the bravo of venice-第7节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
