The Prime Minister by William Henry Giles Kingston
hand."
The preacher then proceeded to show by what sort of fire Sodom andGomorrah were destroyed, comparing their inhabitants to those of Lisbon,in no flattering terms.
"If you would know the cause of these calamities, listen not to what themathematicians and philosophers say, but to what God says through themouth of his prophet Isaias: `Movebitur terra de loco suo propterindignationem Domini exercituum et propter diem irae furoris ejus.'(Isaiah xiii. 13.)
"Cease to persuade yourselves, then, that the earth is moved, notbecause the world is living, as some atheists say;--not because it swimson the sea, as Thales says;--not because the subterranean fires andwaters meet, as Democrates says;--not because some of its enormousportions are hurled to the centre, as Anaximenes says;--not because thewind confined in the internal caverns of the globe bursts forth, asAristotle says;--but because thus God shakes it, and because God drivesit with an invisible force, proceeding from His sovereign indignation.
"There is no doubt that the prophet foretold the fate of Lisbon underthe name of Babylon, when he says: `Vidi Angelum descendentem de caelo,habentem potestatem magnam; et exclamavit in fortitudine, dicens:Cecidit, cecidit Babylon.'
"Yes, the crimes of the people will ascend to heaven, and remind God oftheir wickedness, and He will cause their city to become a heap of ruinsand ashes, and there shall be death, and mourning, and hunger. Did notall this happen, and did not the King, when he beheld his palace and hiscity in flames, weep and mourn? `Et flebunt et plangent super illamReges terrae cum viderint fumum incendii ejus.'"
He then mentioned the riches that were destroyed exactly as the prophetforetold.
"What further evidence to convince you of the truth would you have? Yethere are others. Did not the pilots and sailors remain at a distance,on the bosom of the Tagus, to behold the miserable destruction? `Etomnis gubernator, et omnis qui in lacum navigat et qui in mari operanturlonge steterunt.'
"Did not also the singers and musicians, who had come from variouscountries to increase the amusements of the Court, fly away, so that thesounds of their instruments were no more heard? `Et vox citharaedorumet musicorum et tibia canentium et tuba, non audietur in te amplius.'
"Are not these great and striking evidences that the destruction ofLisbon was foretold? And also all the holy fathers of the Church agree,that when Babylon was spoken of, some other city was meant, supposing itto refer to the destruction and burning of Rome; but now it is confessedby all, that St. John spoke not of Rome, but of Lisbon. Does he notspeak of a city built on seven hills, great, flourishing, and powerful,and does not Lisbon stand on seven hills? I ought rather to say, didstand; and was she not one of the first cities in the world? And canthere yet be a soul so incredulous, that he should persevere indeclaring that this horrible calamity was chance, and not design?--wasan impulse of nature, and not a Divine sentence?
"Yes, alas! some are so hardened as still to doubt; for that was alsoforetold: `Ingravatum est cor Pharaonis: induratum est cor Pharaonis.'(Exod. vii.)
"Many are the hearts like Pharaoh's, and many are the warnings they havereceived like him. Say, when the earth shook some years ago, did youthen repent?--No. When it shook a second time?--No. And a thirdtime?--No. Will you repent this time?--No. `Induratum est corPharaonis;' for `Dixit insipiens in corde suo: non est Deus.'"
He then clearly proved that "Mulierem sedentem super bestiam coccineam,habens poculum aureum in manu sua, plenum abominatione," etc. was adescription of Lisbon, filled with people of all nations, addicted toall manner of abominations, particularly with Jews and heretics of allsorts. (We have heard rather a different interpretation givenelsewhere.)
"And yet some will not believe," he continued. "Well may I say of you,with Jeremiah, `Ostulti et tarde corde ad credendum!'"
As he proceeded, a bright rainbow was seen hanging over the ruined city.
"See, see! a portend! a portend!" he cried. "If you will repent, if youwill no longer live in sin, you will be forgiven. `Arcum meum ponam innubibus, et erit signum faederis inter me, et inter terram.'
"The same sign that God gave to Noah has He now given to us, to assureus that the earthquake will cease. `Et Iris erat in circuitu sedis'(Apocalypse, iv.) But Iris is, it can be clearly shown, as SaintEupremio and Saint Antonio call her, the holy Mother of God, who hassent the glory which surrounds her head to show us that His anger hasceased; and, as Saint Bernardo says of her, `Sicut Iris, Virgo scilicetbenedicta, in circuitu Ecclesiae constituitur.'
"Oh, pure Virgin! who standest ever before the throne of your Son, withhands uplifted, seeking mercy for our sins, hear our prayers, and speakthese words in our favour which Moses spoke for the Israelites.`Quiescat ira tua, et esto placabilis super nequitia populi tui;' for ifthe Lord listened to his words, how much more will he to those of theMother of God! and then let us hear those joyful words; `Placatus estDominus ne faceret malam quod locutus fuerat adversus populum suum.'"
As Luis was attentively listening to this discourse, so full oftheological erudition and acute reasoning, he felt a hand laid on hisshoulder, and turning round, he beheld the holy father, Jacinto daCosta.
"I am glad to see you yet an inhabitant of this world, my good cousin,"said the latter, in a reproachful tone; "though, verily, you took butslight pains to discover whether I had escaped this dreadful visitation;however, I have plenty of excuses to offer for you, so do not attempt tomake them yourself. Nay, do not answer. I have heard frequently ofyou. Retire a little from this crowd of fools; for I should be sorry torank you among them. So, you have recovered from your fit ofwretchedness at the loss of our fair cousin, Theresa, and have a secondtime entangled your feelings in a love affair, which promises to beequally unsuccessful."
"Alas! I fear so," answered Luis; "and that must excuse me for nothaving visited you."
"I am glad of it. You will have far more opportunities of exerting yourenergies on the wide field the world offers, than if you wed some weakgirl, who would bind you to her apron-strings. Remember what I said toyou some months ago; and, instead of repining at your fate, rejoice thatthe road I then pointed out is still open before you."
"I shall never forget your words, Father," answered Luis; "but were Ilikely to follow your advice, it would have been then, when I wasinclined to despair; now I am buoyed up with the proud consciousness ofhaving my love returned, by a being as lovely, and as perfect in mindand person, as this world can produce."
The Jesuit gazed at his young kinsman with a cold and scornful smile."So you thought was Donna Theresa," he returned; "so you will thinkevery woman you love, till you awake from your opiate slumber, and find'twas but a flitting dream. I once thought the same, till the magic keyto the human heart was committed into my hands, and in the all-powerfulconfessional I learned to unlock its secrets. Then I discovered howfalse had been my early impressions, at the same time that I felt anabsorbing interest in the inexhaustible field of study opened to myview. Years have I now spent in tracing the intricate workings of thehuman heart, and yet, each day am I making new discoveries; but it iswith the sex of whom you are most ignorant that I have attained thegreatest knowledge, for the reason, that to me they are more ready tocommunicate their thoughts and feelings, while to you their whole aim isto conceal them,--whereas men rarely allow more to be known than theycan avoid. However, I will not now enter into the subject. Accompanyme to my convent, which has escaped uninjured, Malagrida and others areconvinced, and endeavour to persuade the people, as a peculiar mark ofHeaven's favour; and so I might suppose, but that other parts of thecity, inhabited by a class to whom the world does not impute muchrighteousness, have been equally distinguished. We will stay here alittle longer, for I wish to know what our celebrated prophet will sayto the people. I fear he may commit himself with our arch-enemyCarvalho, who would be delighted to have an excuse to annoy us. Yet,mark how easily the crowd are led, by one little better than a madman,to believe the most absurd nonsense, and to commit follies which makeone blush for one'
s fellow-men."
Luis promised to accompany his cousin, for he had no reason to assignfor refusing; yet the sophisms of the latter made but little impressionon his understanding, though not a word the Jesuit had uttered waswithout cause: notwithstanding his extensive knowledge of human nature,he was perhaps deceived in the character of his young relative.
While they were conversing apart from the crowd, Malagrida again mountedthe heap of ruins, and commenced speaking, in a voice which was heardfor a wide circuit round.
"You have been firmly convinced, O ye people! that the late awfulvisitation was by the direct command of Heaven; but why did the Lordthus suddenly think fit to manifest his anger? Was it on account of theincreased wickedness of the people? No! they had not become worse
The preacher then proceeded to show by what sort of fire Sodom andGomorrah were destroyed, comparing their inhabitants to those of Lisbon,in no flattering terms.
"If you would know the cause of these calamities, listen not to what themathematicians and philosophers say, but to what God says through themouth of his prophet Isaias: `Movebitur terra de loco suo propterindignationem Domini exercituum et propter diem irae furoris ejus.'(Isaiah xiii. 13.)
"Cease to persuade yourselves, then, that the earth is moved, notbecause the world is living, as some atheists say;--not because it swimson the sea, as Thales says;--not because the subterranean fires andwaters meet, as Democrates says;--not because some of its enormousportions are hurled to the centre, as Anaximenes says;--not because thewind confined in the internal caverns of the globe bursts forth, asAristotle says;--but because thus God shakes it, and because God drivesit with an invisible force, proceeding from His sovereign indignation.
"There is no doubt that the prophet foretold the fate of Lisbon underthe name of Babylon, when he says: `Vidi Angelum descendentem de caelo,habentem potestatem magnam; et exclamavit in fortitudine, dicens:Cecidit, cecidit Babylon.'
"Yes, the crimes of the people will ascend to heaven, and remind God oftheir wickedness, and He will cause their city to become a heap of ruinsand ashes, and there shall be death, and mourning, and hunger. Did notall this happen, and did not the King, when he beheld his palace and hiscity in flames, weep and mourn? `Et flebunt et plangent super illamReges terrae cum viderint fumum incendii ejus.'"
He then mentioned the riches that were destroyed exactly as the prophetforetold.
"What further evidence to convince you of the truth would you have? Yethere are others. Did not the pilots and sailors remain at a distance,on the bosom of the Tagus, to behold the miserable destruction? `Etomnis gubernator, et omnis qui in lacum navigat et qui in mari operanturlonge steterunt.'
"Did not also the singers and musicians, who had come from variouscountries to increase the amusements of the Court, fly away, so that thesounds of their instruments were no more heard? `Et vox citharaedorumet musicorum et tibia canentium et tuba, non audietur in te amplius.'
"Are not these great and striking evidences that the destruction ofLisbon was foretold? And also all the holy fathers of the Church agree,that when Babylon was spoken of, some other city was meant, supposing itto refer to the destruction and burning of Rome; but now it is confessedby all, that St. John spoke not of Rome, but of Lisbon. Does he notspeak of a city built on seven hills, great, flourishing, and powerful,and does not Lisbon stand on seven hills? I ought rather to say, didstand; and was she not one of the first cities in the world? And canthere yet be a soul so incredulous, that he should persevere indeclaring that this horrible calamity was chance, and not design?--wasan impulse of nature, and not a Divine sentence?
"Yes, alas! some are so hardened as still to doubt; for that was alsoforetold: `Ingravatum est cor Pharaonis: induratum est cor Pharaonis.'(Exod. vii.)
"Many are the hearts like Pharaoh's, and many are the warnings they havereceived like him. Say, when the earth shook some years ago, did youthen repent?--No. When it shook a second time?--No. And a thirdtime?--No. Will you repent this time?--No. `Induratum est corPharaonis;' for `Dixit insipiens in corde suo: non est Deus.'"
He then clearly proved that "Mulierem sedentem super bestiam coccineam,habens poculum aureum in manu sua, plenum abominatione," etc. was adescription of Lisbon, filled with people of all nations, addicted toall manner of abominations, particularly with Jews and heretics of allsorts. (We have heard rather a different interpretation givenelsewhere.)
"And yet some will not believe," he continued. "Well may I say of you,with Jeremiah, `Ostulti et tarde corde ad credendum!'"
As he proceeded, a bright rainbow was seen hanging over the ruined city.
"See, see! a portend! a portend!" he cried. "If you will repent, if youwill no longer live in sin, you will be forgiven. `Arcum meum ponam innubibus, et erit signum faederis inter me, et inter terram.'
"The same sign that God gave to Noah has He now given to us, to assureus that the earthquake will cease. `Et Iris erat in circuitu sedis'(Apocalypse, iv.) But Iris is, it can be clearly shown, as SaintEupremio and Saint Antonio call her, the holy Mother of God, who hassent the glory which surrounds her head to show us that His anger hasceased; and, as Saint Bernardo says of her, `Sicut Iris, Virgo scilicetbenedicta, in circuitu Ecclesiae constituitur.'
"Oh, pure Virgin! who standest ever before the throne of your Son, withhands uplifted, seeking mercy for our sins, hear our prayers, and speakthese words in our favour which Moses spoke for the Israelites.`Quiescat ira tua, et esto placabilis super nequitia populi tui;' for ifthe Lord listened to his words, how much more will he to those of theMother of God! and then let us hear those joyful words; `Placatus estDominus ne faceret malam quod locutus fuerat adversus populum suum.'"
As Luis was attentively listening to this discourse, so full oftheological erudition and acute reasoning, he felt a hand laid on hisshoulder, and turning round, he beheld the holy father, Jacinto daCosta.
"I am glad to see you yet an inhabitant of this world, my good cousin,"said the latter, in a reproachful tone; "though, verily, you took butslight pains to discover whether I had escaped this dreadful visitation;however, I have plenty of excuses to offer for you, so do not attempt tomake them yourself. Nay, do not answer. I have heard frequently ofyou. Retire a little from this crowd of fools; for I should be sorry torank you among them. So, you have recovered from your fit ofwretchedness at the loss of our fair cousin, Theresa, and have a secondtime entangled your feelings in a love affair, which promises to beequally unsuccessful."
"Alas! I fear so," answered Luis; "and that must excuse me for nothaving visited you."
"I am glad of it. You will have far more opportunities of exerting yourenergies on the wide field the world offers, than if you wed some weakgirl, who would bind you to her apron-strings. Remember what I said toyou some months ago; and, instead of repining at your fate, rejoice thatthe road I then pointed out is still open before you."
"I shall never forget your words, Father," answered Luis; "but were Ilikely to follow your advice, it would have been then, when I wasinclined to despair; now I am buoyed up with the proud consciousness ofhaving my love returned, by a being as lovely, and as perfect in mindand person, as this world can produce."
The Jesuit gazed at his young kinsman with a cold and scornful smile."So you thought was Donna Theresa," he returned; "so you will thinkevery woman you love, till you awake from your opiate slumber, and find'twas but a flitting dream. I once thought the same, till the magic keyto the human heart was committed into my hands, and in the all-powerfulconfessional I learned to unlock its secrets. Then I discovered howfalse had been my early impressions, at the same time that I felt anabsorbing interest in the inexhaustible field of study opened to myview. Years have I now spent in tracing the intricate workings of thehuman heart, and yet, each day am I making new discoveries; but it iswith the sex of whom you are most ignorant that I have attained thegreatest knowledge, for the reason, that to me they are more ready tocommunicate their thoughts and feelings, while to you their whole aim isto conceal them,--whereas men rarely allow more to be known than theycan avoid. However, I will not now enter into the subject. Accompanyme to my convent, which has escaped uninjured, Malagrida and others areconvinced, and endeavour to persuade the people, as a peculiar mark ofHeaven's favour; and so I might suppose, but that other parts of thecity, inhabited by a class to whom the world does not impute muchrighteousness, have been equally distinguished. We will stay here alittle longer, for I wish to know what our celebrated prophet will sayto the people. I fear he may commit himself with our arch-enemyCarvalho, who would be delighted to have an excuse to annoy us. Yet,mark how easily the crowd are led, by one little better than a madman,to believe the most absurd nonsense, and to commit follies which makeone blush for one'
Luis promised to accompany his cousin, for he had no reason to assignfor refusing; yet the sophisms of the latter made but little impressionon his understanding, though not a word the Jesuit had uttered waswithout cause: notwithstanding his extensive knowledge of human nature,he was perhaps deceived in the character of his young relative.
While they were conversing apart from the crowd, Malagrida again mountedthe heap of ruins, and commenced speaking, in a voice which was heardfor a wide circuit round.
"You have been firmly convinced, O ye people! that the late awfulvisitation was by the direct command of Heaven; but why did the Lordthus suddenly think fit to manifest his anger? Was it on account of theincreased wickedness of the people? No! they had not become worse