Portugal -- History -- Joseph, 1750-1777 -- Fiction
priests, as was that of Lisbon; from whose worse than Augean filth it
was Carvalho's Herculean undertaking, in some degree, to cleanse it for
the time. Malagrida having thus retained almost supreme power over the
consciences of the chief persons in the realm for a long series of
years, his hatred was rancorous and deadly against the man who had
deprived him of it; and the Minister had occasion for the utmost
watchfulness and talent to guard himself against the secret machinations
and the public attacks with which he and the rest of his order attempted
to destroy him.
When Carvalho first returned to Portugal, after his embassy to the Court
of London, he had paid every respect to the Jesuits, particularly to
Father Moreira, the confessor to the Prince of Brazil, in order, by his
aid, to gain the confidence of the heir to the throne; but no sooner did
he find his power secure, than he threw off the mask and proclaimed
himself the enemy of the whole order, whom he declared the chief cause
of the ignorance and bigotry of the people.
It is not surprising, therefore, that they should regard with fear and
hatred a man so opposed to all their principles of government; and,
accordingly, they used every means in their power to instigate the
people against him, thundering anathemas on his head from their pulpits,
and spreading tracts, loaded with abuse, among all circles. No one
equalled Malagrida in the measures he took, or the daring he exhibited;
but, though years first rolled on, the bitter and relentless vengeance
of the Minister ultimately overtook him.
Such was the man we left with the Duke of Aveiro: their conference was
yet unfinished, when, having taken another turn, they had reached the
further end of the avenue, which led to a small grotto of stone-work,
surrounded by a thicket of low shrubs. Malagrida laid his arm on the
shoulder of the Duke, exclaiming, with deep energy, "Nought but the
death of the persecutor of its servants will satisfy the vengeance of
Heaven."
A hollow voice echoed, "the vengeance of Heaven!" and, at the same time
a noise was heard in the shrubbery. Both the monk and the noble
started--perhaps neither had quite deceived themselves as to their
secret aims.
"Avaunt thee, Sathanas, if thou art the spirit of evil," exclaimed
Malagrida.
The Duke trembled with agitation. The rustling noise was again heard.
"Ah! 'tis some villain spy," he cried, drawing his sword and rushing
towards the spot. "His death shall secure his silence."
Being now persuaded that it was a mortal enemy he had to encounter, his
boldness returned, and, without hesitation, he sprung into the thicket;
but all was silent: the gloom preventing his seeing many feet before
him. He beat about for a considerable time, plunging his sword into
every bush that appeared darker than the others; but to no purpose, for
the sound was not repeated. Malagrida watched on the outside, but no
one appeared.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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