CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
THE HISTORY DRAWS NEAR A PERIOD.
Universal was the applause which they acquired by this noble sacrifice oftheir resentment. The afternoon was spent in the utmost harmony andgood-humour; and at the earnest solicitation of Renaldo, whose fancystill harboured the apprehensions of another separation, Don Diegoconsented that the indissoluble knot should be tied between that younggentleman and Serafina in two days, and the place appointed for theceremony was the very church where they had been restored to the arms ofeach other.
The lovely bride, with a silent blush that set her lover's heart on fire,submitted to this determination, in consequence of which the company wasbespoke for that auspicious hour, and the evening being pretty faradvanced, they took leave of the ladies, and retired to their respectivehomes; Don Diego and his future son-in-law being reconducted to theirlodgings, in the coach of the Jew, who, taking an opportunity of beingalone with Melvil, observed that it would be necessary on this occasionto supply the Castilian with a sum of money, in order to support hisdignity and independence, in furnishing Serafina with everything suitableto her rank and merit; and that he would willingly accommodate him,provided he knew how to propose it so as to give no offence to hispunctilious disposition.
Renaldo, thanking him for this generous anticipation, advised him tosolicit the Spaniard's correspondence in the way of business, and to putthe whole on the footing of his own interest; by which means Don Diego'sdelicacy could sustain no affront. Fraught with this instruction, theIsraelite desired a private audience of the Castilian, in which, after anapology for the freedom of his demand, "Signior Don Diego," said he, "asyour fortune hath been so long embezzled by your adversary in Spain, andyour correspondence with that country entirely cut off, it is not to besupposed that your finances are at present in such a condition as tomaintain the splendour of your family. Count de Melvil's whole fortuneis at your command; and had not he been afraid of giving umbrage to thepeculiar delicacy of your sentiments, he would have pressed you to use itfor your convenience. For my own part, over and above the inclination Ihave to serve Don Diego, I consult my own private advantage in desiringyou to accept my service on this occasion. Money is the chief commodityin which I deal, and, if you honour me with your commands, I shall be againer by my obedience."
Don Diego replied, with a smile that denoted how well he understood themeaning of this address, "Surely, Signior, I am bound by the strongestties to exert my utmost endeavours for your advantage; and I pray Godthis your proposal may have that issue. I am well acquainted with theCount's generosity and refined notions of honour; and too much obliged byhim already, to hesitate with punctilious reserve in accepting his futureassistance. Nevertheless, since you have contrived a scheme for removingall scruples of that sort, I shall execute it with pleasure; and, in theform of business, you shall have all the security I can give for whatshall be necessary to answer my present occasions."
The preliminaries being thus settled, Joshua advanced for his use athousand pounds, for which he would take neither bond, note, nor receipt,desiring only that the Castilian would mark it in his own pocket-book,that the debt might appear, in case any accident should befall theborrower. Although the Spaniard had been accustomed to the uncommongenerosity of Melvil, he could not help wondering at this nobleness ofbehaviour, so little to be expected from any merchant, much less from aJewish broker.
While this affair was on the anvil, Renaldo, who could no longer withholdthe communication of his happiness from his sister and relations inGermany, took up the pen, and, in a letter to his brother-in-law,recounted all the circumstances of the surprising turn of fate which hehad experienced since his arrival in England. He likewise related thestory of Don Diego, informed them of the day appointed for his nuptials,and entreated the Major to make a journey to London with his wife; or, ifthat should be impracticable, to come as far as Brussels, where theyshould be met by him and his Serafina. There was now but one day betweenhim and the accomplishment of his dearest wish, and that was spent inprocuring a licence, and adjusting the preparations for the grandfestival. Don Diego in the forenoon visited Madam Clement, to whom herepeated his warm acknowledgments of her bounty and maternal affection tohis daughter, and presented to Serafina bank notes to the amount of fivehundred pounds, to defray the necessary expense for her weddingornaments.
All the previous steps being taken for the solemnisation of thisinteresting event, and the hour of appointment arrived, the bridegroom,accompanied by his father-in-law, hastened to the place of rendezvous,which was the vestry-room of the church we have already described; wherethey were received by the good clergyman in his canonicals; and here theyhad not waited many minutes, when they were joined by Madam Clement andthe amiable bride, escorted by the friendly physician, who had all alongborne such a share in their concerns. Serafina was dressed in a sack ofwhite satin, and the ornaments of her head were adjusted in the Spanishfashion, which gave a peculiar air to her appearance, and an additionalspirit to those attractions which engaged the heart of each beholder.There was nothing remarkable in the habit of Renaldo, who had copied theplainness and elegance of his mistress; but, when she entered the place,his features were animated with a double proportion of vivacity, andtheir eyes meeting, seemed to kindle a blaze which diffused warmth andjoy through the countenances of all present.
After a short pause, her father led her to the altar, and gave her awayto the transported Renaldo, before the priest who performed the ceremony,and bestowed the nuptial benediction on this enraptured pair. Thesanction of the church being thus obtained, they withdrew into thevestry, where Melvil sealed his title on her rosy lips, and presented hiswife to the company, who embraced her in their turns, with fervent wishesfor their mutual happiness.
Though the scene of this transaction was remote from any inhabitedneighbourhood, the church was surrounded by a crowd of people, who, withuncommon demonstration of surprise and admiration, petitioned Heaven tobless so fair a couple. Such indeed was their eagerness to see them,that some lives were endangered by the pressure of the crowd, whichattended them with loud acclamations to the coach, after the bridegroomhad deposited in the hands of the minister one hundred pounds for thebenefit of the poor of that parish, and thrown several handfuls ofmoney among the multitude. Serafina re-embarked in Madam Clement'sconvenience, with that good lady and Don Diego, while Renaldo, withthe clergyman and doctor, followed in Joshua's coach, to a pleasantcountry-house upon the Thames, at a distance of a few miles from London.This the Jew had borrowed from the owner for a few days, and there theywere received by that honest Hebrew, who had provided a very elegantentertainment for the occasion. He had also bespoke a small butexcellent band of music, which regaled their ears while they sat atdinner; and the afternoon being calm and serene, he prevailed on them totake the air on the river, in a barge which he had prepared for thepurpose.
But, notwithstanding this diversity of amusement, Renaldo would havefound it the longest day he had ever passed, had not his imaginationbeen diverted by an incident which employed his attention during theremaining part of the evening. They had drunk tea, and engaged in aparty at whist, when they were surprised with a noise of contention froma public-house, that fronted the windows of the apartment in which theysat. Alarmed at this uproar, they forsook their cards, and, throwing upthe casement, beheld a hearse surrounded by four men on horseback, whohad stopped the carriage, and violently pulled the driver from his seat.This uncommon arrest had engaged the curiosity of the publican's family,who stood at the door to observe the consequence, when all of a suddenappeared a person in canonicals, well mounted, who, riding up to thosewho maltreated the driver, bestowed upon one of them such a blow with thebutt-end of his whip, as laid him sprawling on the ground; and, springingfrom his saddle upon the box, took the reins into his own hand, swearingwith great vehemence, that he would murder every man who should attemptto obstruct the hearse.
The good priest who had married Renaldo was not a lit
tle scandalised atthis ferocious behaviour in a clergyman, and could not help saying aloud,he was a disgrace to the cloth when the horseman looking up to thewindow, replied, "Sir, may I be d--n'd, if any man in England has agreater respect for the cloth than I have; but at present I am quitedistracted." So saying, he whipped up the horses, and had actuallydisentangled the hearse from those who surrounded it, when he was opposedby another troop, one of whom alighted with great expedition, and cut theharness so as that he could not possibly proceed. Finding himself thusdriven to bay, he leaped upon the ground, and exercised his weapon withsuch amazing strength and agility, that several of his antagonists wereleft motionless on the field, before he was overpowered and disarmed bydint of numbers, who assailed him on all sides.
The mad parson being thus taken prisoner, an elderly person, of a veryprepossessing appearance, went up to the hearse, and, unbolting the door,a young lady sprung out, and shrieking, ran directly to the public-house,to the infinite astonishment and affright of the whole family, whobelieved it was the spirit of the deceased person, whose body lay in thecarriage. Renaldo, who was with difficulty restrained from interposingin behalf of the clergyman against such odds, no sooner perceived thisapparition, than, supposing her to be some distressed damsel, hisQuixotism awoke, he descended in an instant, and rushed into the house,among those that pursued the fair phantom. Don Diego and the physiciantook the same road, while the real clergyman and Joshua tarried with theladies, who were, by this time, very much interested in the event.
Melvil found the young lady in the hands of the old gentleman, who hadreleased her from the hearse, and who now bitterly upbraided her for herfolly and disobedience; while she protested with great vivacity, thatwhatever she might suffer from his severity, she would never submit tothe hateful match he had proposed, nor break the promise she had alreadymade to the gentleman who now attempted to rescue her from the tyranny ofa cruel father. This declaration was followed by a plentiful shower oftears, which the father could not behold with unmoistened eyes, althoughhe reviled her with marks of uncommon displeasure; and turning to theCount, "I appeal to you, sir," said he, "whether I have not reason tocurse the undutiful obstinacy of that pert baggage, and renounce her forever as an alien to my blood. She has, for some months, been solicitedin marriage by an honest citizen, a thirty thousand pound man; andinstead of listening to such an advantageous proposal, she hath bestowedher heart upon a young fellow not worth a groat. Ah! you degeneratehussy, this comes of your plays and romances. If thy mother were not awoman of an unexceptionable life and conversation, I should verilybelieve thou art no child of mine. Run away with a beggar! for shame!"
"I suppose," replied Renaldo, "the person to whom your daughter'saffection inclines, is that clergyman who exerted himself so manfully atthe door?" "Clergyman!" cried the other, "adad! he has more of the devilthan the church about him. A ruffian! he has, for aught I know, murderedthe worthy gentleman whom I intended for my son-in-law; and the rogue, ifI had not kept out of his way, would, I suppose, have served me with thesame sauce. Me! who have been his master for many years, and hadresolved to make a man of him. Sir, he was my own clerk, and this is thereturn I have met with from the serpent which I cherished in my bosom."
Here he was interrupted by the arrival of the citizen for whom he hadexpressed such concern; that gentleman had received a contusion upon oneeye, by which the sight was altogether obstructed, so that he concludedhe should never retrieve the use of that organ, and with great clamourtook all the spectators to witness the injury he had sustained; heentered the room with manifest perturbation, demanded satisfaction of thefather, and peremptorily declared it should not be a lost eye to him ifthere was law in England. This unseasonable demand, and the boisterousmanner in which it was made, did not at all suit the present humour ofthe old gentleman, who told him peevishly he owed him no eye, and badehim go and ask reparation of the person who had done him wrong.
The young lady snatching this favourable occasion, earnestly entreatedMelvil and his company to intercede with her father in behalf of herlover, who, she assured them, was a young gentleman of a good family, anduncommon merit; and in compliance with her request they invited him andhis daughter to the house in which they lodged, where they would bedisencumbered of the crowd which this dispute had gathered together, andmore at leisure to consult about the measures necessary to be taken. Theold gentleman thanked them for their courtesy, which he did not thinkproper to refuse, and while he led, or rather hauled Mademoiselle overthe way, under the auspices of the Castilian, Renaldo set the lover atliberty, made him a tender of his good offices, and advised him to waitat the public-house for an happy issue of their negotiation.
The pseudo-parson was very much affected by this generous proffer, forwhich he made suitable acknowledgments, and protested before God he woulddie a thousand deaths rather than part with his dear Charlotte. Herfather no sooner entered the apartment, than he was known by Joshua to bea considerable trader in the city of London, and the merchant was glad tofind himself among his acquaintance. He was so full of the story whichhad brought him thither, that he had scarce sat down when he began tocomplain of his hard fate, in having an only child who was so mean,stubborn, and contumacious; and every sentence was concluded with anapostrophe of reproaches to the delinquent.
The Jew having allowed him to ring out his alarm, condoled hismisfortune, and gravely counselled the young lady to wean her affectionsfrom such an unworthy object, for he supposed her favourite was a man ofno principle, or liberal endowments, otherwise her father would notexclaim so bitterly against her conduct. Charlotte, who wanted neitherbeauty nor understanding, assured him that her lover's character was, inall respects, unblemished, for the truth of which assertion she appealedto her papa, who owned, with reluctance, that the young man was agentleman by birth, that he had served him with remarkable diligence andintegrity, and that his accomplishments were far superior to his stationin life. "But then," said he, "the fellow has not a shilling of his own,and would you have me give away my daughter to a beggar?"
"God forbid!" cried the Jew, "I always understood you possessed an amplefortune, and am sorry to find it otherwise." "Otherwise!" cried thecitizen, with some acrimony, "take care what you say, sir; a merchant'scredit is not to be tampered with." "I beg your pardon," answered theHebrew, "I concluded that your circumstances were bad, because youobjected to the poverty of the young man after you had owned he waspossessed of every other qualification to make your daughter happy; forit is not to be imagined that you would thwart her inclinations, or seekto render an only child miserable on account of an obstacle which youyourself could easily remove. Let us suppose you can afford to give withyour daughter ten thousand pounds, which would enable this young man tolive with credit and reputation, and engage advantageously in trade, forwhich you say he is well qualified, the alternative then will be, whetheryou would rather see her in the arms of a deserving youth whom she loves,enjoying all the comforts of life with a moderate fortune, which it willalways be in your own power to improve, or tied for life to a monied manwhom she detests, cursing her hard fate, and despising that superfluityof wealth, in spite of which she finds herself so truly wretched."
The old gentleman seemed to be startled at this observation, which wasreinforced by Renaldo's saying, that he would, moreover, enjoy theunutterable pleasure of giving happiness to a worthy man, whose gratitudewould co-operate with his love, in approving himself a dutiful son, aswell as an affectionate husband. He then represented the familydisquiets and dismal tragedies produced from such mercenary andcompulsive matches, and, in conclusion related the story of Don Diego andhis daughter, which when the merchant heard, he started up with marks ofterror in his countenance, and, throwing up the casement, called uponValentine with great vociferation. This was the name of his daughter'sadmirer, who no sooner heard the summons than he flew to the spot fromwhence it came, and the merchant, without any further preamble, seizinghis hand, joined it with that of Charlot
te, saying, with greattrepidation, "Here, take her, in the name of God, and thank thishonourable company for your good fortune."
The lovers were transported with exquisite joy at this suddendetermination in their favour. Valentine, having kissed the hand of hismistress with all the eagerness of rapture, and acknowledged themerchant's generosity, paid his respects to the ladies with a very politeaddress, and with demonstrations of uncommon gratitude and sensibility,thanked the gentlemen, and the Count in particular, for their goodoffices, to which he attributed the happiness he now enjoyed. WhileSerafina and Madam Clement caressed the amiable Charlotte, the rest ofthe company congratulated her admirer upon his choice and success, thoughthe clergyman could not help reprehending him for profaning thesacerdotal habit.
Valentine heartily asked pardon for having given such cause of offence,and hoped he should be forgiven, as it was a disguise which he thoughtabsolutely necessary for the execution of a scheme upon which hishappiness depended. He then, at the request of Renaldo, unfolded themystery of the hearse, by giving them to understand that Charlotte'sfather having got inkling of their mutual passion, had dismissed hisclerk, and conveyed his daughter to a country-house in the neighbourhoodof London, in order to cut off their correspondence; notwithstandingthese precautions they had found means to communicate with each other byletters, which were managed by a third person; and his rival being veryimportunate in his solicitations, they had concerted the expedient of thehearse, which he provided and conducted through a road contiguous to theend of the merchant's garden, where Charlotte, being apprised of thedesign, waited for its approach, and embarked in it without hesitation.Valentine thought himself sufficiently screened from discovery by hisdisguise, but he was unfortunately met by a servant of the family, whorecollected his features, and immediately gave the alarm, upon which thefather and his friends took horse, and pursued them by two differentroads, until they were overtaken at this place.
He had scarce finished this short relation, when his rival, bluntlyentering the apartment, with an handkerchief tied round his eye,committed Valentine to the charge of a constable, who attended him, by awarrant from a justice of the peace in that neighbourhood, and threatenedto prosecute the merchant on an action of damages for the loss of an eye,which he said he had sustained in his service. The company endeavouredto appease this citizen, by representing that his misfortune was no otherthan a common inflammation, nor was it owing to malice aforethought, butentirely to the precipitate passion of an incensed young man, who, by thebye, acted in his own defence. At the same time the merchant promised tomake any reasonable satisfaction, upon which the other demanded anobligation, importing that he would, in ten days from the date, bestowupon him his daughter in marriage, with a portion of fifteen thousandpounds, or, in case of failure, pay him double the sum.
The merchant, exasperated at this extravagant demand, told him flatly hehad already disposed of his daughter to Valentine, who, he believed, wasa much more deserving man, and that he was ready to wait upon themagistrate who had granted the warrant, in order to give bail for hisfuture son-in-law. This was a mortifying declaration to the plaintiff,though he condoled himself with the hope of being a gainer by the loss ofhis eye, and now the pain was over would have been very sorry to find hissight retrieved. The old gentleman, Joshua, and Renaldo accompanied theprisoner to the house of the justice, where he was immediately admittedto bail. Upon their return Valentine shifted his dress, and they suppedtogether with great cordiality and mirth, maintained at the expense ofthe discarded lover.
After supper Don Diego walked a minuet with Madam Clement; for whom, bythis time, he had contracted an extraordinary degree of affection.Valentine had the honour to dance with the incomparable Serafina, whosebeauty and attractions dazzled the eyes of the new-comers, and struck herbashful partner with awe and confusion; and Melvil presented his hand tothe agreeable Charlotte, who performed so much to the satisfaction of herfather, that he could not help expressing his joy and pride. He praisedGod for throwing him in the way of our company, and engaged the clergymanto unite the young couple, after having appointed a day for the ceremony,and invited all present to the wedding. The evening having beeninsensibly consumed in these avocations, and the night pretty faradvanced, the ladies withdrew without ceremony; and the retreat ofSerafina filled Renaldo's breast with tumult and emotion; his blood beganto flow in impetuous tides, his heart to beat with redoubled vigour andvelocity, while his eyes seemed to flash with more than human splendour.Now his imagination began to anticipate with the enthusiastic rage of aninspired sibyl; he was instantaneously transported from the conversation,and every nerve was braced to such a degree of impatience, that humannature could not long endure the tension.
He, therefore, having withstood the impulse about a quarter of an hour,at length gave way to his impetuosity, and, springing from his friends,found himself in a dark passage, at the farther end of which he perceivedMadam Clement coming out of a chamber with a light, which, at sight ofhim, she set down, and vanished in a moment. This was the star thatpointed to his paradise; he hailed the signal, entered the apartment,and, like a lion, rushing on his prey, approached the nuptial bed, whereSerafina, surrounded by all the graces of beauty, softness, sentiment,and truth, lay trembling as a victim at the altar, and strove to hide herblushes from his view--the door was shut, the light extinguished--heowned his lot was more than mortal man could claim.
Here let me draw the decent veil that ought to shade the secret mysteriesof Hymen. Away, unhallowed scoffers, who profane, with idle pleasantryor immodest hint, these holy rites; and leave those happy lovers toenjoy, in one another's arms, unutterable bliss, the well-earned palm ofvirtue and of constancy, which had undergone the most severe refinement.A more deserving pair night's curtain shrouds not in its dark extent.
The thoughts of Renaldo's felicity threw a damp on the spirits ofValentine, who saw the term of his probation protracted a few dayslonger, and could not help wishing in his heart that he had achieved theadventure which would have abridged his expectation, though at theexpense of the old gentleman's displeasure. He filled a bumper to thehealth of the bride and bridegroom, and throwing up his eyes with marksof admiration, exclaimed, "How happy is the Count! alas! five days longermust I rein my impatience!" "It is but reasonable, you rogue, that yourbetters should have the start of you," said the merchant, who did himjustice in the glass, and counselled him to drown his impatience withgood claret. The youth followed his advice, and it was late before thecompany retired to rest.
These citizens, however, resolved to seize an opportunity of rallying thenew-married couple, according to custom, and with that view arose earlyin the morning, on the supposition of finding them still asleep; but theywere not a little surprised, when they entered the breakfasting room, tosee Renaldo, and his amiable bed-fellow, already dressed, and awaiting todo the honours of the house. The old gentleman would fain have cracked ajoke upon their extraordinary despatch, but he was so much overawed bythe dignity and tamed by the sweetness of Serafina's carriage, that hedurst not give utterance to his conception; and Valentine stood silentand abashed, as in the presence of a superior being. After breakfastthese gentlemen and Charlotte again expressed their sense of theobligations they owed to this happy family, repeated their invitation,and, taking leave, returned to London in a coach that was providedovernight.
Our friends being thus left to themselves, Don Diego turned towardsMelvil: "Now," said he, "that I have yielded to the impatience of yourlove, as well as to the eagerness of my own desire to make you happy, Imust beg leave to interrupt, for a little while, the stream of yourmutual pleasure, and propose a melancholy excursion, which, however, willnot be wholly void of enjoyment. I have too long delayed the performanceof my duty at Antonia's grave--let us spend the forenoon in that piouspilgrimage--I will drop a few tears to the memory of that excellentwoman, and never afterwards shall my friends be troubled with my grief."
The proposal being universally approved, they s
et out for the place,which had oft been visited by the gentle Serafina, who conducted herfather to a black marble stone, which Renaldo had ordered to be laid overthe grave; and, as he kneeled to kiss the monument, he perceived thisplain inscription in the Spanish tongue:--Antonia de Zelos primera entodo lo que es ser bueno, y sin segundo en todo lo que fue serdesdichado, quedad con Dios! that is, Antonia de Zelos, unmatched invirtue, and unequalled in misfortune, adieu! "O faithful record!" criedthe Castilian, smiting his breast, while his tears distilled upon themarble, "thy goodness was the gift of Heaven, but thy misfortunes werederived from the guilt of Don Diego; yet his sorrow shall expiate hisoffence, and his penitence find favour in the sight of Heaven! Rest,rest, ill-fated virtue!--eternal peace shall guard thy tomb, and angelsminister to thy unspotted shade; nor shall thine ashes lie in darkobscurity here will I raise a monument, more suited to thy excellence andname." Serafina melted with filial tenderness; nor were the rest unmovedat this affecting scene, which Don Diego did not quit without reluctance.