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moonstones and bracelets of jade； sandal…wood and blue enamel and
shawls of fine wool。
But what had occupied him most was the robe he was to wear at his
coronation； the robe of tissued gold； and the ruby…studded crown；
and the sceptre with its rows and rings of pearls。 Indeed； it was
of this that he was thinking to…night； as he lay back on his
luxurious couch； watching the great pinewood log that was burning
itself out on the open hearth。 The designs； which were from the
hands of the most famous artists of the time； had been submitted to
him many months before； and he had given orders that the artificers
were to toil night and day to carry them out； and that the whole
world was to be searched for jewels that would be worthy of their
work。 He saw himself in fancy standing at the high altar of the
cathedral in the fair raiment of a King； and a smile played and
lingered about his boyish lips； and lit up with a bright lustre his
dark woodland eyes。
After some time he rose from his seat； and leaning against the
carved penthouse of the chimney； looked round at the dimly…lit room。
The walls were hung with rich tapestries representing the Triumph of
Beauty。 A large press； inlaid with agate and lapis…lazuli； filled
one corner； and facing the window stood a curiously wrought cabinet
with lacquer panels of powdered and mosaiced gold； on which were
placed some delicate goblets of Venetian glass； and a cup of dark…
veined onyx。 Pale poppies were broidered on the silk coverlet of
the bed； as though they had fallen from the tired hands of sleep；
and tall reeds of fluted ivory bare up the velvet canopy； from which
great tufts of ostrich plumes sprang； like white foam； to the pallid
silver of the fretted ceiling。 A laughing Narcissus in green bronze
held a polished mirror above its head。 On the table stood a flat
bowl of amethyst。
Outside he could see the huge dome of the cathedral； looming like a
bubble over the shadowy houses； and the weary sentinels pacing up
and down on the misty terrace by the river。 Far away； in an
orchard； a nightingale was singing。 A faint perfume of jasmine came
through the open window。 He brushed his brown curls back from his
forehead； and taking up a lute； let his fingers stray across the
cords。 His heavy eyelids drooped； and a strange languor came over
him。 Never before had he felt so keenly； or with such exquisite
joy； the magic and the mystery of beautiful things。
When midnight sounded from the clock…tower he touched a bell； and
his pages entered and disrobed him with much ceremony； pouring rose…
water over his hands； and strewing flowers on his pillow。 A few
moments after that they had left the room； he fell asleep。The
Young King
A CORONATION
And when the Bishop had heard them he knit his brows； and said； 'My
son； I am an old man； and in the winter of my days； and I know that
many evil things are done in the wide world。 The fierce robbers
come down from the mountains； and carry off the little children； and
sell them to the Moors。 The lions lie in wait for the caravans； and
leap upon the camels。 The wild boar roots up the corn in the
valley； and the foxes gnaw the vines upon the hill。 The pirates lay
waste the sea…coast and burn the ships of the fishermen； and take
their nets from them。 In the salt…marshes live the lepers； they
have houses of wattled reeds； and none may come nigh them。 The
beggars wander through the cities； and eat their food with the dogs。
Canst thou make these things not to be？ Wilt thou take the leper
for thy bedfellow； and set the beggar at thy board？ Shall the lion
do thy bidding； and the wild boar obey thee？ Is not He who made
misery wiser than thou art？ Wherefore I praise thee not for this
that thou hast done； but I bid thee ride back to the Palace and make
thy face glad； and put on the raiment that beseemeth a king； and
with the crown of gold I will crown thee； and the sceptre of pearl
will I place in thy hand。 And as for thy dreams； think no more of
them。 The burden of this world is too great for one man to bear；
and the world's sorrow too heavy for one heart to suffer。'
'Sayest thou that in this house？' said the young King； and he strode
past the Bishop； and climbed up the steps of the altar； and stood
before the image of Christ。
He stood before the image of Christ； and on his right hand and on
his left were the marvellous vessels of gold； the chalice with the
yellow wine； and the vial with the holy oil。 He knelt before the
image of Christ； and the great candles burned brightly by the
jewelled shrine； and the smoke of the incense curled in thin blue
wreaths through the dome。 He bowed his head in prayer； and the
priests in their stiff copes crept away from the altar。
And suddenly a wild tumult came from the street outside； and in
entered the nobles with drawn swords and nodding plumes； and shields
of polished steel。 'Where is this dreamer of dreams？' they cried。
'Where is this King who is apparelled like a beggarthis boy who
brings shame upon our state？ Surely we will slay him； for he is
unworthy to rule over us。'
And the young King bowed his head again； and prayed； and when he had
finished his prayer he rose up； and turning round he looked at them
sadly。
And lo！ through the painted windows came the sunlight streaming upon
him； and the sun…beams wove round him a tissued robe that was fairer
than the robe that had been fashioned for his pleasure。 The dead
staff blossomed； and bare lilies that were whiter than pearls。 The
dry thorn blossomed； and bare roses that were redder than rubies。
Whiter than fine pearls were the lilies； and their stems were of
bright silver。 Redder than male rubies were the roses； and their
leaves were of beaten gold。
He stood there in the raiment of a king； and the gates of the
jewelled shrine flew open； and from the crystal of the many…rayed
monstrance shone a marvellous and mystical light。 He stood there in
a king's raiment； and the Glory of God filled the place； and the
saints in their carven niches seemed to move。 In the fair raiment
of a king he stood before them； and the organ pealed out its music；
and the trumpeters blew upon their trumpets； and the singing boys
sang。
And the people fell upon their knees in awe； and the nobles sheathed
their swords and did homage； and the Bishop's face grew pale； and
his hands trembled。 'A greater than I hath crowned thee；' he cried；
and he knelt before him。
And the young King came down from the high altar； and passed home
through the midst of the people。 But no man dared look upon his
face； for it was like the face of an angel。The Young King
THE KING OF SPAIN
From a window in the palace the sad melancholy King watched them。
Behind him stood his brother； Don Pedro of Aragon； whom he hated；
and his confessor； the Grand Inquisitor of Granada； sat by his side。
Sadder even than usual was the King； for as he looked at the Infanta
bowing with childish gravity to the assembling counters； or laughing
behind her fan at the grim Duchess of Albuquerque who always
accompanied her； he thought of the young Queen； her mother； who but
a short time beforeso it seemed to himhad come from the gay
country of France； and had withered away in the sombre splendour of
the Spanish court； dying just six months after the birth of her
child； and before she had seen the almonds blossom twice in the
orchard； or plucked the second year's fruit from the old gnarled
fig…tree that stood in the centre of the now grass…grown courtyard。
So great had been his love for her that he had not suffered even the
grave to hide her from him。 She had been embalmed by a Moorish
physician； who in return for this service had been granted his life；
which for heresy and suspicion of magical practices had been already
forfeited； men said； to the Holy Office； and her body was still
lying on its tapestried bier in the black marble chapel of the
Palace； just as the monks had borne her in on that windy March day
nearly twelve years before。 Once every month the King； wrapped in a
dark cloak and with a muffled lantern in his hand； went in and knelt
by her side calling out； 'Mi reina！ Mi reina！' and sometimes
breaking through the formal etiquette that in Spain governs every
separate action of life； and sets limits even to the sorrow of a
King； he would clutch at the pale jewelled hands in a wild agony of
grief； and try to wake by his mad kisses the cold painted face。
To…day he seemed to see her again； as he had seen her first at the
Castle of Fontainebleau； when he was but fifteen years of age； and
she still younger。 They had been formally betrothed on that
occasion by the Papal Nuncio in the presence of the French King and
all the Court； and he had returned to the Escurial bearing with him
a little ringlet of yellow hair； and the memory of t