按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Vesalius had answered him hastily and angrily； quoting his anatomy from
memory； for； as he himself plained； he could not in Spain obtain a
subject for dissection； not even； he said； a single skull。 He had sent his
book to Venice to be published； and had heard； seemingly； nothing of it。
He may have felt that he was falling behind in the race of science； and that
it was impossible for him to carry on his studies in Madrid； and so； angry
with his own laziness and luxury； he may have felt the old sacred fire flash
up in him； and have determined to go to Italy and bee a student and a
worker once more。
The very day that he set out； Clusius of Arras； then probably the best
botanist in the world； arrived at Madrid； and； asking the reason of
Vesalius's departure； was told by their fellow…countryman； Charles de
Tisnacq； procurator for the affairs of the Netherlands； that Vesalius had
gone of his own free will； and with all facilities which Philip could grant
him； in performance of a vow which he had made during a dangerous
illness。 Here； at least； we have a drop of information； which seems taken
from the stream sufficiently near to the fountain…head： but it must be
recollected that De Tisnacq lived in dangerous times； and may have found
it necessary to walk warily in them； that through him had been sent； only
the year before； that famous letter from William of Orange； Horn； and
Egmont； the fate whereof may be read in Mr。 Motley's fourth chapter； that
85
… Page 86…
Historical Lectures and Essays
the crisis of the Netherlands which sprung out of that letter was ing
fast； and that； as De Tisnacq was on friendly terms with Egmont； he may
have felt his head at times somewhat loose on his shoulders； especially if
he had heard Alva say； as he wrote； 〃that every time he saw the despatches
of those three senors； they moved his choler so； that if he did not take
much care to temper it； he would seem a frenzied man。〃 In such times；
De Tisnacq may have thought good to return a diplomatic answer to a
fellow…countryman concerning a third fellow…countryman； especially
when that countryman； as a former pupil of Melancthon at Wittemberg；
might himself be under suspicion of heresy； and therefore of possible
treason。
Be this as it may； one cannot but suspect some strain of truth in the
story about the Inquisition； for； whether or not Vesalius operated on Don
Carlos； he had seen with his own eyes that miraculous Virgin of Atocha at
the bed's foot of the prince。 He had heard his recovery attributed； not to
the operation； but to the intercession of Fray； now Saint Diego； ｛12｝ and
he must have had his thoughts thereon； and may； in an unguarded moment；
have spoken them。
For he was； be it always remembered； a Netherlander。 The crisis of
his country was just at hand。 Rebellion was inevitable； and； with
rebellion； horrors unutterable； and； meanwhile； Don Carlos had set his
mad brain on having the mand of the Netherlands。 In his rage； at not
having it； as all the world knows； he nearly killed Alva with his own hands；
some two years after。 If it be true that Don Carlos felt a debt of gratitude
to Vesalius； he may （after his wont） have poured out to him some wild
confidence about the Netherlands； to have even heard which would be a
crime in Philip's eyes。 And if this be but a fancy； still Vesalius was； as I
just said； a Netherlander； and one of a brain and a spirit to which Philip's
doings； and the air of the Spanish court； must have been growing ever
more and more intolerable。 Hundreds of his country folk； perhaps men
and women whom he had known； were being racked； burnt alive； buried
alive； at the bidding of a jocular ruffian； Peter Titelmann； the chief
86
… Page 87…
Historical Lectures and Essays
inquisitor。 The 〃day of the MAUBRULEZ；〃 and the wholesale massacre
which followed it； had happened but two years before； and； by all the
signs of the times； these murders and miseries were certain to increase。
And why were all these poor wretches suffering the extremity of horror；
but because they would not believe in miraculous images； and bones of
dead friars； and the rest of that science of unreason and unfact； against
which Vesalius had been fighting all his life； consciously or not； by using
reason and observing fact？ What wonder if； in some burst of noble
indignation and just contempt； he forgot a moment that he had sold his
soul； and his love of science likewise； to be a luxurious； yet uneasy；
hanger…on at the tyrant's court； and spoke unadvisedly some word worthy
of a German man？
As to the story of his unhappy quarrels with his wife； there may be a
grain of truth in it likewise。 Vesalius's religion must have sat very lightly
on him。 The man who had robbed churchyards and gibbets from his
youth was not likely to be much afraid of apparitions and demons。 He
had handled too many human bones to care much for those of saints。 He
was probably； like his friends of Basle； Montpellier； and Paris； somewhat