Barbara Blomberg — Complete

by Georg Ebers

  CHAPTER XVII.

  The following afternoon Wolf sought Barbara again, and now for thefirst time succeeded in relating regularly and clearly what, constantlyinterrupted by her impatience, he had told in a confused medley the daybefore. Pyramus, as usual, was away, and Barbara had taken care that noone should interrupt them.

  Deep silence pervaded the comfortable room, and Wolf had seated himselfin the arm-chair opposite to the young wife when, at her entreaty, hebegan to tell the story again. She had informed him of Dona Magdalena'sletter, and that it took her to the Emperor's residence in San Yuste. Atthat point her friend's fresh tidings began.

  In the spring of the previous year Wolf had again been summoned fromValladolid, where in the winter he directed the church singing asprinnen of the religious music, to Cuacos, near San Yuste, whereQuijada's wife lived with her foster-son Geronimo. From there he hadoften gone with Dona Magdalena and the boy to the Emperor's residence,and frequently saw him.

  The account given in the letter written by Quijada's wife also appliedto the last months of the imperial recluse's existence. Doubtless hesometimes devoted himself to pious exercises and quiet meditation,but he was usually busied with political affairs and the reading anddictating of despatches. Even at that time he received many visitors.When Geronimo came from Cuacos, he was permitted to go in and out ofhis apartments freely, and the Emperor even seemed to prefer him to DonCarlos, his grandson, King Philip's only son, who was destined tobecome the head of his house; at least, Charles's conduct favoured thisopinion.

  On his return to Spain he had made his grandson's acquaintance inValladolid.

  He was a boy who had well-formed, somewhat sickly features, and afragile body. Of course the grandfather felt the deepest interest inhim, and the influence of the famous victor in so many battles upon thetwelve-year-old lad was a most beneficial one.

  But Charles had scarcely left Valladolid when the passionate boy'sextremely dangerous tastes burst forth with renewed violence. Therecluse student of human nature had probably perceived them, for whenhis tutor, and especially the young evildoer's aunt, Juana, the EmperorCharles's daughter, earnestly entreated him to let the grandson, whosepresence would disturb him very little, come to San Yuste, because hisinfluence over Don Carlos would be of priceless value, the grandfathermost positively refused the request.

  On the other hand, the Emperor had not only tolerated his son Geronimonear him, but rejoiced in his presence, for the quiet sufferer's eyeshad sparkled when he saw him. Wolf himself had often witnessed thisdelightful sight.

  How Barbara's heart swelled, how eagerly she listened, as Wolf describedhow well founded was his Majesty's affection for this beautiful,extremely lovable, docile, true-hearted, and, moreover, frank, boy!

  True, he showed as yet little taste for knowledge and all that canbe learned from books; but he devoted himself with fiery zeal to theknightly exercises which since his Majesty's death Quijada himself wasdirecting, and in which he promised to become a master. Besides, byappealing to his ambition, he could be induced to put forth all hispowers, and, if his teachers aimed at what they studiously omitted, itwould not be difficult to make a scholar of him.

  He had not remained unnoticed by any of the great lords who had soughtthe Emperor in Sal Yuste and met him. The Venetian ambassador Bodoaro,had asked the name of the splendid young noble.

  Even when Death was already stretching hi hand toward the Emperor, hewas still overburdened with business, and the heretical agitationwhich was discovered at that time in Spain had caused him much sorrow,especially as men and women whom he knew personally, belonging to thedistinguished families of Posa and De Rojas, has taken part in it.

  The monarch's end came more quickly than was expected. He had beenunable to attend the auto-da-fe at which the heretics were committedto the flames. He would have done so gladly, and after this mournfulexperience even regretted that he had granted the German misleader,Luther, the safe conduct promised.

  Before a fatal weakness suddenly attacked him his health had been ratherbetter than before; then his voice failed, and Quijada was compelled tokneel beside his bed that he might understand what he wished to impressupon him. While doing so, the dying man had expressed the desire thatDon Luis would commend Geronimo to the love of his son Philip.

  He had also remembered the love of better days, and when Barbarainsisted upon learning what he had said of her, Wolf, who had heard itfrom Don Luis, did not withhold it.

  He had complained of her perverse nature. Had she obediently gone to theconvent, he might have spared himself and her the sorrow of holding herso rigidly aloof from his person. Finally, he had spoken of her singingwith rapturous delight. At night the "Quia amore langueo" from the Marymotet had echoed softly from his lips, and when he perceived that DonLuis had heard him, he murmured that this peerless cry of longing,reminded him not of the earthly but the heavenly love.

  At these words Barbara hid her face in her hands, and Wolf paused untilshe had controlled the sobs which shook her breast.

  Then he went on, she listening devoutly with wet eyes and clasped hands.

  The Archbishop of Toledo was summoned, and predicted that Charles woulddie on the day after to-morrow, St. Matthew's day. He was born onSt. Matthias's day, and he would depart from life on St.Matthew's,--[September 12, 1558]--Matthias's brother andfellow-disciple.

  So it was, and Barbara remembered that his son and hers had also seenthe light of the world on St. Matthias's day.

  Charles's death-agony was severe. When Dr. Mathys at last said softly tothose who were present, "Jam moritur,"--[Now he is dying]--the loud cry"Jesus!" escaped his lips, and he sank back upon the pillows lifeless.

  Here Wolf was again obliged to give his weeping friend time to calmherself.

  What he now had to relate--both knew it--was well suited to transformthe tears which Barbara was shedding in memory of the beloved dead totears of joy.

  While she was wiping her eyes, Wolf described the great anxiety which,after Charles's death, overpowered the Quijadas in Villagarcia.

  The codicil had existed, and Don Luis was familiar with its contents.But how would King Philip take it?

  Dona Magdalena knew not what to do with herself in her anxiety.

  The immediate future must decide Geronimo's fate, so she went on apilgrimage with her darling to the Madonna of Guadelupe to pray for therepose of the Emperor's soul, and also to beseech the gracious Virginmercifully to remember him, Geronimo.

  Until that time the boy had believed Don Luis and his wife to be hisparents, and had loved Dona Magdalena like the most affectionate son.

  He had not even the slightest suspicion that he was a child of theEmperor, and was perfectly satisfied with the lot of being the son of agrandee and the child of so good, tender, and beautiful a mother.

  This exciting expectation on the part of the Quijadas lasted nearly awhole year, for it was that length of time before Don Philip finallyleft the Netherlands and reached Valladolid.

  He spent the anniversary of his father's death in the monastery of DelAbrojo.

  There, or previously, he had read the codicil in which his imperialfather acknowledged the boy Geronimo as his son.

  Barbara now desired to learn the contents of the codicil and, as Wolfhad told her yesterday how the boy's fate had changed, he interruptedhis narrative and obeyed her wish.

  As a widower, Charles confessed that he had had a son in Germany by anunmarried woman. He had reason to wish that the boy should assume therobe of a reformed order, but he must be neither forced nor persuaded todo so. If he wished to remain in the world, he would settle upon hima yearly income of from twenty to thirty thousand ducats, which wasto pass also to his heirs. Whatever mode of life he might choose, hecommanded his son Philip to honour him and treat him with due respect.

  As on the day before, when Barbara had only learned in general termswhat the codicil contained, her soul to-day, while listening to the moreminute particulars, was filled with grateful joy.<
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  Her sacrifice had not been vain. For years the fear of seeing her sonvanish in a monastery had darkened her days and nights, and Quijada andDona Magdalena had also probably dreaded that King Philip might confidehis half-brother to a reformed order, for the monarch had by no meanshastened to inform the anxious pair what he had determined.

  It was not until the end of September that, upon the pretext of hunting,he went to the monastery of San Pedro de la Espina, a league fromVillagarcia, and ordered Don Luis to seek him there with the boy. He wasto leave the latter wholly unembarrassed, and not even inform him thatthe gentleman whom he would meet was the King.

  His decision, he had added in the chilling manner characteristic of him,would depend upon circumstances.

  Quijada, with a throbbing heart, obeyed, but Geronimo had no suspicionof what awaited him, and only wondered why his mother took so muchtrouble about his dress, since they were merely going hunting. The tearsglittering in her eyes he attributed to the anxiety which she oftenexpressed when he rode with the hunters on the fiery young Andalusianwhich his father had given him. He was then twelve years and a half old,but might easily have been taken for fourteen.

  "It was a splendid sight," Wolf went on, "as the erect figure of thedark Don Luis, on his powerful black stallion, galloped beside the fair,handsome boy with his white skin and blue eyes, who managed his spiriteddun horse so firmly and joyously.

  "Dona Magdalena and I followed them on our quiet bays. Her lips movedconstantly, and her right hand never stirred from the rosary at her beltwhile we were riding along the woodland paths.

  "To soothe her, I began to talk about the pieces of music which hisMajesty had brought from Brussels, but she did not hear me. So Iremained silent until the monastery glimmered through the trees. Theblood left her cheeks, for at the same moment the thought came to usboth that King Philip was taking him to the monks.

  "But we had scarcely time to confide what we feared to each other erethe blast of horns echoed from the forest.

  "Then, to calm the anxious mother's heart, I remarked, 'His Majestywould not have the horns sounded in that way if he were taking the piousbrothers a new companion,' and Dona Magdalena's wan cheeks again flushedslightly.

  "The forest is cleared in front of the monastery, but it surrounds onall sides the open glade amid whose grass the meadow saffron was thengrowing thickly.

  "I can still see Geronimo as he swung himself from the saddle to gathersome of the flowers. His mother needed them as medicine for a poor womanin the village.

  "We stopped behind the last trees, where we had a good view of theglade. Don Luis left the boy to himself for a time; but when the blastof horns and the baying of the hounds sounded nearer, he ordered him, inthe commanding tone he used in teaching him to ride, to remount.

  "Geronimo laughed, thrust the flowers hastily into his saddlebag, andwith a bold leap vaulted on his horse's back.

  "A few minutes after, the King rode out of the forest.

  "He was mounted on a noble bay hunting charber, and wore a huntsman'sdress.

  "No rider can hold a slender figure more erect.

  "His haughty head, with the fair, pointed beard, was carried slightlythrown back, which gave him an especially arrogant appearance.

  "When he saw Quijada, he raised his riding-whip with a significantgesture to his lips. We, too, understood what it meant, and Don Luisknew him far better than we.

  "He greeted the King without the least constraint, as if he were merelya friend of noble birth, then beckoned to Geronimo, and the introductionwas only the brief words, 'My son' and 'The Count of Flanders.'

  "The boy raised his little plumed hat with frank courtesy and, whilebowing in the saddle, forced his dun horse to approach the Kingsideways. It was no easy matter, and seemed to please his Majesty, fora smile of satisfaction flitted over his cold features, and we heard himexclaim to Quijada, 'A horseman, and, if the saints so will, a knightwell pleasing to Heaven.'

  "What more he said to the boy we learned later. The words which bythe movement of his lips we saw that he added to the exclamation were,'Unless our noble young friend prefers to consecrate himself in humilityto the service of the highest of all Masters.'

  "He had pointed to the monastery as he spoke. Geronimo did not delay hisreply, but, crossing himself, answered quickly:

  "'I wish to be a faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, but only inthe world, fighting against his foes.'

  "Philip nodded so eagerly that his stiff white ruff was pushed awry,and then, with patronizing approval, added: 'So every nobleman ought tothink. You, my young friend, saw a short time ago at the auto-da-fe inValladolid how a considerable number of Spanish gentlemen of thenoblest blood expiated at the stake the mortal sin of heresy. A severepunishment, and a terrible end! Would you perhaps have preferred to seehis Majesty's mercy grant them their lives?'

  "'On no account, my Lord Count,' cried Geronimo eagerly. 'There is nomercy for the heretic.'

  "His Majesty now summoned the two knights who attended him and, whileone held his horse, he dismounted.

  "At a sign from Quijada, Geronimo now also sprang to the ground, andgazed wonderingly at the stranger, whom, on account of his fair beard,he supposed to be a Netherland noble; but Dona Magdalena could bear toremain under the trees no longer, and I followed her to the edge of themeadow. The King advanced toward the boy, and stood before him with soproud and dignified a bearing that one might have supposed his shortfigure had grown two heads taller.

  "Geronimo must have felt that some very distinguished personageconfronted him, and that something great awaited him, for heinvoluntarily raised his hat again. His wavy golden locks now fellunconfined around his head, his cheeks glowed, and his large blue eyesgazed questioningly and with deep perplexity into the stranger's faceas he said slowly, with significant emphasis: 'I am not the man whom yousuppose. Who, boy, do you think that I might be?'

  "'Geronimo turned pale; only one head could be lifted with so haughty amajesty, and suddenly remembering the face which he had seen upon manya coin, sure that he was right, he bent the knee with modest grace,saying, "Our sovereign lord, his Majesty King Philip."'

  "'I am he,' was the reply. 'But to you, dear boy, I am still more.'

  "'As he spoke he gave him his hand, and, when Geronimo rose, he said,pointing to his breast: 'Your place is here, my boy; for the EmperorCharles, who is now enjoying the bliss of heaven, was your father aswell as mine, and you, lad, are my brother.'

  "Then passing his arm around his shoulders, he drew him gently towardhim, lightly imprinting a kiss upon his brow and cheeks; but Geronimo,deeply moved, pressed his fresh red lips to his royal brother's righthand. Yet he had scarcely raised his head again when he started, and inan agitated tone asked, 'And Don Luis--and my dear mother?'

  "'Continue to love and honour them,' replied the King.--'Explain therest to him, Don Luis. But keep what has happened here secret for thepresent. I will present him myself to our people as my brother. Hereceived in holy baptism the name of John, which in Castilian is Juan.Let him keep it.--Give me your hand again, Don Juan d'Austria.--[DonJohn of Austria]--A proud name! Do it honour.'

  "He turned away as he spoke, mounted with the aid of one of his knights,waved his hand graciously to Quijada and, while his horse was alreadymoving, called to him, 'My brother, Don Juan, will be addressed as yourExcellency.'

  "He took no notice of Dona Magdalena, probably because she had appearedhere either without or against his orders, and thus offended one ofthe forms of etiquette on which he placed so much value. So his Majestyneither saw nor heard how the son of an Emperor and the brother of aKing rushed up to his foster-mother, threw himself into her outstretchedarms, and exclaimed with warm affection, 'Mother! my dear, dearmother!'"

  Barbara had listened weeping to this description, but the last sentencedried her tears and, like Frau Traut a short time ago, her friendregretted that he had not exercised greater caution as he heard her,still sobbing, but with an angry shrug of t
he shoulders, repeat theexclamation which her son--ay, her son only--had poured forth from hisoverflowing heart to another woman.

  So Wolf did not tell her what he had witnessed in Villagarcia, when DonJuan and Dona Magdalena had fallen into each other's arms, and thatwhen he asked about his real mother the lady answered that she was anunfortunate woman who must remain away from him, but for whom it wouldbe his duty to provide generously.

  Directly after, on the second day of October, Wolf added, the King hadpresented her son to the court as his Excellency, his brother Don Johnof Austria!

  He, Wolf, had set off for Brussels with the grand prior that very day,and, as his ship sailed from Spain before any other, he had succeeded inbeing the first to bring this joyful news to the Netherlands and to her.

  When Wolf left Barbara, it seemed as though what had hitherto appeared abewildering, happy dream had now for the first time been confirmed. Thelofty goal she had striven to reach, and of which she had never lostsight, was now gained; but a bitter drop of wormwood mingled with thehappiness that filled her grateful heart to overflowing. Another womanhad forced herself into her place and robbed her of the boy's love,which belonged to her and, after his father's death, to her alone.

  Every thought of the much-praised Dona Magdalena stirred her blood.How cruel had been the anguish and fears which she had endured for thischild she alone could know; but the other enjoyed every pleasure thatthe possession of so highly gifted a young creature could afford. Shecould say to herself that, of all sins, the one farthest from hernature was envy; but what she felt toward this stealer of love fatallyresembled sharp, gnawing ill will.

  Yet the bright sense of happiness which pervaded her whole beingrendered it easy for her to thrust the image of the unloved woman farinto the shade, and the next morning became a glorious festival for her;she used it to pay a visit to the Dubois couple, and when she told themwhat she had heard from Wolf, and saw Frau Traut sob aloud in her joyand Adrian wipe tears of grateful emotion from his aged eyes, her ownhappiness was doubled by the others' sympathy.

  Barbara had anticipated Wolf, but while going home she met him on hisway to the Dubois house. He joined her, and still had many questions toanswer.

  During the next few days her friend helped her compose a letter toher son; but he was constantly obliged to impose moderation upon thepassionate vehemence of her feelings. She often yielded to his superiorprudence, only she would not fulfil his desire to address her boy as"your Excellency."

  When she read the letter, she thought she had found the right course.

  Barbara first introduced herself to John as his real mother. She hadloved and honoured his great father with all the strength of her soul,and she might boast of having been clear to him also. By the EmperorCharles's command he, her beloved child, had been taken from her. Shehad submitted with a bleeding heart and, to place him in the path offortune, had inflicted the deepest wounds upon her own soul. Now herself-sacrifice was richly rewarded, and it would make her happier thanhimself if she should learn that his own merit had led him to the heightof fame which she prayed that he might reach.

  Then she congratulated him, and begged him not to forget her entirelyamid his grandeur. She was only a plain woman, but she, too, belongedto an ancient knightly race, and therefore he need not be ashamed of hismother's blood.

  Lastly, at Wolf's desire, she requested her son to thank the lady who solovingly filled her place to him.

  Her friend was to give this letter himself to Don John of Austria, andhe voluntarily promised to lead the high-minded boy to the belief thathis own mother had also been worthy of an Emperor's love.

  Lastly, Wolf promised to inform her of any important event in her son'slife or his own. During the last hour of their meeting he admitted thathe was one of the few who felt satisfied with their lot. True, hecould not say that he had no wishes; but up to this hour he had desirednothing more constantly and longingly than to hear her sing once more,as in that never-to-be-forgotten May in the Ratisbon home. He might nowhope, sooner or later, to have this wish, too, fulfilled. These werekind, cheering words, and with a grateful ebullition of feeling sheadmitted that, after his glad tidings, she, too, again felt capable ofbelieving in a happy future.

  So the friends from childhood bade each other farewell.