders "That D. John was not to stir from Messina."
Vander Hammen comments on this answer from the King and says, "D. Philip meant to fan his brother's hopes, so that, by them, he should obtain greater things from his service; but never to let him be King." And a celebrated45 modern historian, sometimes unjust to Philip, adds, "What was it that made Philip II act in this way, when previously46 he had shown his desire that D. John should hasten as quickly as possible on the enterprise, to gain all the fruits to be expected from a first victory? Was it only the difficulties that France was making about the war in Flanders? Or was it fear that his brother should set too much sail, and obtain one of the sovereignties, with which his friends and even the Pontiff himself seemed to kindle47 his youthful ambition?" To us it seems certain that Philip II did not wish D. John to rise above the sphere in which Philip had placed him. Philip had told his ministers in Italy to honour and serve the Lord D. John, but neither by word nor in writing to call him "Highness," that "Excellency" was the most they should call him, and Philip ordered them not to say that they had received this order from him. The ambassadors of Germany, France and England received the same instructions. And if he showed himself so jealous of the title of "Highness" being given to his brother, it is evident that he would do his utmost to prevent him being decorated with that of "Majesty48."
But in our opinion it is not necessary to descend49 to such a base passion as envy to explain Philip II's conduct on this occasion. It was enough, and more than enough, that his brother's good or bad plans, lawful50 or unlawful ambitions, should hinder the progress of his complicated policy, for Philip II to bring the plans to naught51 and smother52 the ambitions without pity. If he had any jealousy53 of D. John at that time, it was without doubt owing to what the sly traitor54 Antonio Pérez was beginning cleverly to insinuate55. He did not yet dare to attack the noble Prince openly, and confined his shots to the secretary Juan de Soto, accusing him of inflating56 D. John's vanity by his flattery and advising Philip to remove him from his brother's side.
On the 1st of May, 1572, Pius V died, and was succeeded in the Pontificate by Gregory XIII,[14] who no sooner sat in the Chair of St. Peter, than he began to stir up the League, and stimulate57 D. John, with what he called "Briefs of Fire," that he should take the fleet to sea and pursue his victories. Such were the confidence and estimation in which his person was held, that he publicly extolled58 him in the Consistory, calling him a Scipio for valour, a Pompey for charm, an Augustus for fortune; a new Moses, a new Gideon, a new Samson, a new Saul, and a new David without homicide or envy or the failings noted59 in the others. What was written privately60 to D. John was said and repeated three times publicly: that before he died, it was hoped, in God, to give him a king's crown.
And these three opposite influences embittered61 and shortened the remainder of the life of D. John of Austria; the determination of the Pontiff to give him a crown excited his always loyal, frank and noble ambition; D. Philip's systematic62 policy of opposing and defeating these plans, and the unbridled envy of Antonio Pérez, poisoning with his calumnies63 and falsehoods the suspicious nature of the Monarch64 and succeeding at last in making him detest65 his brother.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
heroism
|
|
| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
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； | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
galleys
|
|
| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
trophies
|
|
| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
clergy
|
|
| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
pall
|
|
| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
mole
|
|
| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
munificent
|
|
| adj.慷慨的，大方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
ERECTED
|
|
| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
colossal
|
|
| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
renowned
|
|
| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
sculptor
|
|
| n.雕刻家，雕刻家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
baton
|
|
| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
alluding
|
|
| 提及，暗指( allude的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
shrouded
|
|
| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
hoods
|
|
| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
renovated
|
|
| 翻新，修复，整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
hooded
|
|
| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
arsenal
|
|
| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
luxuriously
|
|
| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
credentials
|
|
| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
intensified
|
|
| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
knightly
|
|
| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
frankly
|
|
| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
displease
|
|
| vt.使不高兴，惹怒；n.不悦，不满，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
reiterated
|
|
| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
kindle
|
|
| v.点燃，着火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
lawful
|
|
| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
smother
|
|
| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
traitor
|
|
| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
insinuate
|
|
| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
inflating
|
|
| v.使充气（于轮胎、气球等）( inflate的现在分词 )；（使）膨胀；（使）通货膨胀；物价上涨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
stimulate
|
|
| vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
extolled
|
|
| v.赞颂，赞扬，赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
privately
|
|
| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
embittered
|
|
| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
systematic
|
|
| adj.有系统的，有计划的，有方法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
calumnies
|
|
| n.诬蔑，诽谤，中伤（的话）( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
monarch
|
|
| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
detest
|
|
| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |