The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

Chapter IX. How, and to whom the Count-Duke married his only daughter, with the bitter fruits which that marriage produced.

502 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter ix. How, and to whom the Count-Duke married his only daughter, with the bitter fruits which that marriage produced. Soon after the return of Coscolina’s son, the Count-Duke fell into a profound reverie , in which he remained for the space of eight whole days. I imagined that he was meditating some great stroke of politicks; but the subject of his musing regarded his own family only. “Gil Blas, (said he to me one afternoon) thou must have perceived that I am a good deal perplexed in mind. Yes, my child, I am wholly engrossed by an affair upon which the repose of my life depends; and I will impart the secret to thee. “Donna Maria my daughter1 (continued he) is now marriageable, and her heart is disputed by a great number of noblemen. The Count de Niebles, eldest son of the Duke de Medina Sidonia, chief of the family of Guzman, and Don Lewis de Haro,2 eldest son of the Marquis de Carpio and my own sister, are the two candidates who seem best entitled to the preference: especially the last, who possesses merit so much superior to that of his rivals, that all the court persuade themselves, I shall make choice of him for my son-in-law. Nevertheless, without entering into the reasons which I have to exclude him, as well as the Count de Niebles, I will tell thee, that I have cast my eyes on Don Ramires Nunnez de Guzman, Marquis of Toral, and chief of the family of Guzman d’Abrados: to this young nobleman, and the children which he shall have by my daughter, I intend to leave my whole estate annexed to the title of Count d’Olivares, to which I will join the quality of Grandee: so that, my grand-children and their descendants proceeding from the branch d’Abrados and that of Olivares, will pass for the eldest of the Guzman family. “Well, Santillane, (added he) doest thou not approve of my design?” “Pardon me, Sir, (answered I) the project is worthy of the genius that formed it; I am only afraid that the Duke de Medina Sidonia will murmur at it.” “Let him murmur, if he pleases, (resumed the minister) I shall give myself very little trouble about that. I don’t love his branch, which hath usurped the birth-right and titles thereunto attached, over the house of Abrados. I shall mind his complaints less than the chagrin of my sister the marchioness of Carpio, in seeing her son disappointed in his expectation of my daughter . But, after all, I intend to please myself, and it is already decided, that Don Ramires shall prevail over all his rivals.” The Count-Duke having taken this resolution, gave a new mark of his singular policy , in putting it in practice.3 He presented a petition to the King, begging that he and the Queen would be pleased to bestow his daughter in marriage, describing the characters of the noblemen who were in pursuit of her, and leaving the choice entirely to their Majesties; but he did not fail, in speaking of the Marquis of Toral, to shew that he was the most agreeable of them all. Whereupon, the King, who had a blind complaisance for his minister, returned this answer. “I believe Don Ramires Nunnez wor- Volume Four: XI.9 503 thy of your daughter Donna Maria; nevertheless, take your own choice. The match which will suit you best, will be the most agreeable to me. The King.” The minister affected to shew this answer; and pretending to look upon it as his prince’s order, made haste to marry his daughter to the Marquis of Toral; an event that very much displeased the Marchioness de Carpio, as well as the Guzmans, who had flattered themselves with the hope of espousing Donna Maria. Nevertheless, as they could not hinder the marriage, they affected to celebrate it with great demonstrations of joy. One would have thought the whole family was charmed with the occasion; but the malcontents were soon revenged in a manner very melancholy for the CountDuke . Donna Maria* in ten months brought forth a daughter, which died in the birth, and in a few days after fell herself a victim to death. What a loss was this for a father, who (to use the expression) had no eyes but for his daughter; and who saw in this...