1. THE fame of the discoverer of the new world, had resounded throughout Spain and, as the route of Columbus lay through several of the fnest and most populous provinces, his journey appeared like the progress of a sovereign. Wherever he passed, the surrounding country poured forth its inhabitants, who lined the road, and thronged the villages. In the large towns, the streets, windows, and balconies, were flled with eager spectators, who rent the air with acclamations. His journey was continually impeded by the multitude, pressing to gain a sight of him, and of the Indians, who were regarded with as much admiration as if they had been natives of another planet. It was impossible to satisfy the craving curiosity, which assailed himself and his companions, at every stage, with innumerable questions. Popular rumor, as usual, had exaggerated the truth, and had flled the newly found country with all kinds of wonders.

2. It was about the middle of April, that Columbus arrived at Barcelona, where every preparation had been made to give him a solemn and magnificent reception. The beauty and serenity of the weather, in that genial season and favored climate, contributed to give splendor to this memorable ceremony. As he drew near the place, many of the more youthful courtiers and hidalgos of gallant bearing, together with a vast concourse of the populace, came forth to greet and welcome him.

3. First, were paraded the Indians, painted according to their savage fashion, and decorated with tropical feathers and with their national ornaments of gold after these, were borne various kinds of live parrots, together with stuffed birds, and animals of unknown species, and rare plants, supposed to be of precious qualities while great care was taken to make a conspicuous display of Indian coronets, bracelets, and other decorations of gold, which might give an idea of the wealth of the newly-discovered regions. After these, followed Columbus, on horseback, surrounded by a brilliant cavalcade of Spanish chivalry.

4. The streets were almost impassable from the countless multitude the windows and balconies were lined with the fair the very roofs were covered with spectators. It seemed as if the public eye could not be sated with gazing on these trophies of an unknown world, or on the remarkable man by whom it had been discovered. There was a sublimity in the event, that mingled a solemn feeling with the public joy. It was looked upon as a vast and signal dispensation of Providence, in reward for the piety of the monarchs and the majestic and venerable appearance of the discoverer, so different from the youth and buoyancy which are generally expected from roaming enterprise, seemed in harmony with the grandeur and dignity of his achievement.

5. To receive him with suitable pomp and distinction, the sovereigns had ordered their thrones to be placed in public, under a rich canopy of brocade of gold, in a vast and splendid saloon. Here, the king and queen awaited his arrival, seated in state, with the prince Juan beside them, and attended by the dignitaries of their court and the principal nobility of Spain, all impatient to behold the man who had conferred so incalculable a beneft upon the nation.

6. At length, Columbus entered the hall, surrounded by a brilliant crowd of cavaliers among whom he was conspicuous for his stately and commanding person, which, with his countenance rendered venerable by his gray hairs, gave him the august appearance of a senator of Rome. A modest smile lighted up his features, showing that he enjoyed the state and glory in which he came and certainly nothing could be more deeply moving, to a mind infamed by a noble ambition, and conscious of having greatly deserved, than the testimonials of the admiration and gratitude of a nation, or rather a world. As Columbus approached, the sovereigns rose, as if receiving a person of the highest rank. Bending his knees, he requested to kiss their hands but there was some hesitation on the part of their majesties to permit this act of vassalage. Raising him in the most gracious manner, they ordered him to seat himself in their presence a rare honor in this proud and punctilious court.

7. At the request of their majesties, Columbus now gave an account of the most striking events of his voyage, and a description of the islands which he had discovered. He displayed the specimens he had brought of unknown birds and other animals, of rare plants of medicinal and aromatic virtue of native gold, in dust, in crude masses, or labored into barbaric ornaments and, above all, the natives of these countries, who were objects of intense and inexhaustible interest since there is nothing to man so curious as the varieties of his own species. All these he pronounced mere harbingers of great discoveries he had yet to make, which would add realms of incalculable wealth to the dominions of their majesties, and whole nations of proselytes to the true faith.

8. The words of Columbus were listened to with profound emotion by the sovereigns. When he had finished, they sunk on their knees, and raising their clasped hands to heaven, their eyes flled with tears of joy and gratitude, they poured forth thanks and praise to God for so great a providence all present followed their example a deep and solemn enthusiasm pervaded that splendid assembly, and prevented all common acclamations of triumph. The anthem of Te Deum laudamus, chanted by the choir of the royal chapel, with the melodious accompaniments of the instruments, rose up from the midst, in a full body of sacred harmony, bearing up, as it were, the feelings and thoughts of the auditors to heaven; "so that," says the venerable Las Casas, the historian of the occasion, "it seemed as if, in that hour, they communicated with celestial delights.”Such was the solemn and pious manner in which the brilliant court of Spain, celebrated this sublime event offering up a grateful tribute of melody and praise and giving glory to God for the discovery of another world.

9. When Columbus retired from the royal presence, he was attended to his residence by all the court, and followed by the shouting populace. For many days, he was the object of universal curiosity, and whenever he appeared, he was surrounded by an admiring multitude.

(FROM IRVING)

中文阅读

1. 哥伦布发现新大陆的消息传遍了西班牙全国，当他来到几处最繁华且人口最稠密的地区时，他的出行规格看起来就像是女皇出行。无论他走到哪里，周边地区的居民都会阖家出动，他们在路上排队等候，或是挤满了整个村庄。在大一点的市镇里，大街上、窗户旁、阳台上，到处挤满了热切的观众，赞叹声不绝于耳。他的行程不断被大量前来观看的人群所阻，他们拥着挤上来要一睹哥伦布的尊容，还有那些印第安人，人们向他们投来羡慕的目光，好像他们是来自另外的星球似的。想要满足人们热切的好奇心是不可能的，哥伦布和他的同伴每走一步都要被数不清的问题所纠缠。像往常一样，通俗的幽默夸大了事实，使人们对那新发现的地区更加好奇，更加向往。

2. 大约在四月中旬，哥伦布到了巴塞罗那，那里已经做好了一切准备，要给他以最庄严而高贵的接待。在这温暖的季节里，宜人的气候以及和煦的天气为这值得纪念的庆典增添了光彩。当他快到那里时，许多年轻的仰慕者、抱有爱慕之情的西班牙贵族，还有大量平民涌上前来欢迎他。

3. 排在最前面的是印第安人的游行队伍，这些人化着妆——以他们野蛮时尚的风格，用热带羽毛做装饰，用具有他们民族风格的金饰做点缀。跟在后面的是各色的活鹦鹉，还有鸟类标本和不知种类的动物、珍奇罕见的植物，这应该是最珍贵的品种。他们倍加小心地展示着具有明显的印第安风格的冠状头饰、手镯和其他的金饰品，这会使人们联想到这一新发现的地区的富庶状况。后面跟着的是哥伦布，他骑在马上，由一队光彩耀眼的西班牙骑士队伍前簇后拥着。

4. 大街上到处都是民众，不计其数，几乎无法通过。窗户和阳台上陈列着集市的物品，而屋顶上到处都是围观的民众。仅仅是盯着这些来自未知世界的战利品或是那些来自那里的非同寻常的人类，似乎还不能充分满足公众的眼睛。此事的绝顶之处在于它将一种庄严的情感与公众的喜乐结合在了一起。这件事被看成是天意特许，是对虔诚的君主的回报。新世界的发现者，他那庄重而令人敬佩的形象与一般人们认为的那种勇闯天下、创意无限的年轻和乐观的状态大相径庭，他看上去似乎与他所取得的成功的庄严性和宏伟性是一致的。

5. 为了以华丽而特别的仪式欢迎他，国王和王后下令把他们的宝座放到公众中间——在一个富丽堂皇的大厅中，以金饰绸缎做成的高贵华盖之下。在这里国王和王后正襟危坐等着他的到来，王子胡安侧立一旁，由西班牙皇室的首要权贵服侍左右。所有人都急切地想要见到这位为国人献上了无数财富的英雄。

6. 最终，哥伦布由一队神采奕奕的骑士簇拥着进入大厅。在这些庄严的、令人肃然起敬的人当中，他是最引人注目的，他灰白的头发使他的容貌看起来更加威严庄重，仿佛他就是那令人敬畏的罗马参议员。他内心喜悦，脸上挂着谦逊的微笑。他喜欢这里的辉煌与壮丽，的确，对一个备受高尚的雄心激励的人来说，没有什么比这更能让人感动了。他深知，自己的这次探险是值得的，而他的这次行动并不是为了那令人羡慕的证书或是民族与国家的感激。当哥伦布走近的时候，就像是在迎接最高级别的人一样，国王与王后站起身来。哥伦布俯身拜倒，请求亲吻他们的手，但是两位国君却没有让他行这配臣的礼节。他们亲切地扶起哥伦布，让他坐了下来——在这庄严的一丝不苟的皇宫里，这样的殊荣实属罕见。

7. 应两位国君的要求，哥伦布讲述了他的这次最伟大的航海探险，向他们描述了自己发现的岛屿。他展示了他们带回来的不知名的鸟兽样本，能入药还带有香气的珍奇植物；当地的黄金——未经提炼的沙金，有的被嵌入了原始的饰物中；最重要的是，生活在那些地区的人类，他们可是人们最感兴趣的，没有什么比人类自身不同的种类更能引起人们的好奇了。他宣称，所有这些不过是他未曾实现的伟大发现的前兆，其将为两位国君所统领的国度，以及这个虔诚的皈依无主教的民族带来难以尽数的财富。

8. 两位国君听着哥伦布的讲话，感觉热血沸腾，表现得迫不及待。讲话结束时，他们双膝跪倒，欢呼着，双手向上举向苍天，眼里满含着喜悦和感激的泪水，他们为这一天意而感谢上苍、赞美上苍。所有在场的人都跟着两位国君如此这般，一种强烈而庄严的情感在宏伟庄严的宫廷里弥漫着，这种情感是这么的强烈，以至此时所有惯常的庆功活动都中止了。皇家唱诗班演唱的赞美诗此时响了起来，那歌声发自肺腑，神圣而和谐，似乎载着听众的情感和思绪一直飘向了天堂。当时受人尊敬的历史学家卡萨斯 说：“那一刻，他们似乎在快乐地与天上的神灵交谈。”辉煌壮丽的西班牙皇宫就是以这样庄严虔诚的方式庆祝这一伟大事件的——献上这美妙的赞美诗，为新世界的发现而感谢上苍，赞美上苍。

9. 当哥伦布从皇家宫殿退出后，宫廷的所有人都跟到他的住处款待他、照料他，后面还跟随着欢呼雀跃的民众。好多天里，他都是被广泛关注的目标，无论他什么时候出现，都被羡慕敬仰他的大众包围着。

（欧文） YR1iWujdq+6LxhhjtKNol++wTP7xP7C7dtKMUaWoDO9J8HwzbJEMkiI63+Mtg3Xz