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 THE 
 
 OATH OF ALLEGIANCE 
 
 gl ^ak of tiie ^hnes 
 
 OF 
 
 PHILIP THE SECOND. 
 
 MRS. ANN ROLFE, 
 
 AUTHOR OF "THE WILL; OB TWENTY-ONE YEARS," ETC. ETC. 
 
 " Though perils did 
 Aboxmd as thick as thought could make 'em, and 
 Appear in forms as horrid ; yet my duty, 
 As doth a rock against the chiding flood, 
 Should the approach of this wild river break, 
 And stand unshaken youi-s." — Shakspeare. 
 
 " ' Am I alone,' said Oscar, ' in the midst of a thousand 
 foes ? — Many a spear is there, many a darkly rolling eye ! — Shall I tly to 
 Ardoen? — But did my fathers ever fly? — The mark of their arm is in a 
 thousand battles. Oscar, too, will be renowned. — Come, ye dim ghosts of 
 my fathers, and behold my deeds in w^ar ! — I may fall, but I will be 
 renowned like the race of ths echoing Morven !' " — Ossian. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON 
 SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STPvEET. 
 
 1847.
 
 £K O 
 
 ^ PREFACE. 
 
 Every person who takes up a book with the 
 I intention of perusing it, looks for the Preface. A 
 Preface, therefore, may be considered as a kind 
 of an illustration — an attraction; or, in other 
 words, the spuit of the book. Not that readers 
 expect to find in a Preface a clue to the develop- 
 < ment of the tale, but its author is expected to 
 t emerge, as it were, from his or her concealment; 
 r^ he is expected to brighten the aspect of things 
 ^'^ by the introduction of some smart or appropriate 
 > remarks on the leading incidents that characterize 
 r: his work ; and did not the present subject en- 
 gender, at this moment, mournful ideas, we should 
 ^ be inclined to say, in the language of Albert 
 ■ Smith's Sir Aldinger, " Here goes." 
 
 (S 
 
 ^
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 The following work was written several years 
 ago ; it was written under circumstances by no 
 means calculated to draw forth effulgent ideas; 
 and the proceeds of its publication were intended 
 to aid one beloved son in his professional studies, 
 and to recal another from a distant land; but 
 death stepped in ; and owing to a heartfelt grief 
 and many unforeseen events, its publication was 
 postponed. The authoress, however, now ven- 
 tures, with some trepidation, to bring it out, not 
 presuming on its merits, for they are few, but on 
 the candour and generosity of a British public — 
 a passionless tale, probably of little interest, yet 
 many of its most stirring incidents and memo- 
 rable events may truly be called the romance of 
 history. 
 
 Agreeably to the suggestion of a fi'iend, the 
 authoress has introduced the real speech of 
 Charles V., as delivered to his people and nar- 
 rated by Robertson, — it will be found on the last 
 page of volume the first, — leaving her own pro- 
 duction, previously penned, uninterrupted. She 
 has likewise added a few notes, explanatory of 
 such parts of her tale as agree with history.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 It was midnight, that fearful hour when ghosts 
 and bad men are said to walk the earth, that the 
 Duke of Aranda, an illustrious Spanish grandee, 
 and a favourite of the celebrated Charles V., left 
 the royal banquet, anxious to behold nearer and 
 dearer objects ; and mounting his horse, and at- 
 tended by one faithful and attached servant, com- 
 monly called honest Pedro, galloped off, and 
 quickly passing the walls of Madrid, took the 
 nearest route to his palace, situated a few leagues 
 from the city. 
 
 After travelling about an hour, he entered a 
 thick forest of some miles extent, the gloom of 
 
 VOL. I. R
 
 2 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 which, however, was partially relieved by several 
 roads crossing each other, and made conveniently 
 broad and durable for the accommodation of car- 
 riages and other vehicles. The night was ex- 
 ceedingly warm, but beautiful, for the sky was 
 radiant with stars, and the glorious rays of a full 
 moon seemed to convey to the mind of man the 
 mingled emotions of gladness and peace, whilst a 
 few gentle breezes, at intervals, cooled the air, 
 and fanned the young leaves of the oak and vine. 
 The Duke of Aranda was young and handsome ; 
 he was both a warrior and a statesman, and had 
 the rare felicity of being beloved by all parties 
 throughout the Spanish dominions. He was be- 
 loved by the people, because he on all occasions 
 nobly and disinterestedly advocated their cause ; 
 he was their chamj^ion, their friend, and, in many 
 instances, their deliverer from tja'anny and op- 
 pression. He was beloved by the sovereign, 
 because he was a brave soldier, and a skilful 
 general, and a stanch friend to the house of 
 Austria. He was beloved by the senate for his 
 superior sagacity and wisdom, and for the cool- 
 ness and judgment with which he settled a ques- 
 tion connected with the public good, relieving its 
 members at once from their embarrassment, the 
 natural consequence of their indolence and bigotry.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 3 
 
 Such was the Duke of Araiida, now journeying 
 homewards with a joyous heart, a heart full of 
 tender recollections, full of everything lively and 
 engaging, although an occasional sigh would 
 sometimes rise to his lips, followed by thoughts 
 that disturbed, like spectral forms, the tranquillity 
 of his bosom. Whilst the horse he rode appeared 
 to anticipate the happiness of its own future ease 
 — horses have instinct— they know the road they 
 have been accustomed to travel, they know the 
 way to their own stable, and the duke's horse was 
 a most sagacious animal ; it knew very well that it 
 was going home, to that home that it had not seen 
 for several months ; neither had its master ; it 
 therefore often slackened its speed to prance, and 
 to paw the ground like a steed of high mettle, 
 and to throw up its well-shaped head with every 
 symptom of satisfaction and delight. 
 
 Pedro, though he loved the duke, did not love 
 the forest — it made him nervous; he was careful, 
 therefore, to keep as close to his master as pos- 
 sible, frequently turning his head with a quiver- 
 ing motion, and alarmingly doubtful as to the 
 result of his lord's midnight journey ; and so much 
 did his excited imagination magnify the seeming 
 danger, that whilst one hand held the bridle of 
 his horse, the other unconsciously grasped the 
 B 2
 
 4 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 handle of the long Toledo sword that hung by 
 his side. 
 
 In this manner they continued to travel for the 
 space of another hour, without interruption of any 
 kind, when, just as Pedro had raised himself from 
 the saddle, and stood as it were bolt upright in 
 his stiiTups, stretching out his neck as though he 
 intended, like the birds, to take flight over the 
 tops of the trees, a man on horseback suddenly 
 started from between the clustering branches, and, 
 crossing the road, instantly disappeared. 
 
 " St. Jago defend us !" said Pedro, sinking on 
 his seat in a fright, and unable any longer to re- 
 strain his ten'ors. 
 
 The duke, more surprised at Pedro's exclama- 
 tion, so strikingly indicative of alarm, than at the 
 stranger's abruj)t appearance and rapid flight, 
 condescendingly chided his fears, observing that 
 it was probably some one, like themselves, hasten- 
 ing homewards, and anticipating the moment 
 when he should embrace those objects who were 
 dear to his feelings. " And who knows," con- 
 tinued the duke significantly, " but that amongst 
 the group there may be a second Gillette !" This 
 last observation had the effect the duke expected ; 
 Pedro mechanically drew his hand from his 
 sword, and thrusting it into his jerkin, drew forth
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 5 
 
 a letter : uttering a fervent ejaculation, lie pressed 
 it to his lips, and sinking into a pleasing reverie, 
 forgot for a short time his recent alarm, when a 
 slight rustling amongst the bushes awakened his 
 attention, and all his fears, however ludicrous, 
 returned with redoubled force. 
 
 With a palpitating heart he hastily raised his 
 eyes, but nothing that his disturbed fancy had 
 conjured up met his view\ Yet, still agitated and 
 suspicious of impending danger, he continued, 
 with prudence mixed with fearful expectation, to 
 peep through the thickly twisted boughs, fre- 
 quently mistaking the long filaments of the dis- 
 tant hanging vines for living objects ; when the 
 duke suddenly turned to the right and entered a 
 kind of hollow, at the bottom of which was a 
 small rivulet that broke into various directions 
 and took its course along the forest. Crossing 
 this, they quickly entered upon a solitary path, 
 more remarkable for its curious windings than for 
 anything particularly terrific; but scarcely had 
 they proceeded half a mile, when the same horse- 
 man, (for so the duke judged him to be from the 
 outline of his figure, w^hich, though he had had but 
 a transient view of it, was sufficiently remarkable 
 to be in part recognised,) again swiftly emerged 
 from between the closely-interwaving branches.
 
 6 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 and waving a pistol in the air, in a low and reso- 
 lute tone demanded his purse. 
 
 The duke, totally unprepared for such an at- 
 tack, as this forest was considered too public to 
 be the rendezvous of banditti, and too much in 
 haste to enter the lists with such an antagonist, 
 whom he conjectured to be not without his fellows 
 in case of resistance, very prudently delivered his 
 well-filled purse to the insolent trespasser of 
 human rights, who instantly, with marked dis- 
 dain, and without a moment's deliberation, threw 
 the whole contents at the duke, and dashing his 
 spurs into the sides of the animal on which he 
 was mounted, rode off with incredible speed, and 
 was seen no more. 
 
 The duke, nearly speechless with amazement, 
 continued to gaze for some time at the glittering 
 metal as it lay scattered in all directions, for the 
 singular brightness of the moon's rays breaking 
 through the recesses of the forest, and lighting up 
 the path, made every object clearly distinguish- 
 able. 
 
 That the stranger was no common tliief was a 
 truth he thought not to be disputed ; there was a 
 dignity in his air, and a martial boldness in his 
 outline, extremely striking. His face was closely 
 concealed, and on his head he wore a large round 
 hat, in the fiont of which glittered an immense
 
 TfitE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 7 
 
 bauble of an odd fashion. Ilis dress was gro- 
 tesque in the extreme, and so superabundant as 
 to preclude the possibility of ascertaining either 
 his age, or the size of his person, and over the 
 Avhole was thrown a black cloak of more than 
 ordinary length; whilst his actions and gestures 
 were equally as extraordinary, rapid, command- 
 ing, and resolute. Pedro, though an arrant 
 coward, as far as regarded his own personal secu- 
 rity, was in reality too much attached to his 
 master not to have flown to his assistance, had his 
 life appeared seriously in danger; but as the whole 
 proceeding was but the work of a few moments, 
 Pedro had scarcely fallen into a trembling fit, and 
 invoked his favourite saint, ere the formidable 
 stranger darted from his view, and left him at 
 full liberty to recover from his panic; which he 
 had no sooner done than he exclaimed, endea- 
 vouring to stifle a laugh, " Well, saving the pre- 
 sence of my lord, this adventure is more extra- 
 ordinary than the battles of the most illustrious 
 Don Pelago ;* for a robber to throw away so many 
 pretty pieces and make off with an empty bag — 
 to prefer the purse to the money." The duke 
 uttered an incoherent exclamation which inter- 
 rupted Pedro's remarks, who, looking up, beheld 
 
 * A renowned Spanish prince, who fought against the 
 infidels.
 
 B THE OATH or ALLKGIANCE. 
 
 his face exceedingly pale and agitated, and his 
 •whole form apparently convulsed ; at the same 
 instant striking his horse he galloped oil" with the 
 rapidity of lightning, and the foaming and pant- 
 ing animal, leaping and making the ground vibrate 
 with the thunder of its hoofs, quickly cleared the 
 wood, and, crossing a small valley, came to the 
 base of the mountain. Pedro, astonished and 
 alarmed at the duke's disordered mien, and the 
 dangerous swiftness with which he travelled, fol- 
 lowed as closely as possible, alternately urging 
 his beast forward with whip and spur, and all the 
 noisy motions inspired by terror and confusion. 
 Seeing the mountain before him, and knowing by 
 the route they were taking they must cross some 
 part of it, he naturally expected his master would 
 slacken his pace ere he ascended it; but Pedro 
 was mistaken, for the duke, leaping a tremendous 
 torrent which rolled at its foot, pursued his diffi- 
 cult course with equal haste, and reaching the 
 extremity of a narrow winding path, descended 
 the south side in a way which seemed to portend 
 destruction to both horse and rider. 
 
 They were now within three miles of home, 
 and Pedro began to anticipate the end of their 
 journey ; when, just as the duke had gained the 
 summit of a steep hill, from Avhence the traveller
 
 THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. \) 
 
 could have a partial view of the palace and 
 grounds, he suddenly paused. Pedro, taking ad- 
 vantage of the circumstance, gladly checked his 
 own horse, that was literally in a foam, but a 
 loud cry of hitter agony from the duke brought 
 him in an instant to his side. One look sufficed, 
 one look of deep horror and amazement. The 
 palace of Aranda was in flames, and all its beau- 
 tiful scenery one sheet of lire. 
 
 " Merciful God ! — my Victoria ! — my children !" 
 shrieked the duke, in a voice of despair' and 
 horror, setting forward with renewed speed, fol- 
 lowed by the distracted Pedro, whose senses were 
 nearly stunned as they approached the dreadful 
 spot; for here could be heard in dismal warfare the 
 crashing of falling timber, the crackling of flames, 
 and the hideous cries of various birds as they flew 
 from their coverts, or perished in the hot and sul- 
 phureous air. 
 
 The duke, springing fi-om his saddle, attempted 
 with a frantic gesture to rush amidst the burning 
 materials of his palace ; but Pedro, ever careful for 
 his master's safety, with an affrighted countenance 
 caught his robe, and pointing to the devouring ele- 
 ment, exclaimed in a mournful accent, *' Alas, my 
 lord, for the love of heaven forbear. Would my lord 
 sacrifice his precious life, and add another illus-
 
 10 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 trious victim to those who, perhaps — oh! look! 
 look!" — and as he pronounced these words, the 
 palace of Aranda, that magnificent structure, the 
 paternal home of the Duke of Aranda, the home 
 of all his joys, fell from its stupendous height, 
 involving in its fall temples, j^avilions, statues, 
 and fountains, and all the gorgeous adornments 
 which for unnumbered years had been the admi- 
 ration of thousands, leaving nothing but a huge 
 mass of smoking ruins, at once striking and ter- 
 rible. The duke, nearly petrified, astounded, 
 almost maddened with grief, remounted his horse ; 
 for a faint hope lingered round his heart that 
 those objects so dear to him had by some means 
 escaped, and had by a different route hastened to 
 Madrid ; he was buoyed up with this hope, be- 
 cause he remembered that neither shrieks nor 
 cries for help had mingled with the dreadful up- 
 roar of destruction just witnessed, when in turning 
 the animal round, his frenzied eyes fell on two 
 men who lay extended upon the ground but a 
 few yards off'. The duke, rushing to the spot, 
 discovered them to be his own domestics, who 
 had grown ancient in the service of his family ; 
 one had already breathed his last, disfigured with 
 wounds; the other was bleeding profusely, and 
 ajjpareutly in the agonies of death.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 11 
 
 The duke, pierced to the soul, seized the hand 
 of him who was yet living. The dying creature 
 recognised his master, and a pang of agony crossed 
 his aged countenance ; he attempted to articulate, 
 but the words, " Treachery ! — Murder 1" — were all 
 he could utter, ere convulsions seized him, and he 
 expired. 
 
 There is commonly a crisis in misery that super- 
 induces despair, although, outwardly, it has the 
 appearance of resignation; thus it was at this 
 moment with the duke ; his ghastly and distorted 
 features became placid; his eye lost its wildness, 
 and his head drooped like one who was in the act 
 of deep meditation; and in this alarming and 
 half senseless state, attended by his faithful 
 Pedro, he once more swiftly passed the walls of 
 Madrid, and entered the royal palace, just as the 
 king had left his couch and was crossing the ante- 
 chamber. Here the duke met him. The sight of 
 Charles, gloriously attired, as was his wonted 
 custom after a recent victory, his head glittering 
 with an imperial circlet of gold and pearls, and 
 his fine countenance exhibiting every mark of 
 triumphant success and distinguished majesty, 
 was such a contrast to the fallen fortunes of the 
 duke, that it instantly recalled him to his full 
 recollection ; and the afflicted gi'andee, like one
 
 12 THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Avlio was suddenly struck Avitli the vengeful bolt of 
 heaveiij sunk at his feet. 
 
 The king, taken by surprise, started back with 
 dismay, and gazed in unaffected astonishment on 
 the wild haggard features of his prostrate favourite, 
 who, in a voice of stifled anguish, called upon the 
 monarch for justice. 
 
 " Justice !" repeated the king, in an indignant 
 accent, " name the miscreant who has presumed 
 to injure the Duke of Aranda, and by the Holy 
 Trinity his fate shall be more terrible than the 
 slaughtered enemies of our church and state." 
 
 " Alas ! sire, I know not ; some savage, a stranger 
 to the felicities of life, and immersed in barbarism 
 and cruelty, has this night set fire to the palace 
 of Aranda ; it is now a heap of ruins, with all its 
 adjoining groves ; my " 
 
 " Ha ! where is the duchess } where is the beau- 
 tiful Victoria r" hastily interrupted the king ; 
 " where are her lovely children ?" 
 
 The duke started upon his feet. " Oh ! un- 
 heard of treachery, which, like the destroying angel, 
 has carried W'ith it fire and sword: — my angelic 
 v^ife, my smiling infants, my faitliful domestics, 
 ave all either murdered, or have perished in the 
 flames." 
 
 The king, at this dreadful information, turned
 
 TtiE OATit OF ALLEGIANCE. 13 
 
 excessively pale, and, ovevpo^Ye^ed with his feel- 
 ings, leaned for a few minutes on the shoulder 
 of one of his courtiers ; but, recovering in part 
 from his consternation, he looked sternly round 
 him, and waving his hand to command attention, 
 (for the shock had communicated to the grandees 
 in waiting, whose words and gestures were ex- 
 pressive of deep commiseration and horror,) 
 exclaimed — " Let a royal proclamation be imme- 
 diately issued, that ten thousand crowns shall be 
 given to such persons as shall bring correct in- 
 telligence, or apprehend the infamous pei-petrators 
 of this dismal transaction. But wdiere is Prince 
 Philip ? summon him hither; 'tis highly improper 
 that a subject so important should be discussed 
 without the presence of him who may shortly be 
 called upon to govern a great kingdom." The 
 king paused, and the answer was, that his high- 
 ness had not yet left his couch. 
 
 " Not left his couch !" returned the king, in a 
 tone of displeasure — '' an hereditary prince of 
 Spain, the son of a mighty king and conqueror, 
 thus to indulge in voluptuous ease, when he ought, 
 ere the sun hath passed the golden portals of the 
 east, to be studying the great Book of Nations, a 
 source from whence the most potent sovereign 
 might derive wisdom. But hither he comes — " and
 
 14 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Philip, at this moment, with folded arms, and his 
 eyes bent upon the ground, entered the room with 
 a languid air. 
 
 " It would look better," said the king, address- 
 ing his son, " for a prince of Sj)ain to measure 
 the height of the heavens than to mark the pro- 
 gress of his own tardy footsteps." 
 
 " I leave astronomical calculations to those who 
 wear your majesty's livery," returned Philip, 
 shaking back the rich plumage that waved over 
 his forehead, and looking rudely about him ; " but 
 I crave pardon, royal sir, for the uncouthness of 
 my speech. I believe I have lain in the arms of 
 Morpheus too long ; yet, in truth, my ears were 
 wearied with the incessant bawls of the uncourtly 
 rabble, who have for days followed the wheels of 
 your majesty's triumphant chariot, shouting that 
 stale word — Victory! victory ! — and Long live the 
 House of Austria !" 
 
 " Happy will it be for Philip the Second," re- 
 marked the king, " should he insure the like 
 glorious distinction of his j^eople's love, and 
 wisely discriminate — that as the vital juice is the 
 suj^port of the vine, and causeth its branches to 
 spread afar, so are the subjects of a monarch, from 
 the lord to the peasant, the props of his throne.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 15 
 
 from whose vigorous body the branches of his 
 house ai'e nurtured and clothed in beauty." 
 
 " I heartily thank your majesty," said Philip 
 sarcastically ; " I read the moral well, and with 
 due submission to my father and sovereign, I 
 would wave this discourse, for I marvel much to 
 see this gay retinue all wearing the symbols of 
 victory, yet with features that betray the marks 
 of recent agitation and extraordinary sadness." 
 
 A groan from the Duke of Aranda, who was 
 leaning against one of the gilt pillars, caused Philip 
 hastily to turn his head, and as his eyes fell upon 
 the duke, the hue of his complexion changed 
 from a living tint to a deathlike paleness. 
 
 The king, without noticing his disorder, re- 
 lated in a few words the awful occmrences which 
 had so unexpectedly plunged the Duke of Aranda 
 into an abyss of misery, and concluded by naming 
 the reward which was offered for the discovery of 
 the offenders. 
 
 During the recital, Philip averted his head, and 
 when the king paused, he coolly replied, " I must 
 acknowledge, sir, that this is a dismal as well as 
 a singular tale; but probably the lady did not 
 love her lord, therefore came to the heroic reso- 
 lution of throwing herself into the arms of some 
 favourite inamorato."
 
 l(j JHE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " Cruel, malicious iiisinuator !" thundered the 
 duke, Avitli a frenzied air, and starting from his 
 recumbent posture — " but away ! your youth and 
 rank protect you from the just indignation of an 
 insulted husband." 
 
 " Philip of Spain despises the threats of the 
 Duke of Aranda, and of any other court minion 
 whatever," retorted the prince with acrimony. 
 
 *' Your highness's language and deportment 
 are grossly insulting and indecorous," returned 
 the king, with a severe aspect : " the unparalleled 
 misfortunes of the Duke of Aranda give him the 
 highest claim upon your honour, your feelings, 
 and consideration ; and if you have yet to learn 
 that an able, trusty, and wise minister is the most 
 valuable jewel in a monarch's crown, withdraw, 
 and take the knowledge with you, and in the 
 privacy of your own chamber study the res])ect 
 due to the presence of your sovereign and his 
 court." 
 
 Philip bowed submissively, not daring to irri- 
 tate the king further ; but on his approaching the 
 Duke of Aranda, he said, with a menacing air, 
 " Beware, duke; there may come a time when to 
 provoke the ire of princes may be dangerous, and 
 when freedom of speech will no longer be toler- 
 ated in Spain."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 17 
 
 He now quitted the room, and the king, in great 
 agitation, exclaimed, " God j^rotect my people, 
 and give my son grace hereafter to govern a great 
 kingdom wisely !" 
 
 x\s the king uttered this short ejaculation, seve- 
 ral of the grandees exchanged significant glances; 
 for the defects of Philip's temper, his barbarous 
 principles, and vicious propensities, were even at 
 this period too obvious not to be equally known 
 and dreaded. 
 
 Charles V., Emperor of Germany and King of 
 Spain, was a prince immoderately fond of glorious 
 achievements and dangerous enterprises, ambi- 
 tious of aggrandizement, and jealous of the regal 
 power ; yet, with these faults, he was gentle, mer- 
 ciful, and forbearing, and many of his subjects, 
 taking advantage of the indulgence of his temper, 
 had forsaken their ancient faith, and embraced the 
 Protestant religion ; but though Charles reproved 
 their apostasy, he took no severe measures to 
 bring them back to the Catholic church, saying 
 he would rather insure his j^eople's allegiance 
 and affections by mild treatment, and allure them 
 by gentle methods, than harden their feelings by 
 the scourge or rack. Enthusiastically fond of his 
 son Philip from his cradle, and knowing, from ex- 
 perience, that both the private and public virtues
 
 18 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 of a great king must be far above mediocrity — that 
 his character must be unblemished, and his deeds 
 glorious — he prudently attempted to eradicate those 
 pernicious qualities which, with grief and con- 
 sternation, he saw were daily taking root in his 
 son's breast; but the warnings and tender admo- 
 nitions of an anxious father, and the threatenings 
 of a sovereign, were equally vain. Philip, by 
 nature gloomy, superstitious, imperious, and re- 
 vengeful, a slave to religious delusions, with 
 passions as tumultuous and ungovernable as the 
 ocean, contemned instruction, and spumed the 
 illustrious virtues of his 23rincely house, which, 
 like the sun's rays opposed to a dark cloud, only 
 rendered his vices the more conspicuous. 
 
 The Duke of Aranda, but a few years older 
 than Philip, was of a very ancient and noble 
 family, unmixed with the Moorish blood, and at 
 this period generally allowed to be not only the 
 politest scholar in Spain, but a man of the most 
 liberal sentiments and undaunted courage. Charles 
 was too sagacious and prudent, and too highly 
 gifted himself, not fully to appreciate the extra- 
 ordinary virtues .of this ornament to his court, 
 who was in person as well as in mind the most 
 beautiful amongst the grandees ; and he was once 
 heard to say, in answer to some remark on the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. lO 
 
 duke's personal attractions — "The Duke of Aranda, 
 like a jewel of the first water, is more to be ad- 
 mired for his intrinsic value than for the splen- 
 dour of his outward appearance." The duke had 
 at a very early period of life eminently distin- 
 guished himself both in the cabinet and in the 
 field ; and as a statesman and a warrior he stood 
 unrivalled in the records of Spain. 
 
 Prince Philip had ever treated the duke with 
 some show of respect till within three or four 
 years of the present time, either because he stood 
 in awe of the king's displeasure, or because no 
 circumstance had occurred connected with the 
 duke which could possibly provoke his choler, 
 when his behaviour, never very amiable, suddenly 
 changed ; and though he presumed not openly to 
 affront the duke, yet his half-uttered words, ex- 
 pressive of smothered indignation, his looks of 
 defiance, his haughty stride, and unprincely de- 
 meanour, whenever he saw the duke, were striking 
 indications that something unusual had aroused 
 and put into motion the ferocious qualities of his 
 nature. 
 
 As the duke could not tax his memory with 
 any deed which could cither injure his honour or 
 lower his dignity, he prudently resolved to take 
 no further notice of the affair than by keeping
 
 20 THt: OATH or allegianci:. 
 
 aloof, unless Philip's incivility became too a})pa- 
 rcnt and too notorious to be passed over with 
 impunity; not wishing to disturb the tranquillity 
 of the court, or, by following the dictates of 
 honour and resentment, be under the painful 
 necessity of chastising the son of a king, whom 
 he dearly loved, and one wdio w^ould, in all pro- 
 bability, at some future period, ascend the throne. 
 This laudable conduct, his own private concerns, 
 and the posture of public affairs, prevented all 
 further approach to hostility, till their meeting in 
 the antechamber, where the king narrated to him 
 the duke's unexpected misfortunes. Philip's re- 
 marks, though malicious, were designedly cool, 
 originating from craft and deep dissimulation ; 
 but the monarch's reproving his indelicate lan- 
 guage and want of sensibility, made it extremely 
 difficult for him to suppress his rising indigna- 
 tion and conceal the full extent of his hatred; 
 and with scorn legibly written on his brow^, he 
 uttered the words, on quitting the room, which 
 have been noticed. 
 
 After his son's departure, the king entered into 
 further conversation with the duke, and attempted, 
 by condescending attentions and soothing lan- 
 guage, to soften his affliction. Apartments were 
 assigned him in the palace, and every step taken
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 21 
 
 which was likely to bring him satisfaction and 
 relieve the agonies of his mind ; but days, weeks, 
 and months rolled on, and no particular intelli- 
 gence had been received which could in any shape 
 elucidate this dark affair, and it was now univer- 
 sally believed, that not a single member of the 
 duke's family had escaped either burning or as- 
 sassination ; and though the reward was doubled, 
 and the most diligent search made for the authors 
 of such a dismal tragedy, they had as yet eluded 
 the lynx eye of justice. 
 
 The duke, whilst yet a boy, had been one day 
 examining the ancient library of the Aranda 
 Palace, when, amongst the vast collection of 
 dusty volumes, he discovered one in which were 
 some Arabic characters written after the Egyp- 
 tian fashion, and in a few minutes he deciphered 
 these words : — "Reader, whoever thou art, despise 
 not the science of astrology, for as the dark 
 waters of the Nile, when it overflows, rush 
 along the valley, so shall sudden calamities, at 
 some future period, overwhelm the house of 
 Aranda; for when the thief prefers the purse to 
 the money, then shall its proud palace be laid in 
 ashes." It was dated 1490, a few years before 
 the expulsion of the Moors and Jews from Spain ; 
 he therefore justly concluded, that the lines had
 
 22 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 been scrawled by one of their soothsayers, who 
 made it their peculiar business to impose upon 
 the credulous by a pretended knowledge in divi- 
 nation; how it could have found its way into 
 the library of his ancestors was beyond his conjec- 
 tures. Kidiculous however as it was, and though 
 tinctured with less superstition than the gene- 
 rality of Sjianiards, yet the prediction occasion- 
 ally recurred to his recollection ; but in the course 
 of years the impression wore off and faded from 
 his mind like a dream, when his unexpected ren- 
 contre with the horseman in the forest, his sin- 
 gular proceedings, and his riding away with the 
 empty purse, after scornfully shaking out the 
 contents, brought it afresh to his memory, and 
 instantly a fatal presentiment of the destruction 
 of his happiness and the ruin of his house came 
 across his mind.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 23 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 About thirty miles from Madrid, on the banks of 
 the Tagus, lived Don Fernando Conzala, a rich 
 and powerful nobleman, of eccentric manners, but 
 of the most rigid honour. His two daughters. 
 Donna Victoria and Donna Isabella, whose mo- 
 ther had died early in life, were his only children 
 and sole comj)anions, and whose extraordinary 
 beauty was the only interruption to his felicity. 
 
 The fears of a father, mixed with the jealousy 
 of a Spaniard, induced Don Fernando to place 
 them under the care of a very strict, and appa- 
 rently prudent duenna, who belonged to a remote 
 branch of a highly respectable family, and whose 
 name and reputation were unsullied. 
 
 For a considerable period this female continued
 
 24 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA^X•E. 
 
 to guard the persons of these lovely girls with 
 scrupulous exactness, and fully answered all the 
 expectations which had been formed of her qua- 
 lifications, when sordid interest and insatiate 
 vanity at once broke down the barriers of pru- 
 dence and betrayed a confidence the most sacred, 
 infallibly destroying that delicate reserve and 
 innate virtue so essential to female happiness, 
 and which introduced into the bosom of a peaceful 
 and noble family sorrow, ruin, and death. 
 
 Donna Victoria and Donna Isabella were both 
 exceedingly amiable as well as transcendantly 
 handsome, exclusive of the former being distin- 
 guished for a haughtiness of carriage and dignity 
 of speech too ceremonious to be at all times 
 pleasing; whilst the latter was as remarkable for 
 extreme sensibility and singular credulity; but 
 though these defects of character were opposite 
 and uncongenial, their habits and pursuits were 
 similar, owing, in some measure, probably, to that 
 sisterly attachment and admirable love which 
 cemented their union. 
 
 Donna Victoria had attained the age of seven- 
 teen, and Isabella that of sixteen, when the 
 former, returning one evening from mass, in com- 
 pany with the duenna, Isabella being confined 
 with a headach, they were overtaken by a young
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 25 
 
 cavalier elegantly mounted ; but the animal was 
 extremely mettlesome, and, rearing repeatedly, 
 appeared to be almost ungovernable, which so 
 alarmed Victoria, that she ran wildly forward, fol- 
 lowed by the equally frightened duenna, who 
 laughed heartily, on perceiving that the horse and 
 the stranger were out of sight, and no further mo- 
 lestation was to be apprehended. 
 
 In a few minutes they entered the house, and 
 Donna Victoria hastening to her own apartment 
 to change her dress, the affair was quickly for- 
 gotten. But how often do the most trifling 
 incidents lead to the most important results in 
 our history. It was but a few days after this 
 event that the duenna had occasion to go a short 
 distance from home, when, ere she had lost sight 
 of the magnificent dwelling of Don Fernando, she 
 unexpectedly encountered the strange cavalier, 
 whose horse had given them so much alarm, and 
 whom she recollected by the richness and singu- 
 larity of his accoutrements. 
 
 The recognition was, to her surprise, mutual, 
 for, bowing w^th a dignified air, he politely apolo- 
 gized for his unruly steed having thrown her and 
 her lovely daughter into such a state of alarm. 
 
 " T am obliged to you, senor, for the compli- 
 VOL. I, c
 
 26 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 ment," returned the duenna, "but Donna Victoria 
 is no child of mine : I am simply her gouveraante." 
 " Her gouvernante 1" repeated the sti'anger, with 
 affected astonishment; "is it possible ? By the ele- 
 gance of her shape, I judged you to be very nearly 
 allied, for it certainly is the exact model of your 
 own. Excuse the freedom of my remarks, donna, 
 yet I must be an uncourtly cavalier, and void of 
 true taste, did I not feel and acknowledge the 
 superior attractions of a fine woman like yourself. 
 I see you consider these as mere words of course ; 
 but, as a proof of my esteem, and as a trifling 
 atonement for my offence in causing you so much 
 terror, condescend to accept of this bauble." And 
 here the stranger drew a rich diamond fi*om his 
 finger. " Nay, I cannot be refused," he added 
 gracefully, forcing it ujDon the duenna, who at 
 first appeared to hesitate ; " unless you wish to 
 mortify me and render me seriously unhappy." 
 
 " Heaven forbid I should make such an amiable 
 and generous cavalier unhappy !" exclaimed the 
 duenna fervently, her heart dancing with delight 
 at what she considered her singular good fortune; 
 " neither do I wish to appear fastidious ; but such 
 a valuable gem, such a distinguished present, so 
 much above my quality and merit " 
 
 " Fie ! you underrate your own excellence," in-
 
 THE OATH OF ALI.EGIANCE. 27 
 
 ten'iipted the stranger, in a soft, insinnating ac- 
 cent ; " but the parent of Donna Victoria knoAvs 
 how to appreciate your worth." 
 
 '' How ! Are you acquainted with Don Fer- 
 nando Conzala?" 
 
 "No ; but I have seen Donna Victoria." 
 " True ; but you deviate from your own remark. 
 I thought you were speaking of her father." 
 
 " Your observation is correct, donna, the mis- 
 take implies confusion. But to be candid; my 
 imagination wanders alternately from your own 
 charming self, and from less interesting subjects, 
 to the beautiful features of Donna Victoria." 
 
 " Our imagination is sometimes very accommo- 
 dating, senor, and suj^plies the place of reality, as 
 in this instance, for I presume you never saw the 
 beautiful features of Donna Victoria." 
 
 '^ Is she not extremely beautiful :" 
 
 "Certainly, eminently so; but, excuse me, I 
 must go ; in listening to your amusing conversa- 
 tion I forget the lapse of time." 
 
 " Hold ! stay one moment ; but do not ridicule 
 my humour. You have excited my curiosity, and 
 I protest I would give a richer jewel than the one 
 in your possession to see the countenance of this 
 bewitching creature." 
 
 As the stranger uttered these words he took the 
 c 2
 
 28 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 duenna's hand, with a wheedling air, and pressed 
 it with an engaging gentleness, which acted upon 
 her feelings in the way he wished and expected. 
 
 The duenna was fascinated — the chevalier was 
 young and handsome, evidently of high quality, 
 and generous in the extreme ; her prudence slept, 
 her scruples vanished ; avarice took the lead, and 
 she made an appointment with the stranger to 
 conduct Donna Victoria, the next day, at a certain 
 hour, near to a spot which she named, where he 
 should have an opportunity of having a full view 
 of her lovely face. 
 
 The stranger, with many expressions of grati- 
 tude, and promises of high friendship, left the 
 duenna, whilst she, after transacting the business 
 she went upon, hurried home, and, sitting down in 
 her own apartment, mentally began to arrange her 
 plan ; but a difficulty occurred in the execution, 
 which, in the hurry of the moment, had been over- 
 looked, — this was the extreme haughtiness of 
 Donna Victoria, who, she believed, would highly 
 resent the indelicacy of having her face exposed 
 to the rude gaze of a stranger, more particularly 
 if she conjectured that it was owing to the care- 
 lessness of her duenna, whose place it was to see 
 her veil properly fastened. 
 
 "Heigh ho! what is to be done now?" ox-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. "29 
 
 claimed the duenna, with a deep sigh ; " I nuisl 
 cither run the hazard of the probable conse- 
 quences of my proceedings, or else disappoint, 
 and forfeit the confidence of the most elegant 
 and agreeable chevalier that ever enlisted beneath 
 the banners of love, and, what is still worse, lose 
 the many rich gifts annexed thereto. Pshaw ! I 
 have it ; put a woman to a strait, and her fertile 
 genius will quickly obviate the difficulty. In years 
 Donna Victoria and Donna Isabella are nearly 
 equal; in shape and stature exactly so; their 
 features and complexions are certainly opposite, 
 but those the stranger never saw, their voices he 
 never heard; I therefore may, with confidence, 
 take Donna Isabella, instead of her sister: she, 
 dear creature, is all softness and simplicity, all 
 candour and aifiability, and she surpasses even 
 Donna Victoria in beauty of countenance and the 
 charming graces of her sex ; from this generous 
 girl's pliant humour there can be nothing to ap- 
 prehend, and I can gratify the chevalier, without 
 injury to myself or others, for, after all, 'tis only a 
 little harmless amusement, which, if prudently 
 managed, will bring neither disgrace nor sorrow." 
 Fallacious reasoning. How often do people re- 
 concile themselves to a breach of faith, and to acts 
 decidedly wrong, merely because their actions do
 
 30 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 not at first wear a formidable aspect, and threaten 
 them with immediate ruin. 
 
 The duenna, yielding to a mercenary feeling, 
 and to a vanity incident to her disposition, winked 
 at her own unpardonable weakness and the blemish 
 on her honour, and, agreeably to her own scheme, 
 the next day enticed the innocent Isabella to the 
 spot, where the stranger had arrived before them 
 on foot ; and, he crossing their path as though 
 by accident, the artful duenna, by an adroit move- 
 ment, displaced her veil ; it fell to the ground, and 
 the eyes of the fair Isabella encountered those of 
 the stranger. 
 
 Blushing with sui*prise and confusion, she 
 snatched it up, and throwing it over her head, 
 hurried forward ; but hearing hasty footsteps be- 
 hind her, and the place being lonely, her sensitive 
 mind took the alarm ; her perturbation increased, 
 and, without the least tincture of affectation, she 
 famted. 
 
 The duenna was struck with consternation. 
 This was an accident as unexpected as unwel- 
 come, and she now began to tremble for the con- 
 sequences of her lolly. The cavalier approached, 
 but she silently waved her hand in token of dis- 
 approbation; for though she had been tempted 
 to deviate from the straight line of duty, she
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. Si 
 
 never designed to encourage acts of freedom : 
 but, alas ! another present, more valuable even 
 than the former, won her enth'e confidence and 
 corrupted her principles, and she no longer 
 checked his advances, but allowed him to im- 
 prove the moments, and to gaze uninterruptedly on 
 the angelic countenance of her insensible charge. 
 
 The cavalier, on seeing Donna Isabella re- 
 covering, retired a few paces, but perceiving her 
 tremble as she reclined on the arm of the duenna, 
 he flew to her side, and, with a delicacy and grace 
 the most winning, expressed his concern and 
 offered his assistance. Isabella, siu'prised and 
 distressed, averted her head from the officious 
 stranger; but his easy frankness, the polish of 
 his manners, his respectful address, and elegant 
 exterior, although they did not lessen her astonish- 
 ment, at least removed her fears, and she was led, 
 by imperceptible degrees, to listen to his conver- 
 sation, which was at once refined, copious, and 
 instructive. 
 
 Unaccustomed to the company of men, and a 
 stranger to the soft accents and tender attentions 
 of an insidious lover, sedulous to please, and 
 endowed with all the distinguishing qualities that 
 seduce and captivate the understanding, and con- 
 quer the heart, as it were by surprise, 'tis no
 
 .12 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 wonder that Donna Isabella became interested 
 and flattered, and that, after the stranger's depar- 
 ture, she should call to her mind his seducing 
 discourse, and mentally acknowledge his attrac- 
 tions ; whilst the duenna, Avith tears and caresses, 
 apologized for her carelessness, and indignantly 
 inveighed against the chevalier for his freedom 
 and presumption, yet artfully interlarding her 
 observations with encomiums on his wit, beauty, 
 and elegance. 
 
 Donna Isabella, at the duenna's request, pro- 
 mised to be silent on the occurrences of the day, 
 and she was so ; but she had lost her wonted 
 serenity ; she had admitted into her breast a feel- 
 ing that disturbed her tranquillity and sullied the 
 native purity of her mind, whilst the conscious- 
 ness of wTong added to her uneasiness, and she 
 became unusually pensive and dejected; for no- 
 thing weighs so heavily on a feeling mind as the 
 recollection of error; nothing throws so deep a 
 gloom over the comforts of existence, over the 
 charms of nature, as a deviation from recti- 
 tude. 
 
 The duenna was nearly as restless and agi- 
 tated as Donna Isabella, but her feelings were 
 less amiable, less to be pitied, and more generally 
 to be condemned ; her avarice was only whetted,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 33 
 
 not satiatecl, and she longed for another interview 
 with the liberal and fascinating chevalier. 
 
 Three days, however, passed away, and the 
 duenna saw nothing of the stranger; she was 
 perplexed, and began to be doubtful whether the 
 charms of Isabella had made an impression on 
 his fancy, w^hen, from one of the windows, at the 
 close of the evening, she saw the iigure of a man 
 moving slowly along and looking about him, 
 apparently with attention and caution. Flatter- 
 ing herself it was the cavalier, she slipped out at 
 a private door, and taking a winding j^ath, met 
 him. It was the stranger ! but a long black cloak 
 that he wore increasing the dimensions of his 
 figiu-e, with a round Spanish hat drawn over his 
 face, prevented her at first from recognising his 
 person, but his voice and gesture, and his seizing 
 her hand with ecstasy, at once removed her 
 doubts, and she returned his salutation with 
 secret pleasure. 
 
 " Adorable woman !" he exclaimed, in a gentle 
 and imploring accent, " take this note, deliver it 
 to my angel, and Don Pedro Montilla will deem 
 no reward equivalent to thy merit and fidelity." 
 
 " Don Pedro Montilla is your name, then r" said 
 the duenna, with an inquiring look. " Your place 
 of abode ■"
 
 84 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " Must remain concealed for a time," hastily 
 interrupted the stranger ; " suffice it, 1 am noble, 
 but my father designs me for the husband of a 
 lady both ill-natured and ugly, and who is my 
 aversion. Could I but gain the affections of 
 the incomparable Donna Victoria — you under- 
 stand me." 
 
 " Yes, yes, to be sure I do ; you would then 
 have courage to fight your own battles manfully, 
 and tell the old gentleman you had chosen for 
 yourself," remarked the duenna, nodding signifi- 
 cantly. 
 
 " Excellent diviner ! Not the Prince of Astu- 
 rias himself, handsome as he is, can be more 
 shrewd, witty, and penetrating." 
 
 " Humph ! the Prince of Asturias. And is he so 
 very handsome ? Then 'tis a pity he is so fright- 
 fully stern, gloomy, and implacable." 
 
 The stranger's flashing eyes revealed his ire. 
 " Ah ! what say est thou ? confusion ! you jest — 
 none dare." The duenna trembled, she knew 
 not why. " Pshaw ! neither prince nor subject 
 escapes the tongue of slander," he added, quickly 
 assuming an easy air, and smiling gracefully. 
 " But enough of this. I shall be on this spot 
 to-morrow evening precisely at this hour, when 
 I shall hope for an answer to my note; and
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 35 
 
 should it be a flattering one, you will have no 
 cause to tax me with ingratitude." 
 
 Here the stranger snatched her hand, and kiss- 
 ing it warmly, took a hasty leave. 
 
 The duenna, enchanted with his gallantry, 
 with his flattering compliments, and hints at fur- 
 ther reward, was resolved to exert all her abili- 
 ties to assist his designs and forward his suit, not 
 doubting but the pliant and susceptible mind of 
 Isabella would readily receive those impressions 
 which, by a proper address, might be made to 
 ripen into love. 
 
 As these thoughts crossed her mind, she turned 
 the note about, and observing the superscription, 
 she was thrown into a fresh embarrassment — it 
 was addressed to Donna Victoria ; what excuse 
 could she make to Donna Isabella for such a 
 palpable mistake; but again her own keen- 
 ness and subtlety befriended her zeal, and, after 
 pondering a minute on the subject, she re- 
 sumed her confidence, and, pleased at her own 
 skilful finesse, arrived undiscovered at Don Fer- 
 nando's. 
 
 Believing Donna Isabella to be in her own 
 apartment, and alone, she hastened thither, and 
 throwing herself into a chair, appeared ready to 
 faint.
 
 36 JTiL OA'i'H OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " Donna Onata (tlje name of the duennaj, are 
 you il], or has some unexpected and disagreeable 
 event thrown you into this agitation ?" inquired 
 Isabelhij witli her usual mildness. 
 
 " Oh, oh !" groaned the duenna, with increasing 
 disorder, tearing off" her veil and covering her 
 face with her hands. 
 
 " Donna, you alarm me, I tremble with appre- 
 hension — speak, what has happened .^" 
 
 " Happened !" repeated the duenna, in a wild 
 accent. " Holy Mary ! how could I resist his 
 supplications, his touching eloquence, his frenzied 
 looks, and appeals to my humanity." 
 
 " The saints defend me !" exclaimed Isabella, 
 in a tone of affright, " of whom are you speak- 
 ing r" 
 
 " Alas ! alas ! my woman's weakness got the 
 better of my discretion. I promised compliance ; 
 but shall I not incur the endless displeasure of 
 Donna Isabella V^ 
 
 " Of me } Be more commimicativc, I entreat. 
 These mysterious sentences and your evident dis- 
 tress betoken something more unwelcome than 
 amusing." 
 
 " And will Donna Isabella promise not to be 
 angry with her poor duenna, and will she read 
 this, note with her usual candour and condescen-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 37 
 
 sion, as 1 am now bound in honour to deliver 
 it ?" 
 
 " Note !" echoed Isabella, in surprise, consider- 
 ably relieved from her fears, and taking it from 
 the duenna. *• Has all this fuss and ceremony 
 been about a note? Ah, doinia, 'tis not for me, 
 'tis for my sister." 
 
 •' No, no, that's a mistake, originating from an 
 erroneous idea on the part of the writer; read, 
 and the enigma will be clear." 
 
 Donna Isabella hesitated ; a prophetic feeling 
 came over her mind ; but condemning her own 
 vanity, and trembling vfith undefinable sensa- 
 tions, she broke the seal. 
 
 " Oh, donna, what have you done i This sin- 
 gular, this unknown cavalier !" exclaimed Isabella, 
 with the deepest emotion, after she had perused 
 the note, yet still keeping her eyes fixed upon 
 the characters, ** if he wishes to prefer his suit, 
 why not apply to my father r" 
 
 " Suppose he were to do so, and could obtain 
 Don Fernando's consent, might he not meet with 
 a refusal from Donna Isabella?" inquired the 
 artful duenna. 
 
 " If he be a true chevalier he will run the risk ; 
 I cannot be answerable for my humour till I am 
 put to the test," replied Isabella, equivocally.
 
 38 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 *' Well, but to be both candid and concise ; the 
 poor gentleman is critically situated," returned 
 the duenna ; " his father is cross and tyrannical, 
 and wants him to marry an old lady for her 
 riches; the cavalier is high-spirited and noble, 
 and sustains his dignity and honour by waving 
 all sordid views ; and when he weds, he says Love 
 must light the torch. He has seen Donna Isa- 
 bella, and I am fully persuaded adores her ; but 
 he dares not name the subject to his father till he 
 brings him into a better humour, and till that 
 period arrives, he must trust to her generosity not 
 to despise his attachment ; and certainly, to speak 
 without prejudice, he is handsome to a degree of 
 elegance not to be described, wliilst his wit, 
 vivacity, and delicacy, exceed the graces of his 
 person ; and his rank is indisputably, in my opi- 
 nion, equal, if not superior, to Don Fernando' s." 
 
 " And what are all these perfections to me, 
 donna ; would you wish me to carry on a clan- 
 destine correspondence with this mysterious Don 
 Pedro Montilla?" 
 
 " I would wish you not to be too decidedly 
 cruel and abrupt ; he is young, enthusiastic, and 
 possesses high attainments ; he may construe 
 your scorn into doubts of his integrity, and, in a 
 fit of despair, throw himself into the Tagus."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 39 
 
 "The Virgin forbid!" exclaimed Isabella, in 
 an agitated voice, the hue of her complexion 
 changing to a deadly paleness. 
 
 The duenna remarked her concern, and was 
 pleased with the advantage she had gained, and 
 continued her conversation, till Isabella, yielding 
 to her ensnaring arguments, and to her own pre- 
 possession in his favour, answered the cavalier's 
 epistle, though with delicacy and caution; but 
 from this period she lost all power over her own 
 feelings. Love got the victory, and in due time he 
 became sole master of her affections, and lord of 
 her destiny. 
 
 Donna Isabella Conzala w^as not only exceed- 
 ingly beautiful, but innately pure, ingenuous, and 
 modest; but a dangerous flexibility of character, 
 a keen sensibility, and an unlimited reliance in 
 her own strength, proved fatal to her happiness 
 and honour. But to be just to Don Pedro Mon- 
 tilla, he tampered at first with the duenna's 
 fidelity, more from a youthful and ardent curiosity 
 to see the countenance of the most elegant female 
 figure he had ever beheld, than from any designs 
 of positive evil ; but the sight of Isabella's charm- 
 ing features, together with her modest confusion, 
 aided by his before heated fancy, converted his 
 ill-timed gallantry into a passion the most deep,
 
 40 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 impetuous, and overwhelming, but totally void of 
 delicacy, decorum, or honour. In short, in a fatal 
 hour the fair and innocent girl, allured by his 
 arts and dazzled by his assumed perfections, lost 
 her peace, the inevitable consequence of her own 
 imprudence and credulity. 
 
 It was a few weeks after this unhappy event 
 that Donna Isabella, late one evening, entered a 
 small pavilion situated in a private part of the 
 gardens, and where, by the duenna's contrivance, 
 Don Pedro had been frequently admitted to inter- 
 views with the object of his destructive passion. 
 Heating herself in one of the chairs, and taking 
 off her veil, she waited in feaiful expectation 
 for the insidious and licentious lover who had 
 invaded the sanctity of her innocence and de- 
 stroyed her repose, and whom she came now to 
 meet agreeably to his own appointment. 
 
 In less than half an hour Don Pedro made his 
 appearance, but not with his wonted transport, 
 nor adorned for conquest; his dress was plain 
 and negligent, his air stern and lofty, whilst a 
 frightful gloom hung upon his brow, and his 
 whole aspect betokened something unpropitious 
 and extraordinary. 
 
 Isabella, unaccustomed to his ftowns, started 
 back in astonishment, not unmixed with dread;
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 41 
 
 but seizing her hand, he exclaimedj in hurried 
 accents — 
 
 " Alas ! do I already carry about me the 
 hideous marks of Avarfare, and the disgusting 
 badge of ambition, that my adored love retreats 
 at my approach, and trembles at my touch r I am 
 unexpectedly summoned hence, and must join 
 the king's forces without delay ; should I live to 
 return from the ensanguined field, I will fearlessly 
 claim the matchless being that I have unwarily 
 injured, and make a just atonement for the base- 
 ness of my unhallowed affection." 
 
 Don Pedro paused; for the lovely and afflicted 
 Isabella, a victim to her own softness and the 
 duplicity of others, sunk, heart- stricken and nearly 
 senseless, to the ground. Don Pedro attempted to 
 raise her, and to alleviate the excess of her grief 
 by the blandishments of love and the soothing 
 language of hope ; for now, indeed, his naturally 
 wayward heart was sensibly touched, and, flat- 
 tered by her devotion, he was astonished at his 
 own perfidy; his dream of greatness vanished; 
 and he resolved in his own mind to espouse, 
 as soon as possible, in spite of fiite, the wor- 
 shipped being of his enamoured fancy. But 
 Don Pedro became alarmed as he gazed on 
 her ghastly countenance, whilst he listened to
 
 42 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 her exclamations with perplexity and concern ; 
 and again he sought to calm her feelings by pro- 
 mises of unshaken constancy and a quick return. 
 But after some time spent in fruitless attempts to 
 soften her distress and lessen the agonies of sepa- 
 ration, he was obliged to tear himself away, and 
 the young Isabella, roused to a keener sense, if it 
 were possible, of her own desolate situation, 
 strove to aiTest his flight ; but he was gone. 
 
 The duenna had been ordered to be upon the 
 watch during this interview, lest any one should 
 approach the pavilion and surprise them ; and at 
 this moment she rushed in, with tenor and 
 astonishment strongly depictured on her features, 
 exclaiming — " Oh, donna ! in the name of the 
 blessed saints, what has happened ? Don Pedro 
 was passing me swiftly, when he abruptly paused, 
 and seizing my arm, he fixed a terrible look uj^on 
 me, saying, in a voice so singular, so threatening 
 and tremendous, as will ever sound in my ears — 
 ' Woman, to your care I consign my love — my 
 Victoria ; be tender of her health, for mark ! by 
 the sword of my ancestors, should you waver in 
 your trust, or aught of ill befal her, your life shall 
 be forfeited on the rack. Contemn not my power, 
 for it can shake the kingdom to its centre ; and a 
 treble vengeance shall fall upon that man and his
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 43 
 
 house who shall presume to rob me of my be- 
 trothed.' " 
 
 Isabella, on hearhig this account, groaned in 
 the anguish of her soul, tears gushed from her 
 eyes; she leaned upon the arm of the duenna for 
 suj^port, and forgetting her deep injuries in the 
 remembrance of his tenderness, and the idea of 
 probably a lasting separation, she called upon his 
 name, and gazed wildly round that apartment he 
 had so recently quitted, when to her surprise she 
 beheld his purse upon the table, but whether left 
 there by chance or design she did not stand to 
 consider, but, taking it in her hand, she eagerly 
 examined its quality and fashion, expecting to see 
 his arms or name embroidered thereon, which 
 might lead to some interesting discovery ; for a 
 strong suspicion had infused itself into her mind 
 that the name of Don Pedro Montilla was as- 
 sumed, and that his rank and situation in life were 
 either above or below her own ; but she was dis- 
 appointed, the purse was of a peculiar shape, dis- 
 tinguished for nothing remarkable, save these 
 words on one side, in fine letters, richly wrought 
 in gold — "Gold! henceforth I will worship thy 
 greatness, since to thy subduing aid I owe my 
 entrance to that abode, to that splendid theatre of 
 rival glory — love." On the other side was this
 
 14 JIIE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 motto, formed with small brilliants — " A'icturia, 
 and the s^vo^d of my ancestors." Isabella sighed 
 deei:)ly, as she jDemsed the characters, at this in- 
 delicate proof of her lover's vanity and triumph, 
 and replacing the contents, which she had turned 
 upon the table, she said, addressing the duenna — 
 "Would I had acquainted Don Pedro with his 
 mistake as regards my name, his ignorance on 
 this subject may lead to some unpleasant catas- 
 trophe." 
 
 " I cannot conceive that anything disagreeable 
 can occur from such a simple circumstance," re- 
 turned the duenna. " Accustomed only to the 
 comj^any of yourself and Donna Victoria, in my 
 alarm at your unexpected fainting, I unwit- 
 tingly called upon her name, as 1 informed you. 
 That the cavalier's ears were so brisk is no fault of 
 mine ; and he had written and directed the note 
 ere I saw him again ; and to be frank, the name 
 of Victoria hung so gracefully upon his lips, that 
 for the life of me I could not rectify the mistake ; 
 nevertheless, it was at your option to have unde- 
 ceived him after^yards, if you considered it a 
 matter of so much importance." 
 
 Isabella acknowledged the tnith of this remark ; 
 but the fact is, her own timidity, together with 
 her increasing regard for Don Pedro, had led her
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 45 
 
 to be governed implicitly by the duenna, and to 
 adopt the idea, which the latter, for her own safety 
 and profit, had contrived to instil, that a lover be- 
 comes as much attached to the name of his mistress 
 as he does to her beauty and accomplishments, 
 and that in rectifying such a trifling error, she 
 might unfortunately fall into a greater, or, at all 
 events, that it would be quite time enough when 
 he publicly solicited her hand. 
 
 Though these arguments were easily confuted, 
 Isabella allowed them to pass unanswered, and 
 left the duenna, as before, with full liberty to ma- 
 nage the affair her own way, which she had done 
 so artfully as to keep it an impenetrable secret 
 from all but themselves. Neither was Don Fer- 
 nando, nor Donna Victoria, in the least prej^ared 
 for the accumulated horrors which followed the 
 credulous Isabella's deviation from rectitude. 
 
 Donna Isabella, on regaining her own apart- 
 ment, deposited the purse in a private drawer, 
 lest accident should expose it to the eyes of her 
 sister ; and full of uncertainty, a23prehension, and 
 doubt, she passed several weeks without either 
 seeing or hearing anything of Don Pedro 
 Montilla. 
 
 About this period, the young Duke of Aranda, 
 who was equally distinguished for rank, character,
 
 46 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 and abilities, made proposals to Don Fernando 
 for the hand of Donna Victoria, and was accepted; 
 and scarcely had Donna Isabella congratulated 
 her sister on her charming prospects, ere she dis- 
 covered that her own were blasted for ever, and 
 that she was on the point of becoming a mother. 
 
 "Miserable, dishonoured wretch ! abandoned of 
 Heaven !" she exclaimed, as she rushed into the 
 presence of the duenna, and fell senseless at her 
 feet. The duenna, alarmed, and foreboding some 
 ill, raised her in her arms; and then it was that 
 she first noticed the change in her person. 
 Trembling with horror and astonishment, she 
 bathed her temples, and quickly recalled the un- 
 fortunate creature to life ; but what pen can de- 
 scribe the remorse, the despair, and convulsive 
 pangs, that rent her bosom ; pale, shuddering, 
 and drowned in tears, she gi'asped the hand 
 of the duenna. " Oh ! say," she exclaimed, 
 " have I indeed sealed my own doom .? have 
 I consigned myself to endless misery } Is 
 there no beam of hope left to shield me from a 
 parent's wrath, from a father's curse } Have 
 I been so negligent of truth, so careless of my- 
 honour, and so execrable a being, as to violate 
 the sacred duty of a child ; to disregard all the 
 advantages of high birth, all the splendour of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 47 
 
 superior rank, and the glory of a spotless re- 
 putation ?" 
 
 " Oh ! Donna Isabella, your extravagant grief 
 and self-reproach inspire me Avith terror," said 
 the duenna, mournfully ; " all repentance is vain, 
 all complaints fi'uitless, and inevitable ruin must 
 ensue, should Don Fernando discover your error : 
 you therefore must suppress this violence, and 
 dissemble as much as possible, for your own sake, 
 and I will endeavour to repair my fault, so far as 
 I have been concerned, by strict fidelity, and a 
 concern for your comfort and public character, 
 that none may presume to impeach your honour, 
 or insult your feelings. You know I have a 
 widowed sister near by ; she is a trusty, good crea- 
 ture, and I can depend upon her for inviolable 
 secrecy and attention to my wishes : I can intro- 
 duce her in such a way as shall prevent detection; 
 and as she never saw your features she will have 
 no suspicion that it is the daughter of the illus- 
 trious Don Fernando Conzala who requires her 
 assistance. Should aught of danger attend my 
 arrangements, leave it to my inventive genius to 
 turn its course, and amply to deceive inquisitive 
 people." 
 
 Donna Isabella, shuddering at the magnitude of 
 her offence, and the awful images it conjured up,
 
 48 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 promised to observe her advice, and entirely con- 
 fide in her superior sagacity and prudence ; but 
 she promised in some respects more than she 
 coidd perform ; her soul was loaded with anguish, 
 and seemed suspended, as it were, between earth 
 and eternity ; all before her was either a blank, a 
 dismal void, or else filled with phantoms too hor- 
 rible for endurance. Donna Isabella had always 
 been remarkable for an extremely mild and docile 
 disposition, and for an air rather languid than 
 sprightly; her drooping spirits were therefore im- 
 puted to nervous debility, more particularly as the 
 duenna was careful to observe that Donna Isabella 
 had caught a slight cold, which rather affected her 
 health, and obliged her to keep more within ; and 
 Don Fernando and Donna Victoria, being at this 
 juncture almost constantly engaged, the former 
 with the Duke of Aranda, and the latter in pre- 
 paring for her nuptials, no comparisons were 
 made, and the sorrows of Isabella and the schemes 
 of the duenna remained alike unnoticed.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 49 
 
 CHx\PTER TIT. 
 
 The nuptials of Donna Victoria were, at her 
 own particular request, privately celebrated in 
 the chapel annexed to the house. Donna Isabella, 
 having her person concealed in a long cloak, and 
 leaning on the arm of the duenna, attended her 
 sister to the altar; but pleading indisposition, she 
 was allowed to return to her own apartment im- 
 mediately after the ceremony, where, with a heart 
 beating with internal anguish at her own fallen 
 greatness and blighted happiness, she passed 
 those hours which ought to have been dedicated 
 to agreeable and innocent amusements suitable to 
 her age and rank. 
 
 It was late in the evening on the following 
 day, which had been extremely sultry, that Don 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 50 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Fernando left the banquet-room in order to enjoy, 
 for a few minutes, the cool breezes and delicious 
 sweets that perfumed the air. The moon was 
 clear and majestic, and shone with enchanting 
 loveliness on the rosy landscape and rich varie- 
 ties that adorned the gardens, amongst whose 
 vivid blossoms and rich fruits he rambled with 
 that pensive kind of air which denotes tranquillity 
 and a mind at peace within itself, when, on reach- 
 ing the end of one of the walks that terminated 
 near that part of the house, which was seldom 
 occupied, a stifled shriek, long, and apparently 
 agonizing, sounded in his ears, and interrupted 
 that soft stillness, whose soothing calm had trans- 
 ported his ideas to the invisible worlds that rolled 
 above his head. Surprised, but not alarmed, he 
 paused to listen, and in a few minutes a groan, 
 deep and heavy, as of one in excruciating torture, 
 made him recoil with increased astonishment, not 
 unmixed with a superstitious feeling. 
 
 After waiting a considerable time, and hearing 
 nothing further, he was half inclined to think the 
 whole a delusion ; nevertheless, the appalling 
 sounds haunted his imagination, and robbed liim 
 of that internal satisfaction and serene pleasure 
 he had before enjoyed. 
 
 On his retiring to his chamber for the night,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 51 
 
 the oddness of the circumstance recurred afresh 
 to his mind, and a weight, as of something malign 
 and monsti'ous, and pregnant with some direful 
 evil, benumbed his faculties ; and after vainly en- 
 deavouring to rally his spirits and divert the 
 intruding ideas, he was determined to relieve his 
 anxiety by a speedy investigation of the cause 
 which had given such a disagreeable turn to his 
 thoughts. 
 
 Taking a taper in his hand, and throwing a 
 cloak over his shoulders, he bent his steps to that 
 part of the building whence the shrieks had 
 issued ; and though he was under no apprehensions 
 of meeting either a disembodied sj)irit, or an ugly 
 goblin, yet he trod as softly, and looked round 
 him with as much caution, as if he expected that 
 more than one would impede his path. Passing 
 the great gallery, adorned with busts and many 
 beautiful paintings, he ascended a small flight of 
 marble steps, and entered upon a range of cham- 
 bers, magnificently furnished, the walls of which 
 were covered with rich tapestry, but worked in 
 figiu'es no ways congenial with his present feelings. 
 
 After crossing these, he came to a noble landing- 
 place, and on one side of this were the rooms that 
 he wished to examine. In raising the lamp, the 
 better to assist his vision, he beheld a door stand- 
 d2 
 
 ^HYOFIUINOrs
 
 52 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 ing ajar, but though he looked into this apart- 
 ment, and two or three others adjoining, he neither 
 saw nor heard anything that could possibly ac- 
 count for the extraordinary sounds of agony he 
 had heard; and again superstition, with all its 
 imaginary and fantastic hoiTors, thre^v his ideas 
 into new confusion, when the noise of distant foot- 
 steps, followed by the closing of a door, roused 
 his slumbering reason ; and guided by the echo, he 
 moved on, with a fixed resolution that neither 
 room nor closet, nor even a crevice, should escape 
 the severest scrutiny; and, alas! his efforts were 
 crowned but with too good success; for on open- 
 ing a door, which, from its small dimensions, he 
 concluded must belong to a closet or dressing- 
 1-0 om, he was startled on seeing a lamp burning 
 upon a table, and by its feeble rays, aided by 
 those of his own, he beheld reposing on a low 
 couch a ghastly female form. With every faculty 
 bound up in astonishment, he gently advanced ; 
 and lo ! the pallid features of his daughter Isabella 
 met his view. Her eyes were* closed and deeply 
 sunk — her countenance livid, and marked with 
 that fearful expression which denotes approach- 
 ing death; her breath was short and convulsed, 
 and her heavy respiration was the only interrup- 
 tion to the gloomy silence of the apartment. But
 
 THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE, 53 
 
 this sight, though unexpected and overwhehning, 
 Avas in his estimation but a trifle compared to the 
 black discovery of a lovely infant that lay smiling 
 by her side. 
 
 In a voice which, like the bursting thunder, 
 scares and affrights the benighted traveller, he 
 roused his daughter from her expiring slumbers. 
 
 " Wretch!" he exclaimed, shaking her with vio- 
 lence, " awake, awake ! Oh thou deceiver ! thou 
 ungrateful daughter! thy gentleness bears the 
 impress of crime. But thou art dying, perfidious 
 as thou art, and there is no sympathy for thee. 
 Girl, thou hast sullied the illustrious name of thy 
 father ; at the bidding of some traitor thou hast 
 stripped him of all his greatness ; but disclose the 
 
 dark secret — disclose the name of him but this 
 
 accursed brat, this living type of thy dishonour, 
 this blasting proof of thy degradation and sex's 
 weakness, shall this instant return to its state of 
 corruption, and fall a sacrifice to my just abhor- 
 rence and insulted honour." 
 
 And here Don Fernando, his eyes gleaming 
 fire, and his whole form distorted w^ith the tempest 
 of his rage, attempted to seize the babe. Isabella 
 sprung from the couch, — " Oh, mercy — mercy!" 
 she faintly uttered, as she snatched the innocent 
 to her bosom, and with desperation struggling
 
 54 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 with each dying look, and with a keenness and 
 quickness unparalleled in one so near the verge of 
 the tomb, fled from the apartment. 
 
 Don Fernando, furious, distracted, and doubly- 
 alarmed lest the hastiness of her flight should 
 lead to a public exposure, followed close in pur- 
 suit, and with horror indescribable he heard her 
 panting agonies, and saw the high delirium which 
 gave wings to her feet ; and he now called wildly 
 and even tenderly upon her name. But it was too 
 late — Isabella Avas a maniac — and breathless and 
 speechless she rushed against an opposing door; 
 it yielded to the force, and with a groan at once 
 ajDpalling and tremendous, she fell to the floor and 
 expired. 
 
 The Duke of Aranda and Donna Victoria, who 
 had not yet retired to bed, for it was their apart- 
 ment into which Donna Isabella had fallen, were 
 struck with an extraordinary surprise at such an 
 unexpected, and indeed terrific intrusion, more 
 particularly when they beheld Don Fernando, with 
 a fi'ightfully disordered mien, aim a blow at an 
 infant, evidently new born, as it lay struggling by 
 the side of its mother. 
 
 With unexampled presence of mind the duke 
 with one hand caught up the child, and timely 
 aiTested the intended stroke, though not before
 
 THE OATH OP ALLEGIANCE. 55 
 
 it had received a severe cut upon the shoulder; 
 and with the other he raised the breathless form of 
 the unfortunate Isabella; but the shock was reci- 
 procal; motionless they stood, and gazed on each 
 other in silent astonishment; every nerve thrilled 
 with agony, and every faculty seemed bound up 
 in the icy chains of horror, for the fixed and 
 ghastly features of a corpse met their view. 
 
 To describe the scene which followed is impos- 
 sible. Donna Victoria swooned in the arms of 
 her husband, whilst Don Fernando, tortured with 
 grief and indignation, stained his lips with curses 
 and vows of vengeance on the daring author of 
 such a calamity. The duke, who to great pru- 
 dence and wisdom united steadiness and magna- 
 nimity of character, after the first shock had 
 abated, and he had brought his wife back to life, 
 succeeded in some measure in soothing the exqui- 
 site anguish which wrung her bosom, and like- 
 wise in moderating the extreme wrath and dis- 
 tracting sorrow of Don Fernando. 
 
 Don Fernando, highly dignified and severe in 
 his principles of honour, jealous of his name and 
 reputation, and wearied with his own violence, 
 was led at length coolly to consider the subject, 
 and to make, with the assistance of the duke, 
 such arrangements as were necessary for the pre-
 
 56 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 servatioii of his public character and that of 
 Isabelhi's. 
 
 Tlic duke, with manly greatness ol" mind, and 
 inwardly recommending the soul of the deceased 
 to Heaven, took the body in his amis, and with a 
 light step bore it to her chamber, and laid it on 
 the bed. On returning to his own apartment, in 
 crossing the gallery he beheld a female figure 
 gliding before him, but whether she Wcis material 
 or immaterial, he was not near enough to as- 
 certain, and she quickly disappeared. This cir- 
 cumstance, strange as it was, considering the 
 hour, he determined not to mention, lest Don 
 Fernando should conjecture that some intruder 
 had been listening, the idea of which might lead 
 to something still more tragical. Folding the 
 child in his cloak, he hastened to the chamber 
 of his faithful servant Pedro, Avho had lived with 
 him from a boy, and whose rare qualities as a 
 dependant he truly valued. Rousing the poor 
 fellow from a- sound sleep, he said, in a peculiar 
 accent, " Pedro, can you be faithful V' 
 
 *' Faithful! St. Jago defend me. Have 1 li\ed to 
 hear my gracious lord ask his poor servant if he 
 can be faithful r" 
 
 " Ask no questions," added the duke. 
 
 " Questions ! Holy Mother ! whenever was Pedro
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 5t 
 
 SO presumptuous as to ask liis illustrious master 
 questions r" 
 
 " Well, well," returned the duke, seeing him 
 look distressed, " I have no reason to doubt either 
 your secrecy or attachment; but does Gilletta still 
 reside with her aunt in the neighbourhood of 
 Madrid?" 
 
 " Most certainly she does, my lord; had any 
 circumstance occasioned her removal I should 
 have known it." 
 
 " Then take this infant," said the duke, " and 
 hasten to place it under her care without delay : 
 here is money for present expenses, and tell hcv 
 to be careful of her charge, which is an orphan of 
 illustrious birth ; and should it not be reclaimed in 
 a few weeks, she will have further supplies for its 
 support." 
 
 " Oh, my lord, Gillett is nice-tempered and 
 discreet, and well qualified for such an honour- 
 able trust," returned the astonished Pedro, as he 
 received the child and purse from the hands of 
 the duke ; " she never tittle-tattles, or gads abroad, 
 or walks round the Prado when she ought to be 
 saying her Ave Maria, or telling her beads in the 
 church of Our Lady." 
 
 " Enough ; her prudence will be noticed and 
 rewarded," replied the duke. " And mark my 
 
 I) o
 
 58 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 words: leave Madrid, after you have delivered the 
 child, as expeditiously as possible ; yet return not 
 hither, but pursue your route to the palace of 
 Ai'anda, and there await our arrival." 
 
 Pedro promised to observe his master's orders, 
 and being shortly equipped for travelling, he, un- 
 seen, mounted his favourite steed, and set off for 
 Madrid, whilst the duke repaired to his own apaii;- 
 ment, and in a few houi's it was fully known that 
 Donna Isabella had expired in the night; but as 
 she had been in a languishing condition for some 
 time, her sudden exit was considered as nothing 
 extraordinary, and the ceremony of preparation 
 and burying the body was performed without any 
 remarks as to the cause of her death. 
 
 Donna Isabella, on the night so fatal to her 
 existence, had wandered, in company with the 
 duenna, to a remote part of the building, where 
 she was suddenly seized with such excruciating 
 pangs as not only unfitted her for the exertion of 
 returning to her own room, but made it highly 
 imprudent so to do, lest her cries and groans, 
 which were as of one in the agonies of death, 
 should be overheard by any part of the family, 
 which would unavoidably lead to detection; the 
 duenna, therefore, in her alarm, placed her on an 
 old couch, and in this critical situation left her to
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 59 
 
 summon her sister, whom she admitted by a pri- 
 vate entrance, and by their united assistance 
 Donna Isabella was made as comfortable as cu'- 
 cumstances would allow; but the woman gave her 
 opinion that the poor creature wanted some me- 
 dical aid to reanimate exhausted natiu'e, which 
 she said she could immediately procure ; and the 
 duenna, feaAl lest the rank of the fair invalid 
 should be suspected, readily embraced the pro- 
 posal, and after further consultation the woman 
 agreed, on her return, to take the infant under 
 her own care for a time, the duenna promising to 
 see her paid; and with this understandmg the 
 former hastened to leave the house in order to 
 obtain the medicine, whilst the duenna accompa- 
 nied her thi'ough the diiFerent rooms to let her 
 out. It was their footsteps &c. which Don Fer- 
 nando heard. 
 
 On the duenna's return to the apartment, she 
 was struck with amazement and terror on finding 
 it empty. Scarcely knowing what she was about, 
 she rushed wildly through the chambers, the doors 
 of which Don Fernando had left open, but was 
 quickly arrested in her speed by the sound of 
 voices; and now it was she discovered, by several 
 and exclamations, the whole fatal truth ; and the 
 next instant seeing the Duke of Aranda crossing
 
 O'O JHE OATJI or ALLKCJIANCE. 
 
 the gallery, she fled tu her own room, uiid collect- 
 ing those valualjles wliich belonged exclusively to 
 herself, including the rich ])resents given her by 
 Don Pedro Montilla, she hastily, and in the 
 greatest alann, left the house, not daring to stay 
 to be questioned, believing that the exasperated 
 and deeply injured Don Fernando would hurl 
 instant ruin upon her head, or shut her up for life 
 in a convent, as a just punishment for her ingrati- 
 tude and baseness. 
 
 By this event every circumstance connected 
 with Don Pedro remained a profound secret; and 
 Don Fernando, to his exti'eme mortification and 
 disaj)pointment, could find nothing which could 
 in any way lead to a discovery of who was 
 the betrayer of his daughter's honour. Donna 
 Victoria, in searching the private drawer of a 
 cabinet Avhicli stood in her sister's bed-room, 
 found the purse which Don Pedro had left upon 
 the table in the pavilion. As she had never seen 
 this before, she was somewhat surprised, and the 
 name of Victoria doubled her perplexity; never- 
 theless, here was nothing which could really elu- 
 cidate the mystery; she therefore placed it amongst 
 her own private property, and made no mention 
 of the circumstance either to Don Fernando or 
 the duke.
 
 THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. 61 
 
 A short time after this melancholy affair, the 
 duke and his lady took an affectijig leave of Don 
 Fernando, who had resolved on a life of retire- 
 ment, and hastened to their palace of Aranda. 
 In less than a twelvemonth Donna Victoria pre- 
 sented her husband with a lovely boy, whom 
 they named Antonio'; and about this period, by 
 mutual consent, the infant child of Isabella and 
 her nurse Gilletta took ujd their residence at the 
 palace. Nothing coidd exceed the surprise of 
 the duke and Donna Victoria on beholding the 
 extraordinary graces which bloomed in the coun- 
 tenance of the little orphan, together with an 
 enchanting intelligence far beyond her age. " Oh 
 may the blessed Virgin protect thy matchless 
 beauty, and ever shield thy spotless innocence 
 from the ruinous approach of the artful and de- 
 signing betrayer, and from the dangerous sus- 
 ceptibility of thy unfortunate mother !" said Donna 
 Victoria, as the tear of deep regret and painful 
 remembrance gathered in her eyes; '^ I will be to 
 thee a mother, a fond mother, and thou shalt share 
 w^ith my Antonio my caresses and my favour, and 
 as thou art the child of her whom I dearly loved, 
 thou shalt be the child of my adoption, the child 
 of my affection, over whose peace and endearing 
 virtues I will watch with maternal anxietv."
 
 6^ THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 And tmly did Donna Victoria act up to this 
 determination and to the generous dictates of her 
 own heart: the babe was called Lucilla, and was 
 introduced to the duke's household as his ward 
 and orphan relation, who was, in every respect, 
 to look upon himself and Donna Victoria as her 
 parents.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 63 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A YEAR and a half had glided away uninter- 
 ruptedly, and without alloy, save the duke's occa- 
 sional visits to the court of Madrid, as affairs of 
 state demanded his presence and attention, when 
 he was unexpectedly summoned to attend Charles 
 in an expedition against the French king, Henry I. 
 On his reconnoitring the troops, in company with 
 Prince Philip and several officers of high note, 
 a woman with six children threw themselves be- 
 fore him in all the power of unaffected grief. The 
 duke, with a look of surprise, but in a feeling 
 voice, demanded their business. The woman, 
 with a flood of tears, pointed to a private in the 
 front ranks, whose countenance bore the stamp of
 
 64 THE OATH 01" ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 extreme dejection. The duke quickly coinine- 
 hended the whole, and approaching the man, 
 asked him if he wished to be discharged. 
 
 " My inclinations lead me to light for my 
 country's glory, my lord," he replied, *' but na- 
 ture is predominant ; my wife and babes depend 
 upon my honest industry for subsistence." 
 
 " You are free, then," said the duke, " and arc 
 at perfect liberty to return home with your 
 family ;" at the same time, draw in g out his purse, 
 he presented the children with several pieces of 
 gold. 
 
 Applauses rent the air, and the joyful family, 
 with thanks and blessings, departed ; but the 
 duke's attention was now drawn another way, for 
 he saw with amazement that the purse which he 
 held in his hand was not his own. 
 
 "My lord, the emperor approaches," said Prince 
 Philip, as he hastily drew near the duke. The 
 duke started. " Ah !" exclaimed Philip, eyehig 
 the purse, " methinks that purse in the hands of 
 a wanton dame would tempt a king to turn plun- 
 derer, duke." 
 
 " Prince, your w^ords, as usual, are obscure and 
 uncourteous ; I understand them not." 
 
 " Then take this to boot. I have no wife, but 
 when I deign to wed, it shall be to a virgin bred
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. (35 
 
 in the icy temple of impregnable chastity," re- 
 turned Philip, with a satirical air. 
 
 " Confusion ! But why should the ambiguous 
 language of a stripling unman a Spaniard and a 
 noble ?" remarked the duke coolly. 
 
 " A stripling ! haughty duke " 
 
 Here the king happily interrupted this short 
 and singular dialogue ; but it threw a gloom over 
 the duke's feelings for several days, as this was 
 not the first time that Philip had used a peculiar 
 mode of si3eech tending to perplex and harass 
 his mind ; and it was obvious to the duke that his 
 intentions w^ere hostile, and that he only waited 
 for an op2)ortunity to tempt him to a quarrel. 
 
 After a few months' absence, the Spaniards re- 
 turned to Madrid crowned with victory, and the 
 king, to announce his pleasure and receive the 
 congratulations of his subjects and grandees, and 
 commemorate the event, gave a splendid feast. 
 The duke, more acquainted with the generous 
 virtues of active benevolence, and the social and 
 moral duties of civil and domestic life, than with 
 the luxuries of the table, retired early, and, 
 mounting his horse, set forward towards that 
 home which contained all that he loved and 
 valued, whilst Pedro, who had been long and 
 tenderly attached to Gilletla, felt a happiness
 
 66 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 little short of his master's, at the idea of again 
 sitting down in peace and comfort with the object 
 of his affections. What a frightful disappoint- 
 ment followed these bright calculations of bliss 
 has already been shown. 
 
 Pedro, in mourning over the accumulated mis- 
 fortunes of a master to whom he was most ar- 
 dently attached, in a great measure forgot his 
 own; for though he kncAv but little of philoso- 
 phical reasoning, or the maxims of jiolite folly, 
 yet he was a faithful servant and a true friend. 
 
 The duke, in the privacy of his own chamber, 
 brought to his recollection the extraordinary in- 
 cident of the purse ; how it came into his posses- 
 sion, and to whom it belonged, were matters to 
 him equally mysterious, yet he knew he must have 
 brought it from home, and unknowingly taken it 
 in lieu of his own ; but that it did not originally 
 belong to his wife was evident, from the amorous 
 effusion on one side ; although the motto on the 
 other appeared to authenticate the idea, that there 
 was something of a connexion and of a nature 
 that was repugnant to his feelings to reflect upon : 
 to deem her artfid and unchaste was madness, 
 fully to exculpate her was refusing to make use 
 of apparently strong evidence. In short, the duke 
 was completely bewildered; he had before weighed
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 67 
 
 this subject in his mind, but as he considered it 
 both absurd and dishonourable to award judg- 
 ment ere he could adduce proofs of error, he 
 waived his anxiety and conjectures; and the 
 more easily, as he had no hesitation in believing 
 that Donna Victoria would not refuse to explain 
 what at present appeared to him so dark and 
 disagreeable. His adventure in the forest, and 
 the loss of his family, had now actually set aside 
 the so-much desired elucidation of this intricate 
 affair. Taken by surprise, and impatient of delay, 
 he had, in the hurry of the moment, given his 
 purse to the robber ; and not till it was too late 
 did the importance of the loss he had unwittingly 
 sustained recur to his memory, together with 
 the prediction which he had hitherto treated as 
 wild and ludicrous. That the thief did prefer the 
 purse to the money w^as certain, but why he did 
 so was a mystery, and, like the rest, utterly 
 beyond his comprehension : it was true, the purse 
 was valuable, much more so than purses usually 
 are ; but how should the man know that, for there 
 was no time to examine the quality ; and sup- 
 posing he did, why throw the contents at the duke 
 with an air of such extreme haughtiness and 
 decided contempt? 
 
 Fatigued with thoughts like these, mixed with
 
 b» THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the most acute sensations on account of the total 
 extinction of all those domestic endearments which 
 had constituted his felicity, the duke passed most 
 of his time in business ; and even in those hours 
 which should have been dedicated to repose, he 
 found but a transitory respite from misery. 
 
 But distressed as he was with the united emo- 
 tions of grief, indignation, and despair, he could 
 not avoid noticing that, in a few^ weeks, the 
 general system of public courtesies seemed to 
 assume another aspect, and his calamities, like 
 the plague, appeared to spread contagion around 
 him. The king became thoughtful, restless, and 
 reserved ; sudden starts of internal agitation, fol- 
 lowed by looks of solemnity and deep nuni- 
 nations, announced that something of high mo- 
 ment had deranged, and thrown into confusion, 
 the supreme greatness of his mind and temper; 
 w^hilst his attendants, partaking of their monarch's 
 gloom, though strangers to the cause, moved fi-om 
 one apartment to another, silent, abstracted, and 
 mutually concluding that something prodigious 
 and extraordinary would follow these profound 
 intellectual soliloquies. Nor were they deceived ; 
 for the king, as though waking from a reverie, on 
 the event of which depended the salvation of his 
 empire, with a countenance on which was depicted
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 09 
 
 deep and mysterious characters, issued a royal 
 decree for the immediate assembling of the princes 
 and states of Germany, together with the gran- 
 dees, cardinals, archbishops, and other great 
 officers of the kingdom of Spain, &c., his majesty 
 intending to abdicate the crown in the presence 
 of his people. 
 
 As the royal order went forth, a kind of deli- 
 rium, pregnant wdth amazement, apprehension, 
 and terror, seized all ranks of people ; some were 
 filled with gloomy anticipation, secret terror, and 
 ill-disguised impatience; many were affected with 
 violent fevers, unable to cope with their passions 
 and consternation, or divert the channel of their 
 political ideas ; others, as though bitten by the 
 tarantula, ran about in wild agitation and un- 
 equalled astonishment not to be described; and 
 the shock, like an universal commotion, passed 
 the frontiers of nations, filling all the powers of 
 Europe with anxiety, wonder, and curiosity. 
 
 One night, previous to the meeting of the 
 courts, the cause of which had filled every breast 
 with such poignant sorrow and surprise, the Duke 
 of Aranda, on entering his chamber, threw open 
 the lattice, and took a hasty survey of the sur- 
 rounding atmosphere, which teemed with a thick 
 and portentous gloom, mixed with sulphureous
 
 70 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 exhalations, whilst in the far distant horizon rose 
 clouds of prodigious blackness, that rolled their 
 immeasurable bulk along the sky, and in a few 
 minutes discharged their liquid fires, whose ter- 
 rific flashes, with incessant blaze, effulgently lit 
 up the far embodied air, followed by a tremendous 
 explosion that thundered along the heavens, and 
 rattling above the head, shook the palace to its 
 foundation. At the same instant a red-hot bolt, 
 bordered with spiry lightnings, like the broad 
 wings of the flaming cherubim, descended on 
 on that side of the palace parallel with his apart- 
 ment, and with an instantaneous crash overthrew 
 the splendid balconies and gilded palisades. The 
 duke, alarmed, and struck with the awfulness of 
 the scene, rushed into the gallery, where he met 
 the king, attended by several of his princes and 
 grandees, who, in the height of consternation 
 and profound awe, were crowding round his 
 person. 
 
 " Alas, sire !" exclaimed the duke, " are the 
 heavens hung with omens, and is this tremendous 
 uproar, which threatens annihilation to affrighted 
 nature, the augury of impending fate, on whose 
 mysterious front, perhaps, rests the fatal and un- 
 propitious balance, wherein the deeds and quali- 
 ties of Spain in future will be weighed ?"
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 71 
 
 " Man cannot comprehend infinite majesty, or 
 kings read the signs of the Zodiac," replied 
 Charles, with solemnity ; " but thy sovereign hath 
 a soul which must shortly pass the confines of 
 eternity, and happy will it be for him should the 
 angel of peace, ere he reaches that fearful and 
 unlimited barrier, meet him with the olive-branch. 
 A young plant beareth honours, but a withered 
 stem encumbereth the ground : as an intricate 
 question to a dull mind, so are the cares of go- 
 vernment to him whose spirit panteth for retire- 
 ment." 
 
 " Oh, Sj^ain ! Spain ! already, methinks, thy sun 
 is set, thy glories all obscured, thy privileges de- 
 stroyed, thy constitution shaken, and all thy 
 shining deeds overshadowed with perpetual dark- 
 ness!" whispered the duke to himself, as he fol- 
 lowed the king to an apartment where the bishoj:) 
 of the household performed mass. In the inter- 
 mediate time the fury of the tempest abated, the 
 skies cleared, and the air resumed its serenity ; 
 but the duke, groaning with the pressure of his 
 own sorrows, and trembling for the country he 
 loved, felt a tempest within his breast which it 
 was impossible to subdue. Vainly had the duke 
 knelt at the king's feet, vainly had he implored 
 him to take compassion on his people's agonies,
 
 7*2 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 and forego his terrible resolves; the emperor, 
 though moved almost to tears at these proofs of 
 his attachment and deep concern, in this instance 
 was deaf to his importunities, and, pressing his 
 hand with a tender but decided look, declared 
 that the purpose of his soul was imalterably 
 fixed. 
 
 The day at length arrived which ushered in an 
 event the most unexpected, the most tremendous 
 and important. The emperor entered the cham- 
 ber, magnificently hung with cloth of gold, 
 with a firm step and an air of more than usual 
 majesty. He was dressed in his royal robes, and 
 by his side was suspended the hereditary sword 
 of Spain,* blazing with jewels, whilst the imperial 
 diadem encircled his noble and elevated fore- 
 head. 
 
 First in order appeared a high ecclesiastic 
 of supreme authority, arrayed in his robes of 
 state, and decorated with all the splendid in- 
 signia of his office, bearing a crucifix, and a 
 golden jar of incense, followed by others, accord- 
 ing to their several degrees. Next in succes- 
 sion, far above the heads of the assembly, rose 
 the imperial eagle, together with the arms and 
 
 * The kings of Spain are not crowned, })iit invested with a 
 sword.
 
 THE OATTI OF ALLEGIANCE. 73 
 
 mottoes of Spain, and the different kingdoms (Sec. 
 of which Charles was the sovereign. 
 
 Not less conspicuous for importance and cere- 
 monious dignity, came the grand commissary for 
 the electors,* invested with the badge of state, and 
 holding in one hand the symbol of his office, and 
 in the other the diploma containing the unanimous 
 votes, seals, &c., of those who were not present, 
 succeeded by other pompous personages peculiar 
 to the occasion. 
 
 In the centre, on either side of the emperor, 
 agreeably to etiquette, appeared a gay retinue of 
 princes and grandees, amongst whom, royally 
 attired, was Philip, Prince of Asturias, and the 
 Archduke Ferdinand, Charles's brother, and 
 moving collectively and bringing up the rear was 
 a vast train of nobility, counts, marquises, clergy, 
 &c. Centuries had not witnessed such an imposing 
 spectacle as that which was here presented. 
 
 After the king had taken his seat, the illus- 
 trious personages ranged themselves in order. 
 Philip, and the primate of Spain, ambassadors 
 and grandees, on the one hand, over whose hatsf 
 waved a rich plumage, the former looped with 
 diamonds, emeralds, &c. On the other, Ferdi- 
 
 * At this period seven in number, 
 f The grandees of Spain stand covered before tlie kinrr. 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 74 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 nand, the diet or princes of Germany, electors, 
 archbishops, and cardinals, whilst at the foot of 
 the throne appeared the remainder, a powerful 
 body, all preserving a mournful silence, and wait- 
 ing in fearful expectation for the speech of their 
 sovereign. 
 
 Charles, observing the eloquent sorrow so con- 
 spicuous on the countenance of each, after a few 
 minutes' painful meditation, thus addressed the 
 assembly : — 
 
 " Princes, grandees, and all my loving subjects, 
 — It is not our design this day, intentionally, to 
 move, either by gestures, or eloquent and pathetic 
 language, your feelings and affections, but to 
 spealv with that decency, perspicuity, and concise- 
 ness, which becomes a sovereign on the point of 
 laying aside the ensigns of royalty and of adopt- 
 ing the humble garb of a recluse. 
 
 " For this reason, your emperor and Iving, now, 
 and for the last time, appears before you in all the 
 pomp and radiant glory of an imperial monarch, 
 and the father of his people, that they may see with 
 what dignity, with what firmness and greatness of 
 soul, a potent and victorious sovereign can divest 
 himself (when inspired by the divine grace of one 
 far more powerful, whose dominions are unlimited, 
 and whose throne is illuminated with the rays of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 75 
 
 immortality) of all the exalted privileges of his 
 birth, of the eclat of reputation, the avowed 
 allurements of flattery, and the soft luxuries of 
 unlimited gratifications. 
 
 " During a long reign of upwards of forty 
 years, a tumultuous ambition, an insatiable desire 
 to be termed the conqueror of kingdoms, to be en- 
 rolled, and to stand conspicuously eminent, in the 
 annals of nations, together with the proud dis- 
 tinction of fixing on the brows of a generous, 
 loyal, and martial people, a wreath of unfading 
 honour and immortal glory, have been the excite- 
 ment to actions whose fame has been recognised 
 on the shores of remote kingdoms, loaded our 
 altars with treasures, and made the enemies of 
 the Spanish name tremble at the echo of our foot- 
 steps, and the din of our triumphant army. 
 
 " But in the midst of successful enterprise, the 
 subjugation of states and principalities, the ex- 
 tending our territories, and making arrogant and 
 unchristian princes subordinate to our power, we 
 have had an eye to the private welfare of our sub- 
 jects, to their ancient liberties, and to tlic advan- 
 tages of a free and independent government — a 
 government unrivalled in deeds, unequalled in 
 wealth, and unmatched for a religion at once pure, 
 holy, and miraculous. 
 
 E 2
 
 76 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " The reign of Charlemagne, that renowned 
 chieftain and king, was distinguished for vigour, 
 superior authority, and military exploit ; he sub- 
 dued provinces, conquered nations, and became, 
 by his wisdom and ability, undisputed lord of a 
 vast empire. But, in this age, his achievements, 
 his honour, and fame, put in competition with ours, 
 are but as an inferior satellite on the sun's disk. 
 
 " Of what materials, then, must that monarch 
 be made who voluntarily resigns the meed of 
 praise, the symbol of victory, and all the pageantry 
 and glory pertaining to a prince so highly favoured, 
 and so conscious of his power? 
 
 " But the noblest act of a sovereign is, not the 
 taking up of his dignity, and wearing those ho- 
 nours which are the marks of his greatness, but in 
 calmly laying them down, and in the midst of his 
 prosperity, in the midst of a loyal people, and in 
 the meridian of all his glory, lifting from his temples 
 with his own hands the imperial crown, which he 
 now abdicates ; but with the flattering idea that 
 the princes of Germany will allow it to glitter on 
 the head of his son, Philip, Prince of Asturias, to 
 whom he transfers it, without exception, in the pre- 
 sence of his nobility, Spain, and the Netherlands, 
 and all the dignities annexed thereto, merely re- 
 serving for liimself a small pension sufRciont to
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 77 
 
 support him in that retirement and solitude to 
 ^Yhich he is going, and where he intends to s])end 
 the remnant of his days, and to carry ^Yith him the 
 grateful recollection of his people's love and 
 fidelity." 
 
 As Charles uttered tJie latter part of this ad- 
 dress he descended from his throne, took the 
 crown from his head, and placing it uj^on a cushion, 
 threw off his hingly robes, and delivering up the 
 sword with which he was inaugurated to Philip, 
 and whose succession to the throne of Spain none 
 attempted to dispute, he stood before the august 
 assembly uncovered, and attired as a private gen- 
 tleman, f 
 
 Till this moment every tongue was mute, every 
 eye fixed, and every ear eagerly attentive to catch 
 the slightest w^ord; but when this vast assem- 
 blage of princes beheld their late beloved sove- 
 reign standing bareheaded, and plainly dressed, 
 stripped of all his royal glories, and the high 
 prerogatives of his birth, an universal burst of 
 anguish ascended to the roof; several of the 
 grandees and nobles, unable to struggle with the 
 awfulness of the shock, swooned away; others, 
 overcome with acute grief, and tlie horrors of 
 anticipated persecutions, stood pale and aghast, 
 like persons under tlic influence of some terrible
 
 78 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 enchantment ; many melted into tears, and, with 
 undisguised affliction and unspeakaLle disorder, 
 threw themselves at Charles's feet, embracing his 
 knees, and kissing the venerable hand extended 
 to raise them. 
 
 Charles, in spite of his extraordinary compo- 
 sure and heroism, became pale and agitated as he 
 witnessed these affecting marks of their attach- 
 ment, and saw the reluctance with which they 
 withdrew that homage they had been accustomed 
 to pay him. 
 
 In short, the confusion and distress were so 
 great and general, and the dread of Philip's power 
 so decided, that for more than an hour nothing 
 could be heard but sighs and groans, and excla- 
 mations of deep sorrow and regret. 
 
 At length the tumult subsided, and order was 
 in some measure restored, when the grand com- 
 missary, bowing profoundly, deliberately unfolded 
 the diploma, whilst Philip, carelessly leaning upon 
 his sword, and sparkling with the regalia of his 
 newly acquired honours, fixed an eye of eager 
 expectation and delight on the imperial diadem. 
 A thousand agreeable emotions and ecstatic ideas 
 threw an alluring beauty over his countenance ; 
 and the su})erbness of his habit, with the negli- 
 gence of his attitude, gave to his youihful person 
 a most inviting air of majesty and grace.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 79 
 
 But, oh ! disappointment not to be conceived, 
 mortification scarcely to be endiu'ed, the electors, 
 severally, and mutually, and with ceremonious 
 prolixity, nominated Ferdinand, Archduke of Aus- 
 tria, as successor to the imperial crown. Charles 
 had, prior to this meeting, privately endeavoured 
 to prevail on the princes to elect Philip, but from 
 their hesitation and general demeanour he was 
 half inclined to expect the reverse; but these 
 ideas, for political reasons, he had confined to his 
 own breast; nevertheless, his feelings and sensa- 
 tions as a father were acute, particularly on be- 
 holding the effect such a decision had upon the be- 
 haviour of his son, who, as the last words sounded 
 in his ears, and the fiattering structure of his 
 ambitious hopes fell to the ground, quickly lost 
 tlie appearance of that deceitful calm which had 
 but a few minutes before given such unwonted 
 harmony to his features. A fearful maliciousness 
 lowered upon his brow, his eyes shot forth demo- 
 niac fires, and his whole form trembled with the 
 convulsions of his rage, as he menacingly lifted 
 his SAVord, and thundered out his denunciations. 
 
 " Ye fools ! ye German boors ! disgorged from 
 the pit of heretical perdition !" exclaimed Philip, 
 fixing his eyes scornfully on the electors, " thus 
 to cross the succession, and tear from the son of 
 your emperor his rightful power. May direful fac-
 
 80 THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 tioiis, thunders, and eartliquakus, rend the em])iic 
 asunder, and the mighty Danube, like the general 
 deluge, ingulf ye in its roaring whirlpools !" 
 
 As he uttered these words, he rushed wildly 
 from the presence of the dismayed assembly, while 
 the distressed father apologized for his violence, 
 observing, that the keenness of disappointment, 
 acting upon a lofty and impatient spirit, excited 
 resentfid and imprincely ideas, which the cool 
 dictates of reason would speedily conquer. 
 
 The court noW separated, and Charles, after 
 remaining some time at the palace, accompanied 
 by Philip, and a numerous train of nobility, set 
 off, and travelled from one place to another for 
 several months. 
 
 In the meantime the humble habitation which 
 in future was to be the boundary of his wishes 
 was finished, and the arrangements completed 
 agreeably to his own instructions; he therefore 
 prej)ared to take possession, and as soon as he 
 landed in Spain, and was within two days' journey 
 of his destination, he selected from his retinue 
 twelve domestics, including the Duke of Aranda, 
 who had begged to be admitted as a companion 
 in his solitude. 
 
 Philij), now rememberhig what he owed to his 
 father's bounty, and that he was on the point of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 81 
 
 being separated from him for ever, \Yitli one knee 
 bent to the ground, respectfully craved his bless- 
 ing. Charles, in the plenitude of his love, and 
 with an aspect of benign greatness, fell upon his 
 son's neck, and, embracing him tenderly, gave 
 him the desired boon, together with many solemn 
 and impressive admonitions, and then hastened, 
 without further delay, to reach the place of his 
 retreat. 
 
 As Charles now travelled without either pomp 
 or ostentation, and chose the most unfrequented 
 way to pursue his journey, he flattered himself 
 that his humble equipage and escort would re- 
 main unobserved; but, contrary to his expecta- 
 tions, he was soon recognised, and hailed with 
 tears, blessings, and exclamations of piercing 
 sorrow and respect, whilst many persons of high 
 dignity, in mournful silence, and in all the elo- 
 quence of profound grief, strewed the road through 
 which he passed with flowers and aromatic shrubs, 
 and otherwise showed every mark of the most 
 profound veneration. 
 
 Charles, scarcely able to bear so moving a 
 sight, sometimes answered their aliecting saluta- 
 tions and expressions of solicitude with kindness 
 and condescension ; at others he covered his face 
 with his hands, endeavouring to exclude those 
 E 3
 
 82 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 sights wliicli for a few moments undermined his 
 fortitude. 
 
 On his arriving at the asylum in question,* 
 situated far remote from the folhes of the world, 
 and the cares of greatness, he entered the apart- 
 ment which was to be his ordinary sitting-room, 
 where, falling upon his knees, and bowing his 
 face to the ground, he uttered these words : — 
 
 " Lord ! to thy divine protection and clemency 
 I now commit myself; assisted by thy goodness 
 I have renounced the snares of greatness and the 
 tumults of ambition ; confined to this little spot 
 of earth, and buried in solitude, I may cheerfidly 
 wait the approaches of death without apprehen- 
 sion. Here may the fatigued soul find rest, and 
 the unreflecting heart repair its remissness by 
 living in all the glory of virtue." 
 
 As Charles rose from his humble posture he 
 put on a smiling air, and looking affectionately 
 on those around him, drew them severally to the 
 windows, and pointed out to their observation 
 various beauties which bounded the prospect. 
 
 " Father of mercies!" exclaimed the Duke of 
 
 * According to authors it consisted only of six rooms, all 
 upon the ground floor, and furnished in the plainest manner 
 possible, with a neat garden, filled with plants and slirubs of 
 various descriptions.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 83 
 
 Aranda, clasping his hands with a sudden burst 
 of anguish, " is this lowly habitation, and this 
 little vale, scattered over with a few trees, and 
 watered by a brook, all that a great sovereign 
 hath reserved for himself out of so many splendid 
 palaces, and so vast an empire !" 
 
 " My dear duke, you ponder upon this subject 
 too deeply," said Charles, with unreserved kind- 
 ness and concern. " I resigned my greatness be- 
 cause it became troublesome, and prevented me 
 from enjoying or fully comprehending the per- 
 fections of the Deity. I turned my back upon 
 the splendours and luxuries of a court because 
 the sense of gratification was satiated; I grew 
 wearied with its baneful and seductive pleasures, 
 and the awful weight of a crown; I longed for 
 an interval of ease ; I languished for the refresh- 
 ing slumbers of a devout tranquillity; my soul 
 panted to be released from the gaudy scenes 
 that filled it with perpetual disquietude. How 
 often has the beauty and fi'agrance of my royal 
 apartment melted me into sadness! How often, 
 as my crowned head pressed the downy pillow, 
 have I said to myself, ' Oh that I had wings 
 like a dove !' I come not here a martyr. I come 
 not here as one who has nobly conquered his 
 passions and subdued ungratified desu'cs; no, it
 
 Si THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 is not only a voluntary act, but is most dclighttul 
 to my soul; it is like the balmy dew of evening 
 on the parched herbage; it is like a bed of 
 roses to the exhausted traveller. Oh, could you 
 know how light my heart feels; could you be 
 conscious how elastic are my shoulders now 
 they are relieved from such a burden of cares! 
 Already, methinks, I begin to feel the genial in- 
 fluence of this kindly soil; already my faculties 
 appear to have acquired fresh vigour, and my 
 nerves to be newly strung. Like Eve in the garden 
 of Paradise, I look at myself and wonder; every 
 tree seems to invite me to repose, and every 
 breeze to carry with it the voice of melody. My 
 couch is not gold, neither does its drapery sparkle 
 with the choicest gems, but it holds out charms far 
 more captivating — and peace, peace, is inscribed 
 in living characters upon its humble canopy. Re- 
 joice with me then, my dear friend, that I have 
 entered this sanctuary — that I have embraced 
 substantial joys, and released myself from the 
 dangerous diversions and arduous pursuits of a 
 king." 
 
 " Exalted sir," returned the duke, with admira- 
 tion, " may the Holy ^'irgin grant that your royal 
 breast may find that ease, and teem with those 
 subUme joys, for which an earthly diadem has
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA>XE. bo 
 
 been sacrificed. Your highness has indeed left 
 the company of princes to commune with angels, 
 and the grandeur of a court for the glories of 
 heaven. Would I could copy from my royal 
 master ; would I could lie down upon my simple 
 couch with equal triumph, and the soothing luxury 
 of newly-found happiness ! But, oh ! confusion ! 
 the distemper of my soul admits of no alleviation; 
 a chilly sickness creeps through my veins ; I drag 
 on a comfortless existence with the direful con- 
 viction that the objects of my tenderest care are 
 lost to me for ever. In the visions of fancy, me- 
 thinks I hear their imploring accents — I hear 
 their cries to me for help — I see the uplifted 
 dagger of the assassin, and view the crackling 
 flames curling round their beauteous forms. Alas ! 
 does thy eternal justice sleep ? or are there no 
 punishments in the records of vengeance for such 
 monstrous and sanguinary deeds ?" 
 
 As Charles knew, from experience, that this sub- 
 ject would not bear discussion, he judiciously 
 dropped the conversation, and seeing the table 
 spread with refreshments, invited the duke to 
 partake of the repast, which consisted simply of 
 chocolate, cakes, dried fruits, and honey. 
 
 " This is not food for a king," observed Charles, 
 smiling; '-but 'tis food for a rational being, 'tis
 
 86 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 food for those who are temperate and moderate 
 in their desires, who would not pall the appetite 
 with superfluous luxuries, or weaken the intellect 
 by intoxicating liquids." 
 
 On the conclusion of the meal, Charles was 
 informed that several gentlemen of distinction 
 residing in the vicinity begged to be allowed to 
 pay their respects. 
 
 " Admit them by all means," replied Charles ; 
 " I have renounced my kingdoms, but not my 
 friends; and though I now consider myself as 
 dead to the world, I am neither a cynic nor a stoic, 
 but shall be accessible at all times, when not 
 engaged in devotional exercises." 
 
 The company now entered and paid their de- 
 voirs in a manner more consistent with his former 
 greatness than his present situation ; but Charles 
 courteously corrected their obsequiousness, say- 
 ing, " I am no longer monarch, but your compeer; 
 I have renounced the ceremony of jirinces, and 
 am content to be esteemed as a fellow-subject." 
 
 After some desultory discourse, Charles led the 
 way to his garden, which was divided into beds, 
 and ornamented and arranged with the most 
 agreeable simplicity, with shady walks that in- 
 vited meditation, and banks profuse with flowers 
 of the finest odouis and the most perfect beauty.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 87 
 
 At the bottom was a clear fountain, which over- 
 flowed its basin and ran in a crystal stream 
 amongst the lively perfmnes of natm'e, whilst its 
 pensive echoes were the only interruption to that 
 silence which would otherwise have reigned un- 
 molested in this bowery retirement. 
 
 During the remainder of the visit, Charles 
 entertained his guests with many pleasing and 
 profound remarks on the maxims and pursuits of 
 mankind, of the vanity of all human grandeur, 
 and the folly of ambitious projects, accompanied 
 with a sweetness and urbanity of manners known 
 only to those who are truly great.
 
 88 TliE OATH 01' ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Early the next morning, ere Nature had risen 
 from her verdant bed, or the shining herald of the 
 East had sounded the symphonies of heaven, the 
 Duke of Aranda was awakened from an unquiet 
 slumber by strains of sacred music in concert with a 
 voice, which, though neither clear nor remarkable 
 for harmony, was deeply impressive, and blended 
 with a melting softness that announced peace and 
 the full enjoyment of divine confidence. 
 
 The duke for a moment forgot his sorrows; he 
 became wrapt in pleasing attention. It was 
 Charles offering up his orisons, and chanting a 
 morning hymn to the Deity. " Glorious man ! 
 how enviable is thy hapijiness, how bright the 
 distinction of thy iovs ! Oh! when will the lumi-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 8.0 
 
 naritiS of hope dawn upon my soul ?" exclaimed 
 the duke, ay he caught the following stanzas : — 
 
 " Hail, mighty Sov'reign, Lord and King, 
 Thou Source, whom we adore, 
 A cheerful sacrifice I bring, 
 And praise thee evermore. 
 
 And ere the sun, with golden beams, 
 
 Illumes each rosy bower, 
 I rouse me from my early dreams 
 
 To bless thy vital power. 
 
 I haste to banquet in thy love, 
 
 A votary at thy throne, 
 A candidate for joys above. 
 
 For excellence unknown. 
 
 Methinks, athwart yon radiant space, 
 
 AVhcre seraphs sing and shine, 
 I can behold thy glorious face 
 
 And see thy hand divine. 
 
 Ecstatic truth ! yes, thou art there, 
 
 A potent Friend to all, 
 And answer'st to our humble prayer 
 
 AVhene'er we choose to call. 
 
 Then hail, thou Sov'reign, Lord and King, 
 
 Thou Source, whom we adore, 
 A constant sacrifice I'll bring. 
 
 And love thee evermore."
 
 90 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 As the last cadence died away, the duke left his 
 couch, and, undrawing the curtains to admit the 
 light, began to arrange his toilet without the aid 
 of Pedro, who had received permission to attend 
 him in this retirement, and who was still sleeping 
 soundly upon his pallet. Pedro had lost Gillette, 
 and, in losing her, had lost the greatest part of 
 his enjoyment; he, therefore, was perfectly indif- 
 ferent as to where he resided, provided he was 
 allowed to remain with his master. 
 
 As soon as the duke had finished dressing and 
 the duties of j^rayer, he hastened to join Charles, 
 who, having completed his own devotions, was 
 quietly reading in his sitting-room. As he 
 entered, Charles held out his hand with a smiling 
 and serene air; and the duke, whose heart still 
 fluttered with the feelings excited by the har- 
 mony he had heard, caught it with extraordinary 
 emotion, exclaiming — " Oh, sir! surely this place 
 is the dwelling of angels, and the presence of God 
 is here." 
 
 " I hope so, I hope so," replied Charles, with 
 fervour, piously crossing himself, and lifting up 
 his eyes to heaven — and at this instant a sudden 
 ray of rosy light darted from the sky, and illu- 
 minating his countenance, gave to its venerable 
 outline a more than usual degree of beauty.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 91 
 
 Charles, in company "svitli the duke, now went 
 into the garden, where he pointed out, as they 
 walked leisurely along, several improvements 
 which he intended to make. " I can see clearly," 
 said Charles, " that betwixt gardening, receiving 
 a few friends, riding out, and religious exercises, 
 I shall have but little time for ennui." 
 
 " Gardening !" repeated the duke ; " is it pos- 
 sible that your highness intends to fill up the 
 hours with such laborious occupations?" 
 
 " And why not ? Placed in this charming re- 
 tirement, the cultivation of animated nature will 
 not only be a pleasing recreation, but beneficial 
 to health," returned Charles. " Sowing, trans- 
 planting, pruning the vines, or even turning up 
 the earth, will enliven the spirits, brace the 
 nerves, and give an agreeable zest to more in- 
 ferior amusements." 
 
 The duke started, and looked at Charles with 
 apprehensive concern. 
 
 " I understand your feelings, my dear duke, 
 and am flattered by your solicitude," he con- 
 tinued ; " but believe me, it is not the employ- 
 ment, but the novelty of it, which makes it ap- 
 pear so repugnant. You are aware that, in days 
 of old, our forefathers made plants and herbs 
 their peculiar study ; and even men of vast pos-
 
 V2 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 sessions tilled the ground, and followed agricul- 
 tural pursuits, deeming it a pleasing pastime to 
 consider the sources of nature, and j^ropagate the 
 generous qualities of the soil, which enabled them 
 fully to appreciate the bounties of Divine Provi- 
 dence." 
 
 " But, alas ! sir, these men, however rich, had 
 never been great conquerors or sovereigns of em- 
 pires." 
 
 " I admit it ; but in throwing off the habit of a 
 king, I threw off the delicacy of one ; I came here, 
 not only as a refuge from the cares of greatness, 
 but from that luxury w^hich is an enemy to virtue : 
 here I can live in a state of elegant simplicity, 
 and in all the enjoyment of pastoral innocence ; 
 here Solitude appears in no repellent form, nei- 
 ther does she wear the dismal garb of guilt and 
 sorrow^: in this charming region I can mingle 
 my early song with the chant of the visible and 
 invisible beings who attune their hallelujahs to 
 the Most High. The discord of princes, the 
 union of states, and the bustle of the political 
 world, with all their vain creations and mighty 
 projects, will alike pass unheeded, and be consi- 
 dered as things of too little moment to engage 
 the attention of one who aspires to hold Intel-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 93 
 
 lectual converse with the bright inhabitants of 
 eternal glory." 
 
 "Your highness has attained to that sublime 
 state of feeling which the world is ill able to 
 appreciate," replied the duke : " sentiments and 
 views like these can only be derived from deep 
 reflection, and superior wisdom." 
 
 " I do not claim pre-eminence, neither do I 
 pretend to have been unbiassed by selfish views," 
 returned Charles, gravely. " I have exchanged 
 the tumult of the world for peace, danger for secu- 
 rity, ambition for contentment, and an earthly 
 crown for the hope of a heavenly one : and what 
 king would not capitulate on such terms when the 
 balance is so much in his favour V 
 
 The duke bowed with an air of deep f'eeling, 
 and the conversation now taking a different turn, 
 they re-entered the house, where they found the 
 table prepared for breakfast, and where Charles 
 presided with that cheerfulness and benignity 
 which had the most delightful influence on the 
 actions and ideas of his little household. 
 
 Mild and unassuming, Charles continued to 
 pass his days without alloy, and without the 
 slightest inclination to become acquainted with 
 the bold designs and countless disputes which
 
 94 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 were agitating Europe, — although his humble 
 abode, hallowed by friendship and sacred to re- 
 pose, was sometimes cheered by the occasional 
 visits of several men of distinction, equally re- 
 markable for talents, wisdom, and piety, — when, 
 at the expiration of two years, he was suddenly 
 seized with a violent illness, which his physicians 
 pronounced mortal. 
 
 Charles received the information with the utmost 
 composure, and bowing his head, expressed his 
 entire resignation to the divine will. Gently 
 grasping the hand of the Duke of Aranda, he said 
 in a low tone, " Do you not, wath me, my dear 
 friend, admire the matchless goodness of that 
 Almighty Being who hath numbered the days of 
 man ? With w^hat a fatal surprise should 1 have 
 been overwhelmed had the ministers of death in- 
 terrupted me in my wild career of glory ! How 
 unprepared would my soul have been to have 
 answered so hasty a summons ! But now my mind 
 is fortified with hope, and gladdened with the 
 expectation of celestial joys : I have had time to 
 make my peace with God, and to acknowledge 
 before him the vanity of all human grandeur : not 
 in the very height of my earthly splendour, not in 
 the midst of my victories and triumph, did I ever
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 95 
 
 taste of those serene pleasures and pure delights 
 which have accompanied me here. In a diversity 
 of innocent amusements suited to my recluse life, 
 and in the engaging duties of devotion, have I 
 passed those hours which have winged themselves 
 away with the most agreeable haste. I am now 
 ready for that important change which is about to 
 take place ; I am now prepared to cross the fron- 
 tiers of that kingdom, within whose immeasurable 
 space there are glories for evermore. Then do 
 not regret my death, or let your generous affection 
 awaken a concern that may derange the noble 
 powers of your mind, which has already received 
 too severe a shock. Remember, I have a son — a 
 beloved son — who is aware of the wisdom of your 
 administration, and who has a right to expect your 
 aid in the cabinet. I acknowledge his errors, and 
 deeply lament them; but oh! my dear duke, he 
 was born a prince, and is a king ; and kings, 
 above all persons in existence, are the most to be 
 compassionated : their high dignity and the con- 
 spicuousness of their situations expose them to 
 imminent danger, whilst the arduous duties of the 
 state, beset with thorns and difficulties, obtrude 
 upon the privacy of their very chambers : then let 
 me implore you to be indulgent to his foibles,
 
 96 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 and let your talents and virtues act as a talisman 
 against those evils which naturallj- creep into the 
 intricacies of government ; and should any part of 
 his conduct excite reproach, or the cares of great- 
 ness transport him to acts of injustice, let not thy 
 allegiance to the house of Austria be shaken." 
 
 The duke, kissing a crucifix that hung from his 
 bosom, and devoutly crossing himself, exclaimed, 
 " I swear by this Cross, and by the Holy Trinity, 
 that no temporal consideration, no insult, no 
 \vrong from the hands of Philip, shall incline me 
 to withdraw my regards from his person and go- 
 vernment, or shake my allegiance to the house of 
 Austria." 
 
 " Enough," said Charles, smiling with evident 
 satisfaction. 
 
 A messenger was now dispatched to Philip, 
 who had just completed his espousals with Mary 
 of England, daughter of Henry the Eighth, to ap- 
 prise him of his father's danger. 
 
 In the meantime Charles received the holy 
 sacrament, according to the Romish church; and 
 finding his end rapidly approaching, he gave into 
 the duke's possession a letter, written with his 
 own hands, for his son Philip, and taking an ailec- 
 tionate and solemn leave of all his attendants, who 
 stood in mournful silence round his coucri, he
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 97 
 
 crossed his hands upon his bosom, and, in the 
 midst of a fervent ejaculation, his seraphic spirit 
 burst its earthly prison, and his eyes closed for 
 ever. 
 
 " There goes thy beauteous spirit, and my sole 
 remaining joy," exclaimed the duke, with a shud- 
 der of extreme grief, as the last sigh of mortality 
 breathed softly upon his ear. " Thou spirit of 
 great and illustrious deeds, thy matchless worth 
 and superior example shall be for ever enshrmed 
 in my soul — thy glorious precepts shall be as 
 lamps to enlighten the cheerless gloom of my 
 mortal destiny — farewell, my prince, my sovereign, 
 my generous master, my most exalted and dearest 
 friend, farewell." Here the duke, unable to com- 
 mand the agony of his feeling, wept abundantly, 
 while the domestics, kneeling round the couch, 
 continued to gaze with unutterable sorrow on the 
 hallowed remains of him whom they had so sin- 
 cerely revered. 
 
 Another express was sent off, ere the first had 
 reached the court, to announce the death of 
 Charles, which occasioned a general commotion 
 throughout Spain, and in every country where his 
 heroic virtues had excited admiration and reve- 
 rence. Philip, on receiving the intelligence, and 
 reading the letter written by his father, which had 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 been sent by the messenger, with apparent dis- 
 order and regret, issued his orders for the arrange- 
 ments of the funeral obsequies, and the noble 
 deceased was shortly interred in a manner agree- 
 ably to his own wishes, after which the duke, with 
 undisguised woe, and his person clothed in the 
 habiliments of mourning, hastened to pay his 
 more particular duty and respect to the king; but 
 to his surprise and confusion, Philip received him 
 w^ith a stern and lowering brow, as, retreating 
 from his approach, he exclaimed — 
 
 " The Duke of Aranda must be aware that his 
 conduct has long been obnoxious to the state, and 
 the effrontery of appearing before us, unsum- 
 moned, has only hastened the execution of those 
 designs which, fi*om respect to our royal father, 
 have been defeiTcd too long ; to his pernicious 
 influence and obloquy we owe the loss of the im- 
 perial crown, and to his insidious arts the dimi- 
 nution of those enjoyments sacred to private 
 feelings." 
 
 " Do I hear aright, or am I suddenly the victim 
 of strange fancies, shadowy, yet fatal to my 
 repose ?" returned the duke, fixing a look of 
 calm dignity upon Philip. " Is it the faithful 
 servant, the illustrious friend of the royal Charles 
 who is thus stigmatized, degraded, and ac-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 99 
 
 cusecl of deeds at which his soul revolts ? Con- 
 front me with the audacious coward who has pre- 
 sumed to poison the royal ear with tales like these, 
 and this august assembly will quickly see the power 
 of innocence over guilt." 
 
 " Thy king, thy injured sovereign, Philip of 
 Spain, is thy accuser," returned Philip; "he im- 
 peaches thee, Anthony Percy, Duke of Aranda, 
 of high treason, and of principles dangerous to the 
 public good." 
 
 " Then innocence may wear a face of horror 
 and Heaven itself turn pale," replied the duke 
 with an air of insulted rectitude, mixed with 
 rising indignation. "I stand before my king a 
 most true, loyal, and attached subject, as God 
 can attest, and a firm adherent to the house of 
 Austria ; but if your majesty allows an illustrious 
 and hitherto unblemished name to be slandered 
 and dishonoured, then kings do lack that justice 
 which is found common among men." 
 
 " Distraction ! do I live, and move a sovereign, 
 yet listen to language so irrelevant and reproach- 
 ful ? Ho, there, guards ! seize this traitor — this 
 haughty desperado, and consign him instantly to 
 solitude and chains." 
 
 " I swear by the Holy See, ho who contaminates 
 my person with the touch of violence shall die,'' 
 f2
 
 100 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 replied the duke, madly drawing his sword. " To 
 submit like a vile criminal, or a base slave, to have 
 my limbs manacled, and bound with ignominious 
 fetters ! Guards, and fellow^ men, I am the Duke 
 of Aranda, and the once-loved comj)anion of the 
 Emperor Charles ; if ye ever shared his glory, 
 and valued his matchless virtues, and wish his 
 beatified spirit to be among you, stand off, and let 
 me pass !" 
 
 The guards were confused and struck with con- 
 sternation, and, as though impelled by some mag- 
 netical powder, did indeed fall back, or at best 
 made but a feeble attempt to oppose him, and the 
 persecuted duke rushed from the presence of the 
 king. 
 
 A pursuit was immediately begun, but with no 
 intention on the part of the pursuers to interrupt 
 his progress, for every hair upon his head was 
 sacred to their feelings ; and so dearly was he 
 beloved throughout the kingdom for his excellent 
 ministry, and for the high and amiable qualities 
 for which he w^as distinguished, together with his 
 known attachment and extraordinary attention to 
 the deceased emperor, that not a single being was 
 his real enemy, save the king ; but the duke, 
 aware that a price would speedily be set upon his 
 head, and knowing how often the tide of public
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA>X'E. 101 
 
 favour is diverted to another channel, did not 
 attempt rashly to court danger, but took refuge 
 for a time in the house of a nobleman at Toledo, 
 who offered him every assistance the emergency 
 of the moment required. This gentleman, whose 
 name was Don Lewis de Alteo, was well ac- 
 quainted with the cruelty of Philip's temper and 
 austere government, for which reason he had 
 early withdrawn himself from court and led a 
 private life: he was a man of equity and judg- 
 ment, uniting with high descent qualities similar 
 to the duke's, to whom, in the fulness of his 
 friendship and esteem, he offered an asylum upon 
 a part of his estate, which, from its remoteness, 
 he said would effectually secure him from the 
 scrutiny of the king; but the duke courteously 
 declined the proffered favour, observing that he 
 intended to take up his residence as a recluse at 
 an old-fashioned mansion left to him by heritage, 
 situated in a fertile but mountainous part of the 
 country. " I have not seen it," continued the 
 duke ; " and as it never was a favourite abode of 
 my ancestors, it has been totally neglected, and 
 of course is in a state of decay ; but probably I 
 may find a few rooms fit for use, which will suf- 
 fice for a man whose glory is eclipsed, and who 
 only seeks a refuge from persecution."
 
 102 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Necessity now obliged the duke and his faith- 
 ful Pedro, who persisted in sharing his master's 
 fortunes, to undergo a complete metamorphosis; 
 and, disguised in habits as friars going on a pil- 
 grimage to our lady of Montserrat, they sallied 
 forth, the duke having first taken an affectionate 
 leave of Don Lewis, who had paid the most 
 generous attention to his accommodation and 
 future comfort. 
 
 No occurrence worth remark interrupted their 
 travels, which were sometimes performed on foot 
 and sometimes in a vehicle drawn by mules, ex- 
 cept the occasional solicitations of the simple 
 rustics, as they passed along, conjuring their 
 holinesses to bestow a blessing upon themselves 
 and families. 
 
 Pedro, at these supplications, never omitted to 
 pull his hood closely over his face, partly with a 
 design to conceal his features from observation, 
 but more with a view to stifle a laugh, in which 
 he felt irresistibly inclined to indulge, when he 
 beheld with what reverence and devotion these 
 l^oor people touched the hem of their sacred 
 vestments. 
 
 The latter part of their journey was most de- 
 lightful, as the country here was blooming with 
 the richest variety of nature and diversified enjoy-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 103 
 
 ments; troops of youthful shepherds, "in jerkin 
 green," were observed leading their flocks along 
 the valleys to their aromatic pastures ; maidens, 
 hand in hand with their serenading lovers, dancing 
 beneath the shady fig-tree to the merry notes 
 of the guitar ; old men reclining upon the banks 
 of the rivulets, exhaling the spicy productions 
 which perfumed the breeze, or with an air of 
 happy negligence passing to the fruitful vintage ; 
 boys clambering up the sides of the mountains to 
 gather the luscious grape, which hung in rich 
 exuberance, and sprang spontaneously from the 
 bounteous soil; whilst the cheerful hail of the 
 muleteers, echoing through the orange groves, 
 mingled rurally with the universal song of gladness. 
 
 " Ye balmy blessings, ye enchanting shades, 
 ye quiet abodes of the artless peasant, would that 
 my lot had been confined to such a soft assem- 
 blage of primeval 23leasures !" ejaculated the duke; 
 " surely if angels deigned to converse with the 
 sons of men, it would be where innocence and 
 peace had fixed their seats, and where nature 
 bloomed in all the bright perfection of the first 
 Paradise." 
 
 At length, the duke entered the pass that led to 
 the view of his melancholy habitation, whose 
 dark walls accorded well with the silence and
 
 104 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 solitude which now reigned on every side; here no 
 refreshing scenes, pregnant with aUuring sweets, 
 tempted the traveller's appetite ; no warbling 
 birds or melting cadences charmed him to repose ; 
 piles of mountains only, in uncouth spaciousness, 
 and divested of blossoms, lifted up their giant 
 heads far beyond the lucid clouds that emitted a 
 rosy light, whilst their innumerable chasms and 
 huge sloi^ing points, clothed with stately woods of 
 ample foliage, seemed to invite the hardy deiDre- 
 dator and cowardly assassin to skulk within their 
 unexplored recesses ; but here and there a simple 
 cottage, overtopped with orange and flowery 
 myrtles, could occasionally be discerned, as 
 though in mockery of the wildest and most fan- 
 tastic dishabille of nature. 
 
 " Surely," said the duke, as they approached 
 the building, " some gloomy solitaire, to whom 
 the bright creation was obnoxious, chose this spot 
 for a retreat, as every way congenial to his ada- 
 mantine feelings, although I should suppose, from 
 the general appearance of this mazy region, that 
 in olden times many light structures, bounded 
 with romantic views, enlivened this one continued 
 mass of stupendous heights." 
 
 " I wish, my lord, such were the case just now," 
 observed Pedro, with a shrug ; " for by our Holy
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 105 
 
 Mother, this is but a cheerless abode for those 
 who have no natural inclination to be immured in 
 such a wilderness." 
 
 " True," replied the duke ; " but necessity, good 
 Pedro, has no choice ; nevertheless, it holds out 
 a safe asylum to your unfortunate master, till 
 Heaven thinks fit to change the complexion of the 
 times, or close his joyless existence." 
 
 A superb gateway presented itself, but entirely 
 in ruins ; and beyond it a lofty portico, supported 
 by marble columns, led into a spacious hall, which 
 appeared once to have been of singular beauty, 
 but now defaced ; and, like its illustrious owner, 
 wore a mournful asj)ect. The saloon next occu- 
 pied the duke's attention, and excited his admira- 
 tion, from its prodigious size ; the walls were done 
 in basso-relievo, and the figures richly gilt; the 
 roof painted, and exhibiting, though obscurely, 
 the remains of many Arabic characters with orna- 
 ments, which bore the stamp of antiquity and 
 superstition. From this room, the duke proceeded 
 to examine others of almost equal dimensions, 
 all of which appeared to have been originally 
 remarkable for grandeur and convenience ; but, 
 as he expected, stripped of their furniture and 
 decorations, so that nothing remained but a few 
 fragments of useless lumber in a decayed state. 
 F 3
 
 106 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 From the lower apartments, the duke and Pedro 
 ascended to the gallery or corridor, supported by 
 a double row of lofty pillars ; several ancient 
 figures of beautiful j)roportion had fallen from 
 their marble pedestals, and lay promiscuously 
 among the mouldering remains of broken vases, 
 magnificent trophies, and other striking memorials 
 of departed greatness. 
 
 From hence they proceeded to the different 
 suites of chambers, which appeared without num- 
 ber ; some hung with tapestry, some gilt, and 
 others carved in the finest workmansliip ; but 
 here the duke unexpectedly met with a few pieces 
 of furniture, which, on viewing, appeared not in 
 such a state of decay but they might serve for 
 immediate use. 
 
 From these rooms the duke found his way to 
 the picture-gallery, and was most agreeably siu:- 
 prised on discovering several whole-length por- 
 traits of his ancestors hanging against the wall, 
 and still more so on observing the freshness of 
 the colours, which appeared to have been recently 
 cleaned, for neither dust nor cobweb was to be 
 perceived on the canvass or frames ; but the duke, 
 wishing to extend his researches still further ere 
 the sun declined, did not pause to dwell upon the 
 circumstance. After traversing other galleries
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 107 
 
 and upper apartments, in which were nothing to 
 engage his attention, he mounted a long flight of 
 marble steps that led to the roof of the house, 
 which was turreted ; and, according to the duke's 
 ideas, seemed to have been designed both for 
 pleasiure and defence, for the skilful architect had 
 taken advantage of an opening in the mountains 
 sufficiently eligible to have a command, from this 
 part of the building, of a most boundless pros- 
 pect, including the most beautiful navigable rivers, 
 bays, and islands, and Murcia, with her vast plan- 
 tations of mulberry, cities and cathedrals, exten- 
 sive plains, interlaced with groves of spice and 
 lemon in abundance, and mountain rising upon 
 mountain, prolific with the most delicious fruits, 
 and topped with snow. 
 
 The duke, after viewing this magnificent scene, 
 which surpassed all description for novelty and 
 beauty, returned to the chambers on the first story, 
 where he selected one to rest in for the night ; and 
 having taken some refreshment, and tendered a 
 part to Pedro, he stretched himself upon an old 
 couch, with the intention of tasting a little repose, 
 inviting his servant to do the same ; but Pedro, 
 ere he followed his master's example, was careful 
 to fasten the door, and then, peering round the 
 room, to be qiute sure that no danger was to be
 
 108 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 aj^i^rehended, made shift to nestle into one corner, 
 where, saying his Pater Noster, he soon forgot his 
 troubles, and dropped asleep. Not so the duke, 
 the dismal past, the present, and the future, by 
 turns, occupied his thoughts ; from being one of the 
 most haj3py and powerful grandees in Spain, he 
 had become in a short time, by a variety of ad- 
 verse fortune, the most wTetched and forlorn — the 
 desolate tenant of a still more desolate situation, 
 cut off from the society of his fellow-creatures, and 
 surrounded by almost inaccessible mountains, 
 from whose gloomy scenery he might never again 
 emerge. Fatigued, at length, with these ideas, 
 and wearied with his long and painful journey, 
 he sank gradually into a deep slumber, and hap- 
 pily woke not till the morning sun threw an efful- 
 gent ray athwart his features. Feeling his strength 
 repaired, and his spirits in some measure recruited, 
 he left his hard couch, and offered up his petitions 
 to Divine Providence, in such melting language 
 that it roused Pedro from a very pleasant dream, 
 which, to his mortification, was far from being 
 realized ; yet he was truly pleased to observe his 
 master look so much refreshed, and doubly pleased 
 that no terrible midnight intruder had invaded the 
 privacy of their unadorned apartment. 
 
 The duke and Pedro now threw off their out-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 109 
 
 ward garments, and appeared in a dress suitable 
 to their future way of life. The former attired in 
 a long robe of dark grey cloth, confined round 
 the waist with a black girdle, to which was a cru- 
 cifix and beads hanging nearly to the knee ; his 
 fine locks shorn and his head covered with a large 
 black cap drawn down below the eyebrows, whilst 
 his chin was graced with an enormous beard, 
 sprinkled with silver white, which negligently fell 
 upon his bosom, and the contour of his figure was 
 completed by a staff, which had been the compa- 
 nion of his journey, and on which he leaned ap- 
 parently to support his infirmities. The latter, 
 like his master, liad his head covered with a black 
 cap, but, in addition, he wore a hat turned gro- 
 tesquely the hind part before, by way of care- 
 lessness or disguise ; his lips had been cleared of 
 their mustaches, to the no small regret of Pedro, 
 though love for his master was far superior to his 
 vanity ; his neck was adorned with a large ruff, 
 and, pendant from his shoulders, was a black cloak, 
 beneath which could be seen his loose jerkin, 
 girt round with a leathern belt, and breeches to 
 correspond. 
 
 " There, my lord," said Pedro, as he concealed 
 the monkish robes in a spot which his master 
 pointed out, " not even the pope liimself — Heaven
 
 110 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 bless his holiness ! — would be able to discover, be- 
 neath our masquerading habits, the. noble Duke of 
 Aranda and his honest servant Pedro." 
 
 " From this period you must be careful not to 
 call me lord," replied the duke, " as I am now 
 Father Austin, a recluse, into whose service thou 
 art recently taken to attend upon his infirmities ; 
 beyond this you must know nothing ; and in future 
 Pedro had better be exchanged for Carlos, as an- 
 other security against surprise ; and should this 
 concealment, with its rigid and sober rules, ever 
 prove irksome to your feelings, you will be at 
 perfect liberty to leave me, and choose another 
 asylum more agreeable to your wishes." 
 
 " Oh, my lord — my dear lord ! how can youi* 
 poor servant support language so cutting to his 
 fidelity and attachment," replied Pedro, throwing 
 himself at the duke's feet, " whilst your excellency 
 condescends to accept of my humble services. 
 Never, never shall it be said that the ungrateful 
 Pedro meanly forsook his duty to riot in worldly 
 pleasure, while his indulgent and generous master 
 wept in secret !" 
 
 " Rise, Carlos," said the duke, laying a strong 
 emphasis on the word Carlos, "and be assured 
 your faithfulness and sincerity afford me undis- 
 guised satisfaction, and whether I am doomed to
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. Ill 
 
 linger out my days in this solitude, or be restored 
 to society, your affectionate solicitude shall be 
 cordially remembered and rewarded." 
 
 The remains of their wallet were now produced, 
 and the duke and Pedro, or Carlos, as we shall 
 now for the sake of perspicuity call him, both 
 partook of a very simple repast; after which the 
 duke purposed taking a more accurate survey of 
 the chambers, to see what furniture could be col- 
 lected and made fit for use, and likewise to hold a 
 consultation as to the best means to be pursued to 
 obtain a supply of provisions. The apartment 
 they were now in the duke intended for his sit- 
 ting-room, as being pleasant and capacious, with 
 lattices opening upon what had once been a hand- 
 some balcony, and the one adjoining for his bed- 
 room, with a closet for Carlos, &c. Whilst they 
 were yet speaking, the closing of a door, very 
 near them, caused a sensible agitation both in the 
 duke and Carlos, and, a few minutes after, foot- 
 steps were distinctly heard in one of the galleries. 
 
 " What can this mean V said the duke, thought- 
 fully ; " we are either discovered, or some part of 
 the building is occujDicd by other tenants ; but, 
 however, 'tis highly necessary we should endea- 
 vour to ascertain the cause of those sounds we 
 have just heard, or probably an intruder may be
 
 112 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 near when 'tis least expected, by which means we 
 may be led into danger that a little judicious ma- 
 nagement may avert; but, above all things, be 
 u]3on your guard, and remember our new re- 
 spective characters." 
 
 The duke, now leaning upon his staff, moved 
 lightly forward, followed by Carlos, and proceeded 
 through several suites of apartments, when they 
 suddenly found themselves in the picture gallery, 
 where, to their mutual astonishment, they beheld 
 a venerable figure busily employed in 23olishing 
 up the frames of the portraits, and cleaning the 
 canvass, as though he wished to restore to their 
 original colour the beautiful representatives. 
 
 The old man, on turning to the sounds of the 
 duke's footsteps, bowed with an air of amazement, 
 mixed with profound respect, for the duke's awk- 
 ward attempts at humbleness, and the restraints 
 under which he laboured, only added dignity 
 to the fine proportions of his person and coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 " Your employment is somewhat singular, con- 
 sidering the unattractive appearance of decayed 
 grandeur," said the duke, courteously returning 
 his obeisance. 
 
 " It is the only mark of respect, reverend father, 
 that I can pay to a family to whose liberality I owe
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 113 
 
 the principal support of my old age/' returned the 
 man, with evident emotion. 
 
 "Do you allude to those figures stretched upon 
 canvass ?" inquired the duke, concealing his sur- 
 prise. 
 
 " I allude, holy father, to the most illustrious 
 house in all Spain, save our monarchs' — the^Dukes 
 of Aranda, in whose family my grandfather re- 
 sided as a domestic for more than fifty years, for 
 which long service, and his good conduct, his 
 noble lord settled upon him and his posterity a 
 pension which was to descend from father to son 
 for twelve generations, and which blessing I and 
 my dame now enjoy." 
 
 " Then this noble building belongs to the family 
 you mention," said the duke. 
 
 " It does indeed, holy father, and a pity it is 
 that so splendid a pile should be left to ruin," he 
 returned ; " yet, owing to its situation, it never 
 was a favourite residence, although the family, 
 some hundred years ago, used to make it their 
 23rincipal abode; but it has been stripped by 
 degrees of all its valuable adornments and 
 paintings, and the father of the present duke with- 
 drew the rest of the furniture. Since that period 
 it has been quite neglected and left to decay, like 
 a shapeless mass of worthless matter, which cir-
 
 Il4 THE OATQ OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 cumstance, I believe, broke my poor grandfather's 
 heart, for he never smiled more, and died soon 
 after." 
 
 " A great proof of sensibility and attachment in 
 a dependent," returned the duke. " I suppose he 
 was a native of this place .''" 
 
 " Truly so, reverend father; and most of his 
 juvenile years were spent in this noble mansion; 
 it went to the heart of him to see all its fine trea- 
 sures taken away, and its grandeur vanishing like 
 a vision." 
 
 " Were you, likewise, a domestic in the Duke 
 of Aranda's family ?" 
 
 " Only a few years in the early joart of my life, 
 holy father. Somehow, I turned out a sad dog, 
 and preferred foreign miseries to home comforts ; 
 so I enlisted beneath the banners of the Emperor 
 Charles, God bless him ! and fought many battles, 
 till at length I was worn out, more by hardship 
 than age, on which account I obtained my dis- 
 charge, and came here to settle with my wife. 
 Every day, I visit this building, both from grati- 
 tude and a sort of natural affection which I 
 imbibed in my boyish days for the noble family 
 to which it belongs, and hold it a sacred duty, as 
 well as pleasure, to preserve from dust or soil the 
 few portraits which carelessness has left beliind."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 115 
 
 " Have you a knowledge of the present Duke 
 of Aranda?" inquired the duke. 
 
 " No, holy father — not personally ; but I re- 
 member liim in my orisons, and enjoy the luxury 
 of holding visionary converse with his progeni- 
 tors." 
 
 A silence of several minutes followed this con- 
 versation ; the man's singular gratitude and attach- 
 ment, together with his language and manners, 
 conveyed an idea of respectable endowments; to 
 reveal himself fully, the duke considered might 
 be running too great a risk, but to say he was a 
 member of the Aranda family, who had a wish to 
 retire from the world, and whose misfortunes re- 
 quired a concealment of his name and rank, 
 might be of essential service, as by tliis means he 
 could obtain many little necessaries that Carlos, 
 from his ignorance of the country, could not 
 obtain without exciting curiosity. 
 
 Agreeably to these thoughts, the duke, after 
 speaking to Carlos upon the subject, breathed into 
 the man's ear, whose name was Bastro Manclia, 
 the account he had determined upon, who, on 
 finding the venerable father, as he supposed him 
 to be, was a branch of that illustrious family to 
 whose bounty he was indebted for every comfort 
 he enjoyed, expressed his satisfaction and do-
 
 116 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 light at such an unexpected discovery; but not till 
 a flood of tears had relieved the intensity of his 
 feelings, was he able to give a rational reply to 
 the duke's command, that he must keep the in- 
 formation he had received an inviolable secret 
 from his wife and family, and from the world. 
 
 B astro, after promising to be strictly observant 
 of the duke's commands, was dismissed with in- 
 structions to procure such articles as were wanted 
 for the apartments, and likewise some fresh pro- 
 visions, whilst the duke and Carlos busied them- 
 selves in looking over the remaining part of the 
 house, and conveying some scraps of furniture to 
 that wing they were going to inhabit.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 117 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Both the duke and Carlos were mutually 
 pleased in having formed an acquaintance with 
 the grateful Bastro, and in having obtained his 
 assistance so a propos. 
 
 " Ah!" whispered the duke, " let philosophers 
 talk of the chai'ms of solitude with its many ad- 
 vantages, man cannot set aside the designs of his 
 Creator, who intended him as a companion to his 
 species, and to cultivate a useful and virtuous 
 intercourse with society ; dire necessity condemns 
 me to this seclusion, and family misfortunes, in 
 the spring of life, have blunted the edge of that 
 enjoyment which a friendly and polite intimacy 
 brings ; but the pleasure I feel in conversing with, 
 and uniting in my interest, even so humble a being
 
 118 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 as Bastro, convinces me that when man flies to 
 solitude and silence, and renounces the company 
 of his equals, he does violence to his own nature, 
 and degenerates from his original sympathies. 
 The very brute creatures languish, and evince by 
 a thousand mournful gestures and dismal plaints, 
 their discontent and disconsolate situation when 
 separated from their species ; then how can man, 
 for whom the whole creation sings, and angels 
 attune their melodies, forget the engaging duties 
 of his race, renounce the gifts of Heaven, and 
 become a misanthrope." 
 
 Carlos, though less refined, and unaccustomed to 
 moralize, or to digest the various feelings by which 
 he was actuated, expressed his pleasure on the 
 present occasion not only by words, but by the 
 alertness of his steps and the joyous importance 
 of his air. 
 
 " Well, to be sure, my lord — that is, your 
 reverence," said Carlos, hastily correcting him- 
 self, " after all, there is nothing like having a 
 decent companion in store by way of recrea- 
 tion and a little merriment; it carries with it a 
 sort of charm that is very delightful to a man in 
 my situation, for it has the double quality of 
 sweetening life and killing time. Your reverence 
 knows that poor domestics are not possessed of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 119 
 
 those auxiliaries against the spleen, which are the 
 attendants of their betters." 
 
 " I acknowledge the truth of your remarks, 
 Carlos," answered the duke, " and consider it 
 altogether very fortunate that we have met with 
 such a worthy creature as old Bastro; when I 
 choose to be engaged you will be at full liberty 
 to regale him in your own apartment, or the hall ; 
 and betwixt his amusing society, and your general 
 duties, few opportunities, I hope, will occur for 
 dissatisfaction or gloom." 
 
 Carlos was too well pleased with this conde- 
 scending speech not to make a suitable reply ; 
 and, after a few hours' absence, Bastro returned 
 laden with goods, chattels, and provisions, which 
 his mule, with the utmost difficulty, had drawn 
 along the perilous road. 
 
 " I have brought the things according to order, 
 please your reverence," said the old man, as he 
 spread them before the duke, " and likewise a few 
 carpenter's tools, as I think, with their assistance, 
 I may be able to repair the remains of the old 
 furniture, whose relics are too precious to be dis- 
 missed." 
 
 The duke expressed his approbation at the 
 man's forethought and the purchases he had made ; 
 and Carlos, anxious that his master should have
 
 1-20 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 a comfortable apartment as quickly as possible, 
 employed himself in a series of little affairs, plac- 
 ing and arranging every article agreeably to the 
 duke's taste, whilst Bastro with equal expedition 
 cemented many valuable fragments, and produced, 
 from a perfect chaos, order and regularity, so that, 
 in a few days, the whole was completed, and the 
 stately rooms in some respects were restored to 
 their former elegance. 
 
 After this, several weeks passed away in close 
 retirement and in dull uniformity; the duke endea- 
 vouring to seek consolation from study and devo- 
 tion, and Carlos, in an agreeable association with 
 Bastro ; when the order of things was suddenly 
 interi-upted by a discovery as surprising as unex- 
 pected. 
 
 It was the early part of one evening that the 
 duke sat reading in his apartment, whilst Carlos, 
 who had not seen Bastro the whole day, for the 
 want of company was quietly reposing in his chair, 
 when the old man's well-known rap roused him 
 from his slumbers. 
 
 " Thou art right welcome, honest Basti-o," he 
 exclaimed, as he let him in. "I hope thou art 
 come to repair thy want of punctuality, for his 
 reverence, my master, has inquired for thee more 
 than once to-day; but, how now! thou lookest
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIAN'CE. 121 
 
 as wild as a ghost in a thimder-stonn, with thy 
 features as deranged as the affairs of Europe." 
 
 " In truth, good Carlos, I am indeed strangely 
 affected. We have a poor creature dying at our 
 cottage who wishes to make her confession to 
 some holy father, ere she expires; as 'tis three 
 miles to the nearest convent, perhaps his rever- 
 ence, for the love of holy church, will step so 
 short a distance and receive the secret, which 
 appears to press heavily upon her mind." 
 
 Carlos desiring Bastro to take a seat, hastened 
 to his master's apartment, to whom he delivered 
 the account as he had received it. The old man's 
 request threw the duke into a strange embarrass- 
 ment; to object, or decline attending a dying 
 creature, he thought would belie the character he 
 wished to sustain, and throw a direct imputation 
 on the sanctity of its garb. He was convinced 
 however, that he was too well disguised to be re- 
 cognised; nevertheless, as fear is the attendant 
 of guilt, so it is sometimes that of impeached 
 innocence, particularly where the accuser is the 
 judge, and where a powerful enemy is invested 
 with full authority both to condemn and to exe- 
 cute: but a faint gleam of hope, that some imvt 
 of his family might still be in existence, for whose 
 sake, and not his own, he valued life, had liitlierto 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 122 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 supported him, and enabled him to submit to the 
 extreme of suffering and misery. 
 
 ^' What kind of an evening is it, Carlos ?" in- 
 quired the duke, still musing, and scarcely con- 
 scious of the question. 
 
 " The moon shines with unwonted brilliancy, 
 your reverence, on the dark angles of the moun- 
 tains," replied Carlos; "and nothing is to be 
 heard save the thunder of the torrent, and the note 
 of the wild bird nestling among the olives." 
 
 " You will remain here, Carlos, during my ab- 
 sence," said the duke, suddenly coming to a 
 decision; "my stay, most likely, will be short, 
 but be careful you admit no one till my return." 
 
 " The acclivities are steep, and the way to 
 Bastro's cottage lonely, your reverence," remarked 
 Carlos, under some apprehension for his master's 
 safety, and not at all relishing the idea of being 
 left by himself in a mansion of such vast extent, 
 and situated amidst woods and mountains. 
 
 " Bastro will be my companion," returned the 
 duke, without noticing his servant's discomposure ; 
 " and the path, though difficult, is short, and at 
 this hour by no means appalling." 
 
 Carlos was silent, from respect to his master, 
 and from the fear lest his cowardice should
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 123 
 
 be discovered and reproved; bul as he looked 
 askance at the furthest part of the room, which, 
 from its spaciousness, could receive no enliven- 
 ing gleam from the rays of a single taper, he 
 heartily wished, for a moment, that B astro and 
 the inmates of his cottage were all perched upon 
 the top of Montserrat. 
 
 The duke, in company with Bastro, left his 
 house, and descended, by a gradual slope, down 
 the side of the mountain. The wild grandeur of 
 the prospect, and the freshness of the air, acted 
 as a charm on the spirits of the duke, and he 
 exclaimed, audibly, — "In spite of the strange 
 diversity of this mighty region, which presents an 
 astonishing picture of the works of the Great 
 Creator, it is by no means an unpleasing scene to 
 those who are partial to the sublime, and whose 
 years and situations are adapted to the proper 
 enjoyment of it." 
 
 " Very true, your reverence," replied Bastro, 
 not fully comprehending the duke ; " I remember, 
 when I was a boy, I used to take pleasure in 
 laboriously climbing these dangerous heights, ex- 
 ploring their cavities, and chasing the wild goat 
 amongst the crags and recesses of wood that over- 
 top the passes." 
 
 g2
 
 124 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " And no doubt was often a match for his saga- 
 city," remarked the duke. 
 
 " Yes, often and often, your reverence, have I 
 mastered him by the swiftness of my pursuit, 
 and the affray has frequently terminated in my 
 stretching him lifeless on the mountain's side ; 
 whence I have borne him home, with as much 
 triumph as a conqueror would carry his trophies 
 from the victorious field." 
 
 " Has the poor creature I am going to visit 
 been ill long ?" inquired the duke, as Bastro 
 pointed out his neat dwelling, luxuriously over- 
 spread with the fruitful vine. 
 
 " Only a few days, your reverence," replied 
 Bastro ; " though, to be sure, she was a little 
 emaciated or so, when she applied to my dame 
 for a night's lodging." 
 
 " Whence does she come ? or are you a total 
 stranger to her family and connexions ?" 
 
 " She is indeed a perfect stranger to me, your 
 reverence ; but I will relate all I know of the 
 affair. It is about three days ago, at the close of 
 the evening, that some one gave a gentle rap at 
 our door : my wife answered it immediately, when 
 a poor female singularly habited, with two chil- 
 dren as oddly attired as herself, in a plaintive
 
 TUE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 1*25 
 
 voice, begged leave to rest herself for one niglil, 
 cis she was quite overcome with the fatigue of a 
 long journey. My dame, though a tender-hearted 
 woman, your reverence, hesitated to admit them, 
 and looked at me in some perplexity. 
 
 " ' We arc indebted for our support to the hand 
 of beneficence,' whispered I, * and shall we not, 
 in gratitude, humbly distribute our mite to the 
 necessitous r' As I uttered these words, her 
 scruples vanished, and the poor woman, with her 
 little companions, received a hearty welcome ; 
 but never shall 1 forget the extraordinary beauty 
 of the sweet cherubs, as my dame kindly drew off" 
 the preposterous covering which concealed their 
 faces ; and she was so delighted with their inno- 
 cence and graces, that she nearly smothered them 
 with kisses, and offered to their acceptance the 
 richest produce of her vineyard ; and, to confess 
 a truth, your reverence, I was as much inclined to 
 caress them as herself. The boy, in particular, 
 attracted my regard ; there was something in his 
 looks and air so irresistibly enchanting, that I was 
 compelled, in a manner, to give him my friend- 
 ship, and to treat him with a respect due only to 
 those of a higher quality. The next morning, the 
 poor woman was so ill as to be unable to leave
 
 126 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 her chamber, to which she has been confined ever 
 since ; and this evening she was taken so much 
 worse, that she told us she thought she was dying, 
 and begged to have some holy man attend her, to 
 whom she could reveal a secret of great import- 
 ance ; fearing she should expire ere I could reach 
 a convent, I bethought me of your reverence, and 
 hastened to make my petition," 
 
 This short account, delivered with simplicity 
 and pathos, interested the duke greatly, and, as 
 his feet crossed the threshold of the cottage, a 
 thrilling sensation of unutterable feeling came 
 over him, and his voice trembled, as he desired to 
 be conducted to the chamber of the invalid. 
 Dame Una, with a low obeisance, led the way to 
 a neat apartment, and aj^proaching a bed on 
 which reclined a female form, she whispered a 
 few words, and then retired, closing the door after 
 her. 
 
 The duke drew near, and, in a disguised tone, 
 uttered a consolatory speech. The sick woman 
 turned a languid eye upon the duke, but her 
 large head-dress, and the dimness of the apart- 
 ment, prevented his distinguishing a single fea- 
 ture; he only saw she looked ghastly pale and 
 thin, but her voice and language struck a panic
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 127 
 
 to his soul that nearly robbed him of his senses, 
 as she exclaimed feebly — " Oh, holy father, may 
 Heaven reward your goodness for this attention to 
 a poor creature probably on the brink of the 
 grave. Feeling myself in my last extremity, I 
 would fain, before death has finally closed my 
 eyes, commit to the confidence of your reverence 
 a secret of the highest importance. I have under 
 my protection, at this moment, two lovely babes, 
 the offsj^ring of noble parents, from whom they 
 were cruelly torn, together with myself, who was 
 their attendant, and conveyed to another part of 
 the countiy, from which we have just escaped; 
 and, after innumerable hardships too tedious to 
 mention, we have got thus far towards home ; but 
 the exertion, holy father, has been too much for 
 my strength; my life is closing, and some other 
 person must have the happiness of restoring my 
 beauteous nurslings to their illustrious parents, 
 should both survive ; but oh, my bewildered 
 fancy, I fear the sad reverse ! On that dreadful 
 
 night " 
 
 '' Thy name — thy name !" interrupted the duke, 
 panting with agony ; " as thou hopest for salva- 
 tion, speak quickly ! — thy name — is it not Gil- 
 lette?"
 
 1-28 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA>JCE. 
 
 " It is," she returned, wildly clasping her hiinds ; 
 '^ but who art thou, with consecrated robes and 
 visage full of age, that speak to me this moiuent, 
 in accents so like, so very like " 
 
 " Hush — hush !" exclaimed the duke, with a dis- 
 traced air, " thou mayst betray thy master to 
 certain death." 
 
 " My master ! — mighty God — my master !" 
 
 " Yes, yes, Gillette, thy persecuted master; 
 behold, and. be convinced:" and as the duke 
 uttered these words, he hastily removed for a 
 moment his beard, and lifting from his brow the 
 black cap, disclosed the full outline of his hand- 
 some countenance. 
 
 The poor Gillette uttered a faint cry, as she 
 immediately recognised him, and, pointing to one 
 corner of the room, sank nearly motionless upon 
 her pillow. 
 
 The duke's eye followed her direction : he saw- 
 two lovely children upon a low mattress, sleeping 
 in each other's arms; he flew to the spot, and re- 
 moved the glossy ringlets which shaded their 
 blooming graces; he beheld in the features of one 
 the miniature likeness of his Victoria. 
 
 " Oh, am I still a father — a father ! oh, proud 
 distinction — full of unutterable joy and soft de- 
 light!" he exclaimed, in ecstasy, as he roused the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 129 
 
 sleeping cliiklrcrj from their slumbers, and clasped 
 the little Antonio to his throbbing bosom; "dearest 
 of all pleasures — a long-lost child restored to a 
 father's embraces — who would not suffer to have 
 such a sweet reward ! 'Tis a new era in my exist- 
 ence — a returning spring, gay with the blossoms of 
 hope and exquisite happiness." 
 
 "Are you my father?" inquired the child with 
 a look of surprise, half shrinking from his rap- 
 turous caresses. 
 
 " I will be to thee a father, and fond father, my 
 darling," replied the duke smiling, to disguise his 
 agony, as he recollected the necessity of conceal- 
 ing a circumstance so transporting to his imagina- 
 tion ; " thou shalt live with me in a large house, 
 full of innocent pleasures and fairy recreations, 
 remote from the snares of enemies and the allur- 
 ing spells of vice." 
 
 " And will my dear Lucilla accompany us, and 
 partake of all those delightful amusements? And 
 will not the wicked man frighten us any more?" 
 
 " Dear Lucilla shall go with us, and none will 
 injure or molest thee, my precious boy," returned 
 the duke, trembling, and melting into tears, as the 
 child asked the last question. 
 
 " Then I'm sure we shall love you dearly, sir, 
 and never offend one who will make us so happy," 
 G 3
 
 130 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 replied the lovely Lucilla, with a rosy smile, ex- 
 pressive of satisfaction, and clinging to his arm as 
 though imj^loring protection for her orphan state. 
 
 " Sweet girl!" exclaimed the duke, with the 
 tenderest emotion, as he folded her in his arms — 
 " thy soft accents will soothe my soul to peace, 
 and thy exquisite beauty and engaging cheerful- 
 ness divert my chagrin." 
 
 " And poor mamma will go, too ?" said Antonio, 
 in hesitating accents, and looking anxiously to- 
 wards the bed. 
 
 The duke started, and turned pale as the word 
 mamma vibrated upon his heart, but supposing 
 necessity had urged Gillette to adopt for a time 
 the maternal character, he sim]:)ly answered in the 
 affirmative, not thinking it prudent, at such a 
 critical moment, to enter uirther ujoonthe subject. 
 
 The children's delight was now complete, and 
 the duke's affability, together with his affectionate 
 language and caresses, flattered their innocent 
 feelings, and secured their attachment ; so easily 
 is childhood allured by the voice of kindness, and 
 amused with images of uncertain joy. 
 
 The duke now spoke to Gillette, who was per- 
 fectly sensible, and not a little surprised and per- 
 plexed at his extraordinary api^earance, and the 
 confusion and evasiveness of his words when
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 131 
 
 answering the engaging questions of his heir and 
 only child ; but the duke, in a low tone, speedily 
 relieved her anxiety, by briefly reciting his mis- 
 foi-tunes, at the same time commanding her to be 
 perfectly silent on the subject, and leave the event 
 to his management. " And I am well assured," 
 continued the duke, " you will never be embar- 
 rassed by questions coming from the virtuous 
 owners of this humble habitation." 
 
 Gillette expressed a duteous obedience to his 
 commands, declaring that, now her mind w^as 
 relieved of the dreadful weight which had injured 
 her peace, her indisposition, that appeared to 
 threaten her with certain death, was considerably 
 abated. 
 
 The duke was exceedingly happy to hear this, 
 not only on the score of humanity, but for several 
 reasons connected with his own aifaus; and pro- 
 mising to send her sometliing of a medical natm'c, 
 he once more tenderly embraced the children and 
 left the room. 
 
 On his descending to the lower ai^artment, he 
 informed Bastro and his wife, that the sick w oman 
 was not mother to the children, but simply their 
 attendant; that they had all three fled from perse- 
 cution, the paiticidars of which were in his pos- 
 session, €ind that he was bound by the laws of his
 
 132 THE OATH of allegiance. 
 
 coniinunity to proffer them protection and blieltcr 
 till such time as Providence thought proper to 
 reverse their destiny. 
 
 As persecutions in Spain, and the neighbouring 
 Catholic countries, were too common not to be 
 well known, the humane cottagers listened to the 
 relation with much more concern than surjirisc, 
 and at the duke's desire that the two children 
 should be brought to him early in the morning, 
 they expressed the highest delight, and called 
 down blessings upon his goodness and the excel- 
 lent rules of his order. 
 
 The duke, after declining the attendance of 
 Bastro, took his leave, and pursued his way 
 homewards. But with what different sensations 
 did he now gaze upon the diversified pros23ect,and 
 the immense chain of mountains which lay in 
 various directions ; how critically beautiful did the 
 boundless scene appear to his active imagination; 
 and how glorious the moonbeam as it glittered on 
 the trackless heights, and threw a stream of silver 
 along his path ; all nature seemed to have changed 
 her garb, and to have adorned herself in the most 
 agreeable colours — even the breezes sang in con- 
 cert with his eloquent ideas. In short, accord- 
 ing to his present joyous feelings, everything 
 wore another face; the trees had put on more
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 133 
 
 lively clotliiiig, the air teemed with unwonted 
 sweets, and the heavens looked more glorious 
 than when Sol threw his shining rays along the 
 cast. 
 
 The duke had reached the court before his 
 house, ere he thought of the probable consequences 
 of his hastily disclosing the joyful circumstance 
 to Carlos; but he had now but little time to deli- 
 berate, as this faithful domestic, quickly forgetting 
 his own fears, became only anxious for his master's 
 safety, and had ascended to the turret to watch 
 for his return, and was now eagerly withdrawing 
 the heavy bolt of the hall door to admit him. The 
 duke, on his entrance, averted his head in order to 
 arrange his features, and to bring them to their 
 wonted dejection, but the attempt was vain, his 
 countenance still retained the bright vermilion 
 glow of recent pleasure, and his eye the spark- 
 ling lustre of secret exultation. Carlos marked 
 the change and wondered, and fixed his doubtful 
 looks on the face of his master. " Bless me, your 
 reverence," he exclaimed, struggling with his sur- 
 prise; '' I begin to be afraid, somehow, that 
 something unusual has haj^pened " 
 
 " And something unusual lias happened, good 
 Carlos," intermixed the duke, in a lively accent. 
 " But can you bear sorrow like a man, and stand
 
 134 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 up against the bluffs of fortune without shrink- 
 ing?" 
 
 " Why, I hope so, your reverence," returned 
 Carlos. " I hope I am not so cluck-hearted but I 
 can stand a little shaking, and a few rough blows 
 from that quarter." 
 
 "And do you think you could encounter a joy- 
 ful event with as much courage ?" inquired the 
 duke, gravely — " were Gillette, now, for instance,- 
 unexpcctedly to make her appearance." 
 
 "Why, to speak morally and soberly," your 
 reverence, " I believe, in truth, her appearance 
 would prove the sequel to my adventures, for the 
 shock would certainly kill me outright." 
 
 " Are you serious, Carlos — is your humour so 
 changeable ?" exclaimed the duke, pretending to 
 misunderstand him. " I thought your imagina- 
 tion would be delighted with the idea of once 
 more seeing the object of your former regard." 
 
 " Holy Mother ! your reverence quite mistakes 
 me," replied Carlos, with emotion; " I mean the 
 surprise and pleasure would throw me into such 
 a transport that I should certainly leap over the 
 moon ; and as there w^ould be no solid body on the 
 other side to support my weight, I must neces- 
 sarily, by the force of pure magnetism, come
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 135 
 
 head foremost to the earth, and the event of such 
 a civil caper is pretty clear." 
 
 " True," replied the duke, half smiling ; " but 
 should thy joy prove so desperately ungovern- 
 able, I may probably wish that Gillette had never 
 returned to rob me of such a faithful domestic; 
 but I hope, with a little management, thou wilt 
 be prudently temperate, and not allow Bastro to 
 suppose thou art so well acquainted with his sick 
 lodger." 
 
 " Oh, your reverence ! what am I to understand ? 
 I begin to be all over in a tremble, and to indulge 
 ideas that are almost incredible — Gillette " 
 
 " Is at Bastro's cottage," interrupted the duke ; 
 " and to add to the pleasing account, my darling 
 child and the little Lucilla arc her companions." 
 
 To describe the effects this intelligence had 
 upon Carlos is impossible ; alternately he laughed, 
 groaned, and wept, and otherwise expressed his 
 delight by a thousand whimsical postures and 
 immoderate transports, the duke allowing him the 
 free indulgence of his extravagant pleasure ; when, 
 at length, seeing him become more calm, he ven- 
 tured to relate the whole circumstance as far as 
 his own knowledge extended, and closed the 
 account by begging him to conceal his delight,
 
 136 THE OATH or ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 and to keep up the appearance of a reasonable 
 indifference, however tormenting and perplexing 
 to his feelings. 
 
 After a lengthened conversation, the duke and 
 Carlos retired to bed, but more with a view, as it 
 may be supposed, to breathe in silence the ecstatic 
 thought, and to allow the imagination to rove 
 unfatigued amidst the amusing scenes of novelty 
 and unexpected joys. 
 
 The morning, as though partaking largely of 
 the duke's haj^piness, rose unclouded and full of 
 glory, and by its cheering aspect roused him at 
 an early hour, whilst Carlos, as little inclined to 
 waste his time in bed, assisted his master to put 
 on his plain attire, and then entering the sitting- 
 room began his usual employment, and set all 
 things to rights in a twinkling, after which he pre- 
 pared breakfast agreeably to the orders he had 
 received; but the duke on sitting down to the 
 table was unable, from excess of pleasure, to take 
 the least refreshment ; Carlos was in the same 
 humour, and though aware that Gillette -was too 
 ill to accom^^any the children, yet he was too 
 much interested in the matter not to feel equally 
 with the duke the greatest anxiety for their 
 arrival. 
 
 The propitious moment came winged with feii-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 137 
 
 cit}^ — a moment the most precious and gratify iiig 
 to a father who had been so long deprived of the 
 caresses and innocent smiles of his beauteous 
 offspring. 
 
 The duke, on being apprised by Carlos of their 
 approach, met them in the hall ; the sweet crea- 
 tures, on seeing him, flew, and caught hold of his 
 robe, and, looking up in his face, expressed their 
 pleasure at again beholding him in the most art- 
 less language. 
 
 The duke struggled hard to suppress his rising 
 tenderness and conceal his agitation at this proof 
 of lively recollection and instinctive affection ; but, 
 feeling the necessity of exertion, he made several 
 inquiries after Gillette, in a way becoming his 
 character, and received for answer that she now 
 appeared to mend every hour, and that her spirits 
 as well as her health appeared considerably im- 
 proved. 
 
 The duke expressed his satisfaction at this 
 assurance, and informed Bastro that, as soon as 
 she was convalescent, she was to rejoin the 
 children immediately. 
 
 Bastro bowed, and, embracing the engaging 
 cherubs to whom he had become sincerely at- 
 tached, with tears in his eyes, left the house. 
 
 The duke now yielded, without restraint, to his
 
 138 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 tender inclinations, and, clasj^ing the lovely unfor- 
 tunates to his heart, breathed forth his exquisite 
 transjjorts, mixed with deep sorrow for their mo- 
 therless state. 
 
 Carlos, nearly out of his wits for joy, and 
 scarcely believing in the reality of what he saw, 
 committed a thousand blunders, and gave utter- 
 ance to words so incoherent as to be per- 
 fectly unintelligible to all but himself. The 
 little Antonio, at first, recoiled from his wild 
 gestures and uncouth speech, and clung closer to 
 the duke, as he approached to take a survey of his 
 lovely countenance. Carlos, observing this, endea- 
 voured to subdue his emotions, and presently 
 assumed a more serene air. The duke, who was 
 well acquainted with his feelings and ideas, now 
 placed in his arms both the children. Carlos was 
 again nearly distracted with delight, and, em- 
 bracing them warmly, quickly secured a place in 
 their young affections. Antonio was in his fouilh 
 year — Lucilla in her fifth ; and both bore a striking 
 resemblance to then* respective mothers — they 
 were evidently highly pleased with their situation, 
 and appeared to have imbibed a cordial friend- 
 ship for each other, and to be endowed with capa- 
 cities equally noble and surprising. 
 
 As the duke was fully qualified to instruct both
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 139 
 
 his children, as he considered them, in the differ- 
 ent branches of education, he wanted no assist- 
 ance of this kind ; but it was now necessary that 
 he should make some improvement in his house- 
 hold. Gillette, should she recover, woidd be em- 
 ployed in attending upon the children, he reflected; 
 but another female must be added to his family, 
 who would be able to act as housekeeper, and to 
 assist in the several matters about the house. The 
 duke named the subject of his thoughts to Carlos. 
 
 " Why, yes, your reverence," he returned, 
 secretly pleased at the notion of having the old 
 building enlivened by plenty of agreeable society, 
 " a suitable person is now certainly required to 
 superintend the domestic affairs, and look to the 
 little conveniences of life, and so forth. Old 
 Bastro, perhaps, can recommend some decent 
 body to your reverence, who will have no objec- 
 tion to live well and lie warm in this noble re- 
 tirement." 
 
 " Your observation is good, Carlos," replied the 
 duke ; " either Bastro or his wife, in all proba- 
 bility, can recommend and engage some elderly 
 female capable of managing so small a concern." 
 
 " Shall I hasten to the cottage, and make 
 known your reverence's pleasure ?" inquired Car- 
 los eagerly.
 
 140 TllE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " No ; I would not expose your courage to any 
 formidable encounter," answered the duke, signi- 
 ficantly ; " Bastro will be here again shortly, when 
 I can talk to him upon the subject, and make the 
 necessary arrangements without putting your for- 
 titude to the test." 
 
 Carlos looked disappointed, but consoled him- 
 self with the idea that, as Gillette was in the mend- 
 ing way, she might soon be able to take up her 
 abode in the same house with himself; and the 
 result accorded with his hopes, for, so early as the 
 following day, old Bastro made his appearance, 
 and delivered a very good account of Gillette's 
 increasing convalescence, and, in answer to the 
 duke's inquiries concerning a female domestic, he 
 promised to provide a proper person immediately, 
 without exciting curiosity. 
 
 The duke now began to look forward with deep 
 interest for the recovery of Gillette, although his 
 interview with her had sufficiently proved that she 
 was quite ignorant of the fate of his wife ; but 
 her information, as regarding her own and his 
 children's misfortunes, he felt, would greatly re- 
 lieve his anxiety, if it did not throw any particu- 
 lar light on a transaction which had proved so 
 fatal to his happiness.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 141 
 
 In a few hours, Bastro once more entered the 
 mansion, and, sinking at the duke's feet, humbly 
 begged that his wife might be allowed to offer her 
 services as a domestic, adding, "All we possess 
 in the world we owe to the bounty of your reve- 
 rence's family, and though my dame knows nothing 
 of this circumstance, yet, from the best motives, 
 she expresses an earnest desire to serve one 
 who leads a life so holy, not disdaining to assist 
 the afflicted, and giving protection to the help- 
 less." 
 
 The duke gladly acceded to this j^roposal, as 
 he considered it much better than introducing 
 strangers; at the same time, he commanded Bastro 
 to leave his cottage and accompany his wife, for 
 the express pu^'pose of aiding her in the several 
 duties which must necessarily belong to her de- 
 partment. 
 
 This was a joyful order to Bastro; he loved the 
 duke heartily, not only on account of his evident 
 amiability, but from a strong sense of gratitude 
 towards the iUustrious house which had contri- 
 buted so largely to his comfort; to be, therefore, 
 once again beneath the same roof with one of its 
 members was highly flattering to his feelings ; and 
 dame Una, though perfectly unacquainted with
 
 142 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the duke's origin, was equally delighted with the 
 idea of serving so holy a man, and being the in- 
 mate of a house which contained the lovely 
 orphans, as she thought them, whose engaging 
 beauties she regarded with an affection nearly 
 maternal.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 143 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Gillette, from this period, recovered so rapidly 
 as to be able, in less than a week, to join the family 
 of the duke ; but the latter had previously con- 
 trived that her first interview with Carlos should 
 be jDrivate, that no inadvertences might betray a 
 prior knowledge of each other. 
 
 Bastro and his wife, at the same time, entered 
 upon their new office, which they discharged in a 
 way the most creditable and satisfactory. 
 
 In the meantime, Gillette gave the duke the fol- 
 lowing detail of her adventures, which, though 
 short, only increased his perplexity and amaze- 
 ment, and awakened a thousand tender recollec- 
 tions connected with his happiness. 
 
 On that fatal and memorable night, with which
 
 144 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the reader is so well acquainted, Gillette retired 
 to bed as usual, and quickly sunk into a dee]) , 
 slumber, from which she was roused at past mid- 
 night by loud outcries, and the dreadful smell of 
 fire. In the utmost consternation she sprang 
 from the bed, and throwing a slight covering over 
 her person, she approached the couch where re- 
 posed, in infant innocence, the little Antonio and 
 Lucilla, when, at this instant, her chamber door 
 was burst open, and a domestic, with terror and 
 distraction in his looks, rushed in. 
 
 This man, whose name was Riaza, had been re- 
 cently taken into the duke's service, and from his 
 first introduction to Gillette had become violently 
 enamoured of her really pretty, interesting figure ; 
 but the girl was too much attached to Carlos to 
 give the least encouragement to his warm pursuit. 
 Nevertheless, her steady coldness, so far from 
 checking his advances, only made him the more 
 officiously impertinent in his overtures, and she 
 began to be extremely wearied with his importu- 
 nities, when he broke into her bed-room to warn 
 her of her danger, and to save her life. 
 
 " There is no time to be lost," he exclaimed, 
 seizing her hand; "treachery is near us: the whole 
 palace is in flames, and this is the only moment 
 for escape." She released herself from his hold,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 145 
 
 and attempted to secure the children. " That 
 cannot be," he added, again snatching her hand, 
 " you must leave them to their fate ; in one in- 
 stant our retreat will be cut off, and inevitable 
 death will be the consequence." 
 
 " I care not; rather would I perish, and challenge 
 the severest fate, than leave the darlings committed 
 to my care to so terrible a destiny ;" she wildly 
 returned, as she once more disengaged herself 
 from his grasp, and caught the infants to her 
 bosom. 
 
 Riaza, seeing her determined, no longer op- 
 posed her ; but this delay, short as it was, had 
 nearly involved them in the general ruin, and with 
 the greatest difficulty they now forced a passage 
 amidst the desolating scenes, which, like frightened 
 nature, when struck with the vengeful lightning, 
 received additional horrors from every kindling 
 flame. 
 
 At length they got clear of the threatening dan- 
 ger, and the breathless Gillette, with the two 
 children, was in a few minutes placed in a close 
 carriage, which rapidly drove off. 
 
 In the extreme hurry and confusion of flight, 
 the betrayed Gillette had had no time for thought? 
 and the artful Riaza was now careful to amuse 
 her mind with tales calculated to impose upon 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 lier understanding and delude her watchfulness, 
 blending the real truth with fictitious repre- 
 sentations ; and though his decided iiihmnanity 
 towards the lovely infants was a proof of the base- 
 ness of his principles, yet she was too much flur- 
 ried, and too much shocked at the fearful catas- 
 trophe which she had witnessed, to take into 
 consideration the improbability of his conveying 
 her to her mistress, who, he affirmed, had escaped 
 on the first alarm of fire, and would await, at 
 Madrid, the arrival of such of her servants as 
 might save themselves by flight. This absurd re- 
 lation, coming from the lips of such a being, could 
 have gained credence with none but those whose 
 reason was bewildered, and whose imagination 
 had been fatigued with tremendous and over- 
 whelming horrors. But soon the truth burst with 
 aggravated force on the senses of the inexperienced 
 victim. The day was fast closing in, ere Gillette 
 was roused to a proper idea of her dangerous 
 situation. In the wildest alarm she caught the 
 arm of Riaza — 
 
 " Oh, whither arc you conveying us ?" she in- 
 quired, in a trembling accent. " Had our route 
 been to Madrid, we must have reached that city 
 long before this hour. Be candid, and justify 
 yourself if you can ; or let me know the worst.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 147 
 
 that I may reproach my own stupidity as it de- 
 serves." 
 
 " Silence must seal my lips for the present," 
 replied Riaza, with a mysterious air. " If you 
 remain quiet, all may end well ; but if you arc 
 clamorous and froward, you will entail upon your- 
 self lasting misery, and expose the brats who are 
 with you to the vengeance of a direful foe." 
 
 " Holy Mary ! what can those innocents have 
 done to excite the malice of any living being !" 
 exclaimed Gillette, as she clasped them with un- 
 speakable gi'ief and astonishment to her heart. 
 " But no, this talc is too ridiculous to gain belief, 
 and your actions have something in them more 
 wild and unreasonable than flying from unknown 
 enemies ; therefore, attempt not to deceive me, but 
 either repair to Madrid, or release me instantly." 
 
 " I can do neither one nor the other," he re- 
 turned ; " Madrid is no place of safety. I acknow- 
 ledge your mistress has perished in the flames; the 
 duke, our master, has fallen under the emperor's 
 displeasure, and a mortal foe seeks the life of 
 himself and offspring ; thus far I venture to say ; 
 the remainder is guarded by a sense of gratitude 
 and necessity." 
 
 A heavy weight pressed upon the heart of Gil- 
 lette as these words fell from the lips of her com- 
 h2
 
 148 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 panion. Gillette had received a decent education, 
 and possessed feelings of high rectitude and 
 fidelity ; her person was pleasing, her aspect 
 engaging, and her whole demeanour such as did 
 honour to her humble station. Her attractions 
 had pleased Riaza's taste, and vanquished his 
 heart; but Carlos was a formidable rival, whom 
 he cordially hated ; first, because of his preten- 
 sions to Gillette ; secondly, because his virtuous 
 conduct was a tacit reproach to his own, which, 
 for a long period, had been confessedly vicious ; 
 yet much as he loved, interest soon absorbed 
 the loving particles, and his designs were not 
 to steal Gillette but the children, and convey 
 them to some distant shore, Avhence neither could 
 return. To save her, therefore, from the flames, 
 w^as now all he intended; but the sight of the 
 girl, with agitated features and disordered dress, 
 precipitately changed the train of his ideas, and 
 love in one moment returned, with added vio- 
 lence. To seize her and leave the children to 
 perish was his sudden determination, but finding 
 she was too compassionate and faithful to her 
 trust to consign the helpless infants to certain 
 destruction, he allowed her to act, in this instance, 
 agreeably to her own feelings, believing he could 
 at any time release himself from the burden which
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA^X'E. 119 
 
 was now forced upon him : his employer, it was 
 evident, had too amply rewarded his villany, for 
 Gillette was astonished at the unaccountable sums 
 that he lavished on the post-lads, to encourage 
 them to activity and speed ; and well pleased were 
 they to serve so munificent a master, for they 
 sj^ared neither whip nor sj)ur, and pressed for- 
 ward with so much rapidity, that the vehicle might 
 be said rather to cut the elementary region than 
 move through it. 
 
 " How far have we to Girona r" inquired Riaza 
 of a fresh driver, as he was deliberately harness- 
 ing his horses. 
 
 " Two posts, senor, or four leagues, which you 
 please," he returned, facetiously; but now leisurely 
 patting the rough sides of his cattle. 
 
 " Then use expedition, my lad," said Riaza, as 
 he slipped a couple of dollars into his hand ; " we 
 are in haste, and wish to reach that city by night- 
 fall." 
 
 "•Bless you, most illustrious senor," he replied, 
 coolly depositing the money in his querpo ; " this 
 pretty queJqiicchose will just set us off with a 
 snug trot, and keep my beasts from sleeping over 
 their paternosters." 
 
 " Rascal !" exclaimed Riaza, half offended at 
 the fellow's impertinence ; " you insatiable dog,
 
 150 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 take this," and he put the vahie of a pistole into 
 his hand, at the same time commanding him to 
 make the best of his way. 
 
 " St. Jago save your most honourable excel- 
 lency," returned the incorrigible postillion, com- 
 posedly, and taking the reins, which he accurately 
 measured with his eye. " It is surprising how 
 these little punctilios conciliate, and facilitate, 
 and commemorate matters ; take my word for it, 
 most illustrious senor, that the national specie is 
 a specific remedy against the spleen ; 'tis the axis 
 upon which all good fellowship revolves, and 
 the quintessence of supremacy and superlative 
 motion." 
 
 " I wish, most heartily, it had the power to sup- 
 press your loquacity, and initiate one so dilatory 
 in the mysteries of despatch," said the angry 
 Riaza. 
 
 " Diligence, most illustrious seiior," remarked 
 the provoking driver, halting just as he was slug- 
 gishly mounting his beast, " is a post-lad's whole 
 cyclopaedia." 
 
 " Except thine, thou chattering capochia," in- 
 terrupted the now enraged Riaza, with an oath. 
 
 " I have travelled much in these parts, senor," 
 again remarked the postillion, without being in the 
 least disconcerted by the angry voice and ges- 
 tures of Riaza, '^ and find that a heavy atmosphere
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 151 
 
 is frequently ambidextrous, and merely the fore- 
 runner of an ultroneous brisk wind." 
 
 " Curse your hard names and apathy together," 
 exclaimed the impatient Riaza, unable to restrain 
 his rage at this unnecessary delay. 
 
 " To be a little acroamatical, senor," he replied 
 coolly, "pleases myself; to be acataleptic pleases 
 my employers, as they are generally amused ^Yith 
 that which they don't understand." 
 
 Riaza finding it useless to contend with one so 
 unmanageable, remained silent, and left the driver 
 to his humour ; who, after seating himself on one 
 of the animals with great precision, and bowing 
 to Riaza with a smirking air, gently touched them 
 with the lash, when the vehicle rolled forward 
 with the most extraordinary velocity. 
 
 This was a very agreeable surprise to Riaza, as, 
 from the post-lad's obstinate tardiness, he began 
 to suspect that the beasts were none of the best, 
 and that, consequently, he should reach Girona 
 considerably beyond the time he had fixed. They 
 had already been several days upon the road, and 
 had travelled night and day almost without inter- 
 mission, so that Gillette and the children began to 
 be nearly in a state of lethargic exhaustion, for 
 the want of proper rest and refreshment ; but 
 Riaza now promised the former, that as soon as 
 they arrived at Girona he would allow them a few
 
 152 TtlE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 liours' repose, and likewise furnish them with 
 some changes of apparel necessary for the con- 
 tinuation of their journey. 
 
 Gillette was too fatigued and w^earied with con- 
 jecture to pay much attention to these promises 
 of indulgence. She had remarked their jDreceding 
 route, and was convinced it was the very reverse 
 of the direct road ; but this precaution now^ seemed 
 to be abandoned, as the track they were pursuing 
 Avas evidently too public to be a by-way; but the 
 fact is, Riaza thought it was no longer necessary 
 to deviate from the regular course, as they were 
 now approaching that part of Spain where it was 
 very unlikely they should meet with anything to 
 retard their progress; he therefore had allowed 
 the present driver to choose his own road, who, it 
 may be supposed, took the shortest, and reached 
 Girona in much less time than Riaza had cal- 
 culated. 
 
 Here Riaza talked apart to the post-lad, who, 
 in a few minutes, conducted them to a small 
 obscure house, in which lived his brother, a hardy- 
 looking Spaniard, who obtained his livelihood by 
 letting out mules and directing travellers over the 
 adjacent mountains. This was the first time that 
 Gillette had had an opportunity of soliciting the 
 compassion of any one since the commencement
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 153 
 
 of their jouvney, so artfully had Eiaza executed 
 his \ilhinous scheme; and now, to her extreme 
 horror and indignation, he represented her as his 
 fugitive -svife, \Tho had stolen his two children, 
 and, accompanied by her lover, had fled to Cala- 
 tajud, in Arragon, to which city he had traced 
 her, and took her from her paramour a,t mid- 
 night. 
 
 This tale, poured into the ears of a jealous 
 Spaniard, gained implicit belief, and all Gillette's 
 asseverations to the contrary only exposed her to 
 insult and ridicule, whilst Riaza's threatening 
 looks redoubled her terror, and prevented her 
 from enjoying that repose she might otherwise 
 have done. 
 
 With this muleteer Riaza made an agreement 
 to take them to Perpignan, a town on the fron- 
 tiers of Spain, and from its situation well suited 
 for violence or concealment, and at three in the 
 morning they once more set off; but the principal 
 part of this journey was extremely wearisome and 
 difficult to perform, much of it lying through the 
 Pyrenees, where the pass was narrow and rugged, 
 and sometimes extremely dangerous. 
 
 " For the love of God take us not amongst 
 those dismal scenes," exclaimed Gillette, in the 
 utmost alarm, as the huge Pyrenees, with their 
 H 3
 
 154 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 prodigious crags, overtopped witli dark olives and 
 oaks, met her disordered sight, together with the 
 frightful cataracts that fell with tremendous rapi- 
 dity from precipice to precipice, and thundered 
 in the dark region of many a countless fathom. 
 
 Riaza ridiculed her fears, and whether m jest 
 or earnest, he pointed out their immeasurable 
 heights as more worthy of admiration than terror ; 
 declaring, as they journeyed on, that he should 
 enjoy more supreme happiness in limiting his 
 rambles, if accomj^anied by her, to their bold re- 
 treats and impetuous torrents, than in the palaces 
 of princes. 
 
 Gillette, pale and agitated, sunk into silence as 
 her companion concluded this fine speech; but in 
 a few hours her mind, as though Providence had 
 suddenly interposed its divine grace, became 
 strengthened, and as she grew more familiarized 
 to such an undistinguished mass of stupendous 
 horrors, she fearlessly determined, for the infants' 
 sake, to conquer her own grief, that she might be 
 enabled to take advantage of any circumstance 
 which was likely to favour their escape. At pre- 
 sent no such chance had offered itself; but to- 
 wards the close of the same day Riaza observed 
 a storm coming on, and proposed to the guide to 
 draw up beneath a vast eminence thickly set with
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 155 
 
 woods, whose clustering branches promised them 
 a safe shelter. This was accordingly done, and 
 in a few minutes, as Riaza had prognosticated, 
 a heavy rain fell, presently swelling every sti-eam 
 into a furious torrent; the thunder reverberated 
 among the concealed caverns of the mountains, 
 whilst the winds uniting, and armed with destruc- 
 tion, forced a passage through many of these 
 hitherto impregnable fortresses, bursting and 
 breaking down, with the noise of cannon, the 
 rocky intrenchments, and thickets of extraor- 
 dinary strength. The children, discomposed with 
 the frightful confusion, screamed loudly, and it 
 was with the utmost difficulty that Gillette silenced 
 their pathetic cries on her bosom. When, at the 
 moment she had succeeded in soothing them to 
 quietness, a broad flash of vivid lightning struck 
 the leafy canopy over their heads, and instantly 
 severed the large trunk of an aged tree, which 
 for unnumbered years had flourished uninjured 
 amidst the gigantic products of nature, and fall- 
 ing, brought the guide to the ground ere he was 
 conscious of the impending danger. Riaza, ex- 
 cessively alarmed, flew to his aid, almost expect- 
 ing he had received his death-stroke, but fortu- 
 nately for himself he had merely been wounded 
 in the shoulder, which bled profusely, lliaza
 
 156 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 at length stopped the flowing of the blood, and, 
 rending his handkerchief, bound up the wound. 
 
 In the meantime Gillette seeing Riaza busily 
 employed with the man, secretly offered up a 
 prayer to Heaven for safety and protection; and 
 without weighing the innumerable difficulties 
 which must impede her progress, encumbered as 
 she was with two children, and surrounded by 
 unknown dangers, retreated in silence, and mov- 
 ing slowly along the ridges of the mountain, 
 entered a iDatli which appeared to have been 
 trodden dowai by human footsteps. 
 
 Riaza on missing Gillette became nearly frantic; 
 love, rage, and apprehension, gave swiftness to 
 his feet, and strength to his arm, and with amaz- 
 ing alertness he penetrated the most hidden 
 tracks, and traversed for nearly two hours those 
 dark precipices from which he expected every 
 instant to be precij^itated into the gulfs beneath; 
 whilst his voice, calling upon her name in an 
 agony of horror, and mingling with the storm, 
 echoed frightfully on every side, till at length he 
 beheld a sort of cottage nearly buried in the 
 mountains, which seemed to announce desolation 
 and inhospitable poverty. 
 
 Completely bewildered, and scarcely knowing 
 his own intentions, he knocked loudly at the door,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 157 
 
 >vhich was immediately oi^ened by a middle aged 
 man of no very prepossessing appearance. Riaza 
 waited not to be invited in, but unceremoniously 
 rushed forward, for he beheld Gillette supported 
 by a woman, who had found her outside of her 
 door in a swooning fit. He instantly made known 
 his claim, declaring she was his wife; and putting 
 a handsome present into the man's hand, begged he 
 w^ould give them a place of shelter for the night. 
 
 The man, pleased at Riaza's generosity, readily 
 granted his request, and the unfortunate Gillette, 
 with the children, were put to bed; but Riaza sat 
 up with his host, whom he soon discovered to be 
 a pirate; and as people of similar 23rinciples and 
 ideas quickly become acquainted, neither was 
 backward in making discoveries of each other's 
 propensities and sentiments. 
 
 In the morning Gillette was observed to be in 
 a high fever, and the woman of the house said it 
 was impossible for her to continue her journey 
 while she remained so ill. 
 
 In this exigence Riaza had again recourse to 
 his old method, money, of which he had a plen- 
 tiful su])ply, and he now had full leave to take up 
 his abode with these people as long as he thought 
 proper; thus several weeks passed away. Gillette 
 recovered, but Riaza, during this period, had
 
 158 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 absolutely leagued himself with the pirate and his 
 horde, and had made up his mind to settle in this 
 horrid seclusion, which, from its remoteness and 
 uncivilized appearance, suited his plans much 
 better than Perpignan, or any other town. Here 
 Gillette could never escape the vigilance of those 
 whom he had connected with his interest, and to 
 whose pursuits he was bound by the way of obli- 
 gation, though with no intention at present of 
 taking a personal concern in the fatigues and 
 dangers attending such an unlawful occupation. 
 To make Gillette his wife was the ardent desire 
 of his heart, for wliich reason he treated her with 
 uniform respect, and the children with kindness ; 
 but solemnly protested to her, in private, that he 
 was bound by oath to convey them far fi*om the 
 boundaries of Spain, and that attachment to her- 
 self was the sole reason of the nonfulfilment of 
 the agreement; and he concluded his remarks 
 with a command, that if she did not wish to con- 
 sign the objects of her solicitude to inevitable 
 destruction, she must, in the progress of know- 
 ledge, teach them to call her mother. " Any recur- 
 rence to the past is useless," he observed, as 
 Gillette bitterly reproached his baseness; "the 
 brats might have fallen into worse hands, and 
 even now their fate depends upon your compliance
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 159 
 
 with my wishes; consent to unite your destiny 
 with mine, and their safety is immediately in- 
 sured, but whilst you remain reluctant, I cannot 
 answer to what lengths anger and disappointment 
 may carry me ; and, to be plain, my own security 
 now obliges me to treat you as a captive till you 
 determine to accept my proposals." 
 
 After this conversation all hopes of escaping 
 from Riaza's power fled fi'om Gillette's mind; she, 
 nevertheless, was resolute never to call him hus- 
 band, and in this resolve she remained firm in spite 
 of his oft-repeated threats and importunities ; and 
 in this miserable state two years rolled over her 
 head iminterrui^ted by any material event, when 
 the son of the pirate returned fi'om a long cruising 
 expedition, laden with spoil, and rich with con- 
 quest. 
 
 This young man was about twenty-six, of an 
 athletic form, and with a countenance remarkable 
 for its frankness and extreme good humour. He 
 gazed with a mixture of curiosity and interest at 
 Gillette on his first introduction, but after this 
 period he became reserved, and generally averted 
 his head whenever she was present. A conduct 
 so foreign to his air did not fail to attract Gillette's 
 notice, for his first appearance caused that flat- 
 terer, Hope, once again to flutter within her bosom,
 
 160 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 but which she now reluctantly relinquished ; and, 
 to add to her mortification, Riaza at this juncture 
 seemed to he doubly vigilant, and watched her 
 motions with evident disquietude. After a con- 
 siderable lapse of time, however, he relaxed in 
 some degree from this rigid behaviour, and one 
 day accompanied the man to inspect some pira- 
 tical treasures concealed within the secret recesses 
 of the mountain, leaving the mistress of the house 
 and her son as spies on the conduct of Gillette; 
 but it so happened the w^oman had occasion to 
 go to another room for some article she wanted, 
 and the young man, seeing the coast clear, hastily 
 addressed Gillette, saying, in a low tone, " Ex- 
 cuse my abruptness, but do you consider yourself 
 a prisoner?" 
 
 " Alas ! yes ; a wretched, wretched prisoner," 
 she replied, falling upon her knees; " oh! if you 
 have compassion, as your manners seem to indi- 
 cate, assist us to escape from persecution, and 
 this frightful w^ilderness." 
 
 " Hush ! we must be wary," he returned ; " my 
 own observations have convinced me you are not 
 the wife of Riaza, and a woman in distress has an 
 undoubted right to the assistance and comi)assion 
 of man ; therefore, if you dare trust yourself with 
 a stranger and a sea-robber, be in waiting at your
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 161 
 
 chamber "window to-morrow night precisely at 
 twelve." 
 
 Gillette expressed her acknowledgments with 
 equal gratitude and delight, and promised punc- 
 tually to observe the appointment. 
 
 There was no time to add anything further, as 
 the woman speedily returned to the room ; and, a 
 few minutes after, Riaza entered with the pirate. 
 
 Gillette was careful to conceal her ecstatic sen- 
 sations, and those newly-awakened hoj^es, from 
 whose cheering influence she had been so long 
 estranged ; but one circumstance, which suddenly 
 recurred to her recollection, proved a considerable 
 alloy to her pleasure ; her chamber window had, 
 by Riaza's orders, been strongly barricaded, and 
 she was well convinced that her utmost efforts 
 would never be able to remove a single bar. 
 
 To apprise the young man of this unlucky im- 
 pediment was impossible, she was too closely 
 guarded; and, to add to her perplexity, he soon 
 after went out; and she understood, from the 
 general conversation of the parties at liome, that 
 his absence would be lengthened to several days. 
 
 Gillette passed the hours in a state of mind not 
 to be conceived, sometimes enfeebled by the 
 deepest dejection, and a prey to the most harass- 
 ing surmises; at others, the ingenuous countc-
 
 162 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 iianco of her new friend would cross her mind 
 and ensure her confidence ; and she flattered her- 
 self that no trifling obstacle would prevent the 
 success of his scheme. 
 
 About an hour before the time, Gillette clothed 
 the children in the wannest habiliments she could 
 find, to screen them from the night air, which, 
 amongst the Pyrenees, at some seasons, is par- 
 ticularly keen ; and as she had taught them a 
 strict obedience to her commands, she impressed 
 upon their young minds the necessity of total 
 silence, and a due regard to her instructions. 
 
 At length, a slight noise beneath her window 
 drew her toy>^ards it ; a crescent moon shed but a 
 faint light, and the dark points of the mountains 
 prevented her at first from distinguishing any one 
 below ; but presently a man ascended to the lat- 
 tice, and in a few moments wrenched two or three 
 of the irons from their holds, making a space suf- 
 ficiently large to admit of any person's passing 
 through. 
 
 Gillette, quite satisfied of the young man's 
 identity, now with a throbbing heart and trem- 
 bling limbs, unloosed the casement, and silently 
 delivered the sweet infants to his care, and then 
 descended herself by the ladder which he had 
 prepared for that purpose, and reached the ground
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 163 
 
 without the slightest difficulty. All this ^Yas the 
 work of merely a few minutes, during which time 
 not a single word was spoken by either party. 
 The young man, after securing the ladder, began 
 to move briskly forward with the children in his 
 arms, at the same time making a sign for Gillette 
 to follow. 
 
 So unexpected a release from bondage seemed 
 to Gillette more like a dream than a reality ; and 
 with a light step, and feelings attuned to grati- 
 tude, she kept close to her companion, whose 
 alertness in avoiding danger, and the quickness 
 with which he traversed these alarming solitudes, 
 announced his intimate acquaintance with their 
 fantastic horrors. 
 
 " I know not to what part of Spain you intend 
 to go," said the young man, suddenly breaking 
 the profound silence. " I should suppose, by 
 your accents, you are a Castilian ; but be that as 
 it may, I have engaged a man and a couple of 
 horses, to convey you to any place you choose 
 to name within a hundred miles ; after which, 
 should your journey extend further, you can pro- 
 ceed the remainder of the way as jou think 
 proper. We are now within a mile of the pass 
 which leads directly to Girona." 
 
 Gillette hesitated for a moment to reply; the
 
 164 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 vast distance she was from Madrid, and the litde 
 knowledge she had of the route, made it difficult 
 for her to name any particuhar place within the 
 prescribed distance. At length she mentioned 
 Sirada, as coming the nearest to her recollection, 
 and believing it lay in the road to Saragossa. 
 
 The young man appeared satisfied with her 
 answer, and made no further remarks on the sub- 
 ject; and they entered the pass just as the first 
 streak of morning purpled the eastern sky. Here 
 they found the man with his beasts, waiting im- 
 patiently their approach. On being informed to 
 what place his travellers were going, he protested 
 it was utterly impossible to take his cattle so far; 
 " you might just as well," he added, *' ask me to 
 go to Guadalaxara, or Madrid." 
 
 The young man conversed with him for several 
 minutes in a low tone, and then counted a sum of 
 money into his hands, which the fellow placing 
 in his pocket, saying, " 'Tis all settled, seiior; you 
 may depend upon my zeal and attention ; you 
 have paid like a prince, and shall be served like 
 one." 
 
 Gillette's generous deliverer now turned to her, 
 and giving her a purse, told her its contents were 
 to defray her expenses, and concluded with many 
 good wishes for her welfare.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 1G5 
 
 Gillette, with tears of gratitude, faltered out 
 her acknowledgments. 
 
 " I require no thanks for the trifle I have 
 done," he hastily replied ; " but allow me to hope 
 you will sometimes mingle the name of Franco in 
 your orisons." 
 
 Gillette gave him this assurance ; and, after 
 being comfortably seated, the man taking charge 
 of the children, the horses set off, and arrived at 
 Girona with our travellers without accident or 
 interruption. 
 
 At this place the man, agreeably to the order 
 he had received from the pirate's son, attached a 
 vehicle to the animals; and this mode of convey- 
 ance accorded with Gillette's feelings, as it was 
 not only extremely comfortable, but it effectually 
 secured her and the children from observation. 
 As he had been strictly commanded to make as 
 little delay upon the road as possible, he soon 
 continued his journey, and had gone about fifteen 
 miles further, when, stopping to bait at a small 
 village, he accidentally recognised an old com- 
 panion. Having been supplied with j^lenty of 
 cash by the generous Franco, he made no cere- 
 mony in treating him with a few glasses of liquor; 
 not forgetting to refresh himself with a consider- 
 able quantity. By degrees they both got too
 
 166 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 jovial to separate quickly, and the regalement 
 concluded by both being completely intoxicated. 
 
 Thus hour after hour passed away, and the 
 agonized Gillette saw another night drawing on 
 apace, without the slightest hope of pursuing her 
 journey, at least for some time, as the fellow was 
 now fallen asleep ; and the children, wearied with 
 being up the preceding night, had likewise sunk 
 into a profound slumber. 
 
 The landlady, seeing the poor creature's dis- 
 tress, advised her to put the children to bed, and 
 to endeavour to take a little rest herself; pro- 
 mising, as soon as the man was in a situation to 
 travel, she should be immediately roused. Gil- 
 lette, not knowing what plan to adopt, and her 
 heart bleeding for the innocents exposed to so 
 many vicissitudes, accepted the proposal, and 
 was shown to a neat small room ujDon the first 
 floor ; but she neither disrobed herself nor the 
 children, that she might be ready at a moment's 
 notice. At the early dawn, some one rapped at 
 her door, saying, the man was gone to the stable 
 to give his horses their last provender ere they 
 were put to the carriage. Gillette started from 
 the bed, roused her young companions, and hav- 
 ing caressed them into good humour, she drew 
 out her purse, and took thence a few pieces, in
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 167 
 
 order to pay her small bill. As the room was 
 nearly dark she approached the window, and put- 
 ting the curtain on one side to admit the light, 
 was going to reckon the money she had in her 
 hand, when she was struck with the most unsjieak- 
 able horror and confusion, by observing Riaza in 
 close conversation with a stranger. 
 
 Without the slightest hesitation she softly un- 
 fastened the door, and placing a child under each 
 arm, she descended the stairs and entered the 
 yard, in hopes there was a back way whereby she 
 could escape without being particularly noticed. 
 Fortunately, no person was in view ; and as 
 quickly as possible she passed through a gate- 
 way which led to a plantation ; crossing this, she 
 took the first direction which presented itself, 
 which proved to be a by-road ; and here she 
 paused to take breath, but presently the sound of 
 cart-wheels caught her attention. As the cart ap- 
 proached she saw it was covered, and that it con- 
 tained no person but the driver. She immediately 
 begged a seat for herself and children, which the 
 man good-naturedly granted ; and in this vehicle 
 she made a journey of twelve miles, without in- 
 quiring its destination ; all she wanted was to 
 keep clear of Riaza, who, she was well assured, 
 would continue his pursuit towards Madrid ; and
 
 168 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 she had no alternative bat either to fall again into 
 his power, or take a contrary route. On her leav- 
 ing the cart, she would have paid the man a proper 
 fare, but this he refused to take ; and at this in- 
 stant she recollected she had most heedlessly left 
 her well-filled purse on the table at the inn, from 
 whence she had so hastily fled, and retained only 
 those few pieces she had unconsciously kept 
 within her grasp. This valuable loss added con- 
 siderably to her distraction and embarrassment ; 
 and with inexpressible terror, and sick with unut- 
 terable anguish, she wandered into the most 
 obscure paths, vainly endeavouring to collect her 
 thoughts, and to fix upon some plan which might 
 ultimately release her from her singular dilemma. 
 
 After some time passed in a state of confused 
 reflection, she came to the determination of ap- 
 plying to the brotherhood of some convent for 
 advice and assistance. Agreeably to this resolu- 
 tion she made inquiries concerning one, of the 
 first person she met, and was informed, the nearest 
 was eight miles distant, a monastery of the order 
 of St. Austin, and situated near the mountains. 
 
 This w^as disagreeable intelligence ; to hire a 
 conveyance did not suit her finances; to walk was 
 equally inconvenient, but necessity has no choice, 
 she was therefore obliged to adopt the latter, and
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. ]69 
 
 once more to commence pedestrian. She, llo^Y- 
 ever, took every precaution not to deviate from 
 the direct track, frequently making inquiries, and 
 receiving instruction from different persons con- 
 cerning the way; but fortunately (for so it turned 
 out) her last informant gave her a wrong direction, 
 and she found the evening fast closing in without 
 having arrived at the much desired sanctuary. 
 Fearful of proceeding amidst scenes so strange 
 and uncongenial, which, from the gathering gloom, 
 appeared, to her fancy, pregnant with a thousand 
 dangers ; and observing Bastro's humble habita- 
 tion, she rallied her spirits sufficiently to knock, 
 and request a shelter for the night. 
 
 Here ended Gillette's distressful detail of her 
 misfortunes. The emotions of the duke during 
 the recital were, as it may be supposed, of the most 
 poignant nature, whilst admiration at her heroic 
 and j^raiseworthy conduct, and parental compas- 
 sion for the early sufferings of the lovely children 
 by turns predominated in his breast ; but who 
 was the baneful enemy that had so successfully, 
 and so fatally, overspread the morning of his feli- 
 city with such a tremendous darkness, was a mys- 
 tery which even his superior knowledge of human 
 events was unable to solve. Kiaza had entered 
 his service from the high recommendation of a 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 nobleman connected with himself by the ties of 
 consanguinity, and with whom he had ever been 
 upon amicable, though not very intimate, terms, 
 which originated, the duke thought, rather from 
 their difference in political opinions than from any 
 personal contempt. He had always been a great 
 favourite of Philip's, long ere the Emperor Charles 
 abdicated the crown, and was so often in his com- 
 pany that the courtiers, by the way of derision, 
 used to term him the prince's looking-glass. 
 
 How^ Riaza had become acquainted with his 
 unknown foe, and what were the temptations 
 which had corrupted his fidelity in so shameful a 
 manner, was another matter of sui*prise as well as 
 abhorrence; but deeply as he was injured, and 
 though still uncertain as to the fate of his wife, 
 he was obliged, for his own security, fallen as he 
 Avas under the king's displeasure, to forbear at- 
 tempting the arrest of Riaza, with whom appeared 
 to rest the whole secret ; and to leave the event 
 to that Providence who had so unexpectedly re- 
 stored the children of his love. 
 
 As to Carlos, he could do nothing for a consi- 
 derable time but cry and laugh by turns, hug the 
 children to his breast, stammer out a thousand 
 fond effusions to Gillette, and thunder forth me- 
 naces against Riaza. " Blessed St. Jago !" he
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 171 
 
 continued vehemently, " could I but thrust that 
 ugly fellow into the inquisition, or see him within 
 a rod of my toledo sword " 
 
 " No — not so ugly neither," interrupted Gil- 
 lette, smiling ; " Riaza is rather handsome than 
 not — I think I recollect hearing you once make the 
 remark." 
 
 " I tell you, Gillette, he is all over a botch ; 
 when sin enters the heart the devil defaces the 
 countenance ; a man who has a guilty conscience 
 might as well attempt to remove a cloud which 
 obscures the heavens as to smooth his features 
 into grace ; as to my good friend, Franco, I never 
 saw him, but I'll bet a ducat to a soldo that he is, 
 every bit of him, a charming cavalier, even to his 
 mustaches." 
 
 " Franco is a sea robber," said Gillette, signi- 
 ficantly. 
 
 " Well, well ! that's neither here nor there : one 
 virtuous action throws such a halo round a man's 
 path that his bad deeds are nearly lost in its rival 
 glory, and, egad ! make him feel so nicely, that, I 
 w^ould venture a j^istole to a dollar, he will noAv 
 quickly forsake his old courses and embrace that 
 honour, the taste of which, depend upon it, has 
 set him longing to be an honest man." 
 
 Gillette answered this speech, agreeably to her 
 I 2
 
 172 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 own sentiment, and as her attachment to Carlos 
 remamed unabated, and Carlos had seen no one 
 in the course of his perambulations whose person 
 and behaviour were so in unison with his feelings, 
 and ideas, their acquaintance recommenced with 
 mutual ardour and satisfaction; and the duke, 
 after a few months, approving of their affection, 
 consented to their union, when the marriage cere- 
 mony was performed by a reverend father of the 
 nearest convent.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 173 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Many years now passed away, and one day suc- 
 ceeded another in that state of regidar tranquillity 
 which has little of the novel to recommend it. 
 Lucilla, as she grew towards womanhood, in- 
 creased in beauty, and preserved that striking 
 likeness to her unfortunate mother which, in her 
 infancy, had been so remarkable, her eyes ex- 
 cepted, and a certain something in her air which 
 frequently engaged the duke's attention, and threw 
 him into many extraordinary reveries. Her dis- 
 position, though gentle and conciliating, pos- 
 sessed a firmness and decision, the want of which 
 had ruined the lovely Isabella, whilst her under- 
 standing and the embellishments of her mind 
 equalled, if not surpassed, the various charms
 
 174 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 which adorned her person, to which was added a 
 considerable portion of wit and vivacity. 
 
 Antonio was in person a true Castilian — tall, 
 and elegantly shaped, with a beautiful counte- 
 nance ; but his various talents and accomplish- 
 ments, together with the perfections and defects 
 of his character, are not so easily described. An 
 early acquaintance with adversity, the terrific 
 scenes through which he passed, his strange asso- 
 ciates in the Pyrenean mountains, had given a 
 boldness and strength to his mind far beyond his 
 years, to which the tales of Carlos, in describing 
 the warlike achievements of his countrymen, their 
 splendid encampments, their victories, the glory 
 of their chieftains, and all the powerful virtues 
 which animated their zeal, contributed not a little. 
 Even those ferocious amusements, the bull-fights, 
 which the Spaniards, at this period, carried to a 
 degree of barbarity scarcely to be credited, were 
 not omitted ; the strength of the enclosures, the 
 prodigious multitude which assembled on those 
 occasions, the richness of their habits, the rank, 
 and the extraordinary courage of the combatants, 
 together with the appalling adversary they had 
 to contend with, were all accurately pictured, and 
 served to inflame the imagination of the youthful 
 Antonio.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 175 
 
 Both Antonio and Lucilla had been educated 
 as brother and sister, and the duke, for prudent 
 reasons, forbore to undeceive them ; he, likewise, 
 had them considered as orphans, whose deceased 
 parents were nearly related to himself; but why 
 such was his pleasure neither B astro nor his wife 
 attempted to penetrate, and Gillette and Carlos 
 were too much in the interest of their lord to give 
 the slightest intimation of the truth. The duke, 
 it must be confessed, was often internally delighted 
 at witnessing the animation which lit up his son's 
 countenance, whenever heroic actions or martial 
 deeds were the subject of conversation. Ungrate- 
 fully as Philip had behaved, it had not lessened 
 that attachment to his house, nor undermined 
 those loyal ideas and illustrious virtues which had 
 been the bond of union between the late Emperor 
 Charles and himself; and though fatal circum- 
 stances had combined to despoil him of his justly 
 acquired fame, he yet hoped to see his son equally 
 distinguished for the same glorious endowments, 
 and worthy of being considered as a potent prop 
 to the throne, whilst the promise, which he had 
 given to Charles on his dying bed — a promise 
 which he held in the highest consideration — made 
 him doubly anxious to behold the accomplishment 
 of his wishes.
 
 176 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Antonio to matchless dexterity, extraordinary 
 bravery, and unshaken constancy, added a frank- 
 ness and generosity, with percejDtions clear and 
 vigilant, that served to check, in some degree, the 
 imj)etuosity of his temper, and that haughtiness 
 and imjDatience which often defeat their own 
 designs, and which sometimes obscured his better 
 qualities. He had entered his eighteenth year, 
 and no particular occurrence had as yet called 
 forth his valorous and enterprising genius, when 
 Carlos, who had been to the neighbouring town 
 for provisions, returned home laden with goods 
 and news. The ridiculous turn of his counte- 
 nance, with its ambiguous expression, did not 
 escape Antonio's observation. 
 
 " Ah, Carlos !" he exclaimed, " eagerly catching 
 him by the arm, " thy looks betoken something 
 remarkable ; be assured thou hast my hearty con- 
 sent to unfold and discover all hidden secrets and 
 mysteries connected v/itli thy present journey and 
 gleanings thereof. Speak, for I know thou hast 
 an old relic of history to narrate." 
 
 " No, it's a new relic, schor," interrupted Carlos, 
 with a smile of importance, '* and such a relic ! 
 St. Jago, defend us ! it has made me cut capers 
 with as much agility as though I had been ready
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 177 
 
 accoutred to have an audience of the renowned 
 Cavaliers who are going to make so conspicuous 
 a figure in the approaching combat." 
 
 " Combat!— Holy Mary!— Go on with thy 
 communications. Of what nature is it? and who 
 are the competitors?" inquired Antonio, impa- 
 tiently. 
 
 " The first question I can answer much better 
 than the last," replied Carlos. " It is one of those 
 grand exhibitions which I have so often described, 
 I mean a bull feast ; it is to be represented on 
 the tenth of next month, in the neighbourhood of 
 Aranjuez, where the court now is; and it is, as I 
 understand, to be the most magnificent spectacle 
 which has been displayed for several years, the 
 king himself being at the head, as is often the 
 case, inspecting all the arrangements, which are 
 principally made to exhibit the smprising prowess 
 of Prince Rodolph, grandson to Ferdinand, our 
 late king's brother. A vast concourse of princes 
 and grandees, with their ladies and attendants, 
 will be present to witness the exploits of tlie com- 
 batants ; and any young cavalier, desirous of fame, 
 though unknown, will be allowed to enter the lisls 
 with other competitors for renown." Here Carlos 
 paused to take breath, but Antonio had heard 
 l3
 
 178 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 enough ; he flew to the duke, and, falling at his 
 feet, related the tale, and begged to be allowed to 
 share the dangers of the combats. 
 
 Custom had so familiarized the duke to this 
 species of amusement, which, in fact, was consi- 
 dered the most important opening for a young 
 nobleman to obtain celebrity, that he evinced no 
 disapprobation at his son's request, but was rather 
 flattered at this proof of his courage, and the 
 eagerness with which he presented his petition; 
 and, after a few minutes' reflection, he addressed 
 him in these words : — 
 
 " My dear Antonio, you are now come to an 
 age when I can have no possible objection to 
 your engaging in an encounter, which, however 
 hostile to reason and humanity, the customs of 
 this country have made honourable;* it is the 
 fleld on which the first blossoms of genius are 
 allowed to vegetate, and where valour receives its 
 first distinguishing mark of contested heroism; 
 but, great as is this distinction, there is one still 
 greater at which you must aim, although on the 
 splendour of your actions will rest the sequel; 
 
 * It is well known that the bull fights in Spain form one 
 of the principal amusements of the most illustrious personages, 
 and that the victor on these occasions is both honoured and 
 rewarded.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 179 
 
 I allude to the love of your king and country, 
 for they alone will be the supreme judges of your 
 merits hereafter. You will behold the king, the 
 son of that emperor whose virtues are immor- 
 talized, and whose brilliant career illuminated 
 the darkest corners of Europe and the neighbour- 
 ing nations; let the felicity of seeing a descendant 
 of so illustrious a character inspire you with pro- 
 found reverence, and attract your highest regards 
 to his person ; and remember, it is the prerogative 
 of a prince to command, and the duty of a subject 
 to obey, unless his government tends to debase 
 the noble mind of man, to endanger his freedom, 
 and take from him the means of doing good. I 
 do not make these remarks because you need 
 them at present, but simply to submit them to 
 your private consideration, that should you be 
 called upon unexpectedly, you may not only be 
 prepared to discharge your duty as becomes a 
 subject devoted to the exercise of wise and noble 
 actions, and to the supporting of the constitution, 
 but thatyou may imbibe and cherish that loyal affec- 
 tion for the person of Philip which will be lasting, 
 sincere, and incapable of change ; let the injuries 
 of your country be your own — let its enemies be 
 yours also ; and, whatever be your fate, rest satis- 
 fied that kings must do their duty, and are awfully
 
 180 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 responsible for the happiness and prosperity of 
 their subjects. Therefore hesitate not at trifles, 
 but invariably adhere to my instructions, and be 
 at all times, and on all occasions, the friend of 
 the oppressed, and the true patriot of Spain, as 
 you hope to obtain salvation and the resjDcct of 
 mankind." 
 
 Here the duke, affected by his own eloquence, 
 and under the influence of internal agony, which 
 he was obliged to dissemble, paused for a few 
 minutes to recover his wonted composure, when 
 he thus resumed : 
 
 " Satisfied as I am with that glorious enthu- 
 siasm and adventurous spirit wdiich excites and 
 animates your mind, at this early period, to aim 
 at conquest and renown, I shall only add. Go, my 
 son, and take advantage of the propitious mo- 
 ment; take the road which lies open before you — 
 a road, wdiich if pursued aright, will, in time, 
 lead you on to victory, to glory, and immortal 
 honour. But there is one restriction which, for 
 cogent reasons, I must lay upon your actions — 
 namely, that, let the event of your bravery be what 
 it may, you must return hither unknown, and 
 unfollowed. Carlos shall quickly purchase all 
 that is requisite for your equipment, and shall 
 accompany you, likewise, in a manner suitable to
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 181 
 
 your rank, and the dignity of a competitor for 
 fame." 
 
 Antonio, equally surprised and moved at the 
 duke's words and singular earnestness, and de- 
 lighted with his ready acquiescence, answered in 
 a way that was highly gratifying and soothing to 
 the duke's feelings, but which was at once strongly 
 expressive of his own peculiar transports, and of 
 the undaunted boldness of his blooming hopes 
 and expectations." 
 
 The duke, shortly after this conference, ordered 
 Carlos to attend him in his private apartment, 
 where he gave him the particulars of the interview 
 between Antonio and himself, adding several 
 instructions which he did not choose to name to 
 his son. 
 
 Carlos was in a distraction of delight at the 
 honour conferred upon him, in being allowed to 
 attend his young lord on his valorous expedi- 
 tion, and to witness, once more, those terrible 
 exploits Avhich, from time immemorial, had been 
 the boast of the Spanish nation. 
 
 Even Lucilla shared Antonio's sensations, and 
 looked forward to the event with no small satis- 
 faction, as she gazed with admiration on the beau- 
 tiful coursers which were quickly purchased for 
 the occasion. Antonio sprang upon the back of
 
 182 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the finest, and exercised him for several days 
 among the most dangerous acclivities of the moun- 
 tains with great dexterity, that made the duke 
 and his family tremble for his safety, j 
 
 At length, the morning arrived on which our 
 youthful hero was to begin his journey. He was 
 arrayed in a light dress of silk and gold, usually 
 adopted at such festivals, with a short Spanish 
 cloak, made of the finest materials, and fastened 
 upon the shoulder with a gold clasp. A light 
 Spanish hat, ornamented with a rich plumage, and 
 finished in front with a cluster of rubies ; whilst 
 his hair, undrest, fell in natural but graceful curls 
 about his neck. His steed was splendidly capa- 
 risoned, and appeared conscious of the import- 
 ance of the post to which it was soon to be 
 advanced. 
 
 Carlos was habited as usual, with the excep- 
 tion of a splendid pair of shoe-knots, a new mantle 
 interwoven with silver, and three red plumes 
 that nodded magnificently over his forehead. 
 
 " My dear brother, how beautiful you look !" 
 said Lucilla, throwing herself into the arms of 
 Antonio, and embracing him with every symptom 
 of delight. " I protest it is extremely fortunate 
 that I am your sister, or I know not what might be 
 the consequence of your accomplished appearance*
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 183 
 
 " If you are so susceptible of external grace," 
 replied Antonio, smiling, " it is indeed fortunate, 
 as you observe, for I mean to acknowledge the 
 fascinations of no mistress save Fame." 
 
 " Oh, you cruel creature !" returned Lucilla, 
 playfully, " when so many bright eyes will, no 
 doubt, speedily acknowledge the magnanimity and 
 elegance of the youthful candidate for conquest ! 
 but, let me beg of you, my dear Antonio, to bring 
 me an accurate description of the king's per- 
 son " 
 
 " Of the king's person!" inteiTupted Antonio j 
 " will not a detail of his talents do as well ?" 
 
 " I am a loyal maid," she returned, earnestly, 
 " therefore feel, in whatever concerns Philip, so 
 very deeply interested, that, in fact, I picture him 
 to my imagination as one who will ever command 
 my utmost reverence." 
 
 As Lucilla uttered these words, the duke was 
 startled by that peculiar look and air which 
 had so often engaged his attention, and which 
 appeared at this moment more strikingly conspi- 
 cuous ; but, as he could attach no reasonable idea 
 to such a circumstance, he quickly withdrew his 
 observation, and, falling upon the neck of his 
 son, in a faltering voice, gave him his tenderest 
 blessing.
 
 184 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Gillette, likewise, by whom he was exceedingly 
 beloved, took an affectionate leave, while old 
 Bastro and his wife offered up a thousand j^rayers 
 for his safe return. 
 
 " Holy Mary, defend us !" said Carlos, dashing 
 away a tear ; " this is worse than drops of rain 
 upon a wedding day. This is the weaj^on, 
 seiior," he added, seizing a lance, as Antonio 
 mounted his horse ; " the sight of this reminds me 
 — blessed St. Jago !" — and here he sprang upon his 
 own beast; and, amidst repeated adieux, both 
 gallo2)ed off, and, in a few hours, the vast range 
 of mountains, with their rocky summits and dark 
 woods, were left far behind.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 185 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Antonio pursued his journey with all the eager- 
 ness and expedition natural to a young man 
 endowed with singular courage, and whose soul 
 panted for noble enterprises and dangerous 
 achievements, whilst his eye, unaccustomed to 
 such novel and enchanting scenes, roved with 
 inexpressible delight over the most beautiful 
 j)lains, rich vineyards, and pastures ; grounds, 
 watered by a thousand streams, and purpled over 
 with the bright tints of a heavenly atmosphere. 
 " Surely," he exclaimed, aloud, " I have entered 
 on a new existence ; never till now did I feel such 
 exquisite sensations, or behold such a multitude 
 of delights teeming with such delicious odours, 
 and rapturous enjoyment, and which 1 am per- 
 suaded nothing can eclipse."
 
 186 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " Blessed St. Jago !" said Carlos, observing his 
 master pause, "these embellishments of nature 
 are all very pretty and lively ; but, depend uj^on it, 
 seiior, they are merely mortal, compared to the 
 grand flourish of a bull-fight and the splendid 
 robes of yonder troop of cavaliers, who, I am 
 well convinced by their dress and the fleetness of 
 their coursers, are, like ourselves,liastening to the 
 exhibition." 
 
 Antonio looked, and beheld a gay cavalcade of 
 horsemen moving briskly along the road which 
 led to Alcala de Henares, of which place they 
 were now within half a mile. Antonio spurred 
 his steed, and quickly overtook them ; they saluted 
 him as he passed, uttering several words expres- 
 sive of admiration. Carlos, to feast his own eyes, 
 slackened his pace, and, with an animated air, 
 doffed his hat in token of respect, when he sud- 
 denly turned pale, for, among the travellers, he 
 recognised Don Lewis de Alteo, and, fearful of 
 being seen, he speedily rejoined his young master. 
 
 Antonio was too much occupied with the nu- 
 merous ideas which crowded into his mind to 
 notice the manifest disorder of his attendant ; and 
 they entered Alcala, where they lost sight of the 
 sprightly train. Antonio merely stopped here to
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 187 
 
 rest the animals, and take some refreshment, and 
 then renewed his journey, saying to Carlos — 
 
 " The sun is still high ; we have only about four 
 leagues to Madrid, where I purpose to stay the 
 whole of to-morrow, that I may improve the 
 opportunity which offers of viewing that beautiful 
 city. I can set off from thence early on the fol- 
 lowing day, by which means we shall reach Aran- 
 juez some time ere the combats commence." 
 
 Carlos coincided with his master, and they once 
 more resumed their travels : and, meeting with 
 neither accident nor venture, reached Madrid, as 
 Antonio expected, in good time. After several 
 applications they procured lodgings, though with 
 much difficulty, many of the principal apartments 
 having been previously engaged by persons of 
 distinction going to Aranjuez. 
 
 As many years had elapsed since Carlos had 
 visited this capital, he was not surprised to see a 
 vast number of newly-erected edifices, equally 
 noble and beautiful — all of which, however, he 
 cordially condemned, as being every way inferior 
 to the style and architecture of the olden time ; 
 but both the new and the old were new to Anto- 
 nio; he therefore was delighted — absolutely en- 
 chanted — and nothing escaped his observation, as
 
 188 THE OxVTH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 he passed through tlie spacious streets of the 
 magnificent city. 
 
 The next morning, at an early hour, our travel- 
 lers quitted Madrid, and entered the road leading 
 to Aranjuez : here a scene, equally novel and 
 ludicrous, presented itself, — the eye wandered 
 over a heterogeneous mass of living things, and 
 things inanimate : namely, superb carriages, hum- 
 ble vehicles, groups of cavaliers on horseback, a 
 dense crowd of pedestrians, covered with flowers 
 and ribbons, joyously singing to their guitars, in- 
 tercepted at intervals by the notes of the hautboy, 
 and the sound of trumpets. Carlos chuckled 
 with delight. "Seiior," he exclaimed, "what do 
 you think of this? — is not this a beautiful sight? 
 all the people are going to the bull-fight — egad, 
 the dust they are kicking up will spoil my shoe- 
 knots 1" 
 
 Antonio laughed, " All in character, good Car- 
 los !" he returned; '*but Qur horses move slowly, 
 we must endeavour to increase their speed ;" and 
 here both master and man, seeing the necessity of 
 despatch and a little intrepidity, succeeded, in 
 spite of the multitude, in bringing the animals to 
 a bolder action. 
 
 But we must now leave unimportant matters, 
 and conduct our hero, ready accoutred for the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 189 
 
 bull-fight, to the circus. This circus v»'as Ysithin 
 the precincts of the park, strongly barricaded, and 
 ornamented widi an incredible number of the most 
 costly statues and other magnificent decorations ; 
 an immense range of seats occupied a space 
 almost exceeding the conception of the amazed 
 Antonio, enlivened on all sides by the most 
 agreeable variety. In the centre was the king's 
 throne, or chair of state, elevated considerably 
 above the benches, richly adorned and canopied 
 over with cloth of gold; on either side were splendid 
 seats, appropriated to the different branches of the 
 royal family, and most distinguished grandees. 
 In short, for spaciousness, workmanship, and 
 grandeur, the design almost surpassed imagina- 
 tion, whilst the whole amphitheatre commanded 
 an astonishing prospect of some miles in extent, 
 which contained within, in vast boundaries, every- 
 thing that was superb, rare, and delightful. 
 
 At length, the signal was given that announced 
 the king's approach; a shining throng of the fairest 
 ladies and gallant chiefs composed his train, and 
 drew the attention of Antonio : but as Philip 
 took his seat, and saluted the gay multitude, his 
 gaze became riveted, his heart palpitated, a trem- 
 bling seized his limbs ; for, extraordinary as it 
 seemned, in every speaking glance of the king's
 
 190 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 eye, in every movement of his person, he beheld, 
 in living characters, the peculiar look and air of 
 Lucilla ; yet he was obliged to conceal his sur- 
 jDrise, and hasten to the master of the games, 
 as the lists were now filling, and the candidates 
 numerous. 
 
 " You are too late, noble youth," replied the 
 superintendent, in answer to his claim'; " the 
 arrangements are completed for to-day, and the 
 ceremonials closed." 
 
 " Too late !" echoed Antonio, in a voice of 
 deep emotion, and turning an eye of keen disap- 
 pointment mechanically upon the king,fi'om whose 
 seat he was but a short distance. 
 
 Philip, whose sagacious and vigorous senses 
 were ever active and strictly observant of the mi- 
 nutest object, caught the exclamation and the 
 glance together, and, for a moment, he surveyed 
 our hero with deep attention, not unmixed with 
 agitation ; then, addressing one of his retinue, 
 a general commotion took place amongst the 
 grandees, and immediately Antonio was sum- 
 moned to the foot of the throne. 
 
 " Who art thou, and what is thy quality ?" in- 
 quired the king, as the astonished Antonio dis- 
 mounted and sank at his feet. 
 
 " I am simply Don Antonio, great king," he
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 191 
 
 replied, " an unkno^Yn youth, who has travelled 
 upwards of three hundred miles with a view to 
 acquire renown, and to give the first proofs of 
 heroism in the presence of an august sovereign, 
 and his illustrious court ; let my achievements 
 prove my pretensions to that rank w^hich should 
 distinguish him who aspires to be enrolled with 
 the noblest youths in Spain, and to share with 
 them the fatigues and glory of an arduous 
 combat." 
 
 " Young man," returned the monarch, " thy 
 words are equivocal, but thy air and equipment 
 bespeak thee noble, whilst the ardour which glows 
 in thy countenance inclines us to sanction thy 
 claim; thy deeds will prove whether thou art 
 worthy of this mark of royal favour. Thou hast 
 full liberty to try thy prowess with one of the 
 most ferocious animals that has come for a long 
 period within the royal circus ; and by the way of 
 courtesy, as an unknown knight, thou wilt be 
 allowed to take precedence of all the cavaliers, 
 save Prince Rodolph, who are candidates for 
 glory." 
 
 A loud burst of applause interrupted the silence 
 which had prevailed during this interview. The 
 extreme beauty of Antonio, as he knelt uncovered 
 before the king, the richness of his habit, the
 
 192 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 elegance of his deportment, his youth, the fire 
 which sparkled in his eyes, and gave lustre to his 
 cheek ; and lastly, the curiosity which his words 
 and appearance excited, had deeply interested 
 the feelings of numbers who surrounded the 
 king's person ; but vainly did the most beautiful 
 ladies of Philip's court endeavour to attract the 
 youth's attention, vainly did they direct towards 
 him the most rapturous glances, and testify their 
 admiration by a thousand plaudits. Antonio saw 
 no one save the king, or listened to any sounds 
 save those which fell from his lips ; his whole soul 
 was absorbed in the delightful idea of being so 
 highly honoured by him whom his more than 
 father had so impressively and so solemnly en- 
 joined him to reverence. With an air of war- 
 like gracefulness, which gave new chaiTns to 
 the brilliant hues of his complexion, he made 
 his obeisance to the king, and expressed his 
 gratitude in the warmest language of youthful 
 transport. 
 
 The regulations were now read over, and the 
 line of conduct to be observed on the occasion 
 was clearly pointed out. No cavalier, at the peril 
 of having his name erased from the list, and his 
 lance broken, was to wound the eyes of the bull — 
 a command which gave Antonio a much higher
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 193 
 
 opinion of Philip's lunnanity than he afterwards 
 found he deserved. 
 
 The trumpets and hautboys then sounded a 
 flourish. Antonio sprang upon his steed, and 
 the gallant youths were speedily allowed to pass 
 the barrier. In a few minutes, a tremendous roar 
 resounded on every side, a door flew open, and a 
 bull rushed in, whose appearance might have a23- 
 palled the stoutest heart. It was one of more 
 than usual size ; the veins of its body were fright- 
 fully dilated, its flaming eyes menaced destruc- 
 tion, while its hideous nostrils emitted a smoke 
 that filled the arena with a hot mist ; but the 
 animal, as though conscious of its danger, ap- 
 peared for a moment struck with consternation ; 
 but it was only for a moment : it presently became 
 furious and terrible, striking the entrenchments 
 with tremendous force, and ferociously mingling 
 its roarings with the loud shouts of the multi- 
 tude. 
 
 Prince Rodolph, who was about a year older 
 than Antonio, and who was mounted upon a high- 
 spirited horse, advanced, and w^ith intrepid cool- 
 ness ventured to attack the bull, and wounded 
 him in the side, but was obliged instantly to 
 retreat. 
 
 Antonio now saw the danger in its fullest ex- 
 yoL. I. K
 
 194 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 tent, but his courage rose in proportion ; rapid as 
 thought, and with admirable skill, he struck the 
 enraged beast a tremendous blow, which drew 
 torrents of blood from its body; shouts of ap- 
 plause from the spectators ascended to the skies. 
 Another cavalier advanced to relieve Antonio, but 
 was quickly unhorsed by the bull, who would 
 hav(^ dispatched him, had not a covering, usual 
 on such occasions when the danger is imminent, 
 been thrown over its head. The cavalier escaped 
 unhurt, but the animal released itself instantly, 
 and made a furious spring at Prince Rodolph, 
 who stood ready to receive him, and who w^ounded 
 him a second time, though slightly, but was again 
 obliged to retreat. After a few^ minutes, Antonio 
 in his turn once more attacked him, wdth a fixed 
 resolution not to retreat, but bravely conquer or 
 die. The bull, covered with blood, and furious 
 with pain and rage, fiercely attempted to rush 
 upon the youthful combatant ; but our hero, w ith 
 surprising agility, avoided his approaches, and, 
 with matchless intrepidity, plunged his unerring 
 lance into the throat of his formidable adversary. 
 The bull staggered wdth the blow, but the thunder 
 of his voice announced that his strength and 
 spirits were not yet subdued. The combat, there- 
 fore, became dreadful and appalling; none at-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE, 195 
 
 tempted to interrupt the engagement, but ladies 
 trembled in their seats for the fate of the elegant 
 Unknown ; and even the king, as well as the 
 hardiest warriors, shook with astonishment and 
 concern, as they beheld so extraordinary and de- 
 termined a contest, when another well-directed 
 stroke reached the heart of the animal ; it fell, 
 writhing in convulsions, and, beating the ground 
 in all the madness of rage and agony, in half a 
 minute expired. 
 
 Never on any preceding occasion had a combat 
 been so terrible, or a victory so decisive ; the 
 multitude, struck with admiration and intoxicated 
 with delight, rent the air with repeated shouts. 
 
 The magnanimous Prince Rodolph, not in the 
 least envious of Antonio's superior prowess, tri- 
 umphantly led him to the foot of the throne, 
 amidst the astoimding salutations of the assem- 
 bled spectators, now intermingling with lofty 
 strains of warlike music. 
 
 " Young conqueror," said the king, addi-essing 
 him, " well hast thou earned the prize reserved 
 for an achievement so glorious, and so worthy of 
 record; take it — it is the likeness of thy sove- 
 reign, (and here Philip threw about our hero's 
 neck a chain, to which was fastened a minia- 
 ture picture set in plain gold,) and if we mis 
 k2
 
 196 THE OATH OF ALLE^TIA^X'F.. 
 
 take not, it will i^rove a passport to thy future 
 greatness." 
 
 To describe Antonio's astonishment and delight 
 is impossible; he knew not that the king had 
 assumed to himself the privilege of giving the 
 first prize ; the possession of such an honourable 
 adornment was more precious in his sight than 
 the richest gift coming from the fairest hands. 
 He pictured to himself the ecstasy of Lucilla, the 
 extraordinary pleasure of the duke, and the 
 amazement of the humble individuals that com- 
 posed the latter's household. 
 
 But his singular courage, the acknowledged 
 beauty of his person, and the warmth and feeling 
 with which he expressed himself to the king, at- 
 tracted the esteem of Don Vico Villena, nephew 
 to the Duke of Alva. This young nobleman 
 fancied that he beheld in Antonio his own coun- 
 terpart, and the very being whom his ardent ima- 
 gination had so often drawn as most worthy to 
 share his regard and confidence. With a princely 
 air, and with that noble courtesy which marked 
 his illustrious character, he offered our hero, as 
 he quitted the presence of the king, a seat near 
 to himself, which was gracefully accepted; and, 
 whilst the games were going on, both entered into
 
 THE OATIf OF ALLEGIANCE. 197 
 
 a I'ciuiiliar coDversation, whicli ultimately gave 
 birth to a friendship of no ordinavy stamp, 
 strengthened by all the romantic images Avhieli 
 blooming hope introduces into the breast of the 
 young and inexj^erienced. 
 
 On the conclusion of the combats, Don Vico 
 earnestly entreated Antonio to accompany him to 
 his seat, which was in the vicinity of Aranjuez, 
 saying, that his mother, who was a widoAv h^dy, 
 but in a delicate state of health, would give him 
 a cordial reception, if it wej'e only on account of 
 the eclat which had attended his introduction to 
 the national sports. 
 
 Antonio hesitated ; the command of the duke, 
 to return imknown and imfollowed, came across 
 his mind ; and whilst he dwelt upon the words 
 and weighed their importance, his companion 
 continued to urge his compliance with the utmost 
 warmth and sensibility, till at length Antonio was 
 vanquished, and he found himself unable to put 
 a negative upon a request that so greatly liattered 
 his feelings. Attended by the faitlilul Carlos, who 
 by-the-bye was not a little troubled at this sudden 
 intimacy, he accompanied his nevs" friend to a 
 habitation little inferior to a king's palace, where 
 he beheld, to liis siuprise, a numerous train of
 
 198 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 visitors richly habited, who were already busily 
 sounding his fame, and forming their conjectures 
 as to his origin and history. 
 
 Don Vico's mother received our hero with every 
 mark of genuine politeness, not unmixed with 
 extreme satisfaction, as it gave her an opportu- 
 nity of seeing a youth whose distinguished bravery 
 and inimitable gi-aces had drawn the attention and 
 excited the admiration of all the nobility assem- 
 bled at Aranjuez. Antonio, finding himself an 
 object of general curiosity and interest, became 
 somewhat embarrassed, which Don Vico perceiv- 
 ing, and wishing to relieve his feelings, offered to 
 saunter with him through the different rooms set 
 aj^art for the company. 
 
 Antonio accepted the proposal, and they accord- 
 ingly amused themselves in this way for a consi- 
 derable time, when, amongst the several groups 
 of persons who passed in review before them, 
 x^ntonio observed a gentleman of an interesting 
 and gi'aceful appearance, and who appeared to be 
 something more than forty years of age, but whose 
 countenance bore traces of very deep affliction. 
 Antonio pointed him out to Don Vico. 
 
 " That nobleman," he returned, " is of ancient 
 family, and highly esteemed; he has resided for 
 some years in the neighbourhood of Madrid, and
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 199 
 
 lost, about six months ago, his wife, a very lovely 
 woman, of whom he was excessively fond ; his 
 child, a beautiful girl of fifteen, shortly after her 
 mother's death, took the fatal resolution of be- 
 coming a nun, and vainly did the afirighted and 
 distracted father, and her illustrious friends, en- 
 deavour to change her ideas ; the unrelenting and 
 infatuated young lady persisted in her determina- 
 tion, though, at the earnest intreaties of her parent, 
 she promised not to take the veil till she was 
 twenty-one. The name of the convent she has 
 entered is at present a secret; but Don Lewis de 
 Alteo, the gentleman in question, besides the 
 weight of these misfortunes, is often filled with 
 disquietude for the fate of a dear friend who was, 
 in the reign of Charles the Fifth, a powerful 
 grandee, but who fell under the disj^leasure of his 
 successor, our present king, and was obliged to 
 flee. A price was set upon his head, his estates 
 confiscated, and afterwards given to the son of a 
 relation, who was ever a favourite of Philip's. 
 A long period has elapsed since these events took 
 place, and no mention is now made of one whose 
 destiny is unknown, although he was generally 
 beloved throughout the nation, and was considered 
 the most exemplary character in the late empe- 
 ror's court.
 
 200 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA>X'E. 
 
 Our hero thanked Don Vico for his information, 
 and shortly after the evening concluded, as most 
 evenings do, with retiring to bed. On the follow- 
 ing day the king again took his seat, and Antonio 
 once more entered the lists, and to the astonish- 
 ment of the multitude added to his reputation by 
 another victory. He was now considered a phe- 
 nomenon; and received the title of the Invincible 
 Unknown. The honours and distinctions he re- 
 ceived on the occasion acted as so many spurs 
 to his activity, and in every fresh encounter he 
 rivalled his competitors, and entered the circus 
 only to leave it a conqueror. 
 
 Ere the days set apart for the sports were ex- 
 pired, Carlos was obliged to intimate to Antonio 
 the necessity of their immediately retiring, as he 
 was from all quarters overwhelmed with questions 
 concerning the residence and quality of his master, 
 and knowing that public curiosity was not to be 
 restrained, he was fearful it might ultimately 
 derange their plans, and prevent their escaping in 
 the way the duke had enjoined. 
 
 These hints did not fail to arrest Antonio's 
 attention, and he instantly set about devising the 
 means of making a precipitate retreat, believing 
 ho had too firmly established his fame for it to 
 sulibr any diminution from such a proceeding;
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. *201 
 
 and convinced, from liis own observations, that 
 I'uitiier delay would only increase the difficulty of 
 withdrawing unobserved, surrounded as he was 
 by a crowd of persons all jirejudiced in his favour, 
 and actually anxious to discover his history and 
 connexions. But, for the first time in his life, he 
 felt a pang on the score of friendship, and the 
 enthusiasm of his feelings received a severe check, 
 Don Vico had behaved to him with the greatest 
 hospitality and kindness, and had shown a pre- 
 ference for his society extremely flattering, and 
 which had not failed effectually to secure both his 
 esteem and gratitude; so that to be obliged to leave 
 him in such an abrupt manner, and, as it were, 
 return evil for good, gave him more j^ain tlian can 
 be possibly imagined ; nevertheless, his love and 
 reverence for the duke were sufficiently strong to 
 induce him to pay the most implicit obedience to 
 his commands, even had the sacrifice been much 
 greater, and more painful. 
 
 It so happened that a circumstance occurred 
 which was the means of giving him a good oppor- 
 tunity to escape. An alcaid who assisted at the 
 ceremonies was suddenly taken ill, and fainted on 
 his seat; the company rose in some confusion, 
 and a general stir took place amongst the multi- 
 tude — Don Yico at this instant was engaged, and 
 K 3
 
 202 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCli. 
 
 our hero, taking advantage of the moment, seized 
 his horse, which Carlos was carefully holding by 
 the bridle, and mounting him as though for recre- 
 ation, made shift, during the bustle, to find his 
 way into one of the alleys Avhich runs through the 
 park, and whose thick shades happily favoured 
 his flight, for he found himself with Carlos on the 
 road to Madrid, without meeting a single being of 
 any consequence.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 203 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 On his arrival at Madrid he took lodgings merely 
 for the night, and then pursued his journey in the 
 morning, intending to take a longer rest when he 
 considered himself secure from recognition; but, 
 to his consternation, ere he had got ten miles 
 hu'ther the animal fell, and cut his knees so dread- 
 fully, as obliged him to stop at the first place 
 where he could find accommodation. Here neces- 
 sity kept him for six days, when Carlos once more 
 began to equip his horse for travelling, and had 
 nearly completed his work just as a gentleman 
 rode up at full speed, attended by a single servant, 
 but who, to his astonishment and alarm, proved to 
 be the generous Don Vico. Don Vico hastily 
 threw himself off his horse, and was advancing
 
 204 THE OATH 01- ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 towards Carlos, but seeing our hero, who tliis 
 moment made his apj)earaiice, lie stopped short, 
 and stood motionless. At length he said, whilst 
 his cheek was suffused with a deep crimson — 
 
 " I beg pardon, senor; believe me, this meet- 
 ing is as unexpected as unsought for on my part; 
 yet I must acknowledge that your singular and 
 abrupt flight is so great a breach of good-breed- 
 ii-'g, to say nothing of its unkindness, that it leaves 
 me in doubt v>'hether the being who stands before 
 me be he whose elegance, whose valour, and 
 Avonderful achievements have excited the highest 
 admiration of his sovereign, the boundless ap- 
 plauses of his countrymen, and the warmest 
 esteem of Don Vico Yillena ; but, adieu, I will 
 not intrude upon your privacy — I will not burden 
 you with complaints, v\hich only exjjose the emo- 
 tions of my soul ; neither Avill I inquire the cause 
 which could induce one so noble to give my 
 friendship so severe a blow " 
 
 Here his speech faltered, his complexion lost 
 its glow, and waving his hand, with a look of 
 mingled grief and tenderness, which he vainly 
 attempted to disguise, he sprang upon his courser, 
 and was out of sight ere the confused and thunder- 
 struck Antonio could address to him a single 
 word.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. '205 
 
 *' Farewell, generous Don Vico, worthy of 
 Heaven's best regards — farewell!" exclaimed An- 
 tonio, in accents of deep sorrow^, as he beheld 
 him disappear. " How mean, how base a thing 
 must he think me, and how unqualified to match 
 with his own superior greatness and virtuous sin- 
 cerity. Alas ! is the glory of my first onset in 
 life, my short but honourable career, already 
 stained with vile ingratitude ? Come, Carlos, come, 
 let us away; let us hasten from a spot which has 
 witnessed an interview^ so painful and embarrass- 
 ing. Had Don Vico assailed me witli virulent 
 and despicable language, or have wounded my 
 feelings by bitter sarcasms, and humiliating cen- 
 sure, my heart, conscious of its own integiity, 
 would have maintained its dignity and have re- 
 posed in peace; but his mildness, his sensibility, 
 the humid drops which bathed his eyes, together 
 with the sweetness of his behaviour, and the 
 mournful air with which he quitted my presence, 
 have unquestionably given a shock to my firm- 
 ness, and robbed my mind of tha.t bewitching 
 harmony which romantically surveys every bloom- 
 ing object as something uniformly perfect and 
 delightful." 
 
 " Ah, senor 1" returned Carlos, as they recom- 
 menced their journey, " see what it is to be young
 
 •206 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 in the world; such little annoyances as these may 
 simply be compared to bubbles upon a stream, 
 which trifles bring and trifles dissolve." 
 
 " Heavens, Carlos! do you consider my affair 
 with Don Vico of so little moment, as to rank it 
 with trifles ?" said Antonio. " Is it nothing to feel 
 the heart palpitate with the pleasures of exalted 
 friendship, to enjoy that inexpressible felicity 
 arising from an union of sentiment and mutual 
 esteem, and then to separate from the amiable 
 object in a way which may with justice be attri- 
 buted to caprice, levity, and a want of proper 
 dignity. Is it nothing to meet, unexpectedly, the 
 mild penetrating glances of such a being? — to 
 meet the tender reproach and pathetic gestures ol 
 injured worth and insulted hospitality ?" 
 
 " I acknowledge that all this is truly vexatious 
 and disagreeable," answered Carlos, gravely: 
 " but depend upon it, seiior, that 'tis as natural to 
 meet with disappointments and vexations in this 
 life, as for the moon to move within her orbit, or 
 Jupiter to be attended by his satellites." 
 
 " Bless me, Carlos ! what extraordinary com- 
 parisons ?" said Antonio ; " am I to conclude that 
 thou art no stranger to the glories of the planetary 
 system ?" 
 
 Carlos, well pleased to have an opportunity of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. '207 
 
 diverting his master's chagrin, quickly replied, 
 " Alas ! seiior, I am sorry to say that my know- 
 ledge is very confined on this copious subject; 
 but to be candid, his reverence hath a book, 
 entitled, * The Copernican Philosophy,'* which 
 explains very clearly the order of the universe, 
 and the particular nature and motions of the 
 upper spheres. Into this volume I often take a sly 
 peep, and peruse its wondrous pages with equal 
 awe and delight, and from that source I have 
 gathered the few illustrious truths with which my 
 memory is stored. But now I am speaking, me- 
 thinks, sefior, it will not be amiss to mention a 
 very curious dream, which, by-the-bye, may serve 
 for a little amusement as we travel along. It so 
 happened that I, one evening, unconsciously fell 
 asleep over my favourite study, when, to my great 
 surprise, I found myself suddenly translated to 
 that circle of combined excellence — the heavenly 
 bodies — of which I had been just reading. Though 
 this was nothing but a dream, serior, yet I seemed 
 to myself to be wide awake, only transformed into 
 something more airy and immaterial. But though 
 I could gaze upon stars of the first magnitude and 
 brightness without the slightest inconvenience, 
 and move through the unlimited space with in- 
 * First published in 1530.
 
 208 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 credible swiftness, yet my body, (for I perceived 
 that I retained my usual personal appearance,) 
 was lieenly sensible of external impression ; for 
 in my approaches to the sun, Avhose circumference 
 and diameter exceed, in my opinion, all hinuan 
 conception, I found the heat so intense as obliged 
 me to make a precipitate retreat, and to launch 
 into the vast expanse of ethereal azure. After 
 passing Mercury, Venus, and our earth, I came 
 Avithin sight of the moon's track, Avhich deter- 
 mined me to pay a visit to the friendly beings 
 who are said to inhabit that globe. I accordingly 
 whirled my course towards its frontiers, but found, 
 on my arrival, that the moon itself was surrounded 
 by a very luminous halo, a million of times bigger 
 than the great wall of China, and altogether im- 
 passable and impregnable, and whose heights 
 were not to be measured even by such a glib 
 spirit as myself; for after all, senor, I was nothing 
 substantial, you know." 
 
 " Certainly not," returned Antonio, smiling ; 
 " but proceed, let me hear the sequel of thy 
 visionary expedition." 
 
 *' Well, senor," continued Carlos, highly grati- 
 fied at the command, " this, as you may suppose, 
 was an unlooked-for imjiediment. I expected 
 that I could have stepped into the moon with as
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 209 
 
 much ease as I can walk the ridges of the moun- 
 tains ; and the disappointment threw me into a 
 kind of contemplative mood, that for awhile dimi- 
 nished my sense of the refulgence around me. In 
 the meantime my dream shifted, as dreams some- 
 times do, and I beheld myself passing the ala- 
 baster gates which open upon that celebrated 
 world. Here I saw vast multitudes of people, in 
 stature somewhat smaller than ourselves, all ele- 
 gantly attired, as thongh for a grand levee, and 
 parading an extended plain, adorned with the 
 most beautiful flowers and evergreens. Willing 
 to show my good breeding in the presence of 
 snch noble jDcrsonages, I bowed and scraped 
 most profoundly, and evinced, by a thousand 
 graceful motions, my ardent desire to be noticed ; 
 but alas ! to my extreme mortification and con- 
 fusion, not one of the company deigned to wel- 
 come so humble a guest. What !" I exclaimed, 
 disgusted at their rudeness and insensibility, " do 
 the inhabitants of these regions so nearly re- 
 semble those of the earth, as to welcome none 
 save those whose peculiar dignities are quartered 
 upon their escutcheons, and whose approach is 
 announced by a crowd of attendants? As 1 pro- 
 nounced these words, 1 descried at some distance 
 an exceedingly venerable old man with a bald
 
 210 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 head, and a long white beard floating on his 
 chest, and who was followed by the gay throngs 
 which I have mentioned, but whose eager looks 
 were all fixed upon a kind of machine of an 
 oblong form which he carried in his hand, apj^a- 
 rently without the slightest inconvenience. As he 
 ajjproached nearer, I observed that the machine 
 was of various colours, though ebony was the 
 most prevailing ; and I saw likewise the word 
 * Futurity' fantastically engraved upon its darkest 
 parts. Oh, oh ! thought I, this is a conjuror, that's 
 for certain, with all his combustibles, and appa- 
 ratus, and gimcracks, and a whole vocabulary of 
 nonsense; and I perceive that he has as many 
 votaries as he would were he to traverse the 
 crowded cities of the earth ; but I'll tip the old 
 boy a wink, and give him to understand by my 
 looks that I am not to be imposed upon by his 
 flimsy performances. But would you believe it, 
 senor, he appeared to comprehend my very 
 thoughts ; for, turning his eyes full upon me, as 
 if to reproach my levity, he hastily placed the 
 machine upon the ground, which immediately 
 assumed a spherical body of vast dimensions, on 
 whose surface I could clearly discern the four 
 quarters of the earth, particularly Europe, with 
 all her princes and executive powers. Here I
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 211 
 
 saw Portugal become a conquered kingdom, Spain 
 engaged in bloody battles with its annexed state Sj 
 England struggling for pre-eminence, Sweden 
 convulsed with religious factions, and France dis- 
 tracted with civil commotions; presently, the whole 
 disappeared, the machine whirled round with ex- 
 treme velocity, when I suddenly beheld Eurojje 
 in the seventeenth century ; but though many of 
 the scenes were now acted over again, and king- 
 doms retained their situations, yet kings, princes, 
 and subjects had all assumed a new foiin, and put 
 on other features. 
 
 " Whilst I made these remarks, I observed that 
 the lunar inhabitants were impressed with the 
 same ideas, and not being under the same re- 
 straint that I was, they impatiently inquired the 
 cause. 
 
 " The conjuror, in an a\\'fLd voice, and wdtli 
 solemn gestures, promptly replied — ' Note my 
 words and be wise, and let the issue of such mad 
 proceedings as ye behold on this machine teach 
 ye to avoid the like contentions. Those figures 
 which successively appear in view are the chil- 
 dren of the earth ; they contend for sceptres, 
 which divide in their hands ; for crowns, which 
 tremble upon their heads ; and for riches, that 
 perish in their coffers ; they stand erect in their
 
 212 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 clmriots, they command armies, and hie to battle 
 on fleet coursers ; should they escape the sword, 
 diseases follow their ruthless pursuits, the angel 
 of death spreads his pinions over their stately 
 mansions, he takes the circuit of the globe, and 
 in one little century sweeps all those mighty mil- 
 lions to their kindred dust. A new generation 
 rises, new relations are formed, but alas ! the 
 same desires, the same passions are incorporated 
 with their beings, and though history has left a 
 Avarning behind, the ambitious tread the same 
 jnith, court the same evils, till death surprises 
 them in the midst of their career. Such is man, 
 and such is the end of his tumultuous exist- 
 ence.' 
 
 " This explanation excited my curiosity, and 
 induced me to be more attentive to what was 
 passing. 
 
 " The seventeenth century now rolled away, with 
 all its great warriors and politicians, and the 
 eighteentli entered, introducing a new race of 
 blooming individuals. But here 'tis next to im- 
 possible to describe the schemes, conspiracies, 
 and discords, which in this century agitated the 
 several powers of Europe, particularly towards 
 the conclusion. Nation rose against nation, power 
 against joower, in mutual hostility ; the war-drum
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 213 
 
 thundered along the frontiers of kingdoms ; can- 
 non, like furious volcanoes, discharged their de- 
 structive fires amongst the struggling armies ; 
 cities were laid waste, villages desolated, and the 
 most fertile plains bathed with human blood. In 
 short, it appeared as though carnage had accu- 
 mulated all his overwhelming horrors, all his 
 assassin-like powers, to shock human nature, and 
 to gorge his stomach with the sanguine stream of 
 innocence. 
 
 '•The lunar spectators, as they beheld these 
 dismal scenes, stood aghast, and even the moon 
 rocked to and fro, as though shuddering at the 
 crimes vrhich stained the proud dominions of 
 man. 
 
 "In a few minutes, the nineteenth century made 
 its appearance, but what a surprising change, 
 what a delightful conti*ast ! — a flood of light burst 
 from the skies and illuminated those states where 
 rebellion and barbarism, with all the complicated 
 evils of war, had so lately committed the most 
 fatal ravages ; fertility, order, and beauty smiled 
 in the plantations, rich corn rose vigorous from 
 their stagnant beds, luscious fruits, and all the 
 nnrivalled productions of nature, adorned the 
 groves and decorated the fields. But this, pleas- 
 ing as it appeared, fell for short of that whicli foh
 
 214 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 lowed. Whilst I was yet gazing, vast multitudes 
 of people of both sexes presented themselves, 
 some arrayed in silk and gold, with sandals upon 
 their feet ; others adorned with wreaths of flowers, 
 and bearing laurels in their hands ; numbers car- 
 ried flags crowned with myrtles, which they waved 
 trium]3hantly in the air ; whilst the whole danced 
 along the banks to a thousand instruments of 
 music. In a few minutes, I beheld several kings 
 in a line, clothed like warriors, with crowns upon 
 their heads, and beautified with garlands and 
 trophies ; but one who was mo^^ng in the centre 
 most engaged my attention and excited my re- 
 gards ; like the rest, the upper part of his head 
 was covered with a diadem, but the lower embraced 
 an extra circlet of diamonds and amethysts, from 
 which depended a snow-white plumage tipped 
 with gold; his rich habit was girded by a sash 
 enwreathed with jewels, and in one hand he car- 
 ried an olive-branch and in the other an imperial 
 sceptre. Before him, was seen Mars on horse- 
 back bearing a shield, and a blue ribbon, the ends 
 of which were fastened to the necks of two lions,* 
 that appeared as gentle as twin doves in the 
 bowers of Paradise. 
 
 * See the fourth grand quarter of the royal achievement of 
 England.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 215 
 
 " The gay groups at length entered a plain of 
 incredible circumference, embellished with beds 
 of roses, washed with rivers of milk. Here they 
 all sunk upon their knees, and now preserved, for 
 a considerable time, a profound silence. In the 
 interval, the noble personage with the olive branch, 
 casting his eyes up to heaven, and loudly invoking 
 a blessing, struck his sceptre into the earth, which, 
 making a deep incision, he j)lanted the olive, 
 when it immediately took root, its growth was 
 instantaneous, and, to my utter astonishment, it 
 extended itself profusely over the principal states 
 of Europe, imiting all ranks of people to repose 
 beneath its flourishing and delectable branches. 
 
 " On the conclusion of this ceremony all was 
 again bustle and delight, trumpets and stringed 
 instruments summoned the merry company to the 
 dance. Here I saw Commerce coupled with 
 Wealth, Industry with Independence, Justice with 
 Power, and Peace with Plenty. But one female 
 amongst them, of a beautiful cast of countenance, 
 excited general attention and admiration. Her 
 dress was of various colours, richly embroidered, 
 and confined by a sash of the same hues, her 
 slippers were of down, and on her head she wore 
 a kind of cap with three corners, to each of which 
 was fastened a silver bell. She appeared under
 
 210 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 no restraint, and was equally remarkable for acti- 
 vity and vivacity, and as she regularly kept moving 
 amongst the green boughs of the olive, with gi'eat 
 agility, the bells never ceased sounding a merry 
 peal. 
 
 "'Pray who may you be. Madam?' inquired 
 Wealth, strutting up to her ; ' and why do you 
 disturb the company with those tinkling thing- 
 em-bobs ?' 
 
 " ' Who am I ?' she exclaimed, with a smile of 
 conscious worth, — ^ why, I am thy superior. Mister 
 What's-your-name, for I owe my birth to the most 
 august house in the whole world, and am called 
 Liberty, therefore I can sing, laugh, or dance, and 
 have as many antics as I please, and nobody can 
 say Nay ;' and here, with the most agi'eeable air, 
 she sang a song in praise of freedom, and her 
 humour communicating itself to all around, the 
 immense plain rang with her delightful name. 
 Liberty, Liberty ! intermingled with songs and 
 music, whilst thousands of happy beings thronged 
 the clustering branches of the far-spreading em- 
 blem of peace. 
 
 " * Oh, blessed period !' suddenly exclaimed 
 the inhabitants of the moon, ' when war ceases to 
 wield his red spear, or to shake the foundations of 
 the earth, by the giant tread of his sanguinary
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 217 
 
 hosts ; and, oh, happy nation ! where Liberty is 
 allowed the full enjoyment of her prerogative, and 
 to establish her residence amidst the most distin- 
 guished orders of men.' 
 
 " * Oh, happy period ! oh, happy people !' I 
 shouted, unable any longer to restrain my own 
 transports, ' but, for the love of Heaven, Mr. 
 Conjurer,' I continued, ' if all these mighty 
 changes be correct, and you have the art so 
 faithfully to delineate human events, tell me your 
 real name, that I may know to whom we are in- 
 debted for such extraordinary representations of 
 futurity ?' 
 
 "As I made this request, he approached me with 
 a stern air, and pointing with one hand to his 
 forehead, on which I beheld the word, * Time,' 
 he laid the other upon my shoulder, and pressed 
 it so heavily that I sunk under the weight, and 
 immediately tumbled headlong from the moon, 
 when my head, as I thought, coming in contact 
 with the axis of the earth, the blow roused me 
 from my eventful slumbers, though, to be sure, I 
 found myself in a profuse sweat ; but, to speak 
 the ti'uth, sefior, to go so long a journey in so 
 short a space, would throw a much stronger man 
 than myself into a perspiration." 
 
 " Very true — very true 1" replied Antonio, highly 
 VOL. I. h
 
 218 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 diverted with the sequel — "nevertheless, most not- 
 able Don Carlos, I perceive that thy extraordinary 
 adventures in those mystic regions, and sudden 
 precipitation therefrom, hath not diminished thy 
 vigour, or weakened thy memory. Pity so inge- 
 nious a traveller was not allowed to extend his 
 researches a little further, that he might have 
 transmitted to posterity the maxims, government, 
 transactions, &c., of other planetary worlds, wdth 
 the longitude, latitude, and distances, of their 
 several dominions." 
 
 "Well, sefior," said Carlos, "why should not 
 my mushroom sense follow in the track of my 
 fellow men ? each succeeding generation an'ogates 
 to itself a superiority, as touching the march of in- 
 tellect, unknown to our fathers ; the present race 
 of men look back with contempt on the race gone 
 by, and, by the same rule, the next race of men 
 will probably deem the present race of men a race 
 of fools." 
 
 " But, good Carlos," remarked Antonio, " you 
 must admit, that, as the world gets older, men get 
 wiser and better, and approach nearer to the 
 germ of perfection." 
 
 "I cannot recognise all that, seiior; man eulo- 
 gizes man in his own sphere of action; he eulogizes 
 the age in which he lives ; but the great Creator
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 219 
 
 equalizes, and distributes his gifts in every age 
 and in every clime, and to every individual with- 
 out distinction — true, each gift may differ in 
 colour, size, and beauty ; but each gift is intended 
 to cement, and to strengthen the wondrous chain 
 by Avhich we are connected : thus the labourer in 
 the vineyard is as necessary to the general good 
 as the warrior in the field, and the poor mule- 
 driver as the lordly senator." 
 
 " Propagate such antiquated notions, good 
 Carlos, and men will laugh." 
 
 " A proof, senor, that my notions are correct ; 
 men always laugh when they have the worst of 
 an argument ; but, to sum up all in a few words, 
 there have been gifted men in all ages — there were 
 gifted men in the last age, there are gifted men in 
 the present age, although it must be acknowledged 
 that in every age there are men eagerly solicitous 
 to derange the order of things, by the inti'oduction 
 of some fancied improvement, or rather change, 
 w^aiving the improvement; and, egad, I should 
 not be surprised if future generations were not to 
 attempt to sail amongst the clouds, and thereby 
 take the rainbow for their sandals !" 
 
 " Could such a miracle be accomplished, either 
 now or in after times," remarked Antonio, laugh- 
 ing at the conceit, " I question if those air- voyagers 
 L 2
 
 220 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 would not have as fine a tumble from their emi- 
 nence as thou hadst from the altitude of the 
 moon's centre. So, yonder she appears, in the 
 distant horizon, rolling within her sphere, and 
 laden with all her invisible inhabitants ; but whe- 
 ther they are of a nature compatible with ours, or 
 of a texture more sublime, boots not man to know." 
 
 Antonio paused, for a cavalier on horseback 
 now overtook them. Antonio remarked the youth- 
 ful person and warlike equipments of the stranger, 
 and, checking his own steed, he paid him, as he 
 was 23assing, the compliments of the evening, 
 which the other as politely returned. These ex- 
 changed courtesies terminated in an agTceable 
 conversation, in the course of which Antonio ob- 
 served that he was travelling to Barcelona, and 
 that he should put up for the night at the first 
 place where he could meet with proper accom- 
 modation. 
 
 " Then allow me, seilor," returned the cavalier, 
 " to recommend to you the convent of St. Michael, 
 situated between Ygualada and Piera ; there you 
 will be hospitably treated, as the brotherhood 
 make it a point to entertain travellers of a certain 
 condition ; I am going there myself with a view 
 to take leave of a venerable relation, who is one
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 221 
 
 of the order, ere I embark for the Netherhmcls ; he 
 is one for whom I have a very great afiection, and 
 to whom I am under vast obligations, or I should 
 not have journeyed this road in my military cha- 
 racter. I am a true cavalier, am a native of 
 Madrid, and my name Cervantes. Like many of 
 my countrymen, I voluntarily take up arms, as I 
 consider it the duty of every loyal subject to assist 
 in the suppression of rebellion." 
 
 The agreeable frankness with which this speech 
 was uttered greatly prepossessed Antonio in his 
 favour, and he very readily accompanied him to 
 the convent of St. Michael, which they reached in 
 about half-an-hour. 
 
 Here xA.ntonio was treated with much courtesy, 
 and he and his servant hospitably entertained. 
 Most of the venerable Fathers appeared usefully 
 employed : some preparing medicines, extracted 
 from herbs, and cordials for the sick and aged 
 poor, whilst some were engaged at the loom, 
 weaving their own habiliments, others constructing 
 curious articles, intended for sale amongst stran- 
 gers, whilst many were painting and cleaning 
 various ornaments, peculiar to their altars and 
 chapels. In short, setting aside that gloom, which 
 mostly reigns in all convents, this little society
 
 222 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 was noted for charity, industry, urbanity, and 
 cheerfulness. 
 
 Antonio and Carlos retired for the night at an 
 early hour, and, agreeably to the former's request, 
 both were conducted to the same apartment. 
 
 " Well, senor," said Carlos, as the monk with- 
 drew, "this is a snug little room enough, but here 
 is but one bed, or rather pallet — however, I can 
 stretch myself upon the floor, and take as sound 
 a nap as most of the good brotherhood, I waiTant." 
 
 " I must reverse thy arrangements, Carlos," re- 
 turned Antonio, " I am young, and much better 
 able to encounter inconvenience than thou art. 
 It was my desire that you should be admitted to 
 the same chamber as myself, because I know thy 
 aversion to monastic gloom." 
 
 " Thank you, seiior, and our holy mother," said 
 Carlos; "I certainly have as great a dislike to a 
 lone conventual slumber, as King Philij^ hath to 
 heretics and disabled soldiers." 
 
 At this moment, Antonio discovered an old 
 couch, decently covered, standing in one corner of 
 the room, and evidently intended for his servant. 
 
 " I think we had better remove it to a more 
 agreeable situation," remarked Antonio, as he 
 pointed it out to Carlos ; " the wall against which 
 it is placed appears damp and mouldy."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 223 
 
 " Oh, yes, seiior, and the old ceiling above it 
 looks half inclined to interrupt our dreams," re- 
 turned Carlos, as he hastily displaced the couch. 
 " St. Jago defend us ! what have we here ?" he con- 
 tinued, nearly smothered with dust and papers; 
 " here are old books, old manuscripts, and, egad, 
 I should not be surprised if the bones of an old 
 friar were to come rattling down h'om this huge 
 recess." 
 
 Antonio approached the spot, and beheld a 
 kind of closet, which, fi*om its appearance, had 
 evidently not been opened for many years, as it 
 was literally choked with rubbish; the removal of 
 the couch, and the weight pressing against the 
 door withinside, had forced the joints, to the no 
 small discomfiture of Carlos, whose dress exhi- 
 bited striking marks of the deplorable accident. 
 
 After a considerable time they managed to put 
 things in order, and to replace the door; but An- 
 tonio's curiosity was excited by the display of so 
 many written sheets, and he could not resist the 
 temptation of inspecting a few, but to his severe 
 disappointment the greatest part of them were 
 written in langaiages which he did not under- 
 stand. 
 
 After a patient investigation, he discovered an 
 Oriental manuscript, in good condition; and
 
 2-24 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 having been tauglit that hxnguage by the duke, he 
 proceeded to examine the characters. vSeveral 
 amusing subjects presented themselves, but that 
 which most engaged his attention was the follow- 
 ing remarkable tale, which, though short, Avas too 
 instructive to be disregarded. 
 
 A PERSIAN TALE. 
 
 " At a period when the doctrines of our Holy 
 Prophet, Mahomet, were first propagated, and his 
 divine laws received the sanction of the most 
 powerfid monarchs of the East, and all the neigh- 
 bouring kingdoms of the earth, the all powerful 
 and mighty Sultan Schiras filled the throne of 
 Persia, and distributed justice impartially, accord- 
 ing to the sacred oracles laid down in the Koran. 
 His genius and abilities, like a newly cut diamond, 
 were brilliant and attractive, and his disposition, 
 as the properties of pure gold, docile and without 
 blemish. His dominions extended to the north, 
 to the south, to the east, and to the west; and his 
 subjects were as the grains of sand driven by the 
 winds along the deserts of Arabia. His coun- 
 tenance was as the cheek of morning when 
 bathed with the dews of Paradise; whilst his 
 clothing sparkled with precious stones, wrought
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 2'2b 
 
 with line pearls taken from the Gulf of Bassora. 
 In the centre of his turban glittered the jewel of 
 Virtue, given him by the Genius of Justice, which, 
 like the trailing glories of the East, when burning 
 on the Temple of the Prophet, filled the palace 
 with its rays. Such, O man! was Schiras, the 
 idol of his people, the favourite of Mahomet, and 
 the father of all good Mussulmen; but he ex- 
 pired in the forty-third year of his age, and Ajaz, 
 the proud, took possession of the empire. But, 
 unlike his predecessors, he sat not in the Hall of 
 Justice, he visited not his people, or rewarded the 
 learning of the faithful. Viziers, and Cadis, and 
 all who held distinguished situations, were dispos- 
 sessed thereof, unless the records of the empire 
 proved they were descendants of the great men of 
 Persia, whose nobility could be traced untainted 
 to the remotest periods of history. ' Shall the 
 mighty Sultan of Persia,' he would exclaim aloud, 
 ' sufier his throne to be approached by the base- 
 born and ignoble ? Shall his sacred robes be con- 
 taminated by the touch of the obscure who have 
 risen from the filth of the empire? Forbid it, 
 Mahomet! As the lion stretcheth his paw in con- 
 tempt of the creeping reptile, so will I set my foot 
 upon their necks, and they shall be as slaves in 
 the gardens of Ajaz! Hear it, ye men of Persia! 
 l3
 
 226 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 record it, ye faithful servants of the Prophet ! — 
 Ajaz the Proud lost the jewel of Virtue, given to 
 the great Schiras by the Genius of Justice, and it 
 no longer shone resplendent on the turban that 
 had graced his sacred temples.' 
 
 " This circumstance, instead of humbling, rather 
 increased the pride of Ajaz; he despised the laws 
 of equity, he stained his throne with blood, and 
 delighted in the degi'adation of his subjects. 
 Ibrahim had been the beloved and favourite vizier 
 of the late sultan, and had risen in the state by 
 his wisdom, his virtues, and abilities, but his 
 birth was obscure. Ajaz therefore deprived him, 
 as he had done many others, of his oflfice, and 
 reduced him to a state of vassalage. Ibrahim, dis- 
 comforted with his change of fortune, and musing 
 on the altered government of the empire, often 
 took his melancholy walks on the banks of the 
 Tigris, or wandered in the most obscure outskirts 
 of Bagdad. 
 
 " It was late one evening, that, pensive and 
 wrapped in meditation, Ibrahim visited his usual 
 haunts. The sounds of mirth and music were 
 hushed — strangers had long quitted the public 
 baths — and merchants, coming from the western 
 shores, no longer passed to the bazaars, when his 
 eyes were suddenly attracted by the glitter of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 227 
 
 something nearly buried in a large heap of dirt 
 and filth, the refuse of the streets of Bagdad. 
 
 " Ibrahim stooped and drew it from its situ- 
 ation, and, lo ! it was a jewel of prodigious beauty 
 and vast magnitude. He viewed it for a consider- 
 able time with equal surprise and pleasure ; and 
 then, with a deep sigh, placed it in the most con- 
 spicuous part of his turban, and returned home. 
 
 " The next morning Ibrahim, as was now his 
 custom, mixed with the slaves in the court of the 
 palace, and entered upon the mean employments 
 assigned him by the sultan. In a few minutes, 
 Ajaz took his usual walk beneath the magnificent 
 columns that flanked the piazzas, and turning his 
 scornful eyes on the prostiate slaves, they rested 
 on the turban of Ibrahim. In a moment his 
 countena^nce changed, his form shook with amaze- 
 ment and indignation, and he commanded Ibra- 
 him to be brought before him. " Slave!" ex- 
 claimed the monarch, in a voice of thunder, " how 
 camest thou by that jewel on thy turban ? It is the 
 jewel of Virtue which the Genius of Justice gave 
 to the Sultan Schiras. Speak, and let truth guide 
 the words of thy mouth, or I swear, by our Holy 
 Prophet, thy head shall be food for the eagles 
 that perch on the mountains of Caucasus 1' 
 ' Let not my lord and sovereign, the commander
 
 2-28 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 of the faithful, the mighty Sultan of the East, an- 
 nihilate his unworthy slave,' said Ibrahim, bowing 
 his face to the ground, ' if he owns that fear hath 
 set a seal upon his lips.' ' Wretch !' interrupted 
 Ajaz, ^ this prevarication avails thee nought; an- 
 swer my question, or thou diest 1' 
 
 " * Know then, oh great sultan !' said Ibrahim, 
 again prostrating himself before the throne, ' that 
 last evening as thy slave, the humble Ibrahim, 
 was walking in the suburbs of Bagdad, his eyes 
 were attracted by some sparkling rays that issued 
 from a pile of filth which had been raked fi'om the 
 streets, and j^laces of public resort. Surprised at 
 the circumstance, thy slave examined the cause — 
 and, lo! it was a jewel of wonderful size and 
 beauty, but he knew not that it was the jewel 
 w^hich the Genius of Justice had given to the Sultan 
 Schiras. The first idea of your slave was to pre- 
 sent so valuable a gem to his lord and sovereign, 
 the commander of the faithful, but fear entered 
 his breast, and he said to himself, — Rash Ibrahim, 
 wouldst thou court destruction! — dost thou think 
 that so powerful a monarch, the great Sultan of 
 the East, would touch with his sacred hands a 
 jewel that had been contaminated by the dirt of 
 slaves ? Hath he not declared, by the Prophet, 
 that that which hath been taken from the filth of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. ^'20 
 
 the empire shall not approach his throne, or stand 
 eminent for worth ? therefore thou alone, Ibrahim, 
 art worthy to wear a jewel so tainted and ignoble; 
 and then, oh sultan, thy slave placed it on his 
 turban.' 
 
 " As Ibrahim ceased speaking, a sudden light 
 filled the room, the palace shook to the founda- 
 tion, and the Genius of Justice stood before Ajaz, 
 
 '• * Proud sultan !' he exclaimed, with a froAvn- 
 ing brow, ' Ibrahim hath spoken truth; his eyes 
 were shut, and he knew not that the gem which 
 he drew from the mii-e was the Jewel of Virtue 
 that I gave to the all-wise Schiras, and which he 
 bequeathed to thee, saying, Whilst thou retainest 
 the Jewel of Virtue, O Ajaz, thy throne shall 
 not be shaken, neither shall thy name perish. But 
 thy impiety lost it. Thou hast rejected the jewels 
 of thy empire, the great men of Persia, whose 
 wisdom excels all nations, and who would have 
 rallied round thy throne in times of danger. 
 That superiority of birth upon which thou settest 
 so high a value, put in competition with wisdom 
 and honour, is but as a reed growing among the 
 goodly cedars of Lebanon. Thy pride and weak- 
 ness hath provoked our Holy Prophet, and he 
 hath sent me, his servant, to reprove thy arro- 
 gance, and punish thy folly. Thy injustice will
 
 230 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 recoil upon thyself; and as the sun smks to his 
 bed, and leaves the world in darkness, so will thy 
 fancied pre-eminence depart to the shades of 
 oblivion, and thy proud systems disappear. Like 
 thy subjects, thou art but dust, and unto dust thou 
 shalt quickly return, and the despised Ibrahim 
 shall be heu* to thy kingdoms.' As the Genius of 
 Justice uttered these words, he stretched forth 
 a wand, which he held in his right hand, over 
 the head of the petrified Ajaz; and Ajaz fell to 
 the ground a lump of clay, and the virtuous 
 Ibrahim was raised to the tlu'one of Persia."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 231 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 After Antonio had finished his examinations, he 
 returned the manuscripts to the closet, and observ- 
 ing Carlos fast asleep upon the couch, he threw 
 off his own clothing and retired to his pallet. His 
 thoughts now began to be in motion; he brought 
 to his recollection the conversation of Cervantes 
 regarding the revolt of the Flemings, to which till 
 then he had been a stranger. This may appear 
 somewhat singular, as he had been travelling 
 through some ofthe principal towns of Spain; but, 
 in fact, the cabinet of Madrid at this period was 
 nearly as secret and mysterious in its operations 
 as the Inquisition itself; and to such a state of 
 subjection were the people reduced, under the 
 reign of Philip, that no man dare name affairs of
 
 232 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA^X•E. 
 
 state to liis neighbour; an inflexible silence, a 
 severe gloom, mystery, and bigotry formed the 
 character of the Spaniard; even soldiers under 
 marching orders seldom knew their destination, 
 their commanders excepted, till they had passed 
 the frontiers of Spain. It is no wonder then that 
 Antonio, unconnected and unknown, should have 
 travelled so many miles without obtaining such 
 important information ; and, indeed, his know- 
 ledge upon the subject was still very confined, as 
 Cervantes himself had said but little in reference 
 to it, ]3robably for the same reason that usually 
 set a seal upon the lips of his countrymen, the 
 fear of persecution, as informers were constantly 
 on the alert, and ever ready to misconstrue the 
 most trivial observation ; and the agents of the 
 Inquisition made it their peculiar business to 
 impress on the minds of the people a belief of 
 their infallible knowledge of the words and 
 actions of every individual in the kingdom. 
 Antonio, however, resolved to see Cervantes early 
 on the following day, in order to obtain further 
 intelligence, if j^ossible. 
 
 After coming to this conclusion, he sunk ^^ 
 repose, and was awakened by the bell of the con- 
 vent, which summoned the fathers to their morn- 
 ing devotions. Rousing Carlos from his dreams,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 233 
 
 he hastily dressed, and haviDg ascertained their 
 return to the refectory, he descended the stairs 
 and entered the eating-room. Here he behekl 
 Cervantes, who politely saluted him on his en- 
 trance ; whilst the brotherhood invited him to 
 partake of their repast, which he accepted. After 
 its conclusion, Cervantes offered to show him the 
 gardens annexed to the convent, which were, he 
 said, exceedingly beautiful. Antonio was pleased 
 with the invitation, and accompanied him accord- 
 ingly. AVhilst walking, he introduced the subject 
 that so fully occupied his thoughts. Cervantes, 
 looking round, answered him in a low tone, and 
 in a few minutes our hero received all the infor- 
 mation it was in Cervantes' power to give, but 
 which was sufficient to excite, in the breast of a 
 young cavalier so heroic as Antonio, an ardent 
 desire to shine in a military capacity ; more 
 especially as the duke had instilled into his 
 breast a veneration and love for Philip, which his 
 late introduction to that monarch, and the circum- 
 stance of the picture, had considerably strength- 
 ened. He saw as yet nothing wrong in Philip's 
 conduct; he merely considered him as a sovereign 
 who was ill-treated by the Flemings ; as such, it 
 was the immediate duty of every loyal subject to 
 rally round his throne, and support his rights.
 
 234 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 With these ideas, he took a very friendly leave of 
 Cervantes; and after giving proofs of his gene- 
 rosity to the good fathers, he and Carlos pursued 
 their journey to Barcelona, which was distant 
 about eight leagues and a half, Antonio intending 
 to stay there a day and night. 
 
 No adventures of a nature to excite interest 
 occurred the remainder of their route, and at 
 length they began to ascend the bold range of 
 mountains that surrounded the duke's dwelling. 
 
 " Dear retreat, beloved home, and ye tremen- 
 dous heights, I hail ye with no ordinary sensa- 
 tions of pleasure and admiration 1 " exclaimed 
 Antonio ; " your extensive regions, deep coverts, 
 abounding with cataracts sweeping among the 
 dark olives and wild shoots of the pine, I again 
 behold and welcome as companions of long dura- 
 tion and enjoyment." 
 
 " Oh yes, sefior," replied Carlos, " the sight of 
 these familiar though terrific scenes, connected as 
 they are with beloved relatives and friends, pos- 
 sess, in my estimation, a more potent chaim than 
 the philosopher's stone. To the right," he con- 
 tinued, " is the gentle stream of water that washes 
 the valley below and fertilizes its bank, which 
 otherwise would not look so pretty, with its gay 
 orange trees and waving pomegranates. To the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 235 
 
 left is the well-known ton-ent thundering among 
 the brakes, and tearing up its rocky bed with the 
 violence of its motion. Now we approach that 
 unfathomable gulf yawning in the centre of the 
 precipice, with a top like the crater of a volcano, 
 whose fires were exhausted ere man rose from his 
 primeval dust. Here, too, seiior, is the vast 
 thicket, the abode of reptiles and wolves, tower- 
 ing gigantic, like a black column touching the 
 skies, and as impenetrable as the walls of Baby- 
 lon. Now we behold our rugged rock thinly 
 clothed with a few brambles and trailing weeds, 
 which the melting sun and oozing spring have 
 vamly attempted to awaken to fertility. But best 
 of all amongst the group appears my favourite 
 mountain, like a strong barrier shutting out the 
 enemy, and whose perpendicular Jieights, when 
 edged with the rosy streaks of the east, appear with 
 as many dazzling hues as the girdle of Venus." 
 
 " And to crown thy figurative representations," 
 said Antonio, " we have now gained the path, 
 winding as the mystic dance in the court of Persia, 
 and more grateful to my senses than the em- 
 bowering and fragrant rose on the plains of 
 Damascus, for it leads to the habitation of my 
 more than father, likewise of Lucilla, and all 
 those whom I love and respect."
 
 2.36 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Antonio and Carlos having led the animals up 
 the steep, soon found themselves at the entrance 
 of the court-yard, which they speedily entered. 
 Lucilla was standing at one of the windows, and 
 was the first to perceive our travellers. She flew 
 to impart the tidings to the duke and to the rest 
 of the inmates, who all followed her steps, as she 
 rushed towards Antonio, and threw herself into 
 his arms. 
 
 " My dear brother !" she exclaimed, " how wel- 
 come art thou — how delighted I am to behold thee 
 once more." 
 
 " Beloved Lucilla," he returned, " can thy plea- 
 sure exceed mine ? Words cannot express the 
 emotions of my heart at this moment." 
 
 Here the duke aj^proached; his step faltered, 
 his cheek was pale, and with trembling joy he 
 received our hero to his breast. 
 
 " Gillette ! Gillette ! " shouted Carlos, as he 
 advanced to embrace his wife ; " this shall be a 
 long, long day of joy ; an antediluvian day — a day 
 such as Adam had when he sat in the garden of 
 Paradise with his loving mate. Things, like Gi- 
 ralda on the tower of Seville, are always changing 
 about ; thus, after pain coines pleasure, after war 
 comes peace, and after silence comes loquacity." 
 
 " Silence I" interrupted Antonio, smiling j "why,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 237 
 
 thy tongue, Carlos, appears the magnet of per- 
 petual motion." 
 
 " Well, senor," he returned, " it is time enough 
 to be dumb when one has nothing to talk about. 
 Between reciting battles, adventures, and travels, 
 methinks we shall be fully engaged till fate and 
 inclination urge us to fresh achievements and 
 fresh victories. Oh, your reverence," he added, 
 addressing the duke, " the jjrowess of all the 
 cavaliers in Spain, put in competition with Senor 
 Antonio, is but as a small pebble to a lofty moun- 
 tain. So thought his majesty, God bless him ! no 
 doubt, when he threw round the neck of my 
 young master his own picture, in token of his 
 high approbation and esteem." 
 
 This was uttered with so much vehemence and 
 incoherency, that the duke's looks, as he led the 
 way to the sitting-room, seemed to ask an expla- 
 nation ; and Antonio, knowing his anxiety at this 
 juncture, proceeded, though with modest diffi- 
 dence, and after partaking of some refreshment, 
 to relate his exploits, and the events which fol- 
 lowed, at the same time giving the portrait of 
 Philip into his hands. 
 
 The duke approached the window, as though 
 to examine the features, but, in fact, it was to con- 
 ceal the deep and overflowing emotions of his soul.
 
 238 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 " And this is the likeness of Philip, the son of 
 the illustrious Charles, the son of him beloved 
 and revered in life, lamented and immortalized in 
 death, on whose clammy hand I set the seal of 
 faith, prefixed the oath of eternal allegiance to 
 his house ; but oh, how unlike the sovereign I so 
 deeply regi'et is he who heired his throne. In this 
 contracted brow, this gloomy eye, and ruthless 
 smile, I see the fate of Spain, and all the cla- 
 mours of a thousand wrongs." 
 
 Such were the words which the duke breathed 
 in the recesses of his own breast, and then, tura- 
 ing to Antonio with a forced smile, he congratu- 
 lated him on the advantages he had gained. 
 
 " Philip," he added, holding up the picture to 
 view, " is no flatterer ; this gift is a proof of his 
 approbation and thy valour; deviate not, then, 
 from the path thou art so well qualified to tread ; 
 let no accident or provocation shake thy faith, or 
 alienate thy regards from thy sovereign and thy 
 country, as thou hopest to see mine eyes close in 
 peace." 
 
 " My benefactor — my father !" exclaimed An- 
 tonio, with energy ; " doubt not my firmness or 
 my attachment to Philip ; fidelity to my king and 
 country shall be my motto, it shall be engraved 
 upon my heart, and give a double edge to my
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 239 
 
 sword ; I am strong, and my mind soaring ; I am 
 fitted for the field, and am old enough to take up 
 arms for the good of my countrymen and the 
 interest of my sovereign ; the disturbances in the 
 Netherlands make me reasonably hope you will 
 allow me to depart thither as soon as arrange- 
 ments can be made for that purpose ; many loyal 
 cavaliers, less able than myself, have willingly 
 sacrificed their ease, and quitted the luxuries of 
 home to pursue the path of glory, and to gain 
 the reputation of heroes." 
 
 " My dear Antonio," said the duke, "these sen- 
 timents are worthy of yourself; you are the son 
 of my fondest hopes ; and be assured I will not 
 hesitate to weigh your request, although it was 
 my intention that you should remain in this seclu- 
 sion two or three years longer, ere you embarked 
 upon that tumultuous sea — the world." 
 
 This answer made Antonio completely happy : 
 the desire of fame was the predominant principle 
 of his mind, and the success which had attended 
 his prowess at Aranjuez had greatly added to his 
 eagerness and strengthened his confidence, yet he 
 had no intention of naming his wishes at so early 
 a period of his arrival, had not the duke's dis- 
 course opportunely led to the subject. 
 
 Lucilla became sensibly affected at the idea of
 
 240 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 probably a long separation from one who pos- 
 sessed a large share of her regards, independently 
 of the many dangers he must necessarily en- 
 counter amidst contending parties, conspiracies, 
 and all the horrors of national feuds. 
 
 Antonio, observing a tear tremble in her eye, 
 and guessing the cause, pointed to the picture of 
 Philip, which she had just received from the duke, 
 saying, with a smiling air — 
 
 " You desired me to bring you a description of 
 the king's person ; you are now presented with a 
 striking likeness of his commanding features — 
 features, my dear girl, which seem to reproach 
 thy cowardice. Shall thousands of gallant chiefs 
 and eminent personages become renowned for 
 military skill and warlike conquest, exhibiting 
 illustrious proofs of their attachment to the house 
 of Austria, whilst I, like a detached but vigorous 
 branch of useless growth, wax weak in obscurity, 
 a blemish to the stock from whence I sprung." 
 
 " My dear brother," returned Lucilla, " I con- 
 fess my weakness; I am indeed a coward where 
 the safety of those I love is concerned ; never- 
 theless, I prize the dignity of thy sentiments, and 
 am justly proud of thy distinguished abilities. 
 The rights of a sovereign I hold inviolable; and 
 that which endangers the state, or injures the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 241 
 
 regal prerogative, ought, in my opinion, to be 
 promptly removed, and every exertion made by a 
 loyal people to re-establish order and reduce the 
 power of the revolters. I therefore will endeavour 
 to bring my mind to submit to the privation of 
 thy society, and in the importance of thy engage- 
 ments and in the splendour of thy fame I will 
 rest satisfied and happy." 
 
 The conversation now reverted to the portrait. 
 Antonio directed the duke's attention to such parts 
 as he thought resembled Lucilla. The duke, 
 though he had remarked the likeness, chose not 
 to own it ; and Antonio, observing his coolness, 
 took no further notice of the matter. 
 
 Several days passed away in a sort of j^leasing 
 leisure, mixed with agreeable details and instruc- 
 tive observations, but no attempt was made on the 
 part of the duke to renew the subject so interest- 
 ing to our hero; he, therefore, unable to cope 
 with his anxiety, one morning availed himself of 
 the opportunity to mention it himself, and earn- 
 estly petitioned for a speedy compliance with his 
 desires. 
 
 The duke, keenly sensible, at this important 
 crisis, of the forlorn and confined situation of his 
 only child, the heir of the ancient and illus- 
 trious house of Aranda, with some difhculty sup- 
 
 yoL. I. M
 
 242 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 l^ressed his emotions, and addressed him as fol- 
 lows: — 
 
 " Since you have so great a zeal, my son, for 
 the public good, which I am proud to observe, 
 I am now most ready to yield to your request, 
 and to uphold your choice; but owing to your 
 youth and inexperience, it is necessary for me to 
 remind you that the expedition upon which you 
 are going is widely different to that from which 
 you recently returned. The silken trappings of 
 the youthful cavalier, in the circus of Aranjuez, 
 must now" give place to the more formidable 
 equipments of the soldier of Fortune; and the 
 graceful lance, splendid with the adornments of 
 celebrated recreations, must be exchanged for the 
 musket and the broadsword, formed for the de- 
 struction of your enemies. Instead of the peaceful 
 asylum and the refreshing slumber, your path 
 will be surrounded by unknown dangers, and 
 your repose be interrupted by the rage of faction 
 and the mournful cries of death. But let me 
 charge you to be careful to preserve, amidst tu- 
 mult, the thunder of war, and the flush of victory, 
 that humanity which is always the distinguishing 
 trait of the truly valiant. Likewise, take not um- 
 brage at trifles, but avoid all cavilling with your 
 companions in fatigue, remembering that sub-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 243 
 
 mission to your general, perseverance in difficul- 
 ties, unshaken courage, patience, equanimity, and 
 dignity of deportment, will announce your supe- 
 riority, and, in due time, conduct you safely to 
 the road of honour. 
 
 " In about a month you can begin your journey 
 to the Netherlands; in the intermediate time we 
 will arrange the plan of correspondence, and 
 should Carlos be willing and courageous enough 
 to attend you thither, it will considerably, on my 
 part, lessen the pangs of separation, being per- 
 fectly aware that that faithful servant will in all 
 things act up to the trust reposed in him." 
 
 " My dear, dear father," replied Antonio, in the 
 tenderest accent, " be assured your excellent 
 admonitions are duly prized, and in no instance 
 Avill I ever deviate from that line of duty and 
 honour which you have so feelingly pointed out. 
 The rectitude of my conduct, my services as a 
 warrior, and my firm adherence to my duty, sliall 
 ever bear the test of the severest scrutiny." 
 
 Antonio now sought Carlos, to whom he com- 
 municated the result of the foregoing conversation 
 with the duke. 
 
 " Why, look ye, seiior," said Carlos, gravely, 
 " when there are two questions tendered, I gene- 
 rally weigh the odds on both sides: first, then, if 
 M 2
 
 244 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 I journey to the Netherlands, I must necessarily 
 leave his reverence, my honoured master, for a 
 long, long period; and then there is Gillette, my 
 poor wife, who no doubt will droop her head and 
 want to commence warrior, for my sake, setting 
 aside the comforts of this retirement, and all the 
 tales of old Bastro into the bargain. On the other 
 hand, should I remain here, my dear young 
 master must of course go without me ; and should 
 he be shot at, and wounded by the enemy, what 
 tender being will smooth his pillow, support his 
 head, and watch the languid pulse of sickness — 
 he that I had so often dandled upon my knee, 
 listened to his prattle, and shared his sports — 
 the delight of his reverence, the prop of his de- 
 clining years, to lie expiring, perhaps, in a 
 foreign land. Oh, seiior, I am in a mournful 
 dilemma — I am bewildered! I shiver like a 
 champion that throws down his gauntlet to fight 
 for his lady-love !" And here the tears rushed to 
 his eyes, as he vehemently declared that he would 
 share the good or bad fortune of Don Antonio. 
 
 Some further conversation followed these re- 
 marks of Carlos, which we shall pass over; suf- 
 fice it to say, it concluded to the perfect satisfac- 
 tion of all those concerned in this interesting 
 affair.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 215 
 
 Old Bastro, tliougli now extremely aged, had 
 by no means lost all relish for the scenes of his 
 youth ; the sight of Antonio's warlike dress, with 
 the bright corslet and plumy helmet, threw him 
 into an ecstasy, and raising the stick which sup- 
 ported his feeble form, he grotesquely performed 
 the manual exercises of war, to the no small 
 amusement of Antonio and the delight of Carlos. 
 
 " There, senor !" he exclaimed, whilst a flash 
 darted from his eye, not unlike the fire of youth. 
 " Had I the use of my limbs, as well as I have 
 of my faculties, I could show you a few man- 
 CEUvres." 
 
 " Methinks thou hast been a lion-hearted 
 warrior, good Bastro," said Antonio, smiling, " if 
 I may judge by the vestiges of thy courage, and 
 the bold outline of thy visage, together with the 
 many exploits I have heard thee relate." 
 
 " Yes, senor," he returned ; " I am proud to 
 say I never shrunk from danger. I was always 
 foremost in the battle, and the enemy might as 
 well have attempted to take a live eel for his 
 breast-plate, as to resist the point of my weapon. 
 At the battle of Pavia, in Italy, I gained more 
 laurels than any other man in the ranks. I was 
 at that time young and vigorous, and could iight 
 my way through a host of foes with equal credit
 
 246 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 and success, as you shall presently hear. In the 
 midst of the action, our division was ordered to 
 take its station opposite the right wing of the 
 enemy, which they had styled the invincible forces ; 
 and so in truth they appeared, for whilst hundreds 
 of our men fell on every side, they sustained but 
 a comparatively trifling loss. ^ Come on, my brave 
 comrades,' said I, ' and we will speedily put their 
 invincibility to the test !' We accordingly wheeled 
 about, and at the word of command charged them 
 with the fury of tigers, but all our efforts could 
 not break their lines. The King of France him- 
 self headed the middle ranks, and with provoking 
 vigour and courage returned our salutes in grand 
 style. At length a slight disorder appeared among 
 the troops, and they seemed to retreat. * 'Tis all 
 a sham !' I exclaimed, loudly — ' 'tis all a sham !' 
 Our brave general, who had an eagle's eye, saw 
 the matter clear, and immediately ordered every 
 man to keep within the ranks, on pain of punish- 
 ment. When the rogues found themselves baffled 
 in their finesse, they returned to the charge; but 
 now we soon abridged their power, and decreased 
 their numbers ; they began to give way in good 
 earnest, and to fall back in much confusion. In 
 vain Francis hurried from rank to rank, and at- 
 tempted to rally his soldiers; the struggle was
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 247 
 
 dreadful — king, officers, and men, without subordi- 
 nation, fought with ungovernable rage; but the 
 die was cast. With my sword I made myself a 
 passage, and rushed into the hottest of the battle, 
 followed by others equally brave. We saw the 
 generals of France attemj)ting to cover their king's 
 retreat, but we fell upon them with redoubled 
 vigour. In the horrible contention I had the good 
 luck to seize the sash of Francis, but I was imme- 
 diately wounded in the arm, which prevented me 
 fi*om retaining my prize ; however, it arrested his 
 flight for a moment, and the emperor coming up 
 with a body of reserves, the king was taken pri- 
 soner. This settled the fortune of the day: the 
 vanquished fled on all sides, and we continued to 
 pursue them for some time ; but a deed of a most 
 cruel nature, committed by one of our coun- 
 trymen, stained the glory of our arms, and, as I 
 was partly a witness to the fact, I can relate the 
 particulars. Whilst in pursuit of the enemy, we 
 observed a number of the victors (for they were 
 dispersed in different directions) enter a house 
 remote from the city, for the purpose, as we sup- 
 posed, of pillage; in a moment we observed a 
 lady, with an infant in her arms, rush out from a 
 side door, and take to flight. One of the miscreants, 
 for 1 can call them by no other name, hastily fol-
 
 248 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 lowed her steps, tore the child from her convulsed 
 grasp, and, favoured by the shades of evening, 
 made off. 
 
 " The frantic mother rent the air with her 
 shrieks, and, before ^ve could reach the spot, she 
 fell to the gTound, a lifeless corpse. A young 
 officer, of great worth and bravery, who happened 
 to be of our party, was so unmanned by this fatal 
 catastrophe, that he shed tears over the body, and 
 afterwards composed a poem on the unhappy 
 event, which I saw merely by accident. I could 
 at one time recite the whole, but so many years 
 have gone by since that j^eriod, and my life has 
 been chequered by scenes so monstrous and dis- 
 mal, that I have forgotten the greater part." 
 
 " My brave Bastro," returned Antonio, " did 
 you get no promotion on that memorable day of 
 which you have been treating?" 
 
 " Yes, senor," he replied, " I was taken from 
 the ranks ; but I afterwards knew a great deal 
 of hard service : I got wounded several times, so 
 that at length my vigour decayed, and I obtained 
 my discharge." 
 
 " Oblige me by reciting the verses that you 
 mentioned," said Antonio; " and let us hear wdie- 
 tlier the young w^arrior could rhyme as well as he 
 could fight."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 249 
 
 "I obsevvecl to you, senor," returned B astro, 
 " that I had forgotten the greater part of them ; 
 but what I can recollect you shall be right wel- 
 come to hear." 
 
 Bastro then recited the following lines ; they 
 being, as he informed Antonio, simply the latter 
 part of the poem : — 
 
 " Her voice it was music, her features were fair ; 
 So light was her form, that it seemed to be air ; 
 The glance of her eye was as meteors at night, 
 AVhen, awful in brightness, they flash on the sight. 
 No gem in the ocean exceeded her worth, 
 Her soul was as spotless and high as her birth. 
 
 " Her husband was slain — and she saw in the throng 
 The victor approaching, with triumph and song ; 
 Her long floating veil then distracted she drew 
 O'er the face of her baby, to screen it from view ; 
 Her lovely arms, too, round its figure she tA\ined, 
 And fled from the fiends that pursued her behind. 
 
 " Though fleet were her footsteps, alas, they were slow, 
 Compared to the stride of the arrogant foe, 
 AVhose rapid approach sounded loud on her ear ; 
 She shrieked, ' Oh my God ! they are near, they arc near !' 
 And fell — as a ^\ retch caught her fast by the hair. 
 And tore from her bosom, now bleeding and bare, 
 
 " The cherul>, for whom she had suffered so much : 
 She strove for a moment his feelings to touch ; 
 M 3
 
 250 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 She knelt, and she wept, and implored him to stay ; 
 But he thundered out, ' ISTo !' as he bore it away. 
 One agonized cry shook the distance around, 
 And the heart-stricken mother lay dead on the ground." 
 
 "Poor lady!" sighed Antonio, as Bastro con- 
 cluded, "thy end was most melancholy; I hope I 
 shall never be an eye-witness to such a shocking 
 piece of villany and outrage." 
 
 " It will be well for thy sensibility, senor," re- 
 turned Bastro, if thou dost not behold scenes, in 
 a short time, equally horrific and disgusting : it is 
 the fate of war ; and happy is the land where peace 
 reigns uninterrupted, and happy is the king who 
 is lord of such dominions." 
 
 " Is it not rather unfair, good Bastro," said 
 Antonio, " to pass such a panegyric on tranquil- 
 lity and order, at a period when thy young master 
 longs to hail the shrill trumpet and all the thunder 
 of battle?" 
 
 " Tme, senor ; but there is a vast difference 
 in loving war, for war's sake, and loving it, fi'om a 
 principle of duty to our king and country," re- 
 turned Bastro. " The former feeling leads a man 
 to delight in sanguinary deeds, and to invoke 
 scenes of horror, as necessary to his happiness; 
 the latter embraces true dignity, and all the vir- 
 tues inherent in a brave soldier, who enters the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 251 
 
 field, not to feast his eyes on human woes, but to 
 redress the wrongs of his countiy and support the 
 rights of his sovereign, and to respect, amidst 
 conquest and devastation, the laws of humanity, 
 and the supplications of innocence." 
 
 " Thou seem'st to be well acquainted with 
 the essential qualities of true courage," replied 
 Antonio. 
 
 " I am an old warrior, senor ; I have done much 
 and thought more. In my walks through life I 
 have seen much to applaud, and much to con- 
 demn ; but, blessed be our holy Mother, I never 
 sanctioned injustice, or sought the smiles of those, 
 however great, whose actions were despicable." 
 
 Lucilla now made her appearance, ready 
 equipped for a walk among the wild scenery of the 
 mountains. Antonio immediately hastened to 
 join her, and, taking her hand, they both de- 
 scended the declivity. Their conversation natu- 
 rally turned on the ensuing separation, and the 
 probable distance of time, ere they should meet 
 again ; but neither, in their several feelings, were 
 actuated by the force of love. Believing themselves 
 to be brother and sister, no thought had arisen, 
 nor any sentiment had been cherished, derogatory 
 to innocence and the fraternal character. Antonio 
 well remembered their residence in the pirate's
 
 552 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 cottage, and their escape thence, with many lead- 
 ing circumstances connected therewith, and his 
 thoughts had often reverted to the subject, and 
 in his i^rivate interviews with Lucilla, it had fre- 
 quently been the theme ; but from the total silence 
 of the duke, as touching the affair, and the reserve 
 of Gillette, they both concluded that the former 
 had peculiar reasons for withholding that informa- 
 tion which might probably only cause them dis- 
 quietude without fully satisfying their curiosity, 
 and as it appeared evident that the latter had been 
 enjoined secrecy, they did not think it prudent 
 to create embarrassment by unnecessary inquiries. 
 Fully satisfied with the duke's paternal regard, 
 and grateful for the protection he afforded them, 
 they both looked up to him with confidence and 
 the highest affection, and were resolved to prove 
 themselves worthy of his long-established fi'iend- 
 ship and superior generosity : the loyal ideas he 
 had instilled into the breasts of both had the 
 greatest influence on their feelings and actions; 
 those ideas had grown with their growth, had rooted 
 themselves firmly, and no succeeding event was 
 able to shake their allegiance to the house of 
 Austria. 
 
 " I go," said Antonio, pursuing the subject of 
 his departure, " to chastise the enemies of Philip,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. *253 
 
 to evince, by my conduct and military services, 
 the strength of my attachment to his person and 
 government. I am without a name, but I am not 
 without genius; I have no distinction of rank, but I 
 have youth and vigour; and, under the favour of 
 Heaven, T hope to gain applause, and climb the 
 hill of fame without danger to my integrity. Youth 
 is the season of anticipation, the period when Hope 
 irradiates the front of advancing manhood ; I love 
 her suggestions, and hail that benevolence which 
 excites our zeal and supplies us with all those 
 resources which facilitate success." 
 
 After a lengthened excursion, they returned to 
 the house, and, in a few days, Antonio and Carlos 
 once more took leave of the dear inmates of this 
 recluse dwelling. The mild fortitude of the duke, 
 his private instructions to his faithful servant, his 
 aiiecting farewell to his son, together with the 
 trembling emotions of Lucilla, the embraces of 
 Gillette, and the tears and adieux of old Bastro 
 and his wife, Ave will pass over in silence. As 
 the road, for a considerable way, was exceedingly 
 obscm'e and mountainous, guides were hired to 
 give them a safe conduct to the hrst village that 
 bordered upon the open country; the men then 
 left them, and our travellers proceeded to take the 
 best route to St. Sebastian.
 
 254 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 *' Come, Carlos," said Antonio, breaking silence, 
 " let me hear one of thy martial anecdotes that 
 treats of victory and the conquest of nations; for, 
 remember, I am not invested with the sword and 
 spurs of chivalry, but with the sword of loyalty 
 and patriotism — a weapon under whose auspices 
 I hope to make a shining warrior, unsubdued by 
 incessant toil and undaunted by the struggles of 
 rival armies." 
 
 " Faith, sehor," returned Carlos, " I was this 
 moment thinking not of victory, but defeat. Our 
 late good emperor, who was ever a match for the 
 most subtle princes in Europe, just now happened 
 to recur to my recollection, with all the mishaps 
 attending his flight from Inspruck, in Germany."
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 255 
 
 " You excite my curiosity," answered Antonio ; 
 " so, prithee, do not relapse into silence, but ex- 
 plain the prodigy you mention, for so I consider 
 the circumstance of so great and magnanimous a 
 hero's retreat from impending danger — for this is 
 what you seem to insinuate." 
 
 " Very true, senor, and it undoubtedly appears 
 a prodigy to you, who are unacquainted with the 
 cause ; and as you seem to have a desire to know 
 the particulars, I will readily satisfy you on this 
 subject in as clear a manner as a punctual regard 
 to truth will allow me. 
 
 " It was towards the close of the year 1551, or 
 thereabouts, that Maurice, Prince of Saxony, 
 entered into a private league with several of his 
 neighbouring compeers, with a view of establish- 
 ing the Lutheran worship in the kingdoms of Ger- 
 many. Maiu'ice, who had been raised to the 
 electoral dignity by the Emperor Charles, and 
 whose kinsman, through his own treachery, had 
 been deposed and taken prisoner in a previous 
 engagement, was both subtle and hypocritical; for, 
 whilst he obsequiously courted the confidence of 
 the emperor, and appeared grateful for his late 
 acquisitions, he united with his enemies to lessen 
 the extent of his power, and, by fraudful proceed- 
 ings, to bring on the calamities of a civil war. He
 
 ^56 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE!. 
 
 even carried his designs so far as to enter into a 
 private correspondence with Henry, King of 
 France, Avho had, by the death of his father, lately 
 succeeded to the crown, and who, hating Charles 
 for his singular greatness, sagacity, a.nd eminent 
 wisdom, eagerly joined the confederates, and 
 made rapid preparations to possess himself of his 
 ten'itories, exulting in the idea of mortifying and 
 subjugating his rival to his power. 
 
 " In the meantime, Charles, who remained a 
 perfect stranger to the schemes and operations of 
 his insidious and faithless ally, resided in fancied 
 security, with his court, at Inspruck, attended only 
 by a small body of soldiers, the rest having been 
 dismissed, or sent different ways, according to their 
 several commissions. 
 
 " At length, when all was in readiness, and the 
 important labours concluded necessary for the 
 enterprise, the several powers in conjunction, with 
 mutual punctuality and at the same moment, put 
 their armies in motion ; Henry of France, ydth his 
 forces, quickly took possession of Metz, and other 
 places of note belonging to Charles, and, with the 
 triumph of conquest, erected his standard on their 
 walls. 
 
 " Maurice, with his thousands, and the flag of 
 religious liberty waving before him, overran the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 257 
 
 cities of Germany, amidst the exclamations of 
 some, and the consternation of others. 
 
 " I was at that time the personal attendant of a 
 grandee who usually accomjDanied his majesty in 
 his expeditions, and was on the spot when hasty 
 tidings of all these secret and surj)rising trans- 
 actions were brought to the court by some soldiers 
 who had mutinied and deserted from Maurice. 
 It is next to impossible to describe the indigna- 
 tion, the confusion, and astonishment of the em- 
 peror and his faithful folloAvers, on receiving this 
 information ; and, to complete our misfortunes at 
 this juncture, Charles had been for some time 
 extremely ill, so that he was unable to act with 
 his wonted vigour and alacrity, and was, besides, 
 too fond of his people to hazard their lives in a 
 contest so unequal ; and, indeed, such an attempt, 
 under such circumstances, would have been little 
 short of absolute madness. There was then no 
 alternative but immediate flight; our few military 
 and the nobles of the court hastily gathered 
 round the person of their beloved sovereign, and, 
 by the light of torches — for it was night, and 
 more than usually dark — we made our escape 
 from Inspruck, leaving our baggage and treasures 
 behind. 
 
 " AVe were unavoidably obliged to take our
 
 258 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 route through mountains almost impassable, every 
 one rushing forward with the utmost rapidity, — 
 some on horseback, some on foot, others making 
 a path with their swords, — but all preserving the 
 most profound silence, and bringing up the rear 
 in a body, without injury to any one, in spite of 
 our dismay and the dangerous precipices over 
 which we had to travel ; at the same time there 
 was a sort of regular confusion in the whole, that 
 appeared to owe its safety to the immediate in- 
 fluence of Heaven. Several times I was so near 
 the emperor, as to touch the litter on which he 
 was carried, and by the flash of the torches I 
 could discern the mild effiilgence of his beautiful 
 eyes and the glorious cast of his countenance. 
 Oh, it was a sight, senor, that made me cry like a 
 child ! and in the height of my gi'ief, I frequently 
 grasped my long Toledo sword, and thought I 
 could at that moment oppose my single arm to 
 the whole force of his adversaries. 
 
 " At length, after a difficult and fatiguing march, 
 we arrived at Villach; and notwithstanding the 
 weak state of the emperor, he immediately entered 
 upon business relative to the good of his people. 
 
 '' Through the interference of his brother Fer- 
 dinand, who exerted himself greatly on this occa- 
 sion, those religious difierences were adjusted.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. '259 
 
 and the emperor signed the treaty of peace be- 
 tween himself and his German subjects, allowing 
 them the fi'ee exercise of their new tenets. 1 
 have attempted," he exclaimed, " by the most 
 tender methods, by every weighty argument, to 
 bring back my infatuated people to their ancient 
 faith, from which they have so strongly degene- 
 rated ; but alas ! the evil is now too widely spread 
 to be an-ested but at the expense of a vast effu- 
 sion of innocent and noble blood ; and should I 
 at last prove the conqueror, how poor will be that 
 victory that impoverishes my kingdom. Should I, 
 in signing these articles, that insure to them the 
 full enjoyment of that which they so ardently 
 desire, infringe the sacred and peculiar duties of 
 a sovereign, may the Almighty God, in his 
 wisdom and mercy, balance in the scales of jus- 
 tice the principles on which I act!" 
 
 " Excellent monarch !" exclaimed Antonio, in 
 a voice of admiration ; " but did he allow the 
 French king to enjoy his new possessions without 
 attempting to regain them ?" 
 
 " No, no, certainly not, sehor. Charles, though 
 affectionate to his people, was severe in his re- 
 sentments to a foreign enemy ; and the idea that 
 he had leagued with his ungrateful subjects against 
 his honour, and encouraged their apostasy, excited
 
 260 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 his indignation, and sternly assembling his troops, 
 he speedily invested Metz ; but the season proved 
 extremely unfavourable. Winter began his incle- 
 ment reign ; their camps were constantly buried 
 in the snow, and a number of men perished with 
 cold and fatigue ; so that the emperor, in spite 
 of his efforts, was obliged to abandon the siege, 
 and march back the remainder of his troops to 
 their more genial home. But he did not remain 
 long inactive ; he soon recruited his anny, and 
 changing his place of attack, he laid siege to 
 Terouennc, a favourite city of the French king, 
 and, after considerable labour and perseverance, 
 took it by storm. He next made an assault on 
 Hesdim, a strongly fortified place, and, though 
 defended with singular courage, its walls were 
 unable long to resist his batteries, and the em- 
 peror was again victorious. He was likewise 
 equally successful in Italy, where he made the 
 armies of Henry llee in confusion, and, with his 
 strong forces, conquered wherever he came, taking 
 ample vengeance on his arrogant rival." 
 
 " I do not woiider at the prosperity of Charles," 
 remarked Antonio, " since his persevering spirit 
 and extraordinary bravery never suffered his own 
 powers or those of his soldiers to languish, while
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 261 
 
 his eminent piety, humanity, and equity gave 
 strength to his pretensions." 
 
 " His great heart never fainted, seiior, nor his 
 brow lo^Yered, even under the most dreadful hard- 
 ships," returned Carlos. "The greater the danger, 
 the brighter his countenance appeared ; and, by 
 his own example, he animated his troops to such 
 a degree, that few places, however strengthened 
 by nature or art, could withstand the fierceness of 
 their united attacks : but the most dazzling expe- 
 dition that ever spread the fame of man, was that 
 which he undertook against the Turks in 1535, at 
 a period when Charles was in full vigour, both in 
 body and mind, and daily increasing in wealth 
 and power. I do not think you are acquainted 
 with the circumstances of this gallant event ; 
 therefore, with your permission, I will relate it, 
 although in language too humble to be coupled 
 with such an important and glorious trans- 
 action." 
 
 " You will oblige me by so doing," replied An- 
 tonio. " The enterprises of the emperor, and the 
 wisdom and courage with which he conducted 
 them, are well worth recording ; and they serve 
 to infuse into the breast of a martial and ad- 
 venturous youth a noble enthusiasm, a sort of
 
 262 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 kindred spirit, that longs to begin its career of 
 glory." 
 
 " Well, senor, to be both explicit and concise, — 
 Barbarossa, the notorious Corsair of Barbary, 
 and a man of mean birth, had, by the most artful 
 and sanguinary proceedings, possessed himself of 
 the throne of Algiers. His subjects, hating him 
 equally for his crimes and the obscurity of his 
 name, entered into several conspiracies to take 
 the sceptre from his hands: this coming to the 
 knowledge of Barbarossa, he, fearing the event, 
 solicited the friendship of the grand seignior ; 
 and that sultan, from motives of policy or am- 
 bition, furnished him with a large body of Turkish 
 soldiers, whose ferocious appearance, aimed with 
 authority, kept the people in awe. Tunis being 
 at this period a scene of confusion, and open to 
 invasion, Barbarossa resolved upon its conquest, 
 with a view to annex its dominions to those of his 
 master, as he considered Solyman. Accordingly, 
 he sailed with a large fleet, and, with the assist- 
 ance of his Turkish soldiers, speedily routed the 
 Tunisian king and his adherents, and proclaimed 
 the sultan sovereign of his kingdom, and himself 
 as his viceroy. Barbarossa, puffed up with pride 
 and arrogance, still navigated the seas in search 
 of plunder and conquest, and allowed his cruisers
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 263 
 
 to be guilty of every outrage upon all Christians 
 who were so unfortunate as to come within their 
 reach. 
 
 " In the meantime, complaints of all these ex- 
 cesses were laid before the imperial throne ; and 
 Charles, enraged at their temerity and presump- 
 tion, quickly resolved on their punishment. He 
 therefore collected the most enterprising veterans 
 from all parts of his dominions, and put to sea 
 with a formidable armament, which he com- 
 manded in person, and in a short time landed his 
 brave forces within a short distance of Tunis. 
 Barbarossa, who was well acquainted with all the 
 arts and finesse of war, had received intelligence 
 of the intended invasion, and lost no time in 
 making every preparation for a desperate resist- 
 ance. 
 
 " Charles, relying on the justice of the cause 
 he had undertaken, and placing confidence in the 
 approval of Heaven and the ardour of his men, 
 immediately laid siege to Goletta, a fort strongly 
 fortified, and bravely defended by nearly eight 
 thousand soldiers ; but the Imperialists, always 
 proud to fight beneath the eye of their sovereign, 
 rushed to the attack with such unprecedented 
 fury and national courage, that the massy works 
 speedily yielded to their efforts, and the governor
 
 264 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANX'E. 
 
 and his infidels, unable to resist the force of the 
 besiegers, made a precipitate retreat, and left the 
 place in possession of the conquerors. Bar- 
 barossa, struck with consternation at the loss of 
 this important fortress, resolved not to await the 
 arrival of his adversaries; he therefore placed 
 himself at the head of fifty thousand men, and 
 marched forth to meet his enemies. The ap- 
 proach of the Imperialists brought on a rapid 
 engagement. The Corsair, exasperated and im- 
 patient of victory, fought with desperate valour 
 and distinguished ability ; but the well-disciplined 
 troops of the emperor penetrated his lines, drove 
 the Turks and Arabs from their stations, and in a 
 short time, to use the language of war, the rout 
 became general. Barbarossa made his escape, 
 whilst the emperor hastened towards Tunis, 
 whose gates opened at his approach. Here he 
 found ten thousand Christian slaves shut up in 
 the citadel, whom he instantly released; and 
 Muley Hascen, the fugitive king, was, through 
 Charles's valour and generosity, restored to his 
 throne, but on these conditions : that all Christian 
 slaves were to be set at liberty, without ransom ; 
 that Goletta, with all other fortified places, was 
 to be delivered up to the emperor; and that he 
 was to pay him annually ten thousand crowns
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 265 
 
 towards "the support of the garrisons, &c. Tliis 
 treaty conchided, twenty thousand Christian 
 slaves were delivered up to Charles, all of whom 
 he clothed at his own expense, kindly soothed 
 their sufferings, and furnished them with money 
 sufficient to take them to their respective homes. 
 The poor creatures, overpowered with joy and 
 gratitude, sunk at his feet and watered his robe 
 with their tears ; and the emperor, from the deck 
 of one of his own ships, overlooked their em- 
 barkation ; and their shouts of admiration and 
 gratitude for their numberless blessings, their up- 
 lifted hands — the uplifted hands of twenty thou- 
 sand human beings, whom he had released from 
 bondage, were more dear to his heart, he de- 
 clared, than all the victories that had given lustre 
 to his arms. It is impossible, seiior, to narrate 
 this part of the emperor's proceedings without 
 tlie strongest marks of reverence and delight, and 
 they could only be excelled by the sanctity of his 
 principles and the wisdom of his military opera- 
 tions." 
 
 Here Carlos concluded his little details, which 
 had greatly amused and gratified Antonio ; the 
 great qua.lities of the emperor, and his warlike 
 achievements, were his favourite themes ; in his 
 admirable character he beheld the choicest virtues 
 
 VOL. f. N
 
 2G6 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 united to extensive power, and unlimited sove- 
 reignty, and with youthful simplicity he naturally 
 concluded that the prince, beneath whose banners 
 he was shortly to enlist, had an equal claim to the 
 homage and veneration of his subjects. 
 
 After a pleasant journey our travellers arrived 
 at St. Sebastian, and Antonio, having undergone 
 a few interrogations, was enrolled as a volunteer, 
 and stationed among the troops, under the com- 
 mand of the Duke of Medina-Celi, and who were 
 shortly to be embarked to reinforce the Duke of 
 Alva, in the Netherlands. 
 
 Antonio now entered upon his military duties, 
 and from this period had no cause to languish for 
 the want of employment; the rigid discipline of 
 the troops, and their frequent marches to Port 
 Passage, where the fleet lay, engaged both his 
 time and attention. 
 
 A few evenings after his arrival, in his peram- 
 bulations round the town, he accidentally encoun- 
 tered Don Cervantes. The surprise and pleasure 
 at this unexpected meeting were mutual, and 
 though they did not become inseparable compa- 
 nions, yet they were often together; voluntarily 
 embarked in the same enterprise, with sentiments 
 somewhat congenial, they relieved the fatigues of 
 duty by a friendly intercourse, and occasional
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 267 
 
 conversations. However, that rich fund of hu- 
 mour, which Cervantes afterwards displayed in 
 his Don Quixote, w^as by no means observable in 
 his discourse or behaviour — he accosted his asso- 
 ciates in terms of politeness and respect, and his 
 remarks were usually candid and animated ; but 
 he made no pretensions to superiority of genius, 
 or critical talent, and was apparently rather to be 
 admired for his gentleness and sincerity, than for 
 wit, or brilliancy of parts. 
 
 At length the troops sailed from Port Passage, 
 and Antonio, with his servant, had the good for- 
 tune to be on board the same ship that contained 
 Cervantes, and which was commanded by the Duke 
 of Medina in person ; and as the shores receded 
 from his view, the novelty of his situation, and the 
 splendid scene around him, excited his utmost 
 astonishment and admiration. The immensity of 
 waters that now bounded the prospect, the swift- 
 ness with w^hich fifty vessels, with all their brave 
 crews, cut the liquid waves, their lofty masts and 
 unfurled sails invading the skies, the radiancy of 
 the sun mingling w ith the proud mass of billows, 
 were objects that riveted his gaze, and invited 
 observation, while the confused voices of the sea- 
 men, the cheerly song of the helmsman, together 
 with the martial exercises of the veteran troops, 
 N 2
 
 268 THE OATIT OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 added to those pleasing emotions which breathe 
 enchantment to the youthful mind. But the order 
 of things was soon to assume a more formidable 
 and tremendous aspect, for the duke suddenly 
 beheld in the distance some vessels bearing to- 
 wards them, and, as they rapidly approached 
 nearer, he made the unwelcome discovery that it 
 was a fleet of a hundred and fifty shij^s, manned 
 by the outlawed and most unhappy Flemings. The 
 duke instantly made known to his men the danger 
 that menaced them. The alarm spread, every 
 man hastened to his post with a determination to 
 act with that courage and fidelity to which he was 
 sworn. The exiles, with the flag of liberty flut- 
 tering in the breeze, speedily surrounded the 
 duke's fleet, and commenced hostilities. The 
 duke and his brave men seconded the attack with 
 equal ardour, and the battle soon raged with in- 
 credible fury, and the blessed light of Heaven 
 appeared to suffer a total eclipse from the columns 
 of black smoke that ascended in every direction, 
 far above the top-yards, or towering main-masts, 
 whilst the sails and rigging of the contending 
 fleets bore ample marks of the ungrateful warfare, 
 which seemed alike to invade the watery element 
 beneath, whose agitated waves foamed, and lashed 
 with mutual ire the bulky sides of the groaning
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. '269 
 
 vessels. Twice the ship that contained the duke 
 was attempted to be boarded by the Flemings, 
 and as often the sturdy courage of her seamen 
 rescued it from their grappling irons. At length 
 numbers, sword in hand, tumultuously rushed 
 upon its deck and came to close combat; Antonio 
 and Cervantes, side by side, foremost of the 
 Spanish veterans, met their deadly weaj^ons with 
 undaunted mien and impetuous force, and either 
 cut them down or drove them from their stations; 
 and many Avounded wretches, unconscious of the 
 brink on which they stood, fell overboard and 
 mingled their life-blood with the foaming surge. 
 Scarcely was this accomplished, and the deck 
 cleared of its furious intruders, ere Antonio's 
 eagle eye, fierce and keen as vigilance and an 
 eager desire of glory could make it, beheld a 
 threatening danger, unseen by all, save himself; 
 and, swift as the lightning's flash, he threw him- 
 self before the duke, and the ball intended for that 
 nobleman struck his own neck. Aware of the 
 gallantry of the action and its success, he at- 
 tempted to smile, grasped his sword more firmly, 
 reeled and fell, without sense or motion, amidst 
 the wounded and the dead. 
 
 The conflict had now been long and deadly ; 
 twenty ships, in spite of the superior bravery of
 
 270 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the men, were taken by the enemy, and many 
 valuable lives lost; the duke, convinced of the 
 folly of longer contending with such unequal 
 numbers, and likewise influenced by political rea- 
 sons, w^hich made it absolutely necessary to save, 
 if possible, the remnant of his fleet, resolved to 
 take advantage of the shades of evening, that were 
 now involving every object in obscurity, and the 
 favoui-able direction of a very brisk gale, to at- 
 tempt a retreat ; the signal was therefore given, 
 the sails quickly spread, and the ships scudded 
 before the wdnd with the utmost rapidity. As 
 soon as the Flemings were apprised of this ma- 
 ncEUvre they commenced a hot pursuit, but the 
 velocity with which the duke dashed down the 
 Channel, and his superior nautical skill, united to 
 leave them far in the rear. 
 
 Carlos, who carried a sword, more from osten- 
 tation than from any experience in the use of it, 
 and who would have recoiled at the idea of draw- 
 ing it in his own defence, caught, in the heat of 
 the action, a spark of that patriotism that glowed 
 in the breasts of those around him, and he at- 
 tempted to share the general danger; but was 
 always careful to keep in the rear, and to take re- 
 fuge behind a comrade whenever danger ap- 
 2)roached, excepting when he lost sight of Antonio,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 271 
 
 and then his own personal safety was disregarded 
 in his anxiety for that of his yonng master. At 
 length he missed him altogether; his feelings im- 
 mediately took the alarm, he threw his eyes with 
 impassioned eagerness in every direction, but 
 they rested not on the beloved form of Antonio ; 
 his fears amounted to agony ; he traversed the 
 deck with a distracted air, he sought for him 
 amongst the living and the dead ; but the search 
 w^as vain ; he recollected seeing many poor wretches 
 fall from the ship's side into the sea, and as the 
 thought crossed his mind his blood almost con- 
 gealed in his veins. At this moment the ship set 
 sail ; he uttered an exclamation of horror : " Blessed 
 St. Jago ! holy mother of God !" broke from his 
 lips, and waving all decorum and distinctions, he 
 rushed up to the duke ; but another idea at the 
 moment crosing his breast, he precipitately quitted 
 his presence and flew to the lower deck. Com- 
 pletely bewildered, he hurried to the captain's 
 cabin, the door was open, and he entered, but 
 motionless he stood, the stream of life, whose 
 redundancy oppressed his heart, mounted to his 
 head, and from his head it again rushed to his 
 heart, for he beheld Antonio pale, bloody, and 
 lifeless, attended by a surgeon, who appeared to 
 be inspecting a wound. Ere Carlos could recover
 
 272 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA>:CE. 
 
 his speech, Antonio gave a faint struggle, and 
 opened his eyes ; this sight electrified him, the 
 sudden transition from grief and despair, to hope 
 and happiness, nearly deranged his reason, and 
 his words and actions equally testified his faith- 
 fulness and attachment to our hero. 
 
 The duke seeing Antonio fall, and fully aware 
 that to his extraordinary courage and abilities he 
 ov;ed his life, took the first opportunity of ordering 
 him to be conveyed to his own cabin, but by a 
 mistake he was taken to the captain's ; here the 
 surgeon examined the wound, and whilst so doing- 
 Carlos made his appearance, and, shortly after, 
 the duke, prompted by. anxiety for the fate of so 
 young a hero, entered likewise ; the surgeon pro- 
 nounced the wound not mortal, and assured the 
 duke that a week or ten days would restore his 
 patient to a state of convalescence. The duke, 
 on receiving this pleasing intelligence, imme- 
 diately withdrew, and Carlos was allowed the full 
 liberty of attending upon his master in the capacity 
 of nurse, during his illness ; this permission was 
 grateful to the feelings of Carlos, and he entered 
 upon his new employment with alacrity and ten- 
 derness, and Antonio, in his own speedy restora- 
 tion to health, acknowledged how much he was
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 273 
 
 indebted to the unremitted attentions of this 
 aiiectionate servant. 
 
 The duke, in his several interviews with Antonio, 
 expressed his admiration of his heroic conduct, 
 and assured him that, as a mark of his own grati- 
 tude and esteem, he would exert his interest to 
 get him promoted as soon as they reached the 
 place of their destination. The duke, though 
 really feeling for Antonio a peculiar degree of 
 preference, which his services and talents had 
 excited, was actuated in his conduct towards him, 
 in some measure, by a discovery that both pleased 
 and surprised him; in Antonio he had recognised 
 the young hero of Aranjuez, himself having been 
 present at the time v/hen Philip rewarded his un- 
 common bravery vrith his own likeness, which he 
 saw suspended from the neck of Antonio a few 
 minutes after the surgeon had dressed his wound. 
 But the knowledge of these circumstances the 
 duke chose not to avov.', and Antonio, satisfied 
 and elated with his promises, cherished in secret a 
 thousand hopes of future prosperity. 
 
 But as there is seldom a pleasure without an 
 alloy, the pleasing anticipations of Antonio were 
 frequently interrupted by the recollection of the 
 brave Cervantes, of whom lie could obtain no iu-
 
 274 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 telligence, and who had not been seen from the 
 time of the fleet's escape from the Flemings. A 
 volunteer, like himself, without a name, his dis- 
 appearance excited neither attention nor inquiry, 
 save from Antonio himself, who, with sincere con- 
 cern, dwelt on the probable idea of his having 
 been slain during the latter part of the engage- 
 ment. 
 
 Antonio had comj^letely recovered fi'om the 
 effects of his wound ere they reached Brussels, at 
 which place the Duke of Alva was stationed, and 
 to which they were likewise bound. On their 
 arrival thither the Duke of Medina-Celi sought an 
 immediate interview with the Duke of Alva, to 
 whom he communicated each particular circum- 
 stance of his disastrous voyage, &c. 
 
 "Holy Mother!" exclaimed the Duke of Alva, 
 passionately striking his breast, " how humiliating 
 and unfortunate; these losses only tend to ex- 
 haust the stores of Philip, and augment the forces 
 of his enemies; but these audacious confederates 
 shall yet return to their duty, or, by the House of 
 Austria, I will satiate my vengeance by their total 
 extirpation!"* 
 
 * Philip introduced the Inquisition into the Netherlands, 
 and several thousand persons were put to death by that inhu- 
 man court.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 275 
 
 To the latter part of this speech the Duke of 
 Medina coukl say but little; gentle and humane 
 himself, he would have deviated from his original 
 character had he approved of the severe princi- 
 ples of the Duke of Alva; he lamented what he 
 considered the degeneracy of the Flemings, and 
 saw with hoiTor the dreadful dissensions that 
 shook their devoted land; but he shrunk appalled 
 from the hideous executions that hourly polluted 
 the hands of justice, and which only served to 
 prejudice the surviving culprits still more against 
 the government of Philip, and to call forth a more 
 determined cry of Death or freedom. As soon as 
 a favourable moment offered, the duke intro- 
 duced the name of Antonio, and by his eloquence 
 and representations succeeded in procuring for 
 him a post of considerable importance among the 
 troops; for the Duke of Alva, though by nature 
 cruel and implacable, truly loved that courage 
 which waved not in its fidelity to his sovereign, 
 and which trembled not to acquire reputation by 
 the most dangerous achievements. 
 
 Antonio's heart overflowed with gi'atitude to- 
 wards the Duke of Medina-Celi for the distin- 
 guished situation to which he had been the means 
 of raising him, and with inexpressible joy he re- 
 ceived an order, a few days after, to attend the
 
 9,76 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 Duke of Alva to the siege of Mods, which lay 
 about thirty miles from Brussels. 
 
 On their arrival at the Spanish camp he speedily 
 exercised his abilities in such a way as to engage 
 the attention of many gallant and sagacious officers, 
 and among the number was Gracia de Toledo, 
 son to the Duke of Alva, a young man of a most 
 engaging countenance and agreeable address, and 
 who, from his first seeing Antonio, whose beauty 
 equalled his own, felt for him an esteem which 
 various circumstances soon brought to maturity; 
 amidst their several duties they often met, and 
 though they spoke not, their eyes glanced appro- 
 bation, and their hearts united in sympathy. 
 Antonio fancied he beheld in Don Gracia the 
 very counterpart of Don Yico, for whom he still 
 retained a high regard; and Don Gracia believed 
 he saw in Antonio a being every way supreme in 
 worth, and well calculated to lighten his load of 
 griefs. With sentiments like these an opportu- 
 nity only was wanting to disclose their mutual 
 inclinations, and that opportunity soon presented 
 itself, at a moment when it was least expected. 
 
 William, Prince of Orange, who was descended 
 from an illustrious family in Germany, had, fiom 
 a principle of conscience, embraced the Protestant 
 religion; and, on the advance of the Duke of Alva
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. '27^ 
 
 into the Low Countries, where he had continued 
 to reside, had retired from the rigid persecutions 
 which were earned on against the Flemings, but 
 was induced at length to take up arms in his own 
 defence; his property, by the order of Philip, hay- 
 ing been confiscated, and himself denounced a 
 rebel. Eyery Lutheran prince in the German 
 states adopted his cause as their own, and assisted 
 him to raise a considerable body of forces, with 
 which he entered the Netherlands, and seyeral 
 severe battles were fought between the contend- 
 ing powers, but Avith little success on either side; 
 every hour the contest grew warmer and more 
 formidable; death and destruction, in their most 
 terrific forms, spread desolation through every 
 fertile province; and the fury of the assailants 
 could only be exceeded by the emulation which 
 either conquest or defeat inspired in the respec- 
 tive armies. Count Lewes, brother to tlie Prince 
 of Orange, had sm'priscd and taken Mons; and 
 the Duke of Alva, apprised of this circumstance, 
 immediately ordered his troops thither, and in- 
 vested the place. In the meantime the Prince of 
 Orange hastened to the relief of his brother, and 
 pitched his tents within sight of the Spanish 
 intrenchments. 
 
 At this juncture Charles the Ninth of France put
 
 278 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 into execution a project which he had long devised, 
 and a general slaughter of all the Protestants 
 throughout his dominions took place. This event, 
 so horrible in itself, spread dismay and confusion 
 among the troops of the Prince of Orange, and the 
 Duke of Alva, equally sagacious and vigilant, re- 
 solved to take advantage of their terror, and attack 
 them suddenly. Don Gracia and Antonio were 
 among the number selected for this secret and im- 
 portant enterjmse. Antonio, though possessing 
 every manly virtue, had been bred a rigid Catholic, 
 and a strong affection for Philip had been instilled 
 into his mind from his very infancy ; he therefore 
 obeyed the orders of his general with alacrity, and 
 at twelve o'clock at night, while the negligent 
 sentinels slumbered on their post, the Spaniards 
 rushed into the midst of the Protestant camp. 
 Don Gracia was the first to burst into the tent of 
 the Prince of Orange, who was that instant 
 flying to oppose the enemy, but who was now 
 obliged to defend himself against the menacing 
 sword of the intruder; but the Prince of Orange, 
 matured, and zealous for fi'eedom, and smarting 
 beneath his wrongs, was an overmatch for his 
 more youthful adversary ; and Don Gracia, faint- 
 ing from a wound he had received, must have 
 fallen a victim to his own rashness, had not An-
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. -279 
 
 tonic rushed in and timely saved him from the 
 uplifted sword of the prince, who instantly fled, 
 being more eager to join his followers than waste 
 his time in single combat. 
 
 The Spaniards, though successful on the first 
 attack, were, by the valour of the Prince of Orange, 
 quickly repulsed; and the Duke of Alva, mortified 
 and enraged, was obliged to retire with his men 
 to his own camp. Don Gracia's wound, though 
 deep, was not dangerous; and being naturally 
 warm in his attachments, and previously disposed 
 to admit Antonio to his friendship, he did not fail 
 to represent to the duke, in glownng language, the 
 courage and military abilities of our hero, and 
 fi'ankly confessed that to his timely valour he 
 owed his life. Don Gracia w^as the favourite 
 child of the Duchess of Alva, and in her letters to 
 her husband, she frequently implored him to be 
 studious of his welfare; and though the duke 
 entered not into her anxiety altogether, yet the 
 safety of his son was a matter of too much im- 
 portance to be passed over with indifference. The 
 feelings of the father prevailed over the pride of 
 the general, and Antonio was summoned to his 
 presence. Antonio inherited from the Duke of 
 Aranda a dignity of air and person, and from his 
 mother, equal beauty of countenance, which never
 
 ^80 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 failed to impress the beholder with an idea of his 
 nobility; the Duke of Alva saluted him on his 
 approach, and, addressing him, said — 
 
 " Young man, I am an inexorable soldier to 
 the enemies of my sovereign, but towards those 
 whose military virtues deserve my confidence, I 
 am an indulgent patron. Your services to my 
 son, Don Gracia, claim my esteem ; be it my care 
 to advance your fortunes; and be it yours," he 
 added, looking at Don Gracia, '• to reward with 
 your friendship the bravery of this young hero." 
 
 From this period Antonio's promotion was 
 rapid, while the increasing friendship of Don 
 Gracia, and the esteem of his fellow soldiers, 
 added considerably to his satisfaction; but in 
 their mutual intercourse he observed with regret, 
 that Don Gracia was suljject to frequent fits of 
 abstraction, and that he carried about him some 
 hidden grief that had a sensible effect on his pri- 
 vate conduct; from these observations, hoAvevcr, 
 he was drawn to the more alarming state of public 
 ailairs. Terms of capitulation had been agTced to 
 between Count Lewes and the Duke of Alva. In 
 consequence of this the latter raised the siege of 
 Mons, and marched his troops to Naerden, the 
 inhabitants of which had defied the arms of the 
 Duke ; but the ardour of the Spaniards overcame
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 281 
 
 all opposition ; tliey entered the town, and their 
 fury surpassed all that Antonio had conceived of 
 war and plunder. From these scenes of riot his 
 feeling heart turned ^Yith just indignation and 
 disgust, but continual strife left little time for re- 
 flection. The siege of Haerlem next follow^ed, 
 and these unhappy people resolved to die rather 
 than submit to the yoke of Philip ; but, alas ! the 
 city Avas speedily blockaded on every side, and 
 they had nothing to depend upon but their own 
 internal resources, which in a few weeks were ex- 
 hausted; the pressure of famine reduced their 
 numbers, and the miserable remnant was obliged 
 to solicit the mercy of the victors ; but the duke, 
 enraged at their rebellion, and the resolution with 
 which they had repelled his attacks, allowed his 
 soldiers to plunder the inhabitants, and in the 
 general ruin hundreds fell by the sword. 
 
 Antonio, though compelled by his station to 
 be present at these outrages, yet, being greatly 
 beloved by the soldiers, had the happiness to 
 save many a shrieking w^retch from the touch of 
 violence, and numbers were indebted to his hu- 
 manity for the preservation of their lives and pro- 
 perty. 
 
 During the pillage of Haerlem, the Prince of 
 Orange had been busy in strengthening the forti-
 
 282 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 fications of Alcmaer, and sending reinforcements 
 to the garrison ; concluding, from the route of the 
 Spaniards, that this city likewise would soon be 
 exposed to their attacks; the event proved his 
 conjectures to be con*ect. The command of the 
 Spanish army had been given to Frederic de 
 Toledo, eldest son of the Duke of Alva, a young 
 man who possessed all the haughtiness and in- 
 flexibility of his father, without his claim to saga- 
 city, or liberality in rewarding merit ; he viewed, 
 with no little degree of envy, the manly worth 
 and extraordinary genius of Antonio, and had 
 even presumed to remonstrate with his father on 
 the high privileges he enjoyed. 
 
 " Your disapprobation, sir," rejoined the duke, 
 " is a tacit acknowledgment of either my want of 
 judgment or want of experience ; if you are not 
 grateful for the life of a brother, I am for that of 
 a son." 
 
 This reproof, though it silenced Frederic de 
 Toledo, did not eradicate from his bosom that 
 principle of ill-will that would fain have deprived 
 Antonio of his advantages; who, perfectly un- 
 conscious of giving umbrage to a single being, 
 advanced with the troops to the walls of Alcmaer. 
 The men, flushed with their recent victories and 
 the treasures they had obtained, rushed to the
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. '283 
 
 charge with increased vigour and intrepidity, but 
 the inhabitants, warned by the fate of their neigh- 
 bours, and burning with resentment against the 
 rigorous and bigoted disposition of Philip, re- 
 solved either fully to repel the assailants, or, like 
 the Syrians in the days of Brutus, perish, with 
 their wives and children, amidst the flames of 
 their city ; but all the efforts of the Spaniards to 
 subdue this place proved fruitless; in vain they 
 besieged it on every side — in vain they attempted 
 to force their way through the breaches their can- 
 non had made ; they were driven back with such 
 determined finy, that the retreat of the besiegers 
 proved as destructive to their numbers as the 
 weapons of their adversaries. 
 
 At length, after a long and severe contest, and 
 the loss of several hundred men, and as many 
 wounded, the Spaniards were obliged to with- 
 draw, but with a resolution to renew the attack as 
 early as possible ; ere this, however, could be 
 accomplished, the Duke of Alva received private 
 information that the destruction of his army was 
 resolved upon, by the Hollanders opening their 
 sluices and inundating the surrounding country ; 
 he therefore hastily recalled his troops from the 
 scene of action, and, during their relaxation from 
 the toils of war, Antonio had ample opportunity
 
 •284 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 of cultivating more intimately the acquaintance of 
 Don Gracia. 
 
 This nobleman, when engaged in the fatigues 
 of war was animated, brave, and the most conspi- 
 cuous for fortitude and diligence — but when re- 
 lieved from dnty he appeared lost in thought, his 
 ardour languished, and he fled with precipitation 
 from the sound of mirth. 
 
 Antonio remarked with surjirise this singular 
 deviation from what he believed to be his original 
 character, and did everything in his power to 
 divert his mind ajid restore his feelings to their 
 natural tone, but without eflect.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 285 
 
 chaptp:r XIII. 
 
 One evening, Don Graeia entered Antonio's tent 
 more than usually disordered, and, taking a seat, 
 fixed his eyes on him, saying, with a deep sigh — 
 " My dear friend, for by that title I must ever 
 distinguish one ^Yhom I so highly value, I do not 
 flatter myself that my extraordinary unhappiness 
 has escaped your penetration ; but the conscious- 
 ness of guilt has hitherto chained my tongue, and 
 prevented me from disclosing a secret that must 
 ultimately degrade me in your opinion ; but my 
 increasing wretchedness has brought me to the 
 determination of confiding to your generous bosom 
 those weighty evils from which I am unable to 
 extricate myself; plunged in crime, perplexed, 
 and beset on every side, I am hopeless of relief;
 
 286 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 but your friendly sympathy will at least soften 
 my sorrows, if it cannot heal my wounds. In my 
 short detail of suffering and folly, in the blot that 
 stains my manhood, you will learn the punish- 
 ment that awaits dishonour, and a fall from the 
 dignity of virtue." 
 
 Antonio was both astonished and grieved at the 
 words of Don Gracia, and attempted to soothe 
 him with hopes of future happiness ; but Don 
 Gracia shook his head with an air of incredulity, 
 and assured him that he believed his misfortunes 
 to be irremediable. " However," he added, " I 
 will submit them to your opinion, and your im- 
 partial judgment shall decide. 
 
 " It was in the year 1567 that I accompanied 
 my mother, the Duchess of Alva, on a visit to the 
 queen, at the king's palace at Madrid ; she entered 
 her majesty's boudoir, and I was left to amuse 
 myself in any way I thought proper. I remained 
 in the ante-chamber a few minutes, and then 
 walked to a gallery through which I knew my 
 mother must pass in her way from the queen's 
 apartment. From one of the windows that looked 
 into a private part of the gardens, I discerned a 
 lady moving with a quick pace betwixt the trees. 
 I could not distinctly see her person, but I ob- 
 served that she often paused, as though to listen,
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 287 
 
 and occasionally to scrutinize the windows. 
 Whilst I strained my eyes to watch her motions, 
 a young man ran towards her; she put a letter 
 into his hand, and they separated instantly. As 
 I was more amused with this circumstance than 
 surprised, I kept my standing ; and while so 
 doing, I heard footsteps sounding along the gal- 
 lery; carelessly turning my head, I beheld a 
 gentleman with an open letter in his hand ; he 
 •was so absorbed in the contents, that he continued 
 to read without appearing conscious of the pre- 
 sence of any one ; and my delicacy not allowing 
 me to be the unobserved spectator of his actions, 
 I coughed, and moved, with an air of indifference, 
 to the next window : the noise I made caught, as 
 I expected, his attention ; he stood for a moment, 
 as if irresolute, whether to retire or come for- 
 ward; from motives, probably, of politeness, he 
 chose the latter, and I then recognised Don 
 Carlos, the son of Philip by a former consort ; he 
 addressed to me a few words; and though our 
 knowledge of each other was slight, he was re- 
 markably friendly and condescending ; but in 
 every pause of the conversation, he sunk into 
 thoughtfuiness ; and when I again spoke, he 
 started, as from a dream. My mother soon sum- 
 moned me to attend her home ; and Don Carlos,
 
 •288 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 with a melancholy air, bade me adieu, and re- 
 tired. I know not how it was, but the manner 
 and accents of Don Carlos made a strong im- 
 pression on my mind; I felt convinced that the 
 letter which I saw him perusing, had been given 
 him by the lady in the garden ; for that he was 
 the gentleman who approached her I did not 
 hesitate to believe, as his air and size corre- 
 sponded with the one I had seen. Prompted by 
 a feeling which I can't describe — for it was far 
 from an idle curiosity — I always, after this period, 
 attended my mother in her visits to the queen, of 
 whom, indeed, she was exceedingly fond ; but in 
 several times going, I saw nothing of the prince. 
 At length I again met him, and in the very gal- 
 lery where I had before seen him ; but his person 
 was so altered, so thin, and his features and com- 
 plexion so wan and dejected, that I involuntarily 
 recoiled. 
 
 " I see your surprise, Don Gracia," he said ; 
 " I am truly unlike my former self." 
 
 " Your highness appears ill," I observed. 
 
 " Yes, I am indeed ill," he returned ; " but 
 alas ! it is an illness of the mind ; however, if I 
 mistake not, I shall be better by and by." And 
 here he laughed so wildly, that I was at a loss for 
 an answer: but in a moment after he added —
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 289 
 
 * the innocent, Don Gracia, can brave the im- 
 pending storm ; while the guilty sink the victims 
 of their own fears.' As 1 could not conjecture his 
 meaning, and dared not ask, I made some vague 
 reply ; and at this moment a message arrived 
 from the king, desiring his presence. A deep 
 blush instantly overspread his countenance ; he 
 struck his forehead, and appeared like a person 
 in a deranged state : but seeing my looks strongly 
 expressive of concern, he grew calm, pat his 
 hand to his breast, and exclaimed — ' Farewell, 
 Don Gracia ; should we never meet again, re- 
 member me.' He then left me ; I watched his 
 retiring form ; when he arrived at a turning in 
 the gallery, he lingered for a moment; I saw him 
 again strike his forehead, but he quickly disap- 
 peared, and I never saw him more. Week after 
 week passed away — a heavy depression hung 
 upon my spirits; the words of Don Carlos had 
 fearfully affected my feelings ; I attempted several 
 times to make inquiries concerning him, but my 
 tongue, at these periods, refused its office ; a 
 mysterious terror arrested my speech, and I be- 
 came motionless. 
 
 "About this juncture my father was on the eve 
 of departing for the Netherlands ; it was my wish 
 to accompany liim; but the duchess had observed 
 
 VOL I o
 
 290 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 a change in my looks and behaviour, and thought 
 me unwell ; she therefore objected to my going ; 
 but, seeing that I keenly felt the disappointment, 
 she pledged her word that I should follow the 
 duke, as soon as I resumed my former appearance. 
 With this promise I w as obliged to be satisfied ; 
 but my constant anxiety permitted me not to rest, 
 and I rather altered for the worse than for the 
 better ; from this state of uneasiness I was roused 
 by a blow, the most terrible and unexpected. 
 The duchess was preparing, one morning, to pay 
 her respects to the queen; I w^as to attend her 
 thither, and the idea was agreeable to my feelings, 
 for I flattered myself with the notion that I might 
 probably see Don Carlos; as I descended from my 
 apartment an attendant jDutinto my hands a note; 
 I broke it open, it contained about three lines ; but 
 the agonizing contents will ever be remembered — 
 they were these : — ' Fly, Don Gracia, to the 
 palace ; for the love of God, fly, and save Don 
 Carlos ; Oh, unhappy prince ! miserable me ! lost ! 
 lost !' 
 
 " I thrust the note into my pocket, and, rushing 
 into the street, flew as it were on the wings of the 
 wind. On my arrival at the palace, the guards 
 opposed my entrance, saying that none were 
 allowed to enter, unless they had an order ; in
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 291 
 
 vain I mentioned my name and rank ; they were 
 inexorable, and I Avas obliged to speed back to 
 my home. The duchess was waiting for my ap- 
 pearance, expecting I was in my dressing-room ; 
 without hesitation I presented her the note ; 
 struck with consternation, she entered the carriage. 
 I followed, and, in a few minutes, we reached the 
 palace ; an immediate order was obtained, and we 
 gained admittance. 
 
 " A general horror sat on every face ; the cour- 
 tiers were moving to and fi'o in the utmost con- 
 fusion, while the soldiers, with their naked swords 
 flashing on the sight, paraded the coiu-ts in pro- 
 found silence. In our way to the queen's apart- 
 ments we could distinguish cries, intermixed with 
 sobs, as of persons in the deepest distress ; but 
 to all our eager inquiries upon the subject, no 
 answer could be obtained ; a fi'ightful consterna- 
 tion appeared to have sealed the lips of every 
 person we met. My mother found the queen in 
 a deep swoon, several ladies in attendance were 
 in a fainting condition; and all seemed over- 
 whelmed w^th the most poignant grief, (this I 
 learned afterwards.) As the door of her majesty's 
 apartment closed upon the duchess, and I was left 
 to my meditations, a young lady, with deranged 
 dress, and bathed in tears, rushed from an oppo- 
 o 2
 
 292 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 site room and threw herself at my feet. *0h, for 
 the love of God !' she exclahned, with a distracted 
 air, 'save Don Carlos, — save that unhappy prince 
 from a cruel doom.' I raised the fair girl from 
 her humble posture, saying — ' Explain to me, 
 madam, this horrible mystery ; and name in which 
 way I can be of service to Don Carlos V 
 
 " ' Alas !' she returned, wildly, ' he was arrested 
 this morning, by order of King Philip : he is 
 accused of treason, and conveyed to the prisons of 
 the Inquisition.' - 
 
 "'Accused of treason! conveyed to the Inqui- 
 sition !' I repeated, — here my feelings became 
 palsied, my blood congealed, a cold sweat be- 
 dewed my limbs, and I was unable to proceed. 
 ' For the love of God, Don Gracia,' she continued, 
 with increasing agony, ' take pity on my terror ; 
 you can serve Don Carlos, through the interces- 
 sions of the Duke of Alva.' Her voice recalled 
 my bewildered senses ; I fully comprehended her 
 meaning ; the influence of the Duke of Alva over 
 Philip was great ; but, alas, I could not adopt her 
 
 * This prince was the son of Philip, hy his first consort, 
 the Princess Mary, of Portugal, and was suspected of a trea- 
 sonable correspondence with the malcontents in the Low 
 Countries ; he Avas in consequence put to death by the order 
 of his cruel father.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 293 
 
 sanguine hopes. I knew the king to be mexorable 
 in matters of state : and that it was even danger- 
 ous for the greatest of his favourites to interfere 
 in his settled determinations of this sort; how- 
 ever, I endeavoured to compose her grief, as well 
 as my own would allow me ; and assured her that 
 I would instantly write to my father, and use all 
 my influence to induce him to apjjly to his sove- 
 reign in behalf of Don Carlos. 
 
 ^' She loaded me w^ith expressions of gratitude, 
 and, in her ardour, mingled caresses with her 
 words. I could not resist her cha.rms and her 
 tears ; her beauty inflamed my imagination ; but 
 I w'as then perfectly unconscious of the poison 
 I had imbibed. 
 
 " I w^rote to my father, on the same day, and 
 painted, in lively colours, the shock I had received, 
 and the horror which this event had spread 
 throughout the nation ; in short I made use of 
 every argument to excite his compassion, and 
 ensure his interest; but many weeks j^assed away, 
 and no answer w'as returned. As the duchess 
 continued her attendance on the queen, who was, 
 owing to this fatal afl'air, extremely ill, 1 had fre- 
 quent opportunities of seeing the young lady that 
 I have mentioned, by which means I came to the 
 knowledge of several circumstances. 1 found her
 
 294 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 to be a French female of distinction, and under 
 the immediate protection of the queen; an attach- 
 ment existed between Don Carlos and herself, but 
 which, from their mutual caution, had never trans- 
 pired : you therefore will readily conjecture it was 
 she that I saw walking in the garden. Philip had 
 long treated his son with unprincely rigour ; sus- 
 picions had entered his breast, derogatory to the 
 high character of the prince, and which, unfortu- 
 nately for himself, his wounded feelings too deeply 
 resented ; several sycophants about the court, in- 
 stead of attempting to reconcile the offended par- 
 ties, by their insinuations to each, only widened 
 the breach between them, which was productive 
 of the most dreadful evils; the unhappy youth was 
 forbidden all intercourse with society, and was 
 treated more as a state prisoner than the son of 
 our king : yet there were times when he dexter- 
 ously eluded the vigilance of those who watched 
 his footsteps, and sought consolation in the com- 
 pany of those who pitied his misfortunes. 
 
 " Philip became every day more and more 
 jealous of his conduct; he fancied the crown 
 already trembled upon his head, and that his son 
 only wanted the opportunity to transfer it to his 
 own. Through what channel Philip received his 
 information I have not been able to learn; but
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 295 
 
 that he did receive some intelligence of an alarm- 
 ing nature from a private source, is beyond dis- 
 pute. Guards were sent to conduct the prince to 
 the king's presence ; he was there accused, by his 
 royal father, of treasonable practices ; arrested, 
 and consigned over to the Inquisition. The proud 
 mind of Don Carlos, probably presuming upon 
 its innocence, submitted with fortitude to the fatal 
 decree ; but, addressing the king, as he quitted 
 the apartment, he exclaimed, with strong em- 
 phasis, ' The consciousness of innocence supports 
 me in this trying moment; it will be well if the 
 consciousness of error does not hereafter mar 
 your majesty's peace.' 
 
 " From motives of delicacy and honour I must 
 conceal the name of the fair creature he loved, 
 beneath the assumed one of Adelaide ; the prince 
 had mentioned me to her with some degree of 
 esteem ; she likewise knew how great a favourite 
 my father was with the king, and how justly he 
 prized his abilities ; it was this knowledge that 
 led her to pen that note which filled my mind 
 with equal horror and amazement. 
 
 " At length I received a letter from my father ; 
 with trembling hands I broke the seal ; gracious 
 God! the dark contents struck to the very centre 
 of my brain. ' The fate of Don Carlos,' he began,
 
 296 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 * is irrevocably fixed, his guilt is established be- 
 yond a doubt; he is lost to the world. — Inquire 
 no further.' Such were the few and fatal words of 
 the duke ; alas, though ambiguous, they were 
 clearly comprehended by me. Pie is gone, then ! 
 I exclaimed, in bitterness — he is gone for ever; 
 he has fallen a sacrifice to the jealousy, and impla- 
 cable resentment of his father and sovereign. In 
 an agony of horror I threw myself upon my knees, 
 before a crucifix ; and, stretching out my hands, 
 I implored the interference of my Saviour for the 
 repose of his soul. 
 
 " This dreadful circumstance touched me so 
 nearly that all my grief returned with increased 
 violence ; and, whether I slept or not, the suffer- 
 ings of the ill-fated Don Carlos swam before my 
 sight. To keep his untimely death from the 
 knowledge of Adelaide, formed apart of my reflec- 
 tions ; but my heart overflowed with tender sym- 
 pathy towards the lovely unfortunate; and I longed 
 for the moment when I could again assure her of 
 my unalterable friendship ; would to Heaven that 
 friendship alone had set the limits to our corres- 
 pondence. I have hitherto appeared in a favour- 
 able point of view; I have now to reverse the 
 picture ; and can no longer assume a resemblance
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 297 
 
 which my guilt has defaced. Many weeks now 
 rolled av>'ay, in the course of w^hich I had seen 
 Adelaide several times ; but the unhappy event? 
 which I had carefully concealed from her, and 
 which Philip never meant should transpire, was 
 by some means divulged, and the dark secret be- 
 came public. It will only be going over a repe- 
 tition of suffering, by naming the eflfects of this 
 tragical catastrophe ; a general and mournful 
 gloom hung over the nation, and every individual 
 was struck with amazement and grief at the cruelty 
 of Philip towards his own offspring. 
 
 " There is one circumstance, however, as being 
 in some measure connected with my first deviation 
 from rectitude, I should wish to mention ; it will, 
 at least, prove to you that a confidence in our 
 own strength often serves to expose our natural 
 weakness. 
 
 " The executions of the Counts Egmont and 
 Horn are generally imputed to the Duke of Alva;* 
 but, in fact, they were arrested by the private 
 orders of the king, who strongly suspected they 
 had encouraged heresy, and otherwise promoted 
 
 * Count.-; Eginout and Horn were two ilUistrious chiefs 
 \vho had served Philip with fidelity, but who at length fell 
 the victims of his jealousy, rather than their own guilt. 
 
 o 3
 
 298 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the revolt of the insurgents : whether his discern- 
 ment on these points was correct or not, is not my 
 province to inquire. Count Egmont had a wife 
 and a large family, and when sentence of death 
 was pronounced against him, his countess, with 
 her children, embarked for Spain, resolving to seek 
 an interview with Philii3, and at his feet plead for 
 the life of her husband. She fixed upon a public 
 court day for this important interview. The 
 queen, the Duchess of Parma, with the other 
 branches of the royal family were present; my 
 mother and myself likewise were among the num- 
 ber that crowded the apartment. She was ushered 
 in by the attendants, arrayed in deep mourning; 
 her nine children following in order, whose sable 
 garments corresponded with their unfortunate 
 mother's; a general silence ensued on their en- 
 trance, whilst the mournful group, advancing up 
 to Philip, prostrated themselves before him. * In 
 the deepness of my affliction,' exclaimed the 
 countess, ' I presume to appear in the presence of 
 my offended sovereign, and to petition for the life 
 of a beloved husband, the father of my children.' 
 " ^ Count Egmont, madam,' interrupted the 
 king, with a stern air, ' has been tried and found 
 guilty; it is not our prerogative to alter those 
 laws by which our subjects must be governed. I
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 299 
 
 may feel as a man, but must act as a monarch — ■ 
 Count Egmont must die !' 
 
 "* Mercy — mercy! — most gracious sovereign/ 
 cried the weeping countess, clasping her hands. 
 * Save — oh save from an ignominious death him 
 whose achievements at the battles of St. Quentin 
 and Gravelines added lustre to the arms of the 
 Spanish nation, and procured him the favour and 
 approbation of his king; equally has he endea- 
 voured, with magnanimous perseverance, to sup- 
 press the rebellion in the Netherlands; and though 
 his exertions unfortunately failed in bringing back 
 your majesty's infatuated people to their duty, 
 allow not, oh, my liege, his honour to be im- 
 peached, or his life to fall a sacrifice to the jea- 
 lousy of his enemies. Recall to youi* recollec- 
 tion, I beseech your majesty, the merciful disposi- 
 tion of your illustrious sire : beneath the imperial 
 flag the powerful subjects of the royal Charles 
 reposed in confidence, and their affections were 
 the strongest bulwarks of the House of Austria. 
 Your majesty was wont to smile forgiveness on 
 the kneeling suppliant; alas! then, let not a 
 woman, in the last extremity, appeal to the throne 
 in vain ! Consign not, royal sir, to so fearful a 
 doom so brave a man, and so good a subject; 
 restore to my children their tender father, the
 
 300 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 protector of their infant years, and their sole 
 friend in this treacherous world.' 
 
 " This speech, delivered with the most touch- 
 ing softness and pathos, dissolved the court in 
 tears; whilst her humble posture, and her mourn- 
 ing children kneeling on either side, imj^loringly 
 lifting up their infant hands, engendered a feeling 
 of the deepest interest. The queen, and most of 
 the royal family, together with many of the nobi- 
 lity, advanced in a group towards Philip, and 
 solicited the life of Count Egmont. ^ AVe will,' 
 they exclaimed, with energy, ' remain as hostages 
 for his fidelity to the crown!' I remarked the 
 countenance of Philip — I saw his colour vary, his 
 eye glisten — but, alas ! his natural inflexibility and 
 severity sj)eedily subdued his emotions, and with 
 a determined air he repeated the unfortunate 
 gentleman's sentence of condemnation. 
 
 " The distracted countess started from her 
 kneeling posture, and threw a fi-enzied glance 
 round the apartment. ' Let me not disturb,' she 
 exclaimed, ' with my despair this august assembly ; 
 but, great God! have 1 invoked the clemency of 
 my sovereign in vain.^ I see the headless trunk 
 of my bleeding husband! — I see my widowed 
 hands shrouding his mangled remains in the dra- 
 pery of the grave ! — I hear the piercing cries of
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 301 
 
 my fatherless children ! — Oh ! unhappy family, 
 whither, oh, whither shall we fleer' 
 
 " Here the countess fell into a deep swoon, and 
 was conveyed from the j)resence of the inexorable 
 monarch. Unable now to control my own emo- 
 tions, I hastily withdrew^ into the gardens of the pa- 
 lace, but my evil genius accompanied me thither; 
 in one of the retired walks I encountered Adelaide ; 
 we entered into conversation, and I was the more 
 charmed as I found her susceptibility, her senti- 
 ments and regret, on this occasion, accorded witli 
 my own; in her bewitching society I forgot the 
 lapse of time — the shades of evening were gather- 
 ing round us; the luxurious verdure refreshed our 
 senses on every side ; while the confusion of my 
 own thoughts, and my increasing love, all contri- 
 buted to raise voluptuous passions, and to expel 
 the guardian of virtue from the breast. In the 
 silence of my own chamber I brought the guilty 
 scene to my recollection; my once scrupulous 
 honour had now received a stain which neither 
 men nor angels could efface — I had committed an 
 outrage upon one of the servants of the queen 
 that might lead to the most fatal calamities; thus 
 fear and remorse alternately robbed me of repose, 
 and I rose in the morning no way relie\ed from 
 these bitter reflections. In the course of the day
 
 302 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 I received a letter from Adelaide ; she reproached 
 herself for her folly, and commanded me to see 
 her no more. My remorse instantly vanished — 
 love triumphed over my reason, and I trembled at 
 the idea of thus losing the object of my tenderness. 
 In all the hurry of wild attachment I answered 
 her epistle without delay — gently reproached her 
 for the cruel prohibition — renewed my protesta- 
 tions of a never unchanged affection — and, finally, 
 concluded with a solemn promise of marriage 
 when I should become my own master. From 
 this period my conscience slumbered; I was again 
 admitted to Adelaide's society, and the conse- 
 quences were a renewal of crime. About this 
 time the daughter of my mother's brother, who 
 had been educated in a convent, emerged from 
 seclusion, and her beauty and accomplishments 
 excited general admiration. I had not seen this 
 paragon from a child, I therefore retained but 
 little knowledge of her person ; but my first in- 
 troduction to her presence was followed by emo- 
 tions to which I had hitherto been a stranger; the 
 finest touches of the pencil, in my estimation, 
 could not equal the charming elegance of her 
 form and features; but all perfect as these were, 
 they had no comparison with the extraordinary 
 graces of her mind, and that feminine sweetness
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 303 
 
 of disposition which entitled her to the highest 
 praise. Alas! it was now that my punishment 
 began ; it was now that I was fiilly awake to my 
 degi-adation and culpable conduct; I cursed my 
 criminal passion a thousand times, and would 
 have given the world to have recalled the moments 
 that had been spent in so base a manner, but 
 they were irretrievable. In short, I cannot ex- 
 plain to you the horrors of my remorse, and the 
 grief that weighed upon my heart when I remem- 
 bered the fatal engagements that fettered my 
 will. 
 
 " My affinity to Maria Theresa (the name of my 
 cousin) gave me free access to her society; in her 
 lovely presence I felt the full force of virtue, 
 and though we were often alone, no impure temp- 
 tations polluted the refinements of my chaste 
 affections. 'It was next to impossible for any 
 person interested in either mine or Maria's hap- 
 piness, not to suspect the ardour of that love that 
 had made me a new creature, and restored me to 
 the path of honour. The brother of my adored 
 was the first to penetrate this important secret; 
 we had been playmates together, and had always 
 retained for each other the most cordial esteem 
 and friendship; in one of our private walks he 
 with great feeling and delicacy introduced the
 
 301 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANC;E. 
 
 subject. ' That you are captivated with my 
 sister's graces,' he continued, ^ and are under the 
 transports of an ardent and virtuous passion, I 
 have no hesitation in believing; and I confess, my 
 dear Don Gracia, I am extremely flattered by the 
 discovery, for I know of no man living who is 
 more worthy of Maria than yourself; and 1 am 
 very sensible it would give me the greatest satis- 
 faction to see her united to one so excellent in 
 himself, and so likely to appreciate her merits.' 
 
 " Imagine the confusion and distraction of my 
 thoughts at this moment; the tcm])est of my soul 
 w^as such that I staggered, and leaned against a 
 tree for support. With equal concern and sur- 
 prise he noticed my disorder, and earnestly begged 
 me to explain myself. 
 
 " ' For God's sake ask me no questions !' 1 ex- 
 claimed. ^ I am pierced with grief, and feel myself 
 undone.' 
 
 " ' Is this caprice, Don Gracia,' he rejoined, 
 * or have I mistaken the nature of your sentiments 
 towards Maria?' 
 
 " * It would be worse than sacrilege,' I returned, 
 in a voice of despair, * for any one to be indif- 
 ferent to the divine beauties of your charming 
 sister, much less for me to deny the force of a 
 passion too exalted and rapturous to be disguised.
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 305 
 
 Alas! I love to excess, and the consciousness 
 that I must resign such a prize, resign the woman 
 for whom my soul languishes, is more dreadful to 
 my feelings than it is in your power to imagine.' 
 
 " * I beg pardon, Don Gracia,' he exclaimed, 
 with an offended air, ' I presumed on the privilege 
 of kindred friendship, and in return my ears are 
 insulted by language too contradictory and un- 
 worthy not to be desj^ised; however, it is well 
 that my regard for Maria's peace led me to probe 
 your inclinations; the answer I have received 
 compels me, as her brother and guardian, and as a 
 iViend to all parties, to decline your future visits — 
 fa^rewell !' And with these words he abruptly dis- 
 appeared. I did not think it possible for my sor- 
 rows to admit of aggravation, but I was now de- 
 prived of the presence of her whose virtues had 
 brought me to repentance, and whose smiles and 
 conversation could alone soothe me into a happ}' 
 forgetfulness of the past. I was likewise wounded 
 by the contempt of her brother, and the loss of 
 that friendship that had united our earliest years, 
 while the consciousness that I deserved it all 
 added to the poignancy of my reflections. 
 
 " On my return home, I sought the presence of 
 the duchess, and, concealing my disorder as well 
 as I was able, conjured her to allow n)c imme-
 
 306 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 diately to depart for the Netherlands. Believing 
 my earnestness arose from a desire of fame, and 
 feeling she could not, with any degree of pro- 
 priety, longer oppose such honourable propen- 
 sities, she gave a reluctant consent, and endea- 
 voured to reconcile herself to the separation. 
 Common humanity, as well as policy, obliged me 
 to seek an interview with Adelaide, ere I departed. 
 This unhappy woman, equally unfortunate in both 
 her attachments, struck with a presagement of 
 evil, fainted at my feet, and recovered only to 
 reproach my late neglect and present frigid indif- 
 ference. To all her complaints I made but little 
 answer, but left her with evident marks of pertur- 
 bation and perplexity. I had some thoughts of 
 writing a farewell letter to the brother of Maria ; 
 but reason, in this instance, came to my aid. 
 Could I say aught in my own defence, could I 
 lord it with the language of innocence — no ! I 
 must either insult his understanding by ambi- 
 guous expressions and vows clogged with mystery, 
 or, by being explicit, present him with a black 
 memorial of infamy, which his own unblemished 
 honour must detect; I therefore left Spain with 
 all my sins upon my head, and without imparting 
 to a single being the agonies that rent my heart. 
 I had been here but a short time when I received
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 307 
 
 a letter from the Duchess of Alva; its contents 
 filled me with all the terrible varieties of joy and 
 grief; but that you may be a judge, in some mea- 
 sure, of my feelings, you shall peruse it." Here 
 Don Gracia drew a letter from his pocket and 
 presented it to Antonio, who read as follows : — 
 
 " FROM THE DUCHESS 0P» ALVA TO DON GKACIA 
 DE TOLEDO. 
 
 "My BELOVED Son, — It is utterly impossible 
 for an affectionate and discreet parent to be indif- 
 ferent to any circumstance that concerns the hap- 
 piness of her child ; I was convinced, ere you left 
 Madrid, that it was not the untimely fate of Don 
 Carlos alone that caused your affliction, but some 
 hidden and severe grief, to which I was a stranger ; 
 but I forbore to touch upon a subject that you 
 studiously seemed to avoid, fully persuaded that 
 a young man who had been reared in the strictest 
 principles of religion and virtue, would do nothing 
 unworthy of his name and rank. 
 
 " Soon after your departure, I paid a visit to 
 the Marchioness Villena; I found her in her own 
 private apartment, with her son and daughter. 
 On hearing you were gone to the Loav Countries, 
 she expressed considerable surprise that you did 
 not bid them adieu. I myself was astonished at
 
 308 TIIK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the omission, and was at a loss what apology to 
 make for so flagrant a breach of civility. Don 
 Vico made no remark, and abruptly left the room; 
 but Maria changed colour, stammered out some 
 incoherent expression, and burst into a flood of 
 tears. I was exceedingly alarmed at her sudden 
 disorder; she, however, made some slight excuse 
 and withdrew ; but a suspicion crossed my mind, 
 that it arose from an attachment to yourself, which 
 the recollection of several little incidents strength- 
 ened. I am likewise led to believe, that her ex- 
 traordinary excitement is in some way connected 
 Avith your late conduct : if my conjectures are 
 correct, blush not at acknowledging a preference 
 v.hich reflects the highest credit on your choice, 
 and which will be sanctioned by all w^ho are in- 
 terested in your happiness. 
 
 *' I am, your affectionate mother, 
 " Isabella de Toledo, Duchess of Alva." 
 
 '^ I answered this tender epistle in a manner 
 that prudence suggested ; how could I wound the 
 heart of my affectionate mother, by an avowal of 
 the past, and run the hazard of her displeasure at 
 a period when the voice of kindness was wanting 
 to my repose ? The idea that the beautiful Maria 
 feels towards me some degree of esteem, is an
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 309 
 
 occasional relief to the torraents I endure. More 
 than this, I have not the presumption to expect, 
 although my wayward heart would own a secret 
 joy, — a joy which has no comparison, — at the 
 thoughts of being beloved by the dear object of 
 all that I dote upon ; yet so contradictory are my 
 feelings, that the knowledge of her disquiet on 
 my account, w^ould give a darkness to my despair 
 more terrible than death ; and in my frenzy I 
 should violate the laws of nature and curse my- 
 self. 
 
 " Three days ago my father desired my attend- 
 ance ; I accordingly obeyed the summons ; on 
 my appearing before him, lie put on a stern air, 
 and eyed me in deep silence for several minutes. 
 Though accustomed to his peculiarly dignified 
 manner, I confess I was abashed at his scrutiny, 
 and a foreboding entered my mind that some new 
 evil menaced me. At length he said, ^ 1 have sent 
 for you, Don Gracia, to answer a very serious 
 charge, and to remark to you, that the dignity of 
 your rank and situation will be no protection 
 against that punishment that a guilty action 
 brings upon itself. I this morning received a 
 letter from the king, — a letter that has roused me 
 to a sense of peril, and alarmed me for the tran- 
 quillity of my family ; but here it is ; before 1
 
 310 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 proceed further, I shall desh*e your attention to 
 its contents.' I took the epistle which the duke 
 now tendered for my perusal; but my astonish- 
 ment, confusion, and inward terror were not to be 
 conceived ; I felt like one on the point of anni- 
 hilation, and for some moments the characters to 
 me were perfectly unintelligible ; as much as I 
 recollect, the words were to this effect : — 
 
 " ' From respect to the services of the Duke of 
 Alva, this epistle will be forwarded to him, penned 
 by the hands of his sovereign. His son, Don Graeia 
 de Toledo, has presumed to make the palace of his 
 king the scene of his licentious amours, and has 
 seduced one of the queen's attendants under a 
 promise of marriage. If he does not rigidly fulfil 
 those engagements on his immediate arrival at 
 Madrid, he will be considered and treated as an 
 enemy to Philip and his family.' 
 
 " ^ Your emotions and silent confusion, sir !' 
 exclaimed the duke, as I returned the letter, ^ are 
 ample testimonies of your guilt; but I suppose 
 you are not so hardened as to be insensible to the 
 just resentment of your sovereign. I had been 
 endeavouring to promote your happiness by treat- 
 ing for the hand of your cousin Maria, one of the 
 most beautiful and accomplished women of the 
 age ; but such is the end of a parent's solicitude
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 311 
 
 for his ungrateful offspring. My answer to Philip 
 is such as policy and duty demand : I have pro- 
 mised his majesty, in my name and yours, that 
 every reparation shall be made to the injured 
 lady ; it therefore wants only your signature for 
 its completion.' 
 
 " As the duke finished these words, he laid a 
 written sheet before me, and presented a pen to 
 my acceptance. I recoiled with a look of fren- 
 zied horror — ' Am I,' I exclaimed, ' to sign my 
 own destruction, blast all my hopes, and doom 
 myself to eternal wretchedness? — Never! never!' 
 
 " * Boy,' returned my father, in a voice of rage, 
 * you should have thought of this before, and not 
 allowed your insolent passions to master your 
 reason ; sign this letter, I command you, or dread 
 the effects of your presumption and disobe- 
 dience.' 
 
 " ' Oh, Maria !' I exclaimed ; ' thou whose image 
 is my sole sad comfort in this desolating hour, 
 shall I commit so great an outrage to virtue and 
 to love ?' 
 
 " * No, my lord,' I replied, calmly ; ^ I will not 
 ratify a deed that will multiply my sorrows to an 
 insupportable degree. I am ready to resign my- 
 self a prisoner into the hands of my sovereign, 
 and to satiate his vengeance by the tortures of
 
 31-2 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 the raclv ; but I will leave my mind at full liberty 
 to cherish, without further crime, those images of 
 virtuous enjoyment so dear to my remembrance.' 
 
 " My father was struck with consternation at 
 my determined air; he one moment paced the 
 apartment to and fro in the wildest agitation, and 
 the next sunk into a seat, overcome with anger 
 and mortification. He then assailed me with 
 entreaties, and depicted, in tender language, the 
 probable consequence of my temerity, even to 
 himself. 
 
 "The insinuation of danger to my father, for a 
 moment, alarmed my feelings, but reason quickly 
 pointed out to me the absurdity of such fears. 
 The services of the duke, I was convinced, were 
 too necessary to the interest of PhilijD for him to 
 revenge the affront on the head of his ancient 
 friend and faithful servant ; I therefore rejected 
 the idea as an artifice, merely intended to force 
 my compliance, and adhered to that determina- 
 tion, which no sense of personal outrage was able 
 to reverse. 
 
 " The duke, finding he could not prevail on me 
 to do myself an irreparable injury, dismissed me 
 with indignation, desiring me to prepare myself 
 for that punishment he saw impending over my 
 head. What are his present proceedings, and
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 313 
 
 what will be their issue, I am not able to con- 
 jecture. 
 
 " I have not written to Adelaide since I left 
 Madrid; her resentment, from my neglect, no 
 doubt determined her to disclose my guilt and 
 her own: I am most sorry for her misfortunes, 
 but can offer no other remedy to her acceptance 
 than pity. Such is the history of my unhap- 
 piness, and the state of my present affairs ; I 
 have little to expect from the indulgence of 
 my father, and still less from the clemency of 
 Philip." 
 
 Here Don Gracia remained silent, and Antonio, 
 who had but lately emerged from shades and soli- 
 tude — inexperienced, and perfectly unacquainted 
 with love, and its influence over the human mind 
 — was ill-calculated to advise upon a subject that 
 required the maturer counsels of a sage ; never- 
 theless, his prudent and sagacious remarks, his 
 ingenuousness, and undissembled tenderness of 
 mind that characterized his sympathy, wound 
 about the heart of Don Gracia, and insensibly 
 soothed his feelings and mitigated his internal 
 sufferings. The name of Don Vico, mentioned in 
 his narrative, had thrilled the frame of Antonio ; 
 and, upon inquiry, he found it was the same 
 whose hospitality and engaging manners had 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 314 THE OATH OF ALLEGIA^X'E. 
 
 secured his esteem and gratitude in a very high 
 degree, and a sigh of regret stole from his breast 
 as he remembered the incidents attending their 
 separation. 
 
 SPEECH OF CHARLES THE FIFTH, 
 
 AS NARRATED BY ROBERTSON. 
 
 Charles then rose fr'om his seat; and leaning 
 on the shoulder of the Prince of Orange, because 
 he was unable to stand without support, he ad- 
 dressed himself to the audience ; and, fi'om a 
 paper which he held in his hand, in order to 
 assist his memory, he recounted with dignity, but 
 without ostentation, all the great things which he 
 had undertaken and performed since the com- 
 mencement of his administration. He observed 
 that, from the seventeenth year of his age, he had 
 dedicated all his thoughts and attention to pubHc 
 objects, reserving no portion of his time for the 
 indulgence of his ease, and very little for the 
 enjoyment of private pleasure ; and that, either 
 in a pacific or hostile manner, he had visited 
 Germany nine times, Spain six times, France 
 four times, Italy seven times, the Low Countries
 
 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 315 
 
 ten times, England twice, Africa as often, and he 
 had made eleven voyages by sea ; that while his 
 health permitted him to discharge his duty, and 
 the vigour of his constitution was equal, in any 
 degree, to the arduous office of governing such 
 extensive dominions, he had never shunned labour, 
 nor repined under fatigue ; that now, when his 
 health was broken and his vigour exhausted, by 
 the rage of an incurable distemper, his growing 
 infirmities admonished him to retire. Nor was he 
 so fond of reigning, as to retain the sceptre in an 
 impotent hand, which was no longer able to pro- 
 tect his subjects, or to secure to them the happi- 
 ness which he wished they should enjoy; that, 
 instead of a sovereign worn out with diseases and 
 scarcely half alive, he gave them one in the prime 
 of Hfe, accustomed already to govern; and who 
 added to the vigour of youth all the attention and 
 sagacity of maturer years ; that if, during the 
 course of a long administration, he had com- 
 mitted any material error in government, or if, 
 under the pressure of so many and great affairs, 
 and amidst the attention which he had been 
 obliged to give to them, he had either neglected 
 or injured any of his subjects, he now implored 
 their forgiveness ; that, for his part, he should 
 ever retain a grateful sense of their fidelity and
 
 316 THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 attachment, and would carry the remembrance of 
 it along with him to the place of his retreat, as 
 his sweetest consolation as well as his best re- 
 ward for all services ; and in his last prayers to 
 Almighty God, would pour forth his most earnest 
 petitions for their welfare. 
 
 END OF VOL. I. 
 
 T.C. Savill, Printer, 1, ChandoB-street, Covent-gardeu.
 
 C^'^\