nisida-第10节

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of　the　lowest　serving　man；　that　Solomon　the　fisherman　took　his　way　to
his　son's　prison。　　His　brow　was　so　woebegone　that　the　guards　drew
back；　seized　with　pity；　and　the　gaoler　wept　as　he　closed　the　door　of
the　cell　upon　him。　　The　old　man　remained　some　moments　without
advancing　a　step；　absorbed　in　contemplation　of　his　son。　　By　the　tawny
gleam　of　his　eye　might　be　divined　that　the　soul　of　the　man　was　moved
at　that　instant　by　some　dark　project。　　He　seemed　nevertheless　struck
by　the…beauty　of　Gabriel's　face。　　Three　months　in　prison　had　restored
to　his　skin　the　whiteness　that　the　sun　had　turned　brown；　his　fine
dark　hair　fell　in　curls　around　his　neck；　his　eyes　rested　on　his
father　with　a　liquid　and　brilliant　gaze。　　Never　had　this　head　been　so
beautiful　as　now；　when　it　was　to　fall。

〃Alas；　my　poor　son！〃　said　the　old　man；　〃there　is　no　hope　left；　you
must　die。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　answered　Gabriel　in　a　tone　of　tender　reproach；　〃and　it
is　not　that　which　most　afflicts　me　at　this　moment。　　But　you；　too；　why
do　you　wish　to　give　me　pain；　at　your　age？　　Why　did　you　not　stay　in
the　town？〃

〃In　the　town；〃　the　old　man　returned；　〃they　have　no　pity；　I　cast
myself　at　the　king's　feet；　at　everybody's　feet；　there　is　no　pardon；
no　mercy　for　us。〃

〃Well；　in　God's　name；　what　is　death　to　me？　　I　meet　it　daily　on　the
sea。　　My　greatest；　my　only　torment　is　the　pain　that　they　are　causing
you。〃

〃And　I；　do　you　think；　my　Gabriel；　that　I　only　suffer　in　seeing　you
die？　　Oh；　it　is　but　a　parting　for　a　few　days；　I　shall　soon　go　to　join
you。　　But　a　darker　sorrow　weighs　upon　me。　　I　am　strong；　I　am　a　man〃。
He　stopped；　fearing　that　he　had　said　too　much；　then　drawing　near　to
his　son；　he　said　in　a　tearful　voice；　〃Forgive　me；　my　Gabriel；　I　am
the　cause　of　your　death。　I　ought　to　have　killed　the　prince　with　my
own　hand。　　In　our　country；　children　and　old　men　are　not　condemned　to
death。　　I　am　over　eighty　years　old；　I　should　have　been　pardoned；　they
told　me　that　when；　with　tears；　I　asked　pardon　for　you；　once　more；
forgive　me；　Gabriel；　I　thought　my　daughter　was　dead；　I　thought　of
nothing　else；　and　besides；　I　did　not　know　the　law。〃

〃Father；　father！〃　cried　Gabriel；　touched；　〃what　are　you　saying？　　I
would　have　given　my　life　a　thousand　times　over　to　purchase　one　day　of
yours。　　Since　you　are　strong　enough　to　be　present　at　my　last　hour；
fear　not；　you　will　not　see　me　turn　pale；　your　son　will　be　worthy　of
you。〃

〃And　he　is　to　die；　to　die！〃　cried　Solomon；　striking　his　forehead　in
despair；　and　casting　on　the　walls　of　the　dungeon　a　look　of　fire　that
would　fain　have　pierced　them。

〃I　am　resigned；　father；〃　said　Gabriel　gently；　did　not　Christ　ascend
the　cross？〃

〃Yes；〃　murmured　the　old　man　in　a　muffled　voice；　〃but　He　did　not　leave
behind　a　sister　dishonoured　by　His　death。〃

These　words；　which　escaped　the　old　fisherman　in　spite　of　himself；
threw　a　sudden　and　terrible　light　into　the　soul　of　Gabriel。　　For　the
first　time　he　perceived　all　the　infamous　manner　of　his　death：　the
shameless　populace　crowding　round　the　scaffold；　the　hateful　hand　of
the　executioner　taking　him　by　the　Hair；　and　the　drops　of　his　blood
besprinkling　the　white　raiment　of　his　sister　and　covering　her　with
shame。

〃Oh；　if　I　could　get　a　weapon！〃　cried　Gabriel；　his　haggard　eyes
roaming　around。

〃It　is　not　the　weapon　that　is　lacking；〃　answered　Solomon；　carrying
his　hand　to　the　hilt　of　a　dagger　that　he　had　hidden　in　his　breast。

〃Then　kill　me；　father；〃　said　Gabriel　in　a　low　tone；　but　with　an
irresistible　accent　of　persuasion　and　entreaty；　〃oh　yes；　I　confess　it
now；　the　executioner's　hand　frightens　me。　　My　Nisida；　my　poor　Nisida；
I　have　seen　her；　she　was　here　just　now；　as　beautiful　and　as　pale　as
the　Madonna　Dolorosa；　she　smiled　to　hide　from　me　her　sufferings。　　She
was　happy；　poor　girl；　because　she　believed　you　away。　　Oh；　how　sweet
it　will　be　to　me　to　die　by　your　hand！　　You　gave　me　life；　take　it
back；　father；　since　God　will　have　it　so。　　And　Nisida　will　be　saved。
Oh；　do　not　hesitate！　　It　would　be　a　cowardice　on　the　part　of　both　of
us；　she　is　my　sister；　she　is　your　daughter。〃

And　seeing　that　his　powerful　will　had　subjugated　the　old　man；　he
said；　〃Help！　help；　father！〃　and　offered　his　breast　to　the　blow。　　The
poor　father　lifted　his　hand　to　strike；　but　a　mortal　convulsion　ran
through　all　his　limbs；　he　fell　into　his　son's　arms；　and　both　burst
into　tears。

〃Poor　father！〃　said　Gabriel。　　〃I　ought　to　have　foreseen　that。　　Give
me　that　dagger　and　turn　away；　I　am　young　and　my　arm　will　not
tremble。〃

〃Oh　no　！〃　returned　Solomon　solemnly；　〃no；　my　son；　for　then　you　would
be　a　suicide！　　Let　your　soul　ascend　to　heaven　pure！　　God　will　give　me
His　strength。　　Moreover；　we　have　time　yet。〃

And　a　last　ray　of　hope　shone　in　the　eyes　of　the　fisherman。

Then　there　passed　in　that　dungeon　one　of　those　scenes　that　words　can
never　reproduce。　　The　poor　father　sat　down　on　the　straw　at　his　son's
side　and　laid　his　head　gently　upon　his　knees。　　He　smiled　to　him
through　his　tears；　as　one　smiles　to　a　sick　child；　he　passed　his　hand
slowly　through　the　silky　curls　of　his　hair；　and　asked　him　countless
questions；　intermingled　with　caresses。　　In　order　to　give　him　a
distaste　for　this　world　he　kept　on　talking　to　him　of　the　other。
Then；　with　a　sudden　change；　he　questioned　him　minutely　about　all
sorts　of　past　matters。　　Sometimes　he　stopped　in　alarm；　and　counted
the　beatings　of　his　heart；　which　were　　hurriedly　marking　the　passage
of　time。

〃Tell　me　everything；　my　child；　have　you　any　desire；　any　wish　that
could　be　satisfied　before　you　die？　　Are　you　leaving　any　woman　whom
you　loved　secretly？　　Everything　we　have　left　shall　be　hers。〃

〃I　regret　nothing　on　earth　but　you　and　my　sister。　　You　are　the　only
persons　whom　I　have　loved　since　my　mother's　death。〃

〃Well；　be　comforted。　　Your　sister　will　be　saved。〃

〃Oh；　yes！　　I　shall　die　happy。〃

〃Do　you　forgive　our　enemies？〃

〃With　all　the　strength　of　my　heart。　　I　pray　God　to　have　mercy　on　the
witnesses　who　accused　me。　　May　He　forgive　me　my　sins！〃

〃How　old　is　it　that　you　will　soon　be？〃　the　old　man　asked　suddenly；
for　his　reason　was　beginning　to　totter；　and　his　memory　had　failed
him。

〃I　was　twenty…five　on　All　Hallows'　Day。〃

〃True；　it　was　a　sad　day；　this　year；　you　were　in　prison。〃

〃Do　you　remember　how；　five　years　ago；　on　that　same　day　I　got　the
prize　in　the　regatta　at　Venice？〃

〃Tell　me　about　that；　my　child。〃

And　he　listened；　his　neck　stretched　forward；　his　mouth　half　open；　his
hands　in　his　son's。　　A　sound　of　steps　came　in　from　the　corridor；　and
a　dull　knock　was　struck　upon　the　door。　　It　was　the　fatal　hour。　　The
poor　father　had　forgotten　it。

The　priests　had　already　begun　to　sing　the　death　hymn；　the　executioner
was　ready；　the　procession　had　set　out；　when　Solomon　the　fisherman
appeared　suddenly　on　the　threshold　of　the　prison；　his　eyes　aflame　and
his　brow　radiant　with　the　halo　of　the　patriarchs。　　The　old　man　drew
himself　up　to　his　full　height；　and　raising　in　one　hand　the　reddened
knife；　said　in　a　sublime　voice；　〃The　sacrifice　is　fulfilled。　　God　did
not　send　His　angel　to　stay　the　hand　of　Abraham。〃

The　crowd　carried　him　in　triumph！

＇The　details　of　this　case　are　recorded　in　the　archives　of　the
Criminal　Court　at　Naples。　　We　have　changed　nothing　in　the　age　or
position　of　the　persons　who　appear　in　this　narrative。　　One　of　the
most　celebrated　advocates　at　the　Neapolitan　bar　secured　the　acquittal
of　the　old　man。＇







End