The Life and Adventures of Guzman D'Alfarache, or the Spanish Rogue, vol. 1/3

by Mateo Alemán

This terrible beast, then, rushed towards Ozmin, who at that moment was thinking of nothing less than preparing to defend himself; but being warned of his danger by Orviedo, who quickly handed him his lance, and animated by the sight of his mistress, he boldly presented himself before the bull, and thrust his lance between the neck and shoulder with so much vigor, that he left him nailed to the earth, as if he had been struck down by a thunderbolt, with more than half of the lance through his body; after which our champion threw the broken remainder, which was still in his hand, into the middle of the square, and withdrew.

So bold and surprising an action excited the admiration of the whole Court, and of all the people; the place re-echoed with shouts of applause and acclamations; nothing was to be heard for a full quarter of an hour, but, long live the Knight of the Blue Scarf, the strongest and bravest man of the age. While the valour of Ozmin was being thus proclaimed and celebrated, the timid Daraxa, whom the first sight of the bull had filled with the most dreadful apprehensions for her lover, was still so confounded, that she thought she saw the animal all in fury before her; but the acclamations of the spectators, at length, by degrees, brought her to her senses. She looked instantly all over the square for her dear Moor; and not perceiving him, she enquired with anxiety what was become of him; and he was pointed out to her at a considerable distance from the lists, and followed by a crowd of people, who appeared as if they would never be tired of gazing upon a man who had so eminently distinguished himself.

It was now night, and the square in an instant shone with an infinite number of flambeaux, which created a very fine illumination. The diversion of the sporting spears was soon to begin. Twelve squadrons were seen advancing with their trumpets, fifes and kettle-drums, followed by their livery servants, and twelve valets laden with bundles of reeds made into sporting spears. The led horses of the knights had velvet caparisons, of the colour of the squadron to which they belonged, embroidered with gold and silver, and the arms of each chief; not only gold and silver glistened in their equipages, but even jewels were not spared. They entered the square in the following order:—

The equerries of every chief of a squadron marched first, conducting the equipages; twelve horses, carrying at their foremost saddle-bows the arms of each knight, and at their hinder their devices, came next, followed by others, whose caparisons were hung with silver bells, which made a loud jingling. The footmen in livery followed the horses: they marched completely round the square, and went out by a different gate from that at which they entered, to avoid confusion. The quadrillos, each conducted by their chief, then entered in two files, with so much grace and skill that they charmed all the spectators; which is not surprising, since the most accomplished cavaliers for these sports are undoubtedly those of Seville, Cordara, and Xeres de la Frontera, where even children of eight or ten years of age are seen to manage horses, and manœuvre them in most excellent style.

When the quadrillos had exhibited themselves four times round the square, they retreated by the same gate as their equipages, but soon returned again with their shields on their arms and their sporting spears in their hands. They began their combats twelve against twelve, that is to say, one quadrillo against another. Having thus fought for about a quarter of an hour, two other squadrons came upon different sides, who under pretence of parting them, began a new combat.

In the mean time, Ozmin and Orviedo, having at length escaped from the crowd of people that had followed them, regained their inn; and having disarmed themselves, they returned to the place of sports, where the amorous Ozmin, pressing through the throng, placed himself under the balcony of the beautiful Moor. As he was now but plainly dressed, nobody took him for a man of any consequence notwithstanding his noble mien. Daraxa, who felt assured that he would not fail to appear again before her, was looking all around for him; but though he was so close to her, and was gazing at her with admiration, she did not perceive him. She was playing with a very fine nosegay, adorned with ribbons, which Don Alonso had sent her in the morning; and this nosegay chanced to slip out of her hand, and fell just at Ozmin’s feet, who hastened to take it up. This accident caused the lady to look down, and she recognized her dear Moor, from whom she did not afterwards turn her eyes; but perceiving that some of the people that stood around him were preparing to oblige him to restore the nosegay, she called aloud to them to let him keep it, adding, that it was in good hands: this having put an end to the dispute, the happy Ozmin, having become peaceable possessor of a favor for which he considered he was indebted rather to chance than love, fastened it, by way of gallantry, to his hat.

After this, our two lovers began to make signs to each other, a silent but very common language among the Moors, which Spaniards have since learnt of them, as well as very many other fashions, which have contributed to establish that nation as the most gallant in Europe. Ozmin and his mistress discoursed in this manner unnoticed by any one, all the spectators being too attentive to the sports to observe them. Besides, who could imagine that the beautiful Moor, who was so regardless of the addresses of the most accomplished cavaliers at the Court, could have found among the populace an object worthy of her attention?

These happy moments lasted only to the end of the sports of the quadrillos, which were no sooner ended, than the last bull, which was not less ferocious than that which had been killed by Ozmin, was let loose, as is customary, to conclude the diversions. The animal’s motions, when he was first loosed, sufficiently evinced that he was determined to sell his life dearly. Don Rodrigo de Padilla, Don Juan de Castro, Don Alonso, and many other cavaliers alighted from their horses, anxious to excel each other in engaging this beast on foot, who soon made two or three among them well acquainted with the hardness of his horns. One of them was carried off half dead, which rather moderated the ardor of the rest.

In fact, none but a true knight-errant could possibly have been delighted in engaging with a bull, whose very appearance was terrific; he foamed with rage, tore up the earth with his feet, and looked at each champion as if undecided on whom to vent his fury. Don Alonso, nevertheless, excited by his love, was desirous of signalizing himself under the eyes of the beautiful Moor, at the risk of his life. With this view, he advanced towards her balcony, to be the more observed by her, and while he stood thus in expectation of the animal’s approach, he perceived Ozmin, who now remained alone on that spot, fear having dispersed the crowd which had before surrounded him. Daraxa had in vain endeavoured, by signs, to prevail on him to follow them, or at least to get upon a scaffolding hard by; her tears had not been able to overcome his resolution; the conqueror of the bull of Tarita, would have considered it dishonorable to have shewn himself afraid of any other.

Zuniga took particular notice of this cavalier, or rather of the nosegay which he perceived in his hat, and which he easily recognized by the light of the flambeaux, with which the whole square was illuminated. He was not a little surprised at what he saw; but to be more certain that he was not mistaken, he addressed himself to Ozmin, who appeared to him no more than a man of the vulgar order: “Friend,” said he to him, “who gave you that nosegay?” Although the Moor rightly guessed what interest the cavalier who spoke to him might feel in it, he answered, without the least concern, that “it came to him very fairly, but that he owed it to Fortune only:” “I know but too well whence you got it,” replied Don Alonso, raising his voice, “deliver it up to me immediately, it was not made for you.” “I grant nothing by compulsion,” rejoined Ozmin, as coolly as before. “Once more,” said Zuniga, “give me that nosegay, or I shall let you know, my fine fellow, whom you have to deal with.” “I regret much,” said Ozmin, somewhat agitated, “that we are in the King’s presence; were we any where else, I should not content myself with refusing you my nosegay, but should force from you that knot of ribbon, which I perceive at your bosom.” This was the very same knot which the beautiful Moor had bestowed on Don Alonso, when she accepted him as her champion; and which Ozmin, who had formerly given it Daraxa, knew but too well; perceiving, therefore, that the cavalier who spoke to him was the most formidable of his rivals, he could scarcely restrain his rage at this discovery. Don Alonso, still more violent than he, lost all patience at seeing himself threatened by a man whom he considered so much beneath him: calling him, therefore, an insolent fellow, and thrusting among the ribbons of his nosegay a sharp-pointed stick, such as the champions make use of to irritate the bulls, he intended to have carried off the nosegay and hat together, but the active and vigorous Ozmin forced the stick from his hand as from a child’s.