The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-08

was to order her attendants to the royal chapel,
there to intone, in q grand To Desm, her heart
felt thanks for this signal victory vouchsafed
her royal husband
."But where" said she, looking around,
where is the princess Catherinef She was
here but q moment ago."
"she retired, your majesty" answered one OF
the ladies, a short time since, greatly over
come by the details of the danger through
which her august father had passed, but her
attendant is at hand"
IBID him, them" said the empress, seek
her, and conduct her to the chapel"
As the empress moved away, and ere the lady
could reach the spot, young cavalier, bearing
unmistakable signs of blood and tender rearing
advanced toward her, saying that he had heard
the order, and would at once find his charge
and escort her to her royal mother.
"That is o handsome and brave-looking
youth, VOW" said dowager duchess to her
companion as they followed the imperial lead.
"Who is he, and whence does he come r.
ellis name il Francis Borgia, and he ist the
son of that proud Duke of Gambia, who deemed
no lady of the realm good enough for him but
the prand-daughter of our great Ferdinand and
Isabella
"well" replied the duchess, if he won her,
no doubt he was worthy Of her. This, then, is
their son 7 and 80 we have great grandson of
our sainted Isabel among us, and there was no
one to toll one of the few attendants of the old
court, who still cling to the new, as barnacles
do to the old ships, because their only life is
there, that the old dynasty has other immediate
representatives walking with us than those of
r;o1-y fan Iat know the
boy, and will see him after our thanks are n
dered to God and his Holy Mother for the glory
this day has brought to old SPAIN"
All had been life, hustle, and gaiety in the
palace, as the great preparations went on for
the reception of the two great KINGS Charles
was to return to his dominions bearing in his
train D royal captive, whose chains, however,
were of gold and whose restrictions were only
to be confined to residence in the palace Of
Madrid, instead of q home at Fontainbleau.
But royal as was his greeting, and courteous
and hospitable his entertainment, yet it was
not home; the gilded bars were those of a
prison, and the courteous and obsequious at
PENDANTS were spite of their masks, his jailors.
The proud spirit of Francis ehafed and fretted
fitting like butterfly from one beauty to an
other, bearing his part in the jousts and festiv-
ties of the court circle, with an epigram for
sond ea haVe Of the
multi and deadly maladie du pays which was
even then pressing upon the brave heart OF that
hero of many battles. At length, exhausted by
contending feelings and circumstances, he
yielded the long-mooted point, and consented
to the cession Of the coveted provinces, in ex-
change for his liberty. giving his two young
sons hostages for the performance of his
troth. When these arrangements were con-
ciuded; tho emperor convened his council, to
take into consideration the escort of the king
1,aftt hia nd he fa not nf
the hostages to the Spanish court. After many
names of high degree had been given, that of
the newly created young Marquis of Lombayy
But, Your Majesty, "said an old, privileged
councillor, Borgia is still young and mex
perienced in the wisdom of diplomacy"
tell you, that in that young head there is more
cautious wisdom lying perdm than half these
political vampires possess in their whole bodies
This young man adds to powerful mind an
| answering conseientiousness, and these are
governed and directed by fervent piety that
| ia rare to find under the garb of a courtier.
Therefore it is that have honored him with
his new title, for he is born to rise. Beside
| this, know Of no one better fitted to be en-
trusted with the charge of the young princes,
who come to our honorable keeping; for, look
you, Ceryantes, their souls are to be cared for
| as well as their bodies, and no contamination
can approach Francis Borgia, Marquis of Loni-
bay. So see that my orders are carried out
and the retinue be properly conducted"
The court yard of the palace was thronged
with noblemen and their equerries, busy in the
final preparations for the departure of the cap
tive king and Francis, his heart buoyant with
in him, making his final adieus to his inl
;, periai jailor, and the retinue of noble men and
lovely women who were assembled to witness
the parting ceremonies with one whom all hat
learned to admire, and few tn love. Among
the most conspicuous stood the Ven. Archbishop
of Toledo, in close converse ut the moment will
) Francis /, and after few courtcsies had beer
exchanged, lie ventnred, OH the authority of hi
age and episcopate, to give some lessons of adj
vice as to the future spiritual and moral con
8 duct of this too ardent votary of the allure
ments and pleasures of an earthly crown.
Remember, my son. he said, in purting z
; that kings, like common men, go down to TIL
) dust, and the only robe they carry with then
before the Judgment seat of God is the ermin
of good deeds, the only crown thatiof well