Memoirs of a Militia Sergeant by Almeida Manuel Antonio de; Holloway Thomas H.; Sousa Ronald W

Author:Almeida, Manuel Antonio de; Holloway, Thomas H.; Sousa, Ronald W.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
Published: 1999-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

II

Intrigue

The comadre went through many other scenes every day just like the one we have depicted, for she was one of the most sought-after midwives in the city. She enjoyed a great reputation for skill in these matters, and in the most serious cases it was always she who was chosen, with her miraculous scapulars, blessed palm, measure-ribbon of Our Lady of Childbirth, and bottle to blow in. With the invocation of all the legion of saints, seraphim, and angels she could get herself out of the most difficult situations. And let no one try to dictate to her, for she would not listen to them! Not even the royal surgeon, should he try to butt in. She had only to look at an “expecting” woman to tell with no problem at all which sex and what size the baby that she bore within her would be and with miraculous accuracy the day and hour in which she would see herself unburdened of the child. At times, by certain signs known only to herself, she could even tell what temperament and inclinations that entity about to be born might have. Obviously, this life was an arduous one that required great devotion, but the comadre was able to carry on a high level of activity. And despite spending a lot of time on the duties of her trade and on the church, she always had some left over to dedicate to other things. As we have said, she had taken to heart the matter of Leonardo’s love for Luisinha and had sworn to put José Manuel, the new rival, out of the picture.

She set out, then, to use her spare time in that grave business and began a very subtle and constant intrigue against her godson’s competitor. Enjoying Dona Maria’s intimate friendship and esteem, she never missed a chance to undercut José Manuel’s standing with her, which was all the simpler for her to accomplish the easier a target he made himself, and Dona Maria—she of the litigious and chicaning frame of mind—was susceptible to such suggestion. Here is one of the traps that she set for her adversary.

Everyone in the city knows where the Stone Oratory is, but what everyone may not know is what uses it served in earlier times. Doubtless there was the image of some saint in that oratory, and the devout among the populace would go there to pray to it? Exactly. But why has that practice not continued on down to today? Why do we retain only that sort of stone sentry box atop the wall, without any image, without light at night, which everyone passes by irreverently without taking off their hat and genuflecting? First and foremost, it lapsed for the same reason that many other good things from those good times lapsed: People started becoming bored at finding them so good and stopped doing them. Then too there were many good police reasons for the Stone Oratory to cease being what it had been.

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