Don Guzman

“ Don Guzman had lost a good deal of time in marching for the fugitive, whose traces he could not find, and had only abandoned the pursuit when convinced that all his efforts to recover his prisoner were in vain. Recalling his peones, who were scattered right and left, he had resumed the road to the hacienda, feeling extremely uneasy for the consequences of his prisoner's escape; for he knew Don Bernardo too well to suppose for an instant that he would not strain every nerve to avenge the insult he had met with at his hands. ”

“ The prisoner wished to die. For a long time Luco racked his brain in vain attempts at finding some means to persuade him to relinquish the feeling. To all his arguments Don Guzman replied, that his cup was full; that life was a burden to him; and that death was the only good he could henceforth look for.
The sergeant shook his head, and retired, perfectly convinced of the fallacy of the arguments. At length he arrived one day at the dungeon, and opened the door with a countenance so radiant with joy, that his master could not help remarking it, and asking what had made him so happy. ”

“ I should have killed you. General Rosas, in spite of the interest he feels for you, has not absolutely ordered me to take you alive."
The reasoning was brutal, but perfectly logical. Don Guzman bowed his head: he felt he was in this man's power.
"Nevertheless, you are my foe," he said.
"¿Quién sabe?" (who can tell?) "Señor, in times such as we live in, no one can say who is friend or who is foe."
"But finally, what are your intentions?" exclaimed Don Guzman, in a state of nervous excitement, increased by the necessity of dissembling the fury that was raging in his mind. ”

“ All had fallen around Don Torribio, who had fought to the last moment with the desperate frenzy which makes a man almost invincible.
The sun rose in his majesty, illumining the savage depths of the Pampas.
The arrieros and wagoners, cowed by the night's work, and dreading the consequences, hastened to span the oxen to the heavy galeras, and load their mules. Anxious to quit the place, they were soon dispersing in all directions. Don Guzman and his peones remained masters of the field. ”

“ I did not yet know what punishment the judges intended to impose on Sayavedra, and I was at dinner with Pompey, when one his servants, who had heard the sentence pronounced, rushed into the room quite out of breath, and cried out with as much apparent satisfaction, as if he had announced the restoration of my property: “Huzza! Signor Don Guzman, the thief who has robbed you, is condemned to the Pillory and the iron collar, and he is just now going to be fastened into it. It will be your own fault if you do not witness his punishment.” ”

“ One may fetch angels to the brand, but, ay de mi! the iron turns them into beldames!"
"Ay, there is some truth in that," said Guzman, a little thoughtfully. "No man honours Don Hernan more than myself; and yet did he suffer me to be choused out of the princess I fetched from Iztapalapan."
"Ay, the whole army witnessed it, and there was not a man who did not cry shame on you for taking it so—"
"Good-humouredly," interrupted the cavalier. "Rub me as thou wilt for a jest, Villafana; but touch me not in soberness."
"Pshaw! can I not abuse thee as a friend, without the apology of a grin? ”

“ He saw it, and his countrymen saw it too: and therefore the Spanish Armada came: but of that hereafter. And Don Guzman knew also, by hard experience, that these same islanders, who sat in Salterne's parlor, talking broad Devon through their noses, were no mere counters of money and hucksters of goods: but men who, though they thoroughly hated fighting, and loved making money instead, could fight, upon occasion, after a very dogged and terrible fashion, as well as the bluest blood in Spain ”

“ I swear to thee, Francisco, we are e'en as base knaves as himself; for we have employed our strength—our cunning and our strength—against a creature that is utterly friendless. Alas, I say; for I remember me of the days of old; and surely I loved him once as my own soul."
This outbreaking of feeling did not at all surprise Guzman, who had been familiar from the beginning with the ebbings and flowings of Don Hernan's hate, and who had several times seen him, when the destiny of Juan seemed already closed, affected so much that he shed tears, as he did at the present moment. ”

“ Don Ped. That's Lopez, we shall be discover'd. But 'tis no great Matter, the Crime will justify the Execution; but where's Don John? Don John, where are you?
Lopez knocks again.
Lop. Open the Door there, quickly. Madam, I saw 'em both pass the Wall; the Devil's in't if any good comes on't.
Leo. I am frightened out of my Senses: ho, Isabella!
Don Ped. 'Tis Leonora. She's welcome. With her own Eyes let her see her Guzman dead.
Enter Don Guzman, Leonora, Isabella, Jacinta and Lopez, with Lights.
Don Ped. Ha! what is't I see? Guzman alive? Then who art thou? ”

“ The Jeweller, who was not willing to allow this jewel to escape him, took his cloak immediately, and hastened to the place where I told him we lodged, and did not fail to question several of the officers and soldiers, as to the character of a certain Don Juan de Guzman who described himself as belonging to their company. Every man of them (for I was generally beloved) assured him I was a young man of quality, who intended to pass over to Italy with them, and that they had known me make a most brilliant figure. ”

“ Don Jose Avellanos loved his country. He had served it lavishly with his fortune during his diplomatic career, and the later story of his captivity and barbarous ill-usage under Guzman Bento was well known to his listeners. It was a wonder that he had not been a victim of the ferocious and summary executions which marked the course of that tyranny; for Guzman had ruled the country with the sombre imbecility of political fanaticism. The power of Supreme Government had become in his dull mind an object of strange worship, as if it were some sort of cruel deity. ”

“ He then turned his face towards the king, and, at that moment,
Juan Lerma lifting his eyes, beheld the only man he had ever learned to hate—It was Don Francisco de Guzman.
Noble, compassionate, and truly unvindictive, as was Lerma's spirit, he did not make this discovery without a thrill of fierce exultation. There is a touch of the wild beast in the hearts of us all; and so long as man is capable of anger, he will, at some moment, and for some brief space of time, yield to thoughts and wishes, that he himself must, a moment after, esteem diabolic. ”

“ You well deserve this at my hands, for your game of chess with Don Guzman.”
“Sire,” replied Ruy Lopez, “for the first time in my life, I need no consolation for being checkmated.”
The king smiled—so did the court.
“Now, my lords,” added Philip, “we invite you to our royal banquet. Let covers for Don [Pg 211] Guzman and for the Bishop of Segovia be placed at the table with ourself. Your arm, Don Guzman.”
HOW MEN RISE IN THE WORLD.
Few things that happen in the world are the result of accident. Law governs all ”

“ You go too fast, good Master Alcaide. Justice is blind; but you see more than there is to behold!’
The alcaide, who evidently wished to keep well with Don José, and who as evidently wished to string me up, began to get very red in the face, and to mutter half-suppressed words of passion. Just then, the ferret-eyed man whispered him at one ear, while Captain Guzman possessed himself of the other. ”

“ He was dead; and close to him Doña Antonia and the nurse were lying senseless. The nurse was Corporal Luco's wife.
Don Guzman fell on his knees beside his wife; he then perceived a paper, which she was clutching convulsively in her right hand.
The unhappy man had great difficulty in releasing it from her grasp; some words were written on it. Don Guzman cast his eyes over the lines, and threw himself on the ground with an agonising cry of despair.
The paper contained these words:
"Brother,—You have deprived me of the woman I love ”

“ Has he seen Don Guzman?
Jacin. Nay, the deuce knows.
Isab. Where shall he hide himself?
Jacin. In the Moon, if he can get thither.
Enter Don Felix.
Don Guz. I must e'en stand it now.
Don Fel. Good News, my Daughter, good News; [Pg 328] I come to acquaint you, that——How now? What's the Meaning of this? Don Guzman in my Daughter's Chamber!
Don Guz. I see your Surprize, Sir, but you need not be disturb'd; 'twas some sudden Business with my Sister brought me here.
Don Fel. 'Tis enough, Sir: I'm glad to find you here; you shall be a Witness, that I know how to preserve the Honour of my Family. ”

“ It would have puzzled any honest man to have made his choice of one of them. I soon decided, however, favour of a Brunette, who attracted me by a certain je ne sçai quoi which the others did not possess. I attached myself to that lady only during the whole ball.
One of the gentlemen who had brought me to the palace, perceiving my penchant for this Brunette, approached me;{10} “Signor Don Guzman,” said he with a smile, “how many lovers will you distract with jealousy this night, if you continue your attentions to that lady, who is a rich widow, and has a great number of admirers.” ”

“ Don Bernardo frowned, but replied quickly:
"Caballero, order your servants to bring round your horses; I myself will escort you out of the city. You could not possibly quit it without me; you are so thoroughly surrounded by spies. You have nothing to fear from the men who are with me; they are trusty and faithful, and I chose them on purpose. Besides, they shall leave us a few paces hence."
Don Guzman hesitated for a while. He watched Don Bernardo with anxious eyes. At last he seemed to have formed his resolve; for he rose, and said, looking the colonel full in the face:
"No ”

“ And the villain Alguazil, has he fled with them? I will tear his flesh with pincers! What! release the infidels, under my eye?"
"So please you," said Guzman, "this, I think, was no resolved treachery, but an effect of infatuation. The wine that came to us to-day, was too strong for the watchmen: where they got it, I know not; but I found them sound asleep at the open door."
"They shall be scourged, till they drop more blood than they have drunk wine," said Don Hernan, furiously. "And the prison-guards also? Hah? The prisoner has escaped?" ”

“ The famous Villanueva, we are told, had to dance attendance upon Secretary Andres de Rozas instead of keeping everybody waiting in his antechamber; and the King's former confessor had to pay his respects in the cell of Friar Santo Tomas, who was now the King's spiritual guide.
[10] A Newsletter of the time gives rather a quaint instance of the feeling against him at Saragossa. Don Antonio de Mendoza, the poet, entered a room where Guzman was playing cards. Guzman impatiently said: "How tiresome that man is to me." ”

“ Conceive, if possible, the agreeable surprise of Ozmin, when he saw Daraxa enter his chamber with Don Alonso, and learnt what she had just achieved for him. His joy could only be equalled by that of his mistress, whose heart overflowed with rapturous emotion which she could not otherwise express than by the tears that flowed in torrents from her eyes. Zuniga partook of the pleasure of the lovers, and embraced his friend as sincerely as though he had not been his rival. His friendship mingled with his love. ”

“ Guyot (Bertrand) , one of the archers in the Scottish guard attached to Louis XI.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.) .
Guzman d’Alfara ́che (4 syl.) , hero of a Spanish romance of roguery. He begins by being a dupe, but soon becomes a knave in the character of stable-boy, beggar, swindler, pander, student, merchant, and so on.—Mateo Aleman (1599) .
Guzman. The priest who brings up Don Juan in Mansfield’s play of that name. He tries to train the boy aright; failing in this, he screens him and palliates his offences ”

“ Zuniga forgot nothing that a man in love and full of noble thoughts could say on such an occasion, and answered: that “he could not express how sensible he was of her kindness, in having selected himself and his friends to conduct her to the palace, where she could not fail to immortalize herself by so heroic an action.” Don Alonso, as well as the other gentlemen, could not sufficiently applaud so generous an undertaking, most firmly believing that the beautiful Moor interested herself for the prisoner, merely out of friendship for her friend Donna Elvira. ”

“ Don Lewis, whose resentment and haughtiness were by no means abated, was the only person who did not visit Ozmin, whom he could not regard in any other light than a man who had brought dishonor upon his family, by the great talk and noise that his daughter’s love for Don Jaymé had made in the city. He fully expected that he should be rallied at court on this account. For this reason he pretended illness, as an excuse for not being able to accompany Daraxa to Granada, and appeared no more in Seville until after her departure. ”

“ He is not a gentleman of Arragon, nor is he Don Jaymé Vivez, but the brave Ozmin, whose name is well known among your troops, as having distinguished himself in many glorious actions. He it was, who, the last day of the sports killed the two bulls, and saved the life of Don Alonso de Zuniga. But what has impelled me more than all his noble qualities, to make this appeal to your Justice, is, that he is my husband, if I may be permitted to give that name to a man who with the mutual consent of our parents has plighted his faith to me, and received mine in return. ”