第 17 节
作者:雨霖铃      更新:2024-12-13 14:16      字数:9322
  victory; I turned about to the bishop; and; embracing him with a
  pleased countenance; protested I did not know he was present; and
  then; informing him of this supposed vision; I asked him if he
  had not himself seen the saint?  He answered me he had; and
  afterwards proceeded to assure me that this appearance of St。
  James was entirely owing to his prayers; for that he was his
  tutelar saint。  He added he had a vision of him a few hours
  before; when he promised him a victory over the infidels; and
  acquainted him at the same time of the vacancy of the see of
  Toledo。  Now; this news being really true; though it had happened
  so lately that I had not heard of it (nor; indeed; was it well
  possible I should; considering the great distance of the way);
  when I was afterwards acquainted with it; a little staggered me;
  though far from being superstitious; till being informed that the
  bishop had lost three horses on a late expedition; I was
  satisfied。
  〃The next morning; the bishop; at my desire; mounted the rostrum;
  and trumpeted forth this vision so effectually; which he said he
  had that evening twice seen with his own eyes; that a spirit
  began to be infused through the whole army which rendered them
  superior to almost any force:  the bishop insisted that the least
  doubt of success was giving the lie to the saint; and a damnable
  sin; and he took upon him in his name to promise them victory。
  〃The army being drawn out; I soon experienced the effect of
  enthusiasm; for; having contrived another stratagem'9' to
  strengthen what the bishop had said; the soldiers fought more
  like furies than men。  My stratagem was this:  I had about me a
  dexterous fellow; who had been formerly a pimp in my amours。  Him
  I dressed up in a strange antic dress; with a pair of white
  colors in his right hand; a red cross in his left; and having
  disguised him so that no one could know him; I placed him on a
  white horse; and ordered him to ride to the head of the army; and
  cry out; 'Follow St。 James!'  These words were reiterated by all
  the troops; who attacked the enemy with such intrepidity; that;
  notwithstanding our inferiority of numbers; we soon obtained a
  complete victory。
  '9' This silly story is told as a solemn truth (i。e。; that St。
  James really appeared in the manner this fellow is described) by
  Mariana; 1。7; Section 78。
  〃The bishop was come up by the time that the enemy was routed;
  and; acquainting us that he had met St。 James by the way; and
  that he had informed him of what had passed; he added that he had
  express orders from the saint to receive a considerable sum for
  his use; and that a certain tax on corn and wine should be
  settled on his church for ever; and lastly; that a horseman's pay
  should be allowed for the future to the saint himself; of which
  he and his successors were appointed receivers。  The army
  received these demands with such acclamations that I was obliged
  to comply with them; as I could by no means discover the
  imposition; nor do I believe I should have gained any credit if I
  had。
  〃I had now done with the saint; but the bishop had not; for about
  a week afterwards lights were seen in a wood near where the
  battle was fought; and in a short time afterwards they discovered
  his tomb at the same place。  Upon this the bishop made me a
  visit; and forced me to go thither; to build a church to him; and
  largely endow it。  In a word; the good man so plagued me with
  miracle after miracle; that I was forced to make interest with
  the pope to convey him to Toledo; to get rid of him。
  〃But to proceed to other matters。There was an inferior officer;
  who had behaved very bravely in the battle against the Moors; and
  had received several wounds; who solicited me for preferment;
  which I was about to confer on him; when one of my ministers came
  to me in a fright; and told me that he had promised the post I
  designed for this man to the son of count Alderedo; and that the
  count; who was a powerful person; would be greatly disobliged at
  the refusal; as he had sent for his son from school to take
  possession of it。  I was obliged to agree with my minister's
  reasons; and at the same time recommended the wounded soldier to
  be preferred by him; which he faithfully promised he would; but I
  met the poor wretch since in Elysium; who informed me he was
  afterwards starved to death。
  〃None who hath not been himself a prince; nor any prince till his
  death; can conceive the impositions daily put on them by their
  favorites and ministers; so that princes are often blamed for the
  faults of others。  The count of Saldagne had been long confined
  in prison; when his son; D。 Bernard del Carpio; who had
  performed the greatest actions against the Moors; entreated me;
  as a reward for his service; to grant him his father's liberty。
  The old man's punishment had been so tedious; and the services of
  the young one so singularly eminent; that I was very inclinable
  to grant the request; but my ministers strongly opposed it; they
  told me my glory demanded revenge for the dishonor offered to my
  family; that so positive a demand carried with it rather the air
  of menace than entreaty; that the vain detail of his services;
  and the recompense due to them; was an injurious reproach; that
  to grant what had been so haughtily demanded would argue in the
  monarch both weakness and timidity; in a word; that to remit the
  punishment inflicted by my predecessors would be to condemn their
  judgment。  Lastly; one told me in a whisper; 'His whole family
  are enemies to your house。'  By these means the ministers
  prevailed。  The young lord took the refusal so ill; that he
  retired from court; and abandoned himself to despair; whilst the
  old one languished in prison。  By which means; as I have since
  discovered; I lost the use of two of my best subjects。
  〃To confess the truth; I had; by means of my ministers; conceived
  a very unjust opinion of my whole people; whom I fancied to be
  daily conspiring against me; and to entertain the most disloyal
  thoughts; when; in reality (as I have known since my death); they
  held me in universal respect and esteem。  This is a trick; I
  believe; too often played with sovereigns; who; by such means;
  are prevented from that open intercourse with their subjects
  which; as it would greatly endear the person of the prince to the
  people; so might it often prove dangerous to a minister who was
  consulting his own interest only at the expense of both。  I
  believe I have now recounted to you the most material passages of
  my life; for I assure you there are some incidents in the lives
  of kings not extremely worth relating。  Everything which passes
  in their minds and families is not attended with the splendor
  which surrounds their throneindeed; there are some hours
  wherein the naked king and the naked cobbler can scarce be
  distinguished from each other。
  〃Had it not been; however; for my ingratitude to Bernard del
  Carpio; I believe this would have been my last pilgrimage on
  earth; for; as to the story of St。 James; I thought Minos would
  have burst his sides at it; but he was so displeased with me on
  the other account; that; with a frown; he cried out; 'Get thee
  back again; king。' Nor would he suffer me to say another word。〃
  CHAPTER XVIII
  Julian passes into a fool。
  〃The next visit I made to the world was performed in France;
  where I was born in the court of Lewis III; and had afterwards
  the honor to be preferred to be fool to the prince; who was
  surnamed Charles the Simple。  But; in reality; I know not whether
  I might so properly be said to have acted the fool in his court
  as to have made fools of all others in it。  Certain it is; I was
  very far from being what is generally understood by that word;
  being a most cunning; designing; arch knave。  I knew very well
  the folly of my master; and of many others; and how to make my
  advantage of this knowledge。
  〃I was as dear to Charles the Simple as the player Paris was to
  Domitian; and; like him; bestowed all manner of offices and
  honors on whom I pleased。  This drew me a great number of
  followers among the courtiers; who really mistook me for a fool;
  and yet flattered my understanding。  There was particularly in
  the court a fellow who had neither honor; honesty; sense; wit;
  courage; beauty; nor indeed any one good quality; either of mind
  or body; to recommend him; but was at the same time; perhaps; as
  cunning a monster as ever lived。  This gentleman took it into his
  head to list under my banner; and pursued me so very assiduously
  with flattery; constantly reminding me of my good sense; that I
  grew immoderately fond of him; for though flattery is not most
  judiciously applied to qualities which the persons flattered
  possess; yet as; notwithstanding my being well assured of my own
  parts; I passed in the whole court for a fool; this flattery was
  a very sweet morsel to me。  I therefore got this f