The Constant Prince Page 14

was humbleenough in his estimate of himself; he had done the work at hand withouta complaint; but the long-restrained wish, once entertained, swept allbefore it like a flood, and could see no obstacles and no objections.His natural tastes, his religious fervour, his wish for self-denial, andthat self which he had not yet altogether learned to deny, all workedtogether, by the force of his strong will, to attain his object.Enrique loved him too well to oppose him, and moreover was to the fullas impetuous, and more used to having his own way.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN.

  DIFFUSING MINDS.

  "How often, O my knights, Your places being vacant at my side, This chance of noble deeds will come and go."

  The Princes Enrique and Fernando, having matured their ideas by muchdiscussion, decided on proposing to the King to make an expedition forthe taking of Tangier, similar to the one that their father had sent outagainst Ceuta. Should he, however, be unwilling to make a greatnational expedition, they would obtain from him his consent, and as muchaid as he thought proper, and would devote to the cause all their ownresources, which were considerable. Their eagerness grew as their ideasdeveloped, and some inkling of their wishes getting abroad, all theyounger nobility caught fire at the notion, and the princes soon sawthat their cause would be a popular one.

  It was therefore with some confidence in the result that they soughttheir brother in his private apartments, to lay their plans before him.

  Duarte's life was one of unceasing toil for the good of his subjects.He had already worked out a great scheme for improving the legal systemof Portugal, and his industry was immense. His difficulties were muchincreased by the over-liberality with which his father had given awaythe crown-lands to his nobility, and many an anxious hour was spent byDuarte in trying to find means to fill his empty exchequer. He set anexample of economy in his household, closer than his young queenaltogether approved of; but the remedy for this great evil was still toseek. Busy as he was, however, he retained the scholarly tastes of hisyouth, and his book, _El Leal Conselheiro_; or, _The FaithfulCounsellor_, a collection of moral and political sayings, was in its dayof great value. Nor, however hurried, did he ever fail in kindness andconsideration, especially to Fernando, whom he regarded with almost theprotecting affection of a father.

  He rose now from the table at which he was writing, and greeted hisbrothers warmly.

  "Ah! Enrique," he said, "have you come to tell me how matters go inyour new dominions?"

  For Duarte had made Enrique a present of his recent discovery, theisland of Madeira.

  "Not now, sire," said Enrique, with some formality. "We have a requestto make to you."

  "You can hardly ask me for what I will not grant," said the King. "Sithere, Fernando," pointing to a couch by the fire. "You look pale--areyou well to-day?"

  "I am well and strong," said Fernando. "You think too much of myweakness."

  And he remained standing, while Enrique, whose words of course carriedgreater weight, unfolded their cherished scheme. Duarte's face grewvery grave as he listened.

  "This is your wish, my Fernando?" he said, moving over to him.

  "The wish of my heart--of my life!" said Fernando, as he graspedDuarte's hand.

  "I fear that I see not the way to grant it," said Duarte, with areluctant gentleness difficult to contradict.

  "Tangier," said Enrique, "would be a splendid jewel to set in the crownof Portugal. We were young and untried when we took Ceuta; it is littlelikely that we should now fail."

  "I do not fear failure," said Duarte; "assuredly not under your leading.Yet my father could not see his way to further conquests in Barbary,nor can I."

  "How so?" said Enrique, bluntly. He was quite as great a man as hisbrother, and though thoroughly loyal to Duarte, was not much accustomedto opposition from him, but rather to admiring assistance in whatever heproposed.

  "I will tell you," said Duarte, gently. "You are a greater soldier thanI, Enrique, and your eyes see far into the possible future; but it is Iwho must consider the well-being of Portugal."

  "Pardon," said Enrique, "if I spoke in haste. Without your good will wecould do nothing."

  Duarte sat down on the couch and drew Fernando to a place beside him,watching his face while he spoke.

  "First," said Duarte, "I cannot tell where the funds to engage in such awar are to be found. We have no money to spare; it costs me much careto consider how to support the state."

  "We put our resources at your disposal," said Enrique.

  "But yours, my brother, are already hardly pressed for purposes whichwill, to my thinking, do more in the end for the spread of the Crossthan even the taking of Tangier."

  Enrique was silent; he knew well enough the truth of this. Scientificdiscoveries were not made for nothing in days when only one man saw thenecessity of them.

  "But," said Fernando, "it seems to me that a small force, well armed andfull of zeal, would be sufficient."

  "You think so?" said Duarte, as if weighing words. "War is very costly,and even if the council consent, that would be no holy war for whichunjust taxes were levied."

  Justice was too strongly impressed on the sons of King Joao for thisprinciple to be resisted, however unfamiliar it was to the fifteenthcentury. Fernando, however, spoke pleadingly.

  "You speak of the well-being of Portugal. Surely it is for the highestwell-being of a nation to engage in a noble and self-sacrificingstruggle. There are better things than prosperity and ease."

  "Yes," said Duarte. "There are good laws and honest living, education,and the due support of Holy Church. See you, if my father's reign hadbeen, as we all once wished, one long war against the Infidel, wherewould have been his translation of the Holy Scriptures into Portuguese--where Batalha and our other great abbeys, to say nothing of the generalreform of the kingdom? Do not mistake me, my brothers; my heart glowslike yours to fight for the Cross. But, as I read my duty, God hasgiven me this piece of ground to till, and it calls for all my care.You, too, would both be missed much from all the good works you havetaken in hand."

  "We can return to them with new ardour," said Enrique.

  "Yes, and Fernando longs rightly to bear arms. I would it could be so."

  "I live but half a life," said Fernando, low and earnestly.

  "But then, bear with me while I tell you another difficulty. Whatpretext have I for making war on the Moorish king? He has in no wayinjured me!"

  "There is never a prisoner taken but offers no pretext, but a reason,"said Fernando, eagerly. "Every captive groaning in those dungeons is agood cause."

  "There has been less kidnapping of late," said Duarte.

  "Yes, since Ceuta was ours," replied Enrique. "Take Tangier and therewill be none."

  Perhaps Duarte was more inclined to the scheme by the ardour ofFernando's wish than by any other cause. He was still hesitating, whenthere was a summons at the door, and the two other brothers wereadmitted.

  "Consult them on the matter," said Enrique; and Duarte, after the firstgreetings, rehearsed Enrique's arguments and his own, demanding theopinion of the new-comers.

  "I say," said Pedro, decidedly, "that the scheme is a foolish one. Whatis the good of plunging Portugal into a rash war with a prince who is atolerable neighbour, as times go? I give my voice against it."

  "If it is done," said Dom Joao, "it must be by the force of the wholecountry. No smaller expedition could have a chance. If Fernando hadseen anything of warfare, even his hot head could make no suchproposal."

  "I do not rest on my own judgment, my brother," said Fernando, gently."Enrique's experience is beyond dispute."

  "Enrique once tried to take Gibraltar," said Joao, referring to a rashattempt of Enrique's youth, "and took me with him."

  "When you were glad enough to go," said Enrique, smiling.

  "Ay, but since then I have grown wiser. Look you here. Your ardourruns away with you, and Fernando knows nought of the matter. Tangierwould be a hard nut to crack, and he could not bear th
e campaign needfulfor taking it."

  "You have no right so to put me aside," exclaimed Fernando; then checkedhimself. "Pardon me, I am hasty. I think indeed little enough of myown powers. I do but wish to devote my uselessness to the service ofHoly Church."

  "Holy Church would take the will for the deed!" said Joao, with acontemptuous good nature which was hard to bear. He was very fond ofFernando, but his practical and less tender nature had less sympathy forhim than any of the others. Fernando coloured, but said nothing; andDuarte, with an elder's authority, said--

  "The wishes of our brothers, Enrique and Fernando,