登陆注册
5240200000052

第52章 CHAPTER XXXVI.(3)

"The whole world," said he, "is aware of the great misfortunes of my family. The Emperors Andronicus and Michael Comnenus, driven from the throne of Constantinople, left their names within the heart and memory of Greece; they had ruled the West with a gentle sceptre, and in a people's grateful remembrance they had their reward. My ancestors, their descendants, held sway in Trebizond, a quicksand which gave way beneath their tread. From adversity to adversity, from country to country, we were finally driven to seclusion in the Isle of Candia, part of the quondam Minos territory. Venice had allowed Candia to fall before Mahomet's bloody sword. Europe lost her bulwark, the Cross of the Saviour was thrown down, and the Candian Christians have been massacred or forced to flee. I have left in the hands of the conqueror my fields and forests, my summer palace, my winter palace, and my gardens filled with the produce of America, Asia, and Europe. From this overwhelming disaster I managed to save my son; and as my sole fortune I brought away with me the large jewels of Andronicus, his ivory and sapphire sceptre, his scimitar of Lemnos, and his ancient gold crown, which once encircled Theseus's brow.

"These noble relics I shall present to the King of France. They say that he is humane, generous, fond of glory, and zealous in the cause of justice. When before his now immovable throne he sees laid down these last relics of an ancient race, perhaps he will be touched by so lamentable a downfall, and will not suffer distress to trouble my last days, and darken the early years of this my child."During this speech I kept watching the King's face. I saw that he was interested, then touched, and at last was on the point of forgetting his incognito and of appearing in his true character.

"Prince," said he to the Greek traveller, "my duties and my devotion make it easy for me to approach the King of France's person very closely.

In four or five days he will be leaving Fontainebleau for his palace at Saint Germain. I will tell him without modification all that I have just heard from you. Without being either prophet or seer, I can guarantee that you will be well received and cordially welcomed, receiving such benefits as kings are bound to yield to kings.

"Madame, who respects and is interested in you, is desirous, I feel certain, for me to persuade you to stay here until her departure; she enjoys royal favour, and it is my sister herself who shall present you at Court. You shall show her, you shall show us all, the golden crown of Theseus, the sceptre of Adronicus, and this brow which I gaze upon and revere, for it deserves a kingly diamond.

"As for you, my lord," said his Majesty to the English nobleman, "if the misfortune of last night prove disastrous in more ways than one, pray wait for a while before you go back to the smouldering ashes of a half-extinguished fire. My sister takes pleasure in your company; indeed, the Marquise is charmed to be able to entertain three such distinguished guests, and begs to place her chateau at your disposal until such time as your own shall be restored. We shall speak of you to the King, and he will certainly endeavour to induce King Charles, his cousin, to recall you to your native country."Then, after saying one or two words to me in private, he bowed to the gentlemen and withdrew. We went out on to the balcony to see him get into his coach, when, to the surprise and astonishment of my guests, as the carriage passed along the avenue, about a hundred peasants, grouped near the gateway, threw off their hats and cried, "Long live the King!"Prince Comnenus and his son were inconsolable; I excused myself by saying that it was at the express desire of our royal visitor, and my lord admitted that at last he recollected his features, and recognised him by his grand and courtly address.

Before I end my tale, do not let me forget to say that the King strongly recommended Prince Comnenus to the Republic of Genoa, and obtained for him considerable property in Corsica and a handsome residence at Ajaccio.

He accepted five or six beautiful jewels that had belonged to Andronicus, and caused the sum of twelve hundred thousand francs to be paid to the young Comnenus from his treasury.

同类推荐
  • 海陬冶游录

    海陬冶游录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大驾北还录

    大驾北还录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上玉清谢罪登真宝忏

    太上玉清谢罪登真宝忏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阿毗昙八揵度论

    阿毗昙八揵度论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉清无上灵宝自然北斗本生真经

    玉清无上灵宝自然北斗本生真经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 中国历史常识

    中国历史常识

    本书通过收集一般教科书中所不可触及到的题材,描写某些重要的文化生活和历史人物。此外,对于口头传说的成语,都通过具体史实,给以详尽的说明。系统、全面地反映了我国历史发展的概况。形式比较活泼,不拘泥于一定格式,比一般辞书要详细一些,丰富一些,也更生动一些。不仅便于读者记忆,更有利于读者从中吸取经验、教训,获得启发。
  • 网王之触景生情

    网王之触景生情

    初见,她是那个高冷的姑娘,却在他受伤之时给他上药。再见,她是那个温柔的小姑娘,但还不如小时候呢!她去天朝都学会撩人了吗!看这一沓沓的情书,网球社内一股暴虐的气息久久不散。“浅川铃音,你给本大爷过来!”“嗯?”女孩缓缓走过去,秋水般的眸子温柔无比,“景吾生气了吗?”“本大爷才没有生气!”本是恼怒的少年闻言,有些炸毛的冷哼一声转头,“本大爷才不会做那么不华丽的事情。”弯弯眉眼,女孩看着炸毛的少年转身离开。但俗话说的好,天道好轮回苍天饶过谁。迹部景吾看着被自己壁咚后脸颊绯红的女子,满意的挑眉。这是一个萌新非要装老司机互撩的故事。简介无能,起名无能。
  • 海客谈瀛洲

    海客谈瀛洲

    主人公刚到杂志社工作不久,即与古航海史青年专家纪及一起接受了任务:为霍老撰写传记。在考察中,纪及发现了传主的许多瑕疵甚至污点,加上与传主长期霸占的山村少女的爱情,引起了权高位重的霍老深深的嫉恨。纪及结合研究秦王东巡等事件,发表了多年未能完成的古航海专著,结果引起了一场霍老暗中推助的疯狂围剿。于是长期聚集在霍老身边的各色人物粉墨登场,演出了一场亦庄亦谐且血泪交织的现代悲剧。
  • 大光明法王

    大光明法王

    人类统治了史诗大陆的南方,野蛮人则占据了莱茵北岸,而在帝国内部,教廷和皇室的斗争越发的激烈,哥顿前朝覆灭的往事即将重演。在这个时候,被封印的精灵王欧罗菲尔终于和他的后人相遇,于是一个传奇时代又开启了……
  • 好人朱爷(下篇)

    好人朱爷(下篇)

    为平息秀秀打伤人的事朱爷破费不少钱,但王家不依不饶。王家放出话:秀秀成了王家的儿媳这事才能算完。朱爷没了办法。朱爷去求大川,朱爷说:“大侄子,救救朱家吧,我那侄女不同意嫁给王家少爷,总不能绑了她嫁过去吧,朱家要倒霉了……”朱爷老泪纵横。大川说:“大叔也别太难过,让我试试。”大川替朱爷出面在县城最体面的酒店摆了酒场,为朱爷做说和人。王家派来几个酒量大的人想把大川灌醉,让这个酒场不欢而散。大川先做开场白:“今天在座的都是老亲少友,来的目的只有一个,让朱王两家化干戈为玉帛。俗话说强扭的瓜不甜,男婚女嫁也要两相情愿……”王家有人接话:“不用说那么多了,咱就喝酒吧,今儿个把这酒喝好了一切都好了!”
  • 鬼教室

    鬼教室

    几位青年意外踏步一间荒废学校,在校内遇到了一连串怪事,当他们想抽身离开却已晚矣,唯有与校中恶灵斗智斗勇,但冥冥中因果早定……--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 江山风雨情之雍正与年妃

    江山风雨情之雍正与年妃

    他,爱新觉罗•胤禛,历经九龙夺嫡,最终君临天下;她,名门闺秀,才貌双全。原本天作之合,佳偶一对,却阴差阳错,与爱擦肩。一个错付真心,一个心字成灰,一步错,步步过,错过今生,错过来世,何时才能真心真意爱一回?姐妹情深,兄妹情深,侯门一入深似海,爱恨情仇无止休。天赐良缘,天作之合,千里姻缘一线牵,鸳鸯误点为哪般。爱新觉罗•胤禛、年冰凝;爱新觉罗•胤祯,年玉盈,两兄弟、两姐妹,阴差阳错遇见你,生生世世不分离。本文讲述雍正皇帝与年妃的爱情故事,基本尊重历史,不宫斗,不滥情,不虐恋,数字军团靠边站,康熙也只打打酱油,偶尔搞笑,基本煸情,志矢不渝、无怨无悔,只为写出我心目中的四爷,写出我心目中的爱情。
  • 维摩经疏

    维摩经疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 让孩子吃点苦的30个建议

    让孩子吃点苦的30个建议

    作为父母,应该清醒地认识到,让孩子吃点苦十分重要,也十分必要! “再苦也不能苦孩子”是一句流行了很长时间的“教育名言”,但这句话并不是一个普遍的真理,它只适合用于某种特殊的场合。对今天的绝大多数孩子而言,尤其是那些在城市里长大的孩子,他们大多都是在父母长辈的百般呵护中长大的,根本不知道什么叫苦,所以,还是应该让他们吃点苦的好。要知道,不让孩子吃苦的教育是不完整的教育,也是不负责任的教育。尽管很多父母都明白这个道理,但遗憾的是,这些父母并没有把这种教育落实到自己孩子的身上。
  • 别样的大学生活

    别样的大学生活

    异技、道符、魔法、结界四大能力构成的奇妙世界;熟悉的都市生活、另类的大学生活;故事就此开启......