John, of Austria, 1547-1578; Spain -- History -- Philip II, 1556-1598
When this list was approved by Quijada in his own name and that of Doña
Magdalena, the King gave the final order. That two days afterwards, that
is to say on the 1st of October, Jeromín was to be established in
Valladolid with the Quijadas in a house which Doña Magdalena owned
opposite that of the Conde de Rivadeo, which was henceforth to be the
residence of the new prince; and that on the 2nd, at midday, Luis
Quijada was secretly to bring Jeromín to the Palace, so that after
dinner the King could present him to the Princess Juana and Prince
Carlos, and acknowledge him as a brother before all the Court. The time
and place to publish this acknowledgment throughout the kingdom would be
determined later.
The King and Quijada talked for more than an hour, walking under the
shade of the guardian oak trees, and when they emerged into the light
not the perspicacity of even such an accomplished courtier as the Duque
de Alba could have guessed from their faces what had passed between
them. On reaching Jeromín and the Duque the King said to Quijada, "It
will now be necessary to take the bandage off the boy's eyes." Then,
turning to Jeromín, he asked him pleasant and even joking questions,
and, as if recollecting something, all at once he said very kindly, "And
with all this, Sir Peasant, you have never even told me your name."
"Jeromín," answered the boy. "He was a great saint, but it must be
altered. And do you know who your father was?"
Jeromín blushed up to his eyes and looked at the King, half indignant
and half tearful, as it seemed to him an affront which had no answer. D.
Philip then was touched, and putting his hand on the boy's shoulder,
said with simple majesty, "Courage, my child, as I can tell you. The
Emperor, my lord and father, was also yours, and for this I recognise
and love you as a brother." And he tenderly embraced him without other
witnesses than Quijada and the Duque de Alba. The huntsmen saw the scene
from afar off, without realising what was happening. The baying of the
hounds and gay fanfare on the horns announced in the distance that the
hunters were returning after a successful chase.
Stupefied by this revelation Jeromín got on his horse, Luis Quijada
holding his stirrup. On the homeward journey to Villagarcia he only once
opened his lips, and turning round to Quijada, who followed, asked, "And
my aunt, does she know?" "Everything," answered Quijada.
Jeromín hurried his steps as if he would be late getting to the castle,
and running through the courts and up the stairs, he arrived at the
parlour, opening and slamming the doors. Doña Magdalena was there alone
and very pale. The child went to her, and took her hand to kiss it.
"Aunt! Aunt!" "My lord, your Highness is no nephew of mine," answered
the lady. And she tried to kiss his hands, and set him in her big chair
while she sat on the carpet.
But the child, beside himself, cried with great energy that made his
voice, all choked with tears, quite hoarse:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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