LIV.—ISABELLA THE CATHOLIC, QUEEN OF SPAIN.

LIV.—ISABELLA THE CATHOLIC, QUEEN OF SPAIN.PRESCOTT.William H. Prescott was born in Salem, Mass., May 4th, 1796, and died in Boston, January 28 1859. His historical and biographical works, published in fifteen octavo volumes, have enjoyed a wide and deserved popularity; although in many instances marred by views and statements, which seem to betray a mind warped by religious prejudice. In his edition of Robertson’s “History of the Emperor Charles V.” he has permitted some of the most glaring errors of that writer to pass uncorrected, although Maitland, in his admirable work entitled “The Dark Ages,” had very clearly and conclusively exposed them.

PRESCOTT.

William H. Prescott was born in Salem, Mass., May 4th, 1796, and died in Boston, January 28 1859. His historical and biographical works, published in fifteen octavo volumes, have enjoyed a wide and deserved popularity; although in many instances marred by views and statements, which seem to betray a mind warped by religious prejudice. In his edition of Robertson’s “History of the Emperor Charles V.” he has permitted some of the most glaring errors of that writer to pass uncorrected, although Maitland, in his admirable work entitled “The Dark Ages,” had very clearly and conclusively exposed them.

1. Her person was of the middle height, and well proportioned. She had a clear, fresh complexion, with light blue eyes and auburn hair, a style of beauty exceedingly rare in Spain. Her features were regular, and universally allowed to be uncommonly handsome.

2. The illusion which attaches to rank, more especially when united with engaging manners, might lead us to suspect some exaggeration in the encomiums[392]so liberally lavished on her. But they would seem to be in a great measure justified by the portraits that remain of her, which combine a faultless symmetry[393]of features, with singular sweetness and intelligence of expression.

3. Her manners were most gracious and pleasing. They were marked by natural dignity and modest reserve, tempered by an affability[394]which flowed from the kindliness of her disposition. She was the last person to be approached with undue familiarity; yet the respect which she imposed was mingled with the strongest feelings of devotion and love.

4. She showed great tact in accommodating herself to the peculiar situation and character of those around her.She appeared in arms at the head of her troops, and shrunk from none of the hardships of war. During the reforms introduced into the religious houses, she visited the nunneries[395]in person, taking her needle-work with her, and passing the day in the society of the inmates. When traveling in Galicia,[396]she attired herself in the costume of the country, borrowing for that purpose the jewels and other ornaments of the ladies there, and returning them with liberal additions. By this condescending and captivating deportment, as well as by her higher qualities, she gained an ascendency[397]over her turbulent[398]subjects, which no king of Spain could ever boast.

5. She spoke the Castilian[399]with much elegance and correctness. She had an easy fluency of discourse, which, though generally of a serious complexion, was occasionally seasoned with agreeable sallies, some of which have passed into proverbs. She was temperate, even to abstemiousness,[400]in her diet, seldom or never tasting wine: and so frugal in her table, that the daily expenses of herself and family did not exceed the moderate sum of forty ducats.[401]

6. She was equally simple and economical in her apparel. On all public occasions, indeed, she displayed a royal magnificence;[402]but she had no relish for it in private, and she freely gave away her clothes and jewels, as presents to her friends.

7. Naturally of a sedate, though cheerful temper, she had little taste for the frivolous amusements which make up so much of a court life; and, if she encouraged the presence of minstrels and musicians in her palace, it was to wean her young nobility from thecoarser and less intellectual pleasures to which they were addicted.

8. Among her moral qualities, the most conspicuous, perhaps, was her magnanimity.[403]She betrayed nothing little or selfish, in thought or action. Her schemes were vast, and executed in the same noble spirit in which they were conceived. She never employed doubtful agents, or sinister measures, but the most direct and open policy. She scorned to avail herself of advantages offered by the perfidy[404]of others.

9. Where she had once given her confidence, she gave her hearty and steady support: and she was scrupulous to redeem any pledge she had made to those who ventured in her cause, however unpopular. She sustained Ximenes[405]in all his obnoxious[406]but salutary reforms. She seconded Columbus in the prosecution of his arduous enterprise, and shielded him from the calumny[407]of his enemies. She did the same good service to her favorite, Gonsalvo de Cordova;[408]and the day of her death was felt, and, as it proved, truly felt, by both, as the last of their good fortune.

10. Artifice[409]and duplicity[410]were so abhorrent to her character, and so averse from her domestic policy, that when they appear in the foreign relations of Spain, it is certainly not imputable to her. She was incapable of harboring any petty distrust, or latent malice; and, although stern in the execution and exaction of public justice, she made the most generous allowance, and even, sometimes, advances, to those who had personally injured her.

11. But the principle which gave a peculiar coloring to every feature of Isabella’s mind, was piety. It shone forth from the very depths of her soul with aheavenly radiance, which illuminated her whole character. Fortunately, her earliest years had been passed in the rugged school of adversity, under the eye of a mother who implanted in her serious mind such strong principles of religion, as nothing in after life had power to shake.

12. At an early age, in the flower of youth and beauty, she was introduced to her brother’s court; but its blandishments,[411]so dazzling to a young imagination, had no power over hers; for she was surrounded by a moral atmosphere of purity, “driving far off each thing of sin and guilt.” Such was the decorum of her manners, that, though encompassed by false friends and open enemies, not the slightest reproach was breathed on her fair name in this corrupt and calumnious[412]court.

[392]En-coˊ-mi-um, a high commendation; praise.[393]Symˊ-me-try, a due proportion of the parts of a body to each other.[394]Af-fa-bilˊ-i-ty, easiness of approach; readiness to converse.[395]Nunˊ-ne-ry, a religious house for females who have forsaken the world.[396]Gal-iˊ-cia, an old province of Spain.[397]As-cendˊ-en-cy, superior or controlling influence.[398]Turˊ-bu-lent, riotous; violent; mutinous.[399]Cas-tilˊ-ian, the language spoke in Castile, considered the most elegant dialect of Spain.[400]Ab-steˊ-mi-ous-ness, a sparing use of food, or strong drink.[401]Ducˊ-at, a coin of several countries in Europe, struck in territory governed by a duke. A silver ducat is generally of nearly the value of an American dollar, and a gold ducat of twice the value.[402]Mag-nifˊ-i-cence, grandeur of appearance; splendor of show or state.[403]Mag-na-nimˊ-i-ty, greatness of mind; dignity or elevation of soul, which meets danger with calmness and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, which makes him hate injustice and meanness, and moves him to act and suffer for noble objects.[404]Perˊ-fi-dy, treachery; falsehood.[405]Cardinal Xi-meˊ-nes, born 1437, died 1517. He was a distinguished ecclesiastic, and a great statesman.[406]Ob-noxˊ-ious, odious; unpopular.[407]Calˊ-um-ny, the uttering of a false charge, proceeding from hatred against another.[408]Gonsalvo de Cordova, called also “the Great Captain,” was a Spanish warrior, distinguished by his victories over the Moors in Spain, and the French in Naples. Born 1443, died 1515.[409]Arˊ-ti-fice, an artful or skillful contrivance; a fraud or trick.[410]Du-plicˊ-i-ty, double-dealing; deceitfulness.[411]Blandˊ-ish-ment, words or actions expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart, or to flatter.[412]Ca-lumˊ-ni-ous, slanderous.

[392]En-coˊ-mi-um, a high commendation; praise.

[393]Symˊ-me-try, a due proportion of the parts of a body to each other.

[394]Af-fa-bilˊ-i-ty, easiness of approach; readiness to converse.

[395]Nunˊ-ne-ry, a religious house for females who have forsaken the world.

[396]Gal-iˊ-cia, an old province of Spain.

[397]As-cendˊ-en-cy, superior or controlling influence.

[398]Turˊ-bu-lent, riotous; violent; mutinous.

[399]Cas-tilˊ-ian, the language spoke in Castile, considered the most elegant dialect of Spain.

[400]Ab-steˊ-mi-ous-ness, a sparing use of food, or strong drink.

[401]Ducˊ-at, a coin of several countries in Europe, struck in territory governed by a duke. A silver ducat is generally of nearly the value of an American dollar, and a gold ducat of twice the value.

[402]Mag-nifˊ-i-cence, grandeur of appearance; splendor of show or state.

[403]Mag-na-nimˊ-i-ty, greatness of mind; dignity or elevation of soul, which meets danger with calmness and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, which makes him hate injustice and meanness, and moves him to act and suffer for noble objects.

[404]Perˊ-fi-dy, treachery; falsehood.

[405]Cardinal Xi-meˊ-nes, born 1437, died 1517. He was a distinguished ecclesiastic, and a great statesman.

[406]Ob-noxˊ-ious, odious; unpopular.

[407]Calˊ-um-ny, the uttering of a false charge, proceeding from hatred against another.

[408]Gonsalvo de Cordova, called also “the Great Captain,” was a Spanish warrior, distinguished by his victories over the Moors in Spain, and the French in Naples. Born 1443, died 1515.

[409]Arˊ-ti-fice, an artful or skillful contrivance; a fraud or trick.

[410]Du-plicˊ-i-ty, double-dealing; deceitfulness.

[411]Blandˊ-ish-ment, words or actions expressive of affection or kindness, and tending to win the heart, or to flatter.

[412]Ca-lumˊ-ni-ous, slanderous.

Back to Index Next