CHAPTER XXV
In the House of the Sage
On the morning of the following day, Ibarra, after visiting his lands,made his way to the home of old Tasio. Complete stillness reigned inthe garden, for even the swallows circling about the eaves scarcelymade any noise. Moss grew on the old wall, over which a kind of ivyclambered to form borders around the windows. The little house seemedto be the abode of silence.
Ibarra hitched his horse carefully to a post and walking almost ontiptoe crossed the clean and well-kept garden to the stairway, whichhe ascended, and as the door was open, he entered. The first sight thatmet his gaze was the old man bent over a book in which he seemed to bewriting. On the walls were collections of insects and plants arrangedamong maps and stands filled with books and manuscripts. The old manwas so absorbed in his work that he did not notice the presence of theyouth until the latter, not wishing to disturb him, tried to retire.
"Ah, you here?" he asked, gazing at Ibarra with a strangeexpression. "Excuse me," answered the youth, "I see that you'revery busy--"
"True, I was writing a little, but it's not urgent, and I want torest. Can I do anything for you?"
"A great deal," answered Ibarra, drawing nearer, "but--"
A glance at the book on the table caused him to exclaim in surprise,"What, are you given to deciphering hieroglyphics?"
"No," replied the old man, as he offered his visitor a chair. "I don'tunderstand Egyptian or Coptic either, but I know something about thesystem of writing, so I write in hieroglyphics."
"You write in hieroglyphics! Why?" exclaimed the youth, doubting whathe saw and heard.
"So that I cannot be read now."
Ibarra gazed at him fixedly, wondering to himself if the old man werenot indeed crazy. He examined the book rapidly to learn if he wastelling the truth and saw neatly drawn figures of animals, circles,semicircles, flowers, feet, hands, arms, and such things.
"But why do you write if you don't want to be read?"
"Because I'm not writing for this generation, but for other ages. Ifthis generation could read, it would burn my books, the labor ofmy whole life. But the generation that deciphers these characterswill be an intelligent generation, it will understand and say,'Not all were asleep in the night of our ancestors!' The mystery ofthese curious characters will save my work from the ignorance of men,just as the mystery of strange rites has saved many truths from thedestructive priestly classes."
"In what language do you write?" asked Ibarra after a pause.
"In our own, Tagalog."
"Are the hieroglyphical signs suitable?"
"If it were not for the difficulty of drawing them, which takes timeand patience, I would almost say that they are more suitable than theLatin alphabet. The ancient Egyptian had our vowels; our _o_, whichis only final and is not like that of the Spanish, which is a vowelbetween _o_ and _u_. Like us, the Egyptians lacked the true sound of_e_, and in their language are found our _ha_ and _kha_, which wedo not have in the Latin alphabet such as is used in Spanish. Forexample, in this word _mukha_," he went on, pointing to the book,"I transcribe the syllable _ha_ more correctly with the figure ofa fish than with the Latin _h_, which in Europe is pronounced indifferent ways. For a weaker aspirate, as for example in this word_hain_, where the _h_ has less force, I avail myself of this lion'shead or of these three lotus flowers, according to the quantity ofthe vowel. Besides, I have the nasal sound which does not exist inthe Latin-Spanish alphabet. I repeat that if it were not for thedifficulty of drawing them exactly, these hieroglyphics could almostbe adopted, but this same difficulty obliges me to be concise andnot say more than what is exact and necessary. Moreover, this workkeeps me company when my guests from China and Japan go away."
"Your guests from China and Japan?"
"Don't you hear them? My guests are the swallows. This year one ofthem is missing--some bad boy in China or Japan must have caught it."
"How do you know that they come from those countries?"
"Easily enough! Several years ago, before they left I tied tothe foot of each one a slip of paper with the name 'Philippines'in English on it, supposing that they must not travel very far andbecause English is understood nearly everywhere. For years my slipsbrought no reply, so that at last I had it written in Chinese and herein the following November they have returned with other notes whichI have had deciphered. One is written in Chinese and is a greetingfrom the banks of the Hoang-Ho and the other, as the Chinaman whomI consulted supposes, must be in Japanese. But I'm taking your timewith these things and haven't asked you what I can do for you."
"I've come to speak to you about a matter of importance," said theyouth. "Yesterday afternoon--"
"Have they caught that poor fellow?"
"You mean Elias? How did you know about him?"
"I saw the Muse of the Civil Guard!"
"The Muse of the Civil Guard? Who is she?"
"The alferez's woman, whom you didn't invite to your picnic. Yesterdaymorning the incident of the cayman became known through the town. TheMuse of the Civil Guard is as astute as she is malignant and sheguessed that the pilot must be the bold person who threw her husbandinto the mudhole and who assaulted Padre Damaso. As she reads all thereports that her husband is to receive, scarcely had he got back home,drunk and not knowing what he was doing, when to revenge herself onyou she sent the sergeant with the soldiers to disturb the merrimentof your picnic. Be careful! Eve was a good woman, sprung from thehands of God--they say that Dona Consolacion is evil and it's notknown whose hands she came from! In order to be good, a woman needsto have been, at least sometime, either a maid or a mother."
Ibarra smiled slightly and replied by taking some documents from hispocketbook. "My dead father used to consult you in some things andI recall that he had only to congratulate himself on following youradvice. I have on hand a little enterprise, the success of whichI must assure." Here he explained briefly his plan for the school,which he had offered to his fiancee, spreading out in view of theastonished Sage some plans which had been prepared in Manila.
"I would like to have you advise me as to what persons in thetown I must first win over in order to assure the success of theundertaking. You know the inhabitants well, while I have just arrivedand am almost a stranger in my own country."
Old Tasio examined the plans before him with tear-dimmed eyes. "Whatyou are going to do has been my dream, the dream of a poor lunatic!" heexclaimed with emotion. "And now the first thing that I advise youto do is never to come to consult with me."
The youth gazed at him in surprise.
"Because the sensible people," he continued with bitter irony, "wouldtake you for a madman also. The people consider madmen those who donot think as they do, so they hold me as such, which I appreciate,because the day in which they think me returned to sanity, they willdeprive me of the little liberty that I've purchased at the expenseof the reputation of being a sane individual. And who knows but theyare right? I do not live according to their rules, my principlesand ideals are different. The gobernadorcillo enjoys among them thereputation of being a wise man because he learned nothing more thanto serve chocolate and to put up with Padre Damaso's bad humor, so nowhe is wealthy, he disturbs the petty destinies of his fellow-townsmen,and at times he even talks of justice. 'That's a man of talent,' thinkthe vulgar, 'look how from nothing he has made himself great!' But I,I inherited fortune and position, I have studied, and now I am poor,I am not trusted with the most ridiculous office, and all say, 'He's afool! He doesn't know how to live!' The curate calls me 'philosopher'as a nickname and gives to understand that I am a charlatan who ismaking a show of what I learned in the higher schools, when that isexactly what benefits me the least. Perhaps I really am the fool andthey the wise ones--who can say?"
The old man shook his head as if to drive away that thought, andcontinued: "The second thing I can advise is that you consult thecurate, the gobernadorcillo, and all persons in authority. They willgive you bad, stupid, or useless advice, but c
onsultation doesn'tmean compliance, although you should make it appear that you aretaking their advice and acting according to it."
Ibarra reflected a moment before he replied: "The advice is good, butdifficult to follow. Couldn't I go ahead with my idea without a shadowbeing thrown upon it? Couldn't a worthy enterprise make its way overeverything, since truth doesn't need to borrow garments from error?"
"Nobody loves the naked truth!" answered the old man. "That is goodin theory and practicable in the world of which youth dreams. Here isthe schoolmaster, who has struggled in a vacuum; with the enthusiasmof a child, he has sought the good, yet he has won only jests andlaughter. You have said that you are a stranger in your own country,and I believe it. The very first day you arrived you began by woundingthe vanity of a priest who is regarded by the people as a saint, andas a sage among his fellows. God grant that such a misstep may not havealready determined your future! Because the Dominicans and Augustinianslook with disdain on the _guingon_ habit, the rope girdle, and theimmodest foot-wear, because a learned doctor in Santo Tomas [75]may have once recalled that Pope Innocent III described the statutesof that order as more fit for hogs than men, don't believe but thatall of them work hand in hand to affirm what a preacher once said,'The most insignificant lay brother can do more than the governmentwith all its soldiers!' _Cave ne cadas!_ [76] Gold is powerful--thegolden calf has thrown God down from His altars many times, and thattoo since the days of Moses!"
"I'm not so pessimistic nor does life appear to me so perilous inmy country," said Ibarra with a smile. "I believe that those fearsare somewhat exaggerated and I hope to be able to carry out my planswithout meeting any great opposition in that quarter."
"Yes, if they extend their hands to you; no, if they withhold them. Allyour efforts will be shattered against the walls of the rectory ifthe friar so much as waves his girdle or shakes his habit; tomorrowthe alcalde will on some pretext deny you what today he has granted;no mother will allow her son to attend the school, and then all yourlabors will produce a counter-effect--they will dishearten those whoafterwards may wish to attempt altruistic undertakings."
"But, after all," replied the youth, "I can't believe in that power ofwhich you speak, and even supposing it to exist and making allowancefor it, I should still have on my side the sensible people and thegovernment, which is animated by the best intentions, which has greathopes, and which frankly desires the welfare of the Philippines."
"The government! The government!" muttered the Sage, raising his eyesto stare at the ceiling. "However inspired it may be with the desirefor fostering the greatness of the country for the benefit of thecountry itself and of the mother country, however some official orother may recall the generous spirit of the Catholic Kings [77] andmay agree with it, too, the government sees nothing, hears nothing,nor does it decide anything, except what the curate or the Provincialcauses it to see, hear, and decide. The government is convinced that itdepends for its salvation wholly on them, that it is sustained becausethey uphold it, and that the day on which they cease to support it,it will fall like a manikin that has lost its prop. They intimidatethe government with an uprising of the people and the people withthe forces of the government, whence originates a simple game, verymuch like what happens to timid persons when they visit gloomy places,taking for ghosts their own shadows and for strange voices the echoesof their own. As long as the government does not deal directly withthe country it will not get away from this tutelage, it will livelike those imbecile youths who tremble at the voice of their tutor,whose kindness they are begging for. The government has no dream ofa healthy future; it is the arm, while the head is the convento. Bythis inertia with which it allows itself to be dragged from depth todepth, it becomes changed into a shadow, its integrity is impaired,and in a weak and incapable way it trusts everything to mercenaryhands. But compare our system of government with those of the countriesyou have visited--"
"Oh!" interrupted Ibarra, "that's asking too much! Let us contentourselves with observing that our people do not complain or suffer asdo the people of other countries, thanks to Religion and the benignityof the governing powers.
"This people does not complain because it has no voice, it does notmove because it is lethargic, and you say that it does not sufferbecause you haven't seen how its heart bleeds. But some day you willsee this, you will hear its complaints, and then woe unto those whofound their strength on ignorance and fanaticism! Woe unto thosewho rejoice in deceit and labor during the night, believing that allare asleep! When the light of day shows up the monsters of darkness,the frightful reaction will come. So many sighs suppressed, so muchpoison distilled drop by drop, so much force repressed for centuries,will come to light and burst! Who then will pay those accounts whichoppressed peoples present from time to time and which History preservesfor us on her bloody pages?"
"God, the government, and Religion will not allow that day tocome!" replied Ibarra, impressed in spite of himself. "The Philippinesis religious and loves Spain, the Philippines will realize how muchthe nation is doing for her. There are abuses, yes, there are defects,that cannot be denied, but Spain is laboring to introduce reformsthat will correct these abuses and defects, she is formulating plans,she is not selfish!"
"I know it, and that is the worst of it! The reforms which emanatefrom the higher places are annulled in the lower circles, thanks tothe vices of all, thanks, for instance, to the eager desire to getrich in a short time, and to the ignorance of the people, who consentto everything. A royal decree does not correct abuses when there isno zealous authority to watch over its execution, while freedom ofspeech against the insolence of petty tyrants is not conceded. Planswill remain plans, abuses will still be abuses, and the satisfiedministry will sleep in peace in spite of everything. Moreover,if perchance there does come into a high place a person with greatand generous ideas, he will begin to hear, while behind his back heis considered a fool, 'Your Excellency does not know the country,your Excellency does not understand the character of the Indians,your Excellency is going to ruin them, your Excellency will do wellto trust So-and-so,' and his Excellency in fact does not know thecountry, for he has been until now stationed in America, and besidesthat, he has all the shortcomings and weaknesses of other men, so heallows himself to be convinced. His Excellency also remembers thatto secure the appointment he has had to sweat much and suffer more,that he holds it for only three years, that he is getting old andthat it is necessary to think, not of quixotisms, but of the future:a modest mansion in Madrid, a cozy house in the country, and a goodincome in order to live in luxury at the capital--these are whathe must look for in the Philippines. Let us not ask for miracles,let us not ask that he who comes as an outsider to make his fortuneand go away afterwards should interest himself in the welfare of thecountry. What matters to him the gratitude or the curses of a peoplewhom he does not know, in a country where he has no associations,where he has no affections? Fame to be sweet must resound in theears of those we love, in the atmosphere of our home or of the landthat will guard our ashes; we wish that fame should hover over ourtomb to warm with its breath the chill of death, so that we maynot be completely reduced to nothingness, that something of us maysurvive. Naught of this can we offer to those who come to watch overour destinies. And the worst of all this is that they go away justwhen they are beginning to get an understanding of their duties. Butwe are getting away from our subject."
"But before getting back to it I must make some things plain,"interrupted the youth eagerly. "I can admit that the government doesnot know the people, but I believe that the people know the governmenteven less. There are useless officials, bad ones, if you wish, butthere are also good ones, and if these are unable to do anything itis because they meet with an inert mass, the people, who take littlepart in the affairs that concern them. But I didn't come to hold adiscussion with you on that point, I came to ask for advice and youtell me to lower my head before grotesque idols!"
"Yes, I repeat it, because here you must either lower
your head orlose it."
"Either lower my head or lose it!" repeated Ibarra thoughtfully. "Thedilemma is hard! But why? Is love for my country incompatible with lovefor Spain? Is it necessary to debase oneself to be a good Christian,to prostitute one's conscience in order to carry out a good purpose? Ilove my native land, the Philippines, because to it I owe my life andmy happiness, because every man should love his country. I love Spain,the fatherland of my ancestors, because in spite of everything thePhilippines owes to it, and will continue to owe, her happiness andher future. I am a Catholic, I preserve pure the faith of my fathers,and I do not see why I have to lower my head when I can raise it,to give it over to my enemies when I can humble them!"
"Because the field in which you wish to sow is in possession of yourenemies and against them you are powerless. It is necessary that youfirst kiss the hand that--"
But the youth let him go no farther, exclaiming passionately, "Kisstheir hands! You forget that among them they killed my father andthrew his body from the tomb! I who am his son do not forget it,and that I do not avenge it is because I have regard for the goodname of the Church!"
The old Sage bowed his head as he answered slowly: "Senor Ibarra, ifyou preserve those memories, which I cannot counsel you to forget,abandon the enterprise you are undertaking and seek in some otherway the welfare of your countrymen. The enterprise needs another man,because to make it a success zeal and money alone are not sufficient;in our country are required also self-denial, tenacity of purpose,and faith, for the soil is not ready, it is only sown with discord."
Ibarra appreciated the value of these observations, but still wouldnot be discouraged. The thought of Maria Clara was in his mind andhis promise must be fulfilled.
"Doesn't your experience suggest any other than this hard means?" heasked in a low voice.
The old man took him by the arm and led him to the window. A freshbreeze, the precursor of the north wind, was blowing, and before theireyes spread out the garden bounded by the wide forest that was a kindof park.
"Why can we not do as that weak stalk laden with flowers and budsdoes?" asked the Sage, pointing to a beautiful jasmine plant. "The windblows and shakes it and it bows its head as if to hide its preciousload. If the stalk should hold itself erect it would be broken,its flowers would be scattered by the wind, and its buds would beblighted. The wind passes by and the stalk raises itself erect,proud of its treasure, yet who will blame it for having bowed beforenecessity? There you see that gigantic _kupang_, which majesticallywaves its light foliage wherein the eagle builds his nest. I broughtit from the forest as a weak sapling and braced its stem for monthswith slender pieces of bamboo. If I had transplanted it large andfull of life, it is certain that it would not have lived here,for the wind would have thrown it down before its roots could havefixed themselves in the soil, before it could have become accustomedto its surroundings, and before it could have secured sufficientnourishment for its size and height. So you, transplanted from Europeto this stony soil, may end, if you do not seek support and do nothumble yourself. You are among evil conditions, alone, elevated, theground shakes, the sky presages a storm, and the top of your familytree has shown that it draws the thunderbolt. It is not courage, butfoolhardiness, to fight alone against all that exists. No one censuresthe pilot who makes for a port at the first gust of the whirlwind. Tostoop as the bullet passes is not cowardly--it is worse to defy itonly to fall, never to rise again."
"But could this sacrifice produce the fruit that I hope for?" askedIbarra. "Would the priest believe in me and forget the affront? Wouldthey aid me frankly in behalf of the education that contests with theconventos the wealth of the country? Can they not pretend friendship,make a show of protection, and yet underneath in the shadows fight it,undermine it, wound it in the heel, in order to weaken it quickerthan by attacking it in front? Granted the previous actions whichyou surmise, anything may be expected!"
The old man remained silent from inability to answer thesequestions. After meditating for some time, he said: "If such shouldhappen, if the enterprise should fail, you would be consoled bythe thought that you had done what was expected of you and thussomething would be gained. You would have placed the first stone,you would have sown the seed, and after the storm had spent itselfperhaps some grain would have survived the catastrophe to grow andsave the species from destruction and to serve afterwards as the seedfor the sons of the dead sower. The example may encourage others whoare only afraid to begin."
Weighing these reasons, Ibarra realized the situation and saw thatwith all the old man's pessimism there was a great deal of truth inwhat he said.
"I believe you!" he exclaimed, pressing the old man's hand. "Not invain have I looked to you for advice. This very day I'll go and reachan understanding with the curate, who, after all is said, has doneme no wrong and who must be good, since all of them are not like thepersecutor of my father. I have, besides, to interest him in behalf ofthat unfortunate madwoman and her sons. I put my trust in God and men!"
After taking leave of the old man he mounted his horse and rodeaway. As the pessimistic Sage followed him with his gaze, he muttered:"Now let's watch how Destiny will unfold the drama that began in thecemetery." But for once he was greatly mistaken--the drama had begunlong before!