b.. The Light Divided from the Darkness:
XII.
The Light Divided from the Darkness.
"I felt and feel, whate'er befalls, The footsteps of thy life in mine."--Tennyson
In the glorious autumn weather, Don Carlos rode joyfully through corkand chestnut groves, across bare brown plains, and amidst gardens ofpale olives and golden orange globes shining through dark glossy leaves.He had long ago sent back to Seville the guard with which his uncle hadfurnished him, so that his only companion was a country youth, trainedby Diego to act as his servant. But although he passed through the verydistrict afterwards immortalized by the adventures of the renowned DonQuixote, no adventure fell to his lot. Unless it may count for anadventure that near the termination of his journey the weather suddenlychanged, and torrents of rain, accompanied by unusual cold, drove him toseek shelter.
"Ride on quickly, Jorge," he said to his attendant, "for I rememberthere is a venta[#] by the roadside not far off. A poor place truly,where we are little likely to find a supper. But we shall find a roof toshelter us and fire to warm us, and these at present are our mostpressing needs."
[#] An inn.
Arrived at the venta, they were surprised to see the lazy landlord sofar stirred out of his usual apathy as to busy himself in trying tosecure the fastening of the outer door, that it might not swingbackwards and forwards in the wind, to the great discomfort of allwithin the house. The proud indifferent Spaniard looked calmly up fromhis task, and remarked that he would do all in his power to accommodatehis worship. "But unfortunately, senor and your Excellency, a _very_great and principal nobleman has just arrived here, with a mostdistinguished train of fine caballeros--his lordship's gentlemen andservants; and kitchen, hall, and chamber are as full of them as a hiveis full of bees."
This was evil news to Carlos. Proud, sensitive, and shy, there could benothing more foreign to his character than to throw himself into thesociety of a person who, though really only his equal in rank, was somuch his superior in all that lends rank its charm in the eyes of thevulgar. "We had better push on to Ecija," said he to his reluctantattendant, bravely turning his face to the storm, and making up his mindto ten miles more in drenching rain.
At that moment, however, a tall figure emerged from the inner door,opening into the long room behind the stable and kitchen, that formedthe only tolerable accommodation the one-storied venta afforded.
"Surely, senor, you do not intend to go further in this storm," said thenobleman, whose fine thoughtful countenance Carlos could not but fancythat he had seen before.
"It is not far to Ecija, senor," returned Carlos, bowing. "And 'Firstcome first served,' is an excellent proverb."
"The first-comer has certainly one privilege which I am not disposed towaive--that of hospitably welcoming the second. Do me the favour to comein, senor. You will find an excellent fire."
Carlos could not decline an invitation so courteously given. He was soonseated by the wood fire that blazed on the hearth of the inner room,exchanging compliments, in true Spanish fashion, with the nobleman whohad welcomed him so kindly.
Though no one could doubt for an instant the stranger's possession ofthe pure "sangre azul,"[#] yet his manners were more frank and easy andless ceremonious than those to which Carlos had been accustomed in theexclusive and privileged class of Seville society---a fact accounted forby the discovery, afterwards made, that he was born and educated inItaly.
[#] "Blue blood"
"I have the pleasure of recognizing Don Carlos Alvarez de Santillanos yMenaya," said he. "I hope the babe about whom his worship showed suchamiable anxiety recovered from its indisposition?"
This then was the personage whom Carlos had seen in such closeconversation with the physician Losada. The association of ideasimmediately brought back the mysterious remark about his father he hadoverheard on that occasion. Putting that aside, however, for thepresent, he answered, "Perfectly, I thank your grace. We attribute therecovery mainly to the skill and care of the excellent Dr. CristobalLosada."
"A gentleman whose medical skill cannot be praised too highly, except,indeed, it were exalted at the expense of his other excellent qualities,and particularly his charity to the poor."
Carlos heartily acquiesced, and added some instances of the physician'skindness to those who could not recompense him again. They were new tohis companion, who listened with interest.
During this conversation supper was laid. As the principal guest hadbrought his own provisions with him, it was a comfortable and plentifulrepast. Carlos, ere he sat down, left the room to re-arrange his dress,and found opportunity to ask the innkeeper if he knew the noblestranger's name.
"His Excellency is a great noble from Castile," returned mine host, withan air of much importance. "His name, as I am informed, is Don Carlosde Seso; and his illustrious lady, Dona Isabella, is of the bloodroyal."
"Where does he reside?"
"His gentlemen tell me, principally at one of his fine estates in thenorth, Villamediana they call it. He is also corregidor[#] of Toro. Hehas been visiting Seville upon business of importance, and is nowreturning home."
[#] Mayor
Pleased to be the guest of such a man (for in fact he was his guest),Carlos took his seat at the table, and thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Anhour's intercourse with a man who had read and travelled much, but hadthought much more, was a rare treat to him. Moreover, De Seso showedhim all that fine courtesy which a youth so highly appreciates from asenior, giving careful attention to every observation he hazarded, andmanifestly bringing the best of his powers to bear on his own share ofthe conversation.
He spoke of Fray Constantino's preaching, with an enthusiasm that madeCarlos regret that he had been hitherto such an inattentive hearer."Have you seen a little treatise by the Fray, entitled 'The Confessionof a Sinner'?" he asked.
Carlos having answered in the negative, his new friend drew a tract fromthe pocket of his doublet, and gave it to him to read while he wrote aletter.
Carlos, after the manner of eager, rapid readers, plunged at once intothe heart of the matter, disdaining beginnings.
Almost the first words upon which his eyes fell arrested his attentionand drew him irresistibly onwards. "Such has been the pride of man," heread, "that he aimed at being God; but so great was thy compassiontowards him in his fallen state, that thou abasedst thyself to becomenot only of the rank of men, but a true man, and the least of men,taking upon thee the form of a servant, that thou mightest set me atliberty, and that by means of thy grace, wisdom, and righteousness, manmight obtain more than he had lost by his ignorance and pride.... Wastthou not chastised for the iniquity of others? Has not thy bloodsufficient virtue to wash out the sins of all the human race? Are notthy treasures more able to enrich me than all the debt of Adam toimpoverish me? Lord, although I had been the only person alive, or theonly sinner in the world, thou wouldst not have failed to die for me. Omy Saviour, I would say, and say it with truth, that I individuallystand in need of those blessings which thou hast given to all. Whatthough the guilt of all had been mine? thy death is all mine. Eventhough I had committed all the sins of all, yet would I continue totrust thee, and to assure myself that thy sacrifice and pardon is allmine, though it belong to all."
So far he read in silence, then the tract fell from his hand, and aninvoluntary exclamation broke from his lips--"Passing strange!"
De Seso paused, pen in hand, and looked up surprised. "What find you'passing strange,' senor?" he asked.
"That he--that Fray Constantino should have felt precisely what--what hedescribes here."
"That such a holy man should feel so deeply his own utter sinfulness?But you are doubtless aware that the holiest saints in all ages haveshared this experience. St. Augustine, for instance, with whosewritings so ripe a theological scholar is doubtless well acquainted."
"Such," returned Carlos, "are not worse than others; but t
hey know whatthey are as others do not."
"True. Tried by the standard of God's perfect law, the purest life mustappear a miserable failure. We may call the marble of our churches anddwellings white, until we see God's snow, pure and fresh from heaven,upon it."
"Ay, senor," said Carlos, wild joyful eagerness; "but the Hand thatpoints out the stains can cleanse them. No snow is half so pure as thelinen clean and white which is the righteousness of saints."
It was De Seso's turn to be astonished now. In the look that, halfleaning over the table, he bent upon the eager face of Carlos, surpriseand emotion blended. For a moment their eyes met with a flash, likethat which flint strikes from steel, of mutual intelligence andsympathy. But it passed again as quickly. De Seso said, "I suspectthat I see in you, Senor Don Carlos, one of those admirable scholars whohave devoted their talents to the study of that sacred language in whichthe words of the holy apostles are handed down to us. You are aGrecian?"
Carlos shook his head. "Greek is but little studied at Complutum now,"he said, "and I confined myself to the usual theological course."
"In which, I have heard, your success has been brilliant. But it is asore disgrace to us, and a heavy loss to the youth of our nation, thatthe language of St. John and St. Paul should be deemed unworthy of theirattention."
"Your Excellency is aware that it was otherwise in former years,"returned Carlos. "Perhaps the present neglect is owing to the suspicionof heresy which, truly or falsely, has attached itself to most of theaccomplished Greek scholars of our time."
"A miserable misapprehension; the growth of monkish ignorance and envy,and popular superstition. Heresy is a convenient stigma with which menofttimes brand as evil the good they are incapable of comprehending."
"Most true, senor. Even Fray Constantino has not escaped."
"His crime has been, that he has sought to turn the minds of men fromoutward acts and ceremonies to the great spiritual truths of which theseare the symbols. To the vulgar, Religion is nothing but a series ofshows and postures."
"Yes," answered Carlos; "but the heart that loves God, and trulybelieves in our Lord and Saviour, is taught to put such in their properplace. 'These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the otherundone.'"
"Senor Don Carlos," said De Seso, with surprise he could no longersuppress, "you are evidently a devout and earnest student of theScriptures."
"I search the Scriptures; in them I think I have eternal life. And theytestify of Christ," promptly responded the less cautious youth.
"I perceive that you do not quote the Vulgate."
Carlos smiled. "No, senor. To a man of your enlightened views I am notafraid to acknowledge the truth. I have seen--nay, why should Ihesitate?--I possess a rare treasure--the New Testament of our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ in our own noble Castilian tongue."
Even through the calm and dignified deportment of his companion Carloscould perceive the thrill that this communication caused. There was apause; then he said softly, "And your treasure is also mine." The lowquiet words came from even greater depths of feeling than the eagertremulous tones of Carlos. For _his_ convictions, slowly reached anddearly purchased, were "built below" the region of the soul thatpassions agitate,--
"Based on the crystalline sea Of thought and its eternity."
The heart of Carlos glowed with sudden ardent love towards the man whoshared his treasure, and, he doubted not, his faith also. He couldjoyfully have embraced him on the spot. But the force of habit and thesensitive reserve of his character checked this impetuousdemonstrativeness. He only said, with a look that was worth an embrace,"I knew it. Your Excellency spoke as one who held our Lord and histruth in honour."
"_Ella es pues honor a vosotros que creeis._"[#]
[#] "Unto you who believes he is precious," or "an honour."
It would have been hard to begin a verse that Carlos could not at thistime have instantly completed. He went on: "_Mas para los que no creen,la piedra que los edificatores reprobaron_."[#]
[#] "But unto them that believe not, the stone that the buildersreject."
"A sorrowful truth," said De Seso, "which my young friend must needsbear in mind. His Word, like himself, is rejected by the many. Itsvery mention may expose to obloquy and danger."
"Only another instance, senor, of those lamentable prejudices aboutheresy about which we spoke anon. I am aware that there are those thatwould brand me (_me_, a scholar too!) with the odious name of heretic,merely for reading God's Word in my own tongue. But how utterly absurdthe charge! The blessed Book has but confirmed my faith in all thedoctrines of our holy Mother Church."
"Has it?" said De Seso, quietly, perhaps a little drily.
"Most assuredly, senor," Carlos rejoined, with warmth. "In fact I neverunderstood, or, I may say, truly believed those holy verities until now.Beginning with the Credo itself, and the orthodox Catholic faith in ourLord's divinity and atonement."
Here their conversation was interrupted by the entrance of theattendants, who removed supper, replenished the lamp, and heaped freshchestnut logs on the fire. But as soon as the room was cleared theyreturned eagerly to subjects so interesting to both.
"Our salvation rests," said De Seso, "upon the great cardinal truths youhave named. By the faith which receives into your heart the atonementof Christ as a work done for you, you are justified."
"I am forgiven, and I shall be justified."
"Pardon me, senor; Scripture teaches that your justification is alreadycomplete. Therefore, _being justified by faith_, we have peace withGod."
"But that cannot surely be the apostle's meaning," said Carlos. "Ay demi! I know too well that I am not yet completely justified. Far fromit; evil thoughts throng my heart; and not with heart alone, but withlips, eyes, hands, I transgress daily."
"Yet, you see, peace can only be consequent on justification. And peaceyou have."
Carlos looked perplexed. Misled by the teaching of his Church, heconfused justification with sanctification; consequently he could notlegitimately enjoy the peace that ought to flow from the one as acomplete and finished work, because the other necessarily remainedimperfect.
De Seso explained that the word justify is never used in Scripture inits derivative sense, to _make_ righteous; but always in its common anduniversally accepted sense, to _account_ or _declare_ righteous. Quiteeasily and naturally he glided into the teacher's place, whilst Carlosgladly took that of the learner; not, indeed, without astonishment atthe layman's skill in divinity, but with too intense an interest in whathe said to waste much thought upon his manner of saying it.
Hitherto he had been like an unlearned man, who, without guide orcompanion, explores the trackless shores of a newly-discovered land.Should such an one meet in his course a scientific explorer, who hasmapped and named every mountain, rock, and bay, who has traced out thecoast-line, and can tell what lies beyond the white hills in thedistance, it is easy to understand the eagerness with which he wouldlisten to his narrative, and the intentness with which he would bendover the chart in which the scene of his own journeyings lies portrayed.
Thus De Seso not only taught Carlos the true meaning of Scripture terms,and the connection of Scripture truths with each other; he also madeclear to him the facts of his own experience, and gave names to them forhim.
"I think I understand now," said Carlos after a lengthened conversation,in which, moving from point to point, he had suggested many doubts andnot a few objections, and these in turn had been taken up and answeredby his friend. "God be thanked, there is no more condemnation, no morepunishment for us. Nothing, either in act or suffering, can be added tothe work of Christ, which is complete."
"Ay, now you have grasped the truth which is the source of our joy andstrength."
"It must then be our sanctification which suffering promotes, both inthis life and in purgatory."
"All God's dealings with us in this life are meant to promote oursanctification. Joy may do it, by his grac
e, as well as sorrow. It iswritten, not alone, 'He humbled thee and suffered thee to hunger,' butalso, 'He fed thee with manna, to teach the secret of life in him, fromhim, and by him.'"
"But suffering is purifying--like fire."
"Not in itself. Criminals released from the galleys usually come forthhardened in their crimes by the lash and the oar."
Having said this, De Seso rose and extinguished the expiring lamp, whileCarlos remained thoughtfully gazing into the fire. "Senor," he said,after a long pause, during which the stream of thought ran continuouslyunderground, to reappear consequently in an unexpected place--"Senor, doyou think God's Word, which solves so many mysteries, can answer everyquestion for us?"
"Scarcely. Some questions we may ask, of which the answers, in ourpresent state, would be beyond our comprehension. And others may indeedbe answered there, but we may miss the answers, because through weaknessof faith we are not yet able to receive them."
"For instance?"
"I had rather not name an instance--at present," said De Seso, andCarlos thought his face had a sorrowful look as he gazed at it in thefirelight.
"I would not willingly miss anything my Lord meant to teach. I desireto know all his will, and to follow it," Carlos rejoined earnestly.
"It may be that you know not what you desire. Still, name any questionyou wish; and I will tell you freely whether in my judgment God's Wordcontains an answer."
Carlos stated the difficulty suggested by the inquiry of Dolores. Whocan tell the exact moment when his bark leaves the gently-flowing riverfor the great deep ocean? That of Carlos, on the instant when he putthis question, was met by the first wave of the mighty sea upon which hewas to be tossed by many a storm. But he did not know it.
"I agree with you as to the silence of God's Word about purgatory,"returned his friend; and for some time both gazed into the fire withoutspeaking.
"This and similar discoveries have sometimes given me, I own, a feelingof blank disappointment, and even of terror," said Carlos at length.For with him it was one of those rare hours in which a man can bear totranslate into words the "dark misgivings" of the soul, usuallyunacknowledged even to himself.
"I cannot say," was the answer, "that the thought of passing through thegate of death into the immediate presence of my glorified Lord affectsme with 'blank disappointment' or 'terror.'"
"How?--What do you say?" cried Carlos, starting visibly.
"'Absent from the body, present with the Lord.' 'To depart and to bewith Christ is far better.'"
"But it was San Pablo, the great apostle and martyr, who said that. Forus,--we have the Church's teaching," Carlos rejoined in quick, anxioustones.
"Nevertheless, I venture to think that, in the face of all you havelearned from God's Word, you will find it a task somewhat of the hardestto prove purgatory."
"Not at all," said Carlos; and immediately he bounded into the arena ofcontroversy, laid his lance in rest, and began an animated tilting-matchwith his new friend, who was willing (of course, thought Carlos, forargument's sake alone, and as an intellectual exercise) to personate aLutheran antagonist.
But not a few doughty champions have met the stern reality of a bloodydeath in the mimic warfare of the tilting-field. At every turn Carlosfound himself answered, baffled, confounded. Yet, how could he, howdared he, acknowledge defeat, even to himself, when with the imperilleddoctrine so much else must fall? What would become of private masses,indulgences, prayers for the dead? Nay, what would become of theinfallibility of Mother Church herself?
So he fought desperately. Fear, ever increasing, quickened hispreceptions, baptized his lips with eloquence, made his sense acute andhis memory retentive. Driven at last from the ground of Scripture andreason, he took his stand upon that of scholastic divinity. Using theweapons with which he had been taught to play so deftly for once interrible earnest, he spun clever syllogisms, in which he hoped toentangle his adversary. But De Seso caught the flimsy webs in the nakedhand of his strong sense, and crushed them to atoms.
Then Carlos knew that the battle was lost. "I can say no more," heacknowledged, sorrowfully bowing his head.
"And what I have said--is it not in accordance with the Word of God?"
With a cry of dismay on his lips, Carlos turned and looked at him--"Godhelp us! Are we then Lutherans?"
"It may be Christ is asking another question--Are we amongst those whofollow him _whithersoever_ he goeth?"
"Oh, not _there_--not to _that_!" cried Carlos, rising in his agitationand beginning to pace the room. "I abhor heresy--I eschew the thought.From my cradle I have done so. Anywhere but that!"
Pausing at last in his walk before the place where De Seso sat, heasked, "And you, senor, have you considered whither this would lead?"
"I have. I do not ask thee to follow. But this I say: if Christ bidsany man leave the ship and come to him upon these dark and stormywaters, he will stretch out his own right hand to uphold and sustainhim."
"To leave the ship--his Church? That would be leaving him. And leavinghim, I am lost, soul and body--lost--lost!"
"Fear not. At his feet, clinging to him, soul of man was never lostyet."
"I will cleave to him, and to the Church too."
"Still, if one must be forsaken, let not that one be Christ."
"Never, never--so help me God!" After a pause he added, as if speakingto himself, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternallife."
He stood motionless, wrapt in thought; while De Seso rose softly, andgoing to the window, put aside the rude shutter that had been fastenedacross it.
"The night is bright," said Carlos dreamily. "The moon must haverisen."
"That is daylight you see," returned his companion with a smile. "Timefor wayfarers to seek rest in sleep."
"Prayer is better than sleep."
"True, and we who own the same precious faith can well unite in prayer."
With the willing consent of Carlos, his new friend laid their commondesires and perplexities before God. The prayer was in itself arevelation to him; he forgot even to wonder that it came from the lipsof a layman. For De Seso spoke as one accustomed to converse with theUnseen, and to enter by faith to the inner sanctuary, the very presenceof God himself. And Carlos found that it was good thus to draw nigh toGod. He felt his troubled soul returning to its rest, to its quietconfidence in Him who, he knew, would guide him by his counsel, andafterwards receive him into glory.
When they rose, instinctively their right hands sought each other, andwere locked in that strong grasp which is sometimes worth more than anembrace.
"We have confidence each in the other," said De Seso, "so that we needexchange no pledge of faithfulness or secrecy."
Carlos bowed his head. "Pray for me, senor," he said. "Pray that God,who sent you here to teach me, may in his own time complete the work hehas begun."
Then both lay down in their cloaks; one to sleep, the other to ponderand pray.
In the morning each went his several way. And never was it given toCarlos, in this world, to look upon that face or to grasp that handagain.
He who had thus crossed his path, as it were for a moment, was perhapsthe noblest of all the heroic band of Spanish martyrs, that forlorn hopeof Christ's army, who fought and fell "where Satan's seat was." Hishigh birth and lofty station, his distinguished abilities, even thosemore superficial graces of person and manner which are not without theirstrong fascination, were all--like the precious ointment with the odourof which the house was filled--consecrated to the service of the Lordfor whom he lived and died. The eye of imagination lingers with specialand reverential love upon that grand calm figure. But our simple storyleads us far away amongst other scenes and other characters. We mustnow turn to a different part of the wide missionary harvest-field, inwhich the lowly muleteer Juliano Hernandez, and the great noble DonCarlos de Seso, were both labouring. Was their labour in vain?
The Spanish Brothers: A Tale of the Sixteenth Century Page 12
