The Prime Minister Part 33

The preacher then proceeded to show by what sort of fire Sodom and Gomorrah 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 the mathematicians and philosophers say, but to what G.o.d says through the mouth of his prophet Isaias: 'Movebitur terra de loco suo propter indignationem Domini exercituum et propter diem irae furoris ejus.'

(Isaiah xiii. 13.)

"Cease to persuade yourselves, then, that the earth is moved, not because the world is living, as some atheists say;--not because it swims on the sea, as Thales says;--not because the subterranean fires and waters meet, as Democrates says;--not because some of its enormous portions are hurled to the centre, as Anaximenes says;--not because the wind confined in the internal caverns of the globe bursts forth, as Aristotle says;--but because thus G.o.d shakes it, and because G.o.d drives it with an invisible force, proceeding from His sovereign indignation.

"There is no doubt that the prophet foretold the fate of Lisbon under the name of Babylon, when he says: 'Vidi Angelum descendentem de caelo, habentem potestatem magnam; et exclamavit in fort.i.tudine, dicens: Cecidit, cecidit Babylon.'

"Yes, the crimes of the people will ascend to heaven, and remind G.o.d of their wickedness, and He will cause their city to become a heap of ruins and ashes, and there shall be death, and mourning, and hunger. Did not all this happen, and did not the King, when he beheld his palace and his city in flames, weep and mourn? 'Et flebunt et plangent super illam Reges terrae c.u.m viderint fumum incendii ejus.'"

He then mentioned the riches that were destroyed exactly as the prophet foretold.

"What further evidence to convince you of the truth would you have? Yet here are others. Did not the pilots and sailors remain at a distance, on the bosom of the Tagus, to behold the miserable destruction? 'Et omnis gubernator, et omnis qui in lac.u.m navigat et qui in mari operantur longe steterunt.'

"Did not also the singers and musicians, who had come from various countries to increase the amus.e.m.e.nts of the Court, fly away, so that the sounds of their instruments were no more heard? 'Et vox citharaedorum et musicorum et tibia canentium et tuba, non audietur in te amplius.'

"Are not these great and striking evidences that the destruction of Lisbon was foretold? And also all the holy fathers of the Church agree, that when Babylon was spoken of, some other city was meant, supposing it to refer to the destruction and burning of Rome; but now it is confessed by all, that St. John spoke not of Rome, but of Lisbon. Does he not speak of a city built on seven hills, great, flouris.h.i.+ng, and powerful, and does not Lisbon stand on seven hills? I ought rather to say, did stand; and was she not one of the first cities in the world? And can there yet be a soul so incredulous, that he should persevere in declaring that this horrible calamity was chance, and not design?--was an impulse of nature, and not a Divine sentence?

"Yes, alas! some are so hardened as still to doubt; for that was also foretold: 'Ingravatum est cor Pharaonis: induratum est cor Pharaonis.'

(Exod. vii.)

"Many are the hearts like Pharaoh's, and many are the warnings they have received like him. Say, when the earth shook some years ago, did you then repent?--No. When it shook a second time?--No. And a third time?--No. Will you repent this time?--No. 'Induratum est cor Pharaonis;' 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 a description of Lisbon, filled with people of all nations, addicted to all manner of abominations, particularly with Jews and heretics of all sorts. (We have heard rather a different interpretation given elsewhere.)

"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 you will no longer live in sin, you will be forgiven. 'Arc.u.m meum ponam in nubibus, et erit signum faederis inter me, et inter terram.'

"The same sign that G.o.d gave to Noah has He now given to us, to a.s.sure us that the earthquake will cease. 'Et Iris erat in circuitu sedis'

(Apocalypse, iv.) But Iris is, it can be clearly shown, as Saint Eupremio and Saint Antonio call her, the holy Mother of G.o.d, who has sent the glory which surrounds her head to show us that His anger has ceased; and, as Saint Bernardo says of her, 'Sicut Iris, Virgo scilicet benedicta, in circuitu Ecclesiae const.i.tuitur.'

"Oh, pure Virgin! who standest ever before the throne of your Son, with hands uplifted, seeking mercy for our sins, hear our prayers, and speak these words in our favour which Moses spoke for the Israelites.

'Quiescat ira tua, et esto placabilis super nequitia populi tui;' for if the Lord listened to his words, how much more will he to those of the Mother of G.o.d! and then let us hear those joyful words; 'Placatus est Dominus ne faceret malam quod locutus fuerat adversus populum suum.'"

As Luis was attentively listening to this discourse, so full of theological erudition and acute reasoning, he felt a hand laid on his shoulder, and turning round, he beheld the holy father, Jacinto da Costa.

"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 but slight pains to discover whether I had escaped this dreadful visitation; however, I have plenty of excuses to offer for you, so do not attempt to make them yourself. Nay, do not answer. I have heard frequently of you. Retire a little from this crowd of fools; for I should be sorry to rank you among them. So, you have recovered from your fit of wretchedness at the loss of our fair cousin, Theresa, and have a second time entangled your feelings in a love affair, which promises to be equally unsuccessful."

"Alas! I fear so," answered Luis; "and that must excuse me for not having visited you."

"I am glad of it. You will have far more opportunities of exerting your energies on the wide field the world offers, than if you wed some weak girl, who would bind you to her ap.r.o.n-strings. Remember what I said to you some months ago; and, instead of repining at your fate, rejoice that the road I then pointed out is still open before you."

"I shall never forget your words, Father," answered Luis; "but were I likely to follow your advice, it would have been then, when I was inclined to despair; now I am buoyed up with the proud consciousness of having my love returned, by a being as lovely, and as perfect in mind and 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 think every 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 key to the human heart was committed into my hands, and in the all-powerful confessional I learned to unlock its secrets. Then I discovered how false had been my early impressions, at the same time that I felt an absorbing interest in the inexhaustible field of study opened to my view. Years have I now spent in tracing the intricate workings of the human heart, and yet, each day am I making new discoveries; but it is with the s.e.x of whom you are most ignorant that I have attained the greatest knowledge, for the reason, that to me they are more ready to communicate their thoughts and feelings, while to you their whole aim is to conceal them,--whereas men rarely allow more to be known than they can avoid. However, I will not now enter into the subject. Accompany me to my convent, which has escaped uninjured, Malagrida and others are convinced, and endeavour to persuade the people, as a peculiar mark of Heaven's favour; and so I might suppose, but that other parts of the city, inhabited by a cla.s.s to whom the world does not impute much righteousness, have been equally distinguished. We will stay here a little longer, for I wish to know what our celebrated prophet will say to the people. I fear he may commit himself with our arch-enemy Carvalho, 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 make one blush for one's fellow-men."

Luis promised to accompany his cousin, for he had no reason to a.s.sign for refusing; yet the sophisms of the latter made but little impression on his understanding, though not a word the Jesuit had uttered was without 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 mounted the heap of ruins, and commenced speaking, in a voice which was heard for a wide circuit round.

"You have been firmly convinced, O ye people! that the late awful visitation was by the direct command of Heaven; but why did the Lord thus suddenly think fit to manifest his anger? Was it on account of the increased wickedness of the people? No! they had not become worse than they always were since the city was built; but it was because he looked down on the city and beheld his true and faithful servants, whose whole lives have been spent in forwarding his works, thrust out from their offices, and treated by the rulers of the land with scorn and neglect.

Could he longer endure such impiety? No! Now mark where the whole fury of his anger fell. See, the once proud palace of the King a heap of stones and ashes! Why was this? Who is the culprit? Who but the King?

And why? because he retains in his councils that impious despiser of the commands of the Lord,--that hater of our holy religion,--that persecutor and vile calumniator of the ministers of the faith,--that man in whom none ought to place trust,--whom all must hate,--that man accursed by Heaven, Sebastiao Joze de Carvalho! Do any here think I fear him? No, I scorn his hatred--I laugh at his fury. Why should I fear him? I who have stood boldly before the kings of the earth, and have rebuked them for their transgressions; and again do I rebuke the King who now reigns over this unhappy country. Let him beware; for even as the kingdom departed from Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, so will his kingdom pa.s.s away from his hands, and whoso slayeth him shall be accounted blessed in the sight of Heaven."

Malagrida still continued speaking, when Father Jacinto, taking the arm of his young cousin, led him on one side. "I had heard that the horrors of the earthquake had somewhat injured my holy brother's brain, and I came here to endeavour to stop his preaching, fearing that he might commit himself, which he had indeed done; for one might as well expect to stop a winter torrent in its impetuous course as that man, when he has persuaded himself that the Spirit prompts him to speak. My only hope is, that his mad words may not be reported to that enemy of our order, the Minister, or Malagrida will be made to suffer severely for what he has said, and, at all events, banished from hence. I have heard enough to convince me that he is no longer to be trusted, so I shall not remain here. Come with me to my convent; for I can there speak to you on a subject which I have to communicate, but little calculated to raise your spirits; here I will say nothing."

Luis, wondering, yet dreading what the Jesuit had to relate, accepted his invitation; and, as they were pa.s.sing the crowd, he observed Antonio among them. He longed to speak to him, to ask him if he had gained any information regarding the young Goncalo; but the crowd was so dense that he could not approach him, nor could he catch his eye, for there was no one more intently listening to every word the preacher uttered than he, nor would any of the bystanders have been supposed more devoutly believing.

"By the G.o.d of my fathers, that man strives hard to gain the glorious crown of martyrdom; and, if I mistake not, he will deservedly win it before long," thought Antonio to himself. "He must be got rid of, or, mad as he is, he will find fools enough to follow his counsels, and among them they will commit some mischief before many days are over."

Note. The whole of this Sermon is a literal translation.

Volume 2, Chapter XIX.

"Farewell, my kind friend," exclaimed Don Luis, pressing the hand of Captain Pinto, as they stood together in front of their humble lodgings on the outskirts of the ruined city, while Pedro held his master's horse and his own, prepared for a journey.

"Farewell, Luis; we may meet again under happier auspices, when I return from the cruise on which I am now despatched, and you recover from the effects of your disappointment and reverse of fortune."

"The mere loss of fortune I could, as far as I am individually concerned, have borne with fort.i.tude, but that it casts a cloud over the last days of my father's life, and that it deprives me of the last chance of gaining Donna Clara."

"But is your father's property so irretrievably involved, that you may not hope to recover it?" asked the Captain.

"So Father Jacinto, my cousin, informs me, the mercantile house in which the whole of my father's monied property was placed having completely failed, and the estates being mortgaged to their full value.--No, alas!

I see no chance of ever being able to recover what we have lost; and with me, I fear, our once high name must end."

"Don't think of such a thing. When you least expect it, Fortune's wheel will turn up a prize, and you will find yourself prosperous and happy.

You do not mean to become a friar, I hope? You were fitted for n.o.bler aims than such a life can offer."

"I must visit my father,--I fear it will be but to close his eyes,-- before I fix on my future course in life, though surely anything is preferable to hanging about the Court, a poverty-stricken n.o.ble, in greedy expectation of some paltry office, cringing meanly to those one despises, to obtain it, as is the fate of many, and would be mine also if I could submit to it; but that I never can. No, I would far rather sink my rank and name, and be forgotten by the world, than lead such a life."

"You are right, Luis, anything is better than that contemptible hunting after place, in which so many men waste their energies; but you need not be reduced to that necessity,--the Minister will gladly give you employment whenever you ask for it, as he has already promised you, and he is not a man to forget his word."

"That was when fortune appeared to smile on me, and I was not a suppliant for charity. You yourself have often told me that people are far more ready to bestow gifts on those who do not ask for them, than on those who are pet.i.tioners."

"With people in general, such is the case," replied the Captain; "but the Minister is not to be judged by the same rules as other men: besides, you have other powerful friends, whom you are not aware of, but who would be the last people to wish you to enter the profession of the Church--with due reverence be it spoken. Should you be deprived of your natural counsellor,--your father, do not take any step without consulting one in whose judgment you may place the fullest confidence,-- I mean, Senhor Mendez. You will always hear of him at the house where he is now residing, and he will ever be ready to advise you. Do not act like some foolish people, who fancy that it betrays a weakness of judgment to ask advice, whereas another person, of even inferior capacity, may often, from viewing a case calmly and dispa.s.sionately, be able to form a better opinion than he who, having to act, is naturally bia.s.sed according to his feelings at the time. You will think me an old proser if I continue talking much longer; and, at all events, your servant and horses are impatient to be off, so once again, Luis, farewell."

The friends embracing affectionately, Luis mounted his horse with a sad heart, and turned his back once more on all the horrors and miseries with which for the last few weeks he had been surrounded. He had, in despair, been obliged to give up his search for the younger Goncalo Christovao, not being able to discover the slightest trace of him, so that at last he felt convinced that he must have been one of the sufferers in the earthquake.

The fidalgo had recovered his strength, and a few days before had set off on his return to Oporto, accompanied by his daughter, and his confessor, who did not cease to insist on his fulfilling his vow of placing the fair girl in a convent; and it was at last agreed that she should enter the princ.i.p.al one in that city. Clara, broken-hearted and despairing, offered no opposition to the proposed plan, so that it was arranged she should commence her noviciate soon after her return home,-- her younger brother, who had been before destined for the Church, being taken from Coimbra, where he was pursuing his studies, little thought of or cared about, to be treated henceforth as the heir of the house.

Luis heard of these arrangements through a message sent him by Senhora Gertrudes, who promised him that, happen what might, her young mistress should never forget his love and devotion; and that to his courage she owed her life and honour. This was the only particle of consolation he received; and, as it was the only food offered to his hopes, it was not surprising that they were left to starve.