The crosier'd Abbot; and the Knight
In harness for the Christian fight,
His hands in supplication join'd;--
Then said as in a solemn mood,
"Now stand we where COLUMBUS stood!"
* * * * *
"PEREZ, [Footnote 4] thou good old man," they cried,
"And art thou in thy place of rest?--
Tho' in the western world His grave, [Footnote 5] [g]
That other world, the gift He gave, [Footnote 6]
Would ye were sleeping side by side!
Of all his friends He lov'd thee best."
* * * * *
The supper in the chamber done,
Much of a Southern Sea they spake,
And of that glorious City [Footnote 7] won
Near the setting of the Sun,
Thron'd in a silver lake;
Of seven kings in chains of gold [Footnote 8]--
And deeds of death by tongue untold,
Deeds such as breath'd in secret there
Had shaken the Confession-chair!

The Eldest swore by our Lady, [Footnote 9] the Youngest by his
conscience; [Footnote 10] while the Franciscan, sitting by in his
grey habit, turned away and crossed himself again and again. "Here
is a little book," said he at last, "the work of one in his shroud
below. It tells of things you have mentioned; and, were Cortes and
Pizarro here, it might perhaps make them reflect for a moment." The
Youngest smiled as he took it into his hand. He read it aloud to his
companion with an unfaltering voice; but, when he laid it down, a
silence ensued; nor was he seen to smile again that night.
[Footnote 11] "The curse is heavy," said he at parting, "but Cortes
may live to disappoint it."--"Aye, and Pizarro too!"

[Footnote 1: The Convent of Rabida.]

[Footnote 2: See Bernal Diaz, c. 203; and also a well-known portrait
of Cortes, ascribed to Titian. Cortes was now in the 43d, Pizarro in
the 60th year of his age.]

[Footnote 3: Augustin Zarate, lib. iv. c. 9.]

[Footnote 4: Late Superior of the House.]

[Footnote 5: In the chancel of the cathedral of St. Domingo.]

[Footnote 6: The words of the epitaph. "A Castilia y a Leon nuevo
Mundo dio Colon."]

[Footnote 7: Mexico.]

[Footnote 8: Afterwards the arms of Cortes and his descendants.]

[Footnote 9: Fernandez, lib. ii. c. 63.]

[Footnote 10: B. Diaz, c. 203.]

[Footnote 11: 'After the death of Guatimotzin,' says B. Diaz, 'he
became gloomy and restless; rising continually from his bed, and
wandering about in the dark.'.--'Nothing prospered with him; and it
was ascribed to the curses he was loaded with.']

A circumstance, recorded by Herrera