The Story of Majorca and MinorcaMarkham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
History
The Story of Majorca and Minorca
Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
Balearic Islands (Spain) -- History
But the great treasure of Alfavia is the memorial of the unfortunate
brother and sister, Jayme IV. and Isabel. It consists of a solid oaken
armchair of the fourteenth century, designed and carved for Arnaldo de
Santa Cilia in loving memory of his ill-fated friends. The workmanship
and the costumes of the figures carved on it are the evidence of
its date. The carvings represent the sorrows of the two unfortunate
children of Jayme III. On each end of the back there are lions séjant.
On the back, facing the seat, two figures are carved, a prince and
a lady, in costumes of the fourteenth century. They are seated at a
table, supposed to be a chessboard, but the surface is smooth. A small
dog is under the table. Over them there is a tree with three branches,
and foliage at the end of each. On each branch, among the foliage,
there is a bird of evil omen or of mourning--crows and owl--symbolising
the sorrows of the two young people beneath them. Below the seat there
are two fierce bloodhounds facing each other, one killing a rabbit.
At the back of the chair the carving is still more symbolical. A
laurel-tree rises out of a tomb, and among its foliage there is a
crowned head, intended for that of Jayme III. On either side of the
tree stand the same prince and princess, the prince with a hawk on his
wrist. Both point their hands down to the tomb, in which there is the
same crowned head.
In a lower compartment there is a fierce hound chasing a rabbit; and
beneath that again there is a rabbit sitting up and looking back behind
a mound, a second mound with a rabbit looking out of it, and the
hindquarters of another going into its hole. On the sides of the chair
there are niches with arches, and under two of them on either side are
armed figures in iron caps, shirts of mail, swords, and shields. One
is crowned and has a long mantle, and a bird with wings displayed is
carved on his shield.[18]
The whole composition is very curious and most interesting, alike a
touching memorial of the brother and sister, the last of their race,
and a very precious relic of antiquity.
The descendants of the second son of Jayme the Conqueror have left
a goodly record. To them Majorca owed her rights and liberties, the
settlement of her people, the founding of her towns, and all the
beginnings of her future prosperity. Devoted to the good of their
people, honourable and true to their word, wise in counsel, steadfast
in adversity, they produced also knights-errant of the most chivalrous
type, like En Fernando and like young Jayme IV., the last of his race.
CHAPTER XIII
Relates the story, so far as it concerns Majorca, of the last Kings of
Aragon
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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