PART III.--THE PARDON.
Charles the Fifth was not unforgiving, not even inclined to be harsh; and no one ever disputed his bravery. When he was intriguing for his election as emperor--the election which made him the great emperor, Charles the Fifth--Castille was full of plots to oppose his plans, nay, to take his life; and at the head of these conspiracies was Ernani and Don Ruy.
On the very night when the electors were to assemble to decide on the choice of an emperor, the king heard that this most formidable band of conspirators, formidable because its members were moved by personal hate, were to meet in the subterraneous catacombs of Aquisgrana, the royal open burying-place.
The king fearlessly determined to be present at this traitorous assembly, and to crush it at its work. Soldiers were posted about the cavern; the king himself remained concealed in the tomb of one of his ancestors, and the hour of the meeting was close at hand. The king had given orders that if he were elected emperor, cannon should roar from the castle-walls, and that thereupon the lords of the court should present themselves at the cavern, that they might see how a great king treated rebels and traitors. Charles also commanded that the Donna Elvira should be conducted to the gloomy spot.
As the conspirators slowly gathered in the wide central space of the catacombs, no sounds were heard but those they themselves made.
Creeping--creeping guiltily, they came, and stood in a whispering throng. Then came the casting for a regicide: he on whom the lot fell was to slay the king.
There was a little rustling of papers, and then one slip was taken from the heap, brought quickly to the light of a lantern, and the name upon it read.
“ERNANI!”
“My father--my father! I will avenge thee!”
“Ernani, thou knowest my voice?”
“Surely, thou art Don Ruy.”
“I am Don Ruy. I am the master of thy life; yield me the privilege you hold.”
“No, no.”
“Think! thou mayst fail, and thou wouldst then surely die; yield me the task?”
“No, no. And mightest not thou also fail?”
“See, here is thy horn! I will give it thee back, if thou wilt let _me_ strike this guilty man.”
“No.”
“What! can I not kill thee by a note on this same horn?”
“I care not; chance hath given me the order, I will not barter it.”
“Then fear me, Ernani.”
Suddenly boomed over their heads the loud sound of triumphant artillery. Victory! victory! Charles of Castille was the Emperor Charles the Fifth.
As the sound roared forth, the emperor strode from his concealment, and the soldiery coming quickly forward, behold the conspirators were prisoners.
Again the cannon burst forth, and the next moment the courtiers were coming down among the tombs by torchlight, to congratulate the new emperor.
The electors headed the procession, and, kneeling, greeted the emperor by his new title.
“The will of heaven be mine. See these traitors; they have formed against me a plot. Tremble, ye traitors, as ye learn an emperor’s vengeance! Let the plebeians be cast into prison; let the nobles bow to the block.”
“Accord the block to me, O emperor! for I, Ernani, lord of Arragon, Cordova, and Segovia.”
Why does he start and tremble? Is it that he sees his dear mistress again flinging herself at the emperor’s feet? Again she pleads for mercy; again she asks for happiness and justice.
“Thou askest, lady, what is already granted; what the king could not forgive, the emperor will not look on as offence.... You are all pardoned!... And as for thee, my lord Ernani, let the memory of the father’s death be forgotten in the justice done his son. Thou art again lord of Arragon, Cordova, and Segovia; and thy lady--behold her!”
The new emperor placed the hand of Elvira in that of Ernani. And then again the emperor spoke, “YE ARE ALL PARDONED!”
But how black was the menacing cloud near at hand. The old grandee, sternly frowning, and pressing his hand about a certain hunting horn, whose blast was death.