The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1841-01-22
THE PILOT.
MERCEDES OBJ CASTILLO, OR THE
VOYAGE TO CATHAY.
gY J. FENNIMoRE COOPER.
CHAP. VIII

VOYAGE TO CATIAY.
BYJ. FENNIMoRE COOPER.
CHAP. VIII.
"He that of such height hath built his mind,
And reared the dwelling of his thoughts strong
AS neither fear nor hope can shake the frame
Of his resolved powers" DANIEL.
The following day the Alhambra was crowd |
ed with courtiers as usual; applicants for iavors,
those who sought their own, and those who So
licited the redress of imaginary wrongs. The
were thronged, and the different
individuals in waiting jealously eyed each other,
as if to inquire how far their neighboIs would
be likely to thwart their several vie VS. or to
advance their wishes. Men bowed, in general,
coldly and with distrust; and the few that did
directly pass their greetings, met with the
elaborated civility that commonly characterizes
the intercourse of palaces.
While curiosity was active in guessing at the
business of the different individuals present,
and whispers, mods, shrugs of the shoulders,
and meaning chances passed among the old
stagers, as they communicated to each other
the little they knew, or thought they knew, on
different subjects, there stood in the corner of
the principal apartment, one, in particular, who
might be distinguished from all around him, by
his stature, the gravity and dignity of his air,
and the peculiar sort of notice that he attracted
Few approached him, and they that did, as
Y
self-sufhciency and ridicule about them. that
characterizes the vulgar minded when thew
fancy that they are deriding or sneering in
consonance with popular opinion. This was
Columbus, who was very generally regarded
by the multitude as a visionary schemer, and
who necessarily shared in that sort of contempt
tuous obloquy that attaches itself TO the char
acter. But even the wit and jokes of the
crowd had been expended upon this subject,
and the patience of those who danced attend
ance was getting to be exhausted, when a little
stir at the door announced the approach of
some new courtier. The manner in which the
throng quickly gave way, denoted the presence
of some one of high rank, and presently Don
Luis de Bobadille stood in the centre of the
room.
1T Is thenephew of Her Highness's favorite,
whispered enc.
"a noble of one of the most iIlustrious fami-
lies of CASTLE, said another; but fitting asso-
ciate of this Colon, as neither the authority of
his guardians, the wishes of the queen, nor his
high station, can keep him from the life of
vagabond'
Zone of the best Iances in Spain, if he had
the prudence and wisdom to turn his skill to
profit observed a third.
THAT is the youthful knight who hath so
well depsrted himself in this last campaign
growled an inferior officer of the infantry, 'and
who endorsed Don Alfonso de Oieda in the
tourney; but his lance 10 as unsteady in its aim,
as it is good in the rest. They tell me he is a
rover
As if purposely 10 justify this character, Luis
looked about him. anxiously a moment, and
then made mis- way directly TO the side of CO.
Ion The smiles, mods, shrugs, and half sup
pressed whispers that followed, betrayed the
common feeling; but door on the side Of the
closet opening, all eyes were immediately bent
in that direction, and the little interruption just
mentioned was as soon forgotten.
Il greet you, Senor,' said Luis, bowling re-
spectfully to Columbus. Since our discourse
of last evening have thought of little beside
its subject, and have come hither to renew it.
That Columbus was pleased by this homage,
apparent in his eye, his smile, and the manner
in which he raised his body, as if full of the
grandeur of his own designs; but he was COM
PEELED TO defer the pleasure that it always gave
him to dilate on his enterprise.
4 am commanded hither, noble Senior, he
answered, cordially, Shy the holy Archbishop
of Granada, who, it seemeth, hath it in charge
from their Highnesses, to bring my affair to a
speedy issue, and who hath named this very
morning for that purpose. We touch upon the
verge of great events; the day is not distant,
when this conquest of Granada will be forgot
ten, in the greater importance of the mighty
things that God hath held in reserve'
BY San Pedro, my new patron! do believe
you, Senior. Cathay must lie at or near the
spot you have named, and your own eyes
shall not see it, and its gorgeous stores of
wealth, sooner than mine. Remember Pedro
do Munos, pray you, Senior Colon
He shall not be forgotten, promise You,
Young lord; and all the great deeds of your an
cesors will be eclipsed by the glory achieved
by their son. But hear my name called. we
will talk of this anon
Sci Senior Christoval Colon was called by
one of the pages, in loud authoritative voice,
and the navigator hurried forward, buoyed up
with hope and joy.
The manner in which one so generally re-
garded with indifference, if not with contempt
had been selected from all that crowd of cour-
tiers, excited some surprise; but as the ordina-
ry business of the antechamber went on, and
the subordinates of Office appeared in the rooms,
to hear solicitations and answer questions, the
affair was quickly forgotten. Luis withdrew
disappointed, for he had hoped TO enjoy ano-
Their long discourse with Columbus, on sub
ject which, as it was connected with his dear
est hopes, now occupied most of his thoughts
We shall leave him, however, and all in the an.
techambers, to follow the great navigator far
Their into the depths ofthe palace.
Fernando de Talevera had not been unmind-
full of his orders. Instead, however, of assoc- |
ating with this prelate, men known to be well
disposed to listen to the propositions of Colum-
bus, the King and Queen had made the mis-
take of choosing some six or eight of their eour-
tiers, persons of probity and of good gener-
general characters, but who were too little ac-
customed 10 learned research, properly to APP
preciate the magnitude of the proposed disco
veries. Into the presence of those distinguish
ed mobiles and churchmen was Columbus now
ushered, and among them is the reader to sup
pose him seated. We pass over the customa-
nv ceremonies of the introduction, and proceed
at once to the material part of the narrative. |
The Archbishop of Granada was the principal /
speaker on the part of the commissioners.
we understand, Senior Colon continued
the prelate, should you he favored by their
Highness' power and authority, that you pro-
pose to undertake voyage into the unknown
A kI-.t:~ =, o,,oet &c Az I,rl e r.th.u aad