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the bravo of venice-第7节

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Contarino。And then; to what an unbounded extent has he carried his

influence。  The Signoria; the Quaranti; the Procurators of St。 Mark;

the Avocatori; all think and act exactly as it suits the Doge's

pleasure and convenience!  Every soul of them depends as much on

that one man's honour and caprices as puppets do who nod or shake

their wooden heads just as the fellow behind the curtain thinks

proper to move the wires。



Parozzi。And yet the populace idolises this Andreas。



Memmo。Ay; that is the worst part of the story。



Falieri。But never credit me again if he does not experience a

reverse of fortune speedily。



Contarino。That might happen would we but set our shoulders to the

wheel stoutly。  But what do we do?  We pass our time in taverns;

drink and game; and throw ourselves headlong into such an ocean of

debts; that the best swimmer must sink at last。  Let us resolve to

make the attempt。  Let us seek recruits on all sides; let us labour

with all our might and main。  Things must change; or if they do not;

take my word for it; my friends; this world is no longer a world for

us。



Memmo。Nay; it's a melancholy truth; that during the last half…year

my creditors have been ready to beat my door down with knocking。  I

am awakened out of my sleep in the morning; and lulled to rest again

at night with no other music than their eternal clamour。



 Parozzi。Ha! ha! ha!  As for me; I need not tell you how I am

suited。



Falieri。Had we been less extravagant; we might at this moment have

been sitting quietly in our palaces; but as things stand now …



Parozzi。Well; as things stand nowI verily believe that Falieri

is going to moralise。



Contarino。That is ever the way with old sinners when they have

lost the power to sin any longer。  Then they are ready enough to

weep over their past life; and talk loudly about repentance and

reformation。  Now; for my own part; I am perfectly well satisfied

with my wanderings from the common beaten paths of morality and

prudence。  They serve to convince me that I am not one of your

every…day men; who sit cramped up in the chimney…corner; lifeless;

phlegmatic; and shudder when they hear of any extraordinary

occurrence。  Nature evidently has intended me to be a libertine; and

I am determined to fulfil my destination。  Why; if spirits like ours

were not produced every now and then; the world would absolutely go

fast asleep; but we rouse it by deranging the old order of things;

force mankind to quicken their snail's pace; furnish a million of

idlers with riddles which they puzzle their brains about without

being able to comprehend; infuse some hundreds of new ideas into the

heads of the great multitude; and; in short; are as useful to the

world as tempests are; which dissipate those exhalations with which

Nature otherwise would poison herself。



Falieri。Excellent sophistry; by my honour。  Why; Contarino;

ancient Rome has had an irreparable loss in not having numbered you

among her orators。  It is a pity; though; that there should be so

little that's solid wrapped up in so many fine…sounding words。  Now

learn that while you; with this rare talent of eloquence; have been

most unmercifully wearing out the patience of your good…natured

hearers; Falieri has been in ACTION。  The Cardinal Gonzaga is

discontented with the governmentHeaven knows what Andreas has done

to make him so vehemently his enemybut; in short; Gonzaga now

belongs to our party。



Parozzi (with astonishment and delight)。Falieri; are you in your

senses?  The Cardinal Gonzaga?



Falieri。Is ours; and ours both body and soul。  I confess I was

first obliged to rhodomontade a good deal to him about our

patriotism; our glorious designs; our love for freedom; and so

forth; in short; Gonzaga is a hypocrite; and therefore is Gonzaga

the fitter for us。



Contarino (clasping Falieri's hand)。Bravo; my friend!  Venice

shall see a second edition of Catiline's conspiracy。  Now; then; it

is MY turn to speak; for I have not been idle since we parted。  In

truth; I have as yet CAUGHT nothing; but I have made myself master

of an all…powerful net; with which I doubt not to capture the best

half of Venice。  You all know the Marchioness Olympia?



Parozzi。Does not each of us keep a list of the handsomest women in

the Republic; and can we have forgotten number one?



Falieri。Olympia and Rosabella are the goddesses of Venice; our

youths burn incense on no other altars。



Contarino。Olympia is my own。



Falieri。How?



Parozzi。Olympia?



Contarino。Why; how now?  Why stare ye as had I prophesied to you

that the skies were going to fall?  I tell you Olympia's heart is

mine; and that I possess her entire and most intimate confidence。

Our connection must remain a profound secret; but depend on it;

whatever _I_ wish SHE wishes also; and you know she can make half

the nobility in Venice dance to the sound of her pipe; let her play

what tune she pleases。



Parozzi。Contarino; you are our master。



Contarino。And you had not the least suspicion how powerful an ally

I was labouring to procure for you?



Parozzi。I must blush for myself while I listen to you; since as

yet I have done nothing。  Yet this I must say in my excuse:  Had

Matteo; bribed by my gold; accomplished Rosabella's murder; the Doge

would have been robbed of that chain with which he holds the chief

men in Venice attached to his government。  Andreas would have no

merit; were Rosabella once removed。  The most illustrious families

would care no longer for his friendship with their hopes of a

connection with him by means of his niece buried in her grave。

Rosabella will one day be the Doge's heiress。



Memmo。All that I can do for you in this business is to provide you

with pecuniary supplies。  My old miserable uncle; whose whole

property becomes mine at his death; has brimful coffers; and the old

miser dies whenever I say the word。



 Falieri。You have suffered him to live too long already。



Memmo。Why; I never have been able to make up my mind entirely to

You would scarcely believe it; friends; but at times I am so

hypochondriac; that I could almost fancy I feel twinges of

conscience。



Contarino。Indeed。  Then take my advice; go into a monastery。



Memmo。Our care first must be to find out our old acquaintances;

Matteo's companions:  yet; having hitherto always transacted

business with them through their captain; I know not where they are

to be met with。



Parozzi。As soon as they are found; their first employment must be

the removal of the Doge's trio of advisers。



Contarino。That were an excellent idea; if it were as easily done

as said。  Well; then; my friends; this principal point at least is

decided。  Either we will bury our debts under the ruins of the

existing constitution of the Republic; or make Andreas a gift of our

heads towards strengthening the walls of the building。  In either

case; we shall at least obtain quiet。  Necessity; with her whip of

serpents; has driven us to the very highest point of her rock;

whence we must save ourselves by some act of extraordinary daring;

or be precipitated on the opposite side into the abyss of shame and

eternal oblivion。  The next point to be considered is; how we may

best obtain supplies for our necessary expenses; and induce others

to join with us in our plans。  For this purpose we must use every

artifice to secure in our interests the courtesans of the greatest

celebrity in Venice。  What WE should be unable to effect by every

power of persuasion; banditti by their daggers; and princes by their

treasuries; can one of those Phrynes accomplish with a single look。

Where the terrors of the scaffold are without effect; and the

exhortations of the priests are heard with coldness; a wanton look

and a tender promise often perform wonders。  The bell which sounded

the hour of assignation has often rang the knell of the most sacred

principles and most steadfast resolutions。  But should you either

fail to gain the mastery over the minds of these women; or fear to

be yourselves entangled in the nets which you wish to spread for

others; in these cases you must have recourse to the holy father

confessors。  Flatter the pride of these insolent friars; paint for

them upon the blank leaf of futurity bishops' mitres; patriarchal

missions; the hats of cardinals; and the keys of St。 Peter; my life

upon it; they will spring at the bait; and you will have them

completely at your disposal。  These hypocrites who govern the

consciences of the bigoted Venetians; hold man and woman; the noble

and the mendicant; the Doge and the gondolier; bound fast in the

chains of superstition; by which they can head them wheresoever it

best suits their pleasure。  It will save us tons of gold in gaining

over proselytes; and keeping their consciences quiet when gained; if

we can but obtain the assistance of the confessors; whose blessings

and c

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