太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > the cenci >

第8节

the cenci-第8节

小说: the cenci 字数: 每页4000字

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!






During the night a lofty scaffold had been erected on the bridge of

Sant' Angelo; and the plank and block were placed thereon。  Above the

block was hung; from a large cross beam; a ponderous axe; which;

guided by two grooves; fell with its whole weight at the touch of a

spring。



In this formation the procession wended its way towards the bridge of

Sant' Angela。  Lucrezia; the more broken down of the two; wept

bitterly; but Beatrice was firm and unmoved。  On arriving at the open

space before the bridge; the women were led into a chapel; where they

were shortly joined by Giacomo and Bernardo; they remained together

for a few moments; when the brothers were led away to the scaffold;

although one was to be executed last; and the other was pardoned。

But when they had mounted the platform; Bernardo fainted a second

time; and as the executioner was approaching to his assistance; some

of the crowd; supposing that his object was to decapitate him; cried

loudly; 〃He is pardoned!〃  The executioner reassured them by seating

Bernardo near the block; Giacomo kneeling on the other side。



Then the executioner descended; entered tie chapel; and reappeared

leading Lucrezia; who was the first to suffer。  At the foot of the

scaffold he tied her hands behind her back; tore open the top of her

corsage so as to uncover her shoulders; gave her the crucifix to

kiss; and led her to the step ladder; which she ascended with great

difficulty; on account of her extreme stoutness; then; on her

reaching the platform; he removed the veil which covered her head。

On this exposure of her features to the immense crowd; Lucrezia

shuddered from head to foot; then; her eyes full of tears; she cried

with a loud voice



〃O my God; have mercy upon me; and do you; brethren; pray for my

soul!〃



Having uttered these words; not knowing what was required of her; she

turned to Alessandro; the chief executioner; and asked what she was

to do; he told her to bestride the plank and lie prone upon it; which

she did with great trouble and timidity; but as she was unable; on

account of the fullness of her bust; to lay her neck upon the block;

this had to be raised by placing a billet of wood underneath it; all

this time the poor woman; suffering even more from shame than from

fear; was kept in suspense; at length; when she was properly

adjusted; the executioner touched。  the spring; the knife fell; and

the decapitated head; falling on the platform of the scaffold;

bounded two or three times in the air; to the general horror; the

executioner then seized it; showed it to the multitude; and wrapping

it in black taffetas; placed it with the body on a bier at the foot

of the scaffold。



Whilst arrangements were being made for the decapitation of Beatrice;

several stands; full of spectators; broke down; some people were

killed by this accident; and still more lamed and injured。



The machine being now rearranged and washed; the executioner returned

to the chapel to take charge of Beatrice; who; on seeing the sacred

crucifix; said some prayers for her soul; and on her hands being

tied; cried out; 〃God grant that you be binding this body unto

corruption; and loosing this soul unto life eternal!〃  She then

arose; proceeded to the platform; where she devoutly kissed the

stigmata; then leaving her slippers at the foot of the scaffold; she

nimbly ascended the ladder; and instructed beforehand; promptly lay

down on the plank; without exposing her naked shoulders。  But her

precautions to shorten the bitterness of death were of no avail; for

the pope; knowing her impetuous disposition; and fearing lest she

might be led into the commission of some sin between absolution and

death; had given orders that the moment Beatrice was extended on the

scaffold a signal gun should be fired from the castle of Sant'

Angelo; which was done; to the great astonishment of everybody;

including Beatrice herself; who; not expecting this explosion; raised

herself almost upright; the pope meanwhile; who was praying at Monte

Cavallo; gave her absolution 'in articulo mortis'。  About five

minutes thus passed; during which the sufferer waited with her head

replaced on the block; at length; when the executioner judged that

the absolution had been given; he released the spring; and the axe

fell。



A gruesome sight was then afforded: whilst the head bounced away on

one side of the block; on the other the body rose erect; as if about

to step backwards; the executioner exhibited the head; and disposed

of it and the body as before。  He wished to place Beatrice's body

with that of her stepmother; but the brotherhood of Mercy took it out

of his hands; and as one of them was attempting to lay it on the

bier; it slipped from him and fell from the scaffold to the ground

below; the dress being partially torn from the body; which was so

besmeared with dust and blood that much time was occupied in washing

it。  Poor Bernardo was so overcome by this horrible scene that he

swooned away for the third time; and it was necessary to revive him

with stimulants to witness the fate of his elder brother。



The turn of Giacomo at length arrived: he had witnessed the death of

his stepmother and his sister; and his clothes were covered with

their blood; the executioner approached him and tore off his cloak;

exposing his bare breast covered with the wounds caused by the grip

of red…hot pincers; in this state; and half…naked; he rose to his

feet; and turning to his brother; said



〃Bernardo; if in my examination I have compromised and accused you; I

have done so falsely; and although I have already disavowed this

declaration; I repeat; at the moment of appearing before God; that

you are innocent; and that it is a cruel abuse of justice to compel

you to witness this frightful spectacle。〃



The executioner then made him kneel down; bound his legs to one of

the beams erected on the scaffold; and having bandaged his eyes;

shattered his head with a blow of his mallet; then; in the sight

of all; he hacked his body into four quarters。  The official party

then left; taking with them Bernardo; who; being in a state of high

fever; was bled and put to bed。



The corpses of the two ladies were laid out each on its bier under

the statue of St。 Paul; at the foot of the bridge; with four torches

of white wax; which burned till four o'clock in the afternoon; then;

along with the remains of Giacomo; they were taken to the church of

San Giovanni Decollato; finally; about nine in the evening; the body

of Beatrice; covered with flowers; and attired in the dress worn at

her execution; was carried to the church of San Pietro in Montorio;

with fifty lighted torches; and followed by the brethren of the order

of the Stigmata and all the Franciscan monks in Rome; there;

agreeably to her wish; it was buried at the foot of the high altar。



The same evening Signora Lucrezia was interred; as she had desired to

be; in the church of San Giorgio di Velobre。



All Rome may be said to have been present at this tragedy; carriages;

horses; foot people; and cars crowding as it were upon one another。

The day was unfortunately so hot; and the sun so scorching; that many

persons fainted; others returned home stricken with fever; and some

even died during the night; owing to sunstroke from exposure during

the three hours occupied by the execution。



The Tuesday following; the 14th of September; being the Feast of the

Holy Cross; the brotherhood of San Marcello; by special licence of

the pope; set at liberty the unhappy Bernardo Cenci; with the

condition of paying within the year two thousand five hundred Roman

crowns to the brotherhood of the most Holy Trinity of Pope Sixtus; as

may be found to…day recorded in their archives。



Having now seen the tomb; if you desire to form a more vivid

impression of the principal actors in this tragedy than can be

derived from a narrative; pay a visit to the Barberini Gallery; where

you will see; with five other masterpieces by Guido; the portrait of

Beatrice; taken; some say the night before her execution; others

during her progress to the scaffold; it is the head of a lovely girl;

wearing a headdress composed of a turban with a lappet。  The hair is

of a rich fair chestnut hue; the dark eyes are moistened with recent

tears; a perfectly farmed nose surmounts an infantile mouth;

unfortunately; the loss of tone in the picture since it was painted

has destroyed the original fair complexion。  The age of the subject

may be twenty; or perhaps twenty…two years。



Near this portrait is that of Lucrezia Petrani the small head

indicates a person below the middle height; the attributes are those

of a Roman matron in her pride; her high complexion; graceful

contour; straight nose; black eyebrows; and expression at the same

time imperious and voluptuous indicate this character to the life; a

smile still seems to linger an the charming 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 0

你可能喜欢的