Elfonzo

“ Elfonzo is certainly not in town; but what if he is? I have got the wealth, if I have not the dignity, and I am sure that the squire and his lady have always been particular friends of mine, and I think with this assurance I shall be able to get upon the blind side of the rest of the family and make the heaven-born Ambulinia the mistress of all I possess. ”

“ Ambulinia! It can hardly be matched in fiction. The full name is Ambulinia Valeer. Marriage will presently round it out and perfect it. Then it will be Mrs. Ambulinia Valeer Elfonzo. It takes the chromo.
Her heart yielded to no feeling but the love of Elfonzo, on whom she gazed with intense delight, and to whom she felt herself more closely bound, because he sought the hand of no other. Elfonzo was roused from his apparent reverie. His books no longer were his inseparable companions--his thoughts arrayed themselves to encourage him to the field of victory. ”

“ When Ambulinia's letter was handed to Elfonzo, he perused it without doubting its contents. Louisa charged him to make but few confidants; but like most young men who happened to win the heart of a beautiful girl, he was so elated with the idea that he felt as a commanding general on parade, who had confidence in all, consequently gave orders to all. The appointed Sabbath, with a delicious breeze and cloudless sky, made its appearance. The people gathered in crowds to the church—the streets were filled with neighboring citizens, all marching to the house of worship. ”

“ Last scene of all, which the author, now much enfeebled, tries to smarten up and make acceptable to his spectacular heart by introducing some new properties—silver bow, golden harp, olive branch—things that can all come good in an elopement, no doubt, yet are not to be compared to an umbrella for real handiness and reliability in an excursion of that kind.
And away she ran to the sacred grove, surrounded with glittering pearls, that indicated her coming. Elfonzo hails her with his silver bow and his golden harp. They meet—Ambulinia's countenance brightens—Elfonzo leads up the winged steed. ”

“ It cannot fail to have a good effect, as it will be performed by those who are young and vigorous, and learned as well as enticing. You are aware, Major Elfonzo, who are to appear on the stage, and what the characters are to represent.” “I am acquainted with the circumstances,” replied Elfonzo, “and as I am to be one of the musicians upon that interesting occasion, I should be much gratified if you would favor me with your company during the hours of the exercises.”
“What strange notions are in your mind?” inquired Ambulinia. ”

“ Elfonzo and Ambulinia soon repaired to the scene, and fortunately for them both the house was so crowded that they took their seats together in the music department, which was not in view of the auditory. This fortuitous circumstances added more the bliss of the Major than a thousand such exhibitions would have done. He forgot that he was man; music had lost its charms for him ”

“ Live, Elfonzo! oh! live to raise my stone of moss! why should such language enter your heart? why should thy voice rend the air with such agitation? I bid thee live, once more remembering these tears of mine are shed alone for thee, in this dark and gloomy vault, and should I perish under this load of trouble, join the song of thrilling accents with the raven above my grave, and lay this tattered frame beside the banks of the Chattahoochee or the stream of Sawney's brook; sweet will be the song of death to your Ambulinia. ”

“ High cliffs of rocks surround the romantic place, and in the small cavity of the rocky wall grows the daffodil clear and pure; and as the wind blows along the enchanting little mountain which surrounds the lonely spot, it nourishes the flowers with the dew-drops of heaven. Here is the seat of Elfonzo; darkness claims but little victory over this dominion, and in vain does she spread out her gloomy wings. ”

“ The citizens seemed to be full of life and good-humor; but poor Elfonzo saw not a brilliant scene. No; his future life stood before him, stripped of the hopes that once adorned all his sanguine desires. "Alas!" said he, "am I now Grief's disappointed son at last." Ambulinia's image rose before his fancy. A mixture of ambition and greatness of soul moved upon his young heart, and encouraged him to bear all his crosses with the patience of a Job, notwithstanding he had to encounter with so many obstacles. ”

“ Do not deceive yourself, as multitudes have already done, but be on your guard, and preserve your precious soul from the snares of the tempter."
"I understand you not, father," replied Alphonso. "Did not you yourself see and hear how piously, how Christian-like, and with what overpowering majesty that glorious being spake, when by his heavenly consolations he turned back into the right path those who had been led astray by the affliction their too fond love was groaning under?"
"Ay! what is there he dare not, he cannot do, juggler and sorcerer that he is?" ”

“ On the first alarm the Alcaid made all haste to the prison to inform Don Alphonso of the danger. The brave Alphonso demanded a sword for himself and a buckler for the Alcaid. He takes Marina by the hand, and making his way to the market-place, thus accosts the fugitives: 'My friends, are ye Spaniards, and do ye abandon your wives and children to the fury of the infidels?'
He stops, he rallies them, inspires them with his own valor, and, more than human, (for he is a lover, and a hero) rushes, sabre in hand, on a party of the Moors, whom he instantly disperses. ”

“ A word in your ear—you must be shyer of priests' company if you would be a philosopher."
So saying, the dwarf hirpled off; and Antonio turning to his friend. the young Spaniard Alphonso, who had that moment joined him, said, "I never know, when conversing with that abortion, whether he is in jest or earnest, he appears to make such scornful sport of himself and all other creatures."
"That," answered Alphonso, "is by way of comforting and compensating himself for his own ungainliness. In his scornful imagination he conceives all other people to be like himself. ”

“ Feed not thyself with fond persuasions, But presently come yield thy crown to me, And do me homage, or by heavens I swear I’ll force thee to it maugre all thy train. Belinus
How now, base brat! What, are thy wits thine own, That thou darest thus abraid me in my land? ‘Tis best for thee these speeches to recall, Or else by Jove I’ll make thee to repent That e’er thou settest thy foot in Naples’ soil. Alphonsus
“Base brat,” sayest thou? As good a man as thou. ”

“ Alphonso, himself sinking into an early grave, and fully aware of his own state, saw life somewhat differently from his soldier sire, and felt little sympathy for that lust of conquest which was to the great Edward as the elixir of life. The lad's thoughts were more of that eternal crown laid up in the bright land where the sword comes not, and where the trump of war may never be heard. The glory of an earthly diadem was as nothing to him, and he had all that deep love for his fellow men which often characterizes those who know that their time on earth is short. ”

“ Yes, too too much, the Milan Duke may say. Alphonsus first by secret means did get To be a soldier in Belinus’ wars, Wherein he did behave himself so well As that he got the Crown of Aragon; Which being got, he dispossessed also The king Belinus which had fostered him. As for Carinus he is dead and gone; I would his son were his companion. Carinus
A blister build upon that traitor’s tongue! But, for thy friendship which thou showedest me, Take that of me, I frankly give it thee. Stab him. ”

“ It ill becomes me for to wear a crown Whenas my lord is destitute himself. Why, high Alphonsus, if I should receive This crown of you, the which high love forbid, Where would yourself obtain a diadem? Naples is gone, Milan possessed is, And naught is left for you but Aragon. Alphonsus
And naught is left for me but Aragon? Yes, surely, yes, my fates have so decreed, That Aragon should be too base a thing For to obtain Alphonsus for her king. What, hear you not how that our scattered foes, Belinus, Fabius, and the Milan Duke, Are fled for succor to the Turkish court? ”

“ When you have done, march with your female troop To Naples’ town, to succor Amurack; And so, by marriage of Iphigina, You soon shall drive the danger clean away. Iphigina
So shall we soon eschew Charybdis’ lake, And headlong fall to Scylla’s greedy gulf. I vowed before, and now do vow again, Before I wed Alphonsus, I’ll be slain. Medea
In vain it is, to strive against the stream; Fates must be followed, and the gods’ decree Must needs take place in every kind of cause. Therefore, fair maid, bridle these brutish thoughts, And learn to follow what the fates assign. ”

“ Some lay as dead as either stock or stone, Some other tumbled, wounded to the death; But most of them, as to their sovereign king, Did offer duly homage unto him. As thus I stood beholding of this pomp, Methought Alphonsus did espy me out, And, at a trice, he leaving throne alone, Came to embrace me in his blessed arms. Then noise of drums and sound of trumpets shrill Did wake Carinus from this pleasant dream. Something, I know, is now foreshown by this: The gods forfend that aught should hap amiss. Carinus walk up and down. ”

“ Alfonso enters, followed by Ricardo and courtiers.
Alfon. [Aside, looking at Amelrosa.] Can it be!
Can she too have deceived—!—Retire awhile.
[Exeunt Estella, [Pg 12] &c.
Manent Alfonso and Amelrosa.
Amel. [Advancing with timidity, then rushing
forward and falling prostrate at his feet.] My father?—Oh! my father.
Alfon. Rise!
Nay rise: what fears't thou? Wherefore weep, and tremble?
Thou hast no cause for grief! The poisoned arrow
Has pierced no heart but mine! These eyes alone
Need weep for what they've seen! Thou hast not felt
What 'tis to lose all faith in man! ”

“ A correspondence was now settled between the two lovers; but Don Alphonso was desirous to be still more intimate. He had long solicited permission to converse with Marina through her lattices. Such is the custom in Spain, where the windows are of much more use during the night than in the day. They are the places of rendezvous. When the street is vacant and still, the lover wraps himself up in his cloak, and, taking his sword, invokes love and night to favour him, and proceeds to some low lattice, grated on the side next the street, and secured on the inside by shutters. ”

“ Albinius
My friend, what art thou, that so like a spy Dost sneak about Belinus’ royal camp? Alphonsus
I am a man. Fabius
A man? We know the same: But prithee, tell me, and set scoffing by, What countryman thou art, and why you come, That we may soon resolve the king thereof? ”

“ Yet the poor were his upholders. One night a week, at his own board, they were his guests, and he was seen sitting down with them. This man ambitious? The people’s friend Alphonso! That means so little and so much, just as in the days of our own French Revolution.
But now the night had come, and everything was a buzz of simmering excitement.
Thanks to tickets sent from Mr. Barringcourt, probably through Golden Priest Alphonso, Sir John, Miss Crokerly, and Rosalie were enabled to go. ”

“ Courteous stranger, pursued the pretended hermit, speaking to Don Alphonso, we extend the proposal of partnership to you, and it may be a question whether you will better yourself by rejecting it, in the lamentable condition of your affairs; for, to say nothing of the chance medley for which you are at hide and seek, your fortune is probably a little out at elbows. Most lamentably so, said Don Alphonso; and hence, since the truth must out, are my forebodings more dark than even my present evils. That is the very thing! replied Don Raphael. You were sent by our better genius to join the party. ”

“ On the throne of Castile sat Alphonzo XI. an able monarch. He was at the head of the Christian confederacy and commanded at the battle of the Rio Salado where the Moors suffered a great defeat. Alphonzo had married Dona Maria of Portugal a woman of harsh and gloomy{186} temper whom he did not love. His affections were wholly bestowed upon Leonora de Gusman a lady of beauty and intelligence, belonging to the higher nobility. His queen nevertheless brought him one son, Don Pedro who is known in history as Pedro-the-cruel or Peter-the-cruel. ”

“ Make yourself easy, Gil Blas. Besides my entire ignorance of what you have just told me, I must own that I considered Don Alphonso as the cardinal's creature. Only put yourself in my place: was not the visit to his eminence a most suspicious circumstance? Yet I am willing to believe that, owing his preferment to that minister, he might have remembered him in his adversity from a motive of pure gratitude. I am sorry for having displaced a man who owed his elevation to you; but if I have pulled down your handiwork I can build it up again. I mean to do still more than the Duke of Lerma for you. ”

“ The globe moved around the lamp because thou didst bear it in thine hand. By what power is our Earth carried around the Sun?”
“There is some invisible influence which retains it with its sister-orbs in the eternal round, but the subtle essence has thus far eluded my investigations,” replied Alphonso.
“Thou believest then, my brother,” said Eleanora, in her gentlest tone, “in a power whose existence thou canst not demonstrate by thy ‘Tables’ or diograms?”
“Verily, such a power is a matter of necessity,” returned the monarch. ”