The Prime Minister by William Henry Giles Kingston
completelysurrounded him.
"Down with the tyrant, who would overthrow our religion!" exclaimed avoice from among the crowd at a distance; but no one responded to thecry; and Malagrida, making no further resistance, was conducted beforethe judge of the district. He protested vehemently against thetreatment he was receiving, but to no purpose; he was ordered forthwithto retire to his college, and the next day, he received a command fromthe government, to proceed to the town of Setubal, and there to remaintill desired to quit it. We are not informed why that place was chosenas his abode in banishment; whether it was that the people were so wise,that they would not listen to his mad ravings, or, that they were sofoolish, that he could not increase their folly. Thither, however, someof his warmest admirers followed him, to put themselves under hisspiritual guidance, and among them, was the devout and intriguingMarchioness of Tavora. For some weeks she resided there, performingwhat were called exercises, under his directions, during which time, hetook the opportunity of instilling into her mind both the necessity ofridding the country of their tyrant, and the lawfulness of doing so, byany means which might offer. Notwithstanding the many disciples hecollected round him, his unsettled disposition caused him to pine formore active excitement, and, as we shall see, in despite of the threatsof the Minister, he determined to quit the spot assigned to him for hisabode.
Though Malagrida was silenced, there were yet a number of prophets,perfectly in their senses, who continued to give utterance topredictions, threatening the utter destruction of Lisbon. The Minister,in consequence, issued a decree, ordering that all such persons shouldbe seized and committed to prison, as rogues and vagabonds. Lest also,the easily beguiled citizens should, trusting to their prophecies,desert their homes on the fatal day, he commanded that no one shouldquit the city on that or the two previous days; and, to enforce thisdecree, troops were collected round the barriers, who would allow noone, on any pretext whatever, to pass.
The affrighted people were in despair; but they dared not venture toforce the barriers, and the measure proved that a little coercion is, attimes, for the benefit of the multitude, notwithstanding what demagoguesmay say to the contrary; for the day passed, and no convulsion tookplace. We do not hear if the people accused their prophets ofprophesying falsely, though we suspect they probably found some means ofexcusing them, at least, if we may judge from the credence given totheir brethren of the present day, who, let them utter, time after time,the most absurd predictions, always unfulfilled, are not the lessbelieved by their enlightened and educated disciples, they everdiscovering some plausible interpretation for their teachers' words.
Volume 3, Chapter II.
The usual time for paying visits in Portugal is in the evening, whenladies are borne about to the houses of their acquaintances in theircarriages or chairs, full dressed, as if for a ball; most families ofany pretension to fashion having certain nights fixed for the receptionof their guests.
The Marchioness of Tavora, although famed for her devoutness, had becomeeven more particular than before in conforming to all the observances ofetiquette, in the hopes thereby of gaining over more partisans in theplots she was forming; and she was on her way to pay several of thesepolitic visits of ceremony, when she alighted at the palace of herdaughter-in-law, Donna Theresa. She had gained a considerable influenceover the younger Marchioness, more, perhaps, by having inspired awe thanlove; nor did the latter ever feel perfectly at her ease in her society.Her purpose, at present, was, following the advice given by the FatherJacinto, to persuade Donna Theresa to endeavour to win the confidence ofthe King at every cost; a task she found no very great difficulty inaccomplishing.
"I will assure my son, on the earliest opportunity," she said, "that youhave my sanction to receive the visits of the King, which will preventany jealous doubts arising in his mind, should he discover acircumstance of which he is not now aware. His hot temper, were he tohear of it, before being warned by me, might otherwise take fire, andcause him to commit some mad outrage, which might bring destruction onus all. But be not alarmed; I will arrange affairs so that he shallhave no cause to complain of your infidelity; for he will, as I do, putfull confidence in your honour; and that your family pride alone willprevent you committing aught derogatory to the dignity of your birth."
Theresa had no words to answer, but she bowed her head in acquiescenceof the arrangement; and the elder Marchioness having accomplished herpurpose, proceeded on her round of visits.
The young Marchioness, thus urged on by her confessor and hermother-in-law, had no further reason to fly the advances of her royaladmirer; yet she trembled for the consequences;--she saw the yawninggulf below her, yet she felt like a person on the summit of a loftycliff, with an involuntary inclination to leap from the edge, thoughfully aware that destruction awaited her. How bitterly did she repentthat she had sacrificed her love, and stifled all the tender sentimentsof her nature, to follow the rugged and dangerous paths of ambition; butthere was now no power of receding left: her peace of mind, herconsciousness of rectitude, had deserted her; the past was full ofuseless regrets; and though she felt that they were deceitful andtreacherous, the dazzling temptations of the future lured her on.
It was the custom of the King, when driving out at night, to make use ofthe private carriage of a confidential attendant, who generallyaccompanied him. This man, of the name of Texeira, was of low birth;but, by various acts of a doubtful nature, had ingratiated himself intohis sovereign's favour; presuming on which, he frequently behaved in animpertinent manner towards the nobles of the Court, who, ill-brookingsuch behaviour, bore a determined hatred towards him. Texeira waswaiting in his carriage at the private entrance to the palace for thecoming of his sovereign, who proposed paying an earlier visit than usualto the young Marchioness of Tavora. As the King appeared at the door,the attendant stepped out to offer his assistance, and when both wereseated, the postillion was ordered to proceed forthwith in the directionTexeira had already indicated to him.
The carriage stopped at the gateway of a palace situated in the westernpart of the city, when the King, wrapping his cloak closely round hisfeatures, descended and entered the building, while his attendantretained his seat. The latter had remained there some time, when heheard a voice, in a tone of authority, ordering his postillion to moveonward, and another carriage drew up at the gate of the palace. SenhorTexeira, at first, forgetting himself, felt very much inclined to desirehis postillion not to stir from his position, but remembering instantlythat it was his duty rather to prevent the King from being discovered,he checked the expressions rising to his tongue, and allowed hiscarriage to proceed out of the way.
The occupant of the other carriage was the young Marquis of Tavora, whohad suddenly returned from some military duty on which he had beendespatched from Lisbon. As he alighted and entered his palace, none ofhis principal servants were in waiting; the porter alone, who, wrappedup in his cloak, had been dozing in a corner, after opening the doorswith an amazed and sleepy stare, uttered some incoherent words, to whichhis master paying no attention, passed onward. A small lamp, suspendedat the head of the first flight of steps, afforded the young lord butjust sufficient light to see his way as he mounted, summoning hisattendants, in an angry tone, to his presence. The porter gazed afterhim with a doubtful expression of countenance. "Shall I tell him he hadbetter not go upstairs?" he thought; "but if I do, it will only make himgo the faster. It is no affair of mine, and I suppose the King has aright to go where he likes; if not, what is the use of being a King?only I am afraid mischief will come of it."
By the time the porter had got thus far in his soliloquy, his master hadgained the summit of the flight of steps which led to the first floor.The young noble was advancing towards the drawing-room, wondering at theunusual silence which reigned through the palace, when suddenly a dooropened, and he encountered a figure with a large cloak wrapped closelyround him.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, in a voice of suddenly aroused anger, "who does methe honour of p
aying my palace a visit at this time of the night? Stay,Senhor Cavalhero: I allow no one to pass unquestioned." But thestranger, not heeding his words, endeavoured to pass on his way withoutanswering. "What! you are dumb too! Then this shall compel you tospeak." On these words, drawing his sword, he made a pass at thecloaked stranger; the latter, however, stepping back, avoided thethrust; the weapon merely grazing his cloak, and, unsheathing his rapieralso, he turned aside, with considerable skill, another lunge made athim.
"Stay, senhor! you know not whom you attack," he exclaimed. "Allow meto pass without further hindrance."
But the passion of the Marquis was aroused to the highest pitch from thevery opposition he received, it preventing him from distinguishing thevoice of the stranger.
"Daring villain, no!" he answered, "speak your business in this mansion,and let your own words condemn
"Down with the tyrant, who would overthrow our religion!" exclaimed avoice from among the crowd at a distance; but no one responded to thecry; and Malagrida, making no further resistance, was conducted beforethe judge of the district. He protested vehemently against thetreatment he was receiving, but to no purpose; he was ordered forthwithto retire to his college, and the next day, he received a command fromthe government, to proceed to the town of Setubal, and there to remaintill desired to quit it. We are not informed why that place was chosenas his abode in banishment; whether it was that the people were so wise,that they would not listen to his mad ravings, or, that they were sofoolish, that he could not increase their folly. Thither, however, someof his warmest admirers followed him, to put themselves under hisspiritual guidance, and among them, was the devout and intriguingMarchioness of Tavora. For some weeks she resided there, performingwhat were called exercises, under his directions, during which time, hetook the opportunity of instilling into her mind both the necessity ofridding the country of their tyrant, and the lawfulness of doing so, byany means which might offer. Notwithstanding the many disciples hecollected round him, his unsettled disposition caused him to pine formore active excitement, and, as we shall see, in despite of the threatsof the Minister, he determined to quit the spot assigned to him for hisabode.
Though Malagrida was silenced, there were yet a number of prophets,perfectly in their senses, who continued to give utterance topredictions, threatening the utter destruction of Lisbon. The Minister,in consequence, issued a decree, ordering that all such persons shouldbe seized and committed to prison, as rogues and vagabonds. Lest also,the easily beguiled citizens should, trusting to their prophecies,desert their homes on the fatal day, he commanded that no one shouldquit the city on that or the two previous days; and, to enforce thisdecree, troops were collected round the barriers, who would allow noone, on any pretext whatever, to pass.
The affrighted people were in despair; but they dared not venture toforce the barriers, and the measure proved that a little coercion is, attimes, for the benefit of the multitude, notwithstanding what demagoguesmay say to the contrary; for the day passed, and no convulsion tookplace. We do not hear if the people accused their prophets ofprophesying falsely, though we suspect they probably found some means ofexcusing them, at least, if we may judge from the credence given totheir brethren of the present day, who, let them utter, time after time,the most absurd predictions, always unfulfilled, are not the lessbelieved by their enlightened and educated disciples, they everdiscovering some plausible interpretation for their teachers' words.
Volume 3, Chapter II.
The usual time for paying visits in Portugal is in the evening, whenladies are borne about to the houses of their acquaintances in theircarriages or chairs, full dressed, as if for a ball; most families ofany pretension to fashion having certain nights fixed for the receptionof their guests.
The Marchioness of Tavora, although famed for her devoutness, had becomeeven more particular than before in conforming to all the observances ofetiquette, in the hopes thereby of gaining over more partisans in theplots she was forming; and she was on her way to pay several of thesepolitic visits of ceremony, when she alighted at the palace of herdaughter-in-law, Donna Theresa. She had gained a considerable influenceover the younger Marchioness, more, perhaps, by having inspired awe thanlove; nor did the latter ever feel perfectly at her ease in her society.Her purpose, at present, was, following the advice given by the FatherJacinto, to persuade Donna Theresa to endeavour to win the confidence ofthe King at every cost; a task she found no very great difficulty inaccomplishing.
"I will assure my son, on the earliest opportunity," she said, "that youhave my sanction to receive the visits of the King, which will preventany jealous doubts arising in his mind, should he discover acircumstance of which he is not now aware. His hot temper, were he tohear of it, before being warned by me, might otherwise take fire, andcause him to commit some mad outrage, which might bring destruction onus all. But be not alarmed; I will arrange affairs so that he shallhave no cause to complain of your infidelity; for he will, as I do, putfull confidence in your honour; and that your family pride alone willprevent you committing aught derogatory to the dignity of your birth."
Theresa had no words to answer, but she bowed her head in acquiescenceof the arrangement; and the elder Marchioness having accomplished herpurpose, proceeded on her round of visits.
The young Marchioness, thus urged on by her confessor and hermother-in-law, had no further reason to fly the advances of her royaladmirer; yet she trembled for the consequences;--she saw the yawninggulf below her, yet she felt like a person on the summit of a loftycliff, with an involuntary inclination to leap from the edge, thoughfully aware that destruction awaited her. How bitterly did she repentthat she had sacrificed her love, and stifled all the tender sentimentsof her nature, to follow the rugged and dangerous paths of ambition; butthere was now no power of receding left: her peace of mind, herconsciousness of rectitude, had deserted her; the past was full ofuseless regrets; and though she felt that they were deceitful andtreacherous, the dazzling temptations of the future lured her on.
It was the custom of the King, when driving out at night, to make use ofthe private carriage of a confidential attendant, who generallyaccompanied him. This man, of the name of Texeira, was of low birth;but, by various acts of a doubtful nature, had ingratiated himself intohis sovereign's favour; presuming on which, he frequently behaved in animpertinent manner towards the nobles of the Court, who, ill-brookingsuch behaviour, bore a determined hatred towards him. Texeira waswaiting in his carriage at the private entrance to the palace for thecoming of his sovereign, who proposed paying an earlier visit than usualto the young Marchioness of Tavora. As the King appeared at the door,the attendant stepped out to offer his assistance, and when both wereseated, the postillion was ordered to proceed forthwith in the directionTexeira had already indicated to him.
The carriage stopped at the gateway of a palace situated in the westernpart of the city, when the King, wrapping his cloak closely round hisfeatures, descended and entered the building, while his attendantretained his seat. The latter had remained there some time, when heheard a voice, in a tone of authority, ordering his postillion to moveonward, and another carriage drew up at the gate of the palace. SenhorTexeira, at first, forgetting himself, felt very much inclined to desirehis postillion not to stir from his position, but remembering instantlythat it was his duty rather to prevent the King from being discovered,he checked the expressions rising to his tongue, and allowed hiscarriage to proceed out of the way.
The occupant of the other carriage was the young Marquis of Tavora, whohad suddenly returned from some military duty on which he had beendespatched from Lisbon. As he alighted and entered his palace, none ofhis principal servants were in waiting; the porter alone, who, wrappedup in his cloak, had been dozing in a corner, after opening the doorswith an amazed and sleepy stare, uttered some incoherent words, to whichhis master paying no attention, passed onward. A small lamp, suspendedat the head of the first flight of steps, afforded the young lord butjust sufficient light to see his way as he mounted, summoning hisattendants, in an angry tone, to his presence. The porter gazed afterhim with a doubtful expression of countenance. "Shall I tell him he hadbetter not go upstairs?" he thought; "but if I do, it will only make himgo the faster. It is no affair of mine, and I suppose the King has aright to go where he likes; if not, what is the use of being a King?only I am afraid mischief will come of it."
By the time the porter had got thus far in his soliloquy, his master hadgained the summit of the flight of steps which led to the first floor.The young noble was advancing towards the drawing-room, wondering at theunusual silence which reigned through the palace, when suddenly a dooropened, and he encountered a figure with a large cloak wrapped closelyround him.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, in a voice of suddenly aroused anger, "who does methe honour of p
"Stay, senhor! you know not whom you attack," he exclaimed. "Allow meto pass without further hindrance."
But the passion of the Marquis was aroused to the highest pitch from thevery opposition he received, it preventing him from distinguishing thevoice of the stranger.
"Daring villain, no!" he answered, "speak your business in this mansion,and let your own words condemn