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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 two childish lips
bending down to kiss his hand as he stepped into his carriage。
Later on had followed the marriage； hastily performed at Burgos； a
small town on the frontier between the two countries； and the grand
public entry into Madrid with the customary celebration of high mass
at the Church of La Atocha； and a more than usually solemn auto…da…
fe； in which nearly three hundred heretics； amongst whom were many
Englishmen； had been delivered over to the secular arm to be burned。
Certainly he had loved her madly； and to the ruin； many thought； of
his country； then at war with England for the possession of the
empire of the New World。 He had hardly ever permitted her to be out
of his sight； for her； he had forgotten； or seemed to have
forgotten； all grave affairs of State； and； with that terrible
blindness that passion brings upon its servants； he had failed to
notice that the elaborate ceremonies by which he sought to please
her did but aggravate the strange malady from which she suffered。
When she died he was； for a time； like one bereft of reason。
Indeed； there is no doubt but that he would have formally abdicated
and retired to the great Trappist monastery at Granada； of which he
was already titular Prior； had he not been afraid to leave the
little Infanta at the mercy of his brother； whose cruelty； even in
Spain； was notorious； and who was suspected by many of having caused
the Queen's death by means of a pair of poisoned gloves that he had
presented to her on the occasion of her visiting his castle in
Aragon。 Even after the expiration of the three years of public
mourning that he had ordained throughout his whole dominions by
royal edict； he would never suffer his ministers to speak about any
new alliance； and when the Emperor himself sent to him； and offered
him the hand of the lovely Archduchess of Bohemia； his niece； in
marriage； he bade the ambassadors tell their master that the King of
Spain was already wedded to Sorrow； and that though she was but a
barren bride he loved her better than Beauty； an answer that cost
his crown the rich provinces of the Netherlands； which soon after；
at the Emperor's instigation； revolted against him under the
leadership of some fanatics of the Reformed Church。The Birthday of
the Infranta
A BULL FIGHT
A procession of noble boys； fantastically dressed as toreadors； came
out to meet her； and the young Count of Tierra…Nueva； a wonderfully
handsome lad of about fourteen years of age； uncovering his head
with all the grace of a born hidalgo and grandee of Spain； led her
solemnly in to a little gilt and ivory chair that was placed on a
raised dais above the arena。 The children grouped themselves all
round； fluttering their big fans and whispering to each other； and
Don Pedro and the Grand Inquisitor stood laughing at the entrance。
Even the Duchessthe Camerera…Mayor as she was calleda thin；
hard…featured woman with a yellow ruff； did