The Story of Don John of Austria

ich was a Monday, she made him begin at once to regulate his hours and studies, according to the plans she had prepared. She had given him a room nea

r education, and the noble squire Juan Galarza undertook to

e of this great woman, made brighter by her discretion. She thought that the duties of her rank consisted in forwarding God's glory and the good of her neighbour, particularly of her vassals, to whom she felt specially bound by the mere fact of her positi

ath she was called "God's almoner." She also founded colleges, schools, missions and catechisings; and was so munificent in what referred to God's service that, not content with raising sumptuous

man, to ascertain the wants of the poor of Villagarcia, and to give each one a

y paid them, adding to the alms the balsam of compassion, good advice and respect for misfortune. This was Do?a Magdalena's hour of recreation, and sh

ed to await in the cloisters the arrival of the poor people. He made them sit on two stone benches which ran along the lower cloisters, giving preference to the old and infirm,

s papers, the other one with pence for the ordinary poor who had no papers, to whom she always gave 20 maravedises and up

fall, as if by accident, and the old man had to pick it up. But Do?a Magdalena, guessing the reason, stooped down and picked it up herself,

seeing him, intentionally dropped the money, stooped and picked it up, and

ss order of Quijada was taught him by a Fleming, who had come to Villagarcia for the purpose, but Latin with its "ibus" and "orum," and Greek with its horrible letters like flies' legs, were uphill work to the boy, which nothing save the wish to please Do?a Magdalena and to earn her approbation would have made him undertake. But the boy had made a complete conquest of Juan Galarza.

nviction, "Let him grow up and he wi

da, who passed them on to a mysterious person, who

nd he does nothing with so much dislike. He is also learning French, and the few words he knows he pronounces well, though to know it as he should will take more time and practice. Wha

a, wished that she should show the boy the castle and its treasures, so as to be able to judge his character from his first impressions. Nothing caused the boy wonder or even surprise. Not the rich Flemish tapestries with which some of the halls were hung, or the sumptuous beds with their columns and canopies; not the plate which shon

ce of one who has grown up among similar objects, and w

uirasses, swords, and shields, the sight of these dread weapons filled him with enthusiasm. He ran about looking at all the detail

leave to touch it, with all a child's shyness. The lady gladly gave him permission, and with trembling respect, as if he was handling something sacred, he fingered the armour all over, examining the joints, working the visor

to her brother, "Luis Quijada, my lord, will be a

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