Patrañas; or, Spanish Stories, Legendary and Traditional

by Rachel Harriette Busk

  TURIAN AND FLORETA.

  There lived once in very ancient times in Spain a young prince, theInfante Turian. He was a very beautiful youth, and the only childof his parents, King Canamor and his consort Leonela: they were thustempted to indulge him very much, and, as we should say, to spoil him;in fact, he was allowed to have every thing he asked for, and when anypresent or novel article of merchandise was brought to the palace,if it happened to take his fancy, he got into a way of expecting tohave it for his own, and no one thought of thwarting him.

  One day there came a foreign merchant to the court, who, instead ofhaving a train of mules heavily laden with varieties of his waresto suit all tastes and fancies, was quite alone and unattended, andhimself bore his whole stock. It consisted, indeed, of but one littleparcel easily stowed away in the folds of his cloak. The servantswere scandalized at such a mean apparatus, and would have drivenhim away without letting him have a chance of addressing himselfto their masters, telling him if he had nothing more to show thanthe contents of one little case, it was not worth while to troublethem. It was in vain the merchant urged that what he had to show wasof priceless value, and in itself alone was worth all the mule-loadsof other merchants put together: they held it for idle raving, andbid him begone.

  It happened, however, that the Infante Turian was coming home at themoment, and hearing the altercation, his curiosity was piqued to knowwhat it could be that could be counted so precious. He had horses,and arms, and trappings, and gay clothes, and games, and baublesof every sort, and he had wearied of them all. He had acquired themwithout labour, and he consequently held them without esteem. Now thereappeared a chance of some quite fresh sensation; moreover, the merchanthimself had a strange air which fascinated him; again, his accent wasdifferent from any he had heard before, and suggested that he broughtthe productions of some climate which had not yet laid its stores athis feet. Proud, too, to show his power in setting the man free fromthe importunate scorn of the servants, he ordered them to stand back,and then gave the strange merchant permission to open his store.

  Assuming an air of mystery, which excited the young prince still more,the merchant, however, now told him he must take him to some privaterecess apart, as what he had to show must be seen only by royaleyes. The prince accepted all conditions in his eagerness, and wasindeed rather flattered by this one. As soon as they were quite alone,the strange merchant placed before him a portrait. Yes, nothing but aportrait in a very simple frame! But it was such a portrait that itquite turned poor Turian's head. He had never before dreamt of anything so beautiful; he went into ecstasies at first sight, kissedit, gazed at it, paced up and down the hall with it, raved about it,and grew almost frantic, when the strange merchant at last went upto him and said it was time for him to go home, and he must have theportrait to pack up again.

  "Pack up again!" cried the prince: "why, I buy it of you at triple,tenfold, an hundredfold its weight in gold."

  The merchant assured him it could not be sold; he required, indeed,a considerable price for suffering it to be seen, but part with ithe could not, on any conditions whatever.

  The prince threw his purse to him, and ordered him in no measuredterms to depart while the way was clear, otherwise he would set onhim the myrmidons from whom he had but now released him.

  The strange merchant quietly picked up the purse, counted outconscientiously the sum he had named as the price for the sight of thepicture, and laid down the rest; deliberately stowed away his fee inhis belt, and at the same time took from it, unperceived by the prince,a little box of powder; then suddenly turning round, he scattered itscontents over his face, producing instant insensibility. Prepared forthe effect, he caught him in his arms, and laid him gently on a bench,and then, possessing himself of his picture, he stealthily left thecastle, unperceived by all.

  When the Infante Turian came to himself, some hours afterwards, ofcourse pursuit was vain; nor could any trace be learnt of the waythe stranger had taken.

  The prince was furious that, at least, he had not learnt some clueas to the original of the portrait, but there had not been time fora word of inquiry. And when he set himself to recall every detail,all that would come back to his mind was, that on the blue embroideryof the white drapery which veiled the matchless form, he had made outin curious characters the name Floreta. Armed with this only guide,he determined to roam the world till he discovered the real beautywhose ideal had so absorbed him.

  King Canamor and Queen Leonela were inconsolable at the idea of theironly son leaving them on so wild an errand; but they had never taughthim obedience and self-control, and they could not move him now. Alltheir persuasions could obtain was his consent to be accompanied bythe Conde Dirlos, an ancient counsellor of great wisdom and authorityin the kingdom, who would know how to procure him assistance byland and sea, in whatever enterprise he might be minded to take inhand. But it was stipulated that he was to control him in nothing:simply watch over him, and further his designs, so as to save himfrom fatigue and danger.

  On they wandered for a year and a day, meeting many adventures andincurring many perils; but no one knew the name of Floreta. Whereverthey went it was still a foreign name. At last--it was just the dayyear that the strange merchant had brought the portrait--their travelsbrought them to a steep mountain-path, which led down to the sea. Ata turn of the winding road, just below them, a tall figure appeared,wrapped in a long cloak, and wearing a high-peaked cap. The princegave a bound of joy, and shouted to the figure to halt. It paid noheed, however. "Stop! or you are dead!" shouted the prince, at thesame time pointing an arrow with unerring aim at a spot a little inadvance of the moving figure. As if conscious of what was going on,though he never moved his head, the strange merchant--for it washe, and the prince had instantly recognized him--stood still for aninstant, as the bolt rattled in the ground on which he would havestood had he pursued his way three steps further, and then passedon unheeding. The prince shouted more madly than before; but to nopurpose; and in another moment the wind of the road had taken himout of sight.

  Madly the prince spurred his horse in pursuit, and reached the turn;but no living form was to be seen. The rocks now resounded with thecries and imprecations with which he adjured the magician--for such henow rightly deemed him--to stand forth. At last, when he was silentfrom sheer exhaustion, a low but commanding voice from the depthsof a neighbouring cave bade him listen, but, as he valued his life,advance not.

  "Speak!" cried the prince; "nor torture me with longer suspense. Whatmust I do to find Floreta? I am prepared to go to the end of the world,to undergo any hardship, any torture, to find her; but find her Iam determined: if you refuse your help, then by help of some other;so you see it is idle to turn a deaf ear."

  "By none other help but mine," answered the magician, "can you findFloreta; so your threats are vain. But if I had not meant you to seeher, I should not have shown you the portrait at first, for I knew itsinfluence could not be other than that it has exercised. I am going toinstruct you how to reach her; but first you must give me my guerdon."

  "Name it; ask what you will," interposed the impetuous prince;"ask my kingdom if you like; but keep me not in suspense."

  "I only ask what is reasonable," answered the magician; "the realis worth a thousandfold the representation;" and he named a priceequivalent to a thousand times the sum he had originally received.

  Without so much as waiting to reply, Turian turned to Conde Dirlosand told him now was the time to fulfil his father's behest byaccomplishing this requirement, and begged him to raise the moneywithout an instant's loss of time.

  The count remonstrated in vain, and in vain represented the miserieshe would be inflicting on the people by requiring, in so sudden amanner, the levy of so large a sum. Turian, blinded by his passion,bid him save his words, as nothing could change his purpose; and theking's orders to obey him having been unconditional, Conde Dirlosset out with a heavy heart to comply.

  Ten days of anxious suspense during his absence w
ere spent by theprince in wandering over the rugged declivities of the coast: theardour of his excitement demanded to be fed with deeds of daringand danger. When he was not so occupied, he was seated panting onthe topmost crags, scouring the whole country with his eager glanceto descry the first impression of the return of the count, with themeans of pursuing his desperate resolve.

  The day came at last. And afar off, first only like so many blackspecks, but gradually revealing themselves as Conde Dirlos onhis faithful steed, and a long file of heavily-laden mules, camethe anxiously expected train. And now he never left his point ofobservation; but cursed the sluggish hours, as he watched the team nowsteering over the sandy plain, which seemed interminable in expanse,unmeasured by landmarks; now toiling backwards and forwards up thezig-zagged steep, with provoking seeming of being further off onehour than the last, as at each wind they turned upon their steps;now detached-liked spectres against the sky, as they crossed fromone reach of the lofty sierra to the next.

  All things have an end, even Turian's anxious suspense; and as thecount at last neared the magician's cave, he descended at break-neckpace to meet him.

  "There is the price," said the count, in sad and solemn accents;"but before rendering it out of your hands, stop and consider it;" andas he spoke he removed from the treasure the brilliant red and yellowcloths, the royal colours of Spain, with which it was covered. "Here,from each province of your father's dominions, is the due proportionof the tribute you have demanded. See--will you spend it so?"

  The prince darted forward to glance at the goodly sight of so muchgold, but drew back with horror.

  What could he have seen to turn his flushed cheeks so deadly pale?

  "Count!" he cried, choking with fury, "what have you brought tomock me? This is not coin. You have brought me tears, burning tears,instead of gold."

  "It is all the same," replied the count; "I saw you were infatuated,and I brought the money in this form, that the sight might warn you ofwhat you are doing, and by its sad horror arrest you. There is time toreturn it back into the bosom of those from whom it has been wrung,and no harm will have been done. But if you persist, you will findthe magician will take them for current coin."

  "Quite so!" chimed in the voice from the cave; "it is the money Ilike best. But I cannot stand dallying thus: if the treasure be nothanded over at once, the bargain is at an end, and you never hear ofme again."

  It only wanted this to quench any little spark of pity and misgivingwhich the old count's judicious stratagem might have awakened. Sowithout further loss of time the prince called to the magician tocome forth and take the spoil.

  He was not slow to comply, and taking a handful of the weird currencyout of each mule-load, rang it on the rock, where it sounded likethe clanking of a captive's chains.

  "That is good," he said in a satisfied tone, when he had concluded hisscrutiny. "Now for my part of the bargain. I am not of those who failbecause I am paid beforehand: you will find me as good as my word,and even better; for I will supply an item of the bargain which you,impetuous youth, never thought to stipulate for, though the mostimportant of all. I will not only instruct you how to see Floreta,I will give you moreover the means whereby, if she pleases you,you can take her captive and bear her away."

  "Nay, interrupt me not," he continued, as Turian, nettled at theexposure of his want of diplomacy, was about to declare that he hadnever thought of any other means to captivate her being required buthis own smile and his own strong arm; "I must begin, and have buttime to complete my directions. You see yon castle on a rock out atsea;" and as his long bony finger pointed westward, there seemed to betraced against the sky the form of a royal castle at about three days'journey, which Turian, who had for ten days been beating about thecoast, could have sworn was not to be seen there before. Nevertheless,fascinated by the magician's commanding manner, he durst say nothingbut a murmur of assent.

  "Then that is your haven; take ship and steer for it. When you reachthe land throw down this token," and he gave into his hand a fine coilof silken chains; "follow its leadings till it take you to Floreta,and if she please you, cast it round her, and she is yours."

  As he spoke he disappeared from sight, with the mules and their burden.

  Turian now once more reminded Conde Dirlos of his father's command,and bid him provide him with the swiftest galley on all the coastsof the kingdom, manned with the stoutest rowers, and that with theutmost speed.

  If the wise old count shrunk from the former mission, his horror wasbut the greater at this one. He reminded the prince that when the kinghad given his consent to the adventure, he had not contemplated anyother than a loyal undertaking, such as a noble prince might entertain:he would never have trusted him on one of this nature.

  Turian felt the force of the reproach, but lacked the strength ofcharacter to command himself. Hurried on by his uncontrolled desire,he bid the old man remember that the command to fulfil his orderswas quite unconditional, and there was no limit whatever named.

  The count owned this was unfortunately true, and as he could prevailnothing by argument, set himself to remedy the Infante's headstrongwilfulness by making the journey as safe as possible. He not onlyinsisted on having the galley examined as to its seaworthiness by themost experienced shipwrights, and selected the steadiest oarsmen toman the banks, but appointed a consultation of all the astronomers ofthe kingdom to name the day when they might be sure of safe passage,free from winds. It was pronounced that a storm was just then impendingwhich would last ten days, and after that there would be ten days offair weather, so that if they allowed ten days for their preparations,they would have time to make the journey and return in all security.

  The delay seemed another age to the Infante; nevertheless he wasnow so near the accomplishment of his object that it passed swiftlyenough in the enjoyment of the pleasure of anticipation. The count,too, found some relief to his anxieties in the fact that the stormcame on at the predicted moment, giving him great confidence thatthe halcyon days predicted to succeed might be surely counted on.

  They came duly; and a shout of admiration rose from the people onthe shore as the gallant vessel moved out over the face of the blue,sunlit waters, which glittered as if showered over with every preciousstone at each stroke of the countless oars. And those on board wereequally entranced with the gorgeous sight as they seemed to soaralong over the soft bosom of the crystal deep; and the noble outlineof their native mountains, peak above peak, from the verdant slopeswhere the cattle browsed lazily, to the wild steeps where even themountain goats ceased to find a footing, receded with ever-varyingforms of beauty from their sight.

  It was not on these that Turian's eye rested. His glance was bent onthe castle for which they were making, and his thoughts were boundup in the beauteous treasure within. Such confidence had he in themagician's word, that he had laid his arms aside and held only thesilken chain that was to be his guiding line to happiness; and toyedwith it, thinking how he would throw it round the prized form of theportrait's original, and how he would gaze on her when she was his.

  While he was still wrapt in these thoughts they drew near to themysterious shore, and every one was occupied in admiring the strengthand noble proportions of the castle. But Turian had no thought but forthe treasure it contained. Springing lightly on to the land, he lostno time in fulfilling the magician's injunctions; and sure enough thechain uncoiled itself, and, wriggling with a serpent's motion, wentstraight before him to a gate in the castle wall. It was unlocked,and Turian, pushing it aside, gained entrance to a sumptuous garden,at one end of which was a shady arbour, and in a bank of perfumed rosesFloreta herself lay asleep. How his heart beat at the sight! Just asshe had seemed in the portrait; just as he had pictured her in hissleeping and waking dreams. Riveted to the spot, he stood contemplatingher, as well he might, for her complexion was white as snow, or ratheras pure crystal, and tinted as the fresh rose yet on the rose-tree [8].

  The cautious count, fearful of some ambush, had mar
shalled the crew ofthe galley into a guard to track his steps noiselessly and be ready incase of sudden attack. The play of light upon their arms passing insudden reflection over the scene woke the Infante from his reverie,and roused him to action. The coiling silken links readily embracedFloreta's limbs, and such was their hidden power that, though shewoke at the Infante's approach, she was powerless to resist or cry.

  Thus he bore her to the galley, and the men having resumed their placeson the rowers' banks, in silent order they pushed off unperceived byany one on the island, for it was the hour of the noontide rest.

  But soon Floreta's maidens, coming to attend her rising, discoveredher loss. The king her father and all the people quickly gatheredtheir arms and ran wildly in every direction, till at last they sawthe strange vessel making fast away, and they doubted not it wascarrying off their princess, but they could only stand on the shorethrowing up their arms and crying in powerless despair.

  Turian had in the mean time removed the chain from his prize;and thus freed from the spell, Floreta, too, held out her armstowards her parents and countrymen, and cried unavailingly on themfor help. Turian, incapable of contradicting her, yet incapable alsoof giving her up, contented himself with admiring her at a distance,and let her spend herself in lamentations at first; but when the goodgalleon had put sufficient distance between itself and the castleto destroy the freshness of the impression of parting, the Infantecommanded his people to cast anchor that he might try his powerof consoling her more at ease. And indeed, it was not long beforehis sweet words of admiration and his protestations of affection anddevotion seemed to succeed in reconciling her to her situation; beforelong they were very good friends and very happy, and the sun shone andthe sea sparkled, and nature smiled, and all seemed fair and bright.

  Nevertheless the prudent old count had his misgivings. True, there wereyet several more days of the promised calm before them, but he felthe should never be easy till he had his charge safe at home again;so he urged the Infante to give orders to put under way once more,and right glad was he to feel the bark moving towards the port andin good time to reach home before the next storm.

  Nevertheless,--

  Quando Dios quiere En sereno lluve [9],

  says the proverb, and while they were singing and making merry,and dancing to amuse Floreta, suddenly the sky became overcastand the wind sprang up, and the waves dashed against the bulwarks,and instead of being able to row the vessel into port the oarsmencould hardly keep their seats. Then in the midst of their frightand horror and piteous cries for help, an ancient seaman stood up,and having commanded silence, harangued the crew, and told them thatthey might be sure the tempest was sent them because they had thestrange damsel on board; that if they would save their lives theymust bid defiance to the Infante's wishes, and take him from her andcast her into the sea. The danger to all was manifest and terrible;any way out of it was preferable to succumbing, so the old man founda willing audience. The dismayed count had but time to rush in tothe Infante and tell him of the mutiny before the angry mariners hadalready burst into his presence. If they were for a moment staggeredby pity at sight of the exceeding beauty of Floreta, and by Turian'sagonized assurances that the fearful sacrifice would have no effectupon the storm, the old mariner's voice overruled their hesitationand rendered them pitiless as the blast.

  Then at his command they tore the Infante from off Floreta, to whomhe clung declaring that they should not destroy her without him,but that he would go down into the deep with her, and they bound himfast hand and foot and took Floreta, too full of terror to resist orcry, to throw her into the raging sea. But before they had completedthe sacrifice, the cries of the prince, seconded as he was by theprudent old count, ever ready to second a middle course, prevailed,and instead of committing her to the deep, they set her on an islandpast which the bark was drifting, Turian thinking in his own mindthat as soon as the fury of the storm was spent he should be able toinduce them to put back and fetch her off.

  The old seaman knew what was in his mind, and he knew that the workwas but half done. He inveighed that the half-measure was useless;he predicted that the storm would not thereby be quenched. But it wastoo late to listen to him now: they were carried past the land whereFloreta was; and it was beyond their efforts to go back to fulfil hispurpose now. Meanwhile, as he had predicted, the tempest raged higherand higher; the oarsmen were powerless: but the bark drifted nearerand nearer home; and at last, just as a great wave dashed against itand broke it up, they were brought just so near to land that theycould swim to shore. One young and vigorous oarsman took charge ofthe old count, who was rendered more unfit for the feat by dismayat the ill-success of his mission even than by the weakness of hisage. But none looked after the Infante, for he was known to be theexpertest swimmer of all the country round.

  It was not till the hull had heeled over and gone down that theyremembered they had bound him hand and foot, and he could notescape. And so he, who was the cause of all, alone was lost.