The Prime Minister by William Henry Giles Kingston
at last, and hewill play round it till he is caught."
The door again opened, and another visitor entered, the Superior risingand embracing him with every mark of respect; and, having led him to theseat he had himself occupied, took one of humbler dimensions, while heseemed prepared to listen attentively to the words which might fall fromthe lips of his friend. He was a man far advanced in life, of a talland gaunt figure; his gown, of the fashion of the Jesuits, fitting illaround him. His hair, only partially grizzled, though shorn at the top,he wore (unusually for a priest) in long straggling locks, probably inaffectation, to increase the wildness of his extraordinary countenance,which was furrowed and bronzed by exposure to the weather and burningclimes. His features were coarse, and thoroughly unintellectual; buthis eyes gave expression to the whole physiognomy: they were large,round, dark, and lustrous, with a certain turn in them which causedthose who beheld him to suppose that they were glancing in differentdirections. Every lineament proclaimed the fanatical enthusiast, whichthe style and substance of his oratory fully confirmed.
Such was the appearance of the holy Father Malagrida, for he whom wehave described was that celebrated personage. "Pax vobiscum, holyFather," he began, in a low, deep voice, though with rather a nasalsound. "The spirit of the Blessed Virgin ordered me, in a dream, tocome to you, to consult you regarding the best means of preserving thehonour and glory of our order inviolate at this critical juncture; yetthink not that it was a common dream which prompted me, but a beatificvision of the fair daughter of Saint Anne, in the form she wore beforeshe knew that she was to be the joyful mother of the King of men."
"You are favoured with partiality by Heaven, Father Malagrida," answeredthe Superior; "and happy are you to rejoice in so great a blessing,while I am left to grope my way in darkness, without any such signs ofHeaven's approbation."
"My prayers to Heaven, my fastings and castigations, my long and arduousvoyages, with all the perils of the sea and land, have not been thrownaway; and as a reward for my pious exertions, it has been given me tosee visions, and to prophesy events, even before the saints above knowthem; ay, to speak in strange tongues the words of truth, even in suchstrange tongues that none can understand them."
"You are doubtlessly highly favoured," answered his wary companion; "butmethinks a little less outward demonstration of zeal, at the presentmoment, would have been more advisable, and you would yet have retainedyour post as confessor to the queen, and enjoyed the lofty satisfactionof leading her gentle soul to eternal salvation."
"Ah! that is the subject about which I would speak," answered Malagrida:"most foully have I been thrust out of my office, and I would revengemyself, or I would say it is the duty of our order to punish thatheretical, iron-hearted man, Sebastiao Carvalho, who has been the causeof all the injuries inflicted on us."
"You speak words of wisdom, my brother," returned the crafty Jesuit;"but how would you accomplish the noble end you have in view, so greatlyto the advantage of our holy religion, and the safety of our order?"
"I would stir up the people against him, as one hateful in the sight ofHeaven; I would call down the thunder of Rome upon his head; and I wouldwork upon the fears and piety of the king to recall those who have forso long possessed the precious care of his soul, ere he delivers it intothe power of the prince of darkness in the person of his minister."
"But should the king refuse to hear you, and still follow the evilsuggestions of Carvalho?" asked the other.
"Then will I make him tremble on his throne!" exclaimed Malagrida. "Thenobles and the people shall rise against his unholy power, and his deathshall teach monarchs that our order is not to be trampled on withimpunity."
"Truly, my brother, the spirit of inspiration is on you," said theSuperior, casting a keen glance towards him. "And nowhere can our orderfind a more zealous advocate."
"For that was I born; for that have I fought; and for that will I die!"exclaimed Malagrida with enthusiasm. "Such is the spirit which shouldanimate all our order, and we should triumph, in the name of our Lord,against all opposition which frail man can offer."
We need not detail the whole of the conversation, which proceeded for aconsiderable time in the above style: the cool, calculating policy ofFather da Costa strongly contrasted with the wild enthusiasm ofMalagrida, upon which he worked, while the latter, at the same time,through the ravings of madness, showed a shrewdness and sagacity inworldly matters, where the interests of his order were concerned, whichdid credit to the school in which he had been educated. When Malagridahad retired--"Stubborn madman that you are," muttered the Superior, "youare yet a necessary and useful tool in the hands of those who know howto wield you, though alone you are like a scythed war-chariot, draggedon by wild horses without a guiding hand, carrying havoc and destructionwherever it appears."
Volume 1, Chapter VI.
At the time of which we write, the streets of Lisbon were, perhaps, themost rugged, the most ill-lighted, the worst paved, and the most filthy,of any city in Christendom. It is true lanterns were placed before theshrines of the saints, at nearly every corner of the streets; but theglasses of some had been sacrilegiously broken, and the pale lightswhich glimmered from the rest served but to make more palpable theobscurity of the other part of the way; indeed, it was considered oftena service of danger, by the wealthy citizen, to venture out without atorch-bearer and several armed men to protect him from the bands ofmarauders, who were constantly prowling about, and hesitated at no kindof atrocity. Assassination and robbery were of nightly occurrence;seldom, indeed, was the latter committed without murder; the system ofthe ruffians being first to plunge their daggers into the bosoms oftheir intended victims, and then to rifle them. Thus, although privaterevenge often prompted the deed, as the murdered man was always foundstripped of his valuables, he was supposed to have fallen as a chanceoffering to Siva, and no further notice was taken of the affair; thefaint cry of _Acad el rey_! [Note] as the cold steel entered hisunguarded bosom, was heard ringing through the night air, and thetrembling citizens, fearful of being subpoenaed as witnesses, or accusedof the deed, would keep close their doors, and leave the unfortunatewretch to perish unaided, when timely succour might have saved him,should the dagger, by chance, have ineffectually accomplished its work.
But few years ago, we remember returning at early dawn from a party,when we encountered several persons, and two guards, standing round aman on the ground weltering in blood yet flowing warm from a deep woundin his side. A convulsive shudder passed through his frame, yet no oneattempted to aid him, the guards keeping every one off with theirbayonets, saying it was their duty to allow none to touch him till theofficers of justice had arrived to inquire into the case. The man wasthen past recovery; but had aid been afforded him when first discovered,he might probably have been saved; yet, surrounded by his fellowcreatures, he was allowed to bleed to death without a saving hand heldforth. If we recollect rightly, he had been an officer in the Miguelitearmy, and had committed several atrocious acts; but had he been afriend, the same would have occurred. But to return to earlier times.It was then also the practice of the dissolute and idle young fidalgosto range the city with bacchanalian songs, injuring and insulting allthey met; often on the slightest resistance, spilling blood, andcommitting, indeed, every sort of excess, besides amusing themselves, intheir milder moods, with those practical jokes at one time fashionablein England, and probably imitated from them. In his youth, it was saidthat Sebastiao Carvalho had been a leader in one of the most daring ofthese bands, when, to make his gigantic height more conspicuous, hedressed himself with a white hat and shoes, driving all rival partiesbefore him. Being thus perfectly acquainted with all the mysteries ofthe system, he had determined, now that he had succeeded to power, toput down all disorders of the sort. Such was the state of Lisbon in1755, and, as far as cleanliness was concerned, it was not much improvedin 1830; but since then, under the beneficial influence of a liberal andmore enlightened government, vast improvements have taken pl
ace; drainshave been formed; it is paved and well lighted, and as well patrolled asany city in Europe, though not more so than the second city of thekingdom, Oporto, through any part of which a person may walk at nightwithout the slightest fear of robbery, owing to a highly efficientmunicipal guard.
Though there were doubtless many more important personages who figuredat that period, we must not lose sight of our friend Don Luis. It wasnearly dark when he issued from the portals of the Jesuits' College,and, the distance to his own residence being considerable, night hadcompletely set in by the time he reached the lower part of the city,when it occurred to him that it would have been more prudent to haveordered Pedro to attend him. But his mind was too much engrossed by theconversation he had held with Father da Costa, to think much of thedanger
The door again opened, and another visitor entered, the Superior risingand embracing him with every mark of respect; and, having led him to theseat he had himself occupied, took one of humbler dimensions, while heseemed prepared to listen attentively to the words which might fall fromthe lips of his friend. He was a man far advanced in life, of a talland gaunt figure; his gown, of the fashion of the Jesuits, fitting illaround him. His hair, only partially grizzled, though shorn at the top,he wore (unusually for a priest) in long straggling locks, probably inaffectation, to increase the wildness of his extraordinary countenance,which was furrowed and bronzed by exposure to the weather and burningclimes. His features were coarse, and thoroughly unintellectual; buthis eyes gave expression to the whole physiognomy: they were large,round, dark, and lustrous, with a certain turn in them which causedthose who beheld him to suppose that they were glancing in differentdirections. Every lineament proclaimed the fanatical enthusiast, whichthe style and substance of his oratory fully confirmed.
Such was the appearance of the holy Father Malagrida, for he whom wehave described was that celebrated personage. "Pax vobiscum, holyFather," he began, in a low, deep voice, though with rather a nasalsound. "The spirit of the Blessed Virgin ordered me, in a dream, tocome to you, to consult you regarding the best means of preserving thehonour and glory of our order inviolate at this critical juncture; yetthink not that it was a common dream which prompted me, but a beatificvision of the fair daughter of Saint Anne, in the form she wore beforeshe knew that she was to be the joyful mother of the King of men."
"You are favoured with partiality by Heaven, Father Malagrida," answeredthe Superior; "and happy are you to rejoice in so great a blessing,while I am left to grope my way in darkness, without any such signs ofHeaven's approbation."
"My prayers to Heaven, my fastings and castigations, my long and arduousvoyages, with all the perils of the sea and land, have not been thrownaway; and as a reward for my pious exertions, it has been given me tosee visions, and to prophesy events, even before the saints above knowthem; ay, to speak in strange tongues the words of truth, even in suchstrange tongues that none can understand them."
"You are doubtlessly highly favoured," answered his wary companion; "butmethinks a little less outward demonstration of zeal, at the presentmoment, would have been more advisable, and you would yet have retainedyour post as confessor to the queen, and enjoyed the lofty satisfactionof leading her gentle soul to eternal salvation."
"Ah! that is the subject about which I would speak," answered Malagrida:"most foully have I been thrust out of my office, and I would revengemyself, or I would say it is the duty of our order to punish thatheretical, iron-hearted man, Sebastiao Carvalho, who has been the causeof all the injuries inflicted on us."
"You speak words of wisdom, my brother," returned the crafty Jesuit;"but how would you accomplish the noble end you have in view, so greatlyto the advantage of our holy religion, and the safety of our order?"
"I would stir up the people against him, as one hateful in the sight ofHeaven; I would call down the thunder of Rome upon his head; and I wouldwork upon the fears and piety of the king to recall those who have forso long possessed the precious care of his soul, ere he delivers it intothe power of the prince of darkness in the person of his minister."
"But should the king refuse to hear you, and still follow the evilsuggestions of Carvalho?" asked the other.
"Then will I make him tremble on his throne!" exclaimed Malagrida. "Thenobles and the people shall rise against his unholy power, and his deathshall teach monarchs that our order is not to be trampled on withimpunity."
"Truly, my brother, the spirit of inspiration is on you," said theSuperior, casting a keen glance towards him. "And nowhere can our orderfind a more zealous advocate."
"For that was I born; for that have I fought; and for that will I die!"exclaimed Malagrida with enthusiasm. "Such is the spirit which shouldanimate all our order, and we should triumph, in the name of our Lord,against all opposition which frail man can offer."
We need not detail the whole of the conversation, which proceeded for aconsiderable time in the above style: the cool, calculating policy ofFather da Costa strongly contrasted with the wild enthusiasm ofMalagrida, upon which he worked, while the latter, at the same time,through the ravings of madness, showed a shrewdness and sagacity inworldly matters, where the interests of his order were concerned, whichdid credit to the school in which he had been educated. When Malagridahad retired--"Stubborn madman that you are," muttered the Superior, "youare yet a necessary and useful tool in the hands of those who know howto wield you, though alone you are like a scythed war-chariot, draggedon by wild horses without a guiding hand, carrying havoc and destructionwherever it appears."
Volume 1, Chapter VI.
At the time of which we write, the streets of Lisbon were, perhaps, themost rugged, the most ill-lighted, the worst paved, and the most filthy,of any city in Christendom. It is true lanterns were placed before theshrines of the saints, at nearly every corner of the streets; but theglasses of some had been sacrilegiously broken, and the pale lightswhich glimmered from the rest served but to make more palpable theobscurity of the other part of the way; indeed, it was considered oftena service of danger, by the wealthy citizen, to venture out without atorch-bearer and several armed men to protect him from the bands ofmarauders, who were constantly prowling about, and hesitated at no kindof atrocity. Assassination and robbery were of nightly occurrence;seldom, indeed, was the latter committed without murder; the system ofthe ruffians being first to plunge their daggers into the bosoms oftheir intended victims, and then to rifle them. Thus, although privaterevenge often prompted the deed, as the murdered man was always foundstripped of his valuables, he was supposed to have fallen as a chanceoffering to Siva, and no further notice was taken of the affair; thefaint cry of _Acad el rey_! [Note] as the cold steel entered hisunguarded bosom, was heard ringing through the night air, and thetrembling citizens, fearful of being subpoenaed as witnesses, or accusedof the deed, would keep close their doors, and leave the unfortunatewretch to perish unaided, when timely succour might have saved him,should the dagger, by chance, have ineffectually accomplished its work.
But few years ago, we remember returning at early dawn from a party,when we encountered several persons, and two guards, standing round aman on the ground weltering in blood yet flowing warm from a deep woundin his side. A convulsive shudder passed through his frame, yet no oneattempted to aid him, the guards keeping every one off with theirbayonets, saying it was their duty to allow none to touch him till theofficers of justice had arrived to inquire into the case. The man wasthen past recovery; but had aid been afforded him when first discovered,he might probably have been saved; yet, surrounded by his fellowcreatures, he was allowed to bleed to death without a saving hand heldforth. If we recollect rightly, he had been an officer in the Miguelitearmy, and had committed several atrocious acts; but had he been afriend, the same would have occurred. But to return to earlier times.It was then also the practice of the dissolute and idle young fidalgosto range the city with bacchanalian songs, injuring and insulting allthey met; often on the slightest resistance, spilling blood, andcommitting, indeed, every sort of excess, besides amusing themselves, intheir milder moods, with those practical jokes at one time fashionablein England, and probably imitated from them. In his youth, it was saidthat Sebastiao Carvalho had been a leader in one of the most daring ofthese bands, when, to make his gigantic height more conspicuous, hedressed himself with a white hat and shoes, driving all rival partiesbefore him. Being thus perfectly acquainted with all the mysteries ofthe system, he had determined, now that he had succeeded to power, toput down all disorders of the sort. Such was the state of Lisbon in1755, and, as far as cleanliness was concerned, it was not much improvedin 1830; but since then, under the beneficial influence of a liberal andmore enlightened government, vast improvements have taken pl
Though there were doubtless many more important personages who figuredat that period, we must not lose sight of our friend Don Luis. It wasnearly dark when he issued from the portals of the Jesuits' College,and, the distance to his own residence being considerable, night hadcompletely set in by the time he reached the lower part of the city,when it occurred to him that it would have been more prudent to haveordered Pedro to attend him. But his mind was too much engrossed by theconversation he had held with Father da Costa, to think much of thedanger