Zawis and Kunigunde/Chapter 3
CHAPTER III.
THE BATTLE.
Solomon and Pietro had disposed their patients in as comfortable a position as the rude surroundings would permit, and had taken a few hours’ much needed rest, when an esquire with a Spanish Arab countenance presented himself at the door of the hospital where Solomon and Pietro still reposed. Gently waking the sleepers,he announced his errand. It was simply to examine and report. Shortly after his disappearance he returned and stated in Spanish that his commanding officer desired an interview with the physician stranger and his attendant. “You will be allowed an interval for reflection,” he said, “and I am to admonish you to be candid; for Don Abraham is not to be trifled with. Follow me.” The strangers were ordered to remain in the shade ef a tree in a space otherwise open. The day had not yet dawned; and all around was comparatively hushed. Solomon placed his fingers lightly on his companion’s arm, saying: “Be as silent as possible, brother, and in all matters touching this questioning refer to me as the person from whom you receive orders. I think I perceive a rift in the cloud, and a familiar star shining beyond it. From the relation of that star to others not yet perceptible I shall be better able to infer my position. Some data for my calculations are not yet at hand, and it must be my business to acquire them.” The Jew then relapsed into silence. After an interval the commanding officer approached, accompanied by two esquires, one the same who already appeared, and another of swarthy yellow complexion, bearing in one hand a tablet consisting of separate leaves of semi-transparent whitish paper, and in another a reed pen and a small cup containing a sponge soaked in ink.
“Whence come you?” abruptly inquired Don Abraham. “From Cordova,or rather from the remnant of it,” promptly replied Solomon. “Your business?” “Physician and student of nature.” “Your purpose in this journeying?” “The acquisition of potent wisdom which the bounty of universally diffused life and activity, and intelligence of the laws and qualities of plants supplies to those of my profession whose nature is in harmony with their manifestations and can assimilate their vitalizing influences.” “Are you acquainted in these countries?” “There are some brethren some time resident among the Lech. Them I would visit in order to convey to my own land the results of development attained by them, and possibly convey to their intelligence the results that have been manifested to us.” “Search these men,” ordered Don Abraham. The esquire examined the raiment of the strangers carefully, but without offensive minuteness. Solomon was, however, required to remoye his semi-turban, which suffered somewhat in consequence of the investigation. The small casket was produced by Solomon voluntarily and held openly in his hand. No weapons or correspondence was discovered. The box was ordered opened to reveal concealed poison,if any there should be. “What are these papers?” inquired Don Abraham, looking at the ancient parchment fragments. “No physician travels without the mysteries of his art,” replied the Jew gravely. The investigation of Pietro produced only the ivory cross, and Don Abraham professed to hold that symbol in sufficient veneration to accept it as testimony of the harmlessness of his prisoners. These details were inscribed in due form, and Don Abraham subscribed them with a flourish, complex and intricate, and then his full name underneath,—“Don Abraham Abouyacoub,” in Latin characters, that partook of as close similarity to Arabic in formation as the simpler Latin could well assume. “You are dismissed for the present,” he said, “but without orders you are not permitted to quit this camp.” The attendants then retired and Don Abraham, quickly turning towards the strangers, signified by an emphatic gesture his request that Solomon and Pietro remain where they were. They accordingly seated themselves and waited. At this moment the camp was quiet. Only the lone flame of a few scattered fires gave any light above the somber gloom of the forest. Within a very brief time a quiet figure arrayed in a dark robe thrown over his armor quickly approached. A few words in Arabic in a ow tone speedily announced Don Abraham himself.
“Let us withdraw to a more sheltered place,” he said. Without another word the three retired towards the rear of the camp and seated themselves in the deeper shade caused by a smouldering fire at the opposite side of some bushes. “Here we shall be unobserved,” said Don Abraham. “No intrusion need be feared,and those around are only too glad of repose.”
“You may well feel surprised at this renewal of our acquaintance,” said the officer. “I on my part felt astonished and perhaps slightly embarrassed. The circumstances of the time and the harsh nature of my present service had almost convinced me that strangers would carefully avoid making acquaintance with this neighborhood. But I am glad of the opportunity to renew our personal associations. Permit me first to express my thanks for the wisdom of your replies to my interrogations. The necessity of attendance to the wounded afforded me sufficient reason to defer the examination until you had obtained some rest. A battle is imminent and your services will certainly be needed. As you clearly perceived, my questions were harsher in tone than intent. Bear you pleasant tidings from the scenes of our former prosperity?”
“Your highness was far less astonished than myself at our meeting,” replied Solomon. “You had disappeared so completely from observation that we may be pardoned for tacitly assuming that you had commingled with the eternal essence which had in such large measure diffused itself through your forefathers and kindred. The tempest of disordered motion daily grows more subversive about us, and but little that is progressive toward the happy consummation is experienced by your brethren or mine.”
“I would hear, if you object not, some of the most recent events which have troubled our once peaceful paradise in the South. The years I have passed in Rudolph’s service have neither drawn me closer to him than at first, nor increased my taste for the position assigned to me. He is surrounded with men determined to accomplish in these countries the same task, even against those who profess the same faith as themselves, that they have thus far perfected in the happy homes of our fathers. A violent subversion of ancient and honored laws, the suppression of a reasonable and enlightened philosophy, and the overthrow of a Christian Kingdom are marked out by them. It is not the name of Christ that they revere, but their own sort of Christ, and one, as I am assured, very different from the real one.”
“Permit me to reply to your highness’ interrogation,” replied Solomon. “After King Mohammed Alahmar had consented to renounce the chiefs of what was denominated the rebellion, thirteen years ago, and had thus consigned many princes to exile, and after repeated promises given by the Christians, that the ancient liberty ot cult, of taxes and of customs should be re-established among the still numerous body of your countrymen and mine, the engagements thus made have been persistently and malignantly broken. Under solemn covenants the city where your father had become entitled to royal authority opened its gates. These matters you will remember. Since the distribution of lands was completed and a wall of separation divided the Moriscoes of Murcia from their persistent persecutors, your brethren in the villages and country places have been the objects of unceasing malevolence. Daily insults and frauds deprive them of their just share, and no redress for the most wanton ‘injuries is extended. Valencia has been consigned to the operation of a relentless succession of bitter outrages under the direct instigation of the Roman disturber by peremptory orders to Don Jayme; and the same spirit is manifested everywhere. I regret to anticipate that little will be left to your highness but an empty dignity as king, and a depleted exchequer as a sovereign. But if you should carry into effect your once meditated design of identifying yourself with what seemed the universal tendency towards chief control of our native land by the Christians, and the cross should become your symbol also, permit me to express a warning that this step will not extricate you from the perilous descent to the extinction of your dynasty. Your fathers fought nobly for the independence of Cordova, and the philosophers of your race added luster to its halls of learning. But a new tendency is assuming chief control and I fear that still more evil days are inevitable.”
“Accept my thanks for your candor, my excellent friend,” returned Don Abraham; “should the events ‘now commencing in this region not proceed as you at least and your friend here would desire, it may become my duty to accept the lot of sharing with my brethren the evil of the present, as I and my ancestors have shared with them the glories of the past.”
“Permit me now in turn,” observed Solomon, “to request of your highness some illumination in regard to the countries immediately before us. I would ascertain, if possible, if there be favorable reasons for searching among the Lech, and Tchekh an asylum of retreat from the remorseless inhumanities that are destroying us. We would willingly surrender dignities to our persecutors. We seek but a habitation and an industry. Even these primary necessities are denied us. Your brethren and mine, highness, have always dwelt together in amity, and the Christians within our borders enjoyed our aid and sympathy, and all the benefit that our science, our commerce, and our progress could confer. To their credit be it said,they dwelt with us in harmony and brotherly security. Even their bishops participated in our studies, adopted our sentiments, and lent their talents to the development of our intellectual life. But the lust of Roman conquest has assumed new weapons,and nourishes itself with the blood of its victims. Old Rome aimed to transform; new Rome thirsts only to destroy.”
“Should the purposes of your journey detain you long, or conduct you far into these countries,” said Don Abraham, “your observation may in part, at least, correct the views I must express in reply to your interrogation. The increasing feebleness of Constantinople, the decline of her elasticity of spirit as a result of the puerile investigations, dreamy disputes, and narrow tone of her literature, as well as the audacity and practical researches into real things which signalize her enemies from without, and the diversion of the attention of western Europe to the dreams of a new kingdom in Palestine, have enabled the ambition of Rome to direct men’s energies from the wise investigation of the world that encircles: and sustains us, to a vicious subjective gratification of the passion for power in the realm of superstitious mastery of one set of modern fancies over another set of fancies. This gratification being designedly mixed up with intoxicating dreams about an unseen world, where this same vicious subjective passion is expected to have an unlimited and eternal exercise, has stimulated men under crafty counsels to the madness of wanton destruction of tangible wealth and means of progress.”
“I observe with satisfaction that your highness has not forgotten the principles of Sora and Cordova,” observed Solomon.
“Permit me to proceed,” added Don Abraham. “This spirit has infected princes and emperors. Obedience to it has been made the price for the aid of the coarse multitude to those ambitious aspirants who would bow to Beelzebub for a throne or a principality. The multitude always favors the intoxication supplied by appeals to the imagination; and omits the investigation of details on which all progress in civilization has been and must be founded. These combined forces are united in the spirit that directs the proceedings whereof our present surroundings form a part. Some of these principles apply to one side and some to the other. The countries beyond us are agitated by this new spirit which has long been in contention with the older one that expressed itself in native efforts at patriotism more or less wise. The collision has attained its extreme of violence on the scene where we now find ourselves. It is not two men, nor even two ambitions or dynasties, that contend in this vicinity. The old investigating philosophy and the new superstition are the real antagonists. It is the realm of reason and reasonableness in contention with the factilious fear that begets ferocity, that meet on this battle-ground That is what I regard as the issue now pending in close proximity to where we are seated.
“Rudolph is not ignorant of the real nature of the contest, or who is the real commander-in-chief. He takes his orders from Rome. He is poor; he is ambitious, restless in temper; and he regards the blinding power of the superstitious imagination as at present the stronger party, and therefore the more useful ally. He has made his contract accordingly. If I have not forgotten the school of Sora I would add that this determination springs from a fixed natare which will descend to Rudolph’s line. Otakar has been stung to indignation and imprudence by the duplicity of his former friend of Rome, and the subtle craft of his imperial antagonist. The Tchekh nation is an obstacle to the universal dominion of Rome in thisedirection; and their subversion by all evil means has been determined on. Rudolph has sustained Otakar’s own subjects in their resistance to his authority as their king, as I personally know. Imperial requirements are the pretext; but the Roman and the German confederates are fully cognizant of the real causes of the dissension. Otakar was sustained and encouraged by the duplicity of Rome until he had irretrievably committed himself. Should he fall—and as I know and honor the man he will either fall or win—you would be wise to seek some other asylum than can be found in the Tchekh dominion. If I mistake not, your friend is of those dispersed people who have found a refuge in these countries, from other parts of Europe,on account of divergence from the sentiments claimed by Rome as peculiarly hers, and most deserving of regard on that account. These people have readily assimilated themselves with the general sentiment prevailing among the native inhabitants. Their prudence and their industry are alike commendable. Personally remaining distinct, and still avoiding public notice, their sentiments find ready acquiescence among the populations whose patriotic feeling and old associations with the Eastern Empire find a common expression in antagonism to Roman encroachment. Their numbers are far greater than generally supposed. Otakar has silently countenanced them; and the Lech princes have usually protected and encouraged their establishments. Many new and promising, villages are wholly of their construction, and the wastes created by Tartar atrocities have been reclaimed and beautified by their peaceful industry. See,” added Don Abraham, holding up a small volume, “your friend is not the first of his fraternity who has visited this camp, and Rudolph’s own tent has been supplied by a mysterious hand with a token of the prudent courage of these people.”
“Does your highness speak of a combat as now imminent?” asked Solomon.
“The lines are now formed on both sides,” added Don Abraham; “and this is likely to be an eventful day for a brave but contentious and divided people, and an ancient and valiant dynasty. Should Rudolph fall or be discomfited the result must be only temporary.”
“Can your highness estimate the numbers on either side?” asked the Jew.
“It is difficult on our side at least,” said the officer. “Old feuds between Tchekh and Magyar have stimulated national animosity, and the acquisitions of territory within these few years, extending the borders of Bohemia to the Adriatic and giving hera considerable coast line, have enraged the princes of some of the southern provinces. Germany pushes him from the west; and in the imperial election deliberately rejected Otakar’s candidacy on account of his growing power and personal vigor of character. Every troop that can assemble for revenge pours even now over the defenceless fields of Moravia. Otakar’s forces had hardly appeared in position ere bands of plunderers were furiously pressing on his rear in search of booty and slaves. Otakar’s previous contentions with Rudolph have. I fear, exhausted his strength.”
“Surely,” said the Jew, “two stranger princes must have had violent provocation on one side or the other in the first instance.”
“You are insufficiently informed as to the acquaintance of the two leaders,” said Don Abraham. “Rudolph and Otakar have been intimately acquainted since the expedition that led to the foundation of Kénigsberg and the subjugation of the Prussians. During that expedition Rudolph was a poor knight captain in Otakar’s pay, and his rough leather coat formed a subject for mirth to his commander and brother in arms. He bore the jests with his seeming good humor; but since that time he has had more than his revenge. But pardon,” added Don Abraham. “I see the day is breaking in reality. Be prepared. Sir Esculapius, for professional duty in quarters that certainly you dreamed not of.” With this parting admonition Don Abraham departed, and Solomon and Pietro at once betook themselves to their patients.
But a new difficulty here arose. Solomon was pressed to prescribe for horses, for oxen, and for men still more foul and dirty. Teeth, eyes, hands, feet were all chronically affected, and a species of cutaneous ailment resembling diffused ringworm was almost universal. The fierce stoicism of the affected wretches suppressed as much as possible all outward manifestations of their complaints until the disease assumed a virulence that amounted practically toa pestilence. Everything they touched was tainted, and it became dangerous to handle any portion of their weapons or their clothing. Solomon and his companion, though offered frequent hospitality in expectation of services, perémptorily declined to accept food prepared by other hands than their own. Numerous accessions of Magyars and nondescripts continually reached the camp; and crowds of noisy, greedy marauders of the most repulsive type accompanied these troops, bringing with them moire clumsy wagons.
Wives and children filled the wagons and the camp assumed the appearance of a migrating nation. The sheepskin cap and coat predominated as the style of uniform. The lance was the principal weapon of the mounted men, but every trooper also carried a knife, and many possessed also a species of long dirk, the handle of which was set cross-ways to the blade and protected by a double guard extending much above the wrist at each side. After Don Abraham’s retirement Solomon and Pietro walked freely among this rabble. In the babel of tongues the names “Rudolph” and “Otakar” continually recurred. Towards Otakar a fierce resentment had been created, and in alluding to him the wildest excitement arose. In speaking, men stood up and brandished their knives and daggers, plunging them into unseen enemies, and then indicating with fierce gestures the licking of blood from the reeking blades.