Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/94

xxvi INTRODUCTION. ixTROD. with his own eyes the prodigal magnificence of the banquet, teeming with costly wines and the most luxurious viands. The next day he caused a rumor to be circulated through the court, that he had fallen suddenly and dangerously ill. The courtiers, at these tidings, thronged to the palace ; and, when they had all assembled, the king made his appearance among them, bearing his naked sword in his hand, and, with an aspect of unusual severity, seated himself on his throne at the upper extremity of the apart- ment. After an interval of silence in the astonished assembly, the monarch, addressing himself to the primate, inquired of him, " How many sovereigns he had known in Castile ? " The prelate answer- ing four, Henry put the same question to the duke of Benevente, and so on to the other courtiers in succession. None of them, how^ever, having an- swered more than five, " How is this," said the prince, " that you, who are so old, should have known so few, while I, young as I am, have beheld more than twenty ! Yes," continued he, raising his voice, to the astonished multitude, " you are the real sovereigns of Castile, enjoying all the rights and revenues of royalty, while I, stripped of my patrimony, have scarcely wherewithal to pro- cure the necessaries of life." Then giving a con- certed signal, his guards entered the apartment, followed by the public executioner bearing along with him the implements of death. The dismayed nobles, not relishing the turn the jest appeared