diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/jccln10.txt | 6384 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/jccln10.zip | bin | 0 -> 124443 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/jccln11.txt | 6423 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/jccln11.zip | bin | 0 -> 128200 bytes |
4 files changed, 12807 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/jccln10.txt b/old/jccln10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3202ff --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jccln10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6384 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext A Cleric in Naples, by Jacques Casanova +#2 in our series by Jacques Casanova + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. The words +are carefully chosen to provide users with the information they +need about what they can legally do with the texts. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + +Presently, contributions are only being solicited from people in: +Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, +Iowa, Indiana, and Vermont. As the requirements for other states +are met, additions to this list will be made and fund raising will +begin in the additional states. These donations should be made to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655 + + +Title: A Cleric in Naples + +Author: Jacques Casanova + +Release Date: December, 2001 [Etext #2952] +[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule] + +Edition: 10 + +Project Gutenberg Etext A Cleric in Naples, by Jacques Casanova +******This file should be named jccln10.txt or jccln10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, jccln11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, jccln10a.txt + +This etext was prepared by David Widger, <widger@cecomet.net> + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our books one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to send us error messages even years after +the official publication date. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our sites at: +http://gutenberg.net +http://promo.net/pg + + +Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement +can surf to them as follows, and just download by date; this is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://metalab.unc.edu/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext01 +or +ftp://metalab.unc.edu/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext01 + +Or /etext00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release fifty new Etext +files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 3000+ +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding. + +Something is needed to create a future for Project Gutenberg for +the next 100 years. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +Presently, contributions are only being solicited from people in: +Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, +Iowa, Indiana, and Vermont. As the requirements for other states +are met, additions to this list will be made and fund raising will +begin in the additional states. + +All donations should be made to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and will be tax deductible to the extent +permitted by law. + +Mail to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Avenue +Oxford, MS 38655 [USA] + +We are working with the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation to build more stable support and ensure the +future of Project Gutenberg. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +You can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +We would prefer to send you this information by email. + + +Example command-line FTP session: + +ftp metalab.unc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 or etext00 through etext01, etc. +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain etexts, and royalty free copyright licenses. +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.07.00*END* + + + + + +This etext was prepared by David Widger, <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +VENETIAN YEARS, Volume 1b--A CLERIC IN NAPLES + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +A CLERIC IN NAPLES + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +My Misfortunes in Chiozza--Father Stephano--The Lazzaretto at Ancona +--The Greek Slave--My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loretto--I Go to Rome +on Foot, and From Rome to Naples to Meet the Bishop--I Cannot Join +Him--Good Luck Offers Me the Means of Reaching Martorano, Which Place +I Very Quickly Leave to Return to Naples + + +The retinue of the ambassador, which was styled "grand," appeared to +me very small. It was composed of a Milanese steward, named +Carcinelli, of a priest who fulfilled the duties of secretary because +he could not write, of an old woman acting as housekeeper, of a man +cook with his ugly wife, and eight or ten servants. + +We reached Chiozza about noon. Immediately after landing, I politely +asked the steward where I should put up, and his answer was: + +"Wherever you please, provided you let this man know where it is, so +that he can give you notice when the peotta is ready to sail. My +duty," he added, "is to leave you at the lazzaretto of Ancona free of +expense from the moment we leave this place. Until then enjoy +yourself as well as you can." + +The man to whom I was to give my address was the captain of the +peotta. I asked him to recommend me a lodging. + +"You can come to my house," he said, "if you have no objection to +share a large bed with the cook, whose wife remains on board." + +Unable to devise any better plan, I accepted the offer, and a sailor, +carrying my trunk, accompanied me to the dwelling of the honest +captain. My trunk had to be placed under the bed which filled up the +room. I was amused at this, for I was not in a position to be over- +fastidious, and, after partaking of some dinner at the inn, I went +about the town. Chiozza is a peninsula, a sea-port belonging to +Venice, with a population of ten thousand inhabitants, seamen, +fishermen, merchants, lawyers, and government clerks. + +I entered a coffee-room, and I had scarcely taken a seat when a young +doctor-at-law, with whom I had studied in Padua, came up to me, and +introduced me to a druggist whose shop was near by, saying that his +house was the rendezvous of all the literary men of the place. A few +minutes afterwards, a tall Jacobin friar, blind of one eye, called +Corsini, whom I had known in Venice, came in and paid me many +compliments. He told me that I had arrived just in time to go to a +picnic got up by the Macaronic academicians for the next day, after a +sitting of the academy in which every member was to recite something +of his composition. He invited me to join them, and to gratify the +meeting with the delivery of one of my productions. I accepted the +invitation, and, after the reading of ten stanzas which I had written +for the occasion, I was unanimously elected a member. My success at +the picnic was still greater, for I disposed of such a quantity of +macaroni that I was found worthy of the title of prince of the +academy. + +The young doctor, himself one of the academicians, introduced me to +his family. His parents, who were in easy circumstances, received me +very kindly. One of his sisters was very amiable, but the other, a +professed nun, appeared to me a prodigy of beauty. I might have +enjoyed myself in a very agreeable way in the midst of that charming +family during my stay in Chiozza, but I suppose that it was my +destiny to meet in that place with nothing but sorrows. The young +doctor forewarned me that the monk Corsini was a very worthless +fellow, despised by everybody, and advised me to avoid him. I +thanked him for the information, but my thoughtlessness prevented me +from profiting by it. Of a very easy disposition, and too giddy to +fear any snares, I was foolish enough to believe that the monk would, +on the contrary, be the very man to throw plenty of amusement in my +way. + +On the third day the worthless dog took me to a house of ill-fame, +where I might have gone without his introduction, and, in order to +shew my mettle, I obliged a low creature whose ugliness ought to have +been a sufficient antidote against any fleshly desire. On leaving +the place, he brought me for supper to an inn where we met four +scoundrels of his own stamp. After supper one of them began a bank +of faro, and I was invited to join in the game. I gave way to that +feeling of false pride which so often causes the ruin of young men, +and after losing four sequins I expressed a wish to retire, but my +honest friend, the Jacobin contrived to make me risk four more +sequins in partnership with him. He held the bank, and it was +broken. I did not wish to play any more, but Corsini, feigning to +pity me and to feel great sorrow at being the cause of my loss, +induced me to try myself a bank of twenty-five sequins; my bank was +likewise broken. The hope of winning back my money made me keep up +the game, and I lost everything I had. + +Deeply grieved, I went away and laid myself down near the cook, who +woke up and said I was a libertine. + +"You are right," was all I could answer. + +I was worn out with fatigue and sorrow, and I slept soundly. My vile +tormentor, the monk, woke me at noon, and informed me with a +triumphant joy that a very rich young man had been invited by his +friends to supper, that he would be sure to play and to lose, and +that it would be a good opportunity for me to retrieve my losses. + +"I have lost all my money. Lend me twenty sequins." + +"When I lend money I am sure to lose; you may call it superstition, +but I have tried it too often. Try to find money somewhere else, and +come. Farewell." + +I felt ashamed to confess my position to my friend, and sending for, +a money-lender I emptied my trunk before him. We made an inventory +of my clothes, and the honest broker gave me thirty sequins, with the +understanding that if I did not redeem them within three days all my +things would become his property. I am bound to call him an honest +man, for he advised me to keep three shirts, a few pairs of +stockings, and a few handkerchiefs; I was disposed to let him take +everything, having a presentiment that I would win back all I had +lost; a very common error. A few years later I took my revenge by +writing a diatribe against presentiments. I am of opinion that the +only foreboding in which man can have any sort of faith is the one +which forbodes evil, because it comes from the mind, while a +presentiment of happiness has its origin in the heart, and the heart +is a fool worthy of reckoning foolishly upon fickle fortune. + +I did not lose any time in joining the honest company, which was +alarmed at the thought of not seeing me. Supper went off without any +allusion to gambling, but my admirable qualities were highly praised, +and it was decided that a brilliant fortune awaited me in Rome. +After supper there was no talk of play, but giving way to my evil +genius I loudly asked for my revenge. I was told that if I would +take the bank everyone would punt. I took the bank, lost every +sequin I had, and retired, begging the monk to pay what I owed to the +landlord, which he promised to do. + +I was in despair, and to crown my misery I found out as I was going +home that I had met the day before with another living specimen of +the Greek woman, less beautiful but as perfidious. I went to bed +stunned by my grief, and I believe that I must have fainted into a +heavy sleep, which lasted eleven hours; my awaking was that of a +miserable being, hating the light of heaven, of which he felt himself +unworthy, and I closed my eyes again, trying to sleep for a little +while longer. I dreaded to rouse myself up entirely, knowing that I +would then have to take some decision; but I never once thought of +returning to Venice, which would have been the very best thing to do, +and I would have destroyed myself rather than confide my sad position +to the young doctor. I was weary of my existence, and I entertained +vaguely some hope of starving where I was, without leaving my bed. +It is certain that I should not have got up if M. Alban, the master +of the peotta, had not roused me by calling upon me and informing me +that the boat was ready to sail. + +The man who is delivered from great perplexity, no matter by what +means, feels himself relieved. It seemed to me that Captain Alban +had come to point out the only thing I could possibly do; I dressed +myself in haste, and tying all my worldly possessions in a +handkerchief I went on board. Soon afterwards we left the shore, and +in the morning we cast anchor in Orsara, a seaport of Istria. We all +landed to visit the city, which would more properly be called a +village. It belongs to the Pope, the Republic of Venice having +abandoned it to the Holy See. + +A young monk of the order of the Recollects who called himself Friar +Stephano of Belun, and had obtained a free passage from the devout +Captain Alban, joined me as we landed and enquired whether I felt +sick. + +"Reverend father, I am unhappy." + +"You will forget all your sorrow, if you will come and dine with me +at the house of one of our devout friends." + +I had not broken my fast for thirty-six hours, and having suffered +much from sea-sickness during the night, my stomach was quite empty. +My erotic inconvenience made me very uncomfortable, my mind felt +deeply the consciousness of my degradation, and I did not possess a +groat! I was in such a miserable state that I had no strength to +accept or to refuse anything. I was thoroughly torpid, and I +followed the monk mechanically. + +He presented me to a lady, saying that he was accompanying me to +Rome, where I intend to become a Franciscan. This untruth disgusted +me, and under any other circumstances I would not have let it pass +without protest, but in my actual position it struck me as rather +comical. The good lady gave us a good dinner of fish cooked in oil, +which in Orsara is delicious, and we drank some exquisite refosco. +During our meal, a priest happened to drop in, and, after a short +conversation, he told me that I ought not to pass the night on board +the tartan, and pressed me to accept a bed in his house and a good +dinner for the next day in case the wind should not allow us to sail; +I accepted without hesitation. I offered my most sincere thanks to +the good old lady, and the priest took me all over the town. In the +evening, he brought me to his house where we partook of an excellent +supper prepared by his housekeeper, who sat down to the table with +us, and with whom I was much pleased. The refosco, still better than +that which I had drunk at dinner, scattered all my misery to the +wind, and I conversed gaily with the priest. He offered to read to +me a poem of his own composition, but, feeling that my eyes would not +keep open, I begged he would excuse me and postpone the reading until +the following day. + +I went to bed, and in the morning, after ten hours of the most +profound sleep, the housekeeper, who had been watching for my +awakening, brought me some coffee. I thought her a charming woman, +but, alas! I was not in a fit state to prove to her the high +estimation in which I held her beauty. + +Entertaining feelings of gratitude for my kind host, and disposed to +listen attentively to his poem, I dismissed all sadness, and I paid +his poetry such compliments that he was delighted, and, finding me +much more talented than he had judged me to be at first, he insisted +upon treating me to a reading of his idylls, and I had to swallow +them, bearing the infliction cheerfully. The day passed off very +agreeably; the housekeeper surrounded me with the kindest attentions +--a proof that she was smitten with me; and, giving way to that +pleasing idea, I felt that, by a very natural system of reciprocity, +she had made my conquest. The good priest thought that the day had +passed like lightning, thanks to all the beauties I had discovered in +his poetry, which, to speak the truth, was below mediocrity, but time +seemed to me to drag along very slowly, because the friendly glances +of the housekeeper made me long for bedtime, in spite of the +miserable condition in which I felt myself morally and physically. +But such was my nature; I abandoned myself to joy and happiness, +when, had I been more reasonable, I ought to have sunk under my grief +and sadness. + +But the golden time came at last. I found the pretty housekeeper +full of compliance, but only up to a certain point, and as she +offered some resistance when I shewed myself disposed to pay a full +homage to her charms, I quietly gave up the undertaking, very well +pleased for both of us that it had not been carried any further, and +I sought my couch in peace. But I had not seen the end of the +adventure, for the next morning, when she brought my coffee, her +pretty, enticing manners allured me to bestow a few loving caresses +upon her, and if she did not abandon herself entirely, it was only, +as she said, because she was afraid of some surprise. The day passed +off very pleasantly with the good priest, and at night, the house- +keeper no longer fearing detection, and I having on my side taken +every precaution necessary in the state in which I was, we passed two +most delicious hours. I left Orsara the next morning. + +Friar Stephano amused me all day with his talk, which plainly showed +me his ignorance combined with knavery under the veil of simplicity. +He made me look at the alms he had received in Orsara--bread, wine, +cheese, sausages, preserves, and chocolate; every nook and cranny of +his holy garment was full of provisions. + +"Have you received money likewise?" I enquired. + +"God forbid! In the first place, our glorious order does not permit +me to touch money, and, in the second place, were I to be foolish +enough to receive any when I am begging, people would think +themselves quit of me with one or two sous, whilst they dive me ten +times as much in eatables. Believe me Saint-Francis, was a very +judicious man." + +I bethought myself that what this monk called wealth would be poverty +to me. He offered to share with me, and seemed very proud at my +consenting to honour him so far. + +The tartan touched at the harbour of Pola, called Veruda, and we +landed. After a walk up hill of nearly a quarter of an hour, we +entered the city, and I devoted a couple of hours to visiting the +Roman antiquities, which are numerous, the town having been the +metropolis of the empire. Yet I saw no other trace of grand +buildings except the ruins of the arena. We returned to Veruda, and +went again to sea. On the following day we sighted Ancona, but the +wind being against us we were compelled to tack about, and we did not +reach the port till the second day. The harbour of Ancona, although +considered one of the great works of Trajan, would be very unsafe if +it were not for a causeway which has cost a great deal of money, and +which makes it some what better. I observed a fact worthy of notice, +namely, that, in the Adriatic, the northern coast has many harbours, +while the opposite coast can only boast of one or two. It is evident +that the sea is retiring by degrees towards the east, and that in +three or four more centuries Venice must be joined to the land. We +landed at the old lazzaretto, where we received the pleasant +information that we would go through a quarantine of twenty-eight +days, because Venice had admitted, after a quarantine of three +months, the crew of two ships from Messina, where the plague had +recently been raging. I requested a room for myself and for Brother +Stephano, who thanked me very heartily. I hired from a Jew a bed, a +table and a few chairs, promising to pay for the hire at the +expiration of our quarantine. The monk would have nothing but straw. +If he had guessed that without him I might have starved, he would +most likely not have felt so much vanity at sharing my room. A +sailor, expecting to find in me a generous customer, came to enquire +where my trunk was, and, hearing from me that I did not know, he, as +well as Captain Alban, went to a great deal of trouble to find it, +and I could hardly keep down my merriment when the captain called, +begging to be excused for having left it behind, and assuring me that +he would take care to forward it to me in less than three weeks. + +The friar, who had to remain with me four weeks, expected to live at +my expense, while, on the contrary, he had been sent by Providence to +keep me. He had provisions enough for one week, but it was necessary +to think of the future. + +After supper, I drew a most affecting picture of my position, shewing +that I should be in need of everything until my arrival at Rome, +where I was going, I said, to fill the post of secretary of +memorials, and my astonishment may be imagined when I saw the +blockhead delighted at the recital of my misfortunes. + +"I undertake to take care of you until we reach Rome; only tell me +whether you can write." + +"What a question! Are you joking?" + +"Why should I? Look at me; I cannot write anything but my name. +True, I can write it with either hand; and what else do I want to +know?" + +"You astonish me greatly, for I thought you were a priest." + +"I am a monk; I say the mass, and, as a matter of course, I must know +how to read. Saint-Francis, whose unworthy son I am, could not read, +an that is the reason why he never said a mass. But as you can +write, you will to-morrow pen a letter in my name to the persons +whose names I will give you, and I warrant you we shall have enough +sent here to live like fighting cocks all through our quarantine." + +The next day he made me write eight letters, because, in the oral +tradition of his order, it is said that, when a monk has knocked at +seven doors and has met with a refusal at every one of them, he must +apply to the eighth with perfect confidence, because there he is +certain of receiving alms. As he had already performed the +pilgrimage to Rome, he knew every person in Ancona devoted to the +cult of Saint-Francis, and was acquainted with the superiors of all +the rich convents. I had to write to every person he named, and to +set down all the lies he dictated to me. He likewise made me sign +the letters for him, saying, that, if he signed himself, his +correspondents would see that the letters had not been written by +him, which would injure him, for, he added, in this age of +corruption, people will esteem only learned men. He compelled me to +fill the letters with Latin passages and quotations, even those +addressed to ladies, and I remonstrated in vain, for, when I raised +any objection, he threatened to leave me without anything to eat. I +made up my mind to do exactly as he wished. He desired me to write +to the superior of the Jesuits that he would not apply to the +Capuchins, because they were no better than atheists, and that that +was the reason of the great dislike of Saint-Francis for them. It +was in vain that I reminded him of the fact that, in the time of +Saint-Francis, there were neither Capuchins nor Recollets. His +answer was that I had proved myself an ignoramus. I firmly believed +that he would be thought a madman, and that we should not receive +anything, but I was mistaken, for such a quantity of provisions came +pouring in that I was amazed. Wine was sent from three or four +different quarters, more than enough for us during all our stay, and +yet I drank nothing but water, so great was my wish to recover my +health. As for eatables, enough was sent in every day for six +persons; we gave all our surplus to our keeper, who had a large +family. But the monk felt no gratitude for the kind souls who +bestowed their charity upon him; all his thanks were reserved for +Saint-Francis. + +He undertook to have my men washed by the keeper; I would not have +dared to give it myself, and he said that he had nothing to fear, as +everybody was well aware that the monks of his order never wear any +kind of linen. + +I kept myself in bed nearly all day, and thus avoided shewing myself +to visitors. The persons who did not come wrote letters full of +incongruities cleverly worded, which I took good care not to point +out to him. It was with great difficulty that I tried to persuade +him that those letters did not require any answer. + +A fortnight of repose and severe diet brought me round towards +complete recovery, and I began to walk in the yard of the lazzaretto +from morning till night; but the arrival of a Turk from Thessalonia +with his family compelled me to suspend my walks, the ground-floor +having been given to him. The only pleasure left me was to spend my +time on the balcony overlooking the yard. I soon saw a Greek slave, +a girl of dazzling beauty, for whom I felt the deepest interest. She +was in the habit of spending the whole day sitting near the door with +a book or some embroidery in her hand. If she happened to raise her +eyes and to meet mine, she modestly bent her head down, and sometimes +she rose and went in slowly, as if she meant to say, "I did not know +that somebody was looking at me." Her figure was tall and slender, +her features proclaimed her to be very young; she had a very fair +complexion, with beautiful black hair and eyes. She wore the Greek +costume, which gave her person a certain air of very exciting +voluptuousness. + +I was perfectly idle, and with the temperament which nature and habit +had given me, was it likely that I could feast my eyes constantly +upon such a charming object without falling desperately in love? I +had heard her conversing in Lingua Franca with her master, a fine old +man, who, like her, felt very weary of the quarantine, and used to +come out but seldom, smoking his pipe, and remaining in the yard only +a short time. I felt a great temptation to address a few words to +the beautiful girl, but I was afraid she might run away and never +come out again; however, unable to control myself any longer, I +determined to write to her; I had no difficulty in conveying the +letter, as I had only to let it fall from my balcony. But she might +have refused to pick it up, and this is the plan I adopted in order +not to risk any unpleasant result. + +Availing myself of a moment during which she was alone in the yard, I +dropped from my balcony a small piece of paper folded like a letter, +but I had taken care not to write anything on it, and held the true +letter in my hand. As soon as I saw her stooping down to pick up the +first, I quickly let the second drop at her feet, and she put both +into her pocket. A few minutes afterwards she left the yard. My +letter was somewhat to this effect: + +"Beautiful angel from the East, I worship you. I will remain all +night on this balcony in the hope that you will come to me for a +quarter of an hour, and listen to my voice through the hole under my +feet. We can speak softly, and in order to hear me you can climb up +to the top of the bale of goods which lies beneath the same hole." + +I begged from my keeper not to lock me in as he did every night, and +he consented on condition that he would watch me, for if I had jumped +down in the yard his life might have been the penalty, and he +promised not to disturb me on the balcony. + +At midnight, as I was beginning to give her up, she carne forward. I +then laid myself flat on the floor of the balcony, and I placed my +head against the hole, about six inches square. I saw her jump on +the bale, and her head reached within a foot from the balcony. She +was compelled to steady herself with one hand against the wall for +fear of falling, and in that position we talked of love, of ardent +desires, of obstacles, of impossibilities, and of cunning artifices. +I told her the reason for which I dared not jump down in the yard, +and she observed that, even without that reason, it would bring ruin +upon us, as it would be impossible to come up again, and that, +besides, God alone knew what her master would do if he were to find +us together. Then, promising to visit me in this way every night, +she passed her hand through the hole. Alas! I could not leave off +kissing it, for I thought that I had never in my life touched so +soft, so delicate a hand. But what bliss when she begged for mine! +I quickly thrust my arm through the hole, so that she could fasten +her lips to the bend of the elbow. How many sweet liberties my hand +ventured to take! But we were at last compelled by prudence to +separate, and when I returned to my room I saw with great pleasure +that the keeper was fast asleep. + +Although I was delighted at having obtained every favour I could +possibly wish for in the uncomfortable position we had been in, I +racked my brain to contrive the means of securing more complete +enjoyment for the following night, but I found during the afternoon +that the feminine cunning of my beautiful Greek was more fertile than +mine. + +Being alone in the yard with her master, she said a few words to him +in Turkish, to which he seemed to give his approval, and soon after a +servant, assisted by the keeper, brought under the balcony a large +basket of goods. She overlooked the arrangement, and in order to +secure the basket better, she made the servant place a bale of cotton +across two others. Guessing at her purpose, I fairly leaped for joy, +for she had found the way of raising herself two feet higher; but I +thought that she would then find herself in the most inconvenient +position, and that, forced to bend double, she would not be able to +resist the fatigue. The hole was not wide enough for her head to +pass through, otherwise she might have stood erect and been +comfortable. It was necessary at all events to guard against that +difficulty; the only way was to tear out one of the planks of the +floor of the balcony, but it was not an easy undertaking. Yet I +decided upon attempting it, regardless of consequences; and I went to +my room to provide myself with a large pair of pincers. Luckily the +keeper was absent, and availing myself of the opportunity, I +succeeded in dragging out carefully the four large nails which +fastened the plank. Finding that I could lift it at my will, I +replaced the pincers, and waited for the night with amorous +impatience. + +The darling girl came exactly at midnight, noticing the difficulty +she experienced in climbing up, and in getting a footing upon the +third bale of cotton, I lifted the plank, and, extending my arm as +far as I could, I offered her a steady point of support. She stood +straight, and found herself agreeably surprised, for she could pass +her head and her arms through the hole. We wasted no time in empty +compliments; we only congratulated each other upon having both worked +for the same purpose. + +If, the night before, I had found myself master of her person more +than she was of mine, this time the position was entirely reversed. +Her hand roamed freely over every part of my body, but I had to stop +half-way down hers. She cursed the man who had packed the bale for +not having made it half a foot bigger, so as to get nearer to me. +Very likely even that would not have satisfied us, but she would have +felt happier. + +Our pleasures were barren, yet we kept up our enjoyment until the +first streak of light. I put back the plank carefully, and I lay +down in my bed in great need of recruiting my strength. + +My dear mistress had informed me that the Turkish Bairam began that +very morning, and would last three days during which it would be +impossible for her to see me. + +The night after Bairam, she did not fail to make her appearance, and, +saying that she could not be happy without me, she told me that, as +she was a Christian woman, I could buy her, if I waited for her after +leaving the lazzaretto. I was compelled to tell her that I did not +possess the means of doing so, and my confession made her sigh. On +the following night, she informed me that her master would sell her +for two thousand piasters, that she would give me the amount, that +she was yet a virgin, and that I would be pleased with my bargain. +She added that she would give me a casket full of diamonds, one of +which was alone worth two thousand piasters, and that the sale of the +others would place us beyond the reach of poverty for the remainder +of our life. She assured me that her master would not notice the +loss of the casket, and that, if he did, he would never think of +accusing her. + +I was in love with this girl; and her proposal made me uncomfortable, +but when I woke in the morning I did not hesitate any longer. She +brought the casket in the evening, but I told her that I never could +make up my mind to be accessory to a robbery; she was very unhappy, +and said that my love was not as deep as her own, but that she could +not help admiring me for being so good a Christian. + +This was the last night; probably we should never meet again. The +flame of passion consumed us. She proposed that I should lift her up +to the balcony through the open space. Where is the lover who would +have objected to so attractive a proposal? I rose, and without being +a Milo, I placed my hands under her arms, I drew her up towards me, +and my desires are on the point of being fulfilled. Suddenly I feel +two hands upon my shoulders, and the voice of the keeper exclaims, +"What are you about?" I let my precious burden drop; she regains her +chamber, and I, giving vent to my rage, throw myself flat on the +floor of the balcony, and remain there without a movement, in spite +of the shaking of the keeper whom I was sorely tempted to strangle. +At last I rose from the floor and went to bed without uttering one +word, and not even caring to replace the plank. + +In the morning, the governor informed us that we were free. As I +left the lazzaretto, with a breaking heart, I caught a glimpse of the +Greek slave drowned in tears. + +I agreed to meet Friar Stephano at the exchange, and I took the Jew +from whom I had hired the furniture, to the convent of the Minims, +where I received from Father Lazari ten sequins and the address of +the bishop, who, after performing quarantine on the frontiers of +Tuscany, had proceeded to Rome, where he would expect me to meet him. + +I paid the Jew, and made a poor dinner at an inn. As I was leaving +it to join the monk, I was so unlucky as to meet Captain Alban, who +reproached me bitterly for having led him to believe that my trunk +had been left behind. I contrived to appease his anger by telling +him all my misfortunes, and I signed a paper in which I declared that +I had no claim whatever upon him. I then purchased a pair of shoes +and an overcoat, and met Stephano, whom I informed of my decision to +make a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loretto. I said I would await there +for him, and that we would afterwards travel together as far as Rome. +He answered that he did not wish to go through Loretto, and that I +would repent of my contempt for the grace of Saint-Francis. I did +not alter my mind, and I left for Loretto the next day in the +enjoyment of perfect health. + +I reached the Holy City, tired almost to death, for it was the first +time in my life that I had walked fifteen miles, drinking nothing but +water, although the weather was very warm, because the dry wine used +in that part of the country parched me too much. I must observe +that, in spite of my poverty, I did not look like a beggar. + +As I was entering the city, I saw coming towards me an elderly priest +of very respectable appearance, and, as he was evidently taking +notice of me, as soon as he drew near, I saluted him, and enquired +where I could find a comfortable inn. "I cannot doubt," he said, +"that a person like you, travelling on foot, must come here from +devout motives; come with me." He turned back, I followed him, and +he took me to a fine-looking house. After whispering a few words to +a man who appeared to be a steward, he left me saying, very affably, +"You shall be well attended to." + +My first impression was that I had been mistaken for some other +person, but I said nothing. + +I was led to a suite of three rooms; the chamber was decorated with +damask hangings, the bedstead had a canopy, and the table was +supplied with all materials necessary for writing. A servant brought +me a light dressing-gown, and another came in with linen and a large +tub full of water, which he placed before me; my shoes and stockings +were taken off, and my feet washed. A very decent-looking woman, +followed by a servant girl, came in a few minutes after, and +curtsying very low, she proceeded to make my bed. At that moment the +Angelus bell was heard; everyone knelt down, and I followed their +example. After the prayer, a small table was neatly laid out, I was +asked what sort of wine I wished to drink, and I was provided with +newspapers and two silver candlesticks. An hour afterwards I had a +delicious fish supper, and, before I retired to bed, a servant came +to enquire whether I would take chocolate in the morning before or +after mass. + +As soon as I was in bed, the servant brought me a night-lamp with a +dial, and I remained alone. Except in France I have never had such a +good bed as I had that night. It would have cured the most chronic +insomnia, but I was not labouring under such a disease, and I slept +for ten hours. + +This sort of treatment easily led me to believe that I was not in any +kind of hostelry; but where was I? How was I to suppose that I was +in a hospital? + +When I had taken my chocolate, a hair-dresser--quite a fashionable, +dapper fellow--made his appearance, dying to give vent to his +chattering propensities. Guessing that I did not wish to be shaved, +he offered to clip my soft down with the scissors, saying that I +would look younger. + +"Why do you suppose that I want to conceal my age?" + +"It is very natural, because, if your lordship did not wish to do so, +your lordship would have shaved long ago. Countess Marcolini is +here; does your lordship know her? I must go to her at noon to dress +her hair." + +I did not feel interested in the Countess Marcolini, and, seeing it, +the gossip changed the subject. + +"Is this your lordship's first visit to this house ? It is the +finest hospital throughout the papal states." + +"I quite agree with you, and I shall compliment His Holiness on the +establishment." + +"Oh! His Holiness knows all about it, he resided here before he +became pope. If Monsignor Caraffa had not been well acquainted with +you, he would not have introduced you here." + +Such is the use of barbers throughout Europe; but you must not put +any questions to them, for, if you do, they are sure to threat you to +an impudent mixture of truth and falsehood, and instead of you +pumping them, they will worm everything out of you. + +Thinking that it was my duty to present my respectful compliments to +Monsignor Caraffa, I desired to be taken to his apartment. He gave +me a pleasant welcome, shewed me his library, and entrusted me to the +care of one of his abbes, a man of parts, who acted as my cicerone +every where. Twenty years afterwards, this same abbe was of great +service to me in Rome, and, if still alive, he is a canon of St. John +Lateran. + +On the following day, I took the communion in the Santa-Casa. The +third day was entirely employed in examining the exterior of this +truly wonderful sanctuary, and early the next day I resumed my +journey, having spent nothing except three paoli for the barber. +Halfway to Macerata, I overtook Brother Stephano walking on at a very +slow rate. He was delighted to see me again, and told me that he had +left Ancona two hours after me, but that he never walked more than +three miles a day, being quite satisfied to take two months for a +journey which, even on foot, can easily be accomplished in a week. +"I want," he said, "to reach Rome without fatigue and in good health. +I am in no hurry, and if you feel disposed to travel with me and in +the same quiet way, Saint-Francis will not find it difficult to keep +us both during the journey." + +This lazy fellow was a man about thirty, red-haired, very strong and +healthy; a true peasant who had turned himself into a monk only for +the sake of living in idle comfort. I answered that, as I was in a +hurry to reach Rome, I could not be his travelling companion. + +"I undertake to walk six miles, instead of three, today," he said, +"if you will carry my cloak, which I find very heavy." + +The proposal struck me as a rather funny one; I put on his cloak, and +he took my great-coat, but, after the exchange, we cut such a comical +figure that every peasant we met laughed at us. His cloak would +truly have proved a load for a mule. There were twelve pockets quite +full, without taken into account a pocket behind, which he called 'il +batticulo', and which contained alone twice as much as all the +others. Bread, wine, fresh and salt meat, fowls, eggs, cheese, ham, +sausages--everything was to be found in those pockets, which +contained provisions enough for a fortnight. + +I told him how well I had been treated in Loretto, and he assured me +that I might have asked Monsignor Caraffa to give me letters for all +the hospitals on my road to Rome, and that everywhere I would have +met with the same reception. "The hospitals," he added, "are all +under the curse of Saint-Francis, because the mendicant friars are +not admitted in them; but we do not mind their gates being shut +against us, because they are too far apart from each other. We prefer +the homes of the persons attached to our order; these we find +everywhere." + +"Why do you not ask hospitality in the convents of your order?" + +"I am not so foolish. In the first place, I should not be admitted, +because, being a fugitive, I have not the written obedience which +must be shown at every convent, and I should even run the risk of +being thrown into prison; your monks are a cursed bad lot. In the +second place, I should not be half so comfortable in the convents as +I am with our devout benefactors." + +"Why and how are you a fugitive?" + +He answered my question by the narrative of his imprisonment and +flight, the whole story being a tissue of absurdities and lies. The +fugitive Recollet friar was a fool, with something of the wit of +harlequin, and he thought that every man listening to him was a +greater fool than himself. Yet with all his folly he was not went in +a certain species of cunning. His religious principles were +singular. As he did not wish to be taken for a bigoted man he was +scandalous, and for the sake of making people laugh he would often +make use of the most disgusting expressions. He had no taste +whatever for women, and no inclination towards the pleasures of the +flesh; but this was only owing to a deficiency in his natural +temperament, and yet he claimed for himself the virtue of continence. +On that score, everything appeared to him food for merriment, and +when he had drunk rather too much, he would ask questions of such an +indecent character that they would bring blushes on everybody's +countenance. Yet the brute would only laugh. + +As we were getting within one hundred yards from the house of the +devout friend whom he intended to honour with his visit, he took back +his heavy cloak. On entering the house he gave his blessing to +everybody, and everyone in the family came to kiss his hand. The +mistress of the house requested him to say mass for them, and the +compliant monk asked to be taken to the vestry, but when I whispered +in his ear,--- + +"Have you forgotten that we have already broken our fast to-day?" he +answered, dryly,--- + +"Mind your own business." + +I dared not make any further remark, but during the mass I was indeed +surprised, for I saw that he did not understand what he was doing. I +could not help being amused at his awkwardness, but I had not yet +seen the best part of the comedy. As soon as he had somehow or other +finished his mass he went to the confessional, and after hearing in +confession every member of the family he took it into his head to +refuse absolution to the daughter of his hostess, a girl of twelve or +thirteen, pretty and quite charming. He gave his refusal publicly, +scolding her and threatening her with the torments of hell. The poor +girl, overwhelmed with shame, left the church crying bitterly, and I, +feeling real sympathy for her, could not help saying aloud to +Stephano that he was a madman. I ran after the girl to offer her my +consolations, but she had disappeared, and could not be induced to +join us at dinner. This piece of extravagance on the part of the +monk exasperated me to such an extent that I felt a very strong +inclination to thrash him. In the presence of all the family I told +him that he was an impostor, and the infamous destroyer of the poor +child's honour; I challenged him to explain his reasons for refusing +to give her absolution, but he closed my lips by answering very +coolly that he could not betray the secrets of the confessional. +I could eat nothing, and was fully determined to leave the scoundrel. +As we left the house I was compelled to accept one paolo as the price +of the mock mass he had said. I had to fulfil the sorry duty of his +treasurer. + +The moment we were on the road, I told him that I was going to part +company, because I was afraid of being sent as a felon to the galleys +if I continued my journey with him. We exchanged high words; I +called him an ignorant scoundrel, he styled me beggar. I struck him +a violent slap on the face, which he returned with a blow from his +stick, but I quickly snatched it from him, and, leaving him, I +hastened towards Macerata. A carrier who was going to Tolentino took +me with him for two paoli, and for six more I might have reached +Foligno in a waggon, but unfortunately a wish for economy made me +refuse the offer. I felt well, and I thought I could easily walk as +far as Valcimare, but I arrived there only after five hours of hard +walking, and thoroughly beaten with fatigue. I was strong and +healthy, but a walk of five hours was more than I could bear, because +in my infancy I had never gone a league on foot. Young people cannot +practise too much the art of walking. + +The next day, refreshed by a good night's rest, and ready to resume +my journey, I wanted to pay the innkeeper, but, alas! a new +misfortune was in store for me! Let the reader imagine my sad +position! I recollected that I had forgotten my purse, containing +seven sequins, on the table of the inn at Tolentino. What a +thunderbolt! I was in despair, but I gave up the idea of going back, +as it was very doubtful whether I would find my money. Yet it +contained all I possessed, save a few copper coins I had in my +pocket. I paid my small bill, and, deeply grieved at my loss, +continued my journey towards Seraval. I was within three miles of +that place when, in jumping over a ditch, I sprained my ankle, and +was compelled to sit down on one side of the road, and to wait until +someone should come to my assistance. + +In the course of an hour a peasant happened to pass with his donkey, +and he agreed to carry me to Seraval for one paolo. As I wanted to +spend as little as possible, the peasant took me to an ill-looking +fellow who, for two paoli paid in advance, consented to give me a +lodging. I asked him to send for a surgeon, but I did not obtain one +until the following morning. I had a wretched supper, after which I +lay down in a filthy bed. I was in hope that sleep would bring me +some relief, but my evil genius was preparing for me a night of +torments. + +Three men, armed with guns and looking like banditti, came in shortly +after I had gone to bed, speaking a kind of slang which I could not +make out, swearing, raging, and paying no attention to me. They +drank and sang until midnight, after which they threw themselves down +on bundles of straw brought for them, and my host, who was drunk, +came, greatly to my dismay, to lie down near me. Disgusted at the +idea of having such a fellow for my bed companion, I refused to let +him come, but he answered, with fearful blasphemies, that all the +devils in hell could not prevent him from taking possession of his +own bed. I was forced to make room for him, and exclaimed "Heavens, +where am I?" He told me that I was in the house of the most honest +constable in all the papal states. + +Could I possibly have supposed that the peasant would have brought me +amongst those accursed enemies of humankind! + +He laid himself down near me, but the filthy scoundrel soon compelled +me to give him, for certain reasons, such a blow in his chest that he +rolled out of bed. He picked himself up, and renewed his beastly +attempt. Being well aware that I could not master him without great +danger, I got out of bed, thinking myself lucky that he did not +oppose my wish, and crawling along as well as I could, I found a +chair on which I passed the night. At day-break, my tormentor, +called up by his honest comrades, joined them in drinking and +shouting, and the three strangers, taking their guns, departed. Left +alone by the departure of the vile rabble, I passed another +unpleasant hour, calling in vain for someone. At last a young boy +came in, I gave him some money and he went for a surgeon. The doctor +examined my foot, and assured me that three or four days would set me +to rights. He advised me to be removed to an inn, and I most +willingly followed his counsel. As soon as I was brought to the inn, +I went to bed, and was well cared for, but my position was such that +I dreaded the moment of my recovery. I feared that I should be +compelled to sell my coat to pay the inn-keeper, and the very thought +made me feel ashamed. I began to consider that if I had controlled +my sympathy for the young girl so ill-treated by Stephano, I should +not have fallen into this sad predicament, and I felt conscious that +my sympathy had been a mistake. If I had put up with the faults of +the friar, if this and if that, and every other if was conjured up to +torment my restless and wretched brain. Yet I must confess that the +thoughts which have their origin in misfortune are not without +advantage to a young man, for they give him the habit of thinking, +and the man who does not think never does anything right. + +The morning of the fourth day came, and I was able to walk, as the +surgeon had predicted; I made up my mind, although reluctantly, to +beg the worthy man to sell my great coat for me--a most unpleasant +necessity, for rain had begun to fall. I owed fifteen paoli to the +inn-keeper and four to the surgeon. Just as I was going to proffer +my painful request, Brother Stephano made his appearance in my room, +and burst into loud laughter enquiring whether I had forgotten the +blow from his stick! + +I was struck with amazement! I begged the surgeon to leave me with +the monk, and he immediately complied. + +I must ask my readers whether it is possible, in the face of such +extraordinary circumstances, not to feel superstitious! What is +truly miraculous in this case is the precise minute at which the +event took place, for the friar entered the room as the word was +hanging on my lips. What surprised me most was the force of +Providence, of fortune, of chance, whatever name is given to it, of +that very necessary combination which compelled me to find no hope +but in that fatal monk, who had begun to be my protective genius in +Chiozza at the moment my distress had likewise commenced. And yet, a +singular guardian angel, this Stephano! I felt that the mysterious +force which threw me in his hands was a punishment rather than a +favour. + +Nevertheless he was welcome, because I had no doubt of his relieving +me from my difficulties,--and whatever might be the power that sent +him to me, I felt that I could not do better than to submit to its +influence; the destiny of that monk was to escort me to Rome. + +"Chi va piano va sano," said the friar as soon as we were alone. He +had taken five days to traverse the road over which I had travelled +in one day, but he was in good health, and he had met with no +misfortune. He told me that, as he was passing, he heard that an +abbe, secretary to the Venetian ambassador at Rome, was lying ill at +the inn, after having been robbed in Valcimara. "I came to see you," +he added, "and as I find you recovered from your illness, we can +start again together; I agree to walk six miles every day to please +you. Come, let us forget the past, and let us be at once on our +way." + +"I cannot go; I have lost my purse, and I owe twenty paoli." + +"I will go and find the amount in the name of Saint-Francis." + +He returned within an hour, but he was accompanied by the infamous +constable who told me that, if I had let him know who I was, he would +have been happy to keep me in his house. "I will give you," he +continued, "forty paoli, if you will promise me the protection of +your ambassador; but if you do not succeed in obtaining it for me in +Rome, you will undertake to repay me. Therefore you must give me an +acknowledgement of the debt." + +"I have no objection." Every arrangement was speedily completed; I +received the money, paid my debts, and left Seraval with Stephano. + +About one o'clock in the afternoon, we saw a wretched-looking house +at a short distance from the road, and the friar said, "It is a good +distance from here to Collefiorito; we had better put up there for +the night." It was in vain that I objected, remonstrating that we +were certain of having very poor accommodation! I had to submit to +his will. We found a decrepit old man lying on a pallet, two ugly +women of thirty or forty, three children entirely naked, a cow, and a +cursed dog which barked continually. It was a picture of squalid +misery; but the niggardly monk, instead of giving alms to the poor +people, asked them to entertain us to supper in the name of Saint- +Francis. + +"You must boil the hen," said the dying man to the females, "and +bring out of the cellar the bottle of wine which I have kept now for +twenty years." As he uttered those few words, he was seized with +such a fit of coughing that I thought he would die. The friar went +near him, and promised him that, by the grace of Saint-Francis, he +would get young and well. Moved by the sight of so much misery, I +wanted to continue my journey as far as Collefiorito, and to wait +there for Stephano, but the women would not let me go, and I +remained. After boiling for four hours the hen set the strongest +teeth at defiance, and the bottle which I uncorked proved to be +nothing but sour vinegar. Losing patience, I got hold of the monk's +batticaslo, and took out of it enough for a plentiful supper, and I +saw the two women opening their eyes very wide at the sight of our +provisions. + +We all ate with good appetite, and, after our supper the women made +for us two large beds of fresh straw, and we lay down in the dark, as +the last bit of candle to be found in the miserable dwelling was +burnt out. We had not been lying on the straw five minutes, when +Stephano called out to me that one of the women had just placed +herself near him, and at the same instant the other one takes me in +her arms and kisses me. I push her away, and the monk defends +himself against the other; but mine, nothing daunted, insists upon +laying herself near me; I get up, the dog springs at my neck, and +fear compels me to remain quiet on my straw bed; the monk screams, +swears, struggles, the dog barks furiously, the old man coughs; all +is noise and confusion. At last Stephano, protected by his heavy +garments, shakes off the too loving shrew, and, braving the dog, +manages to find his stick. Then he lays about to right and left, +striking in every direction; one of the women exclaims, "Oh, God! " +the friar answers, "She has her quietus." Calm reigns again in the +house, the dog, most likely dead, is silent; the old man, who perhaps +has received his death-blow, coughs no more; the children sleep, and +the women, afraid of the singular caresses of the monk, sheer off +into a corner; the remainder of the night passed off quietly. + +At day-break I rose; Stephano was likewise soon up. I looked all +round, and my surprise was great when I found that the women had gone +out, and seeing that the old man gave no sign of life, and had a +bruise on his forehead, I shewed it to Stephano, remarking that very +likely he had killed him. + +"It is possible," he answered, "but I have not done it +intentionally." + +Then taking up his batticulo and finding it empty he flew into a +violent passion; but I was much pleased, for I had been afraid that +the women had gone out to get assistance and to have us arrested, and +the robbery of our provisions reassured me, as I felt certain that +the poor wretches had gone out of the way so as to secure impunity +for their theft. But I laid great stress upon the danger we should +run by remaining any longer, and I succeeded in frightening the friar +out of the house. We soon met a waggoner going to Folligno; I +persuaded Stephano to take the opportunity of putting a good distance +between us and the scene of our last adventures; and, as we were +eating our breakfast at Folligno, we saw another waggon, quite empty, +got a lift in it for a trifle, and thus rode to Pisignano, where a +devout person gave us a charitable welcome, and I slept soundly +through the night without the dread of being arrested. + +Early the next day we reached Spoleti, where Brother Stephano had two +benefactors, and, careful not to give either of them a cause of +jealousy, he favoured both; we dined with the first, who entertained +us like princes, and we had supper and lodging in the house of the +second, a wealthy wine merchant, and the father of a large and +delightful family. He gave us a delicious supper, and everything +would have gone on pleasantly had not the friar, already excited by +his good dinner, made himself quite drunk. In that state, thinking +to please his new host, he began to abuse the other, greatly to my +annoyance; he said the wine he had given us to drink was adulterated, +and that the man was a thief. I gave him the lie to his face, and +called him a scoundrel. The host and his wife pacified me, saying +that they were well acquainted with their neighbour, and knew what to +think of him; but the monk threw his napkin at my face, and the host +took him very quietly by the arm and put him to bed in a room in +which he locked him up. I slept in another room. + +In the morning I rose early, and was considering whether it would not +be better to go alone, when the friar, who had slept himself sober, +made his appearance and told me that we ought for the future to live +together like good friends, and not give way to angry feelings; I +followed my destiny once more. We resumed our journey, and at Soma, +the inn-keeper, a woman of rare beauty, gave us a good dinner, and +some excellent Cyprus wine which the Venetian couriers exchanged with +her against delicious truffles found in the vicinity of Soma, which +sold for a good price in Venice. I did not leave the handsome inn- +keeper without losing a part of my heart. + +It would be difficult to draw a picture of the indignation which +overpowered me when, as we were about two miles from Terni, the +infamous friar shewed me a small bag full of truffles which the +scoundrel had stolen from the amiable woman by way of thanks for her +generous hospitality. The truffles were worth two sequins at least. +In my indignation I snatched the bag from him, saying that I would +certainly return it to its lawful owner. But, as he had not +committed the robbery to give himself the pleasure of making +restitution, he threw himself upon me, and we came to a regular +fight. But victory did not remain long in abeyance; I forced his +stick out of his hands, knocked him into a ditch, and went off. On +reaching Terni, I wrote a letter of apology to our beautiful hostess +of Soma, and sent back the truffles. + +>From Terni I went on foot to Otricoli, where I only stayed long +enough to examine the fine old bridge, and from there I paid four +paoli to a waggoner who carried me to Castel-Nuovo, from which place +I walked to Rome. I reached the celebrated city on the 1st of +September, at nine in the morning. + +I must not forget to mention here a rather peculiar circumstance, +which, however ridiculous it may be in reality, will please many of +my readers. + +An hour after I had left Castel-Nuovo, the atmosphere being calm and +the sky clear, I perceived on my right, and within ten paces of me, a +pyramidal flame about two feet long and four or five feet above the +ground. This apparition surprised me, because it seemed to accompany +me. Anxious to examine it, I endeavoured to get nearer to it, but +the more I advanced towards it the further it went from me. It would +stop when I stood still, and when the road along which I was +travelling happened to be lined with trees, I no longer saw it, but +it was sure to reappear as soon as I reached a portion of the road +without trees. I several times retraced my steps purposely, but, +every time I did so, the flame disappeared, and would not shew itself +again until I proceeded towards Rome. This extraordinary beacon left +me when daylight chased darkness from the sky. + +What a splendid field for ignorant superstition, if there had been +any witnesses to that phenomenon, and if I had chanced to make a +great name in Rome! History is full of such trifles, and the world +is full of people who attach great importance to them in spite of the +so-called light of science. I must candidly confess that, although +somewhat versed in physics, the sight of that small meteor gave me +singular ideas. But I was prudent enough not to mention the +circumstance to any one. + +When I reached the ancient capital of the world, I possessed only +seven paoli, and consequently I did not loiter about. I paid no +attention to the splendid entrance through the gate of the polar +trees, which is by mistake pompously called of the people, or to the +beautiful square of the same name, or to the portals of the +magnificent churches, or to all the stately buildings which generally +strike the traveller as he enters the city. I went straight towards +Monte-Magnanopoli, where, according to the address given to me, I was +to find the bishop. There I was informed that he had left Rome ten +days before, leaving instructions to send me to Naples free of +expense. A coach was to start for Naples the next day; not caring to +see Rome, I went to bed until the time for the departure of the +coach. I travelled with three low fellows to whom I did not address +one word through the whole of the journey. I entered Naples on the +6th day of September. + +I went immediately to the address which had been given to me in Rome; +the bishop was not there. I called at the Convent of the Minims, and +I found that he had left Naples to proceed to Martorano. I enquired +whether he had left any instructions for me, but all in vain, no one +could give me any information. And there I was, alone in a large +city, without a friend, with eight carlini in my pocket, and not +knowing what to do! But never mind; fate calls me to Martorano, and +to Martorano I must go. The distance, after all, is only two hundred +miles. + +I found several drivers starting for Cosenza, but when they heard +that I had no luggage, they refused to take me, unless I paid in +advance. They were quite right, but their prudence placed me under +the necessity of going on foot. Yet I felt I must reach Martorano, +and I made up my mind to walk the distance, begging food and lodging +like the very reverend Brother Stephano. + +First of all I made a light meal for one fourth of my money, and, +having been informed that I had to follow the Salerno road, I went +towards Portici where I arrived in an hour and a half. I already +felt rather fatigued; my legs, if not my head, took me to an inn, +where I ordered a room and some supper. I was served in good style, +my appetite was excellent, and I passed a quiet night in a +comfortable bed. In the morning I told the inn-keeper that I would +return for my dinner, and I went out to visit the royal palace. As I +passed through the gate, I was met by a man of prepossessing +appearance, dressed in the eastern fashion, who offered to shew me +all over the palace, saying that I would thus save my money. I was +in a position to accept any offer; I thanked him for his kindness. + +Happening during the conversation to state that I was a Venetian, he +told me that he was my subject, since he came from Zante. I +acknowledged his polite compliment with a reverence. + +"I have," he said, "some very excellent muscatel wine 'grown in the +East, which I could sell you cheap." + +"I might buy some, but I warn you I am a good judge." + +"So much the better. Which do you prefer?" + +"The Cerigo wine." + +"You are right. I have some rare Cerigo muscatel, and we can taste +it if you have no objection to dine with me." + +"None whatever." + +"I can likewise give you the wines of Samos and Cephalonia. I have +also a quantity of minerals, plenty of vitriol, cinnabar, antimony, +and one hundred quintals of mercury." + +"Are all these goods here?" + +"No, they are in Naples. Here I have only the muscatel wine and the +mercury." + +It is quite naturally and without any intention to deceive, that a +young man accustomed to poverty, and ashamed of it when he speaks to +a rich stranger, boasts of his means--of his fortune. As I was +talking with my new acquaintance, I recollected an amalgam of mercury +with lead and bismuth, by which the mercury increases one-fourth in +weight. I said nothing, but I bethought myself that if the mystery +should be unknown to the Greek I might profit by it. I felt that +some cunning was necessary, and that he would not care for my secret +if I proposed to sell it to him without preparing the way. The best +plan was to astonish my man with the miracle of the augmentation of +the mercury, treat it as a jest, and see what his intentions would +be. Cheating is a crime, but honest cunning may be considered as a +species of prudence. True, it is a quality which is near akin to +roguery; but that cannot be helped, and the man who, in time of need, +does not know how to exercise his cunning nobly is a fool. The +Greeks call this sort of wisdom Cerdaleophyon from the word cerdo; +fox, and it might be translated by foxdom if there were such a word +in English. + +After we had visited the palace we returned to the inn, and the Greek +took me to his room, in which he ordered the table to be laid for +two. In the next room I saw several large vessels of muscatel wine +and four flagons of mercury, each containing about ten pounds. + +My plans were laid, and I asked him to let me have one of the flagons +of mercury at the current price, and took it to my room. The Greek +went out to attend to his business, reminding me that he expected me +to dinner. I went out likewise, and bought two pounds and a half of +lead and an equal quantity of bismuth; the druggist had no more. I +came back to the inn, asked for some large empty bottles, and made +the amalgam. + +We dined very pleasantly, and the Greek was delighted because I +pronounced his Cerigo excellent. In the course of conversation he +inquired laughingly why I had bought one of his flagons of mercury. + +"You can find out if you come to my room," I said. + +After dinner we repaired to my room, and he found his mercury divided +in two vessels. I asked for a piece of chamois, strained the liquid +through it, filled his own flagon, and the Greek stood astonished at +the sight of the fine mercury, about one-fourth of a flagon, which +remained over, with an equal quantity of a powder unknown to him; it +was the bismuth. My merry laugh kept company with his astonishment, +and calling one of the servants of the inn I sent him to the druggist +to sell the mercury that was left. He returned in a few minutes and +handed me fifteen carlini. + +The Greek, whose surprise was complete, asked me to give him back his +own flagon, which was there quite full, and worth sixty carlini. I +handed it to him with a smile, thanking him for the opportunity he +had afforded me of earning fifteen carlini, and took care to add that +I should leave for Salerno early the next morning. + +"Then we must have supper together this evening," he said. + +During the afternoon we took a walk towards Mount Vesuvius. Our +conversation went from one subject to another, but no allusion was +made to the mercury, though I could see that the Greek had something +on his mind. At supper he told me, jestingly, that I ought to stop +in Portici the next day to make forty-five carlini out of the three +other flagons of mercury. I answered gravely that I did not want the +money, and that I had augmented the first flagon only for the sake of +procuring him an agreeable surprise. + +"But," said he, "you must be very wealthy." + +"No, I am not, because I am in search of the secret of the +augmentation of gold, and it is a very expensive study for us." + +"How many are there in your company?" + +"Only my uncle and myself." + +"What do you want to augment gold for? The augmentation of mercury +ought to be enough for you. Pray, tell me whether the mercury +augmented by you to-day is again susceptible of a similar increase." + +"No, if it were so, it would be an immense source of wealth for us." + +"I am much pleased with your sincerity." + +Supper over I paid my bill, and asked the landlord to get me a +carriage and pair of horses to take me to Salerno early the next +morning. I thanked the Greek for his delicious muscatel wine, and, +requesting his address in Naples, I assured him that he would see me +within a fortnight, as I was determined to secure a cask of his +Cerigo. + +We embraced each other, and I retired to bed well pleased with my +day's work, and in no way astonished at the Greek's not offering to +purchase my secret, for I was certain that he would not sleep for +anxiety, and that I should see him early in the morning. At all +events, I had enough money to reach the Tour-du-Grec, and there +Providence would take care of me. Yet it seemed to me very difficult +to travel as far as Martorano, begging like a mendicant-friar, +because my outward appearance did not excite pity; people would feel +interested in me only from a conviction that I needed nothing--a very +unfortunate conviction, when the object of it is truly poor. + +As I had forseen, the Greek was in my room at daybreak. I received +him in a friendly way, saying that we could take coffee together. + +"Willingly; but tell me, reverend abbe, whether you would feel +disposed to sell me your secret?" + +"Why not? When we meet in Naples--" + +"But why not now?" + +"I am expected in Salerno; besides, I would only sell the secret for +a large sum of money, and I am not acquainted with you." + +"That does not matter, as I am sufficiently known here to pay you in +cash. How much would you want?" + +"Two thousand ounces." + +"I agree to pay you that sum provided that I succeed in making the +augmentation myself with such matter as you name to me, which I will +purchase." + +"It is impossible, because the necessary ingredients cannot be got +here; but they are common enough in Naples." + +"If it is any sort of metal, we can get it at the Tourdu-Grec. We +could go there together. Can you tell me what is the expense of the +augmentation?" + +"One and a half per cent. but are you likewise known at the Tour-du- +Grec, for I should not like to lose my time?" + +"Your doubts grieve me." + +Saying which, he took a pen, wrote a few words, and handed to me this +order: + +"At sight, pay to bearer the sum of fifty gold ounces, on account of +Panagiotti." + +He told me that the banker resided within two hundred yards of the +inn, and he pressed me to go there myself. I did not stand upon +ceremony, but went to the banker who paid me the amount. I returned +to my room in which he was waiting for me, and placed the gold on the +table, saying that we could now proceed together to the Tour-du-Grec, +where we would complete our arrangements after the signature of a +deed of agreement. The Greek had his own carriage and horses; he +gave orders for them to be got ready, and we left the inn; but he had +nobly insisted upon my taking possession of the fifty ounces. + +When we arrived at the Tour-du-Grec, he signed a document by which he +promised to pay me two thousand ounces as soon as I should have +discovered to him the process of augmenting mercury by one-fourth +without injuring its quality, the amalgam to be equal to the mercury +which I had sold in his presence at Portici. + +He then gave me a bill of exchange payable at sight in eight days on +M. Genaro de Carlo. I told him that the ingredients were lead and +bismuth; the first, combining with mercury, and the second giving to +the whole the perfect fluidity necessary to strain it through the +chamois leather. The Greek went out to try the amalgam--I do not +know where, and I dined alone, but toward evening he came back, +looking very disconsolate, as I had expected. + +"I have made the amalgam," he said, "but the mercury is not perfect." + +"It is equal to that which I have sold in Portici, and that is the +very letter of your engagement." + +"But my engagement says likewise without injury to the quality. You +must agree that the quality is injured, because it is no longer +susceptible of further augmentation." + +"You knew that to be the case; the point is its equality with the +mercury I sold in Portici. But we shall have to go to law, and you +will lose. I am sorry the secret should become public. Congratulate +yourself, sir, for, if you should gain the lawsuit, you will have +obtained my secret for nothing. I would never have believed you +capable of deceiving me in such a manner." + +"Reverend sir, I can assure you that I would not willingly deceive +any one." + +"Do you know the secret, or do you not? Do you suppose I would have +given it to you without the agreement we entered into? Well, there +will be some fun over this affair in Naples, and the lawyers will +make money out of it. But I am much grieved at this turn of affairs, +and I am very sorry that I allowed myself to be so easily deceived by +your fine talk. In the mean time, here are your fifty ounces." + +As I was taking the money out of my pocket, frightened to death lest +he should accept it, he left the room, saying that he would not have +it. He soon returned; we had supper in the same room, but at +separate tables; war had been openly declared, but I felt certain +that a treaty of peace would soon be signed. We did not exchange one +word during the evening, but in the morning he came to me as I was +getting ready to go. I again offered to return the money I received, +but he told me to keep it, and proposed to give me fifty ounces more +if I would give him back his bill of exchange for two thousand. We +began to argue the matter quietly, and after two hours of discussion +I gave in. I received fifty ounces more, we dined together like old +friends, and embraced each other cordially. As I was bidding him +adieu, he gave me an order on his house at Naples for a barrel of +muscatel wine, and he presented me with a splendid box containing +twelve razors with silver handles, manufactured in the Tour-du-Grec. +We parted the best friends in the world and well pleased with each +other. + +I remained two days in Salerno to provide myself with linen and other +necessaries. Possessing about one hundred sequins, and enjoying good +health, I was very proud of my success, in which I could not see any +cause of reproach to myself, for the cunning I had brought into play +to insure the sale of my secret could not be found fault with except +by the most intolerant of moralists, and such men have no authority +to speak on matters of business. At all events, free, rich, and +certain of presenting myself before the bishop with a respectable +appearance, and not like a beggar, I soon recovered my natural +spirits, and congratulated myself upon having bought sufficient +experience to insure me against falling a second time an easy prey to +a Father Corsini, to thieving gamblers, to mercenary women, and +particularly to the impudent scoundrels who barefacedly praise so +well those they intend to dupe--a species of knaves very common in +the world, even amongst people who form what is called good society. + +I left Salerno with two priests who were going to Cosenza on +business, and we traversed the distance of one hundred and forty-two +miles in twenty-two hours. The day after my arrival in the capital +of Calabria, I took a small carriage and drove to Martorano. During +the journey, fixing my eyes upon the famous mare Ausonaum, I felt +delighted at finding myself in the middle of Magna Grecia, rendered +so celebrated for twenty-four centuries by its connection with +Pythagoras. I looked with astonishment upon a country renowned for +its fertility, and in which, in spite of nature's prodigality, my +eyes met everywhere the aspect of terrible misery, the complete +absence of that pleasant superfluity which helps man to enjoy life, +and the degradation of the inhabitants sparsely scattered on a soil +where they ought to be so numerous; I felt ashamed to acknowledge +them as originating from the same stock as myself. Such is, however +the Terra di Lavoro where labour seems to be execrated, where +everything is cheap, where the miserable inhabitants consider that +they have made a good bargain when they have found anyone disposed to +take care of the fruit which the ground supplies almost spontaneously +in too great abundance, and for which there is no market. I felt +compelled to admit the justice of the Romans who had called them +Brutes instead of Byutians. The good priests with whom I had been +travelling laughed at my dread of the tarantula and of the crasydra, +for the disease brought on by the bite of those insects appeared to +me more fearful even than a certain disease with which I was already +too well acquainted. They assured me that all the stories relating +to those creatures were fables; they laughed at the lines which +Virgil has devoted to them in the Georgics as well as at all those I +quoted to justify my fears. + +I found Bishop Bernard de Bernardis occupying a hard chair near an +old table on which he was writing. I fell on my knees, as it is +customary to do before a prelate, but, instead of giving me his +blessing, he raised me up from the floor, and, folding me in his +arms, embraced me tenderly. He expressed his deep sorrow when I told +him that in Naples I had not been able to find any instructions to +enable me to join him, but his face lighted up again when I added +that I was indebted to no one for money, and that I was in good +health. He bade me take a seat, and with a heavy sigh he began to +talk of his poverty, and ordered a servant to lay the cloth for three +persons. Besides this servant, his lordship's suite consisted of a +most devout-looking housekeeper, and of a priest whom I judged to be +very ignorant from the few words he uttered during our meal. The +house inhabited by his lordship was large, but badly built and poorly +kept. The furniture was so miserable that, in order to make up a bed +for me in the room adjoining his chamber, the poor bishop had to give +up one of his two mattresses! His dinner, not to say any more about +it, frightened me, for he was very strict in keeping the rules of his +order, and this being a fast day, he did not eat any meat, and the +oil was very bad. Nevertheless, monsignor was an intelligent man, +and, what is still better, an honest man. He told me, much to my +surprise, that his bishopric, although not one of little importance, +brought him in only five hundred ducat-diregno yearly, and that, +unfortunately, he had contracted debts to the amount of six hundred. +He added, with a sigh, that his only happiness was to feel himself +out of the clutches of the monks, who had persecuted him, and made +his life a perfect purgatory for fifteen years. All these +confidences caused me sorrow and mortification, because they proved +to me, not only that I was not in the promised land where a mitre +could be picked up, but also that I would be a heavy charge for him. +I felt that he was grieved himself at the sorry present his patronage +seemed likely to prove. + +I enquired whether he had a good library, whether there were any +literary men, or any good society in which one could spend a few +agreeable hours. He smiled and answered that throughout his diocese +there was not one man who could boast of writing decently, and still +less of any taste or knowledge in literature; that there was not a +single bookseller, nor any person caring even for the newspapers. +But he promised me that we would follow our literary tastes together, +as soon as he received the books he had ordered from Naples. + +That was all very well, but was this the place for a young man of +eighteen to live in, without a good library, without good society, +without emulation and literacy intercourse? The good bishop, seeing +me full of sad thoughts, and almost astounded at the prospect of the +miserable life I should have to lead with him, tried to give me +courage by promising to do everything in his power to secure my +happiness. + +The next day, the bishop having to officiate in his pontifical robes, +I had an opportunity of seeing all the clergy, and all the faithful +of the diocese, men and women, of whom the cathedral was full; the +sight made me resolve at once to leave Martorano. I thought I was +gazing upon a troop of brutes for whom my external appearance was a +cause of scandal. How ugly were the women! What a look of stupidity +and coarseness in the men! When I returned to the bishop's house I +told the prelate that I did not feel in me the vocation to die within +a few months a martyr in this miserable city. + +"Give me your blessing," I added, "and let me go; or, rather, come +with me. I promise you that we shall make a fortune somewhere else." + +The proposal made him laugh repeatedly during the day. Had he agreed +to it he would not have died two years afterwards in the prime of +manhood. The worthy man, feeling how natural was my repugnance, +begged me to forgive him for having summoned me to him, and, +considering it his duty to send me back to Venice, having no money +himself and not being aware that I had any, he told me that he would +give me an introduction to a worthy citizen of Naples who would lend +me sixty ducati-di-regno to enable me to reach my native city. I +accepted his offer with gratitude, and going to my room I took out of +my trunk the case of fine razors which the Greek had given me, and I +begged his acceptance of it as a souvenir of me. I had great +difficulty in forcing it upon him, for it was worth the sixty ducats, +and to conquer his resistance I had to threaten to remain with him if +he refused my present. He gave me a very flattering letter of +recommendation for the Archbishop of Cosenza, in which he requested +him to forward me as far as Naples without any expense to myself. It +was thus I left Martorano sixty hours after my arrival, pitying the +bishop whom I was leaving behind, and who wept as he was pouring +heartfelt blessings upon me. + +The Archbishop of Cosenza, a man of wealth and of intelligence, +offered me a room in his palace. During the dinner I made, with an +overflowing heart, the eulogy of the Bishop of Martorano ; but I +railed mercilessly at his diocese and at the whole of Calabria in so +cutting a manner that I greatly amused the archbishop and all his +guests, amongst whom were two ladies, his relatives, who did the +honours of the dinner-table. The youngest, however, objected to the +satirical style in which I had depicted her country, and declared war +against me; but I contrived to obtain peace again by telling her that +Calabria would be a delightful country if one-fourth only of its +inhabitants were like her. Perhaps it was with the idea of proving +to me that I had been wrong in my opinion that the archbishop gave on +the following day a splendid supper. + +Cosenza is a city in which a gentleman can find plenty of amusement; +the nobility are wealthy, the women are pretty, and men generally +well-informed, because they have been educated in Naples or in Rome. +I left Cosenza on the third day with a letter from the archbishop for +the far-famed Genovesi. + +I had five travelling companions, whom I judged, from their +appearance, to be either pirates or banditti, and I took very good +care not to let them see or guess that I had a well-filled purse. I +likewise thought it prudent to go to bed without undressing during +the whole journey--an excellent measure of prudence for a young man +travelling in that part of the country. + +I reached Naples on the 16th of September, 1743, and I lost no time +in presenting the letter of the Bishop of Martorano. It was +addressed to a M. Gennaro Polo at St. Anne's. This excellent man, +whose duty was only to give me the sum of sixty ducats, insisted, +after perusing the bishop's letter, upon receiving me in his house, +because he wished me to make the acquaintance of his son, who was a +poet like myself. The bishop had represented my poetry as sublime. +After the usual ceremonies, I accepted his kind invitation, my trunk +was sent for, and I was a guest in the house of M. Gennaro Polo. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Stay in Naples; It Is Short but Happy--Don Antonio Casanova--Don +Lelio Caraffa--I Go to Rome in Very Agreeable Company, and Enter the +Service of Cardinal Acquaviva--Barbara--Testaccio--Frascati + + +I had no difficulty in answering the various questions which Doctor +Gennaro addressed to me, but I was surprised, and even displeased, at +the constant peals of laughter with which he received my answers. +The piteous description of miserable Calabria, and the picture of the +sad situation of the Bishop of Martorano, appeared to me more likely +to call forth tears than to excite hilarity, and, suspecting that +some mystification was being played upon me, I was very near getting +angry when, becoming more composed, he told me with feeling that I +must kindly excuse him; that his laughter was a disease which seemed +to be endemic in his family, for one of his uncles died of it. + +"What! "I exclaimed, "died of laughing!" + +"Yes. This disease, which was not known to Hippocrates, is called li +flati." + +"What do you mean? Does an hypochondriac affection, which causes +sadness and lowness in all those who suffer from it, render you +cheerful?" + +"Yes, because, most likely, my flati, instead of influencing the +hypochondrium, affects my spleen, which my physician asserts to be +the organ of laughter. It is quite a discovery." + +"You are mistaken; it is a very ancient notion, and it is the only +function which is ascribed to the spleen in our animal organization." + +"Well, we must discuss the matter at length, for I hope you will +remain with us a few weeks." + +"I wish I could, but I must leave Naples to-morrow or the day after." + +"Have you got any money?" + +"I rely upon the sixty ducats you have to give me." + +At these words, his peals of laughter began again, and as he could +see that I was annoyed, he said, "I am amused at the idea that I can +keep you here as long as I like. But be good enough to see my son; +he writes pretty verses enough." + +And truly his son, although only fourteen, was already a great poet. + +A servant took me to the apartment of the young man whom I found +possessed of a pleasing countenance and engaging manners. He gave me +a polite welcome, and begged to be excused if he could not attend to +me altogether for the present, as he had to finish a song which he +was composing for a relative of the Duchess de Rovino, who was taking +the veil at the Convent of St. Claire, and the printer was waiting +for the manuscript. I told him that his excuse was a very good one, +and I offered to assist him. He then read his song, and I found it +so full of enthusiasm, and so truly in the style of Guidi, that I +advised him to call it an ode; but as I had praised all the truly +beautiful passages, I thought I could venture to point out the weak +ones, and I replaced them by verses of my own composition. He was +delighted, and thanked me warmly, inquiring whether I was Apollo. As +he was writing his ode, I composed a sonnet on the same subject, and, +expressing his admiration for it he begged me to sign it, and to +allow him to send it with his poetry. + +While I was correcting and recopying my manuscript, he went to his +father to find out who I was, which made the old man laugh until +supper-time. In the evening, I had the pleasure of seeing that my +bed had been prepared in the young man's chamber. + +Doctor Gennaro's family was composed of this son and of a daughter +unfortunately very plain, of his wife and of two elderly, devout +sisters. Amongst the guests at the supper-table I met several +literary men, and the Marquis Galiani, who was at that time +annotating Vitruvius. He had a brother, an abbe whose acquaintance I +made twenty years after, in Paris, when he was secretary of embassy +to Count Cantillana. The next day, at supper, I was presented to the +celebrated Genovesi; I had already sent him the letter of the +Archbishop of Cosenza. He spoke to me of Apostolo Zeno and of the +Abbe Conti. He remarked that it was considered a very venial sin for +a regular priest to say two masses in one day for the sake of earning +two carlini more, but that for the same sin a secular priest would +deserve to be burnt at the stake. + +The nun took the veil on the following day, and Gennaro's ode and my +sonnet had the greatest success. A Neapolitan gentleman, whose name +was the same as mine, expressed a wish to know me, and, hearing that +I resided at the doctor's, he called to congratulate him on the +occasion of his feast-day, which happened to fall on the day +following the ceremony at Sainte-Claire. + +Don Antonio Casanova, informing me of his name, enquired whether my +family was originally from Venice. + +"I am, sir," I answered modestly, "the great-grandson of the +unfortunate Marco Antonio Casanova, secretary to Cardinal Pompeo +Colonna, who died of the plague in Rome, in the year 1528, under the +pontificate of Clement VII." The words were scarcely out of my lips +when he embraced me, calling me his cousin, but we all thought that +Doctor Gennaro would actually die with laughter, for it seemed +impossible to laugh so immoderately without risk of life. Madame +Gennaro was very angry and told my newly-found cousin that he might +have avoided enacting such a scene before her husband, knowing his +disease, but he answered that he never thought the circumstance +likely to provoke mirth. I said nothing, for, in reality, I felt +that the recognition was very comic. Our poor laugher having +recovered his composure, Casanova, who had remained very serious, +invited me to dinner for the next day with my young friend Paul +Gennaro, who had already become my alter ego. + +When we called at his house, my worthy cousin showed me his family +tree, beginning with a Don Francisco, brother of Don Juan. In my +pedigree, which I knew by heart, Don Juan, my direct ancestor, was a +posthumous child. It was possible that there might have been a +brother of Marco Antonio's; but when he heard that my genealogy began +with Don Francisco, from Aragon, who had lived in the fourteenth +century, and that consequently all the pedigree of the illustrious +house of the Casanovas of Saragossa belonged to him, his joy knew no +bounds; he did not know what to do to convince me that the same blood +was flowing in his veins and in mine. + +He expressed some curiosity to know what lucky accident had brought +me to Naples; I told him that, having embraced the ecclesiastical +profession, I was going to Rome to seek my fortune. He then +presented me to his family, and I thought that I could read on the +countenance of my cousin, his dearly beloved wife, that she was not +much pleased with the newly-found relationship, but his pretty +daughter, and a still prettier niece of his, might very easily have +given me faith in the doctrine that blood is thicker than water, +however fabulous it may be. + +After dinner, Don Antonio informed me that the Duchess de Bovino had +expressed a wish to know the Abbe Casanova who had written the sonnet +in honour of her relative, and that he would be very happy to +introduce me to her as his own cousin. As we were alone at that +moment, I begged he would not insist on presenting me, as I was only +provided with travelling suits, and had to be careful of my purse so +as not to arrive in Rome without money. Delighted at my confidence, +and approving my economy, he said, "I am rich, and you must not +scruple to come with me to my tailor;" and he accompanied his offer +with an assurance that the circumstance would not be known to anyone, +and that he would feel deeply mortified if I denied him the pleasure +of serving me. I shook him warmly by the hand, and answered that I +was ready to do anything he pleased. We went to a tailor who took my +measure, and who brought me on the following day everything necessary +to the toilet of the most elegant abbe. Don Antonio called on me, +and remained to dine with Don Gennaro, after which he took me and my +friend Paul to the duchess. This lady, according to the Neapolitan +fashion, called me thou in her very first compliment of welcome. Her +daughter, then only ten or twelve years old, was very handsome, and a +few years later became Duchess de Matalona. The duchess presented me +with a snuff-box in pale tortoise-shell with arabesque incrustations +in gold, and she invited us to dine with her on the morrow, promising +to take us after dinner to the Convent of St. Claire to pay a visit +to the new nun. + +As we came out of the palace of the duchess, I left my friends and +went alone to Panagiotti's to claim the barrel of muscatel wine. The +manager was kind enough to have the barrel divided into two smaller +casks of equal capacity, and I sent one to Don Antonio, and the other +to Don Gennaro. As I was leaving the shop I met the worthy +Panagiotti, who was glad to see me. Was I to blush at the sight of +the good man I had at first deceived? No, for in his opinion I had +acted very nobly towards him. + +Don Gennaro, as I returned home, managed to thank me for my handsome +present without laughing, and the next day Don Antonio, to make up +for the muscatel wine I had sent him, offered me a gold-headed cane, +worth at least fifteen ounces, and his tailor brought me a travelling +suit and a blue great coat, with the buttonholes in gold lace. I +therefore found myself splendidly equipped. + +At the Duchess de Bovino's dinner I made the acquaintance of the +wisest and most learned man in Naples, the illustrious Don Lelio +Caraffa, who belonged to the ducal family of Matalona, and whom King +Carlos honoured with the title of friend. + +I spent two delightful hours in the convent parlour, coping +successfully with the curiosity of all the nuns who were pressing +against the grating. Had destiny allowed me to remain in Naples my +fortune would have been made; but, although I had no fixed plan, the +voice of fate summoned me to Rome, and therefore I resisted all the +entreaties of my cousin Antonio to accept the honourable position of +tutor in several houses of the highest order. + +Don Antonio gave a splendid dinner in my honour, but he was annoyed +and angry because he saw that his wife looked daggers at her new +cousin. I thought that, more than once, she cast a glance at my new +costume, and then whispered to the guest next to her. Very likely +she knew what had taken place. There are some positions in life to +which I could never be reconciled. If, in the most brilliant circle, +there is one person who affects to stare at me I lose all presence of +mind. Self-dignity feels outraged, my wit dies away, and I play the +part of a dolt. It is a weakness on my part, but a weakness I cannot +overcome. + +Don Lelio Caraffa offered me a very liberal salary if I would +undertake the education of his nephew, the Duke de Matalona, then ten +years of age. I expressed my gratitude, and begged him to be my true +benefactor in a different manner--namely, by giving me a few good +letters of introduction for Rome, a favour which he granted at once. +He gave me one for Cardinal Acquaviva, and another for Father Georgi. + +I found out that the interest felt towards me by my friends had +induced them to obtain for me the honour of kissing the hand of Her +Majesty the Queen, and I hastened my preparations to leave Naples, +for the queen would certainly have asked me some questions, and I +could not have avoided telling her that I had just left Martorano and +the poor bishop whom she had sent there. The queen likewise knew my +mother; she would very likely have alluded to my mother's profession +in Dresden; it would have mortified Don Antonio, and my pedigree +would have been covered with ridicule. I knew the force of +prejudice! I should have been ruined, and I felt I should do well to +withdraw in good time. As I took leave of him, Don Antonio presented +me with a fine gold watch and gave me a letter for Don Gaspar +Vidaldi, whom he called his best friend. Don Gennaro paid me the +sixty ducats, and his son, swearing eternal friendship, asked me to +write to him. They all accompanied me to the coach, blending their +tears with mine, and loading me with good wishes and blessings. + +>From my landing in Chiozza up to my arrival in Naples, fortune had +seemed bent upon frowning on me; in Naples it began to shew itself +less adverse, and on my return to that city it entirely smiled upon +me. Naples has always been a fortunate place for me, as the reader +of my memoirs will discover. My readers must not forget that in +Portici I was on the point of disgracing myself, and there is no +remedy against the degradation of the mind, for nothing can restore +it to its former standard. It is a case of disheartening atony for +which there is no possible cure. + +I was not ungrateful to the good Bishop of Martorano, for, if he had +unwittingly injured me by summoning me to his diocese, I felt that to +his letter for M. Gennaro I was indebted for all the good fortune +which had just befallen me. I wrote to him from Rome. + +I was wholly engaged in drying my tears as we were driving through +the beautiful street of Toledo, and it was only after we had left +Naples that I could find time to examine the countenance of my +travelling companions. Next to me, I saw a man of from forty to +fifty, with a pleasing face and a lively air, but, opposite to me, +two charming faces delighted my eyes. They belonged to two ladies, +young and pretty, very well dressed, with a look of candour and +modesty. This discovery was most agreeable, but I felt sad and I +wanted calm and silence. We reached Avessa without one word being +exchanged, and as the vetturino stopped there only to water his +mules, we did not get out of the coach. From Avessa to Capua my +companions conversed almost without interruption, and, wonderful to +relate! I did not open my lips once. I was amused by the Neapolitan +jargon of the gentleman, and by the pretty accent of the ladies, who +were evidently Romans. It was a most wonderful feat for me to remain +five hours before two charming women without addressing one word to +them, without paying them one compliment. + +At Capua, where we were to spend the night, we put up at an inn, and +were shown into a room with two beds--a very usual thing in Italy. +The Neapolitan, addressing himself to me, said, + +"Am I to have the honour of sleeping with the reverend gentleman?" + +I answered in a very serious tone that it was for him to choose or to +arrange it otherwise, if he liked. The answer made the two ladies +smile, particularly the one whom I preferred, and it seemed to me a +good omen. + +We were five at supper, for it is usual for the vetturino to supply +his travellers with their meals, unless some private agreement is +made otherwise, and to sit down at table with them. In the desultory +talk which went on during the supper, I found in my travelling +companions decorum, propriety, wit, and the manners of persons +accustomed to good society. I became curious to know who they were, +and going down with the driver after supper, I asked him. + +"The gentleman," he told me, "is an advocate, and one of the ladies +is his wife, but I do not know which of the two." + +I went back to our room, and I was polite enough to go to bed first, +in order to make it easier for the ladies to undress themselves with +freedom; I likewise got up first in the morning, left the room, and +only returned when I was called for breakfast. The coffee was +delicious. I praised it highly, and the lady, the one who was my +favourite, promised that I should have the same every morning during +our journey. The barber came in after breakfast; the advocate was +shaved, and the barber offered me his services, which I declined, but +the rogue declared that it was slovenly to wear one's beard. + +When we had resumed our seats in the coach, the advocate made some +remark upon the impudence of barbers in general. + +"But we ought to decide first," said the lady, "whether or not it is +slovenly to go bearded." + +"Of course it is," said the advocate. "Beard is nothing but a dirty +excrescence." + +"You may think so," I answered, "but everybody does not share your +opinion. Do we consider as a dirty excrescence the hair of which we +take so much care, and which is of the same nature as the beard? Far +from it; we admire the length and the beauty of the hair." + +"Then," remarked the lady, "the barber is a fool." + +"But after all," I asked, "have I any beard?" + +"I thought you had," she answered. + +"In that case, I will begin to shave as soon as I reach Rome, for +this is the first time that I have been convicted of having a beard." + +"My dear wife," exclaimed the advocate, "you should have held your +tongue; perhaps the reverend abbe is going to Rome with the intention +of becoming a Capuchin friar." + +The pleasantry made me laugh, but, unwilling that he should have the +last word, I answered that he had guessed rightly, that such had been +my intention, but that I had entirely altered my mind since I had +seen his wife. + +"Oh! you are wrong," said the joyous Neapolitan, "for my wife is very +fond of Capuchins, and if you wish to please her, you had better +follow your original vocation." Our conversation continued in the +same tone of pleasantry, and the day passed off in an agreeable +manner; in the evening we had a very poor supper at Garillan, but we +made up for it by cheerfulness and witty conversation. My dawning +inclination for the advocate's wife borrowed strength from the +affectionate manner she displayed towards me. + +The next day she asked me, after we had resumed our journey, whether +I intended to make a long stay in Rome before returning to Venice. I +answered that, having no acquaintances in Rome, I was afraid my life +there would be very dull. + +"Strangers are liked in Rome," she said, "I feel certain that you +will be pleased with your residence in that city." + +"May I hope, madam, that you will allow me to pay you my respects?" + +"We shall be honoured by your calling on us," said the advocate. + +My eyes were fixed upon his charming wife. She blushed, but I did +not appear to notice it. I kept up the conversation, and the day +passed as pleasantly as the previous one. We stopped at Terracina, +where they gave us a room with three beds, two single beds and a +large one between the two others. It was natural that the two +sisters should take the large bed; they did so, and undressed +themselves while the advocate and I went on talking at the table, +with our backs turned to them. As soon as they had gone to rest, the +advocate took the bed on which he found his nightcap, and I the +other, which was only about one foot distant from the large bed. I +remarked that the lady by whom I was captivated was on the side +nearest my couch, and, without much vanity, I could suppose that it +was not owing only to chance. + +I put the light out and laid down, revolving in my mind a project +which I could not abandon, and yet durst not execute. In vain did I +court sleep. A very faint light enabled me to perceive the bed in +which the pretty woman was lying, and my eyes would, in spite of +myself, remain open. It would be difficult to guess what I might +have done at last (I had already fought a hard battle with myself for +more than an hour), when I saw her rise, get out of her bed, and go +and lay herself down near her husband, who, most likely, did not wake +up, and continued to sleep in peace, for I did not hear any noise. + +Vexed, disgusted.... I tried to compose myself to sleep, and I woke +only at day-break. Seeing the beautiful wandering star in her own +bed, I got up, dressed myself in haste, and went out, leaving all my +companions fast asleep. I returned to the inn only at the time fixed +for our departure, and I found the advocate and the two ladies +already in the coach, waiting for me. + +The lady complained, in a very obliging manner, of my not having +cared for her coffee; I pleaded as an excuse a desire for an early +walk, and I took care not to honour her even with a look; I feigned +to be suffering from the toothache, and remained in my corner dull +and silent. At Piperno she managed to whisper to me that my +toothache was all sham; I was pleased with the reproach, because it +heralded an explanation which I craved for, in spite of my vexation. + +During the afternoon I continued my policy of the morning. I was +morose and silent until we reached Serinonetta, where we were to pass +the night. We arrived early, and the weather being fine, the lady +said that she could enjoy a walk, and asked me politely to offer her +my arm. I did so, for it would have been rude to refuse; besides I +had had enough of my sulking fit. An explanation could alone bring +matters back to their original standing, but I did not know how to +force it upon the lady. Her husband followed us at some distance +with the sister. + +When we were far enough in advance, I ventured to ask her why she had +supposed my toothache to have been feigned. + +"I am very candid," she said; "it is because the difference in your +manner was so marked, and because you were so careful to avoid +looking at me through the whole day. A toothache would not have +prevented you from being polite, and therefore I thought it had been +feigned for some purpose. But I am certain that not one of us can +possibly have given you any grounds for such a rapid change in your +manner." + +"Yet something must have caused the change, and you, madam, are only +half sincere." + +"You are mistaken, sir, I am entirely sincere; and if I have given +you any motive for anger, I am, and must remain, ignorant of it. Be +good enough to tell me what I have done." + +"Nothing, for I have no right to complain." + +"Yes, you have; you have a right, the same that I have myself; the +right which good society grants to every one of its members. Speak, +and shew yourself as sincere as I am." + +"You are certainly bound not to know, or to pretend not to know the +real cause, but you must acknowledge that my duty is to remain +silent." + +"Very well; now it is all over; but if your duty bids you to conceal +the cause of your bad humour, it also bids you not to shew it. +Delicacy sometimes enforces upon a polite gentleman the necessity of +concealing certain feelings which might implicate either himself or +others; it is a restraint for the mind, I confess, but it has some +advantage when its effect is to render more amiable the man who +forces himself to accept that restraint." Her close argument made me +blush for shame, and carrying her beautiful hand to my lips, I +confessed my self in the wrong. + +"You would see me at your feet," I exclaimed, "in token of my +repentance, were I not afraid of injuring you---" + +"Do not let us allude to the matter any more," she answered. + +And, pleased with my repentance, she gave me a look so expressive of +forgiveness that, without being afraid of augmenting my guilt, I took +my lips off her hand and I raised them to her half-open, smiling +mouth. Intoxicated with rapture, I passed so rapidly from a state of +sadness to one of overwhelming cheerfulness that during our supper +the advocate enjoyed a thousand jokes upon my toothache, so quickly +cured by the simple remedy of a walk. On the following day we dined +at Velletri and slept in Marino, where, although the town was full of +troops, we had two small rooms and a good supper. I could not have +been on better terms with my charming Roman; for, although I had +received but a rapid proof of her regard, it had been such a true +one--such a tender one! In the coach our eyes could not say much; +but I was opposite to her, and our feet spoke a very eloquent +language. + +The advocate had told me that he was going to Rome on some +ecclesiastical business, and that he intended to reside in the house +of his mother-in-law, whom his wife had not seen since her marriage, +two years ago, and her sister hoped to remain in Rome, where she +expected to marry a clerk at the Spirito Santo Bank. He gave me +their address, with a pressing invitation to call upon them, and I +promised to devote all my spare time to them. + +We were enjoying our dessert, when my beautiful lady-love, admiring +my snuff-box, told her husband that she wished she had one like it. + +"I will buy you one, dear." + +"Then buy mine," I said; "I will let you have it for twenty ounces, +and you can give me a note of hand payable to bearer in payment. I +owe that amount to an Englishman, and I will give it him to redeem my +debt." + +"Your snuff-box, my dear abbe, is worth twenty ounces, but I cannot +buy it unless you agree to receive payment in cash; I should be +delighted to see it in my wife's possession, and she would keep it as +a remembrance of you." + +His wife, thinking that I would not accept his offer, said that she +had no objection to give me the note of hand. + +"But," exclaimed the advocate, "can you not guess the Englishman +exists only in our friend's imagination? He would never enter an +appearance, and we would have the snuff-box for nothing. Do not +trust the abbe, my dear, he is a great cheat." + +"I had no idea," answered his wife, looking at me, "that the world +contained rogues of this species." + +I affected a melancholy air, and said that I only wished myself rich +enough to be often guilty of such cheating. + +When a man is in love very little is enough to throw him into +despair, and as little to enhance his joy to the utmost. There was +but one bed in the room where supper had been served, and another in +a small closet leading out of the room, but without a door. The +ladies chose the closet, and the advocate retired to rest before me. +I bid the ladies good night as soon as they had gone to bed; I looked +at my dear mistress, and after undressing myself I went to bed, +intending not to sleep through the night. But the reader may imagine +my rage when I found, as I got into the bed, that it creaked loud +enough to wake the dead. I waited, however, quite motionless, until +my companion should be fast asleep, and as soon as his snoring told +me that he was entirely under the influence of Morpheus, I tried to +slip out of the bed; but the infernal creaking which took place +whenever I moved, woke my companion, who felt about with his hand, +and, finding me near him, went to sleep again. Half an hour after, I +tried a second time, but with the same result. I had to give it up +in despair. + +Love is the most cunning of gods; in the midst of obstacles he seems +to be in his own element, but as his very existence depends upon the +enjoyment of those who ardently worship him, the shrewd, all-seeing, +little blind god contrives to bring success out of the most desperate +case. + +I had given up all hope for the night, and had nearly gone to sleep, +when suddenly we hear a dreadful noise. Guns are fired in the +street, people, screaming and howling, are running up and down the +stairs; at last there is a loud knocking at our door. The advocate, +frightened out of his slumbers, asks me what it can all mean; I +pretend to be very indifferent, and beg to be allowed to sleep. But +the ladies are trembling with fear, and loudly calling for a light. +I remain very quiet, the advocate jumps out of bed, and runs out of +the room to obtain a candle; I rise at once, I follow him to shut the +door, but I slam it rather too hard, the double spring of the lock +gives way, and the door cannot be reopened without the key. + +I approach the ladies in order to calm their anxiety, telling them +that the advocate would soon return with a light, and that we should +then know the cause of the tumult, but I am not losing my time, and +am at work while I am speaking. I meet with very little opposition, +but, leaning rather too heavily upon my fair lady, I break through +the bottom of the bedstead, and we suddenly find ourselves, the two +ladies and myself, all together in a heap on the floor. The advocate +comes back and knocks at the door; the sister gets up, I obey the +prayers of my charming friend, and, feeling my way, reach the door, +and tell the advocate that I cannot open it, and that he must get the +key. The two sisters are behind me. I extend my hand; but I am +abruptly repulsed, and judge that I have addressed myself to the +wrong quarter; I go to the other side, and there I am better +received. But the husband returns, the noise of the key in the lock +announces that the door is going to be opened, and we return to our +respective beds. + +The advocate hurries to the bed of the two frightened ladies, +thinking of relieving their anxiety, but, when he sees them buried in +their broken-down bedstead, he bursts into a loud laugh. He tells me +to come and have a look at them, but I am very modest, and decline +the invitation. He then tells us that the alarm has been caused by a +German detachment attacking suddenly the Spanish troops in the city, +and that the Spaniards are running away. In a quarter of an hour the +noise has ceased, and quiet is entirely re-established. + +The advocate complimented me upon my coolness, got into bed again, +and was soon asleep. As for me, I was careful not to close my eyes, +and as soon as I saw daylight I got up in order to perform certain +ablutions and to change my shirt; it was an absolute necessity. + +I returned for breakfast, and while we were drinking the delicious +coffee which Donna Lucrezia had made, as I thought, better than ever, +I remarked that her sister frowned on me. But how little I cared for +her anger when I saw the cheerful, happy countenance, and the +approving looks of my adored Lucrezia! I felt a delightful sensation +run through the whole of my body. + +We reached Rome very early. We had taken breakfast at the Tour, and +the advocate being in a very gay mood I assumed the same tone, +loading him with compliments, and predicting that a son would be born +to him, I compelled his wife to promise it should be so. I did not +forget the sister of my charming Lucrezia, and to make her change her +hostile attitude towards me I addressed to her so many pretty +compliments, and behaved in such a friendly manner, that she was +compelled to forgive the fall of the bed. As I took leave of them, I +promised to give them a call on the following day. + +I was in Rome! with a good wardrobe, pretty well supplied with money +and jewellery, not wanting in experience, and with excellent letters +of introduction. I was free, my own master, and just reaching the +age in which a man can have faith in his own fortune, provided he is +not deficient in courage, and is blessed with a face likely to +attract the sympathy of those he mixes with. I was not handsome, but +I had something better than beauty--a striking expression which +almost compelled a kind interest in my favour, and I felt myself +ready for anything. I knew that Rome is the one city in which a man +can begin from the lowest rung, and reach the very top of the social +ladder. This knowledge increased my courage, and I must confess that +a most inveterate feeling of self-esteem which, on account of my +inexperience, I could not distrust, enhanced wonderfully my +confidence in myself. + +The man who intends to make his fortune in this ancient capital of +the world must be a chameleon susceptible of reflecting all the +colours of the atmosphere that surrounds him--a Proteus apt to assume +every form, every shape. He must be supple, flexible, insinuating; +close, inscrutable, often base, sometimes sincere, some times +perfidious, always concealing a part of his knowledge, indulging in +one tone of voice, patient, a perfect master of his own countenance. +as cold as ice when any other man would be all fire; and if +unfortunately he is not religious at heart--a very common occurrence +for a soul possessing the above requisites--he must have religion in +his mind, that is to say, on his face, on his lips, in his manners; +he must suffer quietly, if he be an honest man the necessity of +knowing himself an arrant hypocrite. The man whose soul would loathe +such a life should leave Rome and seek his fortune elsewhere. I do +not know whether I am praising or excusing myself, but of all those +qualities I possessed but one--namely, flexibility; for the rest, I +was only an interesting, heedless young fellow, a pretty good blood +horse, but not broken, or rather badly broken; and that is much +worse. + +I began by delivering the letter I had received from Don Lelio for +Father Georgi. The learned monk enjoyed the esteem of everyone in +Rome, and the Pope himself had a great consideration for him, because +he disliked the Jesuits, and did not put a mask on to tear the mask +from their faces, although they deemed themselves powerful enough to +despise him. + +He read the letter with great attention, and expressed himself +disposed to be my adviser; and that consequently I might make him +responsible for any evil which might befall me, as misfortune is not +to be feared by a man who acts rightly. He asked me what I intended +to do in Rome, and I answered that I wished him to tell me what to +do. + +"Perhaps I may; but in that case you must come and see me often, and +never conceal from me anything, you understand, not anything, of what +interests you, or of what happens to you." + +"Don Lelio has likewise given me a letter for the Cardinal +Acquaviva." + +"I congratulate you; the cardinal's influence in Rome is greater even +than that of the Pope." + +"Must I deliver the letter at once?" + +"No; I will see him this evening, and prepare him for your visit. +Call on me to-morrow morning, and I will then tell you where and when +you are to deliver your letter to the cardinal. Have you any money?" + +"Enough for all my wants during one year." + +"That is well. Have you any acquaintances?" + +"Not one." + +"Do not make any without first consulting me, and, above all, avoid +coffee-houses and ordinaries, but if you should happen to frequent +such places, listen and never speak. Be careful to form your +judgment upon those who ask any questions from you, and if common +civility obliges you to give an answer, give only an evasive one, if +any other is likely to commit you. Do you speak French?" + +"Not one word." + +"I am sorry for that; you must learn French. Have you been a +student?" + +"A poor one, but I have a sufficient smattering to converse with +ordinary company." + +"That is enough; but be very prudent, for Rome is the city in which +smatterers unmask each other, and are always at war amongst +themselves. I hope you will take your letter to the cardinal, +dressed like a modest abbe, and not in this elegant costume which is +not likely to conjure fortune. Adieu, let me see you to-morrow." + +Highly pleased with the welcome I had received at his hands, and with +all he had said to me, I left his house and proceeded towards Campo- +di-Fiore to deliver the letter of my cousin Antonio to Don Gaspar +Vivaldi, who received me in his library, where I met two respectable- +looking priests. He gave me the most friendly welcome, asked for my +address, and invited me to dinner for the next day. He praised +Father Georgi most highly, and, accompanying me as far as the stairs, +he told me that he would give me on the morrow the amount his friend +Don Antonio requested him to hand me. + +More money which my generous cousin was bestowing on me! It is easy +enough to give away when one possesses sufficient means to do it, but +it is not every man who knows how to give. I found the proceeding of +Don Antonio more delicate even than generous; I could not refuse his +present; it was my duty to prove my gratitude by accepting it. + +Just after I had left M. Vivaldi's house I found myself face to face +with Stephano, and this extraordinary original loaded me with +friendly caresses. I inwardly despised him, yet I could not feel +hatred for him; I looked upon him as the instrument which Providence +had been pleased to employ in order to save me from ruin. After +telling me that he had obtained from the Pope all he wished, he +advised me to avoid meeting the fatal constable who had advanced me +two sequins in Seraval, because he had found out that I had deceived +him, and had sworn revenge against me. I asked Stephano to induce +the man to leave my acknowledgement of the debt in the hands of a +certain merchant whom we both knew, and that I would call there to +discharge the amount. This was done, and it ended the affair. + +That evening I dined at the ordinary, which was frequented by Romans +and foreigners; but I carefully followed the advice of Father Georgi. +I heard a great deal of harsh language used against the Pope and +against the Cardinal Minister, who had caused the Papal States to be +inundated by eighty thousand men, Germans as well as Spaniards. But +I was much surprised when I saw that everybody was eating meat, +although it was Saturday. But a stranger during the first few days +after his arrival in Rome is surrounded with many things which at +first cause surprise, and to which he soon gets accustomed. There is +not a Catholic city in the world in which a man is half so free on +religious matters as in Rome. The inhabitants of Rome are like the +men employed at the Government tobacco works, who are allowed to take +gratis as much tobacco as they want for their own use. One can live +in Rome with the most complete freedom, except that the 'ordini +santissimi' are as much to be dreaded as the famous Lettres-de-cachet +before the Revolution came and destroyed them, and shewed the whole +world the general character of the French nation. + +The next day, the 1st of October, 1743, I made up my mind to be +shaved. The down on my chin had become a beard, and I judged that it +was time to renounce some of the privileges enjoyed by adolescence. +I dressed myself completely in the Roman fashion, and Father Georgi +was highly pleased when he saw me in that costume, which had been +made by the tailor of my dear cousin, Don Antonio. + +Father Georgi invited me to take a cup of chocolate with him, and +informed me that the cardinal had been apprised of my arrival by a +letter from Don Lelio, and that his eminence would receive me at noon +at the Villa Negroni, where he would be taking a walk. I told Father +Georgi that I had been invited to dinner by M. Vivaldi, and he +advised me to cultivate his acquaintance. + +I proceeded to the Villa Negroni; the moment he saw me the cardinal +stopped to receive my letter, allowing two persons who accompanied +him to walk forward. He put the letter in his pocket without reading +it, examined me for one or two minutes, and enquired whether I felt +any taste for politics. I answered that, until now, I had not felt +in me any but frivolous tastes, but that I would make bold to answer +for my readiness to execute all the orders which his eminence might +be pleased to lay upon me, if he should judge me worthy of entering +his service. + +"Come to my office to-morrow morning," said the cardinal, "and ask +for the Abbe Gama, to whom I will give my instructions. You must +apply yourself diligently to the study of the French language; it is +indispensable." He then enquired after Don Leilo's health, and after +kissing his hand I took my leave. + +I hastened to the house of M. Gaspar Vivaldi, where I dined amongst a +well-chosen party of guests. M. Vivaldi was not married; literature +was his only passion. He loved Latin poetry even better than +Italian, and Horace, whom I knew by heart, was his favourite poet. +After dinner, we repaired to his study, and he handed me one hundred +Roman crowns, and Don Antonio's present, and assured me that I would +be most welcome whenever I would call to take a cup of chocolate with +him. + +After I had taken leave of Don Gaspar, I proceeded towards the +Minerva, for I longed to enjoy the surprise of my dear Lucrezia and +of her sister; I inquired for Donna Cecilia Monti, their mother, and +I saw, to my great astonishment, a young widow who looked like the +sister of her two charming daughters. There was no need for me to +give her my name; I had been announced, and she expected me. Her +daughters soon came in, and their greeting caused me some amusement, +for I did not appear to them to be the same individual. Donna +Lucrezia presented me to her youngest sister, only eleven years of +age, and to her brother, an abbe of fifteen, of charming appearance. +I took care to behave so as to please the mother; I was modest, +respectful, and shewed a deep interest in everything I saw. The good +advocate arrived, and was surprised at the change in my appearance. +He launched out in his usual jokes, and I followed him on that +ground, yet I was careful not to give to my conversation the tone of +levity which used to cause so much mirth in our travelling coach; so +that, to, pay me a compliment, he told nee that, if I had had the +sign of manhood shaved from my face, I had certainly transferred it +to my mind. Donna Lucrezia did not know what to think of the change +in my manners. + +Towards evening I saw, coming in rapid succession, five or six +ordinary-looking ladies, and as many abbes, who appeared to me some +of the volumes with which I was to begin my Roman education. They +all listened attentively to the most insignificant word I uttered, +and I was very careful to let them enjoy their conjectures about me. +Donna Cecilia told the advocate that he was but a poor painter, and +that his portraits were not like the originals; he answered that she +could not judge, because the original was shewing under a mask, and I +pretended to be mortified by his answer. Donna Lucrezia said that +she found me exactly the same, and her sister was of opinion that the +air of Rome gave strangers a peculiar appearance. Everybody +applauded, and Angelique turned red with satisfaction. After a visit +of four hours I bowed myself out, and the advocate, following me, +told me that his mother-in-law begged me to consider myself as a +friend of the family, and to be certain of a welcome at any hour I +liked to call. I thanked him gratefully and took my leave, trusting +that I had pleased this amiable society as much as it had pleased me. + +The next day I presented myself to the Abbe Gama. He was a +Portuguese, about forty years old, handsome, and with a countenance +full of candour, wit, and good temper. His affability claimed and +obtained confidence. His manners and accent were quite Roman. He +informed me, in the blandest manner, that his eminence had himself +given his instructions about me to his majordomo, that I would have a +lodging in the cardinal's palace, that I would have my meals at the +secretaries' table, and that, until I learned French, I would have +nothing to do but make extracts from letters that he would supply me +with. He then gave me the address of the French teacher to whom he +had already spoken in my behalf. He was a Roman advocate, Dalacqua +by name, residing precisely opposite the palace. + +After this short explanation, and an assurance that I could at all +times rely upon his friendship, he had me taken to the major-domo, +who made me sign my name at the bottom of a page in a large book, +already filled with other names, and counted out sixty Roman crowns +which he paid me for three months salary in advance. After this he +accompanied me, followed by a 'staffiere' to my apartment on the +third floor, which I found very comfortably furnished. The servant +handed me the key, saying that he would come every morning to attend +upon me, and the major-domo accompanied me to the gate to make me +known to the gate-keeper. I immediately repaired to my inn, sent my +luggage to the palace, and found myself established in a place in +which a great fortune awaited me, if I had only been able to lead a +wise and prudent life, but unfortunately it was not in my nature. +'Volentem ducit, nolentem trahit.' + +I naturally felt it my duty to call upon my mentor, Father Georgi, to +whom I gave all my good news. He said I was on the right road, and +that my fortune was in my hands. + +"Recollect," added the good father, "that to lead a blameless life +you must curb your passions, and that whatever misfortune may befall +you it cannot be ascribed by any one to a want of good luck, or +attributed to fate; those words are devoid of sense, and all the +fault will rightly fall on your own head." + +"I foresee, reverend father, that my youth and my want of experience +will often make it necessary for me to disturb you. I am afraid of +proving myself too heavy a charge for you, but you will find me +docile and obedient." + +"I suppose you will often think me rather too severe; but you are not +likely to confide everything to me." + +"Everything, without any exception." + +"Allow me to feel somewhat doubtful; you have not told me where you +spent four hours yesterday." + +"Because I did not think it was worth mentioning. I made the +acquaintance of those persons during my journey; I believe them to be +worthy and respectable, and the right sort of people for me to visit, +unless you should be of a different opinion." + +"God forbid! It is a very respectable house, frequented by honest +people. They are delighted at having made your acquaintance; you are +much liked by everybody, and they hope to retain you as a friend; I +have heard all about it this morning; but you must not go there too +often and as a regular guest." + +"Must I cease my visits at once, and without cause?" + +"No, it would be a want of politeness on your part. You may go there +once or twice every week, but do not be a constant visitor. You are +sighing, my son?" + +"No, I assure you not. I will obey you." + +"I hope it may not be only a matter of obedience, and I trust your +heart will not feel it a hardship, but, if necessary, your heart must +be conquered. Recollect that the heart is the greatest enemy of +reason." + +"Yet they can be made to agree." + +"We often imagine so; but distrust the animism of your dear Horace. +You know that there is no middle course with it: 'nisi paret, +imperat'." + +"I know it, but in the family of which we were speaking there is no +danger for my heart." + +"I am glad of it, because in that case it will be all the easier for +you to abstain from frequent visits. Remember that I shall trust +you." + +"And I, reverend father; will listen to and follow your good advice. +I will visit Donna Cecilia only now and then." Feeling most unhappy, +I took his hand to press it against my lips, but he folded me in his +arms as a father might have done, and turned himself round so as not +to let me see that he was weeping. + +I dined at the cardinal's palace and sat near the Abbe Gama; the +table was laid for twelve persons, who all wore the costume of +priests, for in Rome everyone is a priest or wishes to be thought a +priest and as there is no law to forbid anyone to dress like an +ecclesiastic that dress is adopted by all those who wish to be +respected (noblemen excepted) even if they are not in the +ecclesiastical profession. + +I felt very miserable, and did not utter a word during the dinner; my +silence was construed into a proof of my sagacity. As we rose from +the table, the Abbe Gama invited me to spend the day with him, but I +declined under pretence of letters to be written, and I truly did so +for seven hours. I wrote to Don Lelio, to Don Antonio, to my young +friend Paul, and to the worthy Bishop of Martorano, who answered that +he heartily wished himself in my place. + +Deeply enamoured of Lucrezia and happy in my love, to give her up +appeared to me a shameful action. In order to insure the happiness +of my future life, I was beginning to be the executioner of my +present felicity, and the tormentor of my heart. I revolted against +such a necessity which I judged fictitious, and which I could not +admit unless I stood guilty of vileness before the tribunal of my own +reason. I thought that Father Georgi, if he wished to forbid my +visiting that family, ought not to have said that it was worthy of +respect; my sorrow would not have been so intense. The day and the +whole of the night were spent in painful thoughts. + +In the morning the Abbe Gama brought me a great book filled with +ministerial letters from which I was to compile for my amusement. +After a short time devoted to that occupation, I went out to take my +first French lesson, after which I walked towards the Strada- +Condotta. I intended to take a long walk, when I heard myself called +by my name. I saw the Abbe Gama in front of a coffee-house. +I whispered to him that Minerva had forbidden me the coffee-rooms of +Rome. "Minerva," he answered, "desires you to form some idea of such +places. Sit down by me." + +I heard a young abbe telling aloud, but without bitterness, a story, +which attacked in a most direct manner the justice of His Holiness. +Everybody was laughing and echoing the story. Another, being asked +why he had left the services of Cardinal B., answered that it was +because his eminence did not think himself called upon to pay him +apart for certain private services, and everybody laughed outright. +Another came to the Abbe Gama, and told him that, if he felt any +inclination to spend the afternoon at the Villa Medicis, he would +find him there with two young Roman girls who were satisfied with a +'quartino', a gold coin worth one-fourth of a sequin. Another abbe +read an incendiary sonnet against the government, and several took a +copy of it. Another read a satire of his own composition, in which +he tore to pieces the honour of a family. In the middle of all that +confusion, I saw a priest with a very attractive countenance come in. +The size of his hips made me take him for a woman dressed in men's +clothes, and I said so to Gama, who told me that he was the +celebrated castrato, Bepino delta Mamana. The abbe called him to us, +and told him with a laugh that I had taken him for a girl. The +impudent fellow looked me full in the face, and said that, if I +liked, he would shew me whether I had been right or wrong. + +At the dinner-table everyone spoke to me, and I fancied I had given +proper answers to all, but, when the repast was over, the Abbe Gama +invited me to take coffee in his own apartment. The moment we were +alone, he told me that all the guests I had met were worthy and +honest men, and he asked me whether I believed that I had succeeded +in pleasing the company. + +"I flatter myself I have," I answered. + +"You are wrong," said the abbe, "you are flattering yourself. You +have so conspicuously avoided the questions put to you that everybody +in the room noticed your extreme reserve. In the future no one will +ask you any questions." + +"I should be sorry if it should turn out so, but was I to expose my +own concerns?" + +"No, but there is a medium in all things." + +"Yes, the medium of Horace, but it is often a matter of great +difficulty to hit it exactly." + +"A man ought to know how to obtain affection and esteem at the same +time." + +"That is the very wish nearest to my heart." + +"To-day you have tried for the esteem much more than for the +affection of your fellow-creatures. It may be a noble aspiration, +but you must prepare yourself to fight jealousy and her daughter, +calumny; if those two monsters do not succeed in destroying you, the +victory must be yours. Now, for instance, you thoroughly refuted +Salicetti to-day. Well, he is a physician, and what is more a +Corsican; he must feel badly towards you." + +"Could I grant that the longings of women during their pregnancy have +no influence whatever on the skin of the foetus, when I know the +reverse to be the case? Are you not of my opinion?" + +"I am for neither party; I have seen many children with some such +marks, but I have no means of knowing with certainty whether those +marks have their origin in some longing experienced by the mother +while she was pregnant." + +"But I can swear it is so." + +"All the better for you if your conviction is based upon such +evidence, and all the worse for Salicetti if he denies the +possibility of the thing without certain authority. But let him +remain in error; it is better thus than to prove him in the wrong and +to make a bitter enemy of him." + +In the evening I called upon Lucrezia. The family knew my success, +and warmly congratulated me. Lucrezia told me that I looked sad, and +I answered that I was assisting at the funeral of my liberty, for I +was no longer my own master. Her husband, always fond of a joke, +told her that I was in love with her, and his mother-in-law advised +him not to show so much intrepidity. I only remained an hour with +those charming persons, and then took leave of them, but the very air +around me was heated by the flame within my breast. When I reached +my room I began to write, and spent the night in composing an ode +which I sent the next day to the advocate. I was certain that he +would shew it to his wife, who loved poetry, and who did not yet know +that I was a poet. I abstained from seeing her again for three or +four days. I was learning French, and making extracts from +ministerial letters. + +His eminence was in the habit of receiving every evening, and his +rooms were thronged with the highest nobility of Rome; I had never +attended these receptions. The Abbe Gama told me that I ought to do +so as well as he did, without any pretension. I followed his advice +and went; nobody spoke to me, but as I was unknown everyone looked at +me and enquired who I was. The Abbe Gama asked me which was the lady +who appeared to me the most amiable, and I shewed one to him; but I +regretted having done so, for the courtier went to her, and of course +informed her of what I had said. Soon afterwards I saw her look at +me through her eye-glass and smile kindly upon me. She was the +Marchioness G----, whose 'cicisbeo' was Cardinal S---- C----. + +On the very day I had fixed to spend the evening with Donna Lucrezia +the worthy advocate called upon me. He told me that if I thought I +was going to prove I was not in love with his wife by staying away I +was very much mistaken, and he invited me to accompany all the family +to Testaccio, where they intended to have luncheon on the following +Thursday. He added that his wife knew my ode by heart, and that she +had read it to the intended husband of Angelique, who had a great +wish to make my acquaintance. That gentleman was likewise a poet, +and would be one of the party to Testaccio. I promised the advocate +I would come to his house on the Thursday with a carriage for two. + +At that time every Thursday in the month of October was a festival +day in Rome. I went to see Donna Cecilia in the evening, and we +talked about the excursion the whole time. I felt certain that Donna +Lucrezia looked forward to it with as much pleasure as I did myself. +We had no fixed plan, we could not have any, but we trusted to the +god of love, and tacitly placed our confidence in his protection. + +I took care that Father Georgi should not hear of that excursion +before I mentioned it to him myself, and I hastened to him in order +to obtain his permission to go. I confess that, to obtain his leave, +I professed the most complete indifference about it, and the +consequence was that the good man insisted upon my going, saying that +it was a family party, and that it was quite right for me to visit +the environs of Rome and to enjoy myself in a respectable way. + +I went to Donna Cecilia's in a carriage which I hired from a certain +Roland, a native of Avignon, and if I insist here upon his name it is +because my readers will meet him again in eighteen years, his +acquaintance with me having had very important results. The charming +widow introduced me to Don Francisco, her intended son-in-law, whom +she represented as a great friend of literary men, and very deeply +learned himself. I accepted it as gospel, and behaved accordingly; +yet I thought he looked rather heavy and not sufficiently elated for +a young man on the point of marrying such a pretty girl as Angelique. +But he had plenty of good-nature and plenty of money, and these are +better than learning and gallantry. + +As we were ready to get into the carriages, the advocate told me that +he would ride with me in my carriage, and that the three ladies would +go with Don Francisco in the other. I answered at once that he ought +to keep Don Francisco company, and that I claimed the privilege of +taking care of Donna Cecilia, adding that I should feel dishonoured +if things were arranged differently. Thereupon I offered my arm to +the handsome widow, who thought the arrangement according to the +rules of etiquette and good breeding, and an approving look of my +Lucrezia gave me the most agreeable sensation. Yet the proposal of +the advocate struck me somewhat unpleasantly, because it was in +contradiction with his former behaviour, and especially with what he +had said to me in my room a few days before. "Has he become +jealous?" I said to myself; that would have made me almost angry, +but the hope of bringing him round during our stay at Testaccio +cleared away the dark cloud on my mind, and I was very amiable to +Donna Cecilia. What with lunching and walking we contrived to pass +the afternoon very pleasantly; I was very gay, and my love for +Lucrezia was not once mentioned; I was all attention to her mother. +I occasionally addressed myself to Lucrezia, but not once to the +advocate, feeling this the best way to shew him that he had insulted +me. + +As we prepared to return, the advocate carried off Donna Cecilia and +went with her to the carriage in which were already seated Angelique +and Don Francisco. Scarcely able to control my delight, I offered my +arm to Donna Lucrezia, paying her some absurd compliment, while the +advocate laughed outright, and seemed to enjoy the trick he imagined +he had played me. + +How many things we might have said to each other before giving +ourselves up to the material enjoyment of our love, had not the +instants been so precious! But, aware that we had only half an hour +before us, we were sparing of the minutes. We were absorbed in +voluptuous pleasure when suddenly Lucrezia exclaims,--- + +"Oh! dear, how unhappy we are!" + +She pushes me back, composes herself, the carriage stops, and the +servant opens the door. "What is the matter?" I enquire. "We are at +home." Whenever I recollect the circumstance, it seems to me +fabulous, for it is not possible to annihilate time, and the horses +were regular old screws. But we were lucky all through. The night +was dark, and my beloved angel happened to be on the right side to +get out of the carriage first, so that, although the advocate was at +the door of the brougham as soon as the footman, everything went +right, owing to the slow manner in which Lucrezia alighted. I +remained at Donna Cecilia's until midnight. + +When I got home again, I went to bed; but how could I sleep? I felt +burning in me the flame which I had not been able to restore to its +original source in the too short distance from Testaccio to Rome. It +was consuming me. Oh! unhappy are those who believe that the +pleasures of Cythera are worth having, unless they are enjoyed in the +most perfect accord by two hearts overflowing with love! + +I only rose in time for my French lesson. My teacher had a pretty +daughter, named Barbara, who was always present during my lessons, +and who sometimes taught me herself with even more exactitude than +her father. A good-looking young man, who likewise took lessons, was +courting her, and I soon perceived that she loved him. This young +man called often upon me, and I liked him, especially on account of +his reserve, for, although I made him confess his love for Barbara, +he always changed the subject, if I mentioned it in our conversation. + +I had made up my mind to respect his reserve, and had not alluded to +his affection for several days. But all at once I remarked that he +had ceased his visits both to me and to his teacher, and at the same +time I observed that the young girl was no longer present at my +lessons; I felt some curiosity to know what had happened, although it +was not, after all, any concern of mine. + +A few days after, as I was returning from church, I met the young +man, and reproached him for keeping away from us all. He told me +that great sorrow had befallen him, which had fairly turned his +brain, and that he was a prey to the most intense despair. His eyes +were wet with tears. As I was leaving him, he held me back, and I +told him that I would no longer be his friend unless he opened his +heart to me. He took me to one of the cloisters, and he spoke thus: + +"I have loved Barbara for the last six months, and for three months +she has given me indisputable proofs of her affection. Five days +ago, we were betrayed by the servant, and the father caught us in a +rather delicate position. He left the room without saying one word, +and I followed him, thinking of throwing myself at his feet; but, as +I appeared before him, he took hold of me by the arm, pushed me +roughly to the door, and forbade me ever to present myself again at +his house. I cannot claim her hand in marriage, because one of my +brothers is married, and my father is not rich; I have no profession, +and my mistress has nothing. Alas, now that I have confessed all to +you, tell me, I entreat you, how she is. I am certain that she is as +miserable as I am myself. I cannot manage to get a letter delivered +to her, for she does not leave the house, even to attend church. +Unhappy wretch! What shall I do?" + +I could but pity him, for, as a man of honour, it was impossible for +me to interfere in such a business. I told him that I had not seen +Barbara for five days, and, not knowing what to say, I gave him the +advice which is tendered by all fools under similar circumstances; I +advised him to forget his mistress. + +We had then reached the quay of Ripetta, and, observing that he was +casting dark looks towards the Tiber, I feared his despair might lead +him to commit some foolish attempt against his own life, and, in +order to calm his excited feelings, I promised to make some enquiries +from the father about his mistress, and to inform him of all I heard. +He felt quieted by my promise, and entreated me not to forget him. + +In spite of the fire which had been raging through my veins ever +since the excursion to Testaccio, I had not seen my Lucrezia for four +days. I dreaded Father Georgi's suave manner, and I was still more +afraid of finding he had made up his mind to give me no more advice. +But, unable to resist my desires, I called upon Lucrezia after my +French lesson, and found her alone, sad and dispirited. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, as soon as I was by her side, "I think you might +find time to come and see me!" + +"My beloved one, it is not that I cannot find time, but I am so +jealous of my love that I would rather die than let it be known +publicly. I have been thinking of inviting you all to dine with me +at Frascati. I will send you a phaeton, and I trust that some lucky +accident will smile upon our love." + +"Oh! yes, do, dearest! I am sure your invitation will be accepted:" + +In a quarter of an hour the rest of the family came in, and I +proffered my invitation for the following Sunday, which happened to +be the Festival of St. Ursula, patroness of Lucrezia's youngest +sister. I begged Donna Cecilia to bring her as well as her son. My +proposal being readily accepted, I gave notice that the phaeton would +be at Donna Cecilia's door at seven o'clock, and that I would come +myself with a carriage for two persons. + +The next day I went to M. Dalacqua, and, after my lesson, I saw +Barbara who, passing from one room to another, dropped a paper and +earnestly looked at me. I felt bound to pick it up, because a +servant, who was at hand, might have seen it and taken it. It was a +letter, enclosing another addressed to her lover. The note for me +ran thus: "If you think it to be a sin to deliver the enclosed to +your friend, burn it. Have pity on an unfortunate girl, and be +discreet." + +The enclosed letter which was unsealed, ran as follows: "If you love +me as deeply as 'I love you, you cannot hope to be happy without me; +we cannot correspond in any other way than the one I am bold enough +to adopt. I am ready to do anything to unite our lives until death. +Consider and decide." + +The cruel situation of the poor girl moved me almost to tears; yet I +determined to return her letter the next day, and I enclosed it in a +note in which I begged her to excuse me if I could not render her the +service she required at my hands. I put it in my pocket ready for +delivery. The next day I went for my lesson as usual, but, not +seeing Barbara, I had no opportunity of returning her letter, and +postponed its delivery to the following day. Unfortunately, just +after I had returned to my room, the unhappy lover made his +appearance. His eyes were red from weeping, his voice hoarse; he +drew such a vivid picture of his misery, that, dreading some mad +action counselled by despair, I could not withhold from him the +consolation which I knew it was in my power to give. This was my +first error in this fatal business; I was the victim of my own +kindness. + +The poor fellow read the letter over and over; he kissed it with +transports of joy; he wept, hugged me, and thanked me for saving his +life, and finally entreated me to take charge of his answer, as his +beloved mistress must be longing for consolation as much as he had +been himself, assuring me that his letter could not in any way +implicate me, and that I was at liberty to read it. + +And truly, although very long, his letter contained nothing but the +assurance of everlasting love, and hopes which could not be realized. +Yet I was wrong to accept the character of Mercury to the two young +lovers. To refuse, I had only to recollect that Father Georgi would +certainly have disapproved of my easy compliance. + +The next day I found M. Dalacqua ill in bed; his daughter gave me my +lesson in his room, and I thought that perhaps she had obtained her +pardon. I contrived to give her her lover's letter, which she +dextrously conveyed to her pocket, but her blushes would have easily +betrayed her if her father had been looking that way. After the +lesson I gave M. Dalacqua notice that I would not come on the morrow, +as it was the Festival of St. Ursula, one of the eleven thousand +princesses and martyr-virgins. + +In the evening, at the reception of his eminence, which I attended +regularly, although persons of distinction seldom spoke to me, the +cardinal beckoned to me. He was speaking to the beautiful +Marchioness G----, to whom Gama had indiscreetly confided that I +thought her the handsomest woman amongst his eminence's guests. + +"Her grace," said the Cardinal, "wishes to know whether you are +making rapid progress in the French language, which she speaks +admirably." + +I answered in Italian that I had learned a great deal, but that I was +not yet bold enough to speak. + +"You should be bold," said the marchioness, "but without showing any +pretension. It is the best wav to disarm criticism." + +My mind having almost unwittingly lent to the words "You should be +bold" a meaning which had very likely been far from the idea of the +marchioness, I turned very red, and the handsome speaker, observing +it, changed the conversation and dismissed me. + +The next morning, at seven o'clock, I was at Donna Cecilia's door. +The phaeton was there as well as the carriage for two persons, which +this time was an elegant vis-a-vis, so light and well-hung that Donna +Cecilia praised it highly when she took her seat. + +"I shall have my turn as we return to Rome," said Lucrezia; and I +bowed to her as if in acceptance of her promise. + +Lucrezia thus set suspicion at defiance in order to prevent suspicion +arising. My happiness was assured, and I gave way to my natural flow +of spirits. I ordered a splendid dinner, and we all set out towards +the Villa Ludovisi. As we might have missed each other during our +ramblings, we agreed to meet again at the inn at one o'clock. The +discreet widow took the arm of her son-in-law, Angelique remained +with her sister, and Lucrezia was my delightful share; Ursula and her +brother were running about together, and in less than a quarter of an +hour I had Lucrezia entirely to myself. + +"Did you remark," she said, "with what candour I secured for us two +hours of delightful 'tete-a-tete', and a 'tete-a-tete' in a 'vis-a- +vis', too! How clever Love is!" + +"Yes, darling, Love has made but one of our two souls. I adore you, +and if I have the courage to pass so many days without seeing you it +is in order to be rewarded by the freedom of one single day like +this." + +"I did not think it possible. But you have managed it all very well. +You know too much for your age, dearest." + +"A month ago, my beloved, I was but an ignorant child, and you are +the first woman who has initiated me into the mysteries of love. +Your departure will kill me, for I could not find another woman like +you in all Italy." + +"What! am I your first love? Alas! you will never be cured of it. +Oh! why am I not entirely your own? You are also the first true love +of my heart, and you will be the last. How great will be the +happiness of my successor! I should not be jealous of her, but what +suffering would be mine if I thought that her heart was not like +mine!" + +Lucrezia, seeing my eyes wet with tears, began to give way to her +own, and, seating ourselves on the grass, our lips drank our tears +amidst the sweetest kisses. How sweet is the nectar of the tears +shed by love, when that nectar is relished amidst the raptures of +mutual ardour! I have often tasted them--those delicious tears, and +I can say knowingly that the ancient physicians were right, and that +the modern are wrong. + +In a moment of calm, seeing the disorder in which we both were, I +told her that we might be surprised. + +"Do not fear, my best beloved," she said, "we are under the +guardianship of our good angels." + +We were resting and reviving our strength by gazing into one +another's eyes, when suddenly Lucrezia, casting a glance to the +right, exclaimed, + +"Look there! idol of my heart, have I not told you so? Yes, the +angels are watching over us! Ah! how he stares at us! He seems to +try to give us confidence. Look at that little demon; admire him! +He must certainly be your guardian spirit or mine." + +I thought she was delirious. + +"What are you saying, dearest? I do not understand you. What am I +to admire?" + +"Do you not see that beautiful serpent with the blazing skin, which +lifts its head and seems to worship us?" + +I looked in the direction she indicated, and saw a serpent with +changeable colours about three feet in length, which did seem to be +looking at us. I was not particularly pleased at the sight, but I +could not show myself less courageous than she was. + +"What!" said I, "are you not afraid?" + +"I tell you, again, that the sight is delightful to me, and I feel +certain that it is a spirit with nothing but the shape, or rather the +appearance, of a serpent." + +"And if the spirit came gliding along the grass and hissed at you?" + +"I would hold you tighter against my bosom, and set him at defiance. +In your arms Lucrezia is safe. Look! the spirit is going away. +Quick, quick! He is warning us of the approach of some profane +person, and tells us to seek some other retreat to renew our +pleasures. Let us go." + +We rose and slowly advanced towards Donna Cecilia and the advocate, +who were just emerging from a neighbouring alley. Without avoiding +them, and without hurrying, just as if to meet one another was a very +natural occurrence, I enquired of Donna Cecilia whether her daughter +had any fear of serpents. + +"In spite of all her strength of mind," she answered, "she is +dreadfully afraid of thunder, and she will scream with terror at the +sight of the smallest snake. There are some here, but she need not +be frightened, for they are not venomous" + +I was speechless with astonishment, for I discovered that I had just +witnessed a wonderful love miracle. At that moment the children came +up, and, without ceremony, we again parted company. + +"Tell me, wonderful being, bewitching woman, what would you have done +if, instead of your pretty serpent, you had seen your husband and +your mother?" + +"Nothing. Do you not know that, in moments of such rapture, lovers +see and feel nothing but love? Do you doubt having possessed me +wholly, entirely?" + +Lucrezia, in speaking thus, was not composing a poetical ode; she was +not feigning fictitious sentiments; her looks, the sound of her +voice, were truth itself! + +"Are you certain," I enquired, "that we are not suspected?" + +"My husband does not believe us to be in love with each other, or +else he does not mind such trifling pleasures as youth is generally +wont to indulge in. My mother is a clever woman, and perhaps she +suspects the truth, but she is aware that it is no longer any concern +of hers. As to my sister, she must know everything, for she cannot +have forgotten the broken-down bed; but she is prudent, and besides, +she has taken it into her head to pity me. She has no conception of +the nature of my feelings towards you. If I had not met you, my +beloved, I should probably have gone through life without realizing +such feelings myself; for what I feel for my husband.... well, I have +for him the obedience which my position as a wife imposes upon me." + +"And yet he is most happy, and I envy him! He can clasp in his arms +all your lovely person whenever he likes! There is no hateful veil +to hide any of your charms from his gaze." + +"Oh! where art thou, my dear serpent? Come to us, come and protect +us against the surprise of the uninitiated, and this very instant I +fulfil all the wishes of him I adore!" + +We passed the morning in repeating that we loved each other, and in +exchanging over and over again substantial proofs of our mutual +passion. + +We had a delicious dinner, during which I was all attention for the +amiable Donna Cecilia. My pretty tortoise-shell box, filled with +excellent snuff, went more than once round the table. As it happened +to be in the hands of Lucrezia who was sitting on my left, her +husband told her that, if I had no objection, she might give me her +ring and keep the snuff-box in exchange. Thinking that the ring was +not of as much value as my box, I immediately accepted, but I found +the ring of greater value. Lucrezia would not, however, listen to +anything on that subject. She put the box in her pocket, and thus +compelled me to keep her ring. + +Dessert was nearly over, the conversation was very animated, when +suddenly the intended husband of Angelique claimed our attention for +the reading of a sonnet which he had composed and dedicated to me. I +thanked him, and placing the sonnet in my pocket promised to write +one for him. This was not, however, what he wished; he expected +that, stimulated by emulation, I would call for paper and pen, and +sacrifice to Apollo hours which it was much more to my taste to +employ in worshipping another god whom his cold nature knew only by +name. We drank coffee, I paid the bill, and we went about rambling +through the labyrinthine alleys of the Villa Aldobrandini. + +What sweet recollections that villa has left in my memory! It seemed +as if I saw my divine Lucrezia for the first time. Our looks were +full of ardent love, our hearts were beating in concert with the most +tender impatience, and a natural instinct was leading us towards a +solitary asylum which the hand of Love seemed to have prepared on +purpose for the mysteries of its secret worship. There, in the +middle of a long avenue, and under a canopy of thick foliage, we +found a wide sofa made of grass, and sheltered by a deep thicket; +from that place our eyes could range over an immense plain, and view +the avenue to such a distance right and left that we were perfectly +secure against any surprise. We did not require to exchange one word +at the sight of this beautiful temple so favourable to our love; our +hearts spoke the same language. + +Without a word being spoken, our ready hands soon managed to get rid +of all obstacles, and to expose in a state of nature all the beauties +which are generally veiled by troublesome wearing apparel. Two whole +hours were devoted to the most delightful, loving ecstasies. At last +we exclaimed together in mutual ecstasy, "O Love, we thank thee!" + +We slowly retraced our steps towards the carriages, revelling in our +intense happiness. Lucrezia informed me that Angelique's suitor was +wealthy, that he owned a splendid villa at Tivoli, and that most +likely he would invite us all to dine and pass the night there. +"I pray the god of love," she added, "to grant us a night as +beautiful as this day has been." Then, looking sad, she said, "But +alas! the ecclesiastical lawsuit which has brought my husband to +Rome is progressing so favourably that I am mortally afraid he will +obtain judgment all too soon." + +The journey back to the city lasted two hours; we were alone in my +vis-a-vis and we overtaxed nature, exacting more than it can possibly +give. As we were getting near Rome we were compelled to let the +curtain fall before the denouement of the drama which we had +performed to the complete satisfaction of the actors. + +I returned home rather fatigued, but the sound sleep which was so +natural at my age restored my full vigour, and in the morning I took +my French lesson at the usual hour. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Benedict XIV--Excursion to Tivoli--Departure of Lucrezia--The +Marchioness G.--Barbara Dalacqua--My Misfortunes--I Leave Rome + + +M. Dalacqua being very ill, his daughter Barbara gave me my lesson. +When it was over, she seized an opportunity of slipping a letter into +my pocket, and immediately disappeared, so that I had no chance of +refusing. The letter was addressed to me, and expressed feelings of +the warmest gratitude. She only desired me to inform her lover that +her father had spoken to her again, and that most likely he would +engage a new servant as soon as he had recovered from his illness, +and she concluded her letter by assuring me that she never would +implicate me in this business. + +Her father was compelled to keep his bed for a fortnight, and Barbara +continued to give me my lesson every day. I felt for her an interest +which, from me towards a young and pretty girl, was, indeed, quite a +new sentiment. It was a feeling of pity, and I was proud of being +able to help and comfort her. Her eyes never rested upon mine, her +hand never met mine, I never saw in her toilet the slightest wish to +please me. She was very pretty, and I knew she had a tender, loving +nature; but nothing interfered with the respect and the regard which +I was bound in honour and in good faith to feel towards her, and I +was proud to remark that she never thought me capable of taking +advantage of her weakness or of her position. + +When the father had recovered he dismissed his servant and engaged +another. Barbara entreated me to inform her friend of the +circumstance, and likewise of her hope to gain the new servant to +their interests, at least sufficiently to secure the possibility of +carrying on some correspondence. I promised to do so, and as a mark +of her gratitude she took my hand to carry it to her lips, but +quickly withdrawing it I tried to kiss her; she turned her face away, +blushing deeply. I was much pleased with her modesty. + +Barbara having succeeded in gaining the new servant over, I had +nothing more to do with the intrigue, and I was very glad of it, for +I knew my interference might have brought evil on my own head. +Unfortunately, it was already too late. + +I seldom visited Don Gaspar; the study of the French language took up +all my mornings, and it was only in the morning that I could see him; +but I called every evening upon Father Georgi, and, although I went +to him only as one of his 'proteges', it gave me some reputation. I +seldom spoke before his guests, yet I never felt weary, for in his +circle his friends would criticise without slandering, discuss +politics without stubbornness, literature without passion, and I +profited by all. After my visit to the sagacious monk, I used to +attend the assembly of the cardinal, my master, as a matter of duty. +Almost every evening, when she happened to see me at her card-table, +the beautiful marchioness would address to me a few gracious words in +French, and I always answered in Italian, not caring to make her +laugh before so many persons. My feelings for her were of a singular +kind. I must leave them to the analysis of the reader. I thought +that woman charming, yet I avoided her; it was not because I was +afraid of falling in love with her; I loved Lucrezia, and I firmly +believed that such an affection was a shield against any other +attachment, but it was because I feared that she might love me or +have a passing fancy for me. Was it self-conceit or modesty, vice or +virtue? Perhaps neither one nor the other. + +One evening she desired the Abbe Gama to call me to her; she was +standing near the cardinal, my patron, and the moment I approached +her she caused me a strange feeling of surprise by asking me in +Italian a question which I was far from anticipating: + +"How did you like Frascati?" + +"Very much, madam; I have never seen such a beautiful place." + +"But your company was still more beautiful, and your vis-a-vis was +very smart." + +I only bowed low to the marchioness, and a moment after Cardinal +Acquaviva said to me, kindly, + +"You are astonished at your adventure being known?" + +"No, my lord; but I am surprised that people should talk of it. I +could not have believed Rome to be so much like a small village." + +"The longer you live in Rome," said his eminence, "the more you will +find it so. You have not yet presented yourself to kiss the foot of +our Holy Father?" + +"Not yet, my lord." + +"Then you must do so." + +I bowed in compliance to his wishes. + +The Abbe Gama told me to present myself to the Pope on the morrow, +and he added, + +"Of course you have already shewn yourself in the Marchioness G.'s +palace?" + +"No, I have never been there." + +"You astonish me; but she often speaks to you!" + +"I have no objection to go with you." + +"I never visit at her palace." + +"Yet she speaks to you likewise." + +"Yes, but.... You do not know Rome; go alone; believe me, you ought +to go." + +"Will she receive me?" + +"You are joking, I suppose. Of course it is out of the question for +you to be announced. You will call when the doors are wide open to +everybody. You will meet there all those who pay homage to her." + +"Will she see me?" + +"No doubt of it." + +On the following day I proceeded to Monte-Cavallo, and I was at once +led into the room where the Pope was alone. I threw myself on my +knees and kissed the holy cross on his most holy slipper. The Pope +enquiring who I was, I told him, and he answered that he knew me, +congratulating me upon my being in the service of so eminent a +cardinal. He asked me how I had succeeded in gaining the cardinal's +favour; I answered with a faithful recital of my adventures from my +arrival at Martorano. He laughed heartily at all I said respecting +the poor and worthy bishop, and remarked that, instead of trying to +address him in Tuscan, I could speak in the Venetian dialect, as he +was himself speaking to me in the dialect of Bologna. I felt quite +at my ease with him, and I told him so much news and amused him so +well that the Holy Father kindly said that he would be glad to see me +whenever I presented myself at Monte-Cavallo. I begged his +permission to read all forbidden books, and he granted it with his +blessing, saying that I should have the permission in writing, but he +forgot it. + +Benedict XIV, was a learned man, very amiable, and fond of a joke. +I saw him for the second time at the Villa Medicis. He called me to +him, and continued his walk, speaking of trifling things. He was +then accompanied by Cardinal Albani and the ambassador from Venice. +A man of modest appearance approached His Holiness, who asked what he +required; the man said a few words in a low voice, and, after +listening to him, the Pope answered, "You are right, place your trust +in God;" and he gave him his blessing. The poor fellow went away +very dejected, and the Holy Father continued his walk. + +"This man," I said, "most Holy Father, has not been pleased with the +answer of Your Holiness." + +"Why?" + +"Because most likely he had already addressed himself to God before +he ventured to apply to you; and when Your Holiness sends him to God +again, he finds himself sent back, as the proverb says, from Herod to +Pilate." + +The Pope, as well as his two companions, laughed heartily; but I kept +a serious countenance. + +"I cannot," continued the Pope, "do any good without God's +assistance." + +"Very true, Holy Father; but the man is aware that you are God's +prime minister, and it is easy to imagine his trouble now that the +minister sends him again to the master. His only resource is to give +money to the beggars of Rome, who for one 'bajocco' will pray for +him. They boast of their influence before the throne of the +Almighty, but as I have faith only in your credit, I entreat Your +Holiness to deliver me of the heat which inflames my eyes by granting +me permission to eat meat." + +"Eat meat, my son." + +"Holy Father, give me your blessing." + +He blessed me, adding that I was not dispensed from fasting. + +That very evening, at the cardinal's assembly, I found that the news +of my dialogue with the Pope was already known. Everybody was +anxious to speak to me. I felt flattered, but I was much more +delighted at the joy which Cardinal Acquaviva tried in vain to +conceal. + +As I wished not to neglect Gama's advice, I presented myself at the +mansion of the beautiful marchioness at the hour at which everyone +had free access to her ladyship. I saw her, I saw the cardinal and a +great many abbes; but I might have supposed myself invisible, for no +one honoured me with a look, and no one spoke to me. I left after +having performed for half an hour the character of a mute. Five or +six days afterwards, the marchioness told me graciously that she had +caught a sight of me in her reception-rooms. + +"I was there, it is true, madam; but I had no idea that I had had the +honour to be seen by your ladyship." + +"Oh! I see everybody. They tell me that you have wit." + +"If it is not a mistake on the part of your informants, your ladyship +gives me very good news." + +"Oh! they are excellent judges." + +"Then, madam, those persons must have honoured me with their +conversation; otherwise, it is not likely that they would have been +able to express such an opinion." + +"No doubt; but let me see you often at my receptions." + +Our conversation had been overheard by those who were around; his +excellency the cardinal told me that, when the marchioness addressed +herself particularly to me in French, my duty was to answer her in +the same language, good or bad. The cunning politician Gama took me +apart, and remarked that my repartees were too smart, too cutting, +and that, after a time, I would be sure to displease. I had made +considerable progress in French; I had given up my lessons, and +practice was all I required. I was then in the habit of calling +sometimes upon Lucrezia in the morning, and of visiting in the +evening Father Georgi, who was acquainted with the excursion to +Frascati, and had not expressed any dissatisfaction. + +Two days after the sort of command laid upon me by the marchioness, I +presented myself at her reception. As soon as she saw me, she +favoured me with a smile which I acknowledged by a deep reverence; +that was all. In a quarter of an hour afterwards I left the mansion. +The marchioness was beautiful, but she was powerful, and I could not +make up my mind to crawl at the feet of power, and, on that head, I +felt disgusted with the manners of the Romans. + +One morning towards the end of November the advocate, accompanied by +Angelique's intended, called on me. The latter gave me a pressing +invitation to spend twenty-four hours at Tivoli with the friends I +had entertained at Frascati. I accepted with great pleasure, for I +had found no opportunity of being alone with Lucrezia since the +Festival of St. Ursula. I promised to be at Donna Cecilia's house at +day-break with the same 'is-a-vis'. It was necessary to start very +early, because Tivoli is sixteen miles from Rome, and has so many +objects of interest that it requires many hours to see them all. As +I had to sleep out that night, I craved permission to do so from the +cardinal himself, who, hearing with whom I was going, told me that I +was quite right not to lose such an opportunity of visiting that +splendid place in such good society. + +The first dawn of day found me with my 'vis-a-vis' and four at the +door of Donna Cecilia, who came with me as before. The charming +widow, notwithstanding her strict morality, was delighted at my love +for her daughter. The family rode in a large phaeton hired by Don +Francisco, which gave room for six persons. + +At half-past seven in the morning we made a halt at a small place +where had been prepared, by Don Franciso's orders, an excellent +breakfast, which was intended to replace the dinner, and we all made +a hearty meal, as we were not likely to find time for anything but +supper at Tivoli. I wore on my finger the beautiful ring which +Lucrezia had given me. At the back of the ring I had had a piece of +enamel placed, on it was delineated a saduceus, with one serpent +between the letters Alpha and Omega. This ring was the subject of +conversation during breakfast, and Don Francisco, as well as the +advocate, exerted himself in vain to guess the meaning of the +hieroglyphs; much to the amusement of Lucrezia, who understood the +mysterious secret so well. We continued our road, and reached Tivoli +at ten o'clock. + +We began by visiting Don Francisco's villa. It was a beautiful +little house, and we spent the following six hours in examining +together the antiquities of Tivoli. Lucrezia having occasion to +whisper a few words to Don Francisco, I seized the opportunity of +telling Angelique that after her marriage I should be happy to spend +a few days of the fine season with her. + +"Sir," she answered, "I give you fair notice that the moment I become +mistress in this house you will be the very first person to be +excluded." + +"I feel greatly obliged to you, signora, for your timely notice." + +But the most amusing part of the affair was that I construed +Angelique's wanton insult into a declaration of love. I was +astounded. Lucrezia, remarking the state I was in, touched my arm, +enquiring what ailed me. I told her, and she said at once, + +"My darling, my happiness cannot last long; the cruel moment of our +separation is drawing near. When I have gone, pray undertake the +task of compelling her to acknowledge her error. Angelique pities +me, be sure to avenge me." + +I have forgotten to mention that at Don Francisco's villa I happened +to praise a very pretty room opening upon the orange-house, and the +amiable host, having heard me, came obligingly to me, and said that +it should be my room that night. Lucrezia feigned not to hear, but +it was to her Ariadne's clue, for, as we were to remain altogether +during our visit to the beauties of Tivoli, we had no chance of a +tete-a-tete through the day. + +I have said that we devoted six hours to an examination of the +antiquities of Tivoli, but I am bound to confess here that I saw, for +my part, very little of them, and it was only twenty-eight years +later that I made a thorough acquaintance with the beautiful spot. + +We returned to the villa towards evening, fatigued and very hungry, +but an hour's rest before supper--a repast which lasted two hours, +the most delicious dishes, the most exquisite wines, and particularly +the excellent wine of Tivoli--restored us so well that everybody +wanted nothing more than a good bed and the freedom to enjoy the bed +according to his own taste. + +As everybody objected to sleep alone, Lucrezia said that she would +sleep with Angelique in one of the rooms leading to the orange-house, +and proposed that her husband should share a room with the young +abbe, his brother-in-law, and that Donna Cecilia should take her +youngest daughter with her. + +The arrangement met with general approbation, and Don Francisco, +taking a candle, escorted me to my pretty little room adjoining the +one in which the two sisters were to sleep, and, after shewing me how +I could lock myself in, he wished me good night and left me alone. + +Angelique had no idea that I was her near neighbour, but Lucrezia and +I, without exchanging a single word on the subject, had perfectly +understood each other. + +I watched through the key-hole and saw the two sisters come into +their room, preceded by the polite Don Francisco, who carried a +taper, and, after lighting a night-lamp, bade them good night and +retired. Then my two beauties, their door once locked, sat down on +the sofa and completed their night toilet, which, in that fortunate +climate, is similar to the costume of our first mother. Lucrezia, +knowing that I was waiting to come in, told her sister to lie down on +the side towards the window, and the virgin, having no idea that she +was exposing her most secret beauties to my profane eyes, crossed the +room in a state of complete nakedness. Lucrezia put out the lamp and +lay down near her innocent sister. + +Happy moments which I can no longer enjoy, but the sweet remembrance +of which death alone can make me lose! I believe I never undressed +myself as quickly as I did that evening. + +I open the door and fall into the arms of my Lucrezia, who says to +her sister, "It is my angel, my love; never mind him, and go to +sleep." + +What a delightful picture I could offer to my readers if it were +possible for me to paint voluptuousnes in its most enchanting +colours! What ecstasies of love from the very onset! What delicious +raptures succeed each other until the sweetest fatigue made us give +way to the soothing influence of Morpheus! + +The first rays of the sun, piercing through the crevices of the +shutters, wake us out of our refreshing slumbers, and like two +valorous knights who have ceased fighting only to renew the contest +with increased ardour, we lose no time in giving ourselves up to all +the intensity of the flame which consumes us. + +"Oh, my beloved Lucrezia! how supremely happy I am! But, my darling, +mind your sister; she might turn round and see us." + +"Fear nothing, my life; my sister is kind, she loves me, she pities +me; do you not love me, my dear Angelique? Oh! turn round, see how +happy your sister is, and know what felicity awaits you when you own +the sway of love." + +Angelique, a young maiden of seventeen summers, who must have +suffered the torments of Tantalus during the night, and who only +wishes for a pretext to shew that she has forgiven her sister, turns +round, and covering her sister with kisses, confesses that she has +not closed her eyes through the night. + +"Then forgive likewise, darling Angelique, forgive him who loves me, +and whom I adore," says Lucrezia. + +Unfathomable power of the god who conquers all human beings! + +"Angelique hates me," I say, "I dare not...." + +"No, I do not hate you!" answers the charming girl. + +"Kiss her, dearest," says Lucrezia, pushing me towards her sister, +and pleased to see her in my arms motionless and languid. + +But sentiment, still more than love, forbids me to deprive Lucrezia +of the proof of my gratitude, and I turn to her with all the rapture +of a beginner, feeling that my ardour is increased by Angelique's +ecstasy, as for the first time she witnesses the amorous contest. +Lucrezia, dying of enjoyment, entreats me to stop, but, as I do not +listen to her prayer, she tricks me, and the sweet Angelique makes +her first sacrifice to the mother of love. It is thus, very likely, +that when the gods inhabited this earth, the voluptuous Arcadia, in +love with the soft and pleasing breath of Zephyrus, one day opened +her arms, and was fecundated. + +Lucrezia was astonished and delighted, and covered us both with +kisses. Angelique, as happy as her sister, expired deliciously in my +arms for the third time, and she seconded me with so much loving +ardour, that it seemed to me I was tasting happiness for the first +time. + +Phoebus had left the nuptial couch, and his rays were already +diffusing light over the universe; and that light, reaching us +through the closed shutters, gave me warning to quit the place; we +exchanged the most loving adieus, I left my two divinities and +retired to my own room. A few minutes afterwards, the cheerful voice +of the advocate was heard in the chamber of the sisters; he was +reproaching them for sleeping too long! Then he knocked at my door, +threatening to bring the ladies to me, and went away, saying that he +would send me the hair-dresser. + +After many ablutions and a careful toilet, I thought I could skew my +face, and I presented myself coolly in the drawing-room. The two +sisters were there with the other members of our society, and I was +delighted with their rosy cheeks. Lucrezia was frank and gay, and +beamed with happiness; Angelique, as fresh as the morning dew, was +more radiant than usual, but fidgety, and carefully avoided looking +me in the face. I saw that my useless attempts to catch her eyes +made her smile, and I remarked to her mother, rather mischievously, +that it was a pity Angelique used paint for her face. She was duped +by this stratagem, and compelled me to pass a handkerchief over her +face, and was then obliged to look at me. I offered her my +apologies, and Don Francisco appeared highly pleased that the +complexion of his intended had met with such triumph. + +After breakfast we took a walk through the garden, and, finding +myself alone with Lucrezia, I expostulated tenderly with her for +having almost thrown her sister in my arms. + +"Do not reproach me," she said, "when I deserve praise. I have +brought light into the darkness of my charming sister's soul; I have +initiated her in the sweetest of mysteries, and now, instead of +pitying me, she must envy me. Far from having hatred for you, she +must love you dearly, and as I am so unhappy as to have to part from +you very soon, my beloved, I leave her to you; she will replace me." + +"Ah, Lucrezia! how can I love her?" + +"Is she not a charming girl?" + +"No doubt of it; but my adoration for you is a shield against any +other love. Besides Don Francisco must, of course, entirely +monopolize her, and I do not wish to cause coolness between them, or +to ruin the peace of their home. I am certain your sister is not +like you, and I would bet that, even now, she upbraids herself for +having given way to the ardour of her temperament:" + +"Most likely; but, dearest, I am sorry to say my husband expects to +obtain judgment in the course of this week, and then the short +instants of happiness will for ever be lost to me." + +This was sad news indeed, and to cause a diversion at the breakfast- +table I took much notice of the generous Don Francisco, and promised +to compose a nuptial song for his wedding-day, which had been fixed +for the early part of January. + +We returned to Rome, and for the three hours that she was with me in +my vis-a-vis, Lucrezia had no reason to think that my ardour was at +all abated. But when we reached the city I was rather fatigued, and +proceeded at once to the palace. + +Lucrezia had guessed rightly; her husband obtained his judgment three +or four days afterwards, and called upon me to announce their +departure for the day after the morrow; he expressed his warm +friendship for me, and by his invitation I spent the two last +evenings with Lucrezia, but we were always surrounded by the family. +The day of her departure, wishing to cause her an agreeable surprise, +I left Rome before them and waited for them at the place where I +thought they would put up for the night, but the advocate, having +been detained by several engagements, was detained in Rome, and they +only reached the place next day for dinner. We dined together, we +exchanged a sad, painful farewell, and they continued their journey +while I returned to Rome. + +After the departure of this charming woman, I found myself in sort of +solitude very natural to a young man whose heart is not full of hope. + +I passed whole days in my room, making extracts from the French +letters written by the cardinal, and his eminence was kind enough to +tell me that my extracts were judiciously made, but that he insisted +upon my not working so hard. The beautiful marchioness was present +when he paid me that compliment. + +Since my second visit to her, I had not presented myself at her +house; she was consequently rather cool to me, and, glad of an +opportunity of making me feel her displeasure, she remarked to his +eminence that very likely work was a consolation to me in the great +void caused by the departure of Donna Lucrezia. + +"I candidly confess, madam, that I have felt her loss deeply. She +was kind and generous; above all, she was indulgent when I did not +call often upon her. My friendship for her was innocent." + +"I have no doubt of it, although your ode was the work of a poet +deeply in love." + +"Oh!" said the kindly cardinal, "a poet cannot possibly write without +professing to be in love." + +"But," replied the marchioness, "if the poet is really in love, he +has no need of professing a feeling which he possesses." + +As she was speaking, the marchioness drew out of her pocket a paper +which she offered to his eminence. + +"This is the ode," she said, "it does great honour to the poet, for +it is admitted to be a masterpiece by all the literati in Rome, and +Donna Lucrezia knows it by heart." + +The cardinal read it over and returned it, smiling, and remarking +that, as he had no taste for Italian poetry, she must give herself +the pleasure of translating it into French rhyme if she wished him to +admire it. + +"I only write French prose," answered the marchioness, "and a prose +translation destroys half the beauty of poetry. I am satisfied with +writing occasionally a little Italian poetry without any pretension +to poetical fame" + +Those words were accompanied by a very significant glance in my +direction. + +"I should consider myself fortunate, madam, if I could obtain the +happiness of admiring some of your poetry." + +"Here is a sonnet of her ladyship's," said Cardinal S. C. + +I took it respectfully, and I prepared to read it, but the amiable +marchioness told me to put it in my pocket and return it to the +cardinal the next day, although she did not think the sonnet worth so +much trouble. "If you should happen to go out in the morning," said +Cardinal S. C., "you could bring it back, and dine with me." Cardinal +Aquaviva immediately answered for me: "He will be sure to go out +purposely." + +With a deep reverence, which expressed my thanks, I left the room +quietly and returned to my apartment, very impatient to read the +sonnet. Yet, before satisfying my wish, I could not help making some +reflections on the situation. I began to think myself somebody since +the gigantic stride I had made this evening at the cardinal's +assembly. The Marchioness de G. had shewn in the most open way the +interest she felt in me, and, under cover of her grandeur, had not +hesitated to compromise herself publicly by the most flattering +advances. But who would have thought of disapproving? A young abbe +like me, without any importance whatever, who could scarcely pretend +to her high protection! True, but she was precisely the woman to +grant it to those who, feeling themselves unworthy of it, dared not +shew any pretensions to her patronage. On that head, my modesty must +be evident to everyone, and the marchioness would certainly have +insulted me had she supposed me capable of sufficient vanity to fancy +that she felt the slightest inclination for me. No, such a piece of +self-conceit was not in accordance with my nature. Her cardinal +himself had invited me to dinner. Would he have done so if he had +admitted the possibility of the beautiful marchioness feeling +anything for me? Of course not, and he gave me an invitation to dine +with him only because he had understood, from the very words of the +lady, that I was just the sort of person with whom they could +converse for a few hours without any risk; to be sure, without any +risk whatever. Oh, Master Casanova! do you really think so? + +Well, why should I put on a mask before my readers? They may think +me conceited if they please, but the fact of the matter is that I +felt sure of having made a conquest of the marchioness. I +congratulated myself because she had taken the first, most difficult, +and most important step. Had she not done so, I should never have +dared-to lay siege to her even in the most approved fashion; I should +never have even ventured to dream of winning her. It was only this +evening that I thought she might replace Lucrezia. She was +beautiful, young, full of wit and talent; she was fond of literary +pursuits, and very powerful in Rome; what more was necessary? Yet I +thought it would be good policy to appear ignorant of her inclination +for me, and to let her suppose from the very next day that I was in +love with her, but that my love appeared to me hopeless. I knew that +such a plan was infallible, because it saved her dignity. It seemed +to me that Father Georgi himself would be compelled to approve such +an undertaking, and I had remarked with great satisfaction that +Cardinal Acquaviva had expressed his delight at Cardinal S. C.'s +invitation--an honour which he had never yet bestowed on me himself. +This affair might have very important results for me. + +I read the marchioness's sonnet, and found it easy, flowing, and well +written. It was composed in praise of the King of Prussia, who had +just conquered Silesia by a masterly stroke. As I was copying it, +the idea struck me to personify Silesia, and to make her, in answer +to the sonnet, bewail that Love (supposed to be the author of the +sonnet of the marchioness) could applaud the man who had conquered +her, when that conqueror was the sworn enemy of Love. + +It is impossible for a man accustomed to write poetry to abstain when +a happy subject smiles upon his delighted imagination. If he +attempted to smother the poetical flame running through his veins it +would consume him. I composed my sonnet, keeping the same rhymes as +in the original, and, well pleased with my muse, I went to bed. + +The next morning the Abbe Gama came in just as I had finished +recopying my sonnet, and said he would breakfast with me. He +complimented me upon the honour conferred on me by the invitation of +Cardinal S. C. + +"But be prudent," he added, "for his eminence has the reputation of +being jealous:" + +I thanked him for his friendly advice, taking care to assure him that +I had nothing to fear, because I did not feel the slightest +inclination for the handsome marchioness. + +Cardinal S. C. received me with great kindness mingled with dignity, +to make me realize the importance of the favour he was bestowing upon +me. + +"What do you think," he enquired, "of the sonnet?" + +"Monsignor, it is perfectly written, and, what is more, it is a +charming composition. Allow me to return it to you with my thanks." + +"She has much talent. I wish to shew you ten stanzas of her +composition, my dear abbe, but you must promise to be very discreet +about it." + +"Your eminence may rely on me." + +He opened his bureau and brought forth the stanzas of which he was +the subject. I read them, found them well written, but devoid of +enthusiasm; they were the work of a poet, and expressed love in the +words of passion, but were not pervaded by that peculiar feeling by +which true love is so easily discovered. The worthy cardinal was +doubtless guilty of a very great indiscretion, but self-love is the +cause of so many injudicious steps! I asked his eminence whether he +had answered the stanzas. + +"No," he replied, "I have not; but would you feel disposed to lend me +your poetical pen, always under the seal of secrecy?" + +"As to secrecy, monsignor, I promise it faithfully; but I am afraid +the marchioness will remark the difference between your style and +mine." + +"She has nothing of my composition," said the cardinal; "I do not +think she supposes me a fine poet, and for that reason your stanzas +must be written in such a manner that she will not esteem them above +my abilities." + +"I will write them with pleasure, monsignor, and your eminence can +form an opinion; if they do not seem good enough to be worthy of you, +they need not be given to the marchioness." + +"That is well said. Will you write them at once?" + +"What! now, monsignor? It is not like prose." + +"Well, well! try to let me have them to-morrow." + +We dined alone, and his eminence complimented me upon my excellent +appetite, which he remarked was as good as his own; but I was +beginning to understand my eccentric host, and, to flatter him, I +answered that he praised me more than I deserved, and that my +appetite was inferior to his. The singular compliment delighted him, +and I saw all the use I could make of his eminence. + +Towards the end of the dinner, as we were conversing, the marchioness +made her appearance, and, as a matter of course, without being +announced. Her looks threw me into raptures; I thought her a perfect +beauty. She did not give the cardinal time to meet her, but sat down +near him, while I remained standing, according to etiquette. + +Without appearing to notice me, the marchioness ran wittily over +various topics until coffee was brought in. Then, addressing herself +to me, she told me to sit down, just as if she was bestowing charity +upon me. + +"By-the-by, abbe," she said, a minute after, "have you read my +sonnet?" + +"Yes, madam, and I have had the honour to return it to his eminence. +I have found it so perfect that I am certain it must have cost you a +great deal of time." + +"Time?" exclaimed the cardinal; "Oh! you do not know the +marchioness." + +"Monsignor," I replied, "nothing can be done well without time, and +that is why I have not dared to chew to your eminence an answer to +the sonnet which I have written in half an hour." + +"Let us see it, abbe," said the marchioness; "I want to read it." + +"Answer of Silesia to Love." This title brought the most fascinating +blushes on her countenance. "But Love is not mentioned in the +sonnet," exclaimed the cardinal. "Wait," said the marchioness, "we +must respect the idea of the poet:" + +She read the sonnet over and over, and thought that the reproaches +addressed by Silesia to Love were very just. She explained my idea +to the cardinal, making him understand why Silesia was offended at +having been conquered by the King of Prussia. + +"Ah, I see, I see!" exclaimed the cardinal, full of joy; "Silesia is +a woman.... and the King of Prussia.... Oh! oh! that is really a +fine idea! " And the good cardinal laughed heartily for more than a +quarter of an hour. "I must copy that sonnet," he added, "indeed I +must have it." + +"The abbe," said the obliging marchioness, "will save you the +trouble: I will dictate it to him." + +I prepared to write, but his eminence suddenly exclaimed, "My dear +marchioness, this is wonderful; he has kept the same rhymes as in +your own sonnet: did you observe it?" + +The beautiful marchioness gave me then a look of such expression that +she completed her conquest. I understood that she wanted me to know +the cardinal as well as she knew him; it was a kind of partnership in +which I was quite ready to play my part. + +As soon as I had written the sonnet under the charming woman's +dictation, I took my leave, but not before the cardinal had told me +that he expected me to dinner the next day. + +I had plenty of work before me, for the ten stanzas I had to compose +were of the most singular character, and I lost no time in shutting +myself up in my room to think of them. I had to keep my balance +between two points of equal difficulty, and I felt that great care +was indispensable. I had to place the marchioness in such a position +that she could pretend to believe the cardinal the author of the +stanzas, and, at the same time, compel her to find out that I had +written them, and that I was aware of her knowing it. It was +necessary to speak so carefully that not one expression should +breathe even the faintest hope on my part, and yet to make my stanzas +blaze with the ardent fire of my love under the thin veil of poetry. +As for the cardinal, I knew well enough that the better the stanzas +were written, the more disposed he would be to sign them. All I +wanted was clearness, so difficult to obtain in poetry, while a +little doubtful darkness would have been accounted sublime by my new +Midas. But, although I wanted to please him, the cardinal was only a +secondary consideration, and the handsome marchioness the principal +object. + +As the marchioness in her verses had made a pompous enumeration of +every physical and moral quality of his eminence, it was of course +natural that he should return the compliment, and here my task was +easy. At last having mastered my subject well, I began my work, and +giving full career to my imagination and to my feelings I composed +the ten stanzas, and gave the finishing stroke with these two +beautiful lines from Ariosto: + + Le angelicche bellezze nate al cielo + Non si ponno celar sotto alcum velo. + +Rather pleased with my production, I presented it the next day to the +cardinal, modestly saying that I doubted whether he would accept the +authorship of so ordinary a composition. He read the stanzas twice +over without taste or expression, and said at last that they were +indeed not much, but exactly what he wanted. He thanked me +particularly for the two lines from Ariosto, saying that they would +assist in throwing the authorship upon himself, as they would prove +to the lady for whom they were intended that he had not been able to +write them without borrowing. And, as to offer me some consolation, +he told me that, in recopying the lines, he would take care to make a +few mistakes in the rhythm to complete the illusion. + +We dined earlier than the day before, and I withdrew immediately +after dinner so as to give him leisure to make a copy of the stanzas +before the arrival of the lady. + +The next evening I met the marchioness at the entrance of the palace, +and offered her my arm to come out of her carriage. The instant she +alighted, she said to me, + +"If ever your stanzas and mine become known in Rome, you may be sure +of my enmity." + +"Madam, I do not understand what you mean." + +"I expected you to answer me in this manner," replied the +marchioness, "but recollect what I have said." + +I left her at the door of the reception-room, and thinking that she +was really angry with me, I went away in despair. "My stanzas," I +said to myself, "are too fiery; they compromise her dignity, and her +pride is offended at my knowing the secret of her intrigue with +Cardinal S. C. Yet, I feel certain that the dread she expresses of +my want of discretion is only feigned, it is but a pretext to turn me +out of her favour. She has not understood my reserve! What would +she have done, if I had painted her in the simple apparel of the +golden age, without any of those veils which modesty imposes upon her +sex!" I was sorry I had not done so. I undressed and went to bed. +My head was scarcely on the pillow when the Abbe Gama knocked at my +door. I pulled the door-string, and coming in, he said, + +"My dear sir, the cardinal wishes to see you, and I am sent by the +beautiful marchioness and Cardinal S. C., who desire you to come +down." + +"I am very sorry, but I cannot go; tell them the truth; I am ill in +bed." + +As the abbe did not return, I judged that he had faithfully acquitted +himself of the commission, and I spent a quiet night. I was not yet +dressed in the morning, when I received a note from Cardinal S. C. +inviting me to dinner, saying that he had just been bled, and that he +wanted to speak to me: he concluded by entreating me to come to him +early, even if I did not feel well. + +The invitation was pressing; I could not guess what had caused it, +but the tone of the letter did not forebode anything unpleasant. I +went to church, where I was sure that Cardinal Acquaviva would see +me, and he did. After mass, his eminence beckoned to me. + +"Are you truly ill?" he enquired. + +"No, monsignor, I was only sleepy." + +"I am very glad to hear it; but you are wrong, for you are loved. +Cardinal S. C. has been bled this morning." + +"I know it, monsignor. The cardinal tells me so in this note, in +which he invites me to dine with him, with your excellency's +permission." + +"Certainly. But this is amusing! I did not know that he wanted a +third person." + +"Will there be a third person?" + +"I do not know, and I have no curiosity about it." + +The cardinal left me, and everybody imagined that his eminence had +spoken to me of state affairs. + +I went to my new Maecenas, whom I found in bed. + +"I am compelled to observe strict diet," he said to me; "I shall have +to let you dine alone, but you will not lose by it as my cook does +not know it. What I wanted to tell you is that your stanzas are, I +am afraid, too pretty, for the marchioness adores them. If you had +read them to me in the same way that she does, I could never have +made up my mind to offer them." "But she believes them to be written +by your eminence?" + +"Of course." + +"That is the essential point, monsignor." + +"Yes; but what should I do if she took it into her head to compose +some new stanzas for me?" + +"You would answer through the same pen, for you can dispose of me +night and day, and rely upon the utmost secrecy." + +"I beg of you to accept this small present; it is some negrillo snuff +from Habana, which Cardinal Acquaviva has given me." + +The snuff was excellent, but the object which contained it was still +better. It was a splendid gold-enamelled box. I received it with +respect, and with the expression of the deepest gratitude. + +If his eminence did not know how to write poetry, at least he knew +how to be generous, and in a delicate manner, and that science is, at +least in my estimation, superior to the other for a great nobleman. + +At noon, and much to my surprise, the beautiful marchioness made her +appearance in the most elegant morning toilet. + +"If I had known you were in good company," she said to the cardinal, +"I would not have come." + +"I am sure, dear marchioness, you will not find our dear abbe in the +way." + +"No, for I believe him to be honest and true." + +I kept at a respectful distance, ready to go away with my splendid +snuff-box at the first jest she might hurl at me. + +The cardinal asked her if she intended to remain to dinner. + +"Yes," she answered; "but I shall not enjoy my dinner, for I hate to +eat alone." + +"If you would honour him so far, the abbe would keep you company." + +She gave me a gracious look, but without uttering one word. + +This was the first time I had anything to do with a woman of quality, +and that air of patronage, whatever kindness might accompany it, +always put me out of temper, for I thought it made love out of the +question. However, as we were in the presence of the cardinal, I +fancied that she might be right in treating me in that fashion. + +The table was laid out near the cardinal's bed, and the marchioness, +who ate hardly anything, encouraged me in my good appetite. + +"I have told you that the abbe is equal to me in that respect," said +S. C. + +"I truly believe," answered the marchioness, "that he does not remain +far behind you; but," added she with flattery, "you are more dainty +in your tastes." + +"Would her ladyship be so good as to tell me in what I have appeared +to her to be a mere glutton? For in all things I like only dainty +and exquisite morsels." + +"Explain what you mean by saying in all things," said the cardinal. +Taking the liberty of laughing, I composed a few impromptu verses in +which I named all I thought dainty and exquisite. The marchioness +applauded, saying that she admired my courage. + +"My courage, madam, is due to you, for I am as timid as a hare when I +am not encouraged; you are the author of my impromptu." + +"I admire you. As for myself, were I encouraged by Apollo himself, I +could not compose four lines without paper and ink." + +"Only give way boldly to your genius, madam, and you will produce +poetry worthy of heaven." + +"That--is my opinion, too," said the cardinal. "I entreat you to +give me permission to skew your ten stanzas to the abbe." + +"They are not very good, but I have no objection provided it remains +between us." + +The cardinal gave me, then, the stanzas composed by the marchioness, +and I read them aloud with all the expression, all the feeling +necessary to such reading. + +"How well you have read those stanzas!" said the marchioness; "I can +hardly believe them to be my own composition; I thank you very much. +But have the goodness to give the benefit of your reading to the +stanzas which his eminence has written in answer to mine. They +surpass them much." + +"Do not believe it, my dear abbe," said the cardinal, handing them to +me. "Yet try not to let them lose anything through your reading." + +There was certainly no need of his eminence enforcing upon me such a +recommendation; it was my own poetry. I could not have read it +otherwise than in my best style, especially when I had before me the +beautiful woman who had inspired them, and when, besides, Bacchus was +in me giving courage to Apollo as much as the beautiful eyes of the +marchioness were fanning into an ardent blaze the fire already +burning through my whole being. + +I read the stanzas with so much expression that the cardinal was +enraptured, but I brought a deep carnation tint upon the cheeks of +the lovely marchioness when I came to the description of those +beauties which the imagination of the poet is allowed to guess at, +but which I could not, of course, have gazed upon. She snatched the +paper from my hands with passion, saying that I was adding verses of +my own; it was true, but I did not confess it. I was all aflame, and +the fire was scorching her as well as me. + +The cardinal having fallen asleep, she rose and went to take a seat +on the balcony; I followed her. She had a rather high seat; I stood +opposite to her, so that her knee touched the fob-pocket in which was +my watch. What a position! Taking hold gently of one of her hands, +I told her that she had ignited in my soul a devouring flame, that I +adored her, and that, unless some hope was left to me of finding her +sensible to my sufferings, I was determined to fly away from her for +ever. + +"Yes, beautiful marchioness, pronounce my sentence." + +"I fear you are a libertine and an unfaithful lover." + +"I am neither one nor the other." + +With these words I folded her in my arms, and I pressed upon her +lovely lips, as pure as a rose, an ardent kiss which she received +with the best possible grace. This kiss, the forerunner of the most +delicious pleasures, had imparted to my hands the greatest boldness; +I was on the point of.... but the marchioness, changing her +position, entreated me so sweetly to respect her, that, enjoying new +voluptuousness through my very obedience, I not only abandoned an +easy victory, but I even begged her pardon, which I soon read in the +most loving look. + +She spoke of Lucrezia, and was pleased with my discretion. She then +alluded to the cardinal, doing her best to make me believe that there +was nothing between them but a feeling of innocent friendship. Of +course I had my opinion on that subject, but it was my interest to +appear to believe every word she uttered. We recited together lines +from our best poets, and all the time she was still sitting down and +I standing before her, with my looks rapt in the contemplation of the +most lovely charms, to which I remained insensible in appearance, for +I had made up my mind not to press her that evening for greater +favours than those I had already received. + +The cardinal, waking from his long and peaceful siesta, got up and +joined us in his night-cap, and good-naturedly enquired whether we +had not felt impatient at his protracted sleep. I remained until +dark and went home highly pleased with my day's work, but determined +to keep my ardent desires in check until the opportunity for complete +victory offered itself. + +>From that day, the charming marchioness never ceased to give me the +marks of her particular esteem, without the slightest constraint; I +was reckoning upon the carnival, which was close at hand, feeling +certain that the more I should spare her delicacy, the more she would +endeavour to find the opportunity of rewarding my loyalty, and of +crowning with happiness my loving constancy. But fate ordained +otherwise; Dame Fortune turned her back upon me at the very moment +when the Pope and Cardinal Acquaviva were thinking of giving me a +really good position. + +The Holy Father had congratulated me upon the beautiful snuff-box +presented to me by Cardinal S. C., but he had been careful never to +name the marchioness. Cardinal Acquaviva expressed openly his +delight at his brother-cardinal having given me a taste of his +negrillo snuff in so splendid an envelope; the Abbe Gama, finding me +so forward on the road to success, did not venture to counsel me any +more, and the virtuous Father Georgi gave me but one piece of advice- +namely, to cling to the lovely marchioness and not to make any other +acquaintances. + +Such was my position-truly a brilliant one, when, on Christmas Day, +the lover of Barbara Dalacqua entered my room, locked the door, and +threw himself on the sofa, exclaiming that I saw him for the last +time. + +"I only come to beg of you some good advice." + +"On what subject can I advise you?" + +"Take this and read it; it will explain everything." + +It was a letter from his mistress; the contents were these: + +"I am pregnant of a child, the pledge of our mutual love; I can no +longer have any doubt of it, my beloved, and I forewarn you that I +have made up my mind to quit Rome alone, and to go away to die where +it may please God, if you refuse to take care of me and save me. I +would suffer anything, do anything, rather than let my father +discover the truth." + +"If you are a man of honour," I said, "you cannot abandon the poor +girl. Marry her in spite of your father, in spite of her own, and +live together honestly. The eternal Providence of God will watch +over you and help you in your difficulties:" + +My advice seemed to bring calm to his mind, and he left me more +composed. + +At the beginning of January, 1744, he called again, looking very +cheerful. "I have hired," he said, "the top floor of the house next +to Barbara's dwelling; she knows it, and to-night I will gain her +apartment through one of the windows of the garret, and we will make +all our arrangements to enable me to carry her off. I have made up +my mind; I have decided upon taking her to Naples, and I will take +with us the servant who, sleeping in the garret, had to be made a +confidante of." + +"God speed you, my friend!" + +A week afterwards, towards eleven o'clock at night, he entered my +room accompanied by an abbe. + +"What do you want so late?" + +"I wish to introduce you to this handsome abbe." + +I looked up, and to my consternation I recognized Barbara. + +"Has anyone seen you enter the house?" I enquired. + +"No; and if we had been seen, what of it? It is only an abbe. We +now pass every night together." + +"I congratulate you." + +"The servant is our friend; she has consented to follow us, and all +our arrangements are completed." + +"I wish you every happiness. Adieu. I beg you to leave me." + +Three or four days after that visit, as I was walking with the Abbe +Gama towards the Villa Medicis, he told me deliberately that there +would be an execution during the night in the Piazza di Spagna. + +"What kind of execution?" + +"The bargello or his lieutenant will come to execute some 'ordine +santissimo', or to visit some suspicious dwelling in order to arrest +and carry off some person who does not expect anything of the sort." + +"How do you know it?" + +"His eminence has to know it, for the Pope would not venture to +encroach upon his jurisdiction without asking his permission." + +"And his eminence has given it?" + +"Yes, one of the Holy Father's auditors came for that purpose this +morning." + +"But the cardinal might have refused?" + +"Of course; but such a permission is never denied." + +"And if the person to be arrested happened to be under the protection +of the cardinal--what then?" + +"His eminence would give timely warning to that person." + +We changed the conversation, but the news had disturbed me. I +fancied that the execution threatened Barbara and her lover, for her +father's house was under the Spanish jurisdiction. I tried to see +the young man but I could not succeed in meeting him, and I was +afraid lest a visit at his home or at M. Dalacqua's dwelling might +implicate me. Yet it is certain that this last consideration would +not have stopped me if I had been positively sure that they were +threatened; had I felt satisfied of their danger, I would have braved +everything. + +About midnight, as I was ready to go to bed, and just as I was +opening my door to take the key from outside, an abbe rushed panting +into my room and threw himself on a chair. It was Barbara; I guessed +what had taken place, and, foreseeing all the evil consequences her +visit might have for me, deeply annoyed and very anxious, I upbraided +her for having taken refuge in my room, and entreated her to go away. + +Fool that I was! Knowing that I was only ruining myself without any +chance of saving her, I ought to have compelled her to leave my room, +I ought to have called for the servants if she had refused to +withdraw. But I had not courage enough, or rather I voluntarily +obeyed the decrees of destiny. + +When she heard my order to go away, she threw herself on her knees, +and melting into tears, she begged, she entreated my pity! + +Where is the heart of steel which is not softened by the tears, by +the prayers of a pretty and unfortunate woman? I gave way, but I +told her that it was ruin for both of us. + +"No one," she replied, "has seen me, I am certain, when I entered the +mansion and came up to your room, and I consider my visit here a week +ago as most fortunate; otherwise, I never could have known which was +your room." + +"Alas! how much better if you had never come! But what has become +of your lover?" + +"The 'sbirri' have carried him off, as well as the servant. I will +tell you all about it. My lover had informed me that a carriage +would wait to-night at the foot of the flight of steps before the +Church of Trinita del Monte, and that he would be there himself. I +entered his room through the garret window an hour ago. There I put +on this disguise, and, accompanied by the servant, proceeded to meet +him. The servant walked a few yards before me, and carried a parcel +of my things. At the corner of the street, one of the buckles of my +shoes being unfastened, I stopped an instant, and the servant went +on, thinking that I was following her. She reached the carriage, got +into it, and, as I was getting nearer, the light from a lantern +disclosed to me some thirty sbirri; at the same instant, one of them +got on the driver's box and drove off at full speed, carrying off the +servant, whom they must have mistaken for me, and my lover who was in +the coach awaiting me. What could I do at such a fearful moment? I +could not go back to my father's house, and I followed my first +impulse which brought me here. And here I am! You tell me that my +presence will cause your ruin; if it is so, tell me what to do; I +feel I am dying; but find some expedient and I am ready to do +anything, even to lay my life down, rather than be the cause of your +ruin." + +But she wept more bitterly than ever. + +Her position was so sad that I thought it worse even than mine, +although I could almost fancy I saw ruin before me despite my +innocence. + +"Let me," I said, "conduct you to your father; I feel sure of +obtaining your pardon." + +But my proposal only enhanced her fears. + +"I am lost," she exclaimed; "I know my father. Ah! reverend sir, +turn me out into the street, and abandon me to my miserable fate." + +No doubt I ought to have done so, and I would have done it if the +consciousness of what was due to my own interest had been stronger +than my feeling of pity. But her tears! I have often said it, and +those amongst my readers who have experienced it, must be of the same +opinion; there is nothing on earth more irresistible than two +beautiful eyes shedding tears, when the owner of those eyes is +handsome, honest, and unhappy. I found myself physically unable to +send her away. + +"My poor girl," I said at last, "when daylight comes, and that will +not be long, for it is past midnight, what do you intend to do?" + +"I must leave the palace," she replied, sobbing. "In this disguise +no one can recognize me; I will leave Rome, and I will walk straight +before me until I fall on the ground, dying with grief and fatigue." + +With these words she fell on the floor. She was choking; I could see +her face turn blue; I was in the greatest distress. + +I took off her neck-band, unlaced her stays under the abbe's dress, I +threw cold water in her face, and I finally succeeded in bringing her +back to consciousness. + +The night was extremely cold, and there was no fire in my room. I +advised her to get into my bed, promising to respect her. + +"Alas! reverend sir, pity is the only feeling with which I can now +inspire anyone." + +And, to speak the truth I was too deeply moved, and, at the same +time, too full of anxiety, to leave room in me for any desire. +Having induced her to go to bed, and her extreme weakness preventing +her from doing anything for herself, I undressed her and put her to +bed, thus proving once more that compassion will silence the most +imperious requirements of nature, in spite of all the charms which +would, under other circumstances, excite to the highest degree the +senses of a man. I lay down near her in my clothes, and woke her at +day-break. Her strength was somewhat restored, she dressed herself +alone, and I left my room, telling her to keep quiet until my return. +I intended to proceed to her father's house, and to solicit her +pardon, but, having perceived some suspicious-looking men loitering +about the palace, I thought it wise to alter my mind, and went to a +coffeehouse. + +I soon ascertanied that a spy was watching my movements at a +distance; but I did not appear to notice him, and having taken some +chocolate and stored a few biscuits in my pocket, I returned towards +the palace, apparently without any anxiety or hurry, always followed +by the same individual. I judged that the bargello, having failed in +his project, was now reduced to guesswork, and I was strengthened in +that view of the case when the gate-keeper of the palace told me, +without my asking any question, as I came in, that an arrest had been +attempted during the night, and had not succeeded. While he was +speaking, one of the auditors of the Vicar-General called to enquire +when he could see the Abby Gama. I saw that no time was to be lost, +and went up to my room to decide upon what was to be done. + +I began by making the poor girl eat a couple of biscuits soaked in +some Canary wine, and I took her afterwards to the top story of the +palace, where, leaving her in a not very decent closet which was not +used by anyone, I told her to wait for me. + +My servant came soon after, and I ordered him to lock the door of my +room as soon as he finished cleaning it, and to bring me the key at +the Abbe Gama's apartment, where I was going. I found Gama in +conversation with the auditor sent by the Vicar-General. As soon as +he had dismissed him, he came to me, and ordered his servant to serve +the chocolate. When we were left alone he gave me an account of his +interview with the auditor, who had come to entreat his eminence to +give orders to turn out of his palace a person who was supposed to +have taken refuge in it about midnight. "We must wait," said the +abbe, "until the cardinal is visible, but I am quite certain that, if +anyone has taken refuge here unknown to him, his eminence will compel +that person to leave the palace." We then spoke of the weather and +other trifles until my servant brought my key. Judging that I had at +least an hour to spare, I bethought myself of a plan which alone +could save Barbara from shame and misery. + +Feeling certain that I was unobserved, I went up to my poor prisoner +and made her write the following words in French: + +"I am an honest girl, monsignor, though I am disguised in the dress +of an abbe. I entreat your eminence to allow me to give my name only +to you and in person. I hope that, prompted by the great goodness of +your soul, your eminence will save me from dishonour." I gave her the +necessary instructions, as to sending the note to the cardinal, +assuring her that he would have her brought to him as soon as he read +it. + +"When you are in his presence," I added, "throw yourself on your +knees, tell him everything without any concealment, except as regards +your having passed the night in my room. You must be sure not to +mention that circumstance, for the cardinal must remain in complete +ignorance of my knowing anything whatever of this intrigue. Tell him +that, seeing your lover carried off, you rushed to his palace and ran +upstairs as far as you could go, and that after a most painful night +Heaven inspired you with the idea of writing to him to entreat his +pity. I feel certain that, one way or the other, his eminence will +save you from dishonour, and it certainly is the only chance you have +of being united to the man you love so dearly." + +She promised to follow 'my instructions faithfully, and, coming down, +I had my hair dressed and went to church, where the cardinal saw me. +I then went out and returned only for dinner, during which the only +subject of conversation was the adventure of the night. Gama alone +said nothing, and I followed his example, but I understood from all +the talk going on round the table that the cardinal had taken my poor +Barbara under his protection. That was all I wanted, and thinking +that I had nothing more to fear I congratulated myself, in petto, +upon my stratagem, which had, I thought, proved a master-stroke. +After dinner, finding myself alone with Gama, I asked him what was +the meaning of it all, and this is what he told me: + +"A father, whose name I do not know yet, had requested the assistance +of the Vicar-General to prevent his son from carrying off a young +girl, with whom he intended to leave the States of the Church; the +pair had arranged to meet at midnight in this very square, and the +Vicar, having previously obtained the consent of our cardinal, as I +told you yesterday, gave orders to the bargello to dispose his men in +such a way as to catch the young people in the very act of running +away, and to arrest them. The orders were executed, but the 'sbirri' +found out, when they returned to the bargello, that they had met with +only a half success, the woman who got out of the carriage with the +young man not belonging to that species likely to be carried off. +Soon afterwards a spy informed the bargello that, at the very moment +the arrest was executed, he had seen a young abbe run away very +rapidly and take refuge in this palace, and the suspicion immediately +arose that it might be the missing young lady in the disguise of an +ecclesiastic. The bargello reported to the Vicar-General the failure +of his men, as well as the account given by the spy, and the Prelate, +sharing the suspicion of the police, sent to his eminence, our +master, requesting him to have the person in question, man or woman, +turned out of the palace, unless such persons should happen to be +known to his excellency, and therefore above suspicion. Cardinal +Acquaviva was made acquainted with these circumstances at nine this +morning through the auditor you met in my room, and he promised to +have the person sent away unless she belonged to his household. + +"According to his promise, the cardinal ordered the palace to be +searched, but, in less than a quarter of an hour, the major-domo +received orders to stop, and the only reason for these new +instructions must be this: + +"I am told by the major-domo that at nine o'clock exactly a very +handsome, young abbe, whom he immediately judged to be a girl in +disguise, asked him to deliver a note to his eminence, and that the +cardinal, after reading it, had desired the said abbe be brought to +his apartment, which he has not left since. As the order to stop +searching the palace was given immediately after the introduction of +the abbe to the cardinal, it is easy enough to suppose that this +ecclesiastic is no other than the young girl missed by the police, +who took refuge in the palace in which she must have passed the whole +night." + +"I suppose," said I, "that his eminence will give her up to-day, if +not to the bargello, at least to the Vicar-General." + +"No, not even to the Pope himself," answered Gama. "You have not yet +a right idea of the protection of our cardinal, and that protection +is evidently granted to her, since the young person is not only in +the palace of his eminence, but also in his own apartment and under +his own guardianship." + +The whole affair being in itself very interesting, my attention could +not appear extraordinary to Gama, however suspicious he might be +naturally, and I was certain that he would not have told me anything +if he had guessed the share I had taken in the adventure, and the +interest I must have felt in it. + +The next day, Gama came to my room with a radiant countenance, and +informed me that the Cardinal-Vicar was aware of the ravisher being +my friend, and supposed that I was likewise the friend of the girl, +as she was the daughter of my French teacher. "Everybody," he added, +"is satisfied that you knew the whole affair, and it is natural to +suspect that the poor girl spent the night in your room. I admire +your prudent reserve during our conversation of yesterday. You kept +so well on your guard that I would have sworn you knew nothing +whatever of the affair." + +"And it is the truth," I answered, very seriously; "I have only +learned all the circumstances from you this moment. I know the girl, +but I have not seen her for six weeks, since I gave up my French +lessons; I am much better acquainted with the young man, but he never +confided his project to me. However, people may believe whatever +they please. You say that it is natural for the girl to have passed +the night in my room, but you will not mind my laughing in the face +of those who accept their own suppositions as realities." + +"That, my dear friend," said the abbe, "is one of the vices of the +Romans; happy those who can afford to laugh at it; but this slander +may do you harm, even in the mind of our cardinal." + +As there was no performance at the Opera that night, I went to the +cardinal's reception; I found no difference towards me either in the +cardinal's manners, or in those of any other person, and the +marchioness was even more gracious than usual. + +After dinner, on the following day, Gama informed me that the +cardinal had sent the young girl to a convent in which she would be +well treated at his eminence's expense, and that he was certain that +she would leave it only to become the wife of the young doctor. + +"I should be very happy if it should turn out so," I replied; "for +they are both most estimable people." + +Two days afterwards, I called upon Father Georgi, and he told me, +with an air of sorrow, that the great news of the day in Rome was the +failure of the attempt to carry off Dalacqua's daughter, and that all +the honour of the intrigue was given to me, which displeased him +much. I told him what I had already told Gama, and he appeared to +believe me, but he added that in Rome people did not want to know +things as they truly were, but only as they wished them to be. + +It is known, that you have been in the habit of going every morning +to Dalacqua's house; it is known that the young man often called on +you; that is quite enough. People do not care, to know the +circumstances which might counteract the slander, but only those, +likely to give it new force for slander is vastly relished in the +Holy City. Your innocence will not prevent the whole adventure being +booked to your account, if, in forty years time you were proposed as +pope in the conclave." + +During the following days the fatal adventure began to cause me more +annoyance than I could express, for everyone mentioned it to me, and +I could see clearly that people pretended to believe what I said only +because they did not dare to do otherwise. The marchioness told me +jeeringly that the Signora Dalacqua had contracted peculiar +obligations towards me, but my sorrow was very great when, during the +last days of the carnival, I remarked that Cardinal Acquaviva's +manner had become constrained, although I was the only person who +observed the change. + +The noise made by the affair was, however, beginning to subside, +when, in the first days of Lent, the cardinal desired me to come to +his private room, and spoke as follows + +"The affair of the girl Dalacqua is now over; it is no longer spoken +of, but the verdict of the public is that you and I have profited by +the clumsiness of the young man who intended to carry her off. In +reality I care little for such a verdict, for, under similar +circumstances, I should always act in a similar manner, and I do not +wish to know that which no one can compel you to confess, and which, +as a man of honour, you must not admit. If you had no previous +knowledge of the intrigue, and had actually turned the girl out of +your room (supposing she did come to you), you would have been guilty +of a wrong and cowardly action, because you would have sealed her +misery for the remainder of her days, and it would not have caused +you to escape the suspicion of being an accomplice, while at the same +time it would have attached to you the odium of dastardly treachery. +Notwithstanding all I have just said, you can easily imagine that, in +spite of my utter contempt for all gossiping fools, I cannot openly +defy them. I therefore feel myself compelled to ask you not only to +quit my service, but even to leave Rome. I undertake to supply you +with an honourable pretext for your departure, so as to insure you +the continuation of the respect which you may have secured through +the marks of esteem I have bestowed upon you. I promise you to +whisper in the ear of any person you may choose, and even to inform +everybody, that you are going on an important mission which I have +entrusted to you. You have only to name the country where you want +to go; I have friends everywhere, and can recommend you to such +purpose that you will be sure to find employment. My letters of +recommendation will be in my own handwriting, and nobody need know +where you are going. Meet me to-morrow at the Villa Negroni, and let +me know where my letters are to be addressed. You must be ready to +start within a week. Believe me, I am sorry to lose you; but the +sacrifice is forced upon me by the most absurd prejudice. Go now, +and do not let me witness your grief." + +He spoke the last words because he saw my eyes filling with tears, +and he did not give me time to answer. Before leaving his room, I +had the strength of mind to compose myself, and I put on such an air +of cheerfulness that the Abbe Gama, who took me to his room to drink +some coffee, complimented me upon my happy looks. + +"I am sure," he said, "that they are caused by the conversation you +have had with his eminence." + +"You are right; but you do not know the sorrow at my heart which I +try not to shew outwardly." + +"What sorrow?" + +"I am afraid of failing in a difficult mission which the cardinal has +entrusted me with this morning. I am compelled to conceal how little +confidence I feel in myself in order not to lessen the good opinion +his eminence is pleased to entertain of me." + +"If my advice can be of any service to you, pray dispose of me; but +you are quite right to chew yourself calm and cheerful. Is it any +business to transact in Rome?" + +"No; it is a journey I shall have to undertake in a week or ten +days." + +"Which way?" + +"Towards the west." + +"Oh! I am not curious to know." + +I went out alone and took a walk in the Villa Borghese, where I spent +two hours wrapped in dark despair. I liked Rome, I was on the high +road to fortune, and suddenly I found myself in the abyss, without +knowing where to go, and with all my hopes scattered to the winds. I +examined my conduct, I judged myself severely, I could not find +myself guilty of any crime save of too much kindness, but I perceived +how right the good Father Georgi had been. My duty was not only to +take no part in the intrigue of the two love, but also to change my +French teacher the moment I beard of it; but this was like calling in +a doctor after death has struck the patient. Besides, young as I +was, having no experience yet of misfortune, and still less of the +wickedness of society, it was very difficult for me to have that +prudence which a man gains only by long intercourse with the world. + +"Where shall I go?" This was the question which seemed to me +impossible of solution. I thought of it all through the night, and +through the morning, but I thought in vain; after Rome, I was +indifferent where I went to! + +In the evening, not caring for any supper, I had gone to my room; the +Abbe Gama came to me with a request from the cardinal not to accept +any invitation to dinner for the next day, as he wanted to speak to +me. I therefore waited upon his eminence the next day at the Villa +Negroni; he was walking with his secretary, whom he dismissed the +moment he saw me. As soon as we were alone, I gave him all the +particulars of the intrigue of the two lovers, and I expressed in the +most vivid manner the sorrow I felt at leaving his service. + +"I have no hope of success," I added, "for I am certain that Fortune +will smile upon me only as long as I am near your eminence." + +For nearly an hour I told him all the grief with which my heart was +bursting, weeping bitterly; yet I could not move him from his +decision. Kindly, but firmly he pressed me to tell him to what part +of Europe I wanted to go, and despair as much as vexation made me +name Constantinople. + +"Constantinople!" he exclaimed, moving back a step or two. + +"Yes, monsignor, Constantinople," I repeated, wiping away my tears. + +The prelate, a man of great wit, but a Spaniard to the very back- +bone, after remaining silent a few minutes, said, with a smile, + +"I am glad you have not chosen Ispahan, as I should have felt rather +embarrassed. When do you wish to go?" + +"This day week, as your eminence has ordered me." + +"Do you intend to sail from Naples or from Venice?" + +"From Venice." + +"I will give you such a passport as will be needed, for you will find +two armies in winter-quarters in the Romagna. It strikes me that you +may tell everybody that I sent you to Constantinople, for nobody will +believe you." + +This diplomatic suggestion nearly made me smile. The cardinal told +me that I should dine with him, and he left me to join his secretary. + +When I returned to the palace, thinking of the choice I had made, I +said to myself, "Either I am mad, or I am obeying the impulse of a +mysterious genius which sends me to Constantinople to work out my +fate." I was only astonished that the cardinal had so readily +accepted my choice. "Without any doubt," I thought, "he did not wish +me to believe that he had boasted of more than he could achieve, in +telling me that he had friends everywhere. But to whom can he +recommend me in Constantinople? I have not the slightest idea, but +to Constantinople I must go." + +I dined alone with his eminence; he made a great show of peculiar +kindness and I of great satisfaction, for my self-pride, stronger +even than my sorrow, forbade me to let anyone guess that I was in +disgrace. My deepest grief was, however, to leave the marchioness, +with whom I was in love, and from whom I had not obtained any +important favour. + +Two days afterwards, the cardinal gave me a passport for Venice, and +a sealed letter addressed to Osman Bonneval, Pacha of Caramania, in +Constantinople. There was no need of my saying anything to anyone, +but, as the cardinal had not forbidden me to do it, I shewed the +address on the letter to all my acquaintances. + +The Chevalier de Lezze, the Venetian Ambassador, gave me a letter for +a wealthy Turk, a very worthy man who had been his friend; Don Gaspar +and Father Georgi asked me to write to them, but the Abbe Gams, +laughed, and said he was quite sure I was not going to +Constantinople. + +I went to take my farewell of Donna Cecilia, who had just received a +letter from Lucrezia, imparting the news that she would soon be a +mother. I also called upon Angelique and Don Francisco, who had +lately been married and had not invited me to the wedding. + +When I called to take Cardinal Acquaviva's final instructions he gave +me a purse containing one hundred ounces, worth seven hundred +sequins. I had three hundred more, so that my fortune amounted to +one thousand sequins; I kept two hundred, and for the rest I took a +letter of exchange upon a Ragusan who was established in Ancona. I +left Rome in the coach with a lady going to Our Lady of Loretto, to +fulfil a vow made during a severe illness of her daughter, who +accompanied her. The young lady was ugly; my journey was a rather +tedious one. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +My Short But Rather Too Gay Visit To Ancona--Cecilia, Marina, +Bellino--the Greek Slave of the Lazzaretto--Bellino Discovers Himself + + +I arrived in Ancona on the 25th of February, 1744, and put up at the +best inn. Pleased with my room, I told mine host to prepare for me a +good meat dinner; but he answered that during Lent all good Catholics +eat nothing but fish. + +"The Holy Father has granted me permission to eat meat." + +"Let me see your permission." + +"He gave it to me by word of mouth." + +"Reverend sir, I am not obliged to believe you." + +"You are a fool." + +"I am master in my own house, and I beg you will go to some other +inn." + +Such an answer, coupled to a most unexpected notice to quit, threw me +into a violent passion. I was swearing, raving, screaming, when +suddenly a grave-looking individual made his appearance in my room, +and said to me: + +"Sir, you are wrong in calling for meat, when in Ancona fish is much +better; you are wrong in expecting the landlord to believe you on +your bare word; and if you have obtained the permission from the +Pope, you have been wrong in soliciting it at your age; you have been +wrong in not asking for such permission in writing; you are wrong in +calling the host a fool, because it is a compliment that no man is +likely to accept in his own house; and, finally, you are wrong in +making such an uproar." + +Far from increasing my bad temper, this individual, who had entered +my room only to treat me to a sermon, made me laugh. + +"I willingly plead guilty, sir," I answered, "to all the counts which +you allege against me; but it is raining, it is getting late, I am +tired and hungry, and therefore you will easily understand that I do +not feel disposed to change my quarters. Will you give me some +supper, as the landlord refuses to do so?" + +"No," he replied, with great composure, "because I am a good Catholic +and fast. But I will undertake to make it all right for you with the +landlord, who will give you a good supper." + +Thereupon he went downstairs, and I, comparing my hastiness to his +calm, acknowledged the man worthy of teaching me some lessons. He +soon came up again, informed me that peace was signed, and that I +would be served immediately. + +"Will you not take supper with me?" + +"No, but I will keep you company." + +I accepted his offer, and to learn who he was, I told him my name, +giving myself the title of secretary to Cardinal Acquaviva. + +"My name is Sancio Pico," he said; "I am a Castilian, and the +'proveditore' of the army of H. C. M., which is commanded by Count de +Gages under the orders of the generalissimo, the Duke of Modem." + +My excellent appetite astonished him, and he enquired whether I had +dined. "No," said I; and I saw his countenance assume an air of +satisfaction. + +"Are you not afraid such a supper will hurt you?" he said. + +"On the contrary, I hope it will do me a great deal of good." + +"Then you have deceived the Pope?" + +"No, for I did not tell him that I had no appetite, but only that I +liked meat better than fish." + +"If you feel disposed to hear some good music," he said a moment +after, "follow me to the next room; the prima donna of Ancona lives +there." + +The words prima donna interested me at once, and I followed him. I +saw, sitting before a table, a woman already somewhat advanced in +age, with two young girls and two boys, but I looked in vain for the +actress, whom Don Sancio Pico at last presented to me in the shape of +one of the two boys, who was remarkably handsome and might have been +seventeen. I thought he was a 'castrato' who, as is the custom in +Rome, performed all the parts of a prima donna. The mother presented +to, me her other son, likewise very good-looking, but more manly than +the 'castrato', although younger. His name was Petronio, and, +keeping up the transformations of the family, he was the first female +dancer at the opera. The eldest girl, who was also introduced to me, +was named Cecilia, and studied music; she was twelve years old; the +youngest, called Marina, was only eleven, and like her brother +Petronio was consecrated to the worship of Terpsichore. Both the +girls were very pretty. + +The family came from Bologna and lived upon the talent of its +members; cheerfulness and amiability replaced wealth with them. +Bellino, such was the name of the castrato, yielding to the +entreaties of Don Sancio, rose from the table, went to the +harpiscord, and sang with the voice of an angel and with delightful +grace. The Castilian listened with his eyes closed in an ecstasy of +enjoyment, but I, far from closing my eyes, gazed into Bellino's, +which seemed to dart amorous lightnings upon me. I could discover in +him some of the features of Lucrezia and the graceful manner of the +marchioness, and everything betrayed a beautiful woman, for his dress +concealed but imperfectly the most splendid bosom. The consequence +was that, in spite of his having been introduced as a man, I fancied +that the so-called Bellino was a disguised beauty, and, my +imagination taking at once the highest flight, I became thoroughly +enamoured. + +We spent two very pleasant hours, and I returned to my room +accompanied by the Castilian. "I intend to leave very early to- +morrow morning," he said, "for Sinigaglia, with the Abbe Vilmarcati, +but I expect to return for supper the day after to-morrow." I wished +him a happy journey, saying that we would most 'likely meet on the +road, as I should probably leave Ancona myself on the same day, after +paying a visit to my banker. + +I went to bed thinking of Bellino and of the impression he had made +upon me; I was sorry to go away without having proved to him that I +was not the dupe of his disguise. Accordingly, I was well pleased to +see him enter my room in the morning as soon as I had opened my door. +He came to offer me the services of his young brother Petronio during +my stay in Ancona, instead of my engaging a valet de place. I +willingly agreed to the proposal, and sent Petronio to get coffee for +all the family. + +I asked Bellino to sit on my bed with the intention of making love to +him, and of treating him like a girl, but the two young sisters ran +into my room and disturbed my plans. Yet the trio formed before me a +very pleasing sight; they represented natural beauty and artless +cheerfulness of three different kinds; unobtrusive familiarity, +theatrical wit, pleasing playfulness, and pretty Bolognese manners +which I witnessed for the first time; all this would have sufficed to +cheer me if I had been downcast. Cecilia and Marina were two sweet +rosebuds, which, to bloom in all their beauty, required only the +inspiration of love, and they would certainly have had the preference +over Bellino if I had seen in him only the miserable outcast of +mankind, or rather the pitiful victim of sacerdotal cruelty, for, in +spite of their youth, the two amiable girls offered on their dawning +bosom the precious image of womanhood. + +Petronio came with the coffee which he poured out, and I sent some to +the mother, who never left her room. Petronio was a true male harlot +by taste and by profession. The species is not scare in Italy, where +the offence is not regarded with the wild and ferocious intolerance +of England and Spain. I had given him one sequin to pay for the +coffee, and told him to keep the change, and, to chew me his +gratitude, he gave me a voluptuous kiss with half-open lips, +supposing in me a taste which I was very far from entertaining. I +disabused him, but he did not seem the least ashamed. I told him to +order dinner for six persons, but he remarked that he would order it +only for four, as he had to keep his dear mother company; she always +took her dinner in bed. Everyone to his taste, I thought, and I let +him do as he pleased. + +Two minutes after he had gone, the landlord came to my room and said, +"Reverend sir, the persons you have invited here have each the +appetite of two men at least; I give you notice of it, because I must +charge accordingly." "All right," I replied, "but let us have a good +dinner." + +When I was dressed, I thought I ought to pay my compliments to the +compliant mother. I went to her room, and congratulated her upon her +children. She thanked me for the present I had given to Petronio, +and began to make me the confidant of her distress. "The manager of +the theatre," she said, "is a miser who has given us only fifty Roman +crowns for the whole carnival. We have spent them for our living, +and, to return to Bologna, we shall have to walk and beg our way." +Her confidence moved my pity, so I took a gold quadruple from my +purse and offered it to her; she wept for joy and gratitude. + +"I promise you another gold quadruple, madam," I said, "if you will +confide in me entirely. Confess that Bellino is a pretty woman in +disguise." + +"I can assure you it is not so, although he has the appearance of a +woman." + +"Not only the appearance, madam, but the tone, the manners; I am a +good judge." + +"Nevertheless, he is a boy, for he has had to be examined before he +could sing on the stage here." + +"And who examined him?" + +"My lord bishop's chaplain." + +"A chaplain?" + +"Yes, and you may satisfy yourself by enquiring from him." + +"The only way to clear my doubts would be to examine him myself." + +"You may, if he has no objection, but truly I cannot interfere, as I +do not know what your intentions are." + +"They are quite natural." + +I returned to my room and sent Petronio for a bottle of Cyprus wine. +He brought the wine and seven sequins, the change for the doubloon I +had given him. I divided them between Bellino, Cecilia and Marina, +and begged the two young girls to leave me alone with their brother. + +"Bellino, I am certain that your natural conformation is different +from mine; my dear, you are a girl." + +"I am a man, but a castrato; I have been examined." + +"Allow me to examine you likewise, and I will give you a doubloon." + +"I cannot, for it is evident that you love me, and such love is +condemned by religion." + +"You did not raise these objections with the bishop's chaplain." + +"He was an elderly priest, and besides, he only just glanced at me." + +"I will know the truth," said I, extending my hand boldly. + +But he repulsed me and rose from his chair. His obstinacy vexed me, +for I had already spent fifteen or sixteen sequins to satisfy my +curiosity. + +I began my dinner with a very bad humour, but the excellent appetite +of my pretty guests brought me round, and I soon thought that, after +all, cheerfulness was better than sulking, and I resolved to make up +for my disappointment with the two charming sisters, who seemed well +disposed to enjoy a frolic. + +I began by distributing a few innocent kisses right and left, as I +sat between them near a good fire, eating chestnuts which we wetted +with Cyprus wine. But very soon my greedy hands touched every part +which my lips could not kiss, and Cecilia, as well as Marina, +delighted in the game. Seeing that Bellino was smiling, I kissed him +likewise, and his half-open ruffle attracting my hand, I ventured and +went in without resistance. The chisel of Praxiteles had never +carved a finer bosom! + +"Oh! this is enough," I exclaimed; "I can no longer doubt that you +are a beautifully-formed woman!" + +"It is," he replied, "the defect of all castrati." + +No, it is the perfection of all handsome women. Bellino, believe me, +I am enough of a good judge to distinguish between the deformed +breast of a castrato, and that of a beautiful woman; and your +alabaster bosom belongs to a young beauty of seventeen summers." + +Who does not know that love, inflamed by all that can excite it, +never stops in young people until it is satisfied, and that one +favour granted kindles the wish for a greater one? I had begun well, +I tried to go further and to smother with burning kisses that which +my hand was pressing so ardently, but the false Bellino, as if he had +only just been aware of the illicit pleasure I was enjoying, rose and +ran away. Anger increased in me the ardour of love, and feeling the +necessity of calming myself either by satisfying my ardent desires or +by evaporating them, I begged Cecilia, Bellino's pupil, to sing a few +Neapolitan airs. + +I then went out to call upon the banker, from whom I took a letter of +exchange at sight upon Bologna, for the amount I had to receive from +him, and on my return, after a light supper with the two young +sisters, I prepared to go to bed, having previously instructed +Petronio to order a carriage for the morning. + +I was just locking my door when Cecilia, half undressed, came in to +say that Bellino begged me to take him to Rimini, where he was +engaged to sing in an opera to be performed after Easter. + +"Go and tell him, my dear little seraph, that I am ready to do what +he wishes, if he will only grant me in your presence what I desire; I +want to know for a certainty whether he is a man or a woman." + +She left me and returned soon, saying that Bellino had gone to bed, +but that if I would postpone my departure for one day only he +promised to satisfy me on the morrow. + +"Tell me the truth, Cecilia, and I will give you six sequins." + +"I cannot earn them, for I have never seen him naked, and I cannot +swear to his being a girl. But he must be a man, otherwise he would +not have been allowed to perform here." + +"Well, I will remain until the day after to-morrow, provided you keep +me company tonight." + +"Do you love me very much?" + +"Very much indeed, if you shew yourself very kind." + +"I will be very kind, for I love you dearly likewise. I will go and +tell my mother." + +"Of course you have a lover?" + +"I never had one." + +She left my room, and in a short time came back full of joy, saying +that her mother believed me an honest man; she of course meant a +generous one. Cecilia locked the door, and throwing herself in my +arms covered me with kisses. She was pretty, charming, but I was not +in love with her, and I was not able to say to her as to Lucrezia: " +You have made me so happy!" But she said it herself, and I did not +feel much flattered, although I pretended to believe her. When I +woke up in the morning I gave her a tender salutation, and presenting +her with three doubloons, which must have particularly delighted the +mother, I sent her away without losing my time in promising +everlasting constancy--a promise as absurd as it is trifling, and +which the most virtuous man ought never to make even to the most +beautiful of women. + +After breakfast I sent for mine host and ordered an excellent supper +for five persons, feeling certain that Don Sancio, whom I expected in +the evening, would not refuse to honour me by accepting my +invitation, and with that idea I made up my mind to go without my +dinner. The Bolognese family did not require to imitate my diet to +insure a good appetite for the evening. + +I then summoned Bellino to my room, and claimed the performance of +his promise but he laughed, remarked that the day was not passed yet, +and said that he was certain of traveling with me. + +"I fairly warn you that you cannot accompany me unless I am fully +satisfied." + +"Well, I will satisfy you." + +"Shall we go and take a walk together?" + +"Willingly; I will dress myself." + +While I was waiting for him, Marina came in with a dejected +countenance, enquiring how she had deserved my contempt. + +"Cecilia has passed the night with you, Bellino will go with you to- +morrow, I am the most unfortunate of us all." + +"Do you want money?" + +"No, for I love you." + +"But, Marinetta, you are too young." + +"I am much stronger than my sister." + +"Perhaps you have a lover." + +"Oh! no." + +"Very well, we can try this evening." + +"Good! Then I will tell mother to prepare clean sheets for to-morrow +morning; otherwise everybody here would know that I slept with you." + +I could not help admiring the fruits of a theatrical education, and +was much amused. + +Bellino came back, we went out together, and we took our walk towards +the harbour. There were several vessels at anchor, and amongst them +a Venetian ship and a Turkish tartan. We went on board the first +which we visited with interest, but not seeing anyone of my +acquaintance, we rowed towards the Turkish tartan, where the most +romantic surprise awaited me. The first person I met on board was +the beautiful Greek woman I had left in Ancona, seven months before, +when I went away from the lazzaretto. She was seated near the old +captain, of whom I enquired, without appearing to notice his handsome +slave, whether he had any fine goods to sell. He took us to his +cabin, but as I cast a glance towards the charming Greek, she +expressed by her looks all her delight at such an unexpected meeting. + +I pretended not to be pleased with the goods shewn by the Turk, and +under the impulse of inspiration I told him that I would willingly +buy something pretty which would take the fancy of his better-half. +He smiled, and the Greek slave-having whispered a few words to him, +he left the cabin. The moment he was out of sight, this new Aspasia +threw herself in my arms, saying, "Now is your time!" I would not be +found wanting in courage, and taking the most convenient position in +such a place, I did to her in one instant that which her old master +had not done in five years. I had not yet reached the goal of my +wishes, when the unfortunate girl, hearing her master, tore herself +from my arms with a deep sigh, and placing herself cunningly in front +of me, gave me time to repair the disorder of my dress, which might +have cost me my life, or at least all I possessed to compromise the +affair. In that curious situation, I was highly amused at the +surprise of Bellino, who stood there trembling like an aspen leaf. + +The trifles chosen by the handsome slave cost me only thirty sequins. +'Spolaitis', she said to me in her own language, and the Turk telling +her that she ought to kiss me, she covered her face with her hands, +and ran away. I left the ship more sad than pleased, for I regretted +that, in spite of her courage, she should have enjoyed only an +incomplete pleasure. As soon as we were in our row boat, Bellino, +who had recovered from his fright, told me that I had just made him +acquainted with a phenomenon, the reality of which he could not +admit, and which gave him a very strange idea of my nature; that, as +far as the Greek girl was concerned, he could not make her out, +unless I should assure him that every woman in her country was like +her. "How unhappy they must be!" he added. + +"Do you think," I asked, "that coquettes are happier?" + +"No, but I think that when a woman yields to love, she should not be +conquered before she has fought with her own desires; she should not +give way to the first impulse of a lustful desire and abandon herself +to the first man who takes her fancy, like an animal--the slave of +sense. You must confess that the Greek woman has given you an +evident proof that you had taken her fancy, but that she has at the +same time given you a proof not less certain of her beastly lust, and +of an effrontery which exposed her to the shame of being repulsed, +for she could not possibly know whether you would feel as well +disposed for her as she felt for you. She is very handsome, and it +all turned out well, but the adventure has thrown me into a whirlpool +of agitation which I cannot yet control." + +I might easily have put a stop to Bellino's perplexity, and rectified +the mistake he was labouring under; but such a confession would not +have ministered to my self-love, and I held my peace, for, if Bellino +happened to be a girl, as I suspected, I wanted her to be convinced +that I attached, after all, but very little importance to the great +affair, and that it was not worth while employing cunning expedients +to obtain it. + +We returned to the inn, and, towards evening, hearing Don Sancio's +travelling carriage roll into the yard, I hastened to meet him, and +told him that I hoped he would excuse me if I had felt certain that +he would not refuse me the honour of his company to supper with +Bellino. He thanked me politely for the pleasure I was so delicately +offering him, and accepted my invitation. + +The most exquisite dishes, the most delicious wines of Spain, and, +more than everything else, the cheerfulness and the charming voices +of Bellino and of Cecilia, gave the Castilian five delightful hours. +He left me at midnight, saying that he could not declare himself +thoroughly pleased unless I promised to sup with him the next evening +with the same guests. It would compel me to postpone my departure +for another day, but I accepted. + +As soon as Don Sancio had gone, I called upon Bellino to fulfil his +promise, but he answered that Marinetta was waiting for me, and that, +as I was not going away the next day, he would find an opportunity of +satisfying my doubts; and wishing me a good night, he left the room. + +Marinetta, as cheerful as a lark, ran to lock the door and came back +to me, her eyes beaming with ardour. She was more formed than +Cecilia, although one year younger, and seemed anxious to convince me +of her superiority, but, thinking that the fatigue of the preceding +night might have exhausted my strength, she unfolded all the armorous +ideas of her mind, explained at length all she knew of the great +mystery she was going to enact with me, and of all the contrivances +she had had recourse to in order to acquire her imperfect knowledge, +the whole interlarded with the foolish talk natural to her age. I +made out that she was afraid of my not finding her a maiden, and of +my reproaching her about it. Her anxiety pleased me, and I gave her +a new confidence by telling her that nature had refused to many young +girls what is called maidenhood, and that only a fool could be angry +with a girl for such a reason. + +My science gave her courage and confidence, and I was compelled to +acknowledge that she was very superior to her sister. + +"I am delighted you find me so," she said; "we must not sleep at all +throughout the night." + +"Sleep, my darling, will prove our friend, and our strength renewed +by repose will reward you in the morning for what you may suppose +lost time." + +And truly, after a quiet sleep, the morning was for her a succession +of fresh triumphs, and I crowned her happiness by sending her away +with three doubloons, which she took to her mother, and which gave +the good woman an insatiable desire to contract new obligations +towards Providence. + +I went out to get some money from the banker, as I did not know what +might happen during my journey. I had enjoyed myself, but I had +spent too much: yet there was Bellino who, if a girl, was not to find +me less generous than I had been with the two young sisters. It was +to be decided during the day, and I fancied that I was sure of the +result. + +There are some persons who pretend that life is only a succession of +misfortunes, which is as much as to say that life itself is a +misfortune; but if life is a misfortune, death must be exactly the +reverse and therefore death must be happiness, since death is the +very reverse of life. That deduction may appear too finely drawn. +But those who say that life is a succession of misfortunes are +certainly either ill or poor; for, if they enjoyed good health, if +they had cheerfulness in their heart and money in their purse, if +they had for their enjoyment a Cecilia, a Marinetta, and even a more +lovely beauty in perspective, they would soon entertain a very +different opinion of life! I hold them to be a race of pessimists, +recruited amongst beggarly philosophers and knavish, atrabilious +theologians. If pleasure does exist, and if life is necessary to +enjoy pleasure, then life is happiness. There are misfortunes, as I +know by experience; but the very existence of such misfortunes proves +that the sum-total of happiness is greater. Because a few thorns are +to be found in a basket full of roses, is the existence of those +beautiful flowers to be denied? No; it is a slander to deny that +life is happiness. When I am in a dark room, it pleases me greatly +to see through a window an immense horizon before me. + +As supper-time was drawing near, I went to Don Sancio, whom I found +in magnificently-furnished apartments. The table was loaded with +silver plate, and his servants were in livery. He was alone, but all +his guests arrived soon after me--Cecilia, Marina, and Bellino, who, +either by caprice or from taste, was dressed as a woman. The two +young sisters, prettily arranged, looked charming, but Bellino, in +his female costume, so completely threw them into the shade, that my +last doubt vanished. + +"Are you satisfied," I said to Don Sancio, "that Bellino is a woman?" + +"Woman or man, what do I care! I think he is a very pretty +'castrato', and 'I have seen many as good-looking as he is." + +"But are you sure he is a 'castrato'?" + +"'Valgame Dios'!" answered the grave Castilian, "I have not the +slightest wish to ascertain the truth." + +Oh, how widely different our thoughts were! I admired in him the +wisdom of which I was so much in need, and did not venture upon any +more indiscreet questions. During the supper, however, my greedy +eyes could not leave that charming being; my vicious nature caused me +to feel intense voluptuousness in believing him to be of that sex to +which I wanted him to belong. + +Don Sancio's supper was excellent, and, as a matter of course, +superior to mine; otherwise the pride of the Castilian would have +felt humbled. As a general rule, men are not satisfied with what is +good; they want the best, or, to speak more to the point, the most. +He gave us white truffles, several sorts of shell-fish, the best fish +of the Adriatic, dry champagne, peralta, sherry and pedroximenes +wines. + +After that supper worthy of Lucullus, Bellino sang with a voice of +such beauty that it deprived us of the small amount of reason left in +us by the excellent wine. His movements, the expression of his +looks, his gait, his walk, his countenance, his voice, and, above +all, my own instinct, which told me that I could not possibly feel +for a castrato what I felt for Bellino, confirmed me in my hopes; yet +it was necessary that my eyes should ascertain the truth. + +After many compliments and a thousand thanks, we took leave of the +grand Spaniard, and went to my room, where the mystery was at last to +be unravelled. I called upon Bellino to keep his word, or I +threatened to leave him alone the next morning at day-break. + +I took him by the hand, and we seated ourselves near the fire. I +dismissed Cecilia and Marina, and I said to him, + +"Bellino, everything must have an end; you have promised: it will +soon be over. If you are what you represent yourself to be, I will +let you go back to your own room; if you are what I believe you to +be, and if you consent to remain with me to-night, I will give you +one hundred sequins, and we will start together tomorrow morning." + +"You must go alone, and forgive me if I cannot fulfil my promise. I +am what I told you, and I can neither reconcile myself to the idea of +exposing my shame before you, nor lay myself open to the terrible +consequences that might follow the solution of your doubts." + +"There can be no consequences, since there will be an end to it at +the moment I have assured myself that you are unfortunate enough to +be what you say, and without ever mentioning the circumstances again, +I promise to take you with me to-morrow and to leave you at Rimini." + +"No, my mind is made up; I cannot satisfy your curiosity." + +Driven to madness by his words, I was very near using violence, but +subduing my angry feelings, I endeavored to succeed by gentle means +and by going straight to the spot where the mystery could be solved. +I was very near it, when his hand opposed a very strong resistance. +I repeated my efforts, but Bellino, rising suddenly, repulsed me, and +I found myself undone. After a few moments of calm, thinking I +should take him by surprise, I extended my hand, but I drew back +terrified, for I fancied that I had recognized in him a man, and a +degraded man, contemptible less on account of his degradation than +for the want of feeling I thought I could read on his countenance. +Disgusted, confused, and almost blushing for myself, I sent him away. + +His sisters came to my room, but I dismissed them, sending word to +their brother that he might go with me, without any fear of further +indiscretion on my part. Yet, in spite of the conviction I thought I +had acquired, Bellino, even such as I believe him to be, filled my +thoughts; I could not make it out. + +Early the next morning I left Ancona with him, distracted by the +tears of the two charming sisters and loaded with the blessings of +the mother who, with beads in hand, mumbled her 'paternoster', and +repeated her constant theme: 'Dio provedera'. + +The trust placed in Providence by most of those persons who earn +their living by some profession forbidden by religion is neither +absurd, nor false, nor deceitful; it is real and even godly, for it +flows from an excellent source. Whatever may be the ways of +Providence, human beings must always acknowledge it in its action, +and those who call upon Providence independently of all external +consideration must, at the bottom, be worthy, although guilty of +transgressing its laws. + + 'Pulchra Laverna, + Da mihi fallere; da justo sanctoque videri; + Noctem peccatis, et fraudibus objice nubem.' + +Such was the way in which, in the days of Horace, robbers addressed +their goddess, and I recollect a Jesuit who told me once that Horace +would not have known his own language, if he had said justo +sanctoque: but there were ignorant men even amongst the Jesuits, and +robbers most likely have but little respect for the rules of grammar. + +The next morning I started with Bellino, who, believing me to be +undeceived, could suppose that I would not shew any more curiosity +about him, but we had not been a quarter of an hour together when he +found out his mistake, for I could not let my looks fall upon his +splendid eyes without feeling in me a fire which the sight of a man +could not have ignited. I told him that all his features were those +of a woman, and that I wanted the testimony of my eyes before I could +feel perfectly satisfied, because the protuberance I had felt in a +certain place might be only a freak of nature. "Should it be the +case," I added, "I should have no difficulty in passing over a +deformity which, in reality, is only laughable. Bellino, the +impression you produce upon me, this sort of magnetism, your bosom +worthy of Venus herself, which you have once abandoned to my eager +hand, the sound of your voice, every movement of yours, assure me +that you do not belong to my sex. Let me see for myself, and, if my +conjectures are right, depend upon my faithful love; if, on the +contrary, I find that I have been mistaken, you can rely upon my +friendship. If you refuse me, I shall be compelled to believe that +you are cruelly enjoying my misery, and that you have learned in the +most accursed school that the best way of preventing a young man from +curing himself of an amorous passion is to excite it constantly; but +you must agree with me that, to put such tyranny in practice, it is +necessary to hate the person it is practised upon, and, if that be +so, I ought to call upon my reason to give me the strength necessary +to hate you likewise." + +I went on speaking for a long time; Bellino did not answer, but he +seemed deeply moved. At last I told him that, in the fearful state +to which I was reduced by his resistance, I should be compelled to +treat him without any regard for his feelings, and find out the truth +by force. He answered with much warmth and dignity: "Recollect that +you are not my master, that I am in your hands, because I had faith +in your promise, and that, if you use violence, you will be guilty of +murder. Order the postillion to stop, I will get out of the +carriage, and you may rely upon my not complaining of your +treatment." + +Those few words were followed by a torrent of tears, a sight which I +never could resist. I felt myself moved in the inmost recesses of my +soul, and I almost thought that I had been wrong. I say almost, +because, had I been convinced of it, I would have thrown myself at +his feet entreating pardon; but, not feeling myself competent to +stand in judgment in my own cause, I satisfied myself by remaining +dull and silent, and I never uttered one word until we were only half +a mile from Sinigaglia, where I intended to take supper and to remain +for the night. Having fought long enough with my own feelings, I +said to him; + +"We might have spent a little time in Rimini like good friends, if +you had felt any friendship for me, for, with a little kind +compliance, you could have easily cured me of my passion." + +"It would not cure you," answered Bellino, courageously, but with a +sweetness of tone which surprised me; "no, you would not be cured, +whether you found me to be man or woman, for you are in love with me +independently of my sex, and the certainty you would acquire would +make you furious. In such a state, should you find me inexorable, +you would very likely give way to excesses which would afterwards +cause you deep sorrow." + +"You expect to make me admit that you are right, but you are +completely mistaken, for I feel that I should remain perfectly calm, +and that by complying with my wishes you would gain my friendship." + +"I tell you again that you would become furious." + +"Bellino, that which has made me furious is the sight of your charms, +either too real or too completely deceiving, the power of which you +cannot affect to ignore. You have not been afraid to ignite my +amorous fury, how can you expect me to believe you now, when you +pretend to fear it, and when I am only asking you to let me touch a +thing, which, if it be as you say, will only disgust me?" + +"Ah! disgust you; I am quite certain of the contrary. Listen to me. +Were I a girl, I feel I could not resist loving you, but, being a +man, it is my duty not to grant what you desire, for your passion, +now very natural, would then become monstrous. Your ardent nature +would be stronger than your reason, and your reason itself would +easily come to the assistance of your senses and of your nature. +That violent clearing-up of the mystery, were you to obtain it, would +leave you deprived of all control over yourself. Disappointed in not +finding what you had expected, you would satisfy your passion upon +that which you would find, and the result would, of course, be an +abomination. How can you, intelligent as you are, flatter yourself +that, finding me to be a man, you could all at once cease to love me? +Would the charms which you now see in me cease to exist then? +Perhaps their power would, on the contrary, be enhanced, and your +passion, becoming brutal, would lead you to take any means your +imagination suggested to gratify it. You would persuade yourself +that you might change me into a woman, or, what is worse, that you +might change yourself into one. Your passion would invent a thousand +sophisms to justify your love, decorated with the fine appellation of +friendship, and you would not fail to allege hundreds of similarly +disgusting cases in order to excuse your conduct. You would +certainly never find me compliant; and how am I to know that you +would not threaten me with death?" + +"Nothing of the sort would happen, Bellino," I answered, rather tired +of the length of his argument, "positively nothing, and I am sure you +are exaggerating your fears. Yet I am bound to tell you that, even +if all you say should happen, it seems to me that to allow what can +strictly be considered only as a temporary fit of insanity, would +prove a less evil than to render incurable a disease of the mind +which reason would soon cut short." + +Thus does a poor philosopher reason when he takes it into his head to +argue at those periods during which a passion raging in his soul +makes all its faculties wander. To reason well, we must be under the +sway neither of love nor of anger, for those two passions have one +thing in common which is that, in their excess, they lower us to the +condition of brutes acting only under the influence of their +predominating instinct, and, unfortunately, we are never more +disposed to argue than when we feel ourselves under the influence of +either of those two powerful human passions. + +We arrived at Sinigaglia late at night, and I went to the best inn, +and, after choosing a comfortable room, ordered supper. As there was +but one bed in the room, I asked Bellino, in as calm a tone as I +could assume, whether he would have a fire lighted in another +chamber, and my surprise may be imagined when he answered quietly +that he had no objection to sleep in the same bed with me. Such an +answer, however, unexpected, was necessary to dispel the angry +feelings under which I was labouring. I guessed that I was near the +denouement of the romance, but I was very far from congratulating +myself, for I did not know whether the denouement would prove +agreeable or not. I felt, however, a real satisfaction at having +conquered, and was sure of my self-control, in case the senses, my +natural instinct, led me astray. But if I found myself in the right, +I thought I could expect the most precious favours. + +We sat down to supper opposite each other, and during the meal, his +words, his countenance, the expression of his beautiful eyes, his +sweet and voluptuous smile, everything seemed to announce that he had +had enough of playing a part which must have proved as painful to him +as to me. + +A weight was lifted off my mind, and I managed to shorten the supper +as much as possible. As soon as we had left the table, my amiable +companion called for a night-lamp, undressed himself, and went to +bed. I was not long in following him, and the reader will soon know +the nature of a denouement so long and so ardently desired; in the +mean time I beg to wish him as happy a night as the one which was +then awaiting me. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Bellino's History--I Am Put Under Arrest--I Run Away Against My Will +--My Return To Rimini, and My Arrival In Bologna + + +Dear reader, I said enough at the end of the last chapter to make you +guess what happened, but no language would be powerful enough to make +you realize all the voluptuousness which that charming being had in +store for me. She came close to me the moment I was in bed. Without +uttering one word our lips met, and I found myself in the ecstasy of +enjoyment before I had had time to seek for it. After so complete a +victory, what would my eyes and my fingers have gained from +investigations which could not give me more certainty than I had +already obtained? I could not take my gaze off that beautiful face, +which was all aflame with the ardour of love. + +After a moment of quiet rapture, a spark lighted up in our veins a +fresh conflagration which we drowned in a sea of new delights. +Bellino felt bound to make me forget my sufferings, and to reward me +by an ardour equal to the fire kindled by her charms. + +The happiness I gave her increased mine twofold, for it has always +been my weakness to compose the four-fifths of my enjoyment from the +sum-total of the happiness which I gave the charming being from whom +I derived it. But such a feeling must necessarily cause hatred for +old age which can still receive pleasure, but can no longer give +enjoyment to another. And youth runs away from old age, because it +is its most cruel enemy. + +An interval of repose became necessary, in consequence of the +activity of our enjoyment. Our senses were not tired out, but they +required the rest which renews their sensitiveness and restores the +buoyancy necessary to active service. + +Bellino was the first to break our silence. + +"Dearest," she said, "are you satisfied now? Have you found me truly +loving?" + +"Truly loving? Ah! traitress that you are! Do you, then, confess +that I was not mistaken when I guessed that you were a charming +woman? And if you truly loved me, tell me how you could contrive to +defer your happiness and mine so long? But is it quite certain that +I did not make a mistake?" + +"I am yours all over; see for yourself." + +Oh, what delightful survey! what charming beauties! what an ocean of +enjoyment! But I could not find any trace of the protuberance which +had so much terrified and disgusted me. + +"What has become," I said, "of that dreadful monstrosity?" + +"Listen to me," she replied, "and I will tell you everything. + +"My name is Therese. My father, a poor clerk in the Institute of +Bologna, had let an apartment in his house to the celebrated +Salimberi, a castrato, and a delightful musician. He was young and +handsome, he became attached to me, and I felt flattered by his +affection and by the praise he lavished upon me. I was only twelve +years of age; he proposed to teach me music, and finding that I had a +fine voice, he cultivated it carefully, and in less than a year I +could accompany myself on the harpsichord. His reward was that which +his love for me induced him to ask, and I granted the reward without +feeling any humiliation, for I worshipped him. Of course, men like +yourself are much above men of his species, but Salimberi was an +exception. His beauty, his manners, his talent, and the rare +qualities of his soul, made him superior in my eyes to all the men I +had seen until then. He was modest and reserved, rich and generous, +and I doubt whether he could have found a woman able to resist him; +yet I never heard him boast of having seduced any. The mutilation +practised upon his body had made him a monster, but he was an angel +by his rare qualities and endowments. + +"Salimberi was at that time educating a boy of the same age as +myself, who was in Rimini with a music teacher. The father of the +boy, who was poor and had a large family, seeing himself near death, +had thought of having his unfortunate son maimed so that he should +become the support of his brothers with his voice. The name of the +boy was Bellino; the good woman whom you have just seen in Ancona was +his mother, and everybody believes that she is mine. + +"I had belonged to Salimberi for about a year, when he announced to +me one day, weeping bitterly, that he was compelled to leave me to go +to Rome, but he promised to see me again. The news threw me into +despair. He had arranged everything for the continuation of my +musical education, but, as he was preparing himself for his +departure, my father died very suddenly, after a short illness, and I +was left an orphan. + +"Salimberi had not courage enough to resist my tears and my +entreaties; he made up his mind to take me to Rimini, and to place me +in the same house where his young 'protege' was educated. We reached +Rimini, and put up at an inn; after a short rest, Salimberi left me +to call upon the teacher of music, and to make all necessary +arrangements respecting me with him; but he soon returned, looking +sad and unhappy; Bellino had died the day before. + +"As he was thinking of the grief which the loss of the young man +would cause his mother, he was struck with the idea of bringing me +back to Bologna under the name of Bellino, where he could arrange for +my board with the mother of the deceased Bellino, who, being very +poor, would find it to her advantage to keep the secret. 'I will +give her,' he said, 'everything necessary for the completion of your +musical education, and in four years, I will take you to Dresden (he +was in the service of the Elector of Saxony, King of Poland), not as +a girl, but as a castrato. There we will live together without +giving anyone cause for scandal, and you will remain with me and +minister to my happiness until I die. All we have to do is to +represent you as Bellino, and it is very easy, as nobody knows you in +Bologna. Bellino's mother will alone know the secret; her other +children have seen their brother only when he was very young, and can +have no suspicion. But if you love me you must renounce your sex, +lose even the remembrance of it, and leave immediately for Bologna, +dressed as a boy, and under the name of Bellino. You must be very +careful lest anyone should find out that you are a girl; you must +sleep alone, dress yourself in private, and when your bosom is +formed, as it will be in a year or two, it will only be thought a +deformity not uncommon amongst 'castrati'. Besides, before leaving +you, I will give you a small instrument, and teach how to fix it in +such manner that, if you had at any time to submit to an examination, +you would easily be mistaken for a man. If you accept my plan, I +feel certain that we can live together in Dresden without losing the +good graces of the queen, who is very religious. Tell me, now, +whether you will accept my proposal? + +"He could not entertain any doubt of my consent, for I adored him. +As soon as he had made a boy of me we left Rimini for Bologna, where +we arrived late in the evening. A little gold made everything right +with Bellino's mother; I gave her the name of mother, and she kissed +me, calling me her dear son. Salimberi left us, and returned a short +time afterwards with the instrument which would complete my +transformation. He taught me, in the presence of my new mother, how +to fix it with some tragacanth gum, and I found myself exactly like +my friend. I would have laughed at it, had not my heart been deeply +grieved at the departure of my beloved Salimberi, for he bade me +farewell as soon as the curious operation was completed. People +laugh at forebodings; I do not believe in them myself, but the +foreboding of evil, which almost broke my heart as he gave me his +farewell kiss, did not deceive me. I felt the cold shivering of +death run through me; I felt I was looking at him for the last time, +and I fainted away. Alas! my fears proved only too prophetic. +Salimberi died a year ago in the Tyrol in the prime of life, with the +calmness of a true philosopher. His death compelled me to earn my +living with the assistance of my musical talent. My mother advised +me to continue to give myself out as a castrato, in the hope of being +able to take me to Rome. I agreed to do so, for I did not feel +sufficient energy to decide upon any other plan. In the meantime she +accepted an offer for the Ancona Theatre, and Petronio took the part +of first female dancer; in this way we played the comedy of 'The +World Turned Upside Down.' + +"After Salimberi, you are the only man I have known, and, if you +like, you can restore me to my original state, and make me give up +the name of Bellino, which I hate since the death of my protector, +and which begins to inconvenience me. I have only appeared at two +theatres, and each time I have been compelled to submit to the +scandalous, degrading examination, because everywhere I am thought to +have too much the appearance of a girl, and I am admitted only after +the shameful test has brought conviction. Until now, fortunately, I +have had to deal only with old priests who, in their good faith, have +been satisfied with a very slight examination, and have made a +favourable report to the bishop; but I might fall into the hands of +some young abbe, and the test would then become a more severe one. +Besides, I find myself exposed to the daily persecutions of two sorts +of beings: those who, like you, cannot and will not believe me to be +a man, and those who, for the satisfaction of their disgusting +propensities, are delighted at my being so, or find it advantageous +to suppose me so. The last particularly annoy me! Their tastes are +so infamous, their habits so low, that I fear I shall murder one of +them some day, when I can no longer control the rage in which their +obscene language throws me. Out of pity, my beloved angel, be +generous; and, if you love me, oh! free me from this state of shame +and degradation! Take me with you. I do not ask to become your +wife, that would be too much happiness; I will only be your friend, +your mistress, as I would have been Salimberi's; my heart is pure and +innocent, I feel that I can remain faithful to my lover through my +whole life. Do not abandon me. The love I have for you is sincere; +my affection for Salimberi was innocent; it was born of my +inexperience and of my gratitude, and it is only with you that I have +felt myself truly a woman." + +Her emotion, an inexpressible charm which seemed to flow from her +lips and to enforce conviction, made me shed tears of love and +sympathy. I blended my tears with those falling from her beautiful +eyes, and deeply moved, I promised not to abandon her and to make her +the sharer of my fate. Interested in the history, as singular as +extraordinary, that she had just narrated, and having seen nothing in +it that did not bear the stamp of truth, I felt really disposed to +make her happy but I could not believe that I had inspired her with a +very deep passion during my short stay in Ancona, many circumstances +of which might, on the contrary, have had an opposite effect upon her +heart. + +"If you loved me truly," I said, "how could you let me sleep with +your sisters, out of spite at your resistance?" + +"Alas, dearest! think of our great poverty, and how difficult it was +for me to discover myself. I loved you; but was it not natural that +I should suppose your inclination for me only a passing caprice? +When I saw you go so easily from Cecilia to Marinetta, I thought that +you would treat me in the same manner as soon as your desires were +satisfied, I was likewise confirmed in my opinion of your want of +constancy and of the little importance you attached to the delicacy +of the sentiment of love, when I witnessed what you did on board the +Turkish vessel without being hindered by my presence; had you loved +me, I thought my being present would have made you uncomfortable. I +feared to be soon despised, and God knows how much I suffered! You +have insulted me, darling, in many different ways, but my heart +pleaded in your favour, because I knew you were excited, angry, and +thirsting for revenge. Did you not threaten me this very day in your +carriage? I confess you greatly frightened me, but do not fancy that +I gave myself to you out of fear. No, I had made up my mind to be +yours from the moment you sent me word by Cecilia that you would take +me to Rimini, and your control over your own feelings during a part +of our journey confirmed me in my resolution, for I thought I could +trust myself to your honour, to your delicacy." + +"Throw up," I said, "the engagement you have in Rimini; let us +proceed on our journey, and, after remaining a couple of days in +Bologna, you will go with me to Venice; dressed as a woman, and with +another name, I would challenge the manager here to find you out." + +"I accept. Your will shall always be my law. I am my own mistress, +and I give myself to you without any reserve or restriction; my heart +belongs to you, and I trust to keep yours." + +Man has in himself a moral force of action which always makes him +overstep the line on which he is standing. I had obtained +everything, I wanted more. "Shew me," I said, "how you were when I +mistook you for a man." She got out of bed, opened her trunk, took +out the instrument and fixed it with the gum: I was compelled to +admire the ingenuity of the contrivance. My curiosity was satisfied, +and I passed a most delightful night in her arms. + +When I woke up in the morning, I admired her lovely face while she +was sleeping: all I knew of her came back to my mind; the words which +had been spoken by her bewitching mouth, her rare talent, her +candour, her feelings so full of delicacy, and her misfortunes, the +heaviest of which must have been the false character she had been +compelled to assume, and which exposed her to humiliation and shame, +everything strengthened my resolution to make her the companion of my +destiny, whatever it might be, or to follow her fate, for our +positions were very nearly the same; and wishing truly to attach +myself seriously to that interesting being, I determined to give to +our union the sanction of religion and of law, and to take her +legally for my wife. Such a step, as I then thought, could but +strengthen our love, increase our mutual esteem, and insure the +approbation of society which could not accept our union unless it was +sanctioned in the usual manner. + +The talents of Therese precluded the fear of our being ever in want +of the necessaries of life, and, although I did not know in what way +my own talents might be made available, I had faith in myself. Our +love might have been lessened, she would have enjoyed too great +advantages over me, and my self-dignity would have too deeply +suffered if I had allowed myself to be supported by her earnings +only. It might, after a time, have altered the nature of our +feelings; my wife, no longer thinking herself under any obligation to +me, might have fancied herself the protecting, instead of the +protected party, and I felt that my love would soon have turned into +utter contempt, if it had been my misfortune to find her harbouring +such thoughts. Although I trusted it would not be so, I wanted, +before taking the important step of marriage, to probe her heart, and +I resolved to try an experiment which would at once enable me to +judge the real feelings of her inmost soul. As soon as she was +awake, I spoke to her thus: + +"Dearest Therese, all you have told me leaves me no doubt of your +love for me, and the consciousness you feel of being the mistress of +my heart enhances my love for you to such a degree, that I am ready +to do everything to convince you that you were not mistaken in +thinking that you had entirely conquered me. I wish to prove to you +that I am worthy of the noble confidence you have reposed in me by +trusting you with equal sincerity. + +"Our hearts must be on a footing of perfect equality. I know you, my +dearest Therese, but you do not know me yet. I can read in your eyes +that you do not mind it, and it proves our great love, but that +feeling places me too much below you, and I do not wish you to have +so great an advantage over me. I feel certain that my confidence is +not necessary to your love; that you only care to be mine, that your +only wish is to possess my heart, and I admire you, my Therese; but I +should feel humiliated if I found myself either too much above or too +much below you. You have entrusted your secrets to me, now listen to +mine; but before I begin, promise me that, when you know everything +that concerns me, you will tell me candidly if any change has taken +place either in your feelings or in your hopes." + +"I promise it faithfully; I promise not to conceal anything from you; +but be upright enough not to tell me anything that is not perfectly +true, for I warn you that it would be useless. If you tried any +artifice in order to find me less worthy of you than I am in reality, +you would only succeed in lowering yourself in my estimation. I +should be very sorry to see you guilty of any cunning towards me. +Have no more suspicion of me than I have of you; tell me the whole +truth." + +"Here it is. You suppose me wealthy, and I am not so; as soon as +what there is now in my purse is spent I shall have nothing left. +You may fancy that I was born a patrician, but my social condition is +really inferior to your own. I have no lucrative talents, no +profession, nothing to give me the assurance that I am able to earn +my living. I have neither relatives nor friends, nor claims upon +anyone, and I have no serious plan or purpose before me. All I +possess is youth, health, courage, some intelligence, honour, +honesty, and some tincture of letters. My greatest treasure consists +in being my own master, perfectly independent, and not afraid of +misfortune. With all that, I am naturally inclined to extravagance. +Lovely Therese, you have my portrait. What is your answer?" + +"In the first place, dearest, let me assure you that I believe every +word you have just uttered, as I would believe in the Gospel; in the +second, allow me to tell you that several times in Ancona I have +judged you such as you have just described yourself, but far from +being displeased at such a knowledge of your nature, I was only +afraid of some illusion on my part, for I could hope to win you if +you were what I thought you to be. In one word, dear one, if it is +true that you are poor and a very bad hand at economy, allow me to +tell you that I feel delighted, because, if you love me, you will not +refuse a present from me, or despise me for offering it. The present +consists of myself, such as I am, and with all my faculties. I give +myself to you without any condition, with no restriction; I am yours, +I will take care of you. For the future think only of your love for +me, but love me exclusively. From this moment I am no longer +Bellino. Let us go to Venice, where my talent will keep us both +comfortably; if you wish to go anywhere else, let us go where you +please." + +"I must go to Constantinople." + +"Then let us proceed to Constantinople. If you are afraid to lose me +through want of constancy, marry me, and your right over me will be +strengthened by law. I should not love you better than I do now, but +I should be happy to be your wife." + +"It is my intention to marry you, and I am delighted that we agree in +that respect. The day after to-morrow, in Bologna, you shall be made +my legal-wife before the altar of God; I swear it to you here in the +presence of Love. I want you to be mine, I want to be yours, I want +us to be united by the most holy ties." + +"I am the happiest of women! We have nothing to do in Rimini; +suppose we do not get up; we can have our dinner in bed, and go away +to-morrow well rested after our fatigues." + +We left Rimini the next day, and stayed for breakfast at Pesaro. As +we were getting into the carriage to leave that place, an officer, +accompanied by two soldiers, presented himself, enquired for our +names, and demanded our passports. Bellino had one and gave it, but +I looked in vain for mine; I could not find it. + +The officer, a corporal, orders the postillion to wait and goes to +make his report. Half an hour afterwards, he returns, gives Bellino +his passport, saying that he can continue his journey, but tells me +that his orders are to escort me to the commanding officer, and I +follow him. + +"What have you done with your passport?" enquires that officer. + +"I have lost it." + +"A passport is not so easily lost." + +"Well, I have lost mine." + +"You cannot proceed any further." + +"I come from Rome, and I am going to Constantinople, bearing a letter +from Cardinal Acquaviva. Here is the letter stamped with his seal." + +"All I can do for you is to send you to M. de Gages." + +I found the famous general standing, surrounded by his staff. I told +him all I had already explained to the officer, and begged him to let +me continue my journey. + +"The only favour I can grant you is to put you under arrest till you +receive another passport from Rome delivered under the same name as +the one you have given here. To lose a passport is a misfortune +which befalls only a thoughtless, giddy man, and the cardinal will +for the future know better than to put his confidence in a giddy +fellow like you." + +With these words, he gave orders to take me to the guard-house at St. +Mary's Gate, outside the city, as soon as I should have written to +the cardinal for a new passport. His orders were executed. I was +brought back to the inn, where I wrote my letter, and I sent it by +express to his eminence, entreating him to forward the document, +without loss of time, direct to the war office. Then I embraced +Therese who was weeping, and, telling her to go to Rimini and to wait +there for my return, I made her take one hundred sequins. She wished +to remain in Pesaro, but I would not hear of it; I had my trunk +brought out, I saw Therese go away from the inn, and was taken to the +place appointed by the general. + +It is undoubtedly under such circumstances that the most determined +optimist finds himself at a loss; but an easy stoicism can blunt the +too sharp edge of misfortune. + +My greatest sorrow was the heart-grief of Therese who, seeing me torn +from her arms at the very moment of our union, was suffocated by the +tears which she tried to repress. She would not have left me if I +had not made her understand that she could not remain in Pesaro, and +if I had not promised to join her within ten days, never to be parted +again. But fate had decided otherwise. + +When we reached the gate, the officer confined me immediately in the +guard-house, and I sat down on my trunk. The officer was a taciturn +Spaniard who did not even condescend to honour me with an answer, +when I told him that I had money and would like to have someone to +wait on me. I had to pass the night on a little straw, and without +food, in the midst of the Spanish soldiers. It was the second night +of the sort that my destiny had condemned me to, immediately after +two delightful nights. My good angel doubtless found some pleasure +in bringing such conjunctions before my mind for the benefit of my +instruction. At all events, teachings of that description have an +infallible effect upon natures of a peculiar stamp. + +If you should wish to close the lips of a logician calling himself a +philosopher, who dares to argue that in this life grief overbalances +pleasure, ask him whether he would accept a life entirely without +sorrow and happiness. Be certain that he will not answer you, or he +will shuffle, because, if he says no, he proves that he likes life +such as it is, and if he likes it, he must find it agreeable, which +is an utter impossibility, if life is painful; should he, on the +contrary, answer in the affirmative, he would declare himself a fool, +for it would be as much as to say that he can conceive pleasure +arising from indifference, which is absurd nonsense. + +Suffering is inherent in human nature; but we never suffer without +entertaining the hope of recovery, or, at least, very seldom without +such hope, and hope itself is a pleasure. If it happens sometimes +that man suffers without any expectation of a cure, he necessarily +finds pleasure in the complete certainty of the end of his life; for +the worst, in all cases, must be either a sleep arising from extreme +dejection, during which we have the consolation of happy dreams or +the loss of all sensitiveness. But when we are happy, our happiness +is never disturbed by the thought that it will be followed by grief. +Therefore pleasure, during its active period, is always complete, +without alloy; grief is always soothed by hope. + +I suppose you, dear reader, at the age of twenty, and devoting +yourself to the task of making a man of yourself by furnishing your +mind with all the knowledge necessary to render you a useful being +through the activity of your brain. Someone comes in and tells you, +"I bring you thirty years of existence; it is the immutable decree of +fate; fifteen consecutive years must be happy, and fifteen years +unhappy. You are at liberty to choose the half by which you wish to +begin." + +Confess it candidly, dear reader, you will not require much more +consideration to decide, and you will certainly begin by the unhappy +series of years, because you will feel that the expectation of +fifteen delightful years cannot fail to brace you up with the courage +necessary to bear the unfortunate years you have to go through, and +we can even surmise, with every probability of being right, that the +certainty of future happiness will soothe to a considerable extent +the misery of the first period. + +You have already guessed, I have no doubt, the purpose of this +lengthy argument. The sagacious man, believe me, can never be +utterly miserable, and I most willingly agree with my friend Horace, +who says that, on the contrary, such a man is always happy. + + 'Nisi quum pituita molesta est.' + +But, pray where is the man who is always suffering from a rheum? + +The fact is that the fearful night I passed in the guardhouse of St. +Mary resulted for me in a slight loss and in a great gain. The small +loss was to be away from my dear Therese, but, being certain of +seeing her within ten days, the misfortune was not very great: as to +the gain, it was in experience the true school for a man. I gained a +complete system against thoughtlessness, a system of foresight. You +may safely bet a hundred to one that a young man who has once lost +his purse or his passport, will not lose either a second time. Each +of those misfortunes has befallen me once only, and I might have been +very often the victim of them, if experience had not taught me how +much they were to be dreaded. A thoughtless fellow is a man who has +not yet found the word dread in the dictionary of his life. + +The officer who relieved my cross-grained Castilian on the following +day seemed of a different nature altogether; his prepossessing +countenance pleased me much. He was a Frenchman, and I must say that +I have always liked the French, and never the Spainards; there is in +the manners of the first something so engaging, so obliging, that you +feel attracted towards them as towards a friend, whilst an air of +unbecoming haughtiness gives to the second a dark, forbidding +countenance which certainly does not prepossess in their favour. Yet +I have often been duped by Frenchmen, and never by Spaniards--a proof +that we ought to mistrust our tastes. + +The new officer, approaching me very politely, said to me,-- + +"To what chance, reverend sir, am I indebted for the honour of having +you in my custody?" + +Ah! here was a way of speaking which restored to my lungs all their +elasticity! I gave him all the particulars of my misfortune, and he +found the mishap very amusing. But a man disposed to laugh at my +disappointment could not be disagreeable to me, for it proved that +the turn of his mind had more than one point of resemblance with +mine. He gave me at once a soldier to serve me, and I had very +quickly a bed, a table, and a few chairs. He was kind enough to have +my bed placed in his own room, and I felt very grateful to him for +that delicate attention. + +He gave me an invitation to share his dinner, and proposed a game of +piquet afterwards, but from the very beginning he saw that I was no +match for him; he told me so, and he warned me that the officer who +would relieve him the next day was a better player even than he was +himself; I lost three or four ducats. He advised me to abstain from +playing on the following day, and I followed his advice. He told me +also that he would have company to supper, that there would be a game +of faro, but that the banker being a Greek and a crafty player, I +ought not to play. I thought his advice very considerate, +particularly when I saw that all the punters lost, and that the +Greek, very calm in the midst of the insulting treatment of those he +had duped, was pocketing his money, after handing a share to the +officer who had taken an interest in the bank. The name of the +banker was Don Pepe il Cadetto, and by his accent I knew he was a +Neapolitan. I communicated my discovery to the officer, asking him +why he had told me that the man was a Greek. He explained to me the +meaning of the word greek applied to a gambler, and the lesson which +followed his explanation proved very useful to me in after years. + +During the five following days, my life was uniform and rather dull, +but on the sixth day the same French officer was on guard, and I was +very glad to see him. He told me, with a hearty laugh, that he was +delighted to find me still in the guard-house, and I accepted the +compliment for what it was worth. In the evening, we had the same +bank at faro, with the same result as the first time, except a +violent blow from the stick of one of the punters upon the back of +the banker, of which the Greek stoically feigned to take no notice. +I saw the same man again nine years afterwards in Vienna, captain in +the service of Maria Theresa; he then called himself d'Afflisso. Ten +years later, I found him a colonel, and some time after worth a +million; but the last time I saw him, some thirteen or fourteen years +ago, he was a galley slave. He was handsome, but (rather a singular +thing) in spite of his beauty, he had a gallows look. I have seen +others with the same stamp--Cagliostro, for instance, and another who +has not yet been sent to the galleys, but who cannot fail to pay them +a visit. Should the reader feel any curiosity about it, I can +whisper the name in his ear. + +Towards the ninth or tenth day everyone in the army knew and liked +me, and I was expecting the passport, which could not be delayed much +longer. I was almost free, and I would often walk about even out of +sight of the sentinel. They were quite right not to fear my running +away, and I should have been wrong if I had thought of escaping, but +the most singular adventure of my life happened to me then, and most +unexpectedly. + +It was about six in the morning. I was taking a walk within one +hundred yards of the sentinel, when an officer arrived and alighted +from his horse, threw the bridle on the neck of his steed, and walked +off. Admiring the docility of the horse, standing there like a +faithful servant to whom his master has given orders to wait for him +I got up to him, and without any purpose I get hold of the bridle, +put my foot in the stirrup, and find myself in the saddle. I was on +horseback for the first time in my life. I do not know whether I +touched the horse with my cane or with my heels, but suddenly the +animal starts at full speed. My right foot having slipped out of the +stirrup, I press against the horse with my heels, and, feeling the +pressure, it gallops faster and faster, for I did not know how to +check it. At the last advanced post the sentinels call out to me to +stop; but I cannot obey the order, and the horse carrying me away +faster than ever, I hear the whizzing of a few musket balls, the +natural consequence of my, involuntary disobedience. At last, when I +reach the first advanced picket of the Austrians, the horse is +stopped, and I get off his back thanking God. + +An officer of Hussars asks where I am running so fast, and my tongue, +quicker than my thought, answers without any privity on my part, that +I can render no account but to Prince Lobkowitz, commander-in-chief +of the army, whose headquarters were at Rimini. Hearing my answer, +the officer gave orders for two Hussars to get on horseback, a fresh +one is given me, and I am taken at full gallop to Rimini, where the +officer on guard has me escorted at once to the prince. + +I find his highness alone, and I tell him candidly what has just +happened to me. My story makes him laugh, although he observes that +it is hardly credible. + +"I ought," he says, "to put you under arrest, but I am willing to +save you that unpleasantness." With that he called one of his +officers and ordered him to escort me through the Cesena Gate. "Then +you can go wherever you please," he added, turning round to me; "but +take care not to again enter the lines of my army without a passport, +or you might fare badly." + +I asked him to let me have the horse again, but he answered that the +animal did not belong to me. I forgot to ask him to send me back to +the place I had come from, and I regretted it; but after all perhaps +I did for the best. + +The officer who accompanied me asked me, as we were passing a coffee- +house, whether I would like to take some chocolate, and we went in. +At that moment I saw Petronio going by, and availing myself of a +moment when the officer was talking to someone, I told him not to +appear to be acquainted with me, but to tell me where he lived. When +we had taken our chocolate the officer paid and we went out. Along +the road we kept up the conversation; he told me his name, I gave him +mine, and I explained how I found myself in Rimini. He asked me +whether I had not remained some time in Ancona; I answered in the +affirmative, and he smiled and said I could get a passport in +Bologna, return to Rimini and to Pesaro without any fear, and recover +my trunk by paying the officer for the horse he had lost. We reached +the gate, he wished me a pleasant journey, and we parted company. + +I found myself free, with gold and jewels, but without my trunk. +Therese was in Rimini, and I could not enter that city. I made up my +mind to go to Bologna as quickly as possible in order to get a +passport, and to return to Pesaro, where I should find my passport +from Rome, for I could not make up my mind to lose my trunk, and I +did not want to be separated from Therese until the end of her +engagement with the manager of the Rimini Theatre. + +It was raining; I had silk stockings on, and I longed for a carriage. +I took shelter under the portal of a church, and turned my fine +overcoat inside out, so as not to look like an abbe. At that moment +a peasant happened to come along, and I asked him if a carriage could +be had to drive me to Cesena. "I have one, sir," he said, "but I +live half a league from here." + +"Go and get it, I will wait for you here." + +While I was waiting for the return of the peasant with his vehicle, +some forty mules laden with provisions came along the road towards +Rimini. It was still raining fast, and the mules passing close by +me, I placed my hand mechanically upon the neck of one of them, and +following the slow pace of the animals I re-entered Rimini without +the slightest notice being taken of me, even by the drivers of the +mules. I gave some money to the first street urchin I met, and he +took me to Therese's house. + +With my hair fastened under a night-cap, my hat pulled down over my +face, and my fine cane concealed under my coat, I did not look a very +elegant figure. I enquired for Bellino's mother, and the mistress of +the house took me to a room where I found all the family, and Therese +in a woman's dress. I had reckoned upon surmising them, but Petronio +had told them of our meeting, and they were expecting me. I gave a +full account of my adventures, but Therese, frightened at the danger +that threatened me, and in spite of her love, told me that it was +absolutely necessary for me to go to Bologna, as I had been advised +by M. Vais, the officer. + +"I know him," she said, "and he is a worthy man, but he comes here +every evening, and you must conceal yourself." + +It was only eight o'clock in the morning; we had the whole day before +us, and everyone promised to be discreet. I allayed Therese's +anxiety by telling her that I could easily contrive to leave the city +without being observed. + +Therese took me to her own room, where she told me that she had met +the manager of the theatre on her arrival in Rimini, and that he had +taken her at once to the apartments engaged for the family. She had +informed him that she was a woman, and that she had made up her mind +not to appear as a castrato any more; he had expressed himself +delighted at such news, because women could appear on the stage at +Rimini, which was not under the same legate as Ancona. She added +that her engagement would be at an end by the 1st of May, and that +she would meet me wherever it would be agreeable to me to wait for +her. + +"As soon as I can get a passport," I said, "there is nothing to +hinder me from remaining near you until the end of your engagement. +But as M. Vais calls upon you, tell me whether you have informed him +of my having spent a few days in Ancona?" + +"I did, and I even told him that you had been arrested because you +had lost your passport." + +I understood why the officer had smiled as he was talking with me. +After my conversation with Therese, I received the compliments of the +mother and of the young sisters who appeared to me less cheerful and +less free than they had been in Ancona. They felt that Bellino, +transformed into Therese, was too formidable a rival. I listened +patiently to all the complaints of the mother who maintained that, in +giving up the character of castrato, Therese had bidden adieu to +fortune, because she might have earned a thousand sequins a year in +Rome. + +"In Rome, my good woman," I said, "the false Bellino would have been +found out, and Therese would have been consigned to a miserable +convent for which she was never made." + +Notwithstanding the danger of my position, I spent the whole of the +day alone with my beloved mistress, and it seemed that every moment +gave her fresh beauties and increased my love. At eight o'clock in +the evening, hearing someone coming in, she left me, and I remained +in the dark, but in such a position that I could see everything and +hear every word. The Baron Vais came in, and Therese gave him her +hand with the grace of a pretty woman and the dignity of a princess. +The first thing he told her was the news about me; she appeared to be +pleased, and listened with well-feigned indifference, when he said +that he had advised me to return with a passport. He spent an hour +with her, and I was thoroughly well pleased with her manners and +behaviour, which had been such as to leave me no room for the +slightest feeling of jealousy. Marina lighted him out and Therese +returned to me. We had a joyous supper together, and, as we were +getting ready to go to bed, Petronio came to inform me that ten +muleteers would start for Cesena two hours before day-break, and that +he was sure I could leave the city with them if I would go and meet +them a quarter of an hour before their departure, and treat them to +something to drink. I was of the same opinion, and made up my mind +to make the attempt. I asked Petronio to sit up and to wake me in +good time. It proved an unnecessary precaution, for I was ready +before the time, and left Therese satisfied with my love, without any +doubt of my constancy, but rather anxious as to my success in +attempting to leave Rimini. She had sixty sequins which she wanted +to force back upon me, but I asked her what opinion she would have of +me if I accepted them, and we said no more about it. + +I went to the stable, and having treated one of the muleteers to some +drink I told him that I would willingly ride one of his mules as far +as Sarignan. + +"You are welcome to the ride," said the good fellow, "but I would +advise you not to get on the mule till we are outside the city, and +to pass through the gate on foot as if you were one of the drivers." + +It was exactly what I wanted. Petronio accompanied me as far as the +gate, where I gave him a substantial proof of my gratitude. I got +out of the city without the slightest difficulty, and left the +muleteers at Sarignan, whence I posted to Bologna. + +I found out that I could not obtain a passport, for the simple reason +that the authorities of the city persisted that it was not necessary; +but I knew better, and it was not for me to tell them why. I +resolved to write to the French officer who had treated me so well at +the guardhouse. I begged him to enquire at the war office whether my +passport had arrived from Rome, and, if so, to forward it to me. I +also asked him to find out the owner of the horse who had run away +with me, offering to pay for it. I made up my mind to wait for +Therese in Bologna, and I informed her of my decision, entreating her +to write very often. The reader will soon know the new resolution I +took on the very same day. + + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +VENETION YEARS, Vol. 1b, A CLERIC IN NAPLES +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jccln10.zip b/old/jccln10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..52a839d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jccln10.zip diff --git a/old/jccln11.txt b/old/jccln11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8af4ed9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jccln11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6423 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of A Cleric in Naples, by Jacques Casanova +#2 in our series by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. Please do not remove this. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the etext. Do not change or edit it without written permission. +The words are carefully chosen to provide users with the +information they need to understand what they may and may not +do with the etext. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These Etexts Are Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get etexts, and +further information, is included below. We need your donations. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541 + + + +Title: A Cleric in Naples, Casanova, v2 + +Author: Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + +Release Date: December, 2001 [Etext #2952] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[Most recently updated: December 10, 2001] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of A Cleric in Naples, by Casanova +*****This file should be named jccln11.txt or jccln11.zip***** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, jccln12.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, jccln11a.txt + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep etexts in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our etexts one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our sites at: +http://gutenberg.net or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +etexts, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any Etext before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2001 as we release over 50 new Etext +files per month, or 500 more Etexts in 2000 for a total of 4000+ +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +should reach over 300 billion Etexts given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 4,000 Etexts. We need +funding, as well as continued efforts by volunteers, to maintain +or increase our production and reach our goals. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of November, 2001, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, +Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, +Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, +Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, +Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, +and Wyoming. + +*In Progress + +We have filed in about 45 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +All donations should be made to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fundraising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fundraising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information at: + +http://www.gutenberg.net/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etexts, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this etext, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the etext, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this header are copyright (C) 2001 by Michael S. Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + + +This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF JACQUES CASANOVA de SEINGALT 1725-1798 +VENETIAN YEARS, Volume 1b--A CLERIC IN NAPLES + + +THE RARE UNABRIDGED LONDON EDITION OF 1894 TRANSLATED BY ARTHUR +MACHEN TO WHICH HAS BEEN ADDED THE CHAPTERS DISCOVERED +BY ARTHUR SYMONS. + + + + +A CLERIC IN NAPLES + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +My Misfortunes in Chiozza--Father Stephano--The Lazzaretto at Ancona +--The Greek Slave--My Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loretto--I Go to Rome +on Foot, and From Rome to Naples to Meet the Bishop--I Cannot Join +Him--Good Luck Offers Me the Means of Reaching Martorano, Which Place +I Very Quickly Leave to Return to Naples + + +The retinue of the ambassador, which was styled "grand," appeared to +me very small. It was composed of a Milanese steward, named +Carcinelli, of a priest who fulfilled the duties of secretary because +he could not write, of an old woman acting as housekeeper, of a man +cook with his ugly wife, and eight or ten servants. + +We reached Chiozza about noon. Immediately after landing, I politely +asked the steward where I should put up, and his answer was: + +"Wherever you please, provided you let this man know where it is, so +that he can give you notice when the peotta is ready to sail. My +duty," he added, "is to leave you at the lazzaretto of Ancona free of +expense from the moment we leave this place. Until then enjoy +yourself as well as you can." + +The man to whom I was to give my address was the captain of the +peotta. I asked him to recommend me a lodging. + +"You can come to my house," he said, "if you have no objection to +share a large bed with the cook, whose wife remains on board." + +Unable to devise any better plan, I accepted the offer, and a sailor, +carrying my trunk, accompanied me to the dwelling of the honest +captain. My trunk had to be placed under the bed which filled up the +room. I was amused at this, for I was not in a position to be over- +fastidious, and, after partaking of some dinner at the inn, I went +about the town. Chiozza is a peninsula, a sea-port belonging to +Venice, with a population of ten thousand inhabitants, seamen, +fishermen, merchants, lawyers, and government clerks. + +I entered a coffee-room, and I had scarcely taken a seat when a young +doctor-at-law, with whom I had studied in Padua, came up to me, and +introduced me to a druggist whose shop was near by, saying that his +house was the rendezvous of all the literary men of the place. A few +minutes afterwards, a tall Jacobin friar, blind of one eye, called +Corsini, whom I had known in Venice, came in and paid me many +compliments. He told me that I had arrived just in time to go to a +picnic got up by the Macaronic academicians for the next day, after a +sitting of the academy in which every member was to recite something +of his composition. He invited me to join them, and to gratify the +meeting with the delivery of one of my productions. I accepted the +invitation, and, after the reading of ten stanzas which I had written +for the occasion, I was unanimously elected a member. My success at +the picnic was still greater, for I disposed of such a quantity of +macaroni that I was found worthy of the title of prince of the +academy. + +The young doctor, himself one of the academicians, introduced me to +his family. His parents, who were in easy circumstances, received me +very kindly. One of his sisters was very amiable, but the other, a +professed nun, appeared to me a prodigy of beauty. I might have +enjoyed myself in a very agreeable way in the midst of that charming +family during my stay in Chiozza, but I suppose that it was my +destiny to meet in that place with nothing but sorrows. The young +doctor forewarned me that the monk Corsini was a very worthless +fellow, despised by everybody, and advised me to avoid him. I +thanked him for the information, but my thoughtlessness prevented me +from profiting by it. Of a very easy disposition, and too giddy to +fear any snares, I was foolish enough to believe that the monk would, +on the contrary, be the very man to throw plenty of amusement in my +way. + +On the third day the worthless dog took me to a house of ill-fame, +where I might have gone without his introduction, and, in order to +shew my mettle, I obliged a low creature whose ugliness ought to have +been a sufficient antidote against any fleshly desire. On leaving +the place, he brought me for supper to an inn where we met four +scoundrels of his own stamp. After supper one of them began a bank +of faro, and I was invited to join in the game. I gave way to that +feeling of false pride which so often causes the ruin of young men, +and after losing four sequins I expressed a wish to retire, but my +honest friend, the Jacobin contrived to make me risk four more +sequins in partnership with him. He held the bank, and it was +broken. I did not wish to play any more, but Corsini, feigning to +pity me and to feel great sorrow at being the cause of my loss, +induced me to try myself a bank of twenty-five sequins; my bank was +likewise broken. The hope of winning back my money made me keep up +the game, and I lost everything I had. + +Deeply grieved, I went away and laid myself down near the cook, who +woke up and said I was a libertine. + +"You are right," was all I could answer. + +I was worn out with fatigue and sorrow, and I slept soundly. My vile +tormentor, the monk, woke me at noon, and informed me with a +triumphant joy that a very rich young man had been invited by his +friends to supper, that he would be sure to play and to lose, and +that it would be a good opportunity for me to retrieve my losses. + +"I have lost all my money. Lend me twenty sequins." + +"When I lend money I am sure to lose; you may call it superstition, +but I have tried it too often. Try to find money somewhere else, and +come. Farewell." + +I felt ashamed to confess my position to my friend, and sending for, +a money-lender I emptied my trunk before him. We made an inventory +of my clothes, and the honest broker gave me thirty sequins, with the +understanding that if I did not redeem them within three days all my +things would become his property. I am bound to call him an honest +man, for he advised me to keep three shirts, a few pairs of +stockings, and a few handkerchiefs; I was disposed to let him take +everything, having a presentiment that I would win back all I had +lost; a very common error. A few years later I took my revenge by +writing a diatribe against presentiments. I am of opinion that the +only foreboding in which man can have any sort of faith is the one +which forbodes evil, because it comes from the mind, while a +presentiment of happiness has its origin in the heart, and the heart +is a fool worthy of reckoning foolishly upon fickle fortune. + +I did not lose any time in joining the honest company, which was +alarmed at the thought of not seeing me. Supper went off without any +allusion to gambling, but my admirable qualities were highly praised, +and it was decided that a brilliant fortune awaited me in Rome. +After supper there was no talk of play, but giving way to my evil +genius I loudly asked for my revenge. I was told that if I would +take the bank everyone would punt. I took the bank, lost every +sequin I had, and retired, begging the monk to pay what I owed to the +landlord, which he promised to do. + +I was in despair, and to crown my misery I found out as I was going +home that I had met the day before with another living specimen of +the Greek woman, less beautiful but as perfidious. I went to bed +stunned by my grief, and I believe that I must have fainted into a +heavy sleep, which lasted eleven hours; my awaking was that of a +miserable being, hating the light of heaven, of which he felt himself +unworthy, and I closed my eyes again, trying to sleep for a little +while longer. I dreaded to rouse myself up entirely, knowing that I +would then have to take some decision; but I never once thought of +returning to Venice, which would have been the very best thing to do, +and I would have destroyed myself rather than confide my sad position +to the young doctor. I was weary of my existence, and I entertained +vaguely some hope of starving where I was, without leaving my bed. +It is certain that I should not have got up if M. Alban, the master +of the peotta, had not roused me by calling upon me and informing me +that the boat was ready to sail. + +The man who is delivered from great perplexity, no matter by what +means, feels himself relieved. It seemed to me that Captain Alban +had come to point out the only thing I could possibly do; I dressed +myself in haste, and tying all my worldly possessions in a +handkerchief I went on board. Soon afterwards we left the shore, and +in the morning we cast anchor in Orsara, a seaport of Istria. We all +landed to visit the city, which would more properly be called a +village. It belongs to the Pope, the Republic of Venice having +abandoned it to the Holy See. + +A young monk of the order of the Recollects who called himself Friar +Stephano of Belun, and had obtained a free passage from the devout +Captain Alban, joined me as we landed and enquired whether I felt +sick. + +"Reverend father, I am unhappy." + +"You will forget all your sorrow, if you will come and dine with me +at the house of one of our devout friends." + +I had not broken my fast for thirty-six hours, and having suffered +much from sea-sickness during the night, my stomach was quite empty. +My erotic inconvenience made me very uncomfortable, my mind felt +deeply the consciousness of my degradation, and I did not possess a +groat! I was in such a miserable state that I had no strength to +accept or to refuse anything. I was thoroughly torpid, and I +followed the monk mechanically. + +He presented me to a lady, saying that he was accompanying me to +Rome, where I intend to become a Franciscan. This untruth disgusted +me, and under any other circumstances I would not have let it pass +without protest, but in my actual position it struck me as rather +comical. The good lady gave us a good dinner of fish cooked in oil, +which in Orsara is delicious, and we drank some exquisite refosco. +During our meal, a priest happened to drop in, and, after a short +conversation, he told me that I ought not to pass the night on board +the tartan, and pressed me to accept a bed in his house and a good +dinner for the next day in case the wind should not allow us to sail; +I accepted without hesitation. I offered my most sincere thanks to +the good old lady, and the priest took me all over the town. In the +evening, he brought me to his house where we partook of an excellent +supper prepared by his housekeeper, who sat down to the table with +us, and with whom I was much pleased. The refosco, still better than +that which I had drunk at dinner, scattered all my misery to the +wind, and I conversed gaily with the priest. He offered to read to +me a poem of his own composition, but, feeling that my eyes would not +keep open, I begged he would excuse me and postpone the reading until +the following day. + +I went to bed, and in the morning, after ten hours of the most +profound sleep, the housekeeper, who had been watching for my +awakening, brought me some coffee. I thought her a charming woman, +but, alas! I was not in a fit state to prove to her the high +estimation in which I held her beauty. + +Entertaining feelings of gratitude for my kind host, and disposed to +listen attentively to his poem, I dismissed all sadness, and I paid +his poetry such compliments that he was delighted, and, finding me +much more talented than he had judged me to be at first, he insisted +upon treating me to a reading of his idylls, and I had to swallow +them, bearing the infliction cheerfully. The day passed off very +agreeably; the housekeeper surrounded me with the kindest attentions +--a proof that she was smitten with me; and, giving way to that +pleasing idea, I felt that, by a very natural system of reciprocity, +she had made my conquest. The good priest thought that the day had +passed like lightning, thanks to all the beauties I had discovered in +his poetry, which, to speak the truth, was below mediocrity, but time +seemed to me to drag along very slowly, because the friendly glances +of the housekeeper made me long for bedtime, in spite of the +miserable condition in which I felt myself morally and physically. +But such was my nature; I abandoned myself to joy and happiness, +when, had I been more reasonable, I ought to have sunk under my grief +and sadness. + +But the golden time came at last. I found the pretty housekeeper +full of compliance, but only up to a certain point, and as she +offered some resistance when I shewed myself disposed to pay a full +homage to her charms, I quietly gave up the undertaking, very well +pleased for both of us that it had not been carried any further, and +I sought my couch in peace. But I had not seen the end of the +adventure, for the next morning, when she brought my coffee, her +pretty, enticing manners allured me to bestow a few loving caresses +upon her, and if she did not abandon herself entirely, it was only, +as she said, because she was afraid of some surprise. The day passed +off very pleasantly with the good priest, and at night, the house- +keeper no longer fearing detection, and I having on my side taken +every precaution necessary in the state in which I was, we passed two +most delicious hours. I left Orsara the next morning. + +Friar Stephano amused me all day with his talk, which plainly showed +me his ignorance combined with knavery under the veil of simplicity. +He made me look at the alms he had received in Orsara--bread, wine, +cheese, sausages, preserves, and chocolate; every nook and cranny of +his holy garment was full of provisions. + +"Have you received money likewise?" I enquired. + +"God forbid! In the first place, our glorious order does not permit +me to touch money, and, in the second place, were I to be foolish +enough to receive any when I am begging, people would think +themselves quit of me with one or two sous, whilst they dive me ten +times as much in eatables. Believe me Saint-Francis, was a very +judicious man." + +I bethought myself that what this monk called wealth would be poverty +to me. He offered to share with me, and seemed very proud at my +consenting to honour him so far. + +The tartan touched at the harbour of Pola, called Veruda, and we +landed. After a walk up hill of nearly a quarter of an hour, we +entered the city, and I devoted a couple of hours to visiting the +Roman antiquities, which are numerous, the town having been the +metropolis of the empire. Yet I saw no other trace of grand +buildings except the ruins of the arena. We returned to Veruda, and +went again to sea. On the following day we sighted Ancona, but the +wind being against us we were compelled to tack about, and we did not +reach the port till the second day. The harbour of Ancona, although +considered one of the great works of Trajan, would be very unsafe if +it were not for a causeway which has cost a great deal of money, and +which makes it some what better. I observed a fact worthy of notice, +namely, that, in the Adriatic, the northern coast has many harbours, +while the opposite coast can only boast of one or two. It is evident +that the sea is retiring by degrees towards the east, and that in +three or four more centuries Venice must be joined to the land. We +landed at the old lazzaretto, where we received the pleasant +information that we would go through a quarantine of twenty-eight +days, because Venice had admitted, after a quarantine of three +months, the crew of two ships from Messina, where the plague had +recently been raging. I requested a room for myself and for Brother +Stephano, who thanked me very heartily. I hired from a Jew a bed, a +table and a few chairs, promising to pay for the hire at the +expiration of our quarantine. The monk would have nothing but straw. +If he had guessed that without him I might have starved, he would +most likely not have felt so much vanity at sharing my room. A +sailor, expecting to find in me a generous customer, came to enquire +where my trunk was, and, hearing from me that I did not know, he, as +well as Captain Alban, went to a great deal of trouble to find it, +and I could hardly keep down my merriment when the captain called, +begging to be excused for having left it behind, and assuring me that +he would take care to forward it to me in less than three weeks. + +The friar, who had to remain with me four weeks, expected to live at +my expense, while, on the contrary, he had been sent by Providence to +keep me. He had provisions enough for one week, but it was necessary +to think of the future. + +After supper, I drew a most affecting picture of my position, shewing +that I should be in need of everything until my arrival at Rome, +where I was going, I said, to fill the post of secretary of +memorials, and my astonishment may be imagined when I saw the +blockhead delighted at the recital of my misfortunes. + +"I undertake to take care of you until we reach Rome; only tell me +whether you can write." + +"What a question! Are you joking?" + +"Why should I? Look at me; I cannot write anything but my name. +True, I can write it with either hand; and what else do I want to +know?" + +"You astonish me greatly, for I thought you were a priest." + +"I am a monk; I say the mass, and, as a matter of course, I must know +how to read. Saint-Francis, whose unworthy son I am, could not read, +an that is the reason why he never said a mass. But as you can +write, you will to-morrow pen a letter in my name to the persons +whose names I will give you, and I warrant you we shall have enough +sent here to live like fighting cocks all through our quarantine." + +The next day he made me write eight letters, because, in the oral +tradition of his order, it is said that, when a monk has knocked at +seven doors and has met with a refusal at every one of them, he must +apply to the eighth with perfect confidence, because there he is +certain of receiving alms. As he had already performed the +pilgrimage to Rome, he knew every person in Ancona devoted to the +cult of Saint-Francis, and was acquainted with the superiors of all +the rich convents. I had to write to every person he named, and to +set down all the lies he dictated to me. He likewise made me sign +the letters for him, saying, that, if he signed himself, his +correspondents would see that the letters had not been written by +him, which would injure him, for, he added, in this age of +corruption, people will esteem only learned men. He compelled me to +fill the letters with Latin passages and quotations, even those +addressed to ladies, and I remonstrated in vain, for, when I raised +any objection, he threatened to leave me without anything to eat. I +made up my mind to do exactly as he wished. He desired me to write +to the superior of the Jesuits that he would not apply to the +Capuchins, because they were no better than atheists, and that that +was the reason of the great dislike of Saint-Francis for them. It +was in vain that I reminded him of the fact that, in the time of +Saint-Francis, there were neither Capuchins nor Recollets. His +answer was that I had proved myself an ignoramus. I firmly believed +that he would be thought a madman, and that we should not receive +anything, but I was mistaken, for such a quantity of provisions came +pouring in that I was amazed. Wine was sent from three or four +different quarters, more than enough for us during all our stay, and +yet I drank nothing but water, so great was my wish to recover my +health. As for eatables, enough was sent in every day for six +persons; we gave all our surplus to our keeper, who had a large +family. But the monk felt no gratitude for the kind souls who +bestowed their charity upon him; all his thanks were reserved for +Saint-Francis. + +He undertook to have my men washed by the keeper; I would not have +dared to give it myself, and he said that he had nothing to fear, as +everybody was well aware that the monks of his order never wear any +kind of linen. + +I kept myself in bed nearly all day, and thus avoided shewing myself +to visitors. The persons who did not come wrote letters full of +incongruities cleverly worded, which I took good care not to point +out to him. It was with great difficulty that I tried to persuade +him that those letters did not require any answer. + +A fortnight of repose and severe diet brought me round towards +complete recovery, and I began to walk in the yard of the lazzaretto +from morning till night; but the arrival of a Turk from Thessalonia +with his family compelled me to suspend my walks, the ground-floor +having been given to him. The only pleasure left me was to spend my +time on the balcony overlooking the yard. I soon saw a Greek slave, +a girl of dazzling beauty, for whom I felt the deepest interest. She +was in the habit of spending the whole day sitting near the door with +a book or some embroidery in her hand. If she happened to raise her +eyes and to meet mine, she modestly bent her head down, and sometimes +she rose and went in slowly, as if she meant to say, "I did not know +that somebody was looking at me." Her figure was tall and slender, +her features proclaimed her to be very young; she had a very fair +complexion, with beautiful black hair and eyes. She wore the Greek +costume, which gave her person a certain air of very exciting +voluptuousness. + +I was perfectly idle, and with the temperament which nature and habit +had given me, was it likely that I could feast my eyes constantly +upon such a charming object without falling desperately in love? I +had heard her conversing in Lingua Franca with her master, a fine old +man, who, like her, felt very weary of the quarantine, and used to +come out but seldom, smoking his pipe, and remaining in the yard only +a short time. I felt a great temptation to address a few words to +the beautiful girl, but I was afraid she might run away and never +come out again; however, unable to control myself any longer, I +determined to write to her; I had no difficulty in conveying the +letter, as I had only to let it fall from my balcony. But she might +have refused to pick it up, and this is the plan I adopted in order +not to risk any unpleasant result. + +Availing myself of a moment during which she was alone in the yard, I +dropped from my balcony a small piece of paper folded like a letter, +but I had taken care not to write anything on it, and held the true +letter in my hand. As soon as I saw her stooping down to pick up the +first, I quickly let the second drop at her feet, and she put both +into her pocket. A few minutes afterwards she left the yard. My +letter was somewhat to this effect: + +"Beautiful angel from the East, I worship you. I will remain all +night on this balcony in the hope that you will come to me for a +quarter of an hour, and listen to my voice through the hole under my +feet. We can speak softly, and in order to hear me you can climb up +to the top of the bale of goods which lies beneath the same hole." + +I begged from my keeper not to lock me in as he did every night, and +he consented on condition that he would watch me, for if I had jumped +down in the yard his life might have been the penalty, and he +promised not to disturb me on the balcony. + +At midnight, as I was beginning to give her up, she carne forward. I +then laid myself flat on the floor of the balcony, and I placed my +head against the hole, about six inches square. I saw her jump on +the bale, and her head reached within a foot from the balcony. She +was compelled to steady herself with one hand against the wall for +fear of falling, and in that position we talked of love, of ardent +desires, of obstacles, of impossibilities, and of cunning artifices. +I told her the reason for which I dared not jump down in the yard, +and she observed that, even without that reason, it would bring ruin +upon us, as it would be impossible to come up again, and that, +besides, God alone knew what her master would do if he were to find +us together. Then, promising to visit me in this way every night, +she passed her hand through the hole. Alas! I could not leave off +kissing it, for I thought that I had never in my life touched so +soft, so delicate a hand. But what bliss when she begged for mine! +I quickly thrust my arm through the hole, so that she could fasten +her lips to the bend of the elbow. How many sweet liberties my hand +ventured to take! But we were at last compelled by prudence to +separate, and when I returned to my room I saw with great pleasure +that the keeper was fast asleep. + +Although I was delighted at having obtained every favour I could +possibly wish for in the uncomfortable position we had been in, I +racked my brain to contrive the means of securing more complete +enjoyment for the following night, but I found during the afternoon +that the feminine cunning of my beautiful Greek was more fertile than +mine. + +Being alone in the yard with her master, she said a few words to him +in Turkish, to which he seemed to give his approval, and soon after a +servant, assisted by the keeper, brought under the balcony a large +basket of goods. She overlooked the arrangement, and in order to +secure the basket better, she made the servant place a bale of cotton +across two others. Guessing at her purpose, I fairly leaped for joy, +for she had found the way of raising herself two feet higher; but I +thought that she would then find herself in the most inconvenient +position, and that, forced to bend double, she would not be able to +resist the fatigue. The hole was not wide enough for her head to +pass through, otherwise she might have stood erect and been +comfortable. It was necessary at all events to guard against that +difficulty; the only way was to tear out one of the planks of the +floor of the balcony, but it was not an easy undertaking. Yet I +decided upon attempting it, regardless of consequences; and I went to +my room to provide myself with a large pair of pincers. Luckily the +keeper was absent, and availing myself of the opportunity, I +succeeded in dragging out carefully the four large nails which +fastened the plank. Finding that I could lift it at my will, I +replaced the pincers, and waited for the night with amorous +impatience. + +The darling girl came exactly at midnight, noticing the difficulty +she experienced in climbing up, and in getting a footing upon the +third bale of cotton, I lifted the plank, and, extending my arm as +far as I could, I offered her a steady point of support. She stood +straight, and found herself agreeably surprised, for she could pass +her head and her arms through the hole. We wasted no time in empty +compliments; we only congratulated each other upon having both worked +for the same purpose. + +If, the night before, I had found myself master of her person more +than she was of mine, this time the position was entirely reversed. +Her hand roamed freely over every part of my body, but I had to stop +half-way down hers. She cursed the man who had packed the bale for +not having made it half a foot bigger, so as to get nearer to me. +Very likely even that would not have satisfied us, but she would have +felt happier. + +Our pleasures were barren, yet we kept up our enjoyment until the +first streak of light. I put back the plank carefully, and I lay +down in my bed in great need of recruiting my strength. + +My dear mistress had informed me that the Turkish Bairam began that +very morning, and would last three days during which it would be +impossible for her to see me. + +The night after Bairam, she did not fail to make her appearance, and, +saying that she could not be happy without me, she told me that, as +she was a Christian woman, I could buy her, if I waited for her after +leaving the lazzaretto. I was compelled to tell her that I did not +possess the means of doing so, and my confession made her sigh. On +the following night, she informed me that her master would sell her +for two thousand piasters, that she would give me the amount, that +she was yet a virgin, and that I would be pleased with my bargain. +She added that she would give me a casket full of diamonds, one of +which was alone worth two thousand piasters, and that the sale of the +others would place us beyond the reach of poverty for the remainder +of our life. She assured me that her master would not notice the +loss of the casket, and that, if he did, he would never think of +accusing her. + +I was in love with this girl; and her proposal made me uncomfortable, +but when I woke in the morning I did not hesitate any longer. She +brought the casket in the evening, but I told her that I never could +make up my mind to be accessory to a robbery; she was very unhappy, +and said that my love was not as deep as her own, but that she could +not help admiring me for being so good a Christian. + +This was the last night; probably we should never meet again. The +flame of passion consumed us. She proposed that I should lift her up +to the balcony through the open space. Where is the lover who would +have objected to so attractive a proposal? I rose, and without being +a Milo, I placed my hands under her arms, I drew her up towards me, +and my desires are on the point of being fulfilled. Suddenly I feel +two hands upon my shoulders, and the voice of the keeper exclaims, +"What are you about?" I let my precious burden drop; she regains her +chamber, and I, giving vent to my rage, throw myself flat on the +floor of the balcony, and remain there without a movement, in spite +of the shaking of the keeper whom I was sorely tempted to strangle. +At last I rose from the floor and went to bed without uttering one +word, and not even caring to replace the plank. + +In the morning, the governor informed us that we were free. As I +left the lazzaretto, with a breaking heart, I caught a glimpse of the +Greek slave drowned in tears. + +I agreed to meet Friar Stephano at the exchange, and I took the Jew +from whom I had hired the furniture, to the convent of the Minims, +where I received from Father Lazari ten sequins and the address of +the bishop, who, after performing quarantine on the frontiers of +Tuscany, had proceeded to Rome, where he would expect me to meet him. + +I paid the Jew, and made a poor dinner at an inn. As I was leaving +it to join the monk, I was so unlucky as to meet Captain Alban, who +reproached me bitterly for having led him to believe that my trunk +had been left behind. I contrived to appease his anger by telling +him all my misfortunes, and I signed a paper in which I declared that +I had no claim whatever upon him. I then purchased a pair of shoes +and an overcoat, and met Stephano, whom I informed of my decision to +make a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Loretto. I said I would await there +for him, and that we would afterwards travel together as far as Rome. +He answered that he did not wish to go through Loretto, and that I +would repent of my contempt for the grace of Saint-Francis. I did +not alter my mind, and I left for Loretto the next day in the +enjoyment of perfect health. + +I reached the Holy City, tired almost to death, for it was the first +time in my life that I had walked fifteen miles, drinking nothing but +water, although the weather was very warm, because the dry wine used +in that part of the country parched me too much. I must observe +that, in spite of my poverty, I did not look like a beggar. + +As I was entering the city, I saw coming towards me an elderly priest +of very respectable appearance, and, as he was evidently taking +notice of me, as soon as he drew near, I saluted him, and enquired +where I could find a comfortable inn. "I cannot doubt," he said, +"that a person like you, travelling on foot, must come here from +devout motives; come with me." He turned back, I followed him, and +he took me to a fine-looking house. After whispering a few words to +a man who appeared to be a steward, he left me saying, very affably, +"You shall be well attended to." + +My first impression was that I had been mistaken for some other +person, but I said nothing. + +I was led to a suite of three rooms; the chamber was decorated with +damask hangings, the bedstead had a canopy, and the table was +supplied with all materials necessary for writing. A servant brought +me a light dressing-gown, and another came in with linen and a large +tub full of water, which he placed before me; my shoes and stockings +were taken off, and my feet washed. A very decent-looking woman, +followed by a servant girl, came in a few minutes after, and +curtsying very low, she proceeded to make my bed. At that moment the +Angelus bell was heard; everyone knelt down, and I followed their +example. After the prayer, a small table was neatly laid out, I was +asked what sort of wine I wished to drink, and I was provided with +newspapers and two silver candlesticks. An hour afterwards I had a +delicious fish supper, and, before I retired to bed, a servant came +to enquire whether I would take chocolate in the morning before or +after mass. + +As soon as I was in bed, the servant brought me a night-lamp with a +dial, and I remained alone. Except in France I have never had such a +good bed as I had that night. It would have cured the most chronic +insomnia, but I was not labouring under such a disease, and I slept +for ten hours. + +This sort of treatment easily led me to believe that I was not in any +kind of hostelry; but where was I? How was I to suppose that I was +in a hospital? + +When I had taken my chocolate, a hair-dresser--quite a fashionable, +dapper fellow--made his appearance, dying to give vent to his +chattering propensities. Guessing that I did not wish to be shaved, +he offered to clip my soft down with the scissors, saying that I +would look younger. + +"Why do you suppose that I want to conceal my age?" + +"It is very natural, because, if your lordship did not wish to do so, +your lordship would have shaved long ago. Countess Marcolini is +here; does your lordship know her? I must go to her at noon to dress +her hair." + +I did not feel interested in the Countess Marcolini, and, seeing it, +the gossip changed the subject. + +"Is this your lordship's first visit to this house? It is the +finest hospital throughout the papal states." + +"I quite agree with you, and I shall compliment His Holiness on the +establishment." + +"Oh! His Holiness knows all about it, he resided here before he +became pope. If Monsignor Caraffa had not been well acquainted with +you, he would not have introduced you here." + +Such is the use of barbers throughout Europe; but you must not put +any questions to them, for, if you do, they are sure to threat you to +an impudent mixture of truth and falsehood, and instead of you +pumping them, they will worm everything out of you. + +Thinking that it was my duty to present my respectful compliments to +Monsignor Caraffa, I desired to be taken to his apartment. He gave +me a pleasant welcome, shewed me his library, and entrusted me to the +care of one of his abbes, a man of parts, who acted as my cicerone +every where. Twenty years afterwards, this same abbe was of great +service to me in Rome, and, if still alive, he is a canon of St. John +Lateran. + +On the following day, I took the communion in the Santa-Casa. The +third day was entirely employed in examining the exterior of this +truly wonderful sanctuary, and early the next day I resumed my +journey, having spent nothing except three paoli for the barber. +Halfway to Macerata, I overtook Brother Stephano walking on at a very +slow rate. He was delighted to see me again, and told me that he had +left Ancona two hours after me, but that he never walked more than +three miles a day, being quite satisfied to take two months for a +journey which, even on foot, can easily be accomplished in a week. +"I want," he said, "to reach Rome without fatigue and in good health. +I am in no hurry, and if you feel disposed to travel with me and in +the same quiet way, Saint-Francis will not find it difficult to keep +us both during the journey." + +This lazy fellow was a man about thirty, red-haired, very strong and +healthy; a true peasant who had turned himself into a monk only for +the sake of living in idle comfort. I answered that, as I was in a +hurry to reach Rome, I could not be his travelling companion. + +"I undertake to walk six miles, instead of three, today," he said, +"if you will carry my cloak, which I find very heavy." + +The proposal struck me as a rather funny one; I put on his cloak, and +he took my great-coat, but, after the exchange, we cut such a comical +figure that every peasant we met laughed at us. His cloak would +truly have proved a load for a mule. There were twelve pockets quite +full, without taken into account a pocket behind, which he called 'il +batticulo', and which contained alone twice as much as all the +others. Bread, wine, fresh and salt meat, fowls, eggs, cheese, ham, +sausages--everything was to be found in those pockets, which +contained provisions enough for a fortnight. + +I told him how well I had been treated in Loretto, and he assured me +that I might have asked Monsignor Caraffa to give me letters for all +the hospitals on my road to Rome, and that everywhere I would have +met with the same reception. "The hospitals," he added, "are all +under the curse of Saint-Francis, because the mendicant friars are +not admitted in them; but we do not mind their gates being shut +against us, because they are too far apart from each other. We prefer +the homes of the persons attached to our order; these we find +everywhere." + +"Why do you not ask hospitality in the convents of your order?" + +"I am not so foolish. In the first place, I should not be admitted, +because, being a fugitive, I have not the written obedience which +must be shown at every convent, and I should even run the risk of +being thrown into prison; your monks are a cursed bad lot. In the +second place, I should not be half so comfortable in the convents as +I am with our devout benefactors." + +"Why and how are you a fugitive?" + +He answered my question by the narrative of his imprisonment and +flight, the whole story being a tissue of absurdities and lies. The +fugitive Recollet friar was a fool, with something of the wit of +harlequin, and he thought that every man listening to him was a +greater fool than himself. Yet with all his folly he was not went in +a certain species of cunning. His religious principles were +singular. As he did not wish to be taken for a bigoted man he was +scandalous, and for the sake of making people laugh he would often +make use of the most disgusting expressions. He had no taste +whatever for women, and no inclination towards the pleasures of the +flesh; but this was only owing to a deficiency in his natural +temperament, and yet he claimed for himself the virtue of continence. +On that score, everything appeared to him food for merriment, and +when he had drunk rather too much, he would ask questions of such an +indecent character that they would bring blushes on everybody's +countenance. Yet the brute would only laugh. + +As we were getting within one hundred yards from the house of the +devout friend whom he intended to honour with his visit, he took back +his heavy cloak. On entering the house he gave his blessing to +everybody, and everyone in the family came to kiss his hand. The +mistress of the house requested him to say mass for them, and the +compliant monk asked to be taken to the vestry, but when I whispered +in his ear,--- + +"Have you forgotten that we have already broken our fast to-day?" he +answered, dryly,--- + +"Mind your own business." + +I dared not make any further remark, but during the mass I was indeed +surprised, for I saw that he did not understand what he was doing. I +could not help being amused at his awkwardness, but I had not yet +seen the best part of the comedy. As soon as he had somehow or other +finished his mass he went to the confessional, and after hearing in +confession every member of the family he took it into his head to +refuse absolution to the daughter of his hostess, a girl of twelve or +thirteen, pretty and quite charming. He gave his refusal publicly, +scolding her and threatening her with the torments of hell. The poor +girl, overwhelmed with shame, left the church crying bitterly, and I, +feeling real sympathy for her, could not help saying aloud to +Stephano that he was a madman. I ran after the girl to offer her my +consolations, but she had disappeared, and could not be induced to +join us at dinner. This piece of extravagance on the part of the +monk exasperated me to such an extent that I felt a very strong +inclination to thrash him. In the presence of all the family I told +him that he was an impostor, and the infamous destroyer of the poor +child's honour; I challenged him to explain his reasons for refusing +to give her absolution, but he closed my lips by answering very +coolly that he could not betray the secrets of the confessional. +I could eat nothing, and was fully determined to leave the scoundrel. +As we left the house I was compelled to accept one paolo as the price +of the mock mass he had said. I had to fulfil the sorry duty of his +treasurer. + +The moment we were on the road, I told him that I was going to part +company, because I was afraid of being sent as a felon to the galleys +if I continued my journey with him. We exchanged high words; I +called him an ignorant scoundrel, he styled me beggar. I struck him +a violent slap on the face, which he returned with a blow from his +stick, but I quickly snatched it from him, and, leaving him, I +hastened towards Macerata. A carrier who was going to Tolentino took +me with him for two paoli, and for six more I might have reached +Foligno in a waggon, but unfortunately a wish for economy made me +refuse the offer. I felt well, and I thought I could easily walk as +far as Valcimare, but I arrived there only after five hours of hard +walking, and thoroughly beaten with fatigue. I was strong and +healthy, but a walk of five hours was more than I could bear, because +in my infancy I had never gone a league on foot. Young people cannot +practise too much the art of walking. + +The next day, refreshed by a good night's rest, and ready to resume +my journey, I wanted to pay the innkeeper, but, alas! a new +misfortune was in store for me! Let the reader imagine my sad +position! I recollected that I had forgotten my purse, containing +seven sequins, on the table of the inn at Tolentino. What a +thunderbolt! I was in despair, but I gave up the idea of going back, +as it was very doubtful whether I would find my money. Yet it +contained all I possessed, save a few copper coins I had in my +pocket. I paid my small bill, and, deeply grieved at my loss, +continued my journey towards Seraval. I was within three miles of +that place when, in jumping over a ditch, I sprained my ankle, and +was compelled to sit down on one side of the road, and to wait until +someone should come to my assistance. + +In the course of an hour a peasant happened to pass with his donkey, +and he agreed to carry me to Seraval for one paolo. As I wanted to +spend as little as possible, the peasant took me to an ill-looking +fellow who, for two paoli paid in advance, consented to give me a +lodging. I asked him to send for a surgeon, but I did not obtain one +until the following morning. I had a wretched supper, after which I +lay down in a filthy bed. I was in hope that sleep would bring me +some relief, but my evil genius was preparing for me a night of +torments. + +Three men, armed with guns and looking like banditti, came in shortly +after I had gone to bed, speaking a kind of slang which I could not +make out, swearing, raging, and paying no attention to me. They +drank and sang until midnight, after which they threw themselves down +on bundles of straw brought for them, and my host, who was drunk, +came, greatly to my dismay, to lie down near me. Disgusted at the +idea of having such a fellow for my bed companion, I refused to let +him come, but he answered, with fearful blasphemies, that all the +devils in hell could not prevent him from taking possession of his +own bed. I was forced to make room for him, and exclaimed "Heavens, +where am I?" He told me that I was in the house of the most honest +constable in all the papal states. + +Could I possibly have supposed that the peasant would have brought me +amongst those accursed enemies of humankind! + +He laid himself down near me, but the filthy scoundrel soon compelled +me to give him, for certain reasons, such a blow in his chest that he +rolled out of bed. He picked himself up, and renewed his beastly +attempt. Being well aware that I could not master him without great +danger, I got out of bed, thinking myself lucky that he did not +oppose my wish, and crawling along as well as I could, I found a +chair on which I passed the night. At day-break, my tormentor, +called up by his honest comrades, joined them in drinking and +shouting, and the three strangers, taking their guns, departed. Left +alone by the departure of the vile rabble, I passed another +unpleasant hour, calling in vain for someone. At last a young boy +came in, I gave him some money and he went for a surgeon. The doctor +examined my foot, and assured me that three or four days would set me +to rights. He advised me to be removed to an inn, and I most +willingly followed his counsel. As soon as I was brought to the inn, +I went to bed, and was well cared for, but my position was such that +I dreaded the moment of my recovery. I feared that I should be +compelled to sell my coat to pay the inn-keeper, and the very thought +made me feel ashamed. I began to consider that if I had controlled +my sympathy for the young girl so ill-treated by Stephano, I should +not have fallen into this sad predicament, and I felt conscious that +my sympathy had been a mistake. If I had put up with the faults of +the friar, if this and if that, and every other if was conjured up to +torment my restless and wretched brain. Yet I must confess that the +thoughts which have their origin in misfortune are not without +advantage to a young man, for they give him the habit of thinking, +and the man who does not think never does anything right. + +The morning of the fourth day came, and I was able to walk, as the +surgeon had predicted; I made up my mind, although reluctantly, to +beg the worthy man to sell my great coat for me--a most unpleasant +necessity, for rain had begun to fall. I owed fifteen paoli to the +inn-keeper and four to the surgeon. Just as I was going to proffer +my painful request, Brother Stephano made his appearance in my room, +and burst into loud laughter enquiring whether I had forgotten the +blow from his stick! + +I was struck with amazement! I begged the surgeon to leave me with +the monk, and he immediately complied. + +I must ask my readers whether it is possible, in the face of such +extraordinary circumstances, not to feel superstitious! What is +truly miraculous in this case is the precise minute at which the +event took place, for the friar entered the room as the word was +hanging on my lips. What surprised me most was the force of +Providence, of fortune, of chance, whatever name is given to it, of +that very necessary combination which compelled me to find no hope +but in that fatal monk, who had begun to be my protective genius in +Chiozza at the moment my distress had likewise commenced. And yet, a +singular guardian angel, this Stephano! I felt that the mysterious +force which threw me in his hands was a punishment rather than a +favour. + +Nevertheless he was welcome, because I had no doubt of his relieving +me from my difficulties,--and whatever might be the power that sent +him to me, I felt that I could not do better than to submit to its +influence; the destiny of that monk was to escort me to Rome. + +"Chi va piano va sano," said the friar as soon as we were alone. He +had taken five days to traverse the road over which I had travelled +in one day, but he was in good health, and he had met with no +misfortune. He told me that, as he was passing, he heard that an +abbe, secretary to the Venetian ambassador at Rome, was lying ill at +the inn, after having been robbed in Valcimara. "I came to see you," +he added, "and as I find you recovered from your illness, we can +start again together; I agree to walk six miles every day to please +you. Come, let us forget the past, and let us be at once on our +way." + +"I cannot go; I have lost my purse, and I owe twenty paoli." + +"I will go and find the amount in the name of Saint-Francis." + +He returned within an hour, but he was accompanied by the infamous +constable who told me that, if I had let him know who I was, he would +have been happy to keep me in his house. "I will give you," he +continued, "forty paoli, if you will promise me the protection of +your ambassador; but if you do not succeed in obtaining it for me in +Rome, you will undertake to repay me. Therefore you must give me an +acknowledgement of the debt." + +"I have no objection." Every arrangement was speedily completed; I +received the money, paid my debts, and left Seraval with Stephano. + +About one o'clock in the afternoon, we saw a wretched-looking house +at a short distance from the road, and the friar said, "It is a good +distance from here to Collefiorito; we had better put up there for +the night." It was in vain that I objected, remonstrating that we +were certain of having very poor accommodation! I had to submit to +his will. We found a decrepit old man lying on a pallet, two ugly +women of thirty or forty, three children entirely naked, a cow, and a +cursed dog which barked continually. It was a picture of squalid +misery; but the niggardly monk, instead of giving alms to the poor +people, asked them to entertain us to supper in the name of Saint- +Francis. + +"You must boil the hen," said the dying man to the females, "and +bring out of the cellar the bottle of wine which I have kept now for +twenty years." As he uttered those few words, he was seized with +such a fit of coughing that I thought he would die. The friar went +near him, and promised him that, by the grace of Saint-Francis, he +would get young and well. Moved by the sight of so much misery, I +wanted to continue my journey as far as Collefiorito, and to wait +there for Stephano, but the women would not let me go, and I +remained. After boiling for four hours the hen set the strongest +teeth at defiance, and the bottle which I uncorked proved to be +nothing but sour vinegar. Losing patience, I got hold of the monk's +batticaslo, and took out of it enough for a plentiful supper, and I +saw the two women opening their eyes very wide at the sight of our +provisions. + +We all ate with good appetite, and, after our supper the women made +for us two large beds of fresh straw, and we lay down in the dark, as +the last bit of candle to be found in the miserable dwelling was +burnt out. We had not been lying on the straw five minutes, when +Stephano called out to me that one of the women had just placed +herself near him, and at the same instant the other one takes me in +her arms and kisses me. I push her away, and the monk defends +himself against the other; but mine, nothing daunted, insists upon +laying herself near me; I get up, the dog springs at my neck, and +fear compels me to remain quiet on my straw bed; the monk screams, +swears, struggles, the dog barks furiously, the old man coughs; all +is noise and confusion. At last Stephano, protected by his heavy +garments, shakes off the too loving shrew, and, braving the dog, +manages to find his stick. Then he lays about to right and left, +striking in every direction; one of the women exclaims, "Oh, God!" +the friar answers, "She has her quietus." Calm reigns again in the +house, the dog, most likely dead, is silent; the old man, who perhaps +has received his death-blow, coughs no more; the children sleep, and +the women, afraid of the singular caresses of the monk, sheer off +into a corner; the remainder of the night passed off quietly. + +At day-break I rose; Stephano was likewise soon up. I looked all +round, and my surprise was great when I found that the women had gone +out, and seeing that the old man gave no sign of life, and had a +bruise on his forehead, I shewed it to Stephano, remarking that very +likely he had killed him. + +"It is possible," he answered, "but I have not done it +intentionally." + +Then taking up his batticulo and finding it empty he flew into a +violent passion; but I was much pleased, for I had been afraid that +the women had gone out to get assistance and to have us arrested, and +the robbery of our provisions reassured me, as I felt certain that +the poor wretches had gone out of the way so as to secure impunity +for their theft. But I laid great stress upon the danger we should +run by remaining any longer, and I succeeded in frightening the friar +out of the house. We soon met a waggoner going to Folligno; I +persuaded Stephano to take the opportunity of putting a good distance +between us and the scene of our last adventures; and, as we were +eating our breakfast at Folligno, we saw another waggon, quite empty, +got a lift in it for a trifle, and thus rode to Pisignano, where a +devout person gave us a charitable welcome, and I slept soundly +through the night without the dread of being arrested. + +Early the next day we reached Spoleti, where Brother Stephano had two +benefactors, and, careful not to give either of them a cause of +jealousy, he favoured both; we dined with the first, who entertained +us like princes, and we had supper and lodging in the house of the +second, a wealthy wine merchant, and the father of a large and +delightful family. He gave us a delicious supper, and everything +would have gone on pleasantly had not the friar, already excited by +his good dinner, made himself quite drunk. In that state, thinking +to please his new host, he began to abuse the other, greatly to my +annoyance; he said the wine he had given us to drink was adulterated, +and that the man was a thief. I gave him the lie to his face, and +called him a scoundrel. The host and his wife pacified me, saying +that they were well acquainted with their neighbour, and knew what to +think of him; but the monk threw his napkin at my face, and the host +took him very quietly by the arm and put him to bed in a room in +which he locked him up. I slept in another room. + +In the morning I rose early, and was considering whether it would not +be better to go alone, when the friar, who had slept himself sober, +made his appearance and told me that we ought for the future to live +together like good friends, and not give way to angry feelings; I +followed my destiny once more. We resumed our journey, and at Soma, +the inn-keeper, a woman of rare beauty, gave us a good dinner, and +some excellent Cyprus wine which the Venetian couriers exchanged with +her against delicious truffles found in the vicinity of Soma, which +sold for a good price in Venice. I did not leave the handsome inn- +keeper without losing a part of my heart. + +It would be difficult to draw a picture of the indignation which +overpowered me when, as we were about two miles from Terni, the +infamous friar shewed me a small bag full of truffles which the +scoundrel had stolen from the amiable woman by way of thanks for her +generous hospitality. The truffles were worth two sequins at least. +In my indignation I snatched the bag from him, saying that I would +certainly return it to its lawful owner. But, as he had not +committed the robbery to give himself the pleasure of making +restitution, he threw himself upon me, and we came to a regular +fight. But victory did not remain long in abeyance; I forced his +stick out of his hands, knocked him into a ditch, and went off. On +reaching Terni, I wrote a letter of apology to our beautiful hostess +of Soma, and sent back the truffles. + +From Terni I went on foot to Otricoli, where I only stayed long +enough to examine the fine old bridge, and from there I paid four +paoli to a waggoner who carried me to Castel-Nuovo, from which place +I walked to Rome. I reached the celebrated city on the 1st of +September, at nine in the morning. + +I must not forget to mention here a rather peculiar circumstance, +which, however ridiculous it may be in reality, will please many of +my readers. + +An hour after I had left Castel-Nuovo, the atmosphere being calm and +the sky clear, I perceived on my right, and within ten paces of me, a +pyramidal flame about two feet long and four or five feet above the +ground. This apparition surprised me, because it seemed to accompany +me. Anxious to examine it, I endeavoured to get nearer to it, but +the more I advanced towards it the further it went from me. It would +stop when I stood still, and when the road along which I was +travelling happened to be lined with trees, I no longer saw it, but +it was sure to reappear as soon as I reached a portion of the road +without trees. I several times retraced my steps purposely, but, +every time I did so, the flame disappeared, and would not shew itself +again until I proceeded towards Rome. This extraordinary beacon left +me when daylight chased darkness from the sky. + +What a splendid field for ignorant superstition, if there had been +any witnesses to that phenomenon, and if I had chanced to make a +great name in Rome! History is full of such trifles, and the world +is full of people who attach great importance to them in spite of the +so-called light of science. I must candidly confess that, although +somewhat versed in physics, the sight of that small meteor gave me +singular ideas. But I was prudent enough not to mention the +circumstance to any one. + +When I reached the ancient capital of the world, I possessed only +seven paoli, and consequently I did not loiter about. I paid no +attention to the splendid entrance through the gate of the polar +trees, which is by mistake pompously called of the people, or to the +beautiful square of the same name, or to the portals of the +magnificent churches, or to all the stately buildings which generally +strike the traveller as he enters the city. I went straight towards +Monte-Magnanopoli, where, according to the address given to me, I was +to find the bishop. There I was informed that he had left Rome ten +days before, leaving instructions to send me to Naples free of +expense. A coach was to start for Naples the next day; not caring to +see Rome, I went to bed until the time for the departure of the +coach. I travelled with three low fellows to whom I did not address +one word through the whole of the journey. I entered Naples on the +6th day of September. + +I went immediately to the address which had been given to me in Rome; +the bishop was not there. I called at the Convent of the Minims, and +I found that he had left Naples to proceed to Martorano. I enquired +whether he had left any instructions for me, but all in vain, no one +could give me any information. And there I was, alone in a large +city, without a friend, with eight carlini in my pocket, and not +knowing what to do! But never mind; fate calls me to Martorano, and +to Martorano I must go. The distance, after all, is only two hundred +miles. + +I found several drivers starting for Cosenza, but when they heard +that I had no luggage, they refused to take me, unless I paid in +advance. They were quite right, but their prudence placed me under +the necessity of going on foot. Yet I felt I must reach Martorano, +and I made up my mind to walk the distance, begging food and lodging +like the very reverend Brother Stephano. + +First of all I made a light meal for one fourth of my money, and, +having been informed that I had to follow the Salerno road, I went +towards Portici where I arrived in an hour and a half. I already +felt rather fatigued; my legs, if not my head, took me to an inn, +where I ordered a room and some supper. I was served in good style, +my appetite was excellent, and I passed a quiet night in a +comfortable bed. In the morning I told the inn-keeper that I would +return for my dinner, and I went out to visit the royal palace. As I +passed through the gate, I was met by a man of prepossessing +appearance, dressed in the eastern fashion, who offered to shew me +all over the palace, saying that I would thus save my money. I was +in a position to accept any offer; I thanked him for his kindness. + +Happening during the conversation to state that I was a Venetian, he +told me that he was my subject, since he came from Zante. I +acknowledged his polite compliment with a reverence. + +"I have," he said, "some very excellent muscatel wine 'grown in the +East, which I could sell you cheap." + +"I might buy some, but I warn you I am a good judge." + +"So much the better. Which do you prefer?" + +"The Cerigo wine." + +"You are right. I have some rare Cerigo muscatel, and we can taste +it if you have no objection to dine with me." + +"None whatever." + +"I can likewise give you the wines of Samos and Cephalonia. I have +also a quantity of minerals, plenty of vitriol, cinnabar, antimony, +and one hundred quintals of mercury." + +"Are all these goods here?" + +"No, they are in Naples. Here I have only the muscatel wine and the +mercury." + +It is quite naturally and without any intention to deceive, that a +young man accustomed to poverty, and ashamed of it when he speaks to +a rich stranger, boasts of his means--of his fortune. As I was +talking with my new acquaintance, I recollected an amalgam of mercury +with lead and bismuth, by which the mercury increases one-fourth in +weight. I said nothing, but I bethought myself that if the mystery +should be unknown to the Greek I might profit by it. I felt that +some cunning was necessary, and that he would not care for my secret +if I proposed to sell it to him without preparing the way. The best +plan was to astonish my man with the miracle of the augmentation of +the mercury, treat it as a jest, and see what his intentions would +be. Cheating is a crime, but honest cunning may be considered as a +species of prudence. True, it is a quality which is near akin to +roguery; but that cannot be helped, and the man who, in time of need, +does not know how to exercise his cunning nobly is a fool. The +Greeks call this sort of wisdom Cerdaleophyon from the word cerdo; +fox, and it might be translated by foxdom if there were such a word +in English. + +After we had visited the palace we returned to the inn, and the Greek +took me to his room, in which he ordered the table to be laid for +two. In the next room I saw several large vessels of muscatel wine +and four flagons of mercury, each containing about ten pounds. + +My plans were laid, and I asked him to let me have one of the flagons +of mercury at the current price, and took it to my room. The Greek +went out to attend to his business, reminding me that he expected me +to dinner. I went out likewise, and bought two pounds and a half of +lead and an equal quantity of bismuth; the druggist had no more. I +came back to the inn, asked for some large empty bottles, and made +the amalgam. + +We dined very pleasantly, and the Greek was delighted because I +pronounced his Cerigo excellent. In the course of conversation he +inquired laughingly why I had bought one of his flagons of mercury. + +"You can find out if you come to my room," I said. + +After dinner we repaired to my room, and he found his mercury divided +in two vessels. I asked for a piece of chamois, strained the liquid +through it, filled his own flagon, and the Greek stood astonished at +the sight of the fine mercury, about one-fourth of a flagon, which +remained over, with an equal quantity of a powder unknown to him; it +was the bismuth. My merry laugh kept company with his astonishment, +and calling one of the servants of the inn I sent him to the druggist +to sell the mercury that was left. He returned in a few minutes and +handed me fifteen carlini. + +The Greek, whose surprise was complete, asked me to give him back his +own flagon, which was there quite full, and worth sixty carlini. I +handed it to him with a smile, thanking him for the opportunity he +had afforded me of earning fifteen carlini, and took care to add that +I should leave for Salerno early the next morning. + +"Then we must have supper together this evening," he said. + +During the afternoon we took a walk towards Mount Vesuvius. Our +conversation went from one subject to another, but no allusion was +made to the mercury, though I could see that the Greek had something +on his mind. At supper he told me, jestingly, that I ought to stop +in Portici the next day to make forty-five carlini out of the three +other flagons of mercury. I answered gravely that I did not want the +money, and that I had augmented the first flagon only for the sake of +procuring him an agreeable surprise. + +"But," said he, "you must be very wealthy." + +"No, I am not, because I am in search of the secret of the +augmentation of gold, and it is a very expensive study for us." + +"How many are there in your company?" + +"Only my uncle and myself." + +"What do you want to augment gold for? The augmentation of mercury +ought to be enough for you. Pray, tell me whether the mercury +augmented by you to-day is again susceptible of a similar increase." + +"No, if it were so, it would be an immense source of wealth for us." + +"I am much pleased with your sincerity." + +Supper over I paid my bill, and asked the landlord to get me a +carriage and pair of horses to take me to Salerno early the next +morning. I thanked the Greek for his delicious muscatel wine, and, +requesting his address in Naples, I assured him that he would see me +within a fortnight, as I was determined to secure a cask of his +Cerigo. + +We embraced each other, and I retired to bed well pleased with my +day's work, and in no way astonished at the Greek's not offering to +purchase my secret, for I was certain that he would not sleep for +anxiety, and that I should see him early in the morning. At all +events, I had enough money to reach the Tour-du-Grec, and there +Providence would take care of me. Yet it seemed to me very difficult +to travel as far as Martorano, begging like a mendicant-friar, +because my outward appearance did not excite pity; people would feel +interested in me only from a conviction that I needed nothing--a very +unfortunate conviction, when the object of it is truly poor. + +As I had forseen, the Greek was in my room at daybreak. I received +him in a friendly way, saying that we could take coffee together. + +"Willingly; but tell me, reverend abbe, whether you would feel +disposed to sell me your secret?" + +"Why not? When we meet in Naples--" + +"But why not now?" + +"I am expected in Salerno; besides, I would only sell the secret for +a large sum of money, and I am not acquainted with you." + +"That does not matter, as I am sufficiently known here to pay you in +cash. How much would you want?" + +"Two thousand ounces." + +"I agree to pay you that sum provided that I succeed in making the +augmentation myself with such matter as you name to me, which I will +purchase." + +"It is impossible, because the necessary ingredients cannot be got +here; but they are common enough in Naples." + +"If it is any sort of metal, we can get it at the Tourdu-Grec. We +could go there together. Can you tell me what is the expense of the +augmentation?" + +"One and a half per cent. but are you likewise known at the Tour-du- +Grec, for I should not like to lose my time?" + +"Your doubts grieve me." + +Saying which, he took a pen, wrote a few words, and handed to me this +order: + +"At sight, pay to bearer the sum of fifty gold ounces, on account of +Panagiotti." + +He told me that the banker resided within two hundred yards of the +inn, and he pressed me to go there myself. I did not stand upon +ceremony, but went to the banker who paid me the amount. I returned +to my room in which he was waiting for me, and placed the gold on the +table, saying that we could now proceed together to the Tour-du-Grec, +where we would complete our arrangements after the signature of a +deed of agreement. The Greek had his own carriage and horses; he +gave orders for them to be got ready, and we left the inn; but he had +nobly insisted upon my taking possession of the fifty ounces. + +When we arrived at the Tour-du-Grec, he signed a document by which he +promised to pay me two thousand ounces as soon as I should have +discovered to him the process of augmenting mercury by one-fourth +without injuring its quality, the amalgam to be equal to the mercury +which I had sold in his presence at Portici. + +He then gave me a bill of exchange payable at sight in eight days on +M. Genaro de Carlo. I told him that the ingredients were lead and +bismuth; the first, combining with mercury, and the second giving to +the whole the perfect fluidity necessary to strain it through the +chamois leather. The Greek went out to try the amalgam--I do not +know where, and I dined alone, but toward evening he came back, +looking very disconsolate, as I had expected. + +"I have made the amalgam," he said, "but the mercury is not perfect." + +"It is equal to that which I have sold in Portici, and that is the +very letter of your engagement." + +"But my engagement says likewise without injury to the quality. You +must agree that the quality is injured, because it is no longer +susceptible of further augmentation." + +"You knew that to be the case; the point is its equality with the +mercury I sold in Portici. But we shall have to go to law, and you +will lose. I am sorry the secret should become public. Congratulate +yourself, sir, for, if you should gain the lawsuit, you will have +obtained my secret for nothing. I would never have believed you +capable of deceiving me in such a manner." + +"Reverend sir, I can assure you that I would not willingly deceive +any one." + +"Do you know the secret, or do you not? Do you suppose I would have +given it to you without the agreement we entered into? Well, there +will be some fun over this affair in Naples, and the lawyers will +make money out of it. But I am much grieved at this turn of affairs, +and I am very sorry that I allowed myself to be so easily deceived by +your fine talk. In the mean time, here are your fifty ounces." + +As I was taking the money out of my pocket, frightened to death lest +he should accept it, he left the room, saying that he would not have +it. He soon returned; we had supper in the same room, but at +separate tables; war had been openly declared, but I felt certain +that a treaty of peace would soon be signed. We did not exchange one +word during the evening, but in the morning he came to me as I was +getting ready to go. I again offered to return the money I received, +but he told me to keep it, and proposed to give me fifty ounces more +if I would give him back his bill of exchange for two thousand. We +began to argue the matter quietly, and after two hours of discussion +I gave in. I received fifty ounces more, we dined together like old +friends, and embraced each other cordially. As I was bidding him +adieu, he gave me an order on his house at Naples for a barrel of +muscatel wine, and he presented me with a splendid box containing +twelve razors with silver handles, manufactured in the Tour-du-Grec. +We parted the best friends in the world and well pleased with each +other. + +I remained two days in Salerno to provide myself with linen and other +necessaries. Possessing about one hundred sequins, and enjoying good +health, I was very proud of my success, in which I could not see any +cause of reproach to myself, for the cunning I had brought into play +to insure the sale of my secret could not be found fault with except +by the most intolerant of moralists, and such men have no authority +to speak on matters of business. At all events, free, rich, and +certain of presenting myself before the bishop with a respectable +appearance, and not like a beggar, I soon recovered my natural +spirits, and congratulated myself upon having bought sufficient +experience to insure me against falling a second time an easy prey to +a Father Corsini, to thieving gamblers, to mercenary women, and +particularly to the impudent scoundrels who barefacedly praise so +well those they intend to dupe--a species of knaves very common in +the world, even amongst people who form what is called good society. + +I left Salerno with two priests who were going to Cosenza on +business, and we traversed the distance of one hundred and forty-two +miles in twenty-two hours. The day after my arrival in the capital +of Calabria, I took a small carriage and drove to Martorano. During +the journey, fixing my eyes upon the famous mare Ausonaum, I felt +delighted at finding myself in the middle of Magna Grecia, rendered +so celebrated for twenty-four centuries by its connection with +Pythagoras. I looked with astonishment upon a country renowned for +its fertility, and in which, in spite of nature's prodigality, my +eyes met everywhere the aspect of terrible misery, the complete +absence of that pleasant superfluity which helps man to enjoy life, +and the degradation of the inhabitants sparsely scattered on a soil +where they ought to be so numerous; I felt ashamed to acknowledge +them as originating from the same stock as myself. Such is, however +the Terra di Lavoro where labour seems to be execrated, where +everything is cheap, where the miserable inhabitants consider that +they have made a good bargain when they have found anyone disposed to +take care of the fruit which the ground supplies almost spontaneously +in too great abundance, and for which there is no market. I felt +compelled to admit the justice of the Romans who had called them +Brutes instead of Byutians. The good priests with whom I had been +travelling laughed at my dread of the tarantula and of the crasydra, +for the disease brought on by the bite of those insects appeared to +me more fearful even than a certain disease with which I was already +too well acquainted. They assured me that all the stories relating +to those creatures were fables; they laughed at the lines which +Virgil has devoted to them in the Georgics as well as at all those I +quoted to justify my fears. + +I found Bishop Bernard de Bernardis occupying a hard chair near an +old table on which he was writing. I fell on my knees, as it is +customary to do before a prelate, but, instead of giving me his +blessing, he raised me up from the floor, and, folding me in his +arms, embraced me tenderly. He expressed his deep sorrow when I told +him that in Naples I had not been able to find any instructions to +enable me to join him, but his face lighted up again when I added +that I was indebted to no one for money, and that I was in good +health. He bade me take a seat, and with a heavy sigh he began to +talk of his poverty, and ordered a servant to lay the cloth for three +persons. Besides this servant, his lordship's suite consisted of a +most devout-looking housekeeper, and of a priest whom I judged to be +very ignorant from the few words he uttered during our meal. The +house inhabited by his lordship was large, but badly built and poorly +kept. The furniture was so miserable that, in order to make up a bed +for me in the room adjoining his chamber, the poor bishop had to give +up one of his two mattresses! His dinner, not to say any more about +it, frightened me, for he was very strict in keeping the rules of his +order, and this being a fast day, he did not eat any meat, and the +oil was very bad. Nevertheless, monsignor was an intelligent man, +and, what is still better, an honest man. He told me, much to my +surprise, that his bishopric, although not one of little importance, +brought him in only five hundred ducat-diregno yearly, and that, +unfortunately, he had contracted debts to the amount of six hundred. +He added, with a sigh, that his only happiness was to feel himself +out of the clutches of the monks, who had persecuted him, and made +his life a perfect purgatory for fifteen years. All these +confidences caused me sorrow and mortification, because they proved +to me, not only that I was not in the promised land where a mitre +could be picked up, but also that I would be a heavy charge for him. +I felt that he was grieved himself at the sorry present his patronage +seemed likely to prove. + +I enquired whether he had a good library, whether there were any +literary men, or any good society in which one could spend a few +agreeable hours. He smiled and answered that throughout his diocese +there was not one man who could boast of writing decently, and still +less of any taste or knowledge in literature; that there was not a +single bookseller, nor any person caring even for the newspapers. +But he promised me that we would follow our literary tastes together, +as soon as he received the books he had ordered from Naples. + +That was all very well, but was this the place for a young man of +eighteen to live in, without a good library, without good society, +without emulation and literacy intercourse? The good bishop, seeing +me full of sad thoughts, and almost astounded at the prospect of the +miserable life I should have to lead with him, tried to give me +courage by promising to do everything in his power to secure my +happiness. + +The next day, the bishop having to officiate in his pontifical robes, +I had an opportunity of seeing all the clergy, and all the faithful +of the diocese, men and women, of whom the cathedral was full; the +sight made me resolve at once to leave Martorano. I thought I was +gazing upon a troop of brutes for whom my external appearance was a +cause of scandal. How ugly were the women! What a look of stupidity +and coarseness in the men! When I returned to the bishop's house I +told the prelate that I did not feel in me the vocation to die within +a few months a martyr in this miserable city. + +"Give me your blessing," I added, "and let me go; or, rather, come +with me. I promise you that we shall make a fortune somewhere else." + +The proposal made him laugh repeatedly during the day. Had he agreed +to it he would not have died two years afterwards in the prime of +manhood. The worthy man, feeling how natural was my repugnance, +begged me to forgive him for having summoned me to him, and, +considering it his duty to send me back to Venice, having no money +himself and not being aware that I had any, he told me that he would +give me an introduction to a worthy citizen of Naples who would lend +me sixty ducati-di-regno to enable me to reach my native city. I +accepted his offer with gratitude, and going to my room I took out of +my trunk the case of fine razors which the Greek had given me, and I +begged his acceptance of it as a souvenir of me. I had great +difficulty in forcing it upon him, for it was worth the sixty ducats, +and to conquer his resistance I had to threaten to remain with him if +he refused my present. He gave me a very flattering letter of +recommendation for the Archbishop of Cosenza, in which he requested +him to forward me as far as Naples without any expense to myself. It +was thus I left Martorano sixty hours after my arrival, pitying the +bishop whom I was leaving behind, and who wept as he was pouring +heartfelt blessings upon me. + +The Archbishop of Cosenza, a man of wealth and of intelligence, +offered me a room in his palace. During the dinner I made, with an +overflowing heart, the eulogy of the Bishop of Martorano; but I +railed mercilessly at his diocese and at the whole of Calabria in so +cutting a manner that I greatly amused the archbishop and all his +guests, amongst whom were two ladies, his relatives, who did the +honours of the dinner-table. The youngest, however, objected to the +satirical style in which I had depicted her country, and declared war +against me; but I contrived to obtain peace again by telling her that +Calabria would be a delightful country if one-fourth only of its +inhabitants were like her. Perhaps it was with the idea of proving +to me that I had been wrong in my opinion that the archbishop gave on +the following day a splendid supper. + +Cosenza is a city in which a gentleman can find plenty of amusement; +the nobility are wealthy, the women are pretty, and men generally +well-informed, because they have been educated in Naples or in Rome. +I left Cosenza on the third day with a letter from the archbishop for +the far-famed Genovesi. + +I had five travelling companions, whom I judged, from their +appearance, to be either pirates or banditti, and I took very good +care not to let them see or guess that I had a well-filled purse. I +likewise thought it prudent to go to bed without undressing during +the whole journey--an excellent measure of prudence for a young man +travelling in that part of the country. + +I reached Naples on the 16th of September, 1743, and I lost no time +in presenting the letter of the Bishop of Martorano. It was +addressed to a M. Gennaro Polo at St. Anne's. This excellent man, +whose duty was only to give me the sum of sixty ducats, insisted, +after perusing the bishop's letter, upon receiving me in his house, +because he wished me to make the acquaintance of his son, who was a +poet like myself. The bishop had represented my poetry as sublime. +After the usual ceremonies, I accepted his kind invitation, my trunk +was sent for, and I was a guest in the house of M. Gennaro Polo. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +My Stay in Naples; It Is Short but Happy--Don Antonio Casanova--Don +Lelio Caraffa--I Go to Rome in Very Agreeable Company, and Enter the +Service of Cardinal Acquaviva--Barbara--Testaccio--Frascati + + +I had no difficulty in answering the various questions which Doctor +Gennaro addressed to me, but I was surprised, and even displeased, at +the constant peals of laughter with which he received my answers. +The piteous description of miserable Calabria, and the picture of the +sad situation of the Bishop of Martorano, appeared to me more likely +to call forth tears than to excite hilarity, and, suspecting that +some mystification was being played upon me, I was very near getting +angry when, becoming more composed, he told me with feeling that I +must kindly excuse him; that his laughter was a disease which seemed +to be endemic in his family, for one of his uncles died of it. + +"What! "I exclaimed, "died of laughing!" + +"Yes. This disease, which was not known to Hippocrates, is called li +flati." + +"What do you mean? Does an hypochondriac affection, which causes +sadness and lowness in all those who suffer from it, render you +cheerful?" + +"Yes, because, most likely, my flati, instead of influencing the +hypochondrium, affects my spleen, which my physician asserts to be +the organ of laughter. It is quite a discovery." + +"You are mistaken; it is a very ancient notion, and it is the only +function which is ascribed to the spleen in our animal organization." + +"Well, we must discuss the matter at length, for I hope you will +remain with us a few weeks." + +"I wish I could, but I must leave Naples to-morrow or the day after." + +"Have you got any money?" + +"I rely upon the sixty ducats you have to give me." + +At these words, his peals of laughter began again, and as he could +see that I was annoyed, he said, "I am amused at the idea that I can +keep you here as long as I like. But be good enough to see my son; +he writes pretty verses enough." + +And truly his son, although only fourteen, was already a great poet. + +A servant took me to the apartment of the young man whom I found +possessed of a pleasing countenance and engaging manners. He gave me +a polite welcome, and begged to be excused if he could not attend to +me altogether for the present, as he had to finish a song which he +was composing for a relative of the Duchess de Rovino, who was taking +the veil at the Convent of St. Claire, and the printer was waiting +for the manuscript. I told him that his excuse was a very good one, +and I offered to assist him. He then read his song, and I found it +so full of enthusiasm, and so truly in the style of Guidi, that I +advised him to call it an ode; but as I had praised all the truly +beautiful passages, I thought I could venture to point out the weak +ones, and I replaced them by verses of my own composition. He was +delighted, and thanked me warmly, inquiring whether I was Apollo. As +he was writing his ode, I composed a sonnet on the same subject, and, +expressing his admiration for it he begged me to sign it, and to +allow him to send it with his poetry. + +While I was correcting and recopying my manuscript, he went to his +father to find out who I was, which made the old man laugh until +supper-time. In the evening, I had the pleasure of seeing that my +bed had been prepared in the young man's chamber. + +Doctor Gennaro's family was composed of this son and of a daughter +unfortunately very plain, of his wife and of two elderly, devout +sisters. Amongst the guests at the supper-table I met several +literary men, and the Marquis Galiani, who was at that time +annotating Vitruvius. He had a brother, an abbe whose acquaintance I +made twenty years after, in Paris, when he was secretary of embassy +to Count Cantillana. The next day, at supper, I was presented to the +celebrated Genovesi; I had already sent him the letter of the +Archbishop of Cosenza. He spoke to me of Apostolo Zeno and of the +Abbe Conti. He remarked that it was considered a very venial sin for +a regular priest to say two masses in one day for the sake of earning +two carlini more, but that for the same sin a secular priest would +deserve to be burnt at the stake. + +The nun took the veil on the following day, and Gennaro's ode and my +sonnet had the greatest success. A Neapolitan gentleman, whose name +was the same as mine, expressed a wish to know me, and, hearing that +I resided at the doctor's, he called to congratulate him on the +occasion of his feast-day, which happened to fall on the day +following the ceremony at Sainte-Claire. + +Don Antonio Casanova, informing me of his name, enquired whether my +family was originally from Venice. + +"I am, sir," I answered modestly, "the great-grandson of the +unfortunate Marco Antonio Casanova, secretary to Cardinal Pompeo +Colonna, who died of the plague in Rome, in the year 1528, under the +pontificate of Clement VII." The words were scarcely out of my lips +when he embraced me, calling me his cousin, but we all thought that +Doctor Gennaro would actually die with laughter, for it seemed +impossible to laugh so immoderately without risk of life. Madame +Gennaro was very angry and told my newly-found cousin that he might +have avoided enacting such a scene before her husband, knowing his +disease, but he answered that he never thought the circumstance +likely to provoke mirth. I said nothing, for, in reality, I felt +that the recognition was very comic. Our poor laugher having +recovered his composure, Casanova, who had remained very serious, +invited me to dinner for the next day with my young friend Paul +Gennaro, who had already become my alter ego. + +When we called at his house, my worthy cousin showed me his family +tree, beginning with a Don Francisco, brother of Don Juan. In my +pedigree, which I knew by heart, Don Juan, my direct ancestor, was a +posthumous child. It was possible that there might have been a +brother of Marco Antonio's; but when he heard that my genealogy began +with Don Francisco, from Aragon, who had lived in the fourteenth +century, and that consequently all the pedigree of the illustrious +house of the Casanovas of Saragossa belonged to him, his joy knew no +bounds; he did not know what to do to convince me that the same blood +was flowing in his veins and in mine. + +He expressed some curiosity to know what lucky accident had brought +me to Naples; I told him that, having embraced the ecclesiastical +profession, I was going to Rome to seek my fortune. He then +presented me to his family, and I thought that I could read on the +countenance of my cousin, his dearly beloved wife, that she was not +much pleased with the newly-found relationship, but his pretty +daughter, and a still prettier niece of his, might very easily have +given me faith in the doctrine that blood is thicker than water, +however fabulous it may be. + +After dinner, Don Antonio informed me that the Duchess de Bovino had +expressed a wish to know the Abbe Casanova who had written the sonnet +in honour of her relative, and that he would be very happy to +introduce me to her as his own cousin. As we were alone at that +moment, I begged he would not insist on presenting me, as I was only +provided with travelling suits, and had to be careful of my purse so +as not to arrive in Rome without money. Delighted at my confidence, +and approving my economy, he said, "I am rich, and you must not +scruple to come with me to my tailor;" and he accompanied his offer +with an assurance that the circumstance would not be known to anyone, +and that he would feel deeply mortified if I denied him the pleasure +of serving me. I shook him warmly by the hand, and answered that I +was ready to do anything he pleased. We went to a tailor who took my +measure, and who brought me on the following day everything necessary +to the toilet of the most elegant abbe. Don Antonio called on me, +and remained to dine with Don Gennaro, after which he took me and my +friend Paul to the duchess. This lady, according to the Neapolitan +fashion, called me thou in her very first compliment of welcome. Her +daughter, then only ten or twelve years old, was very handsome, and a +few years later became Duchess de Matalona. The duchess presented me +with a snuff-box in pale tortoise-shell with arabesque incrustations +in gold, and she invited us to dine with her on the morrow, promising +to take us after dinner to the Convent of St. Claire to pay a visit +to the new nun. + +As we came out of the palace of the duchess, I left my friends and +went alone to Panagiotti's to claim the barrel of muscatel wine. The +manager was kind enough to have the barrel divided into two smaller +casks of equal capacity, and I sent one to Don Antonio, and the other +to Don Gennaro. As I was leaving the shop I met the worthy +Panagiotti, who was glad to see me. Was I to blush at the sight of +the good man I had at first deceived? No, for in his opinion I had +acted very nobly towards him. + +Don Gennaro, as I returned home, managed to thank me for my handsome +present without laughing, and the next day Don Antonio, to make up +for the muscatel wine I had sent him, offered me a gold-headed cane, +worth at least fifteen ounces, and his tailor brought me a travelling +suit and a blue great coat, with the buttonholes in gold lace. I +therefore found myself splendidly equipped. + +At the Duchess de Bovino's dinner I made the acquaintance of the +wisest and most learned man in Naples, the illustrious Don Lelio +Caraffa, who belonged to the ducal family of Matalona, and whom King +Carlos honoured with the title of friend. + +I spent two delightful hours in the convent parlour, coping +successfully with the curiosity of all the nuns who were pressing +against the grating. Had destiny allowed me to remain in Naples my +fortune would have been made; but, although I had no fixed plan, the +voice of fate summoned me to Rome, and therefore I resisted all the +entreaties of my cousin Antonio to accept the honourable position of +tutor in several houses of the highest order. + +Don Antonio gave a splendid dinner in my honour, but he was annoyed +and angry because he saw that his wife looked daggers at her new +cousin. I thought that, more than once, she cast a glance at my new +costume, and then whispered to the guest next to her. Very likely +she knew what had taken place. There are some positions in life to +which I could never be reconciled. If, in the most brilliant circle, +there is one person who affects to stare at me I lose all presence of +mind. Self-dignity feels outraged, my wit dies away, and I play the +part of a dolt. It is a weakness on my part, but a weakness I cannot +overcome. + +Don Lelio Caraffa offered me a very liberal salary if I would +undertake the education of his nephew, the Duke de Matalona, then ten +years of age. I expressed my gratitude, and begged him to be my true +benefactor in a different manner--namely, by giving me a few good +letters of introduction for Rome, a favour which he granted at once. +He gave me one for Cardinal Acquaviva, and another for Father Georgi. + +I found out that the interest felt towards me by my friends had +induced them to obtain for me the honour of kissing the hand of Her +Majesty the Queen, and I hastened my preparations to leave Naples, +for the queen would certainly have asked me some questions, and I +could not have avoided telling her that I had just left Martorano and +the poor bishop whom she had sent there. The queen likewise knew my +mother; she would very likely have alluded to my mother's profession +in Dresden; it would have mortified Don Antonio, and my pedigree +would have been covered with ridicule. I knew the force of +prejudice! I should have been ruined, and I felt I should do well to +withdraw in good time. As I took leave of him, Don Antonio presented +me with a fine gold watch and gave me a letter for Don Gaspar +Vidaldi, whom he called his best friend. Don Gennaro paid me the +sixty ducats, and his son, swearing eternal friendship, asked me to +write to him. They all accompanied me to the coach, blending their +tears with mine, and loading me with good wishes and blessings. + +From my landing in Chiozza up to my arrival in Naples, fortune had +seemed bent upon frowning on me; in Naples it began to shew itself +less adverse, and on my return to that city it entirely smiled upon +me. Naples has always been a fortunate place for me, as the reader +of my memoirs will discover. My readers must not forget that in +Portici I was on the point of disgracing myself, and there is no +remedy against the degradation of the mind, for nothing can restore +it to its former standard. It is a case of disheartening atony for +which there is no possible cure. + +I was not ungrateful to the good Bishop of Martorano, for, if he had +unwittingly injured me by summoning me to his diocese, I felt that to +his letter for M. Gennaro I was indebted for all the good fortune +which had just befallen me. I wrote to him from Rome. + +I was wholly engaged in drying my tears as we were driving through +the beautiful street of Toledo, and it was only after we had left +Naples that I could find time to examine the countenance of my +travelling companions. Next to me, I saw a man of from forty to +fifty, with a pleasing face and a lively air, but, opposite to me, +two charming faces delighted my eyes. They belonged to two ladies, +young and pretty, very well dressed, with a look of candour and +modesty. This discovery was most agreeable, but I felt sad and I +wanted calm and silence. We reached Avessa without one word being +exchanged, and as the vetturino stopped there only to water his +mules, we did not get out of the coach. From Avessa to Capua my +companions conversed almost without interruption, and, wonderful to +relate! I did not open my lips once. I was amused by the Neapolitan +jargon of the gentleman, and by the pretty accent of the ladies, who +were evidently Romans. It was a most wonderful feat for me to remain +five hours before two charming women without addressing one word to +them, without paying them one compliment. + +At Capua, where we were to spend the night, we put up at an inn, and +were shown into a room with two beds--a very usual thing in Italy. +The Neapolitan, addressing himself to me, said, + +"Am I to have the honour of sleeping with the reverend gentleman?" + +I answered in a very serious tone that it was for him to choose or to +arrange it otherwise, if he liked. The answer made the two ladies +smile, particularly the one whom I preferred, and it seemed to me a +good omen. + +We were five at supper, for it is usual for the vetturino to supply +his travellers with their meals, unless some private agreement is +made otherwise, and to sit down at table with them. In the desultory +talk which went on during the supper, I found in my travelling +companions decorum, propriety, wit, and the manners of persons +accustomed to good society. I became curious to know who they were, +and going down with the driver after supper, I asked him. + +"The gentleman," he told me, "is an advocate, and one of the ladies +is his wife, but I do not know which of the two." + +I went back to our room, and I was polite enough to go to bed first, +in order to make it easier for the ladies to undress themselves with +freedom; I likewise got up first in the morning, left the room, and +only returned when I was called for breakfast. The coffee was +delicious. I praised it highly, and the lady, the one who was my +favourite, promised that I should have the same every morning during +our journey. The barber came in after breakfast; the advocate was +shaved, and the barber offered me his services, which I declined, but +the rogue declared that it was slovenly to wear one's beard. + +When we had resumed our seats in the coach, the advocate made some +remark upon the impudence of barbers in general. + +"But we ought to decide first," said the lady, "whether or not it is +slovenly to go bearded." + +"Of course it is," said the advocate. "Beard is nothing but a dirty +excrescence." + +"You may think so," I answered, "but everybody does not share your +opinion. Do we consider as a dirty excrescence the hair of which we +take so much care, and which is of the same nature as the beard? Far +from it; we admire the length and the beauty of the hair." + +"Then," remarked the lady, "the barber is a fool." + +"But after all," I asked, "have I any beard?" + +"I thought you had," she answered. + +"In that case, I will begin to shave as soon as I reach Rome, for +this is the first time that I have been convicted of having a beard." + +"My dear wife," exclaimed the advocate, "you should have held your +tongue; perhaps the reverend abbe is going to Rome with the intention +of becoming a Capuchin friar." + +The pleasantry made me laugh, but, unwilling that he should have the +last word, I answered that he had guessed rightly, that such had been +my intention, but that I had entirely altered my mind since I had +seen his wife. + +"Oh! you are wrong," said the joyous Neapolitan, "for my wife is very +fond of Capuchins, and if you wish to please her, you had better +follow your original vocation." Our conversation continued in the +same tone of pleasantry, and the day passed off in an agreeable +manner; in the evening we had a very poor supper at Garillan, but we +made up for it by cheerfulness and witty conversation. My dawning +inclination for the advocate's wife borrowed strength from the +affectionate manner she displayed towards me. + +The next day she asked me, after we had resumed our journey, whether +I intended to make a long stay in Rome before returning to Venice. I +answered that, having no acquaintances in Rome, I was afraid my life +there would be very dull. + +"Strangers are liked in Rome," she said, "I feel certain that you +will be pleased with your residence in that city." + +"May I hope, madam, that you will allow me to pay you my respects?" + +"We shall be honoured by your calling on us," said the advocate. + +My eyes were fixed upon his charming wife. She blushed, but I did +not appear to notice it. I kept up the conversation, and the day +passed as pleasantly as the previous one. We stopped at Terracina, +where they gave us a room with three beds, two single beds and a +large one between the two others. It was natural that the two +sisters should take the large bed; they did so, and undressed +themselves while the advocate and I went on talking at the table, +with our backs turned to them. As soon as they had gone to rest, the +advocate took the bed on which he found his nightcap, and I the +other, which was only about one foot distant from the large bed. I +remarked that the lady by whom I was captivated was on the side +nearest my couch, and, without much vanity, I could suppose that it +was not owing only to chance. + +I put the light out and laid down, revolving in my mind a project +which I could not abandon, and yet durst not execute. In vain did I +court sleep. A very faint light enabled me to perceive the bed in +which the pretty woman was lying, and my eyes would, in spite of +myself, remain open. It would be difficult to guess what I might +have done at last (I had already fought a hard battle with myself for +more than an hour), when I saw her rise, get out of her bed, and go +and lay herself down near her husband, who, most likely, did not wake +up, and continued to sleep in peace, for I did not hear any noise. + +Vexed, disgusted.... I tried to compose myself to sleep, and I woke +only at day-break. Seeing the beautiful wandering star in her own +bed, I got up, dressed myself in haste, and went out, leaving all my +companions fast asleep. I returned to the inn only at the time fixed +for our departure, and I found the advocate and the two ladies +already in the coach, waiting for me. + +The lady complained, in a very obliging manner, of my not having +cared for her coffee; I pleaded as an excuse a desire for an early +walk, and I took care not to honour her even with a look; I feigned +to be suffering from the toothache, and remained in my corner dull +and silent. At Piperno she managed to whisper to me that my +toothache was all sham; I was pleased with the reproach, because it +heralded an explanation which I craved for, in spite of my vexation. + +During the afternoon I continued my policy of the morning. I was +morose and silent until we reached Serinonetta, where we were to pass +the night. We arrived early, and the weather being fine, the lady +said that she could enjoy a walk, and asked me politely to offer her +my arm. I did so, for it would have been rude to refuse; besides I +had had enough of my sulking fit. An explanation could alone bring +matters back to their original standing, but I did not know how to +force it upon the lady. Her husband followed us at some distance +with the sister. + +When we were far enough in advance, I ventured to ask her why she had +supposed my toothache to have been feigned. + +"I am very candid," she said; "it is because the difference in your +manner was so marked, and because you were so careful to avoid +looking at me through the whole day. A toothache would not have +prevented you from being polite, and therefore I thought it had been +feigned for some purpose. But I am certain that not one of us can +possibly have given you any grounds for such a rapid change in your +manner." + +"Yet something must have caused the change, and you, madam, are only +half sincere." + +"You are mistaken, sir, I am entirely sincere; and if I have given +you any motive for anger, I am, and must remain, ignorant of it. Be +good enough to tell me what I have done." + +"Nothing, for I have no right to complain." + +"Yes, you have; you have a right, the same that I have myself; the +right which good society grants to every one of its members. Speak, +and shew yourself as sincere as I am." + +"You are certainly bound not to know, or to pretend not to know the +real cause, but you must acknowledge that my duty is to remain +silent." + +"Very well; now it is all over; but if your duty bids you to conceal +the cause of your bad humour, it also bids you not to shew it. +Delicacy sometimes enforces upon a polite gentleman the necessity of +concealing certain feelings which might implicate either himself or +others; it is a restraint for the mind, I confess, but it has some +advantage when its effect is to render more amiable the man who +forces himself to accept that restraint." Her close argument made me +blush for shame, and carrying her beautiful hand to my lips, I +confessed my self in the wrong. + +"You would see me at your feet," I exclaimed, "in token of my +repentance, were I not afraid of injuring you---" + +"Do not let us allude to the matter any more," she answered. + +And, pleased with my repentance, she gave me a look so expressive of +forgiveness that, without being afraid of augmenting my guilt, I took +my lips off her hand and I raised them to her half-open, smiling +mouth. Intoxicated with rapture, I passed so rapidly from a state of +sadness to one of overwhelming cheerfulness that during our supper +the advocate enjoyed a thousand jokes upon my toothache, so quickly +cured by the simple remedy of a walk. On the following day we dined +at Velletri and slept in Marino, where, although the town was full of +troops, we had two small rooms and a good supper. I could not have +been on better terms with my charming Roman; for, although I had +received but a rapid proof of her regard, it had been such a true +one--such a tender one! In the coach our eyes could not say much; +but I was opposite to her, and our feet spoke a very eloquent +language. + +The advocate had told me that he was going to Rome on some +ecclesiastical business, and that he intended to reside in the house +of his mother-in-law, whom his wife had not seen since her marriage, +two years ago, and her sister hoped to remain in Rome, where she +expected to marry a clerk at the Spirito Santo Bank. He gave me +their address, with a pressing invitation to call upon them, and I +promised to devote all my spare time to them. + +We were enjoying our dessert, when my beautiful lady-love, admiring +my snuff-box, told her husband that she wished she had one like it. + +"I will buy you one, dear." + +"Then buy mine," I said; "I will let you have it for twenty ounces, +and you can give me a note of hand payable to bearer in payment. I +owe that amount to an Englishman, and I will give it him to redeem my +debt." + +"Your snuff-box, my dear abbe, is worth twenty ounces, but I cannot +buy it unless you agree to receive payment in cash; I should be +delighted to see it in my wife's possession, and she would keep it as +a remembrance of you." + +His wife, thinking that I would not accept his offer, said that she +had no objection to give me the note of hand. + +"But," exclaimed the advocate, "can you not guess the Englishman +exists only in our friend's imagination? He would never enter an +appearance, and we would have the snuff-box for nothing. Do not +trust the abbe, my dear, he is a great cheat." + +"I had no idea," answered his wife, looking at me, "that the world +contained rogues of this species." + +I affected a melancholy air, and said that I only wished myself rich +enough to be often guilty of such cheating. + +When a man is in love very little is enough to throw him into +despair, and as little to enhance his joy to the utmost. There was +but one bed in the room where supper had been served, and another in +a small closet leading out of the room, but without a door. The +ladies chose the closet, and the advocate retired to rest before me. +I bid the ladies good night as soon as they had gone to bed; I looked +at my dear mistress, and after undressing myself I went to bed, +intending not to sleep through the night. But the reader may imagine +my rage when I found, as I got into the bed, that it creaked loud +enough to wake the dead. I waited, however, quite motionless, until +my companion should be fast asleep, and as soon as his snoring told +me that he was entirely under the influence of Morpheus, I tried to +slip out of the bed; but the infernal creaking which took place +whenever I moved, woke my companion, who felt about with his hand, +and, finding me near him, went to sleep again. Half an hour after, I +tried a second time, but with the same result. I had to give it up +in despair. + +Love is the most cunning of gods; in the midst of obstacles he seems +to be in his own element, but as his very existence depends upon the +enjoyment of those who ardently worship him, the shrewd, all-seeing, +little blind god contrives to bring success out of the most desperate +case. + +I had given up all hope for the night, and had nearly gone to sleep, +when suddenly we hear a dreadful noise. Guns are fired in the +street, people, screaming and howling, are running up and down the +stairs; at last there is a loud knocking at our door. The advocate, +frightened out of his slumbers, asks me what it can all mean; I +pretend to be very indifferent, and beg to be allowed to sleep. But +the ladies are trembling with fear, and loudly calling for a light. +I remain very quiet, the advocate jumps out of bed, and runs out of +the room to obtain a candle; I rise at once, I follow him to shut the +door, but I slam it rather too hard, the double spring of the lock +gives way, and the door cannot be reopened without the key. + +I approach the ladies in order to calm their anxiety, telling them +that the advocate would soon return with a light, and that we should +then know the cause of the tumult, but I am not losing my time, and +am at work while I am speaking. I meet with very little opposition, +but, leaning rather too heavily upon my fair lady, I break through +the bottom of the bedstead, and we suddenly find ourselves, the two +ladies and myself, all together in a heap on the floor. The advocate +comes back and knocks at the door; the sister gets up, I obey the +prayers of my charming friend, and, feeling my way, reach the door, +and tell the advocate that I cannot open it, and that he must get the +key. The two sisters are behind me. I extend my hand; but I am +abruptly repulsed, and judge that I have addressed myself to the +wrong quarter; I go to the other side, and there I am better +received. But the husband returns, the noise of the key in the lock +announces that the door is going to be opened, and we return to our +respective beds. + +The advocate hurries to the bed of the two frightened ladies, +thinking of relieving their anxiety, but, when he sees them buried in +their broken-down bedstead, he bursts into a loud laugh. He tells me +to come and have a look at them, but I am very modest, and decline +the invitation. He then tells us that the alarm has been caused by a +German detachment attacking suddenly the Spanish troops in the city, +and that the Spaniards are running away. In a quarter of an hour the +noise has ceased, and quiet is entirely re-established. + +The advocate complimented me upon my coolness, got into bed again, +and was soon asleep. As for me, I was careful not to close my eyes, +and as soon as I saw daylight I got up in order to perform certain +ablutions and to change my shirt; it was an absolute necessity. + +I returned for breakfast, and while we were drinking the delicious +coffee which Donna Lucrezia had made, as I thought, better than ever, +I remarked that her sister frowned on me. But how little I cared for +her anger when I saw the cheerful, happy countenance, and the +approving looks of my adored Lucrezia! I felt a delightful sensation +run through the whole of my body. + +We reached Rome very early. We had taken breakfast at the Tour, and +the advocate being in a very gay mood I assumed the same tone, +loading him with compliments, and predicting that a son would be born +to him, I compelled his wife to promise it should be so. I did not +forget the sister of my charming Lucrezia, and to make her change her +hostile attitude towards me I addressed to her so many pretty +compliments, and behaved in such a friendly manner, that she was +compelled to forgive the fall of the bed. As I took leave of them, I +promised to give them a call on the following day. + +I was in Rome! with a good wardrobe, pretty well supplied with money +and jewellery, not wanting in experience, and with excellent letters +of introduction. I was free, my own master, and just reaching the +age in which a man can have faith in his own fortune, provided he is +not deficient in courage, and is blessed with a face likely to +attract the sympathy of those he mixes with. I was not handsome, but +I had something better than beauty--a striking expression which +almost compelled a kind interest in my favour, and I felt myself +ready for anything. I knew that Rome is the one city in which a man +can begin from the lowest rung, and reach the very top of the social +ladder. This knowledge increased my courage, and I must confess that +a most inveterate feeling of self-esteem which, on account of my +inexperience, I could not distrust, enhanced wonderfully my +confidence in myself. + +The man who intends to make his fortune in this ancient capital of +the world must be a chameleon susceptible of reflecting all the +colours of the atmosphere that surrounds him--a Proteus apt to assume +every form, every shape. He must be supple, flexible, insinuating; +close, inscrutable, often base, sometimes sincere, some times +perfidious, always concealing a part of his knowledge, indulging in +one tone of voice, patient, a perfect master of his own countenance. +as cold as ice when any other man would be all fire; and if +unfortunately he is not religious at heart--a very common occurrence +for a soul possessing the above requisites--he must have religion in +his mind, that is to say, on his face, on his lips, in his manners; +he must suffer quietly, if he be an honest man the necessity of +knowing himself an arrant hypocrite. The man whose soul would loathe +such a life should leave Rome and seek his fortune elsewhere. I do +not know whether I am praising or excusing myself, but of all those +qualities I possessed but one--namely, flexibility; for the rest, I +was only an interesting, heedless young fellow, a pretty good blood +horse, but not broken, or rather badly broken; and that is much +worse. + +I began by delivering the letter I had received from Don Lelio for +Father Georgi. The learned monk enjoyed the esteem of everyone in +Rome, and the Pope himself had a great consideration for him, because +he disliked the Jesuits, and did not put a mask on to tear the mask +from their faces, although they deemed themselves powerful enough to +despise him. + +He read the letter with great attention, and expressed himself +disposed to be my adviser; and that consequently I might make him +responsible for any evil which might befall me, as misfortune is not +to be feared by a man who acts rightly. He asked me what I intended +to do in Rome, and I answered that I wished him to tell me what to +do. + +"Perhaps I may; but in that case you must come and see me often, and +never conceal from me anything, you understand, not anything, of what +interests you, or of what happens to you." + +"Don Lelio has likewise given me a letter for the Cardinal +Acquaviva." + +"I congratulate you; the cardinal's influence in Rome is greater even +than that of the Pope." + +"Must I deliver the letter at once?" + +"No; I will see him this evening, and prepare him for your visit. +Call on me to-morrow morning, and I will then tell you where and when +you are to deliver your letter to the cardinal. Have you any money?" + +"Enough for all my wants during one year." + +"That is well. Have you any acquaintances?" + +"Not one." + +"Do not make any without first consulting me, and, above all, avoid +coffee-houses and ordinaries, but if you should happen to frequent +such places, listen and never speak. Be careful to form your +judgment upon those who ask any questions from you, and if common +civility obliges you to give an answer, give only an evasive one, if +any other is likely to commit you. Do you speak French?" + +"Not one word." + +"I am sorry for that; you must learn French. Have you been a +student?" + +"A poor one, but I have a sufficient smattering to converse with +ordinary company." + +"That is enough; but be very prudent, for Rome is the city in which +smatterers unmask each other, and are always at war amongst +themselves. I hope you will take your letter to the cardinal, +dressed like a modest abbe, and not in this elegant costume which is +not likely to conjure fortune. Adieu, let me see you to-morrow." + +Highly pleased with the welcome I had received at his hands, and with +all he had said to me, I left his house and proceeded towards Campo- +di-Fiore to deliver the letter of my cousin Antonio to Don Gaspar +Vivaldi, who received me in his library, where I met two respectable- +looking priests. He gave me the most friendly welcome, asked for my +address, and invited me to dinner for the next day. He praised +Father Georgi most highly, and, accompanying me as far as the stairs, +he told me that he would give me on the morrow the amount his friend +Don Antonio requested him to hand me. + +More money which my generous cousin was bestowing on me! It is easy +enough to give away when one possesses sufficient means to do it, but +it is not every man who knows how to give. I found the proceeding of +Don Antonio more delicate even than generous; I could not refuse his +present; it was my duty to prove my gratitude by accepting it. + +Just after I had left M. Vivaldi's house I found myself face to face +with Stephano, and this extraordinary original loaded me with +friendly caresses. I inwardly despised him, yet I could not feel +hatred for him; I looked upon him as the instrument which Providence +had been pleased to employ in order to save me from ruin. After +telling me that he had obtained from the Pope all he wished, he +advised me to avoid meeting the fatal constable who had advanced me +two sequins in Seraval, because he had found out that I had deceived +him, and had sworn revenge against me. I asked Stephano to induce +the man to leave my acknowledgement of the debt in the hands of a +certain merchant whom we both knew, and that I would call there to +discharge the amount. This was done, and it ended the affair. + +That evening I dined at the ordinary, which was frequented by Romans +and foreigners; but I carefully followed the advice of Father Georgi. +I heard a great deal of harsh language used against the Pope and +against the Cardinal Minister, who had caused the Papal States to be +inundated by eighty thousand men, Germans as well as Spaniards. But +I was much surprised when I saw that everybody was eating meat, +although it was Saturday. But a stranger during the first few days +after his arrival in Rome is surrounded with many things which at +first cause surprise, and to which he soon gets accustomed. There is +not a Catholic city in the world in which a man is half so free on +religious matters as in Rome. The inhabitants of Rome are like the +men employed at the Government tobacco works, who are allowed to take +gratis as much tobacco as they want for their own use. One can live +in Rome with the most complete freedom, except that the 'ordini +santissimi' are as much to be dreaded as the famous Lettres-de-cachet +before the Revolution came and destroyed them, and shewed the whole +world the general character of the French nation. + +The next day, the 1st of October, 1743, I made up my mind to be +shaved. The down on my chin had become a beard, and I judged that it +was time to renounce some of the privileges enjoyed by adolescence. +I dressed myself completely in the Roman fashion, and Father Georgi +was highly pleased when he saw me in that costume, which had been +made by the tailor of my dear cousin, Don Antonio. + +Father Georgi invited me to take a cup of chocolate with him, and +informed me that the cardinal had been apprised of my arrival by a +letter from Don Lelio, and that his eminence would receive me at noon +at the Villa Negroni, where he would be taking a walk. I told Father +Georgi that I had been invited to dinner by M. Vivaldi, and he +advised me to cultivate his acquaintance. + +I proceeded to the Villa Negroni; the moment he saw me the cardinal +stopped to receive my letter, allowing two persons who accompanied +him to walk forward. He put the letter in his pocket without reading +it, examined me for one or two minutes, and enquired whether I felt +any taste for politics. I answered that, until now, I had not felt +in me any but frivolous tastes, but that I would make bold to answer +for my readiness to execute all the orders which his eminence might +be pleased to lay upon me, if he should judge me worthy of entering +his service. + +"Come to my office to-morrow morning," said the cardinal, "and ask +for the Abbe Gama, to whom I will give my instructions. You must +apply yourself diligently to the study of the French language; it is +indispensable." He then enquired after Don Leilo's health, and after +kissing his hand I took my leave. + +I hastened to the house of M. Gaspar Vivaldi, where I dined amongst a +well-chosen party of guests. M. Vivaldi was not married; literature +was his only passion. He loved Latin poetry even better than +Italian, and Horace, whom I knew by heart, was his favourite poet. +After dinner, we repaired to his study, and he handed me one hundred +Roman crowns, and Don Antonio's present, and assured me that I would +be most welcome whenever I would call to take a cup of chocolate with +him. + +After I had taken leave of Don Gaspar, I proceeded towards the +Minerva, for I longed to enjoy the surprise of my dear Lucrezia and +of her sister; I inquired for Donna Cecilia Monti, their mother, and +I saw, to my great astonishment, a young widow who looked like the +sister of her two charming daughters. There was no need for me to +give her my name; I had been announced, and she expected me. Her +daughters soon came in, and their greeting caused me some amusement, +for I did not appear to them to be the same individual. Donna +Lucrezia presented me to her youngest sister, only eleven years of +age, and to her brother, an abbe of fifteen, of charming appearance. +I took care to behave so as to please the mother; I was modest, +respectful, and shewed a deep interest in everything I saw. The good +advocate arrived, and was surprised at the change in my appearance. +He launched out in his usual jokes, and I followed him on that +ground, yet I was careful not to give to my conversation the tone of +levity which used to cause so much mirth in our travelling coach; so +that, to, pay me a compliment, he told nee that, if I had had the +sign of manhood shaved from my face, I had certainly transferred it +to my mind. Donna Lucrezia did not know what to think of the change +in my manners. + +Towards evening I saw, coming in rapid succession, five or six +ordinary-looking ladies, and as many abbes, who appeared to me some +of the volumes with which I was to begin my Roman education. They +all listened attentively to the most insignificant word I uttered, +and I was very careful to let them enjoy their conjectures about me. +Donna Cecilia told the advocate that he was but a poor painter, and +that his portraits were not like the originals; he answered that she +could not judge, because the original was shewing under a mask, and I +pretended to be mortified by his answer. Donna Lucrezia said that +she found me exactly the same, and her sister was of opinion that the +air of Rome gave strangers a peculiar appearance. Everybody +applauded, and Angelique turned red with satisfaction. After a visit +of four hours I bowed myself out, and the advocate, following me, +told me that his mother-in-law begged me to consider myself as a +friend of the family, and to be certain of a welcome at any hour I +liked to call. I thanked him gratefully and took my leave, trusting +that I had pleased this amiable society as much as it had pleased me. + +The next day I presented myself to the Abbe Gama. He was a +Portuguese, about forty years old, handsome, and with a countenance +full of candour, wit, and good temper. His affability claimed and +obtained confidence. His manners and accent were quite Roman. He +informed me, in the blandest manner, that his eminence had himself +given his instructions about me to his majordomo, that I would have a +lodging in the cardinal's palace, that I would have my meals at the +secretaries' table, and that, until I learned French, I would have +nothing to do but make extracts from letters that he would supply me +with. He then gave me the address of the French teacher to whom he +had already spoken in my behalf. He was a Roman advocate, Dalacqua +by name, residing precisely opposite the palace. + +After this short explanation, and an assurance that I could at all +times rely upon his friendship, he had me taken to the major-domo, +who made me sign my name at the bottom of a page in a large book, +already filled with other names, and counted out sixty Roman crowns +which he paid me for three months salary in advance. After this he +accompanied me, followed by a 'staffiere' to my apartment on the +third floor, which I found very comfortably furnished. The servant +handed me the key, saying that he would come every morning to attend +upon me, and the major-domo accompanied me to the gate to make me +known to the gate-keeper. I immediately repaired to my inn, sent my +luggage to the palace, and found myself established in a place in +which a great fortune awaited me, if I had only been able to lead a +wise and prudent life, but unfortunately it was not in my nature. +'Volentem ducit, nolentem trahit.' + +I naturally felt it my duty to call upon my mentor, Father Georgi, to +whom I gave all my good news. He said I was on the right road, and +that my fortune was in my hands. + +"Recollect," added the good father, "that to lead a blameless life +you must curb your passions, and that whatever misfortune may befall +you it cannot be ascribed by any one to a want of good luck, or +attributed to fate; those words are devoid of sense, and all the +fault will rightly fall on your own head." + +"I foresee, reverend father, that my youth and my want of experience +will often make it necessary for me to disturb you. I am afraid of +proving myself too heavy a charge for you, but you will find me +docile and obedient." + +"I suppose you will often think me rather too severe; but you are not +likely to confide everything to me." + +"Everything, without any exception." + +"Allow me to feel somewhat doubtful; you have not told me where you +spent four hours yesterday." + +"Because I did not think it was worth mentioning. I made the +acquaintance of those persons during my journey; I believe them to be +worthy and respectable, and the right sort of people for me to visit, +unless you should be of a different opinion." + +"God forbid! It is a very respectable house, frequented by honest +people. They are delighted at having made your acquaintance; you are +much liked by everybody, and they hope to retain you as a friend; I +have heard all about it this morning; but you must not go there too +often and as a regular guest." + +"Must I cease my visits at once, and without cause?" + +"No, it would be a want of politeness on your part. You may go there +once or twice every week, but do not be a constant visitor. You are +sighing, my son?" + +"No, I assure you not. I will obey you." + +"I hope it may not be only a matter of obedience, and I trust your +heart will not feel it a hardship, but, if necessary, your heart must +be conquered. Recollect that the heart is the greatest enemy of +reason." + +"Yet they can be made to agree." + +"We often imagine so; but distrust the animism of your dear Horace. +You know that there is no middle course with it: 'nisi paret, +imperat'." + +"I know it, but in the family of which we were speaking there is no +danger for my heart." + +"I am glad of it, because in that case it will be all the easier for +you to abstain from frequent visits. Remember that I shall trust +you." + +"And I, reverend father; will listen to and follow your good advice. +I will visit Donna Cecilia only now and then." Feeling most unhappy, +I took his hand to press it against my lips, but he folded me in his +arms as a father might have done, and turned himself round so as not +to let me see that he was weeping. + +I dined at the cardinal's palace and sat near the Abbe Gama; the +table was laid for twelve persons, who all wore the costume of +priests, for in Rome everyone is a priest or wishes to be thought a +priest and as there is no law to forbid anyone to dress like an +ecclesiastic that dress is adopted by all those who wish to be +respected (noblemen excepted) even if they are not in the +ecclesiastical profession. + +I felt very miserable, and did not utter a word during the dinner; my +silence was construed into a proof of my sagacity. As we rose from +the table, the Abbe Gama invited me to spend the day with him, but I +declined under pretence of letters to be written, and I truly did so +for seven hours. I wrote to Don Lelio, to Don Antonio, to my young +friend Paul, and to the worthy Bishop of Martorano, who answered that +he heartily wished himself in my place. + +Deeply enamoured of Lucrezia and happy in my love, to give her up +appeared to me a shameful action. In order to insure the happiness +of my future life, I was beginning to be the executioner of my +present felicity, and the tormentor of my heart. I revolted against +such a necessity which I judged fictitious, and which I could not +admit unless I stood guilty of vileness before the tribunal of my own +reason. I thought that Father Georgi, if he wished to forbid my +visiting that family, ought not to have said that it was worthy of +respect; my sorrow would not have been so intense. The day and the +whole of the night were spent in painful thoughts. + +In the morning the Abbe Gama brought me a great book filled with +ministerial letters from which I was to compile for my amusement. +After a short time devoted to that occupation, I went out to take my +first French lesson, after which I walked towards the Strada- +Condotta. I intended to take a long walk, when I heard myself called +by my name. I saw the Abbe Gama in front of a coffee-house. +I whispered to him that Minerva had forbidden me the coffee-rooms of +Rome. "Minerva," he answered, "desires you to form some idea of such +places. Sit down by me." + +I heard a young abbe telling aloud, but without bitterness, a story, +which attacked in a most direct manner the justice of His Holiness. +Everybody was laughing and echoing the story. Another, being asked +why he had left the services of Cardinal B., answered that it was +because his eminence did not think himself called upon to pay him +apart for certain private services, and everybody laughed outright. +Another came to the Abbe Gama, and told him that, if he felt any +inclination to spend the afternoon at the Villa Medicis, he would +find him there with two young Roman girls who were satisfied with a +'quartino', a gold coin worth one-fourth of a sequin. Another abbe +read an incendiary sonnet against the government, and several took a +copy of it. Another read a satire of his own composition, in which +he tore to pieces the honour of a family. In the middle of all that +confusion, I saw a priest with a very attractive countenance come in. +The size of his hips made me take him for a woman dressed in men's +clothes, and I said so to Gama, who told me that he was the +celebrated castrato, Bepino delta Mamana. The abbe called him to us, +and told him with a laugh that I had taken him for a girl. The +impudent fellow looked me full in the face, and said that, if I +liked, he would shew me whether I had been right or wrong. + +At the dinner-table everyone spoke to me, and I fancied I had given +proper answers to all, but, when the repast was over, the Abbe Gama +invited me to take coffee in his own apartment. The moment we were +alone, he told me that all the guests I had met were worthy and +honest men, and he asked me whether I believed that I had succeeded +in pleasing the company. + +"I flatter myself I have," I answered. + +"You are wrong," said the abbe, "you are flattering yourself. You +have so conspicuously avoided the questions put to you that everybody +in the room noticed your extreme reserve. In the future no one will +ask you any questions." + +"I should be sorry if it should turn out so, but was I to expose my +own concerns?" + +"No, but there is a medium in all things." + +"Yes, the medium of Horace, but it is often a matter of great +difficulty to hit it exactly." + +"A man ought to know how to obtain affection and esteem at the same +time." + +"That is the very wish nearest to my heart." + +"To-day you have tried for the esteem much more than for the +affection of your fellow-creatures. It may be a noble aspiration, +but you must prepare yourself to fight jealousy and her daughter, +calumny; if those two monsters do not succeed in destroying you, the +victory must be yours. Now, for instance, you thoroughly refuted +Salicetti to-day. Well, he is a physician, and what is more a +Corsican; he must feel badly towards you." + +"Could I grant that the longings of women during their pregnancy have +no influence whatever on the skin of the foetus, when I know the +reverse to be the case? Are you not of my opinion?" + +"I am for neither party; I have seen many children with some such +marks, but I have no means of knowing with certainty whether those +marks have their origin in some longing experienced by the mother +while she was pregnant." + +"But I can swear it is so." + +"All the better for you if your conviction is based upon such +evidence, and all the worse for Salicetti if he denies the +possibility of the thing without certain authority. But let him +remain in error; it is better thus than to prove him in the wrong and +to make a bitter enemy of him." + +In the evening I called upon Lucrezia. The family knew my success, +and warmly congratulated me. Lucrezia told me that I looked sad, and +I answered that I was assisting at the funeral of my liberty, for I +was no longer my own master. Her husband, always fond of a joke, +told her that I was in love with her, and his mother-in-law advised +him not to show so much intrepidity. I only remained an hour with +those charming persons, and then took leave of them, but the very air +around me was heated by the flame within my breast. When I reached +my room I began to write, and spent the night in composing an ode +which I sent the next day to the advocate. I was certain that he +would shew it to his wife, who loved poetry, and who did not yet know +that I was a poet. I abstained from seeing her again for three or +four days. I was learning French, and making extracts from +ministerial letters. + +His eminence was in the habit of receiving every evening, and his +rooms were thronged with the highest nobility of Rome; I had never +attended these receptions. The Abbe Gama told me that I ought to do +so as well as he did, without any pretension. I followed his advice +and went; nobody spoke to me, but as I was unknown everyone looked at +me and enquired who I was. The Abbe Gama asked me which was the lady +who appeared to me the most amiable, and I shewed one to him; but I +regretted having done so, for the courtier went to her, and of course +informed her of what I had said. Soon afterwards I saw her look at +me through her eye-glass and smile kindly upon me. She was the +Marchioness G----, whose 'cicisbeo' was Cardinal S---- C----. + +On the very day I had fixed to spend the evening with Donna Lucrezia +the worthy advocate called upon me. He told me that if I thought I +was going to prove I was not in love with his wife by staying away I +was very much mistaken, and he invited me to accompany all the family +to Testaccio, where they intended to have luncheon on the following +Thursday. He added that his wife knew my ode by heart, and that she +had read it to the intended husband of Angelique, who had a great +wish to make my acquaintance. That gentleman was likewise a poet, +and would be one of the party to Testaccio. I promised the advocate +I would come to his house on the Thursday with a carriage for two. + +At that time every Thursday in the month of October was a festival +day in Rome. I went to see Donna Cecilia in the evening, and we +talked about the excursion the whole time. I felt certain that Donna +Lucrezia looked forward to it with as much pleasure as I did myself. +We had no fixed plan, we could not have any, but we trusted to the +god of love, and tacitly placed our confidence in his protection. + +I took care that Father Georgi should not hear of that excursion +before I mentioned it to him myself, and I hastened to him in order +to obtain his permission to go. I confess that, to obtain his leave, +I professed the most complete indifference about it, and the +consequence was that the good man insisted upon my going, saying that +it was a family party, and that it was quite right for me to visit +the environs of Rome and to enjoy myself in a respectable way. + +I went to Donna Cecilia's in a carriage which I hired from a certain +Roland, a native of Avignon, and if I insist here upon his name it is +because my readers will meet him again in eighteen years, his +acquaintance with me having had very important results. The charming +widow introduced me to Don Francisco, her intended son-in-law, whom +she represented as a great friend of literary men, and very deeply +learned himself. I accepted it as gospel, and behaved accordingly; +yet I thought he looked rather heavy and not sufficiently elated for +a young man on the point of marrying such a pretty girl as Angelique. +But he had plenty of good-nature and plenty of money, and these are +better than learning and gallantry. + +As we were ready to get into the carriages, the advocate told me that +he would ride with me in my carriage, and that the three ladies would +go with Don Francisco in the other. I answered at once that he ought +to keep Don Francisco company, and that I claimed the privilege of +taking care of Donna Cecilia, adding that I should feel dishonoured +if things were arranged differently. Thereupon I offered my arm to +the handsome widow, who thought the arrangement according to the +rules of etiquette and good breeding, and an approving look of my +Lucrezia gave me the most agreeable sensation. Yet the proposal of +the advocate struck me somewhat unpleasantly, because it was in +contradiction with his former behaviour, and especially with what he +had said to me in my room a few days before. "Has he become +jealous?" I said to myself; that would have made me almost angry, +but the hope of bringing him round during our stay at Testaccio +cleared away the dark cloud on my mind, and I was very amiable to +Donna Cecilia. What with lunching and walking we contrived to pass +the afternoon very pleasantly; I was very gay, and my love for +Lucrezia was not once mentioned; I was all attention to her mother. +I occasionally addressed myself to Lucrezia, but not once to the +advocate, feeling this the best way to shew him that he had insulted +me. + +As we prepared to return, the advocate carried off Donna Cecilia and +went with her to the carriage in which were already seated Angelique +and Don Francisco. Scarcely able to control my delight, I offered my +arm to Donna Lucrezia, paying her some absurd compliment, while the +advocate laughed outright, and seemed to enjoy the trick he imagined +he had played me. + +How many things we might have said to each other before giving +ourselves up to the material enjoyment of our love, had not the +instants been so precious! But, aware that we had only half an hour +before us, we were sparing of the minutes. We were absorbed in +voluptuous pleasure when suddenly Lucrezia exclaims,--- + +"Oh! dear, how unhappy we are!" + +She pushes me back, composes herself, the carriage stops, and the +servant opens the door. "What is the matter?" I enquire. "We are at +home." Whenever I recollect the circumstance, it seems to me +fabulous, for it is not possible to annihilate time, and the horses +were regular old screws. But we were lucky all through. The night +was dark, and my beloved angel happened to be on the right side to +get out of the carriage first, so that, although the advocate was at +the door of the brougham as soon as the footman, everything went +right, owing to the slow manner in which Lucrezia alighted. I +remained at Donna Cecilia's until midnight. + +When I got home again, I went to bed; but how could I sleep? I felt +burning in me the flame which I had not been able to restore to its +original source in the too short distance from Testaccio to Rome. It +was consuming me. Oh! unhappy are those who believe that the +pleasures of Cythera are worth having, unless they are enjoyed in the +most perfect accord by two hearts overflowing with love! + +I only rose in time for my French lesson. My teacher had a pretty +daughter, named Barbara, who was always present during my lessons, +and who sometimes taught me herself with even more exactitude than +her father. A good-looking young man, who likewise took lessons, was +courting her, and I soon perceived that she loved him. This young +man called often upon me, and I liked him, especially on account of +his reserve, for, although I made him confess his love for Barbara, +he always changed the subject, if I mentioned it in our conversation. + +I had made up my mind to respect his reserve, and had not alluded to +his affection for several days. But all at once I remarked that he +had ceased his visits both to me and to his teacher, and at the same +time I observed that the young girl was no longer present at my +lessons; I felt some curiosity to know what had happened, although it +was not, after all, any concern of mine. + +A few days after, as I was returning from church, I met the young +man, and reproached him for keeping away from us all. He told me +that great sorrow had befallen him, which had fairly turned his +brain, and that he was a prey to the most intense despair. His eyes +were wet with tears. As I was leaving him, he held me back, and I +told him that I would no longer be his friend unless he opened his +heart to me. He took me to one of the cloisters, and he spoke thus: + +"I have loved Barbara for the last six months, and for three months +she has given me indisputable proofs of her affection. Five days +ago, we were betrayed by the servant, and the father caught us in a +rather delicate position. He left the room without saying one word, +and I followed him, thinking of throwing myself at his feet; but, as +I appeared before him, he took hold of me by the arm, pushed me +roughly to the door, and forbade me ever to present myself again at +his house. I cannot claim her hand in marriage, because one of my +brothers is married, and my father is not rich; I have no profession, +and my mistress has nothing. Alas, now that I have confessed all to +you, tell me, I entreat you, how she is. I am certain that she is as +miserable as I am myself. I cannot manage to get a letter delivered +to her, for she does not leave the house, even to attend church. +Unhappy wretch! What shall I do?" + +I could but pity him, for, as a man of honour, it was impossible for +me to interfere in such a business. I told him that I had not seen +Barbara for five days, and, not knowing what to say, I gave him the +advice which is tendered by all fools under similar circumstances; I +advised him to forget his mistress. + +We had then reached the quay of Ripetta, and, observing that he was +casting dark looks towards the Tiber, I feared his despair might lead +him to commit some foolish attempt against his own life, and, in +order to calm his excited feelings, I promised to make some enquiries +from the father about his mistress, and to inform him of all I heard. +He felt quieted by my promise, and entreated me not to forget him. + +In spite of the fire which had been raging through my veins ever +since the excursion to Testaccio, I had not seen my Lucrezia for four +days. I dreaded Father Georgi's suave manner, and I was still more +afraid of finding he had made up his mind to give me no more advice. +But, unable to resist my desires, I called upon Lucrezia after my +French lesson, and found her alone, sad and dispirited. + +"Ah!" she exclaimed, as soon as I was by her side, "I think you might +find time to come and see me!" + +"My beloved one, it is not that I cannot find time, but I am so +jealous of my love that I would rather die than let it be known +publicly. I have been thinking of inviting you all to dine with me +at Frascati. I will send you a phaeton, and I trust that some lucky +accident will smile upon our love." + +"Oh! yes, do, dearest! I am sure your invitation will be accepted:" + +In a quarter of an hour the rest of the family came in, and I +proffered my invitation for the following Sunday, which happened to +be the Festival of St. Ursula, patroness of Lucrezia's youngest +sister. I begged Donna Cecilia to bring her as well as her son. My +proposal being readily accepted, I gave notice that the phaeton would +be at Donna Cecilia's door at seven o'clock, and that I would come +myself with a carriage for two persons. + +The next day I went to M. Dalacqua, and, after my lesson, I saw +Barbara who, passing from one room to another, dropped a paper and +earnestly looked at me. I felt bound to pick it up, because a +servant, who was at hand, might have seen it and taken it. It was a +letter, enclosing another addressed to her lover. The note for me +ran thus: "If you think it to be a sin to deliver the enclosed to +your friend, burn it. Have pity on an unfortunate girl, and be +discreet." + +The enclosed letter which was unsealed, ran as follows: "If you love +me as deeply as 'I love you, you cannot hope to be happy without me; +we cannot correspond in any other way than the one I am bold enough +to adopt. I am ready to do anything to unite our lives until death. +Consider and decide." + +The cruel situation of the poor girl moved me almost to tears; yet I +determined to return her letter the next day, and I enclosed it in a +note in which I begged her to excuse me if I could not render her the +service she required at my hands. I put it in my pocket ready for +delivery. The next day I went for my lesson as usual, but, not +seeing Barbara, I had no opportunity of returning her letter, and +postponed its delivery to the following day. Unfortunately, just +after I had returned to my room, the unhappy lover made his +appearance. His eyes were red from weeping, his voice hoarse; he +drew such a vivid picture of his misery, that, dreading some mad +action counselled by despair, I could not withhold from him the +consolation which I knew it was in my power to give. This was my +first error in this fatal business; I was the victim of my own +kindness. + +The poor fellow read the letter over and over; he kissed it with +transports of joy; he wept, hugged me, and thanked me for saving his +life, and finally entreated me to take charge of his answer, as his +beloved mistress must be longing for consolation as much as he had +been himself, assuring me that his letter could not in any way +implicate me, and that I was at liberty to read it. + +And truly, although very long, his letter contained nothing but the +assurance of everlasting love, and hopes which could not be realized. +Yet I was wrong to accept the character of Mercury to the two young +lovers. To refuse, I had only to recollect that Father Georgi would +certainly have disapproved of my easy compliance. + +The next day I found M. Dalacqua ill in bed; his daughter gave me my +lesson in his room, and I thought that perhaps she had obtained her +pardon. I contrived to give her her lover's letter, which she +dextrously conveyed to her pocket, but her blushes would have easily +betrayed her if her father had been looking that way. After the +lesson I gave M. Dalacqua notice that I would not come on the morrow, +as it was the Festival of St. Ursula, one of the eleven thousand +princesses and martyr-virgins. + +In the evening, at the reception of his eminence, which I attended +regularly, although persons of distinction seldom spoke to me, the +cardinal beckoned to me. He was speaking to the beautiful +Marchioness G----, to whom Gama had indiscreetly confided that I +thought her the handsomest woman amongst his eminence's guests. + +"Her grace," said the Cardinal, "wishes to know whether you are +making rapid progress in the French language, which she speaks +admirably." + +I answered in Italian that I had learned a great deal, but that I was +not yet bold enough to speak. + +"You should be bold," said the marchioness, "but without showing any +pretension. It is the best wav to disarm criticism." + +My mind having almost unwittingly lent to the words "You should be +bold" a meaning which had very likely been far from the idea of the +marchioness, I turned very red, and the handsome speaker, observing +it, changed the conversation and dismissed me. + +The next morning, at seven o'clock, I was at Donna Cecilia's door. +The phaeton was there as well as the carriage for two persons, which +this time was an elegant vis-a-vis, so light and well-hung that Donna +Cecilia praised it highly when she took her seat. + +"I shall have my turn as we return to Rome," said Lucrezia; and I +bowed to her as if in acceptance of her promise. + +Lucrezia thus set suspicion at defiance in order to prevent suspicion +arising. My happiness was assured, and I gave way to my natural flow +of spirits. I ordered a splendid dinner, and we all set out towards +the Villa Ludovisi. As we might have missed each other during our +ramblings, we agreed to meet again at the inn at one o'clock. The +discreet widow took the arm of her son-in-law, Angelique remained +with her sister, and Lucrezia was my delightful share; Ursula and her +brother were running about together, and in less than a quarter of an +hour I had Lucrezia entirely to myself. + +"Did you remark," she said, "with what candour I secured for us two +hours of delightful 'tete-a-tete', and a 'tete-a-tete' in a 'vis-a- +vis', too! How clever Love is!" + +"Yes, darling, Love has made but one of our two souls. I adore you, +and if I have the courage to pass so many days without seeing you it +is in order to be rewarded by the freedom of one single day like +this." + +"I did not think it possible. But you have managed it all very well. +You know too much for your age, dearest." + +"A month ago, my beloved, I was but an ignorant child, and you are +the first woman who has initiated me into the mysteries of love. +Your departure will kill me, for I could not find another woman like +you in all Italy." + +"What! am I your first love? Alas! you will never be cured of it. +Oh! why am I not entirely your own? You are also the first true love +of my heart, and you will be the last. How great will be the +happiness of my successor! I should not be jealous of her, but what +suffering would be mine if I thought that her heart was not like +mine!" + +Lucrezia, seeing my eyes wet with tears, began to give way to her +own, and, seating ourselves on the grass, our lips drank our tears +amidst the sweetest kisses. How sweet is the nectar of the tears +shed by love, when that nectar is relished amidst the raptures of +mutual ardour! I have often tasted them--those delicious tears, and +I can say knowingly that the ancient physicians were right, and that +the modern are wrong. + +In a moment of calm, seeing the disorder in which we both were, I +told her that we might be surprised. + +"Do not fear, my best beloved," she said, "we are under the +guardianship of our good angels." + +We were resting and reviving our strength by gazing into one +another's eyes, when suddenly Lucrezia, casting a glance to the +right, exclaimed, + +"Look there! idol of my heart, have I not told you so? Yes, the +angels are watching over us! Ah! how he stares at us! He seems to +try to give us confidence. Look at that little demon; admire him! +He must certainly be your guardian spirit or mine." + +I thought she was delirious. + +"What are you saying, dearest? I do not understand you. What am I +to admire?" + +"Do you not see that beautiful serpent with the blazing skin, which +lifts its head and seems to worship us?" + +I looked in the direction she indicated, and saw a serpent with +changeable colours about three feet in length, which did seem to be +looking at us. I was not particularly pleased at the sight, but I +could not show myself less courageous than she was. + +"What!" said I, "are you not afraid?" + +"I tell you, again, that the sight is delightful to me, and I feel +certain that it is a spirit with nothing but the shape, or rather the +appearance, of a serpent." + +"And if the spirit came gliding along the grass and hissed at you?" + +"I would hold you tighter against my bosom, and set him at defiance. +In your arms Lucrezia is safe. Look! the spirit is going away. +Quick, quick! He is warning us of the approach of some profane +person, and tells us to seek some other retreat to renew our +pleasures. Let us go." + +We rose and slowly advanced towards Donna Cecilia and the advocate, +who were just emerging from a neighbouring alley. Without avoiding +them, and without hurrying, just as if to meet one another was a very +natural occurrence, I enquired of Donna Cecilia whether her daughter +had any fear of serpents. + +"In spite of all her strength of mind," she answered, "she is +dreadfully afraid of thunder, and she will scream with terror at the +sight of the smallest snake. There are some here, but she need not +be frightened, for they are not venomous" + +I was speechless with astonishment, for I discovered that I had just +witnessed a wonderful love miracle. At that moment the children came +up, and, without ceremony, we again parted company. + +"Tell me, wonderful being, bewitching woman, what would you have done +if, instead of your pretty serpent, you had seen your husband and +your mother?" + +"Nothing. Do you not know that, in moments of such rapture, lovers +see and feel nothing but love? Do you doubt having possessed me +wholly, entirely?" + +Lucrezia, in speaking thus, was not composing a poetical ode; she was +not feigning fictitious sentiments; her looks, the sound of her +voice, were truth itself! + +"Are you certain," I enquired, "that we are not suspected?" + +"My husband does not believe us to be in love with each other, or +else he does not mind such trifling pleasures as youth is generally +wont to indulge in. My mother is a clever woman, and perhaps she +suspects the truth, but she is aware that it is no longer any concern +of hers. As to my sister, she must know everything, for she cannot +have forgotten the broken-down bed; but she is prudent, and besides, +she has taken it into her head to pity me. She has no conception of +the nature of my feelings towards you. If I had not met you, my +beloved, I should probably have gone through life without realizing +such feelings myself; for what I feel for my husband.... well, I have +for him the obedience which my position as a wife imposes upon me." + +"And yet he is most happy, and I envy him! He can clasp in his arms +all your lovely person whenever he likes! There is no hateful veil +to hide any of your charms from his gaze." + +"Oh! where art thou, my dear serpent? Come to us, come and protect +us against the surprise of the uninitiated, and this very instant I +fulfil all the wishes of him I adore!" + +We passed the morning in repeating that we loved each other, and in +exchanging over and over again substantial proofs of our mutual +passion. + +We had a delicious dinner, during which I was all attention for the +amiable Donna Cecilia. My pretty tortoise-shell box, filled with +excellent snuff, went more than once round the table. As it happened +to be in the hands of Lucrezia who was sitting on my left, her +husband told her that, if I had no objection, she might give me her +ring and keep the snuff-box in exchange. Thinking that the ring was +not of as much value as my box, I immediately accepted, but I found +the ring of greater value. Lucrezia would not, however, listen to +anything on that subject. She put the box in her pocket, and thus +compelled me to keep her ring. + +Dessert was nearly over, the conversation was very animated, when +suddenly the intended husband of Angelique claimed our attention for +the reading of a sonnet which he had composed and dedicated to me. I +thanked him, and placing the sonnet in my pocket promised to write +one for him. This was not, however, what he wished; he expected +that, stimulated by emulation, I would call for paper and pen, and +sacrifice to Apollo hours which it was much more to my taste to +employ in worshipping another god whom his cold nature knew only by +name. We drank coffee, I paid the bill, and we went about rambling +through the labyrinthine alleys of the Villa Aldobrandini. + +What sweet recollections that villa has left in my memory! It seemed +as if I saw my divine Lucrezia for the first time. Our looks were +full of ardent love, our hearts were beating in concert with the most +tender impatience, and a natural instinct was leading us towards a +solitary asylum which the hand of Love seemed to have prepared on +purpose for the mysteries of its secret worship. There, in the +middle of a long avenue, and under a canopy of thick foliage, we +found a wide sofa made of grass, and sheltered by a deep thicket; +from that place our eyes could range over an immense plain, and view +the avenue to such a distance right and left that we were perfectly +secure against any surprise. We did not require to exchange one word +at the sight of this beautiful temple so favourable to our love; our +hearts spoke the same language. + +Without a word being spoken, our ready hands soon managed to get rid +of all obstacles, and to expose in a state of nature all the beauties +which are generally veiled by troublesome wearing apparel. Two whole +hours were devoted to the most delightful, loving ecstasies. At last +we exclaimed together in mutual ecstasy, "O Love, we thank thee!" + +We slowly retraced our steps towards the carriages, revelling in our +intense happiness. Lucrezia informed me that Angelique's suitor was +wealthy, that he owned a splendid villa at Tivoli, and that most +likely he would invite us all to dine and pass the night there. +"I pray the god of love," she added, "to grant us a night as +beautiful as this day has been." Then, looking sad, she said, "But +alas! the ecclesiastical lawsuit which has brought my husband to +Rome is progressing so favourably that I am mortally afraid he will +obtain judgment all too soon." + +The journey back to the city lasted two hours; we were alone in my +vis-a-vis and we overtaxed nature, exacting more than it can possibly +give. As we were getting near Rome we were compelled to let the +curtain fall before the denouement of the drama which we had +performed to the complete satisfaction of the actors. + +I returned home rather fatigued, but the sound sleep which was so +natural at my age restored my full vigour, and in the morning I took +my French lesson at the usual hour. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Benedict XIV--Excursion to Tivoli--Departure of Lucrezia--The +Marchioness G.--Barbara Dalacqua--My Misfortunes--I Leave Rome + + +M. Dalacqua being very ill, his daughter Barbara gave me my lesson. +When it was over, she seized an opportunity of slipping a letter into +my pocket, and immediately disappeared, so that I had no chance of +refusing. The letter was addressed to me, and expressed feelings of +the warmest gratitude. She only desired me to inform her lover that +her father had spoken to her again, and that most likely he would +engage a new servant as soon as he had recovered from his illness, +and she concluded her letter by assuring me that she never would +implicate me in this business. + +Her father was compelled to keep his bed for a fortnight, and Barbara +continued to give me my lesson every day. I felt for her an interest +which, from me towards a young and pretty girl, was, indeed, quite a +new sentiment. It was a feeling of pity, and I was proud of being +able to help and comfort her. Her eyes never rested upon mine, her +hand never met mine, I never saw in her toilet the slightest wish to +please me. She was very pretty, and I knew she had a tender, loving +nature; but nothing interfered with the respect and the regard which +I was bound in honour and in good faith to feel towards her, and I +was proud to remark that she never thought me capable of taking +advantage of her weakness or of her position. + +When the father had recovered he dismissed his servant and engaged +another. Barbara entreated me to inform her friend of the +circumstance, and likewise of her hope to gain the new servant to +their interests, at least sufficiently to secure the possibility of +carrying on some correspondence. I promised to do so, and as a mark +of her gratitude she took my hand to carry it to her lips, but +quickly withdrawing it I tried to kiss her; she turned her face away, +blushing deeply. I was much pleased with her modesty. + +Barbara having succeeded in gaining the new servant over, I had +nothing more to do with the intrigue, and I was very glad of it, for +I knew my interference might have brought evil on my own head. +Unfortunately, it was already too late. + +I seldom visited Don Gaspar; the study of the French language took up +all my mornings, and it was only in the morning that I could see him; +but I called every evening upon Father Georgi, and, although I went +to him only as one of his 'proteges', it gave me some reputation. I +seldom spoke before his guests, yet I never felt weary, for in his +circle his friends would criticise without slandering, discuss +politics without stubbornness, literature without passion, and I +profited by all. After my visit to the sagacious monk, I used to +attend the assembly of the cardinal, my master, as a matter of duty. +Almost every evening, when she happened to see me at her card-table, +the beautiful marchioness would address to me a few gracious words in +French, and I always answered in Italian, not caring to make her +laugh before so many persons. My feelings for her were of a singular +kind. I must leave them to the analysis of the reader. I thought +that woman charming, yet I avoided her; it was not because I was +afraid of falling in love with her; I loved Lucrezia, and I firmly +believed that such an affection was a shield against any other +attachment, but it was because I feared that she might love me or +have a passing fancy for me. Was it self-conceit or modesty, vice or +virtue? Perhaps neither one nor the other. + +One evening she desired the Abbe Gama to call me to her; she was +standing near the cardinal, my patron, and the moment I approached +her she caused me a strange feeling of surprise by asking me in +Italian a question which I was far from anticipating: + +"How did you like Frascati?" + +"Very much, madam; I have never seen such a beautiful place." + +"But your company was still more beautiful, and your vis-a-vis was +very smart." + +I only bowed low to the marchioness, and a moment after Cardinal +Acquaviva said to me, kindly, + +"You are astonished at your adventure being known?" + +"No, my lord; but I am surprised that people should talk of it. I +could not have believed Rome to be so much like a small village." + +"The longer you live in Rome," said his eminence, "the more you will +find it so. You have not yet presented yourself to kiss the foot of +our Holy Father?" + +"Not yet, my lord." + +"Then you must do so." + +I bowed in compliance to his wishes. + +The Abbe Gama told me to present myself to the Pope on the morrow, +and he added, + +"Of course you have already shewn yourself in the Marchioness G.'s +palace?" + +"No, I have never been there." + +"You astonish me; but she often speaks to you!" + +"I have no objection to go with you." + +"I never visit at her palace." + +"Yet she speaks to you likewise." + +"Yes, but.... You do not know Rome; go alone; believe me, you ought +to go." + +"Will she receive me?" + +"You are joking, I suppose. Of course it is out of the question for +you to be announced. You will call when the doors are wide open to +everybody. You will meet there all those who pay homage to her." + +"Will she see me?" + +"No doubt of it." + +On the following day I proceeded to Monte-Cavallo, and I was at once +led into the room where the Pope was alone. I threw myself on my +knees and kissed the holy cross on his most holy slipper. The Pope +enquiring who I was, I told him, and he answered that he knew me, +congratulating me upon my being in the service of so eminent a +cardinal. He asked me how I had succeeded in gaining the cardinal's +favour; I answered with a faithful recital of my adventures from my +arrival at Martorano. He laughed heartily at all I said respecting +the poor and worthy bishop, and remarked that, instead of trying to +address him in Tuscan, I could speak in the Venetian dialect, as he +was himself speaking to me in the dialect of Bologna. I felt quite +at my ease with him, and I told him so much news and amused him so +well that the Holy Father kindly said that he would be glad to see me +whenever I presented myself at Monte-Cavallo. I begged his +permission to read all forbidden books, and he granted it with his +blessing, saying that I should have the permission in writing, but he +forgot it. + +Benedict XIV, was a learned man, very amiable, and fond of a joke. +I saw him for the second time at the Villa Medicis. He called me to +him, and continued his walk, speaking of trifling things. He was +then accompanied by Cardinal Albani and the ambassador from Venice. +A man of modest appearance approached His Holiness, who asked what he +required; the man said a few words in a low voice, and, after +listening to him, the Pope answered, "You are right, place your trust +in God;" and he gave him his blessing. The poor fellow went away +very dejected, and the Holy Father continued his walk. + +"This man," I said, "most Holy Father, has not been pleased with the +answer of Your Holiness." + +"Why?" + +"Because most likely he had already addressed himself to God before +he ventured to apply to you; and when Your Holiness sends him to God +again, he finds himself sent back, as the proverb says, from Herod to +Pilate." + +The Pope, as well as his two companions, laughed heartily; but I kept +a serious countenance. + +"I cannot," continued the Pope, "do any good without God's +assistance." + +"Very true, Holy Father; but the man is aware that you are God's +prime minister, and it is easy to imagine his trouble now that the +minister sends him again to the master. His only resource is to give +money to the beggars of Rome, who for one 'bajocco' will pray for +him. They boast of their influence before the throne of the +Almighty, but as I have faith only in your credit, I entreat Your +Holiness to deliver me of the heat which inflames my eyes by granting +me permission to eat meat." + +"Eat meat, my son." + +"Holy Father, give me your blessing." + +He blessed me, adding that I was not dispensed from fasting. + +That very evening, at the cardinal's assembly, I found that the news +of my dialogue with the Pope was already known. Everybody was +anxious to speak to me. I felt flattered, but I was much more +delighted at the joy which Cardinal Acquaviva tried in vain to +conceal. + +As I wished not to neglect Gama's advice, I presented myself at the +mansion of the beautiful marchioness at the hour at which everyone +had free access to her ladyship. I saw her, I saw the cardinal and a +great many abbes; but I might have supposed myself invisible, for no +one honoured me with a look, and no one spoke to me. I left after +having performed for half an hour the character of a mute. Five or +six days afterwards, the marchioness told me graciously that she had +caught a sight of me in her reception-rooms. + +"I was there, it is true, madam; but I had no idea that I had had the +honour to be seen by your ladyship." + +"Oh! I see everybody. They tell me that you have wit." + +"If it is not a mistake on the part of your informants, your ladyship +gives me very good news." + +"Oh! they are excellent judges." + +"Then, madam, those persons must have honoured me with their +conversation; otherwise, it is not likely that they would have been +able to express such an opinion." + +"No doubt; but let me see you often at my receptions." + +Our conversation had been overheard by those who were around; his +excellency the cardinal told me that, when the marchioness addressed +herself particularly to me in French, my duty was to answer her in +the same language, good or bad. The cunning politician Gama took me +apart, and remarked that my repartees were too smart, too cutting, +and that, after a time, I would be sure to displease. I had made +considerable progress in French; I had given up my lessons, and +practice was all I required. I was then in the habit of calling +sometimes upon Lucrezia in the morning, and of visiting in the +evening Father Georgi, who was acquainted with the excursion to +Frascati, and had not expressed any dissatisfaction. + +Two days after the sort of command laid upon me by the marchioness, I +presented myself at her reception. As soon as she saw me, she +favoured me with a smile which I acknowledged by a deep reverence; +that was all. In a quarter of an hour afterwards I left the mansion. +The marchioness was beautiful, but she was powerful, and I could not +make up my mind to crawl at the feet of power, and, on that head, I +felt disgusted with the manners of the Romans. + +One morning towards the end of November the advocate, accompanied by +Angelique's intended, called on me. The latter gave me a pressing +invitation to spend twenty-four hours at Tivoli with the friends I +had entertained at Frascati. I accepted with great pleasure, for I +had found no opportunity of being alone with Lucrezia since the +Festival of St. Ursula. I promised to be at Donna Cecilia's house at +day-break with the same 'is-a-vis'. It was necessary to start very +early, because Tivoli is sixteen miles from Rome, and has so many +objects of interest that it requires many hours to see them all. As +I had to sleep out that night, I craved permission to do so from the +cardinal himself, who, hearing with whom I was going, told me that I +was quite right not to lose such an opportunity of visiting that +splendid place in such good society. + +The first dawn of day found me with my 'vis-a-vis' and four at the +door of Donna Cecilia, who came with me as before. The charming +widow, notwithstanding her strict morality, was delighted at my love +for her daughter. The family rode in a large phaeton hired by Don +Francisco, which gave room for six persons. + +At half-past seven in the morning we made a halt at a small place +where had been prepared, by Don Franciso's orders, an excellent +breakfast, which was intended to replace the dinner, and we all made +a hearty meal, as we were not likely to find time for anything but +supper at Tivoli. I wore on my finger the beautiful ring which +Lucrezia had given me. At the back of the ring I had had a piece of +enamel placed, on it was delineated a saduceus, with one serpent +between the letters Alpha and Omega. This ring was the subject of +conversation during breakfast, and Don Francisco, as well as the +advocate, exerted himself in vain to guess the meaning of the +hieroglyphs; much to the amusement of Lucrezia, who understood the +mysterious secret so well. We continued our road, and reached Tivoli +at ten o'clock. + +We began by visiting Don Francisco's villa. It was a beautiful +little house, and we spent the following six hours in examining +together the antiquities of Tivoli. Lucrezia having occasion to +whisper a few words to Don Francisco, I seized the opportunity of +telling Angelique that after her marriage I should be happy to spend +a few days of the fine season with her. + +"Sir," she answered, "I give you fair notice that the moment I become +mistress in this house you will be the very first person to be +excluded." + +"I feel greatly obliged to you, signora, for your timely notice." + +But the most amusing part of the affair was that I construed +Angelique's wanton insult into a declaration of love. I was +astounded. Lucrezia, remarking the state I was in, touched my arm, +enquiring what ailed me. I told her, and she said at once, + +"My darling, my happiness cannot last long; the cruel moment of our +separation is drawing near. When I have gone, pray undertake the +task of compelling her to acknowledge her error. Angelique pities +me, be sure to avenge me." + +I have forgotten to mention that at Don Francisco's villa I happened +to praise a very pretty room opening upon the orange-house, and the +amiable host, having heard me, came obligingly to me, and said that +it should be my room that night. Lucrezia feigned not to hear, but +it was to her Ariadne's clue, for, as we were to remain altogether +during our visit to the beauties of Tivoli, we had no chance of a +tete-a-tete through the day. + +I have said that we devoted six hours to an examination of the +antiquities of Tivoli, but I am bound to confess here that I saw, for +my part, very little of them, and it was only twenty-eight years +later that I made a thorough acquaintance with the beautiful spot. + +We returned to the villa towards evening, fatigued and very hungry, +but an hour's rest before supper--a repast which lasted two hours, +the most delicious dishes, the most exquisite wines, and particularly +the excellent wine of Tivoli--restored us so well that everybody +wanted nothing more than a good bed and the freedom to enjoy the bed +according to his own taste. + +As everybody objected to sleep alone, Lucrezia said that she would +sleep with Angelique in one of the rooms leading to the orange-house, +and proposed that her husband should share a room with the young +abbe, his brother-in-law, and that Donna Cecilia should take her +youngest daughter with her. + +The arrangement met with general approbation, and Don Francisco, +taking a candle, escorted me to my pretty little room adjoining the +one in which the two sisters were to sleep, and, after shewing me how +I could lock myself in, he wished me good night and left me alone. + +Angelique had no idea that I was her near neighbour, but Lucrezia and +I, without exchanging a single word on the subject, had perfectly +understood each other. + +I watched through the key-hole and saw the two sisters come into +their room, preceded by the polite Don Francisco, who carried a +taper, and, after lighting a night-lamp, bade them good night and +retired. Then my two beauties, their door once locked, sat down on +the sofa and completed their night toilet, which, in that fortunate +climate, is similar to the costume of our first mother. Lucrezia, +knowing that I was waiting to come in, told her sister to lie down on +the side towards the window, and the virgin, having no idea that she +was exposing her most secret beauties to my profane eyes, crossed the +room in a state of complete nakedness. Lucrezia put out the lamp and +lay down near her innocent sister. + +Happy moments which I can no longer enjoy, but the sweet remembrance +of which death alone can make me lose! I believe I never undressed +myself as quickly as I did that evening. + +I open the door and fall into the arms of my Lucrezia, who says to +her sister, "It is my angel, my love; never mind him, and go to +sleep." + +What a delightful picture I could offer to my readers if it were +possible for me to paint voluptuousnes in its most enchanting +colours! What ecstasies of love from the very onset! What delicious +raptures succeed each other until the sweetest fatigue made us give +way to the soothing influence of Morpheus! + +The first rays of the sun, piercing through the crevices of the +shutters, wake us out of our refreshing slumbers, and like two +valorous knights who have ceased fighting only to renew the contest +with increased ardour, we lose no time in giving ourselves up to all +the intensity of the flame which consumes us. + +"Oh, my beloved Lucrezia! how supremely happy I am! But, my darling, +mind your sister; she might turn round and see us." + +"Fear nothing, my life; my sister is kind, she loves me, she pities +me; do you not love me, my dear Angelique? Oh! turn round, see how +happy your sister is, and know what felicity awaits you when you own +the sway of love." + +Angelique, a young maiden of seventeen summers, who must have +suffered the torments of Tantalus during the night, and who only +wishes for a pretext to shew that she has forgiven her sister, turns +round, and covering her sister with kisses, confesses that she has +not closed her eyes through the night. + +"Then forgive likewise, darling Angelique, forgive him who loves me, +and whom I adore," says Lucrezia. + +Unfathomable power of the god who conquers all human beings! + +"Angelique hates me," I say, "I dare not...." + +"No, I do not hate you!" answers the charming girl. + +"Kiss her, dearest," says Lucrezia, pushing me towards her sister, +and pleased to see her in my arms motionless and languid. + +But sentiment, still more than love, forbids me to deprive Lucrezia +of the proof of my gratitude, and I turn to her with all the rapture +of a beginner, feeling that my ardour is increased by Angelique's +ecstasy, as for the first time she witnesses the amorous contest. +Lucrezia, dying of enjoyment, entreats me to stop, but, as I do not +listen to her prayer, she tricks me, and the sweet Angelique makes +her first sacrifice to the mother of love. It is thus, very likely, +that when the gods inhabited this earth, the voluptuous Arcadia, in +love with the soft and pleasing breath of Zephyrus, one day opened +her arms, and was fecundated. + +Lucrezia was astonished and delighted, and covered us both with +kisses. Angelique, as happy as her sister, expired deliciously in my +arms for the third time, and she seconded me with so much loving +ardour, that it seemed to me I was tasting happiness for the first +time. + +Phoebus had left the nuptial couch, and his rays were already +diffusing light over the universe; and that light, reaching us +through the closed shutters, gave me warning to quit the place; we +exchanged the most loving adieus, I left my two divinities and +retired to my own room. A few minutes afterwards, the cheerful voice +of the advocate was heard in the chamber of the sisters; he was +reproaching them for sleeping too long! Then he knocked at my door, +threatening to bring the ladies to me, and went away, saying that he +would send me the hair-dresser. + +After many ablutions and a careful toilet, I thought I could skew my +face, and I presented myself coolly in the drawing-room. The two +sisters were there with the other members of our society, and I was +delighted with their rosy cheeks. Lucrezia was frank and gay, and +beamed with happiness; Angelique, as fresh as the morning dew, was +more radiant than usual, but fidgety, and carefully avoided looking +me in the face. I saw that my useless attempts to catch her eyes +made her smile, and I remarked to her mother, rather mischievously, +that it was a pity Angelique used paint for her face. She was duped +by this stratagem, and compelled me to pass a handkerchief over her +face, and was then obliged to look at me. I offered her my +apologies, and Don Francisco appeared highly pleased that the +complexion of his intended had met with such triumph. + +After breakfast we took a walk through the garden, and, finding +myself alone with Lucrezia, I expostulated tenderly with her for +having almost thrown her sister in my arms. + +"Do not reproach me," she said, "when I deserve praise. I have +brought light into the darkness of my charming sister's soul; I have +initiated her in the sweetest of mysteries, and now, instead of +pitying me, she must envy me. Far from having hatred for you, she +must love you dearly, and as I am so unhappy as to have to part from +you very soon, my beloved, I leave her to you; she will replace me." + +"Ah, Lucrezia! how can I love her?" + +"Is she not a charming girl?" + +"No doubt of it; but my adoration for you is a shield against any +other love. Besides Don Francisco must, of course, entirely +monopolize her, and I do not wish to cause coolness between them, or +to ruin the peace of their home. I am certain your sister is not +like you, and I would bet that, even now, she upbraids herself for +having given way to the ardour of her temperament:" + +"Most likely; but, dearest, I am sorry to say my husband expects to +obtain judgment in the course of this week, and then the short +instants of happiness will for ever be lost to me." + +This was sad news indeed, and to cause a diversion at the breakfast- +table I took much notice of the generous Don Francisco, and promised +to compose a nuptial song for his wedding-day, which had been fixed +for the early part of January. + +We returned to Rome, and for the three hours that she was with me in +my vis-a-vis, Lucrezia had no reason to think that my ardour was at +all abated. But when we reached the city I was rather fatigued, and +proceeded at once to the palace. + +Lucrezia had guessed rightly; her husband obtained his judgment three +or four days afterwards, and called upon me to announce their +departure for the day after the morrow; he expressed his warm +friendship for me, and by his invitation I spent the two last +evenings with Lucrezia, but we were always surrounded by the family. +The day of her departure, wishing to cause her an agreeable surprise, +I left Rome before them and waited for them at the place where I +thought they would put up for the night, but the advocate, having +been detained by several engagements, was detained in Rome, and they +only reached the place next day for dinner. We dined together, we +exchanged a sad, painful farewell, and they continued their journey +while I returned to Rome. + +After the departure of this charming woman, I found myself in sort of +solitude very natural to a young man whose heart is not full of hope. + +I passed whole days in my room, making extracts from the French +letters written by the cardinal, and his eminence was kind enough to +tell me that my extracts were judiciously made, but that he insisted +upon my not working so hard. The beautiful marchioness was present +when he paid me that compliment. + +Since my second visit to her, I had not presented myself at her +house; she was consequently rather cool to me, and, glad of an +opportunity of making me feel her displeasure, she remarked to his +eminence that very likely work was a consolation to me in the great +void caused by the departure of Donna Lucrezia. + +"I candidly confess, madam, that I have felt her loss deeply. She +was kind and generous; above all, she was indulgent when I did not +call often upon her. My friendship for her was innocent." + +"I have no doubt of it, although your ode was the work of a poet +deeply in love." + +"Oh!" said the kindly cardinal, "a poet cannot possibly write without +professing to be in love." + +"But," replied the marchioness, "if the poet is really in love, he +has no need of professing a feeling which he possesses." + +As she was speaking, the marchioness drew out of her pocket a paper +which she offered to his eminence. + +"This is the ode," she said, "it does great honour to the poet, for +it is admitted to be a masterpiece by all the literati in Rome, and +Donna Lucrezia knows it by heart." + +The cardinal read it over and returned it, smiling, and remarking +that, as he had no taste for Italian poetry, she must give herself +the pleasure of translating it into French rhyme if she wished him to +admire it. + +"I only write French prose," answered the marchioness, "and a prose +translation destroys half the beauty of poetry. I am satisfied with +writing occasionally a little Italian poetry without any pretension +to poetical fame" + +Those words were accompanied by a very significant glance in my +direction. + +"I should consider myself fortunate, madam, if I could obtain the +happiness of admiring some of your poetry." + +"Here is a sonnet of her ladyship's," said Cardinal S. C. + +I took it respectfully, and I prepared to read it, but the amiable +marchioness told me to put it in my pocket and return it to the +cardinal the next day, although she did not think the sonnet worth so +much trouble. "If you should happen to go out in the morning," said +Cardinal S. C., "you could bring it back, and dine with me." Cardinal +Aquaviva immediately answered for me: "He will be sure to go out +purposely." + +With a deep reverence, which expressed my thanks, I left the room +quietly and returned to my apartment, very impatient to read the +sonnet. Yet, before satisfying my wish, I could not help making some +reflections on the situation. I began to think myself somebody since +the gigantic stride I had made this evening at the cardinal's +assembly. The Marchioness de G. had shewn in the most open way the +interest she felt in me, and, under cover of her grandeur, had not +hesitated to compromise herself publicly by the most flattering +advances. But who would have thought of disapproving? A young abbe +like me, without any importance whatever, who could scarcely pretend +to her high protection! True, but she was precisely the woman to +grant it to those who, feeling themselves unworthy of it, dared not +shew any pretensions to her patronage. On that head, my modesty must +be evident to everyone, and the marchioness would certainly have +insulted me had she supposed me capable of sufficient vanity to fancy +that she felt the slightest inclination for me. No, such a piece of +self-conceit was not in accordance with my nature. Her cardinal +himself had invited me to dinner. Would he have done so if he had +admitted the possibility of the beautiful marchioness feeling +anything for me? Of course not, and he gave me an invitation to dine +with him only because he had understood, from the very words of the +lady, that I was just the sort of person with whom they could +converse for a few hours without any risk; to be sure, without any +risk whatever. Oh, Master Casanova! do you really think so? + +Well, why should I put on a mask before my readers? They may think +me conceited if they please, but the fact of the matter is that I +felt sure of having made a conquest of the marchioness. I +congratulated myself because she had taken the first, most difficult, +and most important step. Had she not done so, I should never have +dared-to lay siege to her even in the most approved fashion; I should +never have even ventured to dream of winning her. It was only this +evening that I thought she might replace Lucrezia. She was +beautiful, young, full of wit and talent; she was fond of literary +pursuits, and very powerful in Rome; what more was necessary? Yet I +thought it would be good policy to appear ignorant of her inclination +for me, and to let her suppose from the very next day that I was in +love with her, but that my love appeared to me hopeless. I knew that +such a plan was infallible, because it saved her dignity. It seemed +to me that Father Georgi himself would be compelled to approve such +an undertaking, and I had remarked with great satisfaction that +Cardinal Acquaviva had expressed his delight at Cardinal S. C.'s +invitation--an honour which he had never yet bestowed on me himself. +This affair might have very important results for me. + +I read the marchioness's sonnet, and found it easy, flowing, and well +written. It was composed in praise of the King of Prussia, who had +just conquered Silesia by a masterly stroke. As I was copying it, +the idea struck me to personify Silesia, and to make her, in answer +to the sonnet, bewail that Love (supposed to be the author of the +sonnet of the marchioness) could applaud the man who had conquered +her, when that conqueror was the sworn enemy of Love. + +It is impossible for a man accustomed to write poetry to abstain when +a happy subject smiles upon his delighted imagination. If he +attempted to smother the poetical flame running through his veins it +would consume him. I composed my sonnet, keeping the same rhymes as +in the original, and, well pleased with my muse, I went to bed. + +The next morning the Abbe Gama came in just as I had finished +recopying my sonnet, and said he would breakfast with me. He +complimented me upon the honour conferred on me by the invitation of +Cardinal S. C. + +"But be prudent," he added, "for his eminence has the reputation of +being jealous:" + +I thanked him for his friendly advice, taking care to assure him that +I had nothing to fear, because I did not feel the slightest +inclination for the handsome marchioness. + +Cardinal S. C. received me with great kindness mingled with dignity, +to make me realize the importance of the favour he was bestowing upon +me. + +"What do you think," he enquired, "of the sonnet?" + +"Monsignor, it is perfectly written, and, what is more, it is a +charming composition. Allow me to return it to you with my thanks." + +"She has much talent. I wish to shew you ten stanzas of her +composition, my dear abbe, but you must promise to be very discreet +about it." + +"Your eminence may rely on me." + +He opened his bureau and brought forth the stanzas of which he was +the subject. I read them, found them well written, but devoid of +enthusiasm; they were the work of a poet, and expressed love in the +words of passion, but were not pervaded by that peculiar feeling by +which true love is so easily discovered. The worthy cardinal was +doubtless guilty of a very great indiscretion, but self-love is the +cause of so many injudicious steps! I asked his eminence whether he +had answered the stanzas. + +"No," he replied, "I have not; but would you feel disposed to lend me +your poetical pen, always under the seal of secrecy?" + +"As to secrecy, monsignor, I promise it faithfully; but I am afraid +the marchioness will remark the difference between your style and +mine." + +"She has nothing of my composition," said the cardinal; "I do not +think she supposes me a fine poet, and for that reason your stanzas +must be written in such a manner that she will not esteem them above +my abilities." + +"I will write them with pleasure, monsignor, and your eminence can +form an opinion; if they do not seem good enough to be worthy of you, +they need not be given to the marchioness." + +"That is well said. Will you write them at once?" + +"What! now, monsignor? It is not like prose." + +"Well, well! try to let me have them to-morrow." + +We dined alone, and his eminence complimented me upon my excellent +appetite, which he remarked was as good as his own; but I was +beginning to understand my eccentric host, and, to flatter him, I +answered that he praised me more than I deserved, and that my +appetite was inferior to his. The singular compliment delighted him, +and I saw all the use I could make of his eminence. + +Towards the end of the dinner, as we were conversing, the marchioness +made her appearance, and, as a matter of course, without being +announced. Her looks threw me into raptures; I thought her a perfect +beauty. She did not give the cardinal time to meet her, but sat down +near him, while I remained standing, according to etiquette. + +Without appearing to notice me, the marchioness ran wittily over +various topics until coffee was brought in. Then, addressing herself +to me, she told me to sit down, just as if she was bestowing charity +upon me. + +"By-the-by, abbe," she said, a minute after, "have you read my +sonnet?" + +"Yes, madam, and I have had the honour to return it to his eminence. +I have found it so perfect that I am certain it must have cost you a +great deal of time." + +"Time?" exclaimed the cardinal; "Oh! you do not know the +marchioness." + +"Monsignor," I replied, "nothing can be done well without time, and +that is why I have not dared to chew to your eminence an answer to +the sonnet which I have written in half an hour." + +"Let us see it, abbe," said the marchioness; "I want to read it." + +"Answer of Silesia to Love." This title brought the most fascinating +blushes on her countenance. "But Love is not mentioned in the +sonnet," exclaimed the cardinal. "Wait," said the marchioness, "we +must respect the idea of the poet:" + +She read the sonnet over and over, and thought that the reproaches +addressed by Silesia to Love were very just. She explained my idea +to the cardinal, making him understand why Silesia was offended at +having been conquered by the King of Prussia. + +"Ah, I see, I see!" exclaimed the cardinal, full of joy; "Silesia is +a woman.... and the King of Prussia.... Oh! oh! that is really a +fine idea!" And the good cardinal laughed heartily for more than a +quarter of an hour. "I must copy that sonnet," he added, "indeed I +must have it." + +"The abbe," said the obliging marchioness, "will save you the +trouble: I will dictate it to him." + +I prepared to write, but his eminence suddenly exclaimed, "My dear +marchioness, this is wonderful; he has kept the same rhymes as in +your own sonnet: did you observe it?" + +The beautiful marchioness gave me then a look of such expression that +she completed her conquest. I understood that she wanted me to know +the cardinal as well as she knew him; it was a kind of partnership in +which I was quite ready to play my part. + +As soon as I had written the sonnet under the charming woman's +dictation, I took my leave, but not before the cardinal had told me +that he expected me to dinner the next day. + +I had plenty of work before me, for the ten stanzas I had to compose +were of the most singular character, and I lost no time in shutting +myself up in my room to think of them. I had to keep my balance +between two points of equal difficulty, and I felt that great care +was indispensable. I had to place the marchioness in such a position +that she could pretend to believe the cardinal the author of the +stanzas, and, at the same time, compel her to find out that I had +written them, and that I was aware of her knowing it. It was +necessary to speak so carefully that not one expression should +breathe even the faintest hope on my part, and yet to make my stanzas +blaze with the ardent fire of my love under the thin veil of poetry. +As for the cardinal, I knew well enough that the better the stanzas +were written, the more disposed he would be to sign them. All I +wanted was clearness, so difficult to obtain in poetry, while a +little doubtful darkness would have been accounted sublime by my new +Midas. But, although I wanted to please him, the cardinal was only a +secondary consideration, and the handsome marchioness the principal +object. + +As the marchioness in her verses had made a pompous enumeration of +every physical and moral quality of his eminence, it was of course +natural that he should return the compliment, and here my task was +easy. At last having mastered my subject well, I began my work, and +giving full career to my imagination and to my feelings I composed +the ten stanzas, and gave the finishing stroke with these two +beautiful lines from Ariosto: + + Le angelicche bellezze nate al cielo + Non si ponno celar sotto alcum velo. + +Rather pleased with my production, I presented it the next day to the +cardinal, modestly saying that I doubted whether he would accept the +authorship of so ordinary a composition. He read the stanzas twice +over without taste or expression, and said at last that they were +indeed not much, but exactly what he wanted. He thanked me +particularly for the two lines from Ariosto, saying that they would +assist in throwing the authorship upon himself, as they would prove +to the lady for whom they were intended that he had not been able to +write them without borrowing. And, as to offer me some consolation, +he told me that, in recopying the lines, he would take care to make a +few mistakes in the rhythm to complete the illusion. + +We dined earlier than the day before, and I withdrew immediately +after dinner so as to give him leisure to make a copy of the stanzas +before the arrival of the lady. + +The next evening I met the marchioness at the entrance of the palace, +and offered her my arm to come out of her carriage. The instant she +alighted, she said to me, + +"If ever your stanzas and mine become known in Rome, you may be sure +of my enmity." + +"Madam, I do not understand what you mean." + +"I expected you to answer me in this manner," replied the +marchioness, "but recollect what I have said." + +I left her at the door of the reception-room, and thinking that she +was really angry with me, I went away in despair. "My stanzas," I +said to myself, "are too fiery; they compromise her dignity, and her +pride is offended at my knowing the secret of her intrigue with +Cardinal S. C. Yet, I feel certain that the dread she expresses of +my want of discretion is only feigned, it is but a pretext to turn me +out of her favour. She has not understood my reserve! What would +she have done, if I had painted her in the simple apparel of the +golden age, without any of those veils which modesty imposes upon her +sex!" I was sorry I had not done so. I undressed and went to bed. +My head was scarcely on the pillow when the Abbe Gama knocked at my +door. I pulled the door-string, and coming in, he said, + +"My dear sir, the cardinal wishes to see you, and I am sent by the +beautiful marchioness and Cardinal S. C., who desire you to come +down." + +"I am very sorry, but I cannot go; tell them the truth; I am ill in +bed." + +As the abbe did not return, I judged that he had faithfully acquitted +himself of the commission, and I spent a quiet night. I was not yet +dressed in the morning, when I received a note from Cardinal S. C. +inviting me to dinner, saying that he had just been bled, and that he +wanted to speak to me: he concluded by entreating me to come to him +early, even if I did not feel well. + +The invitation was pressing; I could not guess what had caused it, +but the tone of the letter did not forebode anything unpleasant. I +went to church, where I was sure that Cardinal Acquaviva would see +me, and he did. After mass, his eminence beckoned to me. + +"Are you truly ill?" he enquired. + +"No, monsignor, I was only sleepy." + +"I am very glad to hear it; but you are wrong, for you are loved. +Cardinal S. C. has been bled this morning." + +"I know it, monsignor. The cardinal tells me so in this note, in +which he invites me to dine with him, with your excellency's +permission." + +"Certainly. But this is amusing! I did not know that he wanted a +third person." + +"Will there be a third person?" + +"I do not know, and I have no curiosity about it." + +The cardinal left me, and everybody imagined that his eminence had +spoken to me of state affairs. + +I went to my new Maecenas, whom I found in bed. + +"I am compelled to observe strict diet," he said to me; "I shall have +to let you dine alone, but you will not lose by it as my cook does +not know it. What I wanted to tell you is that your stanzas are, I +am afraid, too pretty, for the marchioness adores them. If you had +read them to me in the same way that she does, I could never have +made up my mind to offer them." "But she believes them to be written +by your eminence?" + +"Of course." + +"That is the essential point, monsignor." + +"Yes; but what should I do if she took it into her head to compose +some new stanzas for me?" + +"You would answer through the same pen, for you can dispose of me +night and day, and rely upon the utmost secrecy." + +"I beg of you to accept this small present; it is some negrillo snuff +from Habana, which Cardinal Acquaviva has given me." + +The snuff was excellent, but the object which contained it was still +better. It was a splendid gold-enamelled box. I received it with +respect, and with the expression of the deepest gratitude. + +If his eminence did not know how to write poetry, at least he knew +how to be generous, and in a delicate manner, and that science is, at +least in my estimation, superior to the other for a great nobleman. + +At noon, and much to my surprise, the beautiful marchioness made her +appearance in the most elegant morning toilet. + +"If I had known you were in good company," she said to the cardinal, +"I would not have come." + +"I am sure, dear marchioness, you will not find our dear abbe in the +way." + +"No, for I believe him to be honest and true." + +I kept at a respectful distance, ready to go away with my splendid +snuff-box at the first jest she might hurl at me. + +The cardinal asked her if she intended to remain to dinner. + +"Yes," she answered; "but I shall not enjoy my dinner, for I hate to +eat alone." + +"If you would honour him so far, the abbe would keep you company." + +She gave me a gracious look, but without uttering one word. + +This was the first time I had anything to do with a woman of quality, +and that air of patronage, whatever kindness might accompany it, +always put me out of temper, for I thought it made love out of the +question. However, as we were in the presence of the cardinal, I +fancied that she might be right in treating me in that fashion. + +The table was laid out near the cardinal's bed, and the marchioness, +who ate hardly anything, encouraged me in my good appetite. + +"I have told you that the abbe is equal to me in that respect," said +S. C. + +"I truly believe," answered the marchioness, "that he does not remain +far behind you; but," added she with flattery, "you are more dainty +in your tastes." + +"Would her ladyship be so good as to tell me in what I have appeared +to her to be a mere glutton? For in all things I like only dainty +and exquisite morsels." + +"Explain what you mean by saying in all things," said the cardinal. +Taking the liberty of laughing, I composed a few impromptu verses in +which I named all I thought dainty and exquisite. The marchioness +applauded, saying that she admired my courage. + +"My courage, madam, is due to you, for I am as timid as a hare when I +am not encouraged; you are the author of my impromptu." + +"I admire you. As for myself, were I encouraged by Apollo himself, I +could not compose four lines without paper and ink." + +"Only give way boldly to your genius, madam, and you will produce +poetry worthy of heaven." + +"That--is my opinion, too," said the cardinal. "I entreat you to +give me permission to skew your ten stanzas to the abbe." + +"They are not very good, but I have no objection provided it remains +between us." + +The cardinal gave me, then, the stanzas composed by the marchioness, +and I read them aloud with all the expression, all the feeling +necessary to such reading. + +"How well you have read those stanzas!" said the marchioness; "I can +hardly believe them to be my own composition; I thank you very much. +But have the goodness to give the benefit of your reading to the +stanzas which his eminence has written in answer to mine. They +surpass them much." + +"Do not believe it, my dear abbe," said the cardinal, handing them to +me. "Yet try not to let them lose anything through your reading." + +There was certainly no need of his eminence enforcing upon me such a +recommendation; it was my own poetry. I could not have read it +otherwise than in my best style, especially when I had before me the +beautiful woman who had inspired them, and when, besides, Bacchus was +in me giving courage to Apollo as much as the beautiful eyes of the +marchioness were fanning into an ardent blaze the fire already +burning through my whole being. + +I read the stanzas with so much expression that the cardinal was +enraptured, but I brought a deep carnation tint upon the cheeks of +the lovely marchioness when I came to the description of those +beauties which the imagination of the poet is allowed to guess at, +but which I could not, of course, have gazed upon. She snatched the +paper from my hands with passion, saying that I was adding verses of +my own; it was true, but I did not confess it. I was all aflame, and +the fire was scorching her as well as me. + +The cardinal having fallen asleep, she rose and went to take a seat +on the balcony; I followed her. She had a rather high seat; I stood +opposite to her, so that her knee touched the fob-pocket in which was +my watch. What a position! Taking hold gently of one of her hands, +I told her that she had ignited in my soul a devouring flame, that I +adored her, and that, unless some hope was left to me of finding her +sensible to my sufferings, I was determined to fly away from her for +ever. + +"Yes, beautiful marchioness, pronounce my sentence." + +"I fear you are a libertine and an unfaithful lover." + +"I am neither one nor the other." + +With these words I folded her in my arms, and I pressed upon her +lovely lips, as pure as a rose, an ardent kiss which she received +with the best possible grace. This kiss, the forerunner of the most +delicious pleasures, had imparted to my hands the greatest boldness; +I was on the point of.... but the marchioness, changing her +position, entreated me so sweetly to respect her, that, enjoying new +voluptuousness through my very obedience, I not only abandoned an +easy victory, but I even begged her pardon, which I soon read in the +most loving look. + +She spoke of Lucrezia, and was pleased with my discretion. She then +alluded to the cardinal, doing her best to make me believe that there +was nothing between them but a feeling of innocent friendship. Of +course I had my opinion on that subject, but it was my interest to +appear to believe every word she uttered. We recited together lines +from our best poets, and all the time she was still sitting down and +I standing before her, with my looks rapt in the contemplation of the +most lovely charms, to which I remained insensible in appearance, for +I had made up my mind not to press her that evening for greater +favours than those I had already received. + +The cardinal, waking from his long and peaceful siesta, got up and +joined us in his night-cap, and good-naturedly enquired whether we +had not felt impatient at his protracted sleep. I remained until +dark and went home highly pleased with my day's work, but determined +to keep my ardent desires in check until the opportunity for complete +victory offered itself. + +From that day, the charming marchioness never ceased to give me the +marks of her particular esteem, without the slightest constraint; I +was reckoning upon the carnival, which was close at hand, feeling +certain that the more I should spare her delicacy, the more she would +endeavour to find the opportunity of rewarding my loyalty, and of +crowning with happiness my loving constancy. But fate ordained +otherwise; Dame Fortune turned her back upon me at the very moment +when the Pope and Cardinal Acquaviva were thinking of giving me a +really good position. + +The Holy Father had congratulated me upon the beautiful snuff-box +presented to me by Cardinal S. C., but he had been careful never to +name the marchioness. Cardinal Acquaviva expressed openly his +delight at his brother-cardinal having given me a taste of his +negrillo snuff in so splendid an envelope; the Abbe Gama, finding me +so forward on the road to success, did not venture to counsel me any +more, and the virtuous Father Georgi gave me but one piece of advice- +namely, to cling to the lovely marchioness and not to make any other +acquaintances. + +Such was my position-truly a brilliant one, when, on Christmas Day, +the lover of Barbara Dalacqua entered my room, locked the door, and +threw himself on the sofa, exclaiming that I saw him for the last +time. + +"I only come to beg of you some good advice." + +"On what subject can I advise you?" + +"Take this and read it; it will explain everything." + +It was a letter from his mistress; the contents were these: + +"I am pregnant of a child, the pledge of our mutual love; I can no +longer have any doubt of it, my beloved, and I forewarn you that I +have made up my mind to quit Rome alone, and to go away to die where +it may please God, if you refuse to take care of me and save me. I +would suffer anything, do anything, rather than let my father +discover the truth." + +"If you are a man of honour," I said, "you cannot abandon the poor +girl. Marry her in spite of your father, in spite of her own, and +live together honestly. The eternal Providence of God will watch +over you and help you in your difficulties:" + +My advice seemed to bring calm to his mind, and he left me more +composed. + +At the beginning of January, 1744, he called again, looking very +cheerful. "I have hired," he said, "the top floor of the house next +to Barbara's dwelling; she knows it, and to-night I will gain her +apartment through one of the windows of the garret, and we will make +all our arrangements to enable me to carry her off. I have made up +my mind; I have decided upon taking her to Naples, and I will take +with us the servant who, sleeping in the garret, had to be made a +confidante of." + +"God speed you, my friend!" + +A week afterwards, towards eleven o'clock at night, he entered my +room accompanied by an abbe. + +"What do you want so late?" + +"I wish to introduce you to this handsome abbe." + +I looked up, and to my consternation I recognized Barbara. + +"Has anyone seen you enter the house?" I enquired. + +"No; and if we had been seen, what of it? It is only an abbe. We +now pass every night together." + +"I congratulate you." + +"The servant is our friend; she has consented to follow us, and all +our arrangements are completed." + +"I wish you every happiness. Adieu. I beg you to leave me." + +Three or four days after that visit, as I was walking with the Abbe +Gama towards the Villa Medicis, he told me deliberately that there +would be an execution during the night in the Piazza di Spagna. + +"What kind of execution?" + +"The bargello or his lieutenant will come to execute some 'ordine +santissimo', or to visit some suspicious dwelling in order to arrest +and carry off some person who does not expect anything of the sort." + +"How do you know it?" + +"His eminence has to know it, for the Pope would not venture to +encroach upon his jurisdiction without asking his permission." + +"And his eminence has given it?" + +"Yes, one of the Holy Father's auditors came for that purpose this +morning." + +"But the cardinal might have refused?" + +"Of course; but such a permission is never denied." + +"And if the person to be arrested happened to be under the protection +of the cardinal--what then?" + +"His eminence would give timely warning to that person." + +We changed the conversation, but the news had disturbed me. I +fancied that the execution threatened Barbara and her lover, for her +father's house was under the Spanish jurisdiction. I tried to see +the young man but I could not succeed in meeting him, and I was +afraid lest a visit at his home or at M. Dalacqua's dwelling might +implicate me. Yet it is certain that this last consideration would +not have stopped me if I had been positively sure that they were +threatened; had I felt satisfied of their danger, I would have braved +everything. + +About midnight, as I was ready to go to bed, and just as I was +opening my door to take the key from outside, an abbe rushed panting +into my room and threw himself on a chair. It was Barbara; I guessed +what had taken place, and, foreseeing all the evil consequences her +visit might have for me, deeply annoyed and very anxious, I upbraided +her for having taken refuge in my room, and entreated her to go away. + +Fool that I was! Knowing that I was only ruining myself without any +chance of saving her, I ought to have compelled her to leave my room, +I ought to have called for the servants if she had refused to +withdraw. But I had not courage enough, or rather I voluntarily +obeyed the decrees of destiny. + +When she heard my order to go away, she threw herself on her knees, +and melting into tears, she begged, she entreated my pity! + +Where is the heart of steel which is not softened by the tears, by +the prayers of a pretty and unfortunate woman? I gave way, but I +told her that it was ruin for both of us. + +"No one," she replied, "has seen me, I am certain, when I entered the +mansion and came up to your room, and I consider my visit here a week +ago as most fortunate; otherwise, I never could have known which was +your room." + +"Alas! how much better if you had never come! But what has become +of your lover?" + +"The 'sbirri' have carried him off, as well as the servant. I will +tell you all about it. My lover had informed me that a carriage +would wait to-night at the foot of the flight of steps before the +Church of Trinita del Monte, and that he would be there himself. I +entered his room through the garret window an hour ago. There I put +on this disguise, and, accompanied by the servant, proceeded to meet +him. The servant walked a few yards before me, and carried a parcel +of my things. At the corner of the street, one of the buckles of my +shoes being unfastened, I stopped an instant, and the servant went +on, thinking that I was following her. She reached the carriage, got +into it, and, as I was getting nearer, the light from a lantern +disclosed to me some thirty sbirri; at the same instant, one of them +got on the driver's box and drove off at full speed, carrying off the +servant, whom they must have mistaken for me, and my lover who was in +the coach awaiting me. What could I do at such a fearful moment? I +could not go back to my father's house, and I followed my first +impulse which brought me here. And here I am! You tell me that my +presence will cause your ruin; if it is so, tell me what to do; I +feel I am dying; but find some expedient and I am ready to do +anything, even to lay my life down, rather than be the cause of your +ruin." + +But she wept more bitterly than ever. + +Her position was so sad that I thought it worse even than mine, +although I could almost fancy I saw ruin before me despite my +innocence. + +"Let me," I said, "conduct you to your father; I feel sure of +obtaining your pardon." + +But my proposal only enhanced her fears. + +"I am lost," she exclaimed; "I know my father. Ah! reverend sir, +turn me out into the street, and abandon me to my miserable fate." + +No doubt I ought to have done so, and I would have done it if the +consciousness of what was due to my own interest had been stronger +than my feeling of pity. But her tears! I have often said it, and +those amongst my readers who have experienced it, must be of the same +opinion; there is nothing on earth more irresistible than two +beautiful eyes shedding tears, when the owner of those eyes is +handsome, honest, and unhappy. I found myself physically unable to +send her away. + +"My poor girl," I said at last, "when daylight comes, and that will +not be long, for it is past midnight, what do you intend to do?" + +"I must leave the palace," she replied, sobbing. "In this disguise +no one can recognize me; I will leave Rome, and I will walk straight +before me until I fall on the ground, dying with grief and fatigue." + +With these words she fell on the floor. She was choking; I could see +her face turn blue; I was in the greatest distress. + +I took off her neck-band, unlaced her stays under the abbe's dress, I +threw cold water in her face, and I finally succeeded in bringing her +back to consciousness. + +The night was extremely cold, and there was no fire in my room. I +advised her to get into my bed, promising to respect her. + +"Alas! reverend sir, pity is the only feeling with which I can now +inspire anyone." + +And, to speak the truth I was too deeply moved, and, at the same +time, too full of anxiety, to leave room in me for any desire. +Having induced her to go to bed, and her extreme weakness preventing +her from doing anything for herself, I undressed her and put her to +bed, thus proving once more that compassion will silence the most +imperious requirements of nature, in spite of all the charms which +would, under other circumstances, excite to the highest degree the +senses of a man. I lay down near her in my clothes, and woke her at +day-break. Her strength was somewhat restored, she dressed herself +alone, and I left my room, telling her to keep quiet until my return. +I intended to proceed to her father's house, and to solicit her +pardon, but, having perceived some suspicious-looking men loitering +about the palace, I thought it wise to alter my mind, and went to a +coffeehouse. + +I soon ascertanied that a spy was watching my movements at a +distance; but I did not appear to notice him, and having taken some +chocolate and stored a few biscuits in my pocket, I returned towards +the palace, apparently without any anxiety or hurry, always followed +by the same individual. I judged that the bargello, having failed in +his project, was now reduced to guesswork, and I was strengthened in +that view of the case when the gate-keeper of the palace told me, +without my asking any question, as I came in, that an arrest had been +attempted during the night, and had not succeeded. While he was +speaking, one of the auditors of the Vicar-General called to enquire +when he could see the Abby Gama. I saw that no time was to be lost, +and went up to my room to decide upon what was to be done. + +I began by making the poor girl eat a couple of biscuits soaked in +some Canary wine, and I took her afterwards to the top story of the +palace, where, leaving her in a not very decent closet which was not +used by anyone, I told her to wait for me. + +My servant came soon after, and I ordered him to lock the door of my +room as soon as he finished cleaning it, and to bring me the key at +the Abbe Gama's apartment, where I was going. I found Gama in +conversation with the auditor sent by the Vicar-General. As soon as +he had dismissed him, he came to me, and ordered his servant to serve +the chocolate. When we were left alone he gave me an account of his +interview with the auditor, who had come to entreat his eminence to +give orders to turn out of his palace a person who was supposed to +have taken refuge in it about midnight. "We must wait," said the +abbe, "until the cardinal is visible, but I am quite certain that, if +anyone has taken refuge here unknown to him, his eminence will compel +that person to leave the palace." We then spoke of the weather and +other trifles until my servant brought my key. Judging that I had at +least an hour to spare, I bethought myself of a plan which alone +could save Barbara from shame and misery. + +Feeling certain that I was unobserved, I went up to my poor prisoner +and made her write the following words in French: + +"I am an honest girl, monsignor, though I am disguised in the dress +of an abbe. I entreat your eminence to allow me to give my name only +to you and in person. I hope that, prompted by the great goodness of +your soul, your eminence will save me from dishonour." I gave her the +necessary instructions, as to sending the note to the cardinal, +assuring her that he would have her brought to him as soon as he read +it. + +"When you are in his presence," I added, "throw yourself on your +knees, tell him everything without any concealment, except as regards +your having passed the night in my room. You must be sure not to +mention that circumstance, for the cardinal must remain in complete +ignorance of my knowing anything whatever of this intrigue. Tell him +that, seeing your lover carried off, you rushed to his palace and ran +upstairs as far as you could go, and that after a most painful night +Heaven inspired you with the idea of writing to him to entreat his +pity. I feel certain that, one way or the other, his eminence will +save you from dishonour, and it certainly is the only chance you have +of being united to the man you love so dearly." + +She promised to follow 'my instructions faithfully, and, coming down, +I had my hair dressed and went to church, where the cardinal saw me. +I then went out and returned only for dinner, during which the only +subject of conversation was the adventure of the night. Gama alone +said nothing, and I followed his example, but I understood from all +the talk going on round the table that the cardinal had taken my poor +Barbara under his protection. That was all I wanted, and thinking +that I had nothing more to fear I congratulated myself, in petto, +upon my stratagem, which had, I thought, proved a master-stroke. +After dinner, finding myself alone with Gama, I asked him what was +the meaning of it all, and this is what he told me: + +"A father, whose name I do not know yet, had requested the assistance +of the Vicar-General to prevent his son from carrying off a young +girl, with whom he intended to leave the States of the Church; the +pair had arranged to meet at midnight in this very square, and the +Vicar, having previously obtained the consent of our cardinal, as I +told you yesterday, gave orders to the bargello to dispose his men in +such a way as to catch the young people in the very act of running +away, and to arrest them. The orders were executed, but the 'sbirri' +found out, when they returned to the bargello, that they had met with +only a half success, the woman who got out of the carriage with the +young man not belonging to that species likely to be carried off. +Soon afterwards a spy informed the bargello that, at the very moment +the arrest was executed, he had seen a young abbe run away very +rapidly and take refuge in this palace, and the suspicion immediately +arose that it might be the missing young lady in the disguise of an +ecclesiastic. The bargello reported to the Vicar-General the failure +of his men, as well as the account given by the spy, and the Prelate, +sharing the suspicion of the police, sent to his eminence, our +master, requesting him to have the person in question, man or woman, +turned out of the palace, unless such persons should happen to be +known to his excellency, and therefore above suspicion. Cardinal +Acquaviva was made acquainted with these circumstances at nine this +morning through the auditor you met in my room, and he promised to +have the person sent away unless she belonged to his household. + +"According to his promise, the cardinal ordered the palace to be +searched, but, in less than a quarter of an hour, the major-domo +received orders to stop, and the only reason for these new +instructions must be this: + +"I am told by the major-domo that at nine o'clock exactly a very +handsome, young abbe, whom he immediately judged to be a girl in +disguise, asked him to deliver a note to his eminence, and that the +cardinal, after reading it, had desired the said abbe be brought to +his apartment, which he has not left since. As the order to stop +searching the palace was given immediately after the introduction of +the abbe to the cardinal, it is easy enough to suppose that this +ecclesiastic is no other than the young girl missed by the police, +who took refuge in the palace in which she must have passed the whole +night." + +"I suppose," said I, "that his eminence will give her up to-day, if +not to the bargello, at least to the Vicar-General." + +"No, not even to the Pope himself," answered Gama. "You have not yet +a right idea of the protection of our cardinal, and that protection +is evidently granted to her, since the young person is not only in +the palace of his eminence, but also in his own apartment and under +his own guardianship." + +The whole affair being in itself very interesting, my attention could +not appear extraordinary to Gama, however suspicious he might be +naturally, and I was certain that he would not have told me anything +if he had guessed the share I had taken in the adventure, and the +interest I must have felt in it. + +The next day, Gama came to my room with a radiant countenance, and +informed me that the Cardinal-Vicar was aware of the ravisher being +my friend, and supposed that I was likewise the friend of the girl, +as she was the daughter of my French teacher. "Everybody," he added, +"is satisfied that you knew the whole affair, and it is natural to +suspect that the poor girl spent the night in your room. I admire +your prudent reserve during our conversation of yesterday. You kept +so well on your guard that I would have sworn you knew nothing +whatever of the affair." + +"And it is the truth," I answered, very seriously; "I have only +learned all the circumstances from you this moment. I know the girl, +but I have not seen her for six weeks, since I gave up my French +lessons; I am much better acquainted with the young man, but he never +confided his project to me. However, people may believe whatever +they please. You say that it is natural for the girl to have passed +the night in my room, but you will not mind my laughing in the face +of those who accept their own suppositions as realities." + +"That, my dear friend," said the abbe, "is one of the vices of the +Romans; happy those who can afford to laugh at it; but this slander +may do you harm, even in the mind of our cardinal." + +As there was no performance at the Opera that night, I went to the +cardinal's reception; I found no difference towards me either in the +cardinal's manners, or in those of any other person, and the +marchioness was even more gracious than usual. + +After dinner, on the following day, Gama informed me that the +cardinal had sent the young girl to a convent in which she would be +well treated at his eminence's expense, and that he was certain that +she would leave it only to become the wife of the young doctor. + +"I should be very happy if it should turn out so," I replied; "for +they are both most estimable people." + +Two days afterwards, I called upon Father Georgi, and he told me, +with an air of sorrow, that the great news of the day in Rome was the +failure of the attempt to carry off Dalacqua's daughter, and that all +the honour of the intrigue was given to me, which displeased him +much. I told him what I had already told Gama, and he appeared to +believe me, but he added that in Rome people did not want to know +things as they truly were, but only as they wished them to be. + +"It is known, that you have been in the habit of going every morning +to Dalacqua's house; it is known that the young man often called on +you; that is quite enough. People do not care, to know the +circumstances which might counteract the slander, but only those, +likely to give it new force for slander is vastly relished in the +Holy City. Your innocence will not prevent the whole adventure being +booked to your account, if, in forty years time you were proposed as +pope in the conclave." + +During the following days the fatal adventure began to cause me more +annoyance than I could express, for everyone mentioned it to me, and +I could see clearly that people pretended to believe what I said only +because they did not dare to do otherwise. The marchioness told me +jeeringly that the Signora Dalacqua had contracted peculiar +obligations towards me, but my sorrow was very great when, during the +last days of the carnival, I remarked that Cardinal Acquaviva's +manner had become constrained, although I was the only person who +observed the change. + +The noise made by the affair was, however, beginning to subside, +when, in the first days of Lent, the cardinal desired me to come to +his private room, and spoke as follows + +"The affair of the girl Dalacqua is now over; it is no longer spoken +of, but the verdict of the public is that you and I have profited by +the clumsiness of the young man who intended to carry her off. In +reality I care little for such a verdict, for, under similar +circumstances, I should always act in a similar manner, and I do not +wish to know that which no one can compel you to confess, and which, +as a man of honour, you must not admit. If you had no previous +knowledge of the intrigue, and had actually turned the girl out of +your room (supposing she did come to you), you would have been guilty +of a wrong and cowardly action, because you would have sealed her +misery for the remainder of her days, and it would not have caused +you to escape the suspicion of being an accomplice, while at the same +time it would have attached to you the odium of dastardly treachery. +Notwithstanding all I have just said, you can easily imagine that, in +spite of my utter contempt for all gossiping fools, I cannot openly +defy them. I therefore feel myself compelled to ask you not only to +quit my service, but even to leave Rome. I undertake to supply you +with an honourable pretext for your departure, so as to insure you +the continuation of the respect which you may have secured through +the marks of esteem I have bestowed upon you. I promise you to +whisper in the ear of any person you may choose, and even to inform +everybody, that you are going on an important mission which I have +entrusted to you. You have only to name the country where you want +to go; I have friends everywhere, and can recommend you to such +purpose that you will be sure to find employment. My letters of +recommendation will be in my own handwriting, and nobody need know +where you are going. Meet me to-morrow at the Villa Negroni, and let +me know where my letters are to be addressed. You must be ready to +start within a week. Believe me, I am sorry to lose you; but the +sacrifice is forced upon me by the most absurd prejudice. Go now, +and do not let me witness your grief." + +He spoke the last words because he saw my eyes filling with tears, +and he did not give me time to answer. Before leaving his room, I +had the strength of mind to compose myself, and I put on such an air +of cheerfulness that the Abbe Gama, who took me to his room to drink +some coffee, complimented me upon my happy looks. + +"I am sure," he said, "that they are caused by the conversation you +have had with his eminence." + +"You are right; but you do not know the sorrow at my heart which I +try not to shew outwardly." + +"What sorrow?" + +"I am afraid of failing in a difficult mission which the cardinal has +entrusted me with this morning. I am compelled to conceal how little +confidence I feel in myself in order not to lessen the good opinion +his eminence is pleased to entertain of me." + +"If my advice can be of any service to you, pray dispose of me; but +you are quite right to chew yourself calm and cheerful. Is it any +business to transact in Rome?" + +"No; it is a journey I shall have to undertake in a week or ten +days." + +"Which way?" + +"Towards the west." + +"Oh! I am not curious to know." + +I went out alone and took a walk in the Villa Borghese, where I spent +two hours wrapped in dark despair. I liked Rome, I was on the high +road to fortune, and suddenly I found myself in the abyss, without +knowing where to go, and with all my hopes scattered to the winds. I +examined my conduct, I judged myself severely, I could not find +myself guilty of any crime save of too much kindness, but I perceived +how right the good Father Georgi had been. My duty was not only to +take no part in the intrigue of the two love, but also to change my +French teacher the moment I beard of it; but this was like calling in +a doctor after death has struck the patient. Besides, young as I +was, having no experience yet of misfortune, and still less of the +wickedness of society, it was very difficult for me to have that +prudence which a man gains only by long intercourse with the world. + +"Where shall I go?" This was the question which seemed to me +impossible of solution. I thought of it all through the night, and +through the morning, but I thought in vain; after Rome, I was +indifferent where I went to! + +In the evening, not caring for any supper, I had gone to my room; the +Abbe Gama came to me with a request from the cardinal not to accept +any invitation to dinner for the next day, as he wanted to speak to +me. I therefore waited upon his eminence the next day at the Villa +Negroni; he was walking with his secretary, whom he dismissed the +moment he saw me. As soon as we were alone, I gave him all the +particulars of the intrigue of the two lovers, and I expressed in the +most vivid manner the sorrow I felt at leaving his service. + +"I have no hope of success," I added, "for I am certain that Fortune +will smile upon me only as long as I am near your eminence." + +For nearly an hour I told him all the grief with which my heart was +bursting, weeping bitterly; yet I could not move him from his +decision. Kindly, but firmly he pressed me to tell him to what part +of Europe I wanted to go, and despair as much as vexation made me +name Constantinople. + +"Constantinople!" he exclaimed, moving back a step or two. + +"Yes, monsignor, Constantinople," I repeated, wiping away my tears. + +The prelate, a man of great wit, but a Spaniard to the very back- +bone, after remaining silent a few minutes, said, with a smile, + +"I am glad you have not chosen Ispahan, as I should have felt rather +embarrassed. When do you wish to go?" + +"This day week, as your eminence has ordered me." + +"Do you intend to sail from Naples or from Venice?" + +"From Venice." + +"I will give you such a passport as will be needed, for you will find +two armies in winter-quarters in the Romagna. It strikes me that you +may tell everybody that I sent you to Constantinople, for nobody will +believe you." + +This diplomatic suggestion nearly made me smile. The cardinal told +me that I should dine with him, and he left me to join his secretary. + +When I returned to the palace, thinking of the choice I had made, I +said to myself, "Either I am mad, or I am obeying the impulse of a +mysterious genius which sends me to Constantinople to work out my +fate." I was only astonished that the cardinal had so readily +accepted my choice. "Without any doubt," I thought, "he did not wish +me to believe that he had boasted of more than he could achieve, in +telling me that he had friends everywhere. But to whom can he +recommend me in Constantinople? I have not the slightest idea, but +to Constantinople I must go." + +I dined alone with his eminence; he made a great show of peculiar +kindness and I of great satisfaction, for my self-pride, stronger +even than my sorrow, forbade me to let anyone guess that I was in +disgrace. My deepest grief was, however, to leave the marchioness, +with whom I was in love, and from whom I had not obtained any +important favour. + +Two days afterwards, the cardinal gave me a passport for Venice, and +a sealed letter addressed to Osman Bonneval, Pacha of Caramania, in +Constantinople. There was no need of my saying anything to anyone, +but, as the cardinal had not forbidden me to do it, I shewed the +address on the letter to all my acquaintances. + +The Chevalier de Lezze, the Venetian Ambassador, gave me a letter for +a wealthy Turk, a very worthy man who had been his friend; Don Gaspar +and Father Georgi asked me to write to them, but the Abbe Gams, +laughed, and said he was quite sure I was not going to +Constantinople. + +I went to take my farewell of Donna Cecilia, who had just received a +letter from Lucrezia, imparting the news that she would soon be a +mother. I also called upon Angelique and Don Francisco, who had +lately been married and had not invited me to the wedding. + +When I called to take Cardinal Acquaviva's final instructions he gave +me a purse containing one hundred ounces, worth seven hundred +sequins. I had three hundred more, so that my fortune amounted to +one thousand sequins; I kept two hundred, and for the rest I took a +letter of exchange upon a Ragusan who was established in Ancona. I +left Rome in the coach with a lady going to Our Lady of Loretto, to +fulfil a vow made during a severe illness of her daughter, who +accompanied her. The young lady was ugly; my journey was a rather +tedious one. + + + +CHAPTER XI + +My Short But Rather Too Gay Visit To Ancona--Cecilia, Marina, +Bellino--the Greek Slave of the Lazzaretto--Bellino Discovers Himself + + +I arrived in Ancona on the 25th of February, 1744, and put up at the +best inn. Pleased with my room, I told mine host to prepare for me a +good meat dinner; but he answered that during Lent all good Catholics +eat nothing but fish. + +"The Holy Father has granted me permission to eat meat." + +"Let me see your permission." + +"He gave it to me by word of mouth." + +"Reverend sir, I am not obliged to believe you." + +"You are a fool." + +"I am master in my own house, and I beg you will go to some other +inn." + +Such an answer, coupled to a most unexpected notice to quit, threw me +into a violent passion. I was swearing, raving, screaming, when +suddenly a grave-looking individual made his appearance in my room, +and said to me: + +"Sir, you are wrong in calling for meat, when in Ancona fish is much +better; you are wrong in expecting the landlord to believe you on +your bare word; and if you have obtained the permission from the +Pope, you have been wrong in soliciting it at your age; you have been +wrong in not asking for such permission in writing; you are wrong in +calling the host a fool, because it is a compliment that no man is +likely to accept in his own house; and, finally, you are wrong in +making such an uproar." + +Far from increasing my bad temper, this individual, who had entered +my room only to treat me to a sermon, made me laugh. + +"I willingly plead guilty, sir," I answered, "to all the counts which +you allege against me; but it is raining, it is getting late, I am +tired and hungry, and therefore you will easily understand that I do +not feel disposed to change my quarters. Will you give me some +supper, as the landlord refuses to do so?" + +"No," he replied, with great composure, "because I am a good Catholic +and fast. But I will undertake to make it all right for you with the +landlord, who will give you a good supper." + +Thereupon he went downstairs, and I, comparing my hastiness to his +calm, acknowledged the man worthy of teaching me some lessons. He +soon came up again, informed me that peace was signed, and that I +would be served immediately. + +"Will you not take supper with me?" + +"No, but I will keep you company." + +I accepted his offer, and to learn who he was, I told him my name, +giving myself the title of secretary to Cardinal Acquaviva. + +"My name is Sancio Pico," he said; "I am a Castilian, and the +'proveditore' of the army of H. C. M., which is commanded by Count de +Gages under the orders of the generalissimo, the Duke of Modem." + +My excellent appetite astonished him, and he enquired whether I had +dined. "No," said I; and I saw his countenance assume an air of +satisfaction. + +"Are you not afraid such a supper will hurt you?" he said. + +"On the contrary, I hope it will do me a great deal of good." + +"Then you have deceived the Pope?" + +"No, for I did not tell him that I had no appetite, but only that I +liked meat better than fish." + +"If you feel disposed to hear some good music," he said a moment +after, "follow me to the next room; the prima donna of Ancona lives +there." + +The words prima donna interested me at once, and I followed him. I +saw, sitting before a table, a woman already somewhat advanced in +age, with two young girls and two boys, but I looked in vain for the +actress, whom Don Sancio Pico at last presented to me in the shape of +one of the two boys, who was remarkably handsome and might have been +seventeen. I thought he was a 'castrato' who, as is the custom in +Rome, performed all the parts of a prima donna. The mother presented +to, me her other son, likewise very good-looking, but more manly than +the 'castrato', although younger. His name was Petronio, and, +keeping up the transformations of the family, he was the first female +dancer at the opera. The eldest girl, who was also introduced to me, +was named Cecilia, and studied music; she was twelve years old; the +youngest, called Marina, was only eleven, and like her brother +Petronio was consecrated to the worship of Terpsichore. Both the +girls were very pretty. + +The family came from Bologna and lived upon the talent of its +members; cheerfulness and amiability replaced wealth with them. +Bellino, such was the name of the castrato, yielding to the +entreaties of Don Sancio, rose from the table, went to the +harpiscord, and sang with the voice of an angel and with delightful +grace. The Castilian listened with his eyes closed in an ecstasy of +enjoyment, but I, far from closing my eyes, gazed into Bellino's, +which seemed to dart amorous lightnings upon me. I could discover in +him some of the features of Lucrezia and the graceful manner of the +marchioness, and everything betrayed a beautiful woman, for his dress +concealed but imperfectly the most splendid bosom. The consequence +was that, in spite of his having been introduced as a man, I fancied +that the so-called Bellino was a disguised beauty, and, my +imagination taking at once the highest flight, I became thoroughly +enamoured. + +We spent two very pleasant hours, and I returned to my room +accompanied by the Castilian. "I intend to leave very early to- +morrow morning," he said, "for Sinigaglia, with the Abbe Vilmarcati, +but I expect to return for supper the day after to-morrow." I wished +him a happy journey, saying that we would most 'likely meet on the +road, as I should probably leave Ancona myself on the same day, after +paying a visit to my banker. + +I went to bed thinking of Bellino and of the impression he had made +upon me; I was sorry to go away without having proved to him that I +was not the dupe of his disguise. Accordingly, I was well pleased to +see him enter my room in the morning as soon as I had opened my door. +He came to offer me the services of his young brother Petronio during +my stay in Ancona, instead of my engaging a valet de place. I +willingly agreed to the proposal, and sent Petronio to get coffee for +all the family. + +I asked Bellino to sit on my bed with the intention of making love to +him, and of treating him like a girl, but the two young sisters ran +into my room and disturbed my plans. Yet the trio formed before me a +very pleasing sight; they represented natural beauty and artless +cheerfulness of three different kinds; unobtrusive familiarity, +theatrical wit, pleasing playfulness, and pretty Bolognese manners +which I witnessed for the first time; all this would have sufficed to +cheer me if I had been downcast. Cecilia and Marina were two sweet +rosebuds, which, to bloom in all their beauty, required only the +inspiration of love, and they would certainly have had the preference +over Bellino if I had seen in him only the miserable outcast of +mankind, or rather the pitiful victim of sacerdotal cruelty, for, in +spite of their youth, the two amiable girls offered on their dawning +bosom the precious image of womanhood. + +Petronio came with the coffee which he poured out, and I sent some to +the mother, who never left her room. Petronio was a true male harlot +by taste and by profession. The species is not scare in Italy, where +the offence is not regarded with the wild and ferocious intolerance +of England and Spain. I had given him one sequin to pay for the +coffee, and told him to keep the change, and, to chew me his +gratitude, he gave me a voluptuous kiss with half-open lips, +supposing in me a taste which I was very far from entertaining. I +disabused him, but he did not seem the least ashamed. I told him to +order dinner for six persons, but he remarked that he would order it +only for four, as he had to keep his dear mother company; she always +took her dinner in bed. Everyone to his taste, I thought, and I let +him do as he pleased. + +Two minutes after he had gone, the landlord came to my room and said, +"Reverend sir, the persons you have invited here have each the +appetite of two men at least; I give you notice of it, because I must +charge accordingly." "All right," I replied, "but let us have a good +dinner." + +When I was dressed, I thought I ought to pay my compliments to the +compliant mother. I went to her room, and congratulated her upon her +children. She thanked me for the present I had given to Petronio, +and began to make me the confidant of her distress. "The manager of +the theatre," she said, "is a miser who has given us only fifty Roman +crowns for the whole carnival. We have spent them for our living, +and, to return to Bologna, we shall have to walk and beg our way." +Her confidence moved my pity, so I took a gold quadruple from my +purse and offered it to her; she wept for joy and gratitude. + +"I promise you another gold quadruple, madam," I said, "if you will +confide in me entirely. Confess that Bellino is a pretty woman in +disguise." + +"I can assure you it is not so, although he has the appearance of a +woman." + +"Not only the appearance, madam, but the tone, the manners; I am a +good judge." + +"Nevertheless, he is a boy, for he has had to be examined before he +could sing on the stage here." + +"And who examined him?" + +"My lord bishop's chaplain." + +"A chaplain?" + +"Yes, and you may satisfy yourself by enquiring from him." + +"The only way to clear my doubts would be to examine him myself." + +"You may, if he has no objection, but truly I cannot interfere, as I +do not know what your intentions are." + +"They are quite natural." + +I returned to my room and sent Petronio for a bottle of Cyprus wine. +He brought the wine and seven sequins, the change for the doubloon I +had given him. I divided them between Bellino, Cecilia and Marina, +and begged the two young girls to leave me alone with their brother. + +"Bellino, I am certain that your natural conformation is different +from mine; my dear, you are a girl." + +"I am a man, but a castrato; I have been examined." + +"Allow me to examine you likewise, and I will give you a doubloon." + +"I cannot, for it is evident that you love me, and such love is +condemned by religion." + +"You did not raise these objections with the bishop's chaplain." + +"He was an elderly priest, and besides, he only just glanced at me." + +"I will know the truth," said I, extending my hand boldly. + +But he repulsed me and rose from his chair. His obstinacy vexed me, +for I had already spent fifteen or sixteen sequins to satisfy my +curiosity. + +I began my dinner with a very bad humour, but the excellent appetite +of my pretty guests brought me round, and I soon thought that, after +all, cheerfulness was better than sulking, and I resolved to make up +for my disappointment with the two charming sisters, who seemed well +disposed to enjoy a frolic. + +I began by distributing a few innocent kisses right and left, as I +sat between them near a good fire, eating chestnuts which we wetted +with Cyprus wine. But very soon my greedy hands touched every part +which my lips could not kiss, and Cecilia, as well as Marina, +delighted in the game. Seeing that Bellino was smiling, I kissed him +likewise, and his half-open ruffle attracting my hand, I ventured and +went in without resistance. The chisel of Praxiteles had never +carved a finer bosom! + +"Oh! this is enough," I exclaimed; "I can no longer doubt that you +are a beautifully-formed woman!" + +"It is," he replied, "the defect of all castrati." + +"No, it is the perfection of all handsome women. Bellino, believe me, +I am enough of a good judge to distinguish between the deformed +breast of a castrato, and that of a beautiful woman; and your +alabaster bosom belongs to a young beauty of seventeen summers." + +Who does not know that love, inflamed by all that can excite it, +never stops in young people until it is satisfied, and that one +favour granted kindles the wish for a greater one? I had begun well, +I tried to go further and to smother with burning kisses that which +my hand was pressing so ardently, but the false Bellino, as if he had +only just been aware of the illicit pleasure I was enjoying, rose and +ran away. Anger increased in me the ardour of love, and feeling the +necessity of calming myself either by satisfying my ardent desires or +by evaporating them, I begged Cecilia, Bellino's pupil, to sing a few +Neapolitan airs. + +I then went out to call upon the banker, from whom I took a letter of +exchange at sight upon Bologna, for the amount I had to receive from +him, and on my return, after a light supper with the two young +sisters, I prepared to go to bed, having previously instructed +Petronio to order a carriage for the morning. + +I was just locking my door when Cecilia, half undressed, came in to +say that Bellino begged me to take him to Rimini, where he was +engaged to sing in an opera to be performed after Easter. + +"Go and tell him, my dear little seraph, that I am ready to do what +he wishes, if he will only grant me in your presence what I desire; I +want to know for a certainty whether he is a man or a woman." + +She left me and returned soon, saying that Bellino had gone to bed, +but that if I would postpone my departure for one day only he +promised to satisfy me on the morrow. + +"Tell me the truth, Cecilia, and I will give you six sequins." + +"I cannot earn them, for I have never seen him naked, and I cannot +swear to his being a girl. But he must be a man, otherwise he would +not have been allowed to perform here." + +"Well, I will remain until the day after to-morrow, provided you keep +me company tonight." + +"Do you love me very much?" + +"Very much indeed, if you shew yourself very kind." + +"I will be very kind, for I love you dearly likewise. I will go and +tell my mother." + +"Of course you have a lover?" + +"I never had one." + +She left my room, and in a short time came back full of joy, saying +that her mother believed me an honest man; she of course meant a +generous one. Cecilia locked the door, and throwing herself in my +arms covered me with kisses. She was pretty, charming, but I was not +in love with her, and I was not able to say to her as to Lucrezia: +"You have made me so happy!" But she said it herself, and I did not +feel much flattered, although I pretended to believe her. When I +woke up in the morning I gave her a tender salutation, and presenting +her with three doubloons, which must have particularly delighted the +mother, I sent her away without losing my time in promising +everlasting constancy--a promise as absurd as it is trifling, and +which the most virtuous man ought never to make even to the most +beautiful of women. + +After breakfast I sent for mine host and ordered an excellent supper +for five persons, feeling certain that Don Sancio, whom I expected in +the evening, would not refuse to honour me by accepting my +invitation, and with that idea I made up my mind to go without my +dinner. The Bolognese family did not require to imitate my diet to +insure a good appetite for the evening. + +I then summoned Bellino to my room, and claimed the performance of +his promise but he laughed, remarked that the day was not passed yet, +and said that he was certain of traveling with me. + +"I fairly warn you that you cannot accompany me unless I am fully +satisfied." + +"Well, I will satisfy you." + +"Shall we go and take a walk together?" + +"Willingly; I will dress myself." + +While I was waiting for him, Marina came in with a dejected +countenance, enquiring how she had deserved my contempt. + +"Cecilia has passed the night with you, Bellino will go with you to- +morrow, I am the most unfortunate of us all." + +"Do you want money?" + +"No, for I love you." + +"But, Marinetta, you are too young." + +"I am much stronger than my sister." + +"Perhaps you have a lover." + +"Oh! no." + +"Very well, we can try this evening." + +"Good! Then I will tell mother to prepare clean sheets for to-morrow +morning; otherwise everybody here would know that I slept with you." + +I could not help admiring the fruits of a theatrical education, and +was much amused. + +Bellino came back, we went out together, and we took our walk towards +the harbour. There were several vessels at anchor, and amongst them +a Venetian ship and a Turkish tartan. We went on board the first +which we visited with interest, but not seeing anyone of my +acquaintance, we rowed towards the Turkish tartan, where the most +romantic surprise awaited me. The first person I met on board was +the beautiful Greek woman I had left in Ancona, seven months before, +when I went away from the lazzaretto. She was seated near the old +captain, of whom I enquired, without appearing to notice his handsome +slave, whether he had any fine goods to sell. He took us to his +cabin, but as I cast a glance towards the charming Greek, she +expressed by her looks all her delight at such an unexpected meeting. + +I pretended not to be pleased with the goods shewn by the Turk, and +under the impulse of inspiration I told him that I would willingly +buy something pretty which would take the fancy of his better-half. +He smiled, and the Greek slave-having whispered a few words to him, +he left the cabin. The moment he was out of sight, this new Aspasia +threw herself in my arms, saying, "Now is your time!" I would not be +found wanting in courage, and taking the most convenient position in +such a place, I did to her in one instant that which her old master +had not done in five years. I had not yet reached the goal of my +wishes, when the unfortunate girl, hearing her master, tore herself +from my arms with a deep sigh, and placing herself cunningly in front +of me, gave me time to repair the disorder of my dress, which might +have cost me my life, or at least all I possessed to compromise the +affair. In that curious situation, I was highly amused at the +surprise of Bellino, who stood there trembling like an aspen leaf. + +The trifles chosen by the handsome slave cost me only thirty sequins. +'Spolaitis', she said to me in her own language, and the Turk telling +her that she ought to kiss me, she covered her face with her hands, +and ran away. I left the ship more sad than pleased, for I regretted +that, in spite of her courage, she should have enjoyed only an +incomplete pleasure. As soon as we were in our row boat, Bellino, +who had recovered from his fright, told me that I had just made him +acquainted with a phenomenon, the reality of which he could not +admit, and which gave him a very strange idea of my nature; that, as +far as the Greek girl was concerned, he could not make her out, +unless I should assure him that every woman in her country was like +her. "How unhappy they must be!" he added. + +"Do you think," I asked, "that coquettes are happier?" + +"No, but I think that when a woman yields to love, she should not be +conquered before she has fought with her own desires; she should not +give way to the first impulse of a lustful desire and abandon herself +to the first man who takes her fancy, like an animal--the slave of +sense. You must confess that the Greek woman has given you an +evident proof that you had taken her fancy, but that she has at the +same time given you a proof not less certain of her beastly lust, and +of an effrontery which exposed her to the shame of being repulsed, +for she could not possibly know whether you would feel as well +disposed for her as she felt for you. She is very handsome, and it +all turned out well, but the adventure has thrown me into a whirlpool +of agitation which I cannot yet control." + +I might easily have put a stop to Bellino's perplexity, and rectified +the mistake he was labouring under; but such a confession would not +have ministered to my self-love, and I held my peace, for, if Bellino +happened to be a girl, as I suspected, I wanted her to be convinced +that I attached, after all, but very little importance to the great +affair, and that it was not worth while employing cunning expedients +to obtain it. + +We returned to the inn, and, towards evening, hearing Don Sancio's +travelling carriage roll into the yard, I hastened to meet him, and +told him that I hoped he would excuse me if I had felt certain that +he would not refuse me the honour of his company to supper with +Bellino. He thanked me politely for the pleasure I was so delicately +offering him, and accepted my invitation. + +The most exquisite dishes, the most delicious wines of Spain, and, +more than everything else, the cheerfulness and the charming voices +of Bellino and of Cecilia, gave the Castilian five delightful hours. +He left me at midnight, saying that he could not declare himself +thoroughly pleased unless I promised to sup with him the next evening +with the same guests. It would compel me to postpone my departure +for another day, but I accepted. + +As soon as Don Sancio had gone, I called upon Bellino to fulfil his +promise, but he answered that Marinetta was waiting for me, and that, +as I was not going away the next day, he would find an opportunity of +satisfying my doubts; and wishing me a good night, he left the room. + +Marinetta, as cheerful as a lark, ran to lock the door and came back +to me, her eyes beaming with ardour. She was more formed than +Cecilia, although one year younger, and seemed anxious to convince me +of her superiority, but, thinking that the fatigue of the preceding +night might have exhausted my strength, she unfolded all the armorous +ideas of her mind, explained at length all she knew of the great +mystery she was going to enact with me, and of all the contrivances +she had had recourse to in order to acquire her imperfect knowledge, +the whole interlarded with the foolish talk natural to her age. I +made out that she was afraid of my not finding her a maiden, and of +my reproaching her about it. Her anxiety pleased me, and I gave her +a new confidence by telling her that nature had refused to many young +girls what is called maidenhood, and that only a fool could be angry +with a girl for such a reason. + +My science gave her courage and confidence, and I was compelled to +acknowledge that she was very superior to her sister. + +"I am delighted you find me so," she said; "we must not sleep at all +throughout the night." + +"Sleep, my darling, will prove our friend, and our strength renewed +by repose will reward you in the morning for what you may suppose +lost time." + +And truly, after a quiet sleep, the morning was for her a succession +of fresh triumphs, and I crowned her happiness by sending her away +with three doubloons, which she took to her mother, and which gave +the good woman an insatiable desire to contract new obligations +towards Providence. + +I went out to get some money from the banker, as I did not know what +might happen during my journey. I had enjoyed myself, but I had +spent too much: yet there was Bellino who, if a girl, was not to find +me less generous than I had been with the two young sisters. It was +to be decided during the day, and I fancied that I was sure of the +result. + +There are some persons who pretend that life is only a succession of +misfortunes, which is as much as to say that life itself is a +misfortune; but if life is a misfortune, death must be exactly the +reverse and therefore death must be happiness, since death is the +very reverse of life. That deduction may appear too finely drawn. +But those who say that life is a succession of misfortunes are +certainly either ill or poor; for, if they enjoyed good health, if +they had cheerfulness in their heart and money in their purse, if +they had for their enjoyment a Cecilia, a Marinetta, and even a more +lovely beauty in perspective, they would soon entertain a very +different opinion of life! I hold them to be a race of pessimists, +recruited amongst beggarly philosophers and knavish, atrabilious +theologians. If pleasure does exist, and if life is necessary to +enjoy pleasure, then life is happiness. There are misfortunes, as I +know by experience; but the very existence of such misfortunes proves +that the sum-total of happiness is greater. Because a few thorns are +to be found in a basket full of roses, is the existence of those +beautiful flowers to be denied? No; it is a slander to deny that +life is happiness. When I am in a dark room, it pleases me greatly +to see through a window an immense horizon before me. + +As supper-time was drawing near, I went to Don Sancio, whom I found +in magnificently-furnished apartments. The table was loaded with +silver plate, and his servants were in livery. He was alone, but all +his guests arrived soon after me--Cecilia, Marina, and Bellino, who, +either by caprice or from taste, was dressed as a woman. The two +young sisters, prettily arranged, looked charming, but Bellino, in +his female costume, so completely threw them into the shade, that my +last doubt vanished. + +"Are you satisfied," I said to Don Sancio, "that Bellino is a woman?" + +"Woman or man, what do I care! I think he is a very pretty +'castrato', and 'I have seen many as good-looking as he is." + +"But are you sure he is a 'castrato'?" + +"'Valgame Dios'!" answered the grave Castilian, "I have not the +slightest wish to ascertain the truth." + +Oh, how widely different our thoughts were! I admired in him the +wisdom of which I was so much in need, and did not venture upon any +more indiscreet questions. During the supper, however, my greedy +eyes could not leave that charming being; my vicious nature caused me +to feel intense voluptuousness in believing him to be of that sex to +which I wanted him to belong. + +Don Sancio's supper was excellent, and, as a matter of course, +superior to mine; otherwise the pride of the Castilian would have +felt humbled. As a general rule, men are not satisfied with what is +good; they want the best, or, to speak more to the point, the most. +He gave us white truffles, several sorts of shell-fish, the best fish +of the Adriatic, dry champagne, peralta, sherry and pedroximenes +wines. + +After that supper worthy of Lucullus, Bellino sang with a voice of +such beauty that it deprived us of the small amount of reason left in +us by the excellent wine. His movements, the expression of his +looks, his gait, his walk, his countenance, his voice, and, above +all, my own instinct, which told me that I could not possibly feel +for a castrato what I felt for Bellino, confirmed me in my hopes; yet +it was necessary that my eyes should ascertain the truth. + +After many compliments and a thousand thanks, we took leave of the +grand Spaniard, and went to my room, where the mystery was at last to +be unravelled. I called upon Bellino to keep his word, or I +threatened to leave him alone the next morning at day-break. + +I took him by the hand, and we seated ourselves near the fire. I +dismissed Cecilia and Marina, and I said to him, + +"Bellino, everything must have an end; you have promised: it will +soon be over. If you are what you represent yourself to be, I will +let you go back to your own room; if you are what I believe you to +be, and if you consent to remain with me to-night, I will give you +one hundred sequins, and we will start together tomorrow morning." + +"You must go alone, and forgive me if I cannot fulfil my promise. I +am what I told you, and I can neither reconcile myself to the idea of +exposing my shame before you, nor lay myself open to the terrible +consequences that might follow the solution of your doubts." + +"There can be no consequences, since there will be an end to it at +the moment I have assured myself that you are unfortunate enough to +be what you say, and without ever mentioning the circumstances again, +I promise to take you with me to-morrow and to leave you at Rimini." + +"No, my mind is made up; I cannot satisfy your curiosity." + +Driven to madness by his words, I was very near using violence, but +subduing my angry feelings, I endeavored to succeed by gentle means +and by going straight to the spot where the mystery could be solved. +I was very near it, when his hand opposed a very strong resistance. +I repeated my efforts, but Bellino, rising suddenly, repulsed me, and +I found myself undone. After a few moments of calm, thinking I +should take him by surprise, I extended my hand, but I drew back +terrified, for I fancied that I had recognized in him a man, and a +degraded man, contemptible less on account of his degradation than +for the want of feeling I thought I could read on his countenance. +Disgusted, confused, and almost blushing for myself, I sent him away. + +His sisters came to my room, but I dismissed them, sending word to +their brother that he might go with me, without any fear of further +indiscretion on my part. Yet, in spite of the conviction I thought I +had acquired, Bellino, even such as I believe him to be, filled my +thoughts; I could not make it out. + +Early the next morning I left Ancona with him, distracted by the +tears of the two charming sisters and loaded with the blessings of +the mother who, with beads in hand, mumbled her 'paternoster', and +repeated her constant theme: 'Dio provedera'. + +The trust placed in Providence by most of those persons who earn +their living by some profession forbidden by religion is neither +absurd, nor false, nor deceitful; it is real and even godly, for it +flows from an excellent source. Whatever may be the ways of +Providence, human beings must always acknowledge it in its action, +and those who call upon Providence independently of all external +consideration must, at the bottom, be worthy, although guilty of +transgressing its laws. + + 'Pulchra Laverna, + Da mihi fallere; da justo sanctoque videri; + Noctem peccatis, et fraudibus objice nubem.' + +Such was the way in which, in the days of Horace, robbers addressed +their goddess, and I recollect a Jesuit who told me once that Horace +would not have known his own language, if he had said justo +sanctoque: but there were ignorant men even amongst the Jesuits, and +robbers most likely have but little respect for the rules of grammar. + +The next morning I started with Bellino, who, believing me to be +undeceived, could suppose that I would not shew any more curiosity +about him, but we had not been a quarter of an hour together when he +found out his mistake, for I could not let my looks fall upon his +splendid eyes without feeling in me a fire which the sight of a man +could not have ignited. I told him that all his features were those +of a woman, and that I wanted the testimony of my eyes before I could +feel perfectly satisfied, because the protuberance I had felt in a +certain place might be only a freak of nature. "Should it be the +case," I added, "I should have no difficulty in passing over a +deformity which, in reality, is only laughable. Bellino, the +impression you produce upon me, this sort of magnetism, your bosom +worthy of Venus herself, which you have once abandoned to my eager +hand, the sound of your voice, every movement of yours, assure me +that you do not belong to my sex. Let me see for myself, and, if my +conjectures are right, depend upon my faithful love; if, on the +contrary, I find that I have been mistaken, you can rely upon my +friendship. If you refuse me, I shall be compelled to believe that +you are cruelly enjoying my misery, and that you have learned in the +most accursed school that the best way of preventing a young man from +curing himself of an amorous passion is to excite it constantly; but +you must agree with me that, to put such tyranny in practice, it is +necessary to hate the person it is practised upon, and, if that be +so, I ought to call upon my reason to give me the strength necessary +to hate you likewise." + +I went on speaking for a long time; Bellino did not answer, but he +seemed deeply moved. At last I told him that, in the fearful state +to which I was reduced by his resistance, I should be compelled to +treat him without any regard for his feelings, and find out the truth +by force. He answered with much warmth and dignity: "Recollect that +you are not my master, that I am in your hands, because I had faith +in your promise, and that, if you use violence, you will be guilty of +murder. Order the postillion to stop, I will get out of the +carriage, and you may rely upon my not complaining of your +treatment." + +Those few words were followed by a torrent of tears, a sight which I +never could resist. I felt myself moved in the inmost recesses of my +soul, and I almost thought that I had been wrong. I say almost, +because, had I been convinced of it, I would have thrown myself at +his feet entreating pardon; but, not feeling myself competent to +stand in judgment in my own cause, I satisfied myself by remaining +dull and silent, and I never uttered one word until we were only half +a mile from Sinigaglia, where I intended to take supper and to remain +for the night. Having fought long enough with my own feelings, I +said to him; + +"We might have spent a little time in Rimini like good friends, if +you had felt any friendship for me, for, with a little kind +compliance, you could have easily cured me of my passion." + +"It would not cure you," answered Bellino, courageously, but with a +sweetness of tone which surprised me; "no, you would not be cured, +whether you found me to be man or woman, for you are in love with me +independently of my sex, and the certainty you would acquire would +make you furious. In such a state, should you find me inexorable, +you would very likely give way to excesses which would afterwards +cause you deep sorrow." + +"You expect to make me admit that you are right, but you are +completely mistaken, for I feel that I should remain perfectly calm, +and that by complying with my wishes you would gain my friendship." + +"I tell you again that you would become furious." + +"Bellino, that which has made me furious is the sight of your charms, +either too real or too completely deceiving, the power of which you +cannot affect to ignore. You have not been afraid to ignite my +amorous fury, how can you expect me to believe you now, when you +pretend to fear it, and when I am only asking you to let me touch a +thing, which, if it be as you say, will only disgust me?" + +"Ah! disgust you; I am quite certain of the contrary. Listen to me. +Were I a girl, I feel I could not resist loving you, but, being a +man, it is my duty not to grant what you desire, for your passion, +now very natural, would then become monstrous. Your ardent nature +would be stronger than your reason, and your reason itself would +easily come to the assistance of your senses and of your nature. +That violent clearing-up of the mystery, were you to obtain it, would +leave you deprived of all control over yourself. Disappointed in not +finding what you had expected, you would satisfy your passion upon +that which you would find, and the result would, of course, be an +abomination. How can you, intelligent as you are, flatter yourself +that, finding me to be a man, you could all at once cease to love me? +Would the charms which you now see in me cease to exist then? +Perhaps their power would, on the contrary, be enhanced, and your +passion, becoming brutal, would lead you to take any means your +imagination suggested to gratify it. You would persuade yourself +that you might change me into a woman, or, what is worse, that you +might change yourself into one. Your passion would invent a thousand +sophisms to justify your love, decorated with the fine appellation of +friendship, and you would not fail to allege hundreds of similarly +disgusting cases in order to excuse your conduct. You would +certainly never find me compliant; and how am I to know that you +would not threaten me with death?" + +"Nothing of the sort would happen, Bellino," I answered, rather tired +of the length of his argument, "positively nothing, and I am sure you +are exaggerating your fears. Yet I am bound to tell you that, even +if all you say should happen, it seems to me that to allow what can +strictly be considered only as a temporary fit of insanity, would +prove a less evil than to render incurable a disease of the mind +which reason would soon cut short." + +Thus does a poor philosopher reason when he takes it into his head to +argue at those periods during which a passion raging in his soul +makes all its faculties wander. To reason well, we must be under the +sway neither of love nor of anger, for those two passions have one +thing in common which is that, in their excess, they lower us to the +condition of brutes acting only under the influence of their +predominating instinct, and, unfortunately, we are never more +disposed to argue than when we feel ourselves under the influence of +either of those two powerful human passions. + +We arrived at Sinigaglia late at night, and I went to the best inn, +and, after choosing a comfortable room, ordered supper. As there was +but one bed in the room, I asked Bellino, in as calm a tone as I +could assume, whether he would have a fire lighted in another +chamber, and my surprise may be imagined when he answered quietly +that he had no objection to sleep in the same bed with me. Such an +answer, however, unexpected, was necessary to dispel the angry +feelings under which I was labouring. I guessed that I was near the +denouement of the romance, but I was very far from congratulating +myself, for I did not know whether the denouement would prove +agreeable or not. I felt, however, a real satisfaction at having +conquered, and was sure of my self-control, in case the senses, my +natural instinct, led me astray. But if I found myself in the right, +I thought I could expect the most precious favours. + +We sat down to supper opposite each other, and during the meal, his +words, his countenance, the expression of his beautiful eyes, his +sweet and voluptuous smile, everything seemed to announce that he had +had enough of playing a part which must have proved as painful to him +as to me. + +A weight was lifted off my mind, and I managed to shorten the supper +as much as possible. As soon as we had left the table, my amiable +companion called for a night-lamp, undressed himself, and went to +bed. I was not long in following him, and the reader will soon know +the nature of a denouement so long and so ardently desired; in the +mean time I beg to wish him as happy a night as the one which was +then awaiting me. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Bellino's History--I Am Put Under Arrest--I Run Away Against My Will +--My Return To Rimini, and My Arrival In Bologna + + +Dear reader, I said enough at the end of the last chapter to make you +guess what happened, but no language would be powerful enough to make +you realize all the voluptuousness which that charming being had in +store for me. She came close to me the moment I was in bed. Without +uttering one word our lips met, and I found myself in the ecstasy of +enjoyment before I had had time to seek for it. After so complete a +victory, what would my eyes and my fingers have gained from +investigations which could not give me more certainty than I had +already obtained? I could not take my gaze off that beautiful face, +which was all aflame with the ardour of love. + +After a moment of quiet rapture, a spark lighted up in our veins a +fresh conflagration which we drowned in a sea of new delights. +Bellino felt bound to make me forget my sufferings, and to reward me +by an ardour equal to the fire kindled by her charms. + +The happiness I gave her increased mine twofold, for it has always +been my weakness to compose the four-fifths of my enjoyment from the +sum-total of the happiness which I gave the charming being from whom +I derived it. But such a feeling must necessarily cause hatred for +old age which can still receive pleasure, but can no longer give +enjoyment to another. And youth runs away from old age, because it +is its most cruel enemy. + +An interval of repose became necessary, in consequence of the +activity of our enjoyment. Our senses were not tired out, but they +required the rest which renews their sensitiveness and restores the +buoyancy necessary to active service. + +Bellino was the first to break our silence. + +"Dearest," she said, "are you satisfied now? Have you found me truly +loving?" + +"Truly loving? Ah! traitress that you are! Do you, then, confess +that I was not mistaken when I guessed that you were a charming +woman? And if you truly loved me, tell me how you could contrive to +defer your happiness and mine so long? But is it quite certain that +I did not make a mistake?" + +"I am yours all over; see for yourself." + +Oh, what delightful survey! what charming beauties! what an ocean of +enjoyment! But I could not find any trace of the protuberance which +had so much terrified and disgusted me. + +"What has become," I said, "of that dreadful monstrosity?" + +"Listen to me," she replied, "and I will tell you everything. + +"My name is Therese. My father, a poor clerk in the Institute of +Bologna, had let an apartment in his house to the celebrated +Salimberi, a castrato, and a delightful musician. He was young and +handsome, he became attached to me, and I felt flattered by his +affection and by the praise he lavished upon me. I was only twelve +years of age; he proposed to teach me music, and finding that I had a +fine voice, he cultivated it carefully, and in less than a year I +could accompany myself on the harpsichord. His reward was that which +his love for me induced him to ask, and I granted the reward without +feeling any humiliation, for I worshipped him. Of course, men like +yourself are much above men of his species, but Salimberi was an +exception. His beauty, his manners, his talent, and the rare +qualities of his soul, made him superior in my eyes to all the men I +had seen until then. He was modest and reserved, rich and generous, +and I doubt whether he could have found a woman able to resist him; +yet I never heard him boast of having seduced any. The mutilation +practised upon his body had made him a monster, but he was an angel +by his rare qualities and endowments. + +"Salimberi was at that time educating a boy of the same age as +myself, who was in Rimini with a music teacher. The father of the +boy, who was poor and had a large family, seeing himself near death, +had thought of having his unfortunate son maimed so that he should +become the support of his brothers with his voice. The name of the +boy was Bellino; the good woman whom you have just seen in Ancona was +his mother, and everybody believes that she is mine. + +"I had belonged to Salimberi for about a year, when he announced to +me one day, weeping bitterly, that he was compelled to leave me to go +to Rome, but he promised to see me again. The news threw me into +despair. He had arranged everything for the continuation of my +musical education, but, as he was preparing himself for his +departure, my father died very suddenly, after a short illness, and I +was left an orphan. + +"Salimberi had not courage enough to resist my tears and my +entreaties; he made up his mind to take me to Rimini, and to place me +in the same house where his young 'protege' was educated. We reached +Rimini, and put up at an inn; after a short rest, Salimberi left me +to call upon the teacher of music, and to make all necessary +arrangements respecting me with him; but he soon returned, looking +sad and unhappy; Bellino had died the day before. + +"As he was thinking of the grief which the loss of the young man +would cause his mother, he was struck with the idea of bringing me +back to Bologna under the name of Bellino, where he could arrange for +my board with the mother of the deceased Bellino, who, being very +poor, would find it to her advantage to keep the secret. 'I will +give her,' he said, 'everything necessary for the completion of your +musical education, and in four years, I will take you to Dresden (he +was in the service of the Elector of Saxony, King of Poland), not as +a girl, but as a castrato. There we will live together without +giving anyone cause for scandal, and you will remain with me and +minister to my happiness until I die. All we have to do is to +represent you as Bellino, and it is very easy, as nobody knows you in +Bologna. Bellino's mother will alone know the secret; her other +children have seen their brother only when he was very young, and can +have no suspicion. But if you love me you must renounce your sex, +lose even the remembrance of it, and leave immediately for Bologna, +dressed as a boy, and under the name of Bellino. You must be very +careful lest anyone should find out that you are a girl; you must +sleep alone, dress yourself in private, and when your bosom is +formed, as it will be in a year or two, it will only be thought a +deformity not uncommon amongst 'castrati'. Besides, before leaving +you, I will give you a small instrument, and teach how to fix it in +such manner that, if you had at any time to submit to an examination, +you would easily be mistaken for a man. If you accept my plan, I +feel certain that we can live together in Dresden without losing the +good graces of the queen, who is very religious. Tell me, now, +whether you will accept my proposal? + +"He could not entertain any doubt of my consent, for I adored him. +As soon as he had made a boy of me we left Rimini for Bologna, where +we arrived late in the evening. A little gold made everything right +with Bellino's mother; I gave her the name of mother, and she kissed +me, calling me her dear son. Salimberi left us, and returned a short +time afterwards with the instrument which would complete my +transformation. He taught me, in the presence of my new mother, how +to fix it with some tragacanth gum, and I found myself exactly like +my friend. I would have laughed at it, had not my heart been deeply +grieved at the departure of my beloved Salimberi, for he bade me +farewell as soon as the curious operation was completed. People +laugh at forebodings; I do not believe in them myself, but the +foreboding of evil, which almost broke my heart as he gave me his +farewell kiss, did not deceive me. I felt the cold shivering of +death run through me; I felt I was looking at him for the last time, +and I fainted away. Alas! my fears proved only too prophetic. +Salimberi died a year ago in the Tyrol in the prime of life, with the +calmness of a true philosopher. His death compelled me to earn my +living with the assistance of my musical talent. My mother advised +me to continue to give myself out as a castrato, in the hope of being +able to take me to Rome. I agreed to do so, for I did not feel +sufficient energy to decide upon any other plan. In the meantime she +accepted an offer for the Ancona Theatre, and Petronio took the part +of first female dancer; in this way we played the comedy of 'The +World Turned Upside Down.' + +"After Salimberi, you are the only man I have known, and, if you +like, you can restore me to my original state, and make me give up +the name of Bellino, which I hate since the death of my protector, +and which begins to inconvenience me. I have only appeared at two +theatres, and each time I have been compelled to submit to the +scandalous, degrading examination, because everywhere I am thought to +have too much the appearance of a girl, and I am admitted only after +the shameful test has brought conviction. Until now, fortunately, I +have had to deal only with old priests who, in their good faith, have +been satisfied with a very slight examination, and have made a +favourable report to the bishop; but I might fall into the hands of +some young abbe, and the test would then become a more severe one. +Besides, I find myself exposed to the daily persecutions of two sorts +of beings: those who, like you, cannot and will not believe me to be +a man, and those who, for the satisfaction of their disgusting +propensities, are delighted at my being so, or find it advantageous +to suppose me so. The last particularly annoy me! Their tastes are +so infamous, their habits so low, that I fear I shall murder one of +them some day, when I can no longer control the rage in which their +obscene language throws me. Out of pity, my beloved angel, be +generous; and, if you love me, oh! free me from this state of shame +and degradation! Take me with you. I do not ask to become your +wife, that would be too much happiness; I will only be your friend, +your mistress, as I would have been Salimberi's; my heart is pure and +innocent, I feel that I can remain faithful to my lover through my +whole life. Do not abandon me. The love I have for you is sincere; +my affection for Salimberi was innocent; it was born of my +inexperience and of my gratitude, and it is only with you that I have +felt myself truly a woman." + +Her emotion, an inexpressible charm which seemed to flow from her +lips and to enforce conviction, made me shed tears of love and +sympathy. I blended my tears with those falling from her beautiful +eyes, and deeply moved, I promised not to abandon her and to make her +the sharer of my fate. Interested in the history, as singular as +extraordinary, that she had just narrated, and having seen nothing in +it that did not bear the stamp of truth, I felt really disposed to +make her happy but I could not believe that I had inspired her with a +very deep passion during my short stay in Ancona, many circumstances +of which might, on the contrary, have had an opposite effect upon her +heart. + +"If you loved me truly," I said, "how could you let me sleep with +your sisters, out of spite at your resistance?" + +"Alas, dearest! think of our great poverty, and how difficult it was +for me to discover myself. I loved you; but was it not natural that +I should suppose your inclination for me only a passing caprice? +When I saw you go so easily from Cecilia to Marinetta, I thought that +you would treat me in the same manner as soon as your desires were +satisfied, I was likewise confirmed in my opinion of your want of +constancy and of the little importance you attached to the delicacy +of the sentiment of love, when I witnessed what you did on board the +Turkish vessel without being hindered by my presence; had you loved +me, I thought my being present would have made you uncomfortable. I +feared to be soon despised, and God knows how much I suffered! You +have insulted me, darling, in many different ways, but my heart +pleaded in your favour, because I knew you were excited, angry, and +thirsting for revenge. Did you not threaten me this very day in your +carriage? I confess you greatly frightened me, but do not fancy that +I gave myself to you out of fear. No, I had made up my mind to be +yours from the moment you sent me word by Cecilia that you would take +me to Rimini, and your control over your own feelings during a part +of our journey confirmed me in my resolution, for I thought I could +trust myself to your honour, to your delicacy." + +"Throw up," I said, "the engagement you have in Rimini; let us +proceed on our journey, and, after remaining a couple of days in +Bologna, you will go with me to Venice; dressed as a woman, and with +another name, I would challenge the manager here to find you out." + +"I accept. Your will shall always be my law. I am my own mistress, +and I give myself to you without any reserve or restriction; my heart +belongs to you, and I trust to keep yours." + +Man has in himself a moral force of action which always makes him +overstep the line on which he is standing. I had obtained +everything, I wanted more. "Shew me," I said, "how you were when I +mistook you for a man." She got out of bed, opened her trunk, took +out the instrument and fixed it with the gum: I was compelled to +admire the ingenuity of the contrivance. My curiosity was satisfied, +and I passed a most delightful night in her arms. + +When I woke up in the morning, I admired her lovely face while she +was sleeping: all I knew of her came back to my mind; the words which +had been spoken by her bewitching mouth, her rare talent, her +candour, her feelings so full of delicacy, and her misfortunes, the +heaviest of which must have been the false character she had been +compelled to assume, and which exposed her to humiliation and shame, +everything strengthened my resolution to make her the companion of my +destiny, whatever it might be, or to follow her fate, for our +positions were very nearly the same; and wishing truly to attach +myself seriously to that interesting being, I determined to give to +our union the sanction of religion and of law, and to take her +legally for my wife. Such a step, as I then thought, could but +strengthen our love, increase our mutual esteem, and insure the +approbation of society which could not accept our union unless it was +sanctioned in the usual manner. + +The talents of Therese precluded the fear of our being ever in want +of the necessaries of life, and, although I did not know in what way +my own talents might be made available, I had faith in myself. Our +love might have been lessened, she would have enjoyed too great +advantages over me, and my self-dignity would have too deeply +suffered if I had allowed myself to be supported by her earnings +only. It might, after a time, have altered the nature of our +feelings; my wife, no longer thinking herself under any obligation to +me, might have fancied herself the protecting, instead of the +protected party, and I felt that my love would soon have turned into +utter contempt, if it had been my misfortune to find her harbouring +such thoughts. Although I trusted it would not be so, I wanted, +before taking the important step of marriage, to probe her heart, and +I resolved to try an experiment which would at once enable me to +judge the real feelings of her inmost soul. As soon as she was +awake, I spoke to her thus: + +"Dearest Therese, all you have told me leaves me no doubt of your +love for me, and the consciousness you feel of being the mistress of +my heart enhances my love for you to such a degree, that I am ready +to do everything to convince you that you were not mistaken in +thinking that you had entirely conquered me. I wish to prove to you +that I am worthy of the noble confidence you have reposed in me by +trusting you with equal sincerity. + +"Our hearts must be on a footing of perfect equality. I know you, my +dearest Therese, but you do not know me yet. I can read in your eyes +that you do not mind it, and it proves our great love, but that +feeling places me too much below you, and I do not wish you to have +so great an advantage over me. I feel certain that my confidence is +not necessary to your love; that you only care to be mine, that your +only wish is to possess my heart, and I admire you, my Therese; but I +should feel humiliated if I found myself either too much above or too +much below you. You have entrusted your secrets to me, now listen to +mine; but before I begin, promise me that, when you know everything +that concerns me, you will tell me candidly if any change has taken +place either in your feelings or in your hopes." + +"I promise it faithfully; I promise not to conceal anything from you; +but be upright enough not to tell me anything that is not perfectly +true, for I warn you that it would be useless. If you tried any +artifice in order to find me less worthy of you than I am in reality, +you would only succeed in lowering yourself in my estimation. I +should be very sorry to see you guilty of any cunning towards me. +Have no more suspicion of me than I have of you; tell me the whole +truth." + +"Here it is. You suppose me wealthy, and I am not so; as soon as +what there is now in my purse is spent I shall have nothing left. +You may fancy that I was born a patrician, but my social condition is +really inferior to your own. I have no lucrative talents, no +profession, nothing to give me the assurance that I am able to earn +my living. I have neither relatives nor friends, nor claims upon +anyone, and I have no serious plan or purpose before me. All I +possess is youth, health, courage, some intelligence, honour, +honesty, and some tincture of letters. My greatest treasure consists +in being my own master, perfectly independent, and not afraid of +misfortune. With all that, I am naturally inclined to extravagance. +Lovely Therese, you have my portrait. What is your answer?" + +"In the first place, dearest, let me assure you that I believe every +word you have just uttered, as I would believe in the Gospel; in the +second, allow me to tell you that several times in Ancona I have +judged you such as you have just described yourself, but far from +being displeased at such a knowledge of your nature, I was only +afraid of some illusion on my part, for I could hope to win you if +you were what I thought you to be. In one word, dear one, if it is +true that you are poor and a very bad hand at economy, allow me to +tell you that I feel delighted, because, if you love me, you will not +refuse a present from me, or despise me for offering it. The present +consists of myself, such as I am, and with all my faculties. I give +myself to you without any condition, with no restriction; I am yours, +I will take care of you. For the future think only of your love for +me, but love me exclusively. From this moment I am no longer +Bellino. Let us go to Venice, where my talent will keep us both +comfortably; if you wish to go anywhere else, let us go where you +please." + +"I must go to Constantinople." + +"Then let us proceed to Constantinople. If you are afraid to lose me +through want of constancy, marry me, and your right over me will be +strengthened by law. I should not love you better than I do now, but +I should be happy to be your wife." + +"It is my intention to marry you, and I am delighted that we agree in +that respect. The day after to-morrow, in Bologna, you shall be made +my legal-wife before the altar of God; I swear it to you here in the +presence of Love. I want you to be mine, I want to be yours, I want +us to be united by the most holy ties." + +"I am the happiest of women! We have nothing to do in Rimini; +suppose we do not get up; we can have our dinner in bed, and go away +to-morrow well rested after our fatigues." + +We left Rimini the next day, and stayed for breakfast at Pesaro. As +we were getting into the carriage to leave that place, an officer, +accompanied by two soldiers, presented himself, enquired for our +names, and demanded our passports. Bellino had one and gave it, but +I looked in vain for mine; I could not find it. + +The officer, a corporal, orders the postillion to wait and goes to +make his report. Half an hour afterwards, he returns, gives Bellino +his passport, saying that he can continue his journey, but tells me +that his orders are to escort me to the commanding officer, and I +follow him. + +"What have you done with your passport?" enquires that officer. + +"I have lost it." + +"A passport is not so easily lost." + +"Well, I have lost mine." + +"You cannot proceed any further." + +"I come from Rome, and I am going to Constantinople, bearing a letter +from Cardinal Acquaviva. Here is the letter stamped with his seal." + +"All I can do for you is to send you to M. de Gages." + +I found the famous general standing, surrounded by his staff. I told +him all I had already explained to the officer, and begged him to let +me continue my journey. + +"The only favour I can grant you is to put you under arrest till you +receive another passport from Rome delivered under the same name as +the one you have given here. To lose a passport is a misfortune +which befalls only a thoughtless, giddy man, and the cardinal will +for the future know better than to put his confidence in a giddy +fellow like you." + +With these words, he gave orders to take me to the guard-house at St. +Mary's Gate, outside the city, as soon as I should have written to +the cardinal for a new passport. His orders were executed. I was +brought back to the inn, where I wrote my letter, and I sent it by +express to his eminence, entreating him to forward the document, +without loss of time, direct to the war office. Then I embraced +Therese who was weeping, and, telling her to go to Rimini and to wait +there for my return, I made her take one hundred sequins. She wished +to remain in Pesaro, but I would not hear of it; I had my trunk +brought out, I saw Therese go away from the inn, and was taken to the +place appointed by the general. + +It is undoubtedly under such circumstances that the most determined +optimist finds himself at a loss; but an easy stoicism can blunt the +too sharp edge of misfortune. + +My greatest sorrow was the heart-grief of Therese who, seeing me torn +from her arms at the very moment of our union, was suffocated by the +tears which she tried to repress. She would not have left me if I +had not made her understand that she could not remain in Pesaro, and +if I had not promised to join her within ten days, never to be parted +again. But fate had decided otherwise. + +When we reached the gate, the officer confined me immediately in the +guard-house, and I sat down on my trunk. The officer was a taciturn +Spaniard who did not even condescend to honour me with an answer, +when I told him that I had money and would like to have someone to +wait on me. I had to pass the night on a little straw, and without +food, in the midst of the Spanish soldiers. It was the second night +of the sort that my destiny had condemned me to, immediately after +two delightful nights. My good angel doubtless found some pleasure +in bringing such conjunctions before my mind for the benefit of my +instruction. At all events, teachings of that description have an +infallible effect upon natures of a peculiar stamp. + +If you should wish to close the lips of a logician calling himself a +philosopher, who dares to argue that in this life grief overbalances +pleasure, ask him whether he would accept a life entirely without +sorrow and happiness. Be certain that he will not answer you, or he +will shuffle, because, if he says no, he proves that he likes life +such as it is, and if he likes it, he must find it agreeable, which +is an utter impossibility, if life is painful; should he, on the +contrary, answer in the affirmative, he would declare himself a fool, +for it would be as much as to say that he can conceive pleasure +arising from indifference, which is absurd nonsense. + +Suffering is inherent in human nature; but we never suffer without +entertaining the hope of recovery, or, at least, very seldom without +such hope, and hope itself is a pleasure. If it happens sometimes +that man suffers without any expectation of a cure, he necessarily +finds pleasure in the complete certainty of the end of his life; for +the worst, in all cases, must be either a sleep arising from extreme +dejection, during which we have the consolation of happy dreams or +the loss of all sensitiveness. But when we are happy, our happiness +is never disturbed by the thought that it will be followed by grief. +Therefore pleasure, during its active period, is always complete, +without alloy; grief is always soothed by hope. + +I suppose you, dear reader, at the age of twenty, and devoting +yourself to the task of making a man of yourself by furnishing your +mind with all the knowledge necessary to render you a useful being +through the activity of your brain. Someone comes in and tells you, +"I bring you thirty years of existence; it is the immutable decree of +fate; fifteen consecutive years must be happy, and fifteen years +unhappy. You are at liberty to choose the half by which you wish to +begin." + +Confess it candidly, dear reader, you will not require much more +consideration to decide, and you will certainly begin by the unhappy +series of years, because you will feel that the expectation of +fifteen delightful years cannot fail to brace you up with the courage +necessary to bear the unfortunate years you have to go through, and +we can even surmise, with every probability of being right, that the +certainty of future happiness will soothe to a considerable extent +the misery of the first period. + +You have already guessed, I have no doubt, the purpose of this +lengthy argument. The sagacious man, believe me, can never be +utterly miserable, and I most willingly agree with my friend Horace, +who says that, on the contrary, such a man is always happy. + + 'Nisi quum pituita molesta est.' + +But, pray where is the man who is always suffering from a rheum? + +The fact is that the fearful night I passed in the guardhouse of St. +Mary resulted for me in a slight loss and in a great gain. The small +loss was to be away from my dear Therese, but, being certain of +seeing her within ten days, the misfortune was not very great: as to +the gain, it was in experience the true school for a man. I gained a +complete system against thoughtlessness, a system of foresight. You +may safely bet a hundred to one that a young man who has once lost +his purse or his passport, will not lose either a second time. Each +of those misfortunes has befallen me once only, and I might have been +very often the victim of them, if experience had not taught me how +much they were to be dreaded. A thoughtless fellow is a man who has +not yet found the word dread in the dictionary of his life. + +The officer who relieved my cross-grained Castilian on the following +day seemed of a different nature altogether; his prepossessing +countenance pleased me much. He was a Frenchman, and I must say that +I have always liked the French, and never the Spainards; there is in +the manners of the first something so engaging, so obliging, that you +feel attracted towards them as towards a friend, whilst an air of +unbecoming haughtiness gives to the second a dark, forbidding +countenance which certainly does not prepossess in their favour. Yet +I have often been duped by Frenchmen, and never by Spaniards--a proof +that we ought to mistrust our tastes. + +The new officer, approaching me very politely, said to me,-- + +"To what chance, reverend sir, am I indebted for the honour of having +you in my custody?" + +Ah! here was a way of speaking which restored to my lungs all their +elasticity! I gave him all the particulars of my misfortune, and he +found the mishap very amusing. But a man disposed to laugh at my +disappointment could not be disagreeable to me, for it proved that +the turn of his mind had more than one point of resemblance with +mine. He gave me at once a soldier to serve me, and I had very +quickly a bed, a table, and a few chairs. He was kind enough to have +my bed placed in his own room, and I felt very grateful to him for +that delicate attention. + +He gave me an invitation to share his dinner, and proposed a game of +piquet afterwards, but from the very beginning he saw that I was no +match for him; he told me so, and he warned me that the officer who +would relieve him the next day was a better player even than he was +himself; I lost three or four ducats. He advised me to abstain from +playing on the following day, and I followed his advice. He told me +also that he would have company to supper, that there would be a game +of faro, but that the banker being a Greek and a crafty player, I +ought not to play. I thought his advice very considerate, +particularly when I saw that all the punters lost, and that the +Greek, very calm in the midst of the insulting treatment of those he +had duped, was pocketing his money, after handing a share to the +officer who had taken an interest in the bank. The name of the +banker was Don Pepe il Cadetto, and by his accent I knew he was a +Neapolitan. I communicated my discovery to the officer, asking him +why he had told me that the man was a Greek. He explained to me the +meaning of the word greek applied to a gambler, and the lesson which +followed his explanation proved very useful to me in after years. + +During the five following days, my life was uniform and rather dull, +but on the sixth day the same French officer was on guard, and I was +very glad to see him. He told me, with a hearty laugh, that he was +delighted to find me still in the guard-house, and I accepted the +compliment for what it was worth. In the evening, we had the same +bank at faro, with the same result as the first time, except a +violent blow from the stick of one of the punters upon the back of +the banker, of which the Greek stoically feigned to take no notice. +I saw the same man again nine years afterwards in Vienna, captain in +the service of Maria Theresa; he then called himself d'Afflisso. Ten +years later, I found him a colonel, and some time after worth a +million; but the last time I saw him, some thirteen or fourteen years +ago, he was a galley slave. He was handsome, but (rather a singular +thing) in spite of his beauty, he had a gallows look. I have seen +others with the same stamp--Cagliostro, for instance, and another who +has not yet been sent to the galleys, but who cannot fail to pay them +a visit. Should the reader feel any curiosity about it, I can +whisper the name in his ear. + +Towards the ninth or tenth day everyone in the army knew and liked +me, and I was expecting the passport, which could not be delayed much +longer. I was almost free, and I would often walk about even out of +sight of the sentinel. They were quite right not to fear my running +away, and I should have been wrong if I had thought of escaping, but +the most singular adventure of my life happened to me then, and most +unexpectedly. + +It was about six in the morning. I was taking a walk within one +hundred yards of the sentinel, when an officer arrived and alighted +from his horse, threw the bridle on the neck of his steed, and walked +off. Admiring the docility of the horse, standing there like a +faithful servant to whom his master has given orders to wait for him +I got up to him, and without any purpose I get hold of the bridle, +put my foot in the stirrup, and find myself in the saddle. I was on +horseback for the first time in my life. I do not know whether I +touched the horse with my cane or with my heels, but suddenly the +animal starts at full speed. My right foot having slipped out of the +stirrup, I press against the horse with my heels, and, feeling the +pressure, it gallops faster and faster, for I did not know how to +check it. At the last advanced post the sentinels call out to me to +stop; but I cannot obey the order, and the horse carrying me away +faster than ever, I hear the whizzing of a few musket balls, the +natural consequence of my, involuntary disobedience. At last, when I +reach the first advanced picket of the Austrians, the horse is +stopped, and I get off his back thanking God. + +An officer of Hussars asks where I am running so fast, and my tongue, +quicker than my thought, answers without any privity on my part, that +I can render no account but to Prince Lobkowitz, commander-in-chief +of the army, whose headquarters were at Rimini. Hearing my answer, +the officer gave orders for two Hussars to get on horseback, a fresh +one is given me, and I am taken at full gallop to Rimini, where the +officer on guard has me escorted at once to the prince. + +I find his highness alone, and I tell him candidly what has just +happened to me. My story makes him laugh, although he observes that +it is hardly credible. + +"I ought," he says, "to put you under arrest, but I am willing to +save you that unpleasantness." With that he called one of his +officers and ordered him to escort me through the Cesena Gate. "Then +you can go wherever you please," he added, turning round to me; "but +take care not to again enter the lines of my army without a passport, +or you might fare badly." + +I asked him to let me have the horse again, but he answered that the +animal did not belong to me. I forgot to ask him to send me back to +the place I had come from, and I regretted it; but after all perhaps +I did for the best. + +The officer who accompanied me asked me, as we were passing a coffee- +house, whether I would like to take some chocolate, and we went in. +At that moment I saw Petronio going by, and availing myself of a +moment when the officer was talking to someone, I told him not to +appear to be acquainted with me, but to tell me where he lived. When +we had taken our chocolate the officer paid and we went out. Along +the road we kept up the conversation; he told me his name, I gave him +mine, and I explained how I found myself in Rimini. He asked me +whether I had not remained some time in Ancona; I answered in the +affirmative, and he smiled and said I could get a passport in +Bologna, return to Rimini and to Pesaro without any fear, and recover +my trunk by paying the officer for the horse he had lost. We reached +the gate, he wished me a pleasant journey, and we parted company. + +I found myself free, with gold and jewels, but without my trunk. +Therese was in Rimini, and I could not enter that city. I made up my +mind to go to Bologna as quickly as possible in order to get a +passport, and to return to Pesaro, where I should find my passport +from Rome, for I could not make up my mind to lose my trunk, and I +did not want to be separated from Therese until the end of her +engagement with the manager of the Rimini Theatre. + +It was raining; I had silk stockings on, and I longed for a carriage. +I took shelter under the portal of a church, and turned my fine +overcoat inside out, so as not to look like an abbe. At that moment +a peasant happened to come along, and I asked him if a carriage could +be had to drive me to Cesena. "I have one, sir," he said, "but I +live half a league from here." + +"Go and get it, I will wait for you here." + +While I was waiting for the return of the peasant with his vehicle, +some forty mules laden with provisions came along the road towards +Rimini. It was still raining fast, and the mules passing close by +me, I placed my hand mechanically upon the neck of one of them, and +following the slow pace of the animals I re-entered Rimini without +the slightest notice being taken of me, even by the drivers of the +mules. I gave some money to the first street urchin I met, and he +took me to Therese's house. + +With my hair fastened under a night-cap, my hat pulled down over my +face, and my fine cane concealed under my coat, I did not look a very +elegant figure. I enquired for Bellino's mother, and the mistress of +the house took me to a room where I found all the family, and Therese +in a woman's dress. I had reckoned upon surmising them, but Petronio +had told them of our meeting, and they were expecting me. I gave a +full account of my adventures, but Therese, frightened at the danger +that threatened me, and in spite of her love, told me that it was +absolutely necessary for me to go to Bologna, as I had been advised +by M. Vais, the officer. + +"I know him," she said, "and he is a worthy man, but he comes here +every evening, and you must conceal yourself." + +It was only eight o'clock in the morning; we had the whole day before +us, and everyone promised to be discreet. I allayed Therese's +anxiety by telling her that I could easily contrive to leave the city +without being observed. + +Therese took me to her own room, where she told me that she had met +the manager of the theatre on her arrival in Rimini, and that he had +taken her at once to the apartments engaged for the family. She had +informed him that she was a woman, and that she had made up her mind +not to appear as a castrato any more; he had expressed himself +delighted at such news, because women could appear on the stage at +Rimini, which was not under the same legate as Ancona. She added +that her engagement would be at an end by the 1st of May, and that +she would meet me wherever it would be agreeable to me to wait for +her. + +"As soon as I can get a passport," I said, "there is nothing to +hinder me from remaining near you until the end of your engagement. +But as M. Vais calls upon you, tell me whether you have informed him +of my having spent a few days in Ancona?" + +"I did, and I even told him that you had been arrested because you +had lost your passport." + +I understood why the officer had smiled as he was talking with me. +After my conversation with Therese, I received the compliments of the +mother and of the young sisters who appeared to me less cheerful and +less free than they had been in Ancona. They felt that Bellino, +transformed into Therese, was too formidable a rival. I listened +patiently to all the complaints of the mother who maintained that, in +giving up the character of castrato, Therese had bidden adieu to +fortune, because she might have earned a thousand sequins a year in +Rome. + +"In Rome, my good woman," I said, "the false Bellino would have been +found out, and Therese would have been consigned to a miserable +convent for which she was never made." + +Notwithstanding the danger of my position, I spent the whole of the +day alone with my beloved mistress, and it seemed that every moment +gave her fresh beauties and increased my love. At eight o'clock in +the evening, hearing someone coming in, she left me, and I remained +in the dark, but in such a position that I could see everything and +hear every word. The Baron Vais came in, and Therese gave him her +hand with the grace of a pretty woman and the dignity of a princess. +The first thing he told her was the news about me; she appeared to be +pleased, and listened with well-feigned indifference, when he said +that he had advised me to return with a passport. He spent an hour +with her, and I was thoroughly well pleased with her manners and +behaviour, which had been such as to leave me no room for the +slightest feeling of jealousy. Marina lighted him out and Therese +returned to me. We had a joyous supper together, and, as we were +getting ready to go to bed, Petronio came to inform me that ten +muleteers would start for Cesena two hours before day-break, and that +he was sure I could leave the city with them if I would go and meet +them a quarter of an hour before their departure, and treat them to +something to drink. I was of the same opinion, and made up my mind +to make the attempt. I asked Petronio to sit up and to wake me in +good time. It proved an unnecessary precaution, for I was ready +before the time, and left Therese satisfied with my love, without any +doubt of my constancy, but rather anxious as to my success in +attempting to leave Rimini. She had sixty sequins which she wanted +to force back upon me, but I asked her what opinion she would have of +me if I accepted them, and we said no more about it. + +I went to the stable, and having treated one of the muleteers to some +drink I told him that I would willingly ride one of his mules as far +as Sarignan. + +"You are welcome to the ride," said the good fellow, "but I would +advise you not to get on the mule till we are outside the city, and +to pass through the gate on foot as if you were one of the drivers." + +It was exactly what I wanted. Petronio accompanied me as far as the +gate, where I gave him a substantial proof of my gratitude. I got +out of the city without the slightest difficulty, and left the +muleteers at Sarignan, whence I posted to Bologna. + +I found out that I could not obtain a passport, for the simple reason +that the authorities of the city persisted that it was not necessary; +but I knew better, and it was not for me to tell them why. I +resolved to write to the French officer who had treated me so well at +the guardhouse. I begged him to enquire at the war office whether my +passport had arrived from Rome, and, if so, to forward it to me. I +also asked him to find out the owner of the horse who had run away +with me, offering to pay for it. I made up my mind to wait for +Therese in Bologna, and I informed her of my decision, entreating her +to write very often. The reader will soon know the new resolution I +took on the very same day. + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of MEMOIRES OF JACQUES CASANOVA +VENETION YEARS, Vol. 1b, A CLERIC IN NAPLES +by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt + diff --git a/old/jccln11.zip b/old/jccln11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ad92b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/jccln11.zip |