the bravo of venice-第5节

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greatest　villains　that　the　Venetian　sun　ever　shines　upon；　such　is

now　the　great　Rosalvo。　　Fie；　ah；　fie　on't；　and　yet　to　this　wretched

lot　hath　fatality　condemned　me。〃



Suddenly　he　sprang　from　the　ground　after　a　long　silence；　his　eyes

sparkled；　his　countenance　was　changed；　he　drew　his　breath　easier。



〃Yes；　by　Heaven；　yes。　　Great　as　Count　Rosalvo；　that　can　I　be　no

longer；　but　from　being　great　as　a　Venetian　bravo；　what　prevents　me？

Souls　in　bliss；〃　he　exclaimed；　and　sank　on　his　knee；　while　he　raised

his　folded　hands　to　heaven；　as　if　about　to　pronounce　the　most　awful

oath；　〃Spirit　of　my　father；　spirit　of　Valeria；　I　will　not　become

unworthy　of　you。　　Hear　me；　if　your　ghosts　are　permitted　to　wander

near　me；　hear　me　swear　that　the　bravo　shall　not　disgrace　the　origin；

nor　render　vain　the　hopes　which　soothed　you　in　the　bitterness　of

death。　　No；　sure　as　I　live；　I　will　be　the　only　dealer　in　this

miserable　trade；　and　posterity　shall　be　compelled　to　honour　that

name；　which　my　actions　shall　render　illustrious。〃



He　bowed　his　forehead　till　it　touched　the　earth；　and　his　tears

flowed　plenteously。　　Vast　conceptions　swelled　his　soul；　he　dwelt　on

wondrous　views；　till　their　extent　bewildered　his　brain；　yet　another

hour　elapsed；　and　he　sprang　from　the　earth　to　realise　them。



〃I　will　enter　into　no　compact　against　human　nature　with　five

miserable　cut…throats。　　ALONE　will　I　make　the　Republic　tremble；　and

before　eight　days　are　flown；　these　murderous　knaves　shall　swing　upon

a　gibbet。　　Venice　shall　no　longer　harbour　FIVE　banditti；　ONE　and　ONE

only　shall　inhabit　here；　and　that　one　shall　beard　the　Doge　himself；

shall　watch　over　right　and　wrong；　and　according　as　he　judges；　shall

reward　and　punish。　　Before　eight　days　are　flown；　the　State　shall　be

purified　from　the　presence　of　these　outcasts　of　humanity；　and　then

shall　I　stand　here　alone。　　Then　must　every　villain　in　Venice；　who

hitherto　has　kept　the　daggers　of　my　companions　in　employment；　have

recourse　to　me；　then　shall　I　know　the　names　and　persons　of　all　those

cowardly　murderers；　of　all　those　illustrious　profligates；　with　whom

Matteo　and　his　companions　carry　on　the　trade　of　blood。　　And　then

Abellino！　　Abellino；　that　is　the　name。　　Hear　it；　Venice；　hear　it；

and　tremble。〃



Intoxicated　with　the　wildness　of　his　hopes；　he　rushed　out　of　the

garden。　　He　summoned　a　gondolier；　threw　himself　into　the　boat；　and

hastened　to　the　dwelling　of　Cinthia；　where　the　inhabitants　already

were　folded　in　the　arms　of　sleep。







CHAPTER　VI：　　ROSABELLA；　THE　DOGE'S　LOVELY　NIECE。







〃Hark；　comrade；〃　said　Matteo　the　next　morning　to　Abellino；　〃to…day

thou　shalt　make　thy　first　step　in　our　profession。〃



〃To…day！〃　hoarsely　murmured　Abellino；　〃and　on　whom　am　I　to　show　my

skill？〃



〃Nay；　to　say　truth；　'tis　but　a　woman；　but　one　must　not　give　too

difficult　a　task　to　a　young　beginner。　　I　will　myself　accompany　you；

and　see　how　you　conduct　yourself　in　the　first　trial。〃



〃Hum！〃　said　Abellino；　and　measured　Matteo　with　his　eye　from　head　to

foot。



〃To…day；　about　four　o'clock；　thou　shalt　follow　me　to　Dolabella's

gardens；　which　are　situated　on　the　south　side　of　Venice。　　We　must

both　be　disguised；　you　understand。　　In　these　gardens　are　excellent

baths；　and　after　using　the　baths；　the　Doge's　niece；　the　lovely

Rosabella　of　Corfu；　frequently　walks　without　attendants。　　And　then

you　conceive　me？〃



〃And　you　will　accompany　me？〃



〃I　will　be　a　spectator　of　your　first　adventure；　'tis　thus　I　deal　by

every　one。〃



〃And　how　many　inches　deep　must　I　plunge　my　dagger？〃



〃To　the　hilt；　boy；　to　the　very　hilt！　　Her　death　is　required；　and　the

payment　will　be　princely；　Rosabella　in　the　grave；　we　are　rich　for

life。〃



Every　other　point　was　soon　adjusted。　　Noon　was　now　past；　the　clock

in　the　neighbouring　church　of　the　Benedictines　struck　four；　and

Mattes　and　Abellino　were　already　forth。　　They　arrived　at　the　gardens

of　Dolabella；　which　that　day　were　unusually　crowded。　　Every　shady

avenue　was　thronged　with　people　of　both　sexes；　every　arbour　was

occupied　by　persons　most　distinguished　in　Venice。　　In　every　corner

sighed　lovesick　couples；　as　they　waited　for　the　wished　approach　of

twilight；　and　on　every　side　did　strains　of　vocal　and　instrumental

music　pour　their　harmony　on　the　enchanted　ear。



Abellino　mingled　with　the　crowd。　　A　most　respectable　looking　peruke

concealed　the　repulsive　ugliness　of　his　features；　he　imitated　the

walk　and　manners　of　a　gouty　old　man；　and　supported　himself　by　a

crutch；　as　he　walked　slowly　through　the　assembly。　　His　habit；　richly

embroidered；　procured　for　him　universally　a　good　reception；　and　no

one　scrupled　to　enter　into　conversation　with　him　respecting　the

weather；　the　commerce　of　the　Republic；　or　the　designs　of　its

enemies；　and　on　none　of　these　subjects　was　Abellino　found　incapable

of　sustaining　the　discourse。



By　these　means　he　soon　contrived　to　gain　intelligence　that　Rosabella

was　certainly　in　the　gardens；　how　she　was　habited；　and　in　what

quarter　he　was　most　likely　to　find　her。



Thither　he　immediately　bent　his　course；　and　hard　at　his　heels

followed　Matteo。



Alone；　and　in　the　most　retired　arbour；　sat　Rosabella　of　Corfu；　the

fairest　maid　in　Venice。



Abellino　drew　near　the　arbour；　he　tottered；　as　he　passed　its

entrance；　like　one　oppressed　with　sudden　faintness；　and　attracted

Rosabella's　attention。



〃Alas；　alas！〃　cried　he；　〃is　there　no　one　at　hand　who　will　take

compassion　on　the　infirmity　of　a　poor　old　man？〃



The　Doge's　fair　niece　quitted　the　arbour　hastily；　and　flew　to　give

assistance　to　the　sufferer。



〃What　ails　you；　my　good　father？〃　she　inquired　in　a　melodious　voice；

and　with　a　look　of　benevolent　anxiety。



Abellino　pointed　towards　the　arbour；　Rosabella　led　him　in；　and

placed　him　on　a　seat　of　turf。



〃God　reward　you；　lady；〃　stammered　Abellino；　faintly。　　He　raised　his

eyes；　they　met　Rosabella's；　and　a　blush　crimsoned　her　pale　cheeks。



Rosabella　stood　in　silence　before　the　disguised　assassin；　and

trembled　with　tender　concern　for　the　old　man's　illness；　and　oh；　that

expression　of　interest　ever　makes　a　lovely　women　look　so　much　more

lovely！　　She　bent　her　delicate　form　over　the　man　who　was　bribed　to

murder　her；　and　after　a　while　asked　him；　in　gentlest　tone；　〃Are　you

not　better？〃



〃Better？〃　stammered　the　deceiver；　with　a　feeble　voice；　〃betteroh；

yes；　yes；　yes。　　Youyou　are　the　Doge's　niecethe　noble　Rosabella

of　Corfu？〃



〃The　same；　my　good　old　man。〃



〃Oh；　lady；　I　have　somewhat　to　tell　you。　　Be　on　your　guard；　Start

not！　　What　I　would　say　is　of　the　utmost　consequence；　and　demands　the

utmost　prudence。　　Ah；　God；　that　there　should　live　men　so　cruel！

Lady；　your　life　is　in　danger。〃



The　maiden　started　back；　the　colour　fled　from　her　cheeks。



〃Do　you　wish　to　behold　your　assassin？　　You　shall　not　die；　but　if　you

value　your　life；　be　silent。〃



Rosabella　knew　not　what　to　think；　the　presence　of　the　old　man

terrified　her。



〃Fear　nothing；　lady；　fear　nothing；　you　have　nothing　to　fear；　while　I

am　with　you。　　Before　you　quit　this　arbour　you　shall　see　the　assassin

expire　at　your　feet。〃



Rosabella　made　a　movement　as　if　she　would　have　fled；　but　suddenly

the　person　who　sat　beside　her　was　no　longer　an　infirm　old　man。　　He

who　a　minute　before　had　scarcely　strength　to　mutter　out　a　few

sentences；　and　reclined　against　the　arbour　trembling　like　an　aspen；

sprang　up　with　the　force　of　a　giant；　and　drew　her　back　with　one　arm。



〃For　the　love　of　heaven！〃　she　cried；　〃release　me。　　Let　me　fly！〃



〃Lady；　fear　nothing；　_I_　protect　you。〃　　This　said；　Abellino　placed　a

whistle　at　his　lips；　and　blew　it　shrilly。



Instantly　sprang　Matteo　from　his　concealment　in　a　neighbouring　clump

of　trees；　and　rushed　into　the　arbour。　　Abellino　threw　Rosabella　on

the　bank　of　turf；　advanced　a　few　steps　to　meet　Matteo；　and　plunged

his　dagger　in　his　heart。



Without　uttering　a　single　cry；　sank　the　banditti　captain　at　the　feet

of　Abellino：　　the　death…rattle　was　heard　in　his　throat；　and　after　a

few　horrible　convulsions　all　was　over。



Now　did　Matteo's　murderer　look　again　towards　the　arbour；　and　beheld

Rosabella　half　senseless；　as　she　lay　on　the　bank　of　turf。



〃Your　life　is　safe；　beautiful　Rosabella；〃　said　he；　〃there　lies　the

villain　bleeding；　who　conducted　me　hither　to　murder　you。　　Recover

yourself；　return　to　your　uncle；　the　Doge；　and　tell　him　that　you　owe

your　life　to　Abellino。〃



Rosabella　could　not　speak。　　Trembling；　she　stretched　her　arms

towards　him；　grasped　his　hand；　and　pressed　it　to　her　lips　in　silent

gratitude。



Abellino　gazed　with　delight　and　wonder　on　the　lovely　sufferer；　and

in　such　a　situation；　who　could　have　beheld　her　without　emotion？

Rosabella　had　scarcely　numbered　seventeen　summers；　her　light　and

delicate　limbs；　enveloped　in　a　thin　white　garment；　which　fell　around

her　in　a　thousand　folds；　her　blue　and　melting　eyes；　whence　beamed

the　expression　of　purest　innoc