the bravo of venice-第9节
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gold； and enable us to lead a jolly life。
Pietrino。Right； lad； you speak my thoughts exactly。
Thomaso。We are bravoes； it's true； but what then？ We are honest
fellows； and the devil take him who dares to say we are not。
However； at any rate； we must keep within doors for a few days； lest
we should be discovered； for I warrant you the Doge's spies are
abroad in search of us by this。 But as soon as the pursuit is over；
be it our first business to find out Matteo's murderer； and throttle
him out of hand as a warning to all others。
All。Bravo； bravissimo。
Pietrino。And from this day forth I vote that Thomaso should be our
captain。
Struzza。Aye； in Matteo's stead。
All。Right； right。
Abellino。To which I say amen with all my heart。 Now； then； all is
decided。
BOOK THE SECOND。
CHAPTER I： THE BIRTHDAY。
In solitude and anxiety； with barred windows and bolted doors； did
the banditti pass the day immediately succeeding Matteo's murder；
every murmur in the street appeared to them a cause of apprehension；
every footstep which approached their doors made them tremble till
it had passed them。
In the meanwhile the ducal palace blazed with splendour and
resounded with mirth。 The Doge celebrated the birthday of his fair
niece； Rosabella； and the feast was honoured by the presence of the
chief persons of the city； of the foreign ambassadors； and of many
illustrious strangers who were at that time resident in Venice。
On this occasion no expense had been spared； no source of pleasure
had been neglected。 The arts contended with each other for
superiority； the best poets in Venice celebrated this day with
powers excelling anything which they had before exhibited； for the
subject of their verses was Rosabella； the musicians and virtuosi
surpassed all their former triumphs； for their object was to obtain
the suffrage of Rosabella。 The singular union of all kinds of
pleasure intoxicated the imagination of every guest； and the genius
of delight extended his influence over the whole assembly； over the
old man and the youth； over the matron and the virgin。
The venerable Andreas had seldom been in such high spirits as on
this occasion。 He was all life； smiles of satisfaction played round
his lips； gracious and condescending to every one； he made it his
chief care to prevent his rank from being felt。 Sometimes he
trifled with the ladies； whose beauty formed the greatest ornament
of this entertainment； sometimes he mingled among the masks； whose
fantastic appearance and gaiety of conversation enlivened the ball…
room by their variety； at other times he played chess with the
generals and admirals of the Republic； and frequently he forsook
everything to gaze with delight on Rosabella's dancing； or listen in
silent rapture to Rosabella's music。
Lomellino； Conari； and Paolo Manfrone； the Doge's three confidential
friends and counsellors； in defiance of their grey hairs； mingled in
the throng of youthful beauties； flirted first with one and then
with another； and the arrows of raillery were darted and received on
both sides with spirit and good humour。
〃Now； Lomellino；〃 said Andreas to his friend； who entered the saloon
in which the Doge was at that time accidentally alone with his
niece； 〃you seem in gayer spirits this evening than when we were
lying before Scardona； and had so hard a game to play against the
Turks。〃
Lomellino。I shall not take upon me to deny that； signor。 I still
think with a mixture of terror and satisfaction on the night when we
took Scardona； and carried the half…moon before the city walls。 By
my soul； our Venetians fought like lions。
Andreas。Fill this goblet to their memory； my old soldier； you have
earned your rest bravely。
Lomellino。Aye； signor； and oh； it is so sweet to rest on laurels。
But in truth； 'tis to you that I am indebted for mine； it is you who
have immortalised me。 No soul on earth would have known that
Lomellino existed； had he not fought in Dalmatia and Sicilia under
the banners of the great Andreas； and assisted him in raising
eternal trophies in honour of the Republic。
Andreas。My good Lomellino； the Cyprus wine must have heated your
imagination。
Lomellino。Nay； I know well I ought not to call you great； and
praise you thus openly to your face； but faith； signor； I am grown
too old for it to be worth my while to flatter。 That is a business
which I leave to our young courtiers； who have never yet come within
the smell of powder； and never have fought for Venice and Andreas。
Andreas。You are an old enthusiast。 Think you the Emperor is of
the same opinion？
Lomellino。Unless Charles the Fifth is deceived by those about him；
or is too proud to allow the greatness of an enemy； he must say；
perforce； 〃There is but one man on earth whom I fear； and who is
worthy to contend with me； and that man is Andreas。〃
Andreas。I suspect he will be sorely displeased when he receives my
answer to the message by which he notified to me the imprisonment of
the French king。
Lomellino。Displeased he will be； signor； no doubt of it； but what
then？ Venice need not fear his displeasure； while Andreas still
lives。 But when you and your heroes are once gone to your eternal
restthen； alas for thee； poor Venice。 I fear your golden times
will soon come to their conclusion。
Andreas。What！ Have we not many young officers of great promise？
Lomellino。Alas； what are most of them？ Heroes in the fields of
Venus。 Heroes at a drinking…bout。 Effeminate striplings； relaxed
both in mind and body。 But how am I running on； forgetful。 Ah；
when one is grown old； and conversing with an Andreas； it is easy to
forget everything else。 My lord； I sought you with a request； a
request； too； of consequence。
Andreas。You excite my curiosity。
Lomellino。About a week ago there arrived here a young Florentine
nobleman called Flodoardo； a youth of noble appearance and great
promise。
Andreas。Well？
Lomellino。His father was one of my dearest friends。 He is dead
now； the good old generous nobleman。 In our youth we served
together on board the same vessel； and many a turbaned head has
fallen beneath his sword。 Ah； he was a brave soldier。
Andreas。While celebrating the father's bravery； you seem to have
quite forgotten the son。
Lomellino。His son is arrived in Venice； and wishes to enter into
the service of the Republic。 I entreat you； give the young man some
respectable situation； he will prove the boast of Venice when we
shall be in our graves； on that would I hazard my existence。
Andreas。Has he sense and talent？
Lomellino。That he has； a heart like his father's。 Will it please
you to see and converse with him？ He is yonder； among the masks in
the great saloon。 One thing I must tell you； as a specimen of his
designs。 He has heard of the banditti who infest Venice； and he
engages that the first piece of service which he renders the
Republic shall be the delivering into the hands of justice those
concealed assassins； who hitherto have eluded the vigilance of our
police。
Andreas。Indeed！ I doubt that promise will be too much for his
power to perform。 Flodoardo； I think you called him？ Tell him I
would speak with him。
Lomellino。Oh！ then I have gained at least the HALF of my cause；
and I believe the WHOLE of it； for to see Flodoardo and not to like
him is as difficult as to look at Paradise and not wish to enter。
To see Flodoardo and to hate him is as unlikely as that a blind man
should hate the kind hand which removes the cataract from his eyes；
and pours upon them the blessings of light and beauties of nature。
Andreas （smiling）。In the whole course of our acquaintance；
Lomellino； never did I hear you so enthusiastic！ Go； then； conduct
this prodigy hither。
Lomellino。I hasten to find him。 And as for you； signora； look to
yourself！ look to yourself； I say！
Rosabella。Nay； prithee； Lomellino； bring your hero hither without
delay； you have raised my curiosity to the height。
Lomellino quitted the saloon。
Andreas。How comes it that you rejoin not the dancers； my child？
Rosabella。I am weary； and； besides； curiosity now detains me here；
for I would fain see this Flodoardo； whom Lomellino thinks deserving
of such extraordinary praise。 Shall I tell you the truth； my dear
uncle？ I verily believe that I am already acquainted with him。
There was a mask in a Grecian habit； whose appearance was so
striking； that it was impossible for him to remain confounded with
the crowd。 The least attentive eye must have singled him out from
among a thousand。 It was a tall light figure； so graceful in every
movement； then his dancing was quite perfection。
Andreas （smiling； and threatening with his finger）。Child； child！
Rosabella。Nay； my dear uncle； what I say is m
