nisida-第2节

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young　Prince　of　Brancaleone；　one　of　the　foremost　nobles　of　the
kingdom。　　Handsome；　rich；　and　brave；　he　had；　at　five…and…twenty；
outdone　the　lists　of　all　known　Don　Juans。　　Fashionable　young　women
spoke　very　ill　of　him　and　adored　him　in　secret；　the　most　virtuous
made　it　their　rule　to　fly　from　him；　so　impossible　did　resistance
appear。　　All　the　young　madcaps　had　chosen　him　for　their　model；　for
his　triumphs　robbed　many　a　Miltiades　of　sleep；　and　with　better　cause。
In　short；　to　get　an　idea　of　this　lucky　individual；　it　will　be　enough
to　know　that　as　a　seducer　he　was　the　most　perfect　thing　that　the
devil　had　succeeded　in　inventing　in　this　progressive　century。　　The
prince　was　dressed　out　for　the　occasion　in　a　sufficiently　grotesque
costume；　which　he　wore　with　ironic　gravity　and　cavalier　ease。　　A
black　satin　doublet；　knee　breeches；　embroidered　stockings；　and　shoes
with　gold　buckles；　formed　the　main　portions　of　his　dress；　over　which
trailed　a　long　brocaded　open…sleeved　robe　lined　with　ermine；　and　a
magnificent　diamond…hilted　sword。　　On　account　of　his　rank　he　enjoyed
the　rare　distinction　of　carrying　one　of　the　six　gilded　staves　that
supported　the　plumed　and　embroidered　canopy。

As　soon　as　the　procession　moved　on　again；　Eligi　of　Brancaleone　gave　a
side　glance　to　a　little　man　as　red　as　a　lobster；　who　was　walking
almost　at　his　side；　and　carrying　in　his　right　hand；　with　all　the
solemnity　that　he　could　muster；　his　excellency's　hat。　　He　was　a
footman　in　gold…laced　livery；　and　we　beg　leave　to　give　a　brief　sketch
of　his　history。　　Trespolo　was　the　child　of　poor　but　thieving　parents；
and　on　that　account　was　early　left　an　orphan。　　Being　at　leisure；　he
studied　life　from　an　eminently　social　aspect。　　If　we　are　to　believe　a
certain　ancient　sage；　we　are　all　in　the　world　to　solve　a　problem：　as
to　Trespolo；　he　desired　to　live　without　doing　anything；　that　was　his
problem。　　He　was；　in　turn；　a　sacristan；　a　juggler；　an　apothecary's
assistant；　and　a　cicerone；　and　he　got　tired　of　all　these　callings。
Begging　was；　to　his　mind；　too　hard　work；　and　it　was　more　trouble　to
be　a　thief　than　to　be　an　honest　man。　　Finally　he　decided　in　favour　of
contemplative　philosophy。　　He　had　a　passionate　preference　for　the
horizontal　position；　and　found　the　greatest　pleasure　in　the　world　in
watching　the　shooting　of　stars。　　Unfortunately；　in　the　course　of　his
meditations　this　deserving　man　came　near　to　dying　of　hunger；　which
would　have　been　a　great　pity；　for　he　was　beginning　to　accustom
himself　not　to　eat　anything。　　But　as　he　was　predestined　by　nature　to
play　a　small　part　in　our　story；　God　showed　him　grace　for　that　time；
and　sent　to　his　assistancenot　one　of　His　angels；　the　rogue　was　not
worthy　of　that；　butone　of　Brancaleone's　hunting　dogs。　　The　noble
animal　sniffed　round　the　philosopher；　and　uttered　a　little　charitable
growl　that　would　have　done　credit　to　one　of　the　brethren　of　Mount　St。
Bernard。　　The　prince；　who　was　returning　in　triumph　from　hunting；　and
who；　by　good　luck；　had　that　day　killed　a　bear　and　ruined　a　countess；
had　an　odd　inclination　to　do　a　good　deed。　　He　approached　the　plebeian
who　was　about　to　pass　into　the　condition　of　a　corpse；　stirred　the
thing　with　his　foot；　and　seeing　that　there　was　still　a　little　hope；
bade　his　people　bring　him　along。

》From　that　day　onward；　Trespolo　saw　the　dream　of　his　life　nearly
realised。　　Something　rather　above　a　footman　and　rather　below　a　house
steward；　he　became　the　confidant　of　his　master；　who　found　his　talents
most　useful；　for　this　Trespolo　was　as　sharp　as　a　demon　and　almost　as
artful　as　a　woman。　　The　prince；　who；　like　an　intelligent　man　as　he
was；　had　divined　that　genius　is　naturally　indolent；　asked　nothing　of
him　but　advice；　when　tiresome　people　wanted　thrashing；　he　saw　to　that
matter　himself；　and；　indeed；　he　was　the　equal　of　any　two　at　such
work。　　As　nothing　in　this　lower　world；　however；　is　complete；　Trespolo
had　strange　moments　amid　this　life　of　delights；　from　time　to　time　his
happiness　was　disturbed　by　panics　that　greatly　diverted　his　master；
he　would　mutter　incoherent　words；　stifle　violent　sighs；　and　lose　his
appetite。　　The　root　of　the　matter　was　that　the　poor　fellow　was　afraid
of　going　to　hell。　　The　matter　was　very　simple：　he　was　afraid　of
everything；　and；　besides；　it　had　often　been　preached　to　him　that　the
Devil　never　allowed　a　moment's　rest　to　those　who　were　ill…advised
enough　to　fall　into　his　clutches。　　Trespolo　was　in　one　of　his　good
moods　of　repentance；　when　the　prince；　after　gazing　on　the　young　girl
with　the　fierce　eagerness　of　a　vulture　about　to　swoop　upon　its　prey；
turned　to　speak　to　his　intimate　adviser。　　The　poor　servant　understood
his　master's　abominable　design；　and　not　wishing　to　share　the　guilt　of
a　sacrilegious　conversation；　opened　his　eyes　very　wide　and　turned
them　up　to　heaven　in　ecstatic　contemplation。　　The　prince　coughed；
stamped　his　foot；　moved　his　sword　so　as　to　hit　Trespolo's　legs；　but
could　not　get　from　him　any　sign　of　attention；　so　absorbed　did　he
appear　in　celestial　thoughts。　　Brancaleone　would　have　liked　to　wring
his　neck；　but　both　his　hands　were　occupied　by　the　staff　of　the
canopy；　and　besides；　the　king　was　present。

At　last　they　were　drawing　nearer　to　the　church　of　St。　Clara；　where
the　Neapolitan　kings　were　buried；　and　where　several　princesses　of　the
blood；　exchanging　the　crown　for　the　veil；　have　gone　to　bury
themselves　alive。　　The　nuns；　novices；　and　abbess；　hidden　behind
shutters；　were　throwing　flowers　upon　the　procession。　　A　bunch　fell　at
the　feet　of　the　Prince　of　Brancaleone。

〃Trespolo；　pick　up　that　nosegay；〃　said　the　prince；　so　audibly　that
his　servant　had　no　further　excuse。　　〃It　is　from　Sister　Theresa；〃　he
added；　in　a　low　voice；　〃constancy　is　only　to　be　found；　nowadays；　in　a
convent。〃

Trespolo　picked　up　the　nosegay　and　came　towards　his　master；　looking
like　a　man　who　was　being　strangled。

〃Who　is　that　girl？〃　the　latter　asked　him　shortly。

〃Which　one？〃　stammered　the　servant。

〃Forsooth！　　The　one　walking　in　front　of　us。〃

〃I　don't　know　her；　my　lord。〃

〃You　must　find　out　something　about　her　before　this　evening。〃

〃I　shall　have　to　go　rather　far　afield。〃

〃Then　you　do　know　her；　you　intolerable　rascal！　　I　have　half　a　mind　to
have　you　hanged　like　a　dog。〃

〃For　pity's　sake；　my　lord；　think　of　the　salvation　of　your　soul；　of
your　eternal　life。〃

〃I　advise　you　to　think　of　your　temporal　life。　　What　is　her　name？〃

〃She　is　called　Nisida；　and　is　the　prettiest　girl　in　the　island　that
she　is　named　after。　　She　is　innocence　itself。　　Her　father　is　only　a
poor　fisherman；　but　I　can　assure　your　excellency　that　in　his　island
he　is　respected　like　a　king。〃

〃Indeed！〃　replied　the　prince；　with　an　ironical　smile。　　〃I　must　own；
to　my　great　shame；　that　I　have　never　visited　the　little　island　of
Nisida。　　You　will　have　a　boat　ready　for　me　to…morrow；　and　then　we
will　see。〃

He　interrupted　himself　suddenly；　for　the　king　was　looking　at　him；　and
calling　up　the　most　sonorous　bass　notes　that　he　could　find　in　the
depths　of　his　throat；　he　continued　with　an　inspired　air；　〃Genitori
genitoque　laus　et　jubilatio。〃

〃Amen；〃　replied　the　serving…man　in　a　ringing　voice。

Nisida；　the　beloved　daughter　of　Solomon；　the　fisherman；　was；　as　we
have　said；　the　loveliest　flower　of　the　island　from　which　she　derived
her　name。　　That　island　is　the　most　charming　spot；　the　most　delicious
nook　with　which　we　are　acquainted；　it　is　a　basket　of　greenery　set
delicately　amid　the　pure　and　transparent　waters　of　the　gulf；　a　hill
wooded　with　orange　trees　and　oleanders；　and　crowned　at　the　summit　by
a　marble　castle。　　All　around　extends　the　fairy…like　prospect　of　that
immense　amphitheatre；　one　of　the　mightiest　wonders　of　creation。
There　lies　Naples；　the　voluptuous　syren；　reclining　carelessly　on　the
seashore；　there；　Portici；　Castellamare；　and　Sorrento；　the　very　names
of　which　awaken　in　the　imagination　a　thousand　thoughts　of　poetry　and
love；　there　are　Pausilippo；　Baiae；　Puozzoli；　and　those　vast　plains；
where　the　ancients　fancied　their　Elysium；　sacred　solitudes　which　one
might　suppose　peopled　by　the　men　of　former　days；　where　the　earth
echoes　under　foot　like　an　empty　grave；　and　the　air　has　unknown　sounds
and　strange　melodies。

Solomon's　hut　stood　in　that　part　of　the　island　which；　turning　its
back　to　the　capital；　beholds　afar　the　blue　crests　of　Capri。　　Nothing
could　be　simpler　or　brighter。　　The　brick　walls　were　hung　with　ivy
greener　than　emeralds；　and　enamelled　with　white　bell…flowers；　on　the
ground　floor　was　a　fairly　spacious　apartment；　in　which　the　men　slept
and　the　family　took　their　meals；　on　the　floor　above　was　Nisida's
little　maidenly　room；　full　of　coolness；　shadows；　and　mystery；　and
lighted　by　a　single　casement　that　looked　over　the　gulf；　above　this
room　was　a　terrace　of　the　Italian　kind；　the　four　pillars　of　which
were　wreathed　with　vine　branches；　while　its　vine…clad　arbour　and　wide
parapet　were　overgrown　with　moss　and　wild　flowers。　　A　little　hedge
of　hawthorn；　which　had　been　respected　for　ages；　made　a　kind　of
rampart　around　the　fisherman's　premises；　and　defended　his　house
better　than　deep　moats　and　castellated　walls　could　have　done。　　The
boldest　roisterers　of　the　place　would　have　preferred　to　fight　before
the　parsonage　and　in　the　pr