QUEEN ISABELLA OF SPAIN, DON GOMEZ, AND COLUMBUS

Isabella . And so, Don Gomez, it is your conclusion that we ought to dismiss the proposition of this worthy Genoese.

Don Gomez. His scheme, your majesty, seems to me fanciful in the extreme but I am a plain matter-of-fact man, and do not see visions and dreams, like some.

Isa. And yet Columbus has given us cogent reasons for believing that it is practicable to reach the eastern coast of India by sailing in a westerly direction.

Don G. Admitting that his theory is correct, namely, that the earth is a sphere, how would it be possible for him to return, if he once descended that sphere in the direction he proposes? Would not the coming back be all up hill? Could a ship accomplish it with even the most favorable wind?

Columbus. Will your majesty allow me to suggest that if the earth is a sphere, the same laws of adhesion and motion must operate at every point on its surface, and the objection of Don Gomez would be quite as valid against our being able to return from crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.

Don G. This gentleman, then, would have us believe the monstrous absurdity, that there are people on the earth who are our antipodes who walk with their heads down, like fies on the ceiling.

Col. But, your majesty, if there is a law of attraction which makes matter gravitate to the earth, and prevents its flying off into space, may not this law operate at every point on the round earth's surface?

Isa. Truly, it so seems to me and I perceive nothing absurd in the notion that this earth is a globe foating or revolving in space.

Don G. May it please your majesty, the ladies are privileged to give credence to many wild tales which we plain matter-of-fact men can not admit. Every step I take, confutes this visionary idea of the earth's rotundity. Would not the blood run into my head, if I were standing upside down? Were I not fearful of offending your majesty, I would quote what the great Lactantius says.

Isa. We are not vain of our science, Don Gomez, so let us have the quotation.

Don G. "Is there any one so foolish," he asks, "as to believe that there are antipodes with their feet opposite to ours that there is a part of the world in which all things are topsy-turvy, where the trees grow with their branches downward, and where it rains, hails, and snows, upward?”

Col. I have already answered this objection. If there are people on the earth who are our antipodes, it should be remembered that we are theirs also.

Don G. Really, that is the very point wherein we matter of-fact men abide by the assurance of our own senses. We know that we are not walking with our heads down.

Isa. To cut short the discussion, you think that the enterprise which the Genoese proposes is one unworthy of our serious consideration and that his theory of an unknown shore to the westward of us is a fallacy.

Don G. As a plain matter-of-fact man, I must confess that I so regard it. Has your majesty ever seen an ambassador from this unknown coast?

Isa. Do you, Don Gomez, believe in the existence of a world of spirits?

Don G. I accept what the church says.

Isa. But have you ever seen an ambassador from that unknown world?

Don G. Certainly not. By faith we look forward to it.

Isa. Even so by faith does the Genoese look forward, far over the misty ocean, to an undiscovered shore.

Col. Your majesty is right but let it be added that I have reasons, O! most potent and resistless reasons, for the faith that is in me:the testimony of many navigators who have picked up articles that must have drifted from this distant coast:the nature of things, admitting that the earth is round the reports current among the people of one of the northern nations, that many years ago their mariners had sailed many leagues westward till they reached a shore where the grape grew abundantly, these and other considerations have made it (next to faith in my Savior)the fxed persuasion of my mind, that there is a great discovery reserved for the man who will sail patiently westward, trusting in God's good providence, and turning not back till he has achieved his Purpose.

Don G. Then truly we should never hear of him again. Speculation! mere speculation, your majesty! When this gentleman can bring forward some solid facts that will induce us plain matter-of-fact men to risk money in forwarding his enterprise, it will then be time enough for royalty to give it heed. Why, your majesty, the very boys in the street point at their foreheads as he passes along.

Isa. And so you bring forward the frivolity of boys jeering at what they do not comprehend, as an argument why Isabella should not give heed to this great and glorious scheme ay, sir, though it should fail, still great and glorious urged in language so intelligent and convincing, by this grave and earnest man, whom you think to undervalue by calling him an adventurer? Know, Don Gomez, that the "absurdity," as you style it, shall be tested, and that forthwith.

Don G. Your majesty will excuse me if I remark that I have from your royal consort himself the assurance that the finances are so exhausted by the late wars, that he cannot consent to advance the necessary funds for ftting out an expedition of the kind proposed.

Isa. Be mine, then, the privilege! I have jewels, by the pledging of which I can raise the amount required, and I have resolved that they shall be pledged to this enterprise, without any more delay.

Col. Your majesty shall not repent your heroic resolve. I will return, your majesty be sure I will return, and lay at your feet such a jewel as never queen wore yet, an imperishable fame, a fame that shall couple with your memory the benedictions of millions yet unborn in climes yet unknown to civilized man. There is an uplifting presentiment in my mind, a conviction that your majesty will live to bless the hour you came to this decision.

Don G. A presentiment? A plain matter-of-fact man, like myself, must take leave of your majesty, if his practical common sense is to be met and superseded by presentiments! An ounce of fact, your majesty, is worth a ton of presentiment.

Isa. That depends altogether upon the source of the presentiment, Don Gomez. If it come from the Fountain of all truth, shall it not be good?

Don G. I humbly take my leave of your majesty.

(FROM VINET)

中文阅读

（西班牙王后伊莎贝拉、唐·戈麦斯、哥伦布）

伊莎贝拉 唐·戈麦斯，你的结论是，我们应该撤销这可敬的热那亚人的提案。

唐·戈麦斯 陛下，我认为他的计划是彻头彻尾的幻想。我是个尊重事实的普通人，不像有些人活在幻想和梦境中。

伊莎贝拉 但是哥伦布有让人信服的理由，其说明向西航行到达印度东海岸是可行的。

唐·戈麦斯 即便假设他的理论是正确的，即世界是一个球体，假若从他提议的那个方向前进，一旦他从这个球体上坠落下去的话，那他怎么可能返回呢？他在返回的整个路程中不都是要向上爬行的吗？即使有最遂人意的顺风，轮船能完成这样的任务吗？

哥伦布 陛下，请允许我提出这样的假设：如果世界是一个球体，那么同样的法则是适用于在它表面每一个点上的粘附力和动力的。那么，唐·戈麦斯认为我们不能够跨越直布罗陀海峡返回，他的反对是合情合理的。

唐·戈麦斯 那么，先生，我们还能相信这天大的笑话吗？在这世界上还有与我们相反的人类存在，他们倒立着说话，就像是天花板上的苍蝇一样。

哥伦布 但是，陛下，如果有一种能够使物体被吸引在这个世界上的法则，阻止物体不向太空飘移，这样的法则不是适用于地球表面的每一个点吗？

伊莎贝拉 的确，我也这样认为。我认为，世界是在太空中飘浮，或是旋转的，这并不荒谬。

唐·戈麦斯 陛下，请允许我说，女人们喜欢相信野史，而我们这些朴素且尊重事实的男人对此是不会认可的。我生活中的一举一动，都与这不切实际的理论——地球是球体——相悖。如果我们倒着站立的话，血液不是就要流入我们的大脑了吗？如果我不是担心会冒犯陛下的权威的话，我会引用伟大的拉克坦提乌斯 的话。

伊莎贝拉 唐·戈麦斯，我们并不自负，你就说说吧。

唐·戈麦斯 他说：“有没有人会那么的愚蠢，认为在这世界上还有与我们完全相反的倒立着的人？认为这世界有一隅，其中所有的事物都是颠倒的，大树的枝丫向下长，雨水、冰雹和雪花都飘上天空？”

哥伦布 对这种反对的声音，我已经做了解答。如果世界上存在与我们完全相反的人类的话，不要忘记我们也是其中的一份子。

唐·戈麦斯 事实上，这正是我们这些实事求是的人的观点，相信我们自己的感官，我们知道自己是不会头朝下行走的。

伊莎贝拉 简洁地说，你认为这个热那亚人的计划是不值得我们去认真考虑的，他那关于一个不为人知的海滨处于我们的西方的理论是谬论。

唐·戈麦斯 作为一个朴素的实事求是的人，我必须承认我是这么想的。陛下，您是否见到过来自这个不知名海岸的大使呢？

伊莎贝拉 唐·戈麦斯，你相信这世界上有神灵存在吗？

唐·戈麦斯 我相信《圣经》所说。

伊莎贝拉 可是你见过从那神秘世界来的使节吗？

唐·戈麦斯 当然没有，因着笃信，我盼望着这一天。

伊莎贝拉 既然如此，那也是因着笃信，这位热那亚人跨越迷雾重重的大洋，渴望去揭开那海岸的秘密。

哥伦布 陛下，您是对的。但是让我再有所补充，我的理论是有依据的。啊，以我内心的忠诚起誓：这是最具说服力、无可辨驳的依据。这证据就是：许多航海员都捡到过一些物品，那一定是从这个遥远的海岸漂流过来的——这些事物的本质揭示了世界是圆的。来自于一个北部国家的最新报道说，许多年前，他们的水手曾经向西航行了很远，最后，他们到达了一个海岸，那里盛产葡萄。这些证据，再加上其他经过仔细考察的物证（仅次于我心中对上帝的忠诚），恰恰是我的理论最具说服力的依据。有一个伟大的发现等着人类去揭示，这个人要坚信这是上帝的旨意，他要有足够的耐心，一直向西航行，不达目的绝不回头。

唐·戈麦斯 毋庸置疑，我们将再也见不到他了。三思啊！三思，陛下！这位绅士提出笃定的事实，来引诱我们这些朴素的实事求是的人进行风险投资，去推助他的计划，皇族要足够谨慎啊。陛下，当他走在街上的时候，为什么那些孩子要对他指手画脚呢？

伊莎贝拉 孩子们嘲笑他，他们不能够理解这个人，所以你拿这件事来辩驳，为什么伊莎贝拉对这项伟大而辉煌的计划不能谨慎行事呢？唉，先生啊！即使失败了，这依然是伟大而荣耀的事。被这个严肃又认真的人那睿智而有说服力的话所鼓舞，称他为冒险家，你认为这是贬低了谁的价值吗？知道吗，唐·戈麦斯？被你称为“谬论”的事，将会马上得到验证。

唐·戈麦斯 陛下，请原谅我这么说，由于最近的战乱，国库空虚，您的丈夫国王陛下将不会同意为这样一项探险计划而投资的。

伊莎贝拉 那么，算我的好了！我有珠宝可以抵押，以加大投资。我已决定抵押珠宝来支持这一计划，并将立即执行。

哥伦布 陛下，您将不会为您英明的决定而后悔的。我必将回来，陛下！我一定会回来，在您脚下呈现历代皇后都未曾戴过的珠宝，还有那不朽的声望，将与您的回忆永存——对那未来的，现在仍然不为文明开化的人所知晓的地方的众多的赐福。我心中的预感愈来愈强烈，我坚信陛下会在您的有生之年看到您这一英明的决定所带来的硕果。

唐·戈麦斯 一种预感？陛下，如果现实中的常识必须要遭遇预感并且被它取而代之的话，像我这样朴素的实事求是的人就该请辞了！陛下！一盎司的真理抵得过一吨的预感！

伊莎贝拉 那完全要视这预感的来源而定了，唐·戈麦斯。如果它来自于一切真理的源泉，岂不善哉？

唐·戈麦斯 陛下，我恭谦地请求离去。

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