University of Virginia Library

9. CHAPTER IX.

Columbus was received by his friends Luis de St. Angel
and Alonzo de Quintanilla, with a gratification they found
it difficult to express. They were loud in their eulogiums
on Isabella, and added to the assurances of Don Luis, such
proofs of the seriousness of the queen's intentions, as to
remove all doubts from the mind of the navigator. He was
then, without further delay, conducted to the presence.

“Señor Colon,” said Isabella, as the Genoese advanced
and knelt at her feet, “you are welcome back, again. All
our misunderstandings are finally removed, and henceforth,
I trust that we shall act cheerfully and unitedly to produce
the same great end. Rise, Señor, and receive this as a
gage of my support and friendship.”

Columbus saluted the offered hand, and arose from his
knees. At that instant, there was probably no one present
whose feelings were not raised to the buoyancy of hope;
for it was a peculiarity connected with the origin and execution
of this great enterprise, that after having been urged
for so long a period, amid sneers, and doubts, and ridicule,
it was at first adopted with something very like enthusiasm.

“Señora,” returned Columbus, whose grave aspect and
noble mien contributed not a little to the advancement of
his views—“Señora, my heart thanks you for this kindness—so
welcome because so little hoped for, this morning
— and God will reward it. We have great things in reserve,
and I devoutly wish we may be all found equal to

our several duties. I hope my Lord the King will not withhold
from my undertaking the light of his gracious
countenance.”

“You are a servitor of Castile, Señor Colon, though
little is attempted for even this kingdom, without the approbation
and consent of the King of Aragon. Don Fernando
hath been gained over to our side, though his greater caution
and superior wisdom have not as easily fallen into the measure,
as woman's faith and woman's hopes.”

“I ask no higher wisdom, no truer faith, than those of
Isabella's,” said the navigator, with a grave dignity that rendered
the compliment so much the more acceptable, by
giving it every appearance of sincerity. “Her known prudence
shall turn from me the derision of the light-minded
and idle, and on her royal word I place all my hopes.
Henceforth, and I trust for ever, I am Your Highness's
subject and servant.”

The queen was deeply impressed with the air of lofty
truth that elevated the thoughts and manners of the speaker.
Hitherto, she had seen but little of the navigator, and never,
before, under circumstances that enabled her so thoroughly
to feel the influence of his air and deportment. Columbus
had not the finish of manner that it is fancied courts only
can bestow, and which it would be more just to refer to lives
devoted to habits of pleasing; but the character of the man
shone through the exterior, and, in his case, all that artificial
training could supply fell short of the noble aspect of nature,
sustained by high aspirations. To a commanding
person, and a gravity that was heightened by the loftiness
of his purposes, Columbus added the sober earnestness of a
deeply seated and an all-pervading enthusiasm, which threw
the grace of truth and probity on what he said and did.
No quality of his mind was more apparent than its sense
of right, as right was then considered in connection with
the opinions of the age; and it is a singular circumstance
that the greatest adventure of modern times was thus confided
by Providence, as it might be with especial objects, to
the care of a sovereign and to the hands of an executive
leader, who were equally distinguished by the possession
of so rare a characteristic.

“I thank you, Señor, for this proof of confidence,” returned

the queen, both surprised and gratified; “and so
long as God giveth me power to direct, and knowledge to
decide, your interests, as well as those of this long-cherished
scheme, shall be looked to. But we are not to exclude
the king from our confederacy, since he hath been finally
gained to our opinions, and no doubt now as anxiously
looketh forward to success as we do ourselves.”

Columbus bowed his acquiescence, and the conjugal
affection of Isabella was satisfied with this concession to
her husband's character and motives; for, while it was impossible
that one so pure and ardent in the cause of virtue,
and as disinterested as the queen, should not detect some
of the selfishness of Ferdinand's cautious policy, the feelings
of a wife so far prevailed in her breast, over the sagacity
of the sovereign, as to leave her blind to faults that the
enemies of Aragon were fond of dwelling on. All admitted
the truth of Isabella, but Ferdinand had far less credit with
his contemporaries, either on the score of faith or on that
of motives. Still he might have been ranked among the
most upright of the reigning princes of Europe, his faults
being rendered the more conspicuous, perhaps, from being
necessarily placed in such close connection with, and in
such vivid contrast to, the truer virtues of the queen. In
short, these two sovereigns, so intimately united by personal
and political interests, merely exhibited on their
thrones a picture that may be seen, at any moment, in all
the inferior gradations of the social scale, in which the
worldly views and meretricious motives of man, serve as
foils to the truer heart, sincerer character, and more chastened
conduct of woman.

Don Fernando now appeared, and he joined in the discourse
in a manner to show that he considered himself fully
committed to redeem the pledges given by his wife. The
historians have told us that he had been won over by the
intercessions of a favourite, though the better opinion would
seem to be that deference for Isabella, whose pure earnestness
in the cause of virtue often led him from his more
selfish policy, lay at the bottom of his compliance. Whatever
may have been the motive, however, it is certain that
the king never entered into the undertaking with the ardent,

zealous, endeavours to insure success, which, from that
moment, distinguished the conduct of his royal consort.

“We have recovered our truant,” said Isabella, as her
husband approached, her eyes lighting and her cheeks
flushed with a pious enthusiasm, like those of Mercedes de
Valverde, who was an entranced witness of all that was
passing. “We have recovered our truant, and there is not
a moment of unnecessary delay to be permitted, until he
shall be sent forth on this great voyage. Should he truly
attain Cathay and the Indies, it will be a triumph to the
church even exceeding this conquest of the territories of
the Moor.”

“I am pleased to see Señor Colon at Santa Fé, again,”
courteously returned the king, “and if he but do the half of
that thou seemest to expect, we shall have reason to rejoice
that our countenance hath not been withheld. He may not
render the crown of Castile still more powerful, but he may
so far enrich himself that, as a subject, he will have difficulty
in finding the proper uses for his gold.”

“There will always be a use for the gold of a Christian,”
answered the navigator, “while the Infidel remaineth
the master of the Holy Sepulchre.”

“How is this!” exclaimed Ferdinand, in his quick, sharp
voice: “dost thou think, Señor, of a crusade, as well as
of discovering new regions?”

“Such, Your Highness, it hath long been my hope, would
be the first appropriation of the wealth that will, out of
question, flow from the discovery of a new and near route
to the Indies. Is it not a blot on Christendom that the
Mussulman should be permitted to raise his profane altars
on the spot that Christ visited on earth; where, indeed, he
was born, and where his holy remains lay until his glorious
resurrection? This foul disgrace, there are hearts and
swords enough ready to wipe out; all that is wanted is
gold. If the first desire of my heart be, to become the
instrument of leading the way to the East, by a western
and direct passage, the second is, to see the riches that will
certainly follow such a discovery, devoted to the service of
God, by rearing anew his altars, and reviving his worship,
in the land where he endured his agony and gave up the
ghost for the sins of men.”

Isabella smiled at the navigator's enthusiasm, though,
sooth to say, the sentiment found something of an echo in
her pious bosom; albeit the age of crusades appeared to
have gone by. Not so exactly with Ferdinand. He smiled
also, but no answering sentiment of holy zeal was awakened
within him. He felt, on the contrary, a strong distrust of
the wisdom of committing the care of even two insignificant
caravels, and the fate of a sum as small as three thousand
crowns, to a visionary, who had scarcely made a commencement
in one extremely equivocal enterprise, before
his thoughts were running on the execution of another,
that had baffled the united efforts and pious constancy of
all Europe. To him, the discovery of a western passage
to the Indies, and the repossession of the holy sepulchre,
were results that were equally problematical, and it would
have been quite sufficient to incur his distrust, to believe in
the practicability of either. Here, however, was a man
who was about to embark in an attempt to execute the first,
holding in reserve the last, as a consequence of success in
the undertaking in which he was already engaged.

There were a few minutes, during which Ferdinand seriously
contemplated the defeat of the Genoese's schemes,
and had the discourse terminated here, it is uncertain how
far his cool and calculating policy might have prevailed
over the good faith, sincere integrity, and newly awakened
enthusiasm of his wife. Fortunately, the conversation had
gone on while he was meditating on this subject, and when
he rejoined the circle he found the queen and the navigator
pursuing the subject with an earnestness that had entirely
overlooked his momentary absence.

“I shall show Your Highness all that she demandeth,”
continued Columbus, in answer to a question of the queen's.
“It is my expectation to reach the territories of the Great
Khan, the descendant of the monarch who was visited by
the Polos, a century since; at which time a strong desire
to embrace the religion of Christ was manifested by many
in that gorgeous court, the sovereign included. We are
told in the sacred books of prophecy, that the day is to
arrive when the whole earth will worship the true and
living God; and that time, it would seem, from many signs
and tokens that are visible to those who seek them, draweth

near, and is full of hope to such as honour God and seek
his glory. To bring all those vast regions in subjection to
the church, needeth but a constant faith, sustained by the
delegated agencies of the priesthood, and the protecting
hands of princes.”

“This hath a seeming probability,” observed the queen,
“and Providence so guide us in this mighty undertaking,
that it may come to pass! Were those Polos pious missionaries,
Señor?”

“They were but travellers; men who sought their own
advantage, while they were not altogether unmindful of the
duties of religion. It may be well, Señora, first to plant
the cross in the islands, and thence to spread the truth over
the main land. Cipango, in particular, is a promising region
for the commencement of the glorious work, which,
no doubt, will proceed with all the swiftness of a miracle.”

“Is this Cipango known to produce spices, or aught that
may serve to uphold a sinking treasury, and repay us for
so much cost and risk?” asked the king, a little inopportunely
for the zeal of the two other interlocutors.

Isabella looked pained, the prevailing trait in Ferdinand's
character often causing her to feel as affectionate
wives are wont to feel when their husbands forget to think,
act, or speak up to the level of their own warm-hearted
and virtuous propensities; but she suffered no other sign
of the passing emotion to escape her.

“According to the accounts of Marco Polo, Your Highness,”
answered Columbus, “earth hath no richer island.
It aboundeth especially in gold; nor are pearls and precious
stones at all rare. But all that region is a quarter
of infinite wealth and benighted infidelity. Providence
seemeth to have united the first with the last, as a reward
to the Christian monarch who shall use his power to extend
the sway of the church. The sea, thereabouts, is covered
with smaller islands, Marco telling us that no less than
seven thousand four hundred and forty have been enumerated,
not one of all which doth not produce some odoriferous
tree, or plant of delicious perfume. It is then, thither,
gracious Lord and Lady, my honoured sovereigns, that I
propose to proceed at once, leaving all meaner objects, to
exalt the two kingdoms and to serve the church. Should

we reach Cipango in safety, as, by the blessing of God,
acting on a zeal and faith that are not easily shaken, I trust
we shall be able to do, in the course of two months' diligent
navigation, it will be my next purpose to pass over to the
continent, and seek the Khan himself, in his kingdom of
Cathay. The day that my foot touches the land of Asia
will be a glorious day for Spain, and for all who have had
a part in the accomplishment of so great an enterprise!”

Ferdinand's keen eyes were riveted on the navigator, as
he thus betrayed his hopes with the quiet but earnest manner
of deep enthusiasm, and he might have been at a loss,
himself, just at that moment, to have analyzed his own
feelings. The picture of wealth that Columbus had conjured
to his imagination, was as enticing, as his cold and
calculating habits of distrust and caution rendered it questionable.
Isabella heard only, or thought only of the pious
longings of her pure spirit for the conversion and salvation
of the Infidels, and thus each of the two sovereigns had a
favourite impulse to bind him, or her, to the prosecution of
the voyage.

After this, the conversation entered more into details, and
the heads of the terms demanded by Columbus were gone
over again, and approved of by those who were most interested
in the matter. All thought of the archbishop and
his objections was momentarily lost, and had the Genoese
been a monarch, treating with monarchs, he could not have
had more reason to be satisfied with the respectful manner
in which his terms were heard. Even his proposal to
receive one-eighth of the profits of this, and all future expeditions
to the places he might discover, on condition of
his advancing an equal proportion of the outfits, was cheerfully
acceded to; making him, at once, a partner with the
crown, in the risks and benefits of the many undertakings
that it was hoped would follow from the success of this.

Luis de St. Angel and Alonzo de Quintanilla quitted the
royal presence, in company with Columbus. They saw
him to his lodgings, and left him with a respect and cordiality
of manner, that cheered a heart which had lately
been so bruised and disappointed. As they walked away,
in company, the former, who, notwithstanding the liberality
of his views and his strong support of the navigator, was

not apt to suppress his thoughts, opened a dialogue in the
following manner.

“By all the saints! friend Alonzo,” he exclaimed, “but
this Colon carrieth it with a high hand among us, and in a
way, sometimes, to make me doubt the prudence of our interference.
He hath treated with the two sovereigns like a
monarch, and like a monarch hath he carried his point!”

“Who hath aided him more than thyself, friend Luis?”
returned Alonzo de Quintanilla; “for, without thy bold
assault on Doña Isabella's patience, the matter had been
decided against this voyage, and the Genoese would still be
on his way to the court of King Louis.”

“I regret it not; the chance of keeping the Frenchman
within modest bounds being worth a harder effort. Her
Highness—Heaven and all the saints unite to bless her for
her upright intentions and generous thoughts—will never
regret the trifling cost, even though bootless, with so great
an aim in view. But now the thing is done, I marvel, myself,
that a Queen of Castile and a King of Aragon should
grant such conditions to an unknown and nameless seafarer;
one that hath neither services, family, nor gold, to
recommend him!”

“Hath he not had Luis de St. Angel of his side?”

“That hath he,” returned the receiver-general, “and
that right stoutly, too; and for good and sufficient cause.
I only marvel at our success, and at the manner in which
this Colon hath borne himself in the affair. I much feared
that the high price he set upon his services might ruin all
our hopes.”

“And yet thou didst reason with the queen, as if thou
thought'st it insignificant, compared with the good that
would come of the voyage.”

“Is there aught wonderful in this, my worthy friend?
We consume our means in efforts to obtain our ends, and,
while suffering under the exhaustion, begin first to see the
other side of the question. I am chiefly surprised at mine
own success! As for this Genoese, he is, truly, a most
wonderful man, and, in my heart, I think him right in demanding
such high conditions. If he succeed, who so great
as he? and, if he fail, the conditions will do him no good,
and Castile little harm.”

“I have remarked, Señor de St. Angel, that when grave
men set a light value on themselves, the world is apt to
take them at their word, though willing enough to laugh at
the pretensions of triflers. After all, the high demands of
Colon may have done him much service, since their Highnesses
could not but feel that they were negotiating with
one who had faith in his own projects.”

“It is much as thou sayest, Alonzo; men often prizing
us as we seem to prize ourselves, so long as we act at
all up to the level of our pretensions. But there is sterling
merit in this Colon, to sustain him in all that he sayeth and
doth; wisdom of speech, dignity and gravity of mien, and
nobleness of feeling and sentiment. Truly, I have listened
to the man when he hath seemed inspired!”

“Well, he hath now good occasion to manifest whether
this inspiration be of the true quality or not,” returned the
other. “Of a verity, I often distrust the wisdom of our
own conclusions.”

In this manner, did even these two zealous friends of
Columbus discuss his character and chances of success;
for, while they were among the most decided of his supporters,
and had discovered the utmost readiness to uphold
him, when his cause seemed hopeless, now that the means
were likely to be afforded to allow him to demonstrate the
justice of his opinions, doubts and misgivings beset their
minds. Such is human nature. Opposition awakens our
zeal, quickens our apprehension, stimulates our reason and
emboldens our opinions; while, thrown back upon ourselves
for the proofs of what we have been long stoutly
maintaining under the pressure of resistance, we begin to
distrust the truth of our own theories and to dread the demonstrations
of a failure. Even the first disciples of the
Son of God faltered most in their faith as his predictions
were being realized; and most reformers are never so dogmatical
and certain as when battling for their principles, or
so timid and wavering as when they are about to put their
own long-cherished plans in execution. In all this, we might
see a wise provision of Providence, which gives us zeal to
overcome difficulties, and prudence when caution and moderation
become virtues rather than faults.

Although Luis de St. Angel and his friend conversed thus
freely together, however, they did not the less continue true
to their original feelings. Their doubts were transient and
of little account; and it was remarked of them, whenever
they were in the presence of Columbus, himself, that the
calm, steady, but deeply seated enthusiasm of that extraordinary
man, did not fail to carry with him, the opinions
not only of these steady supporters, but those of most
other listeners.