 Chapter 20, Part 2 of The Betroved. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Betroved by Alessandro Manzoni. Chapter 20, Part 2. She passed the gate of the cloister unobserved and took the road along the side of the wall with her eyes bent to the ground. By the help of the direction she had received and her own recollection, she found the city gate and went out. Self-possessed but still rather trembling, she proceeded along the high road and shortly reached the turn to the convent which she immediately recognised. This road was, and still is, buried like the bed of a river between two high banks bordered with trees which spread their branches over it like a vaulted roof. Lucia felt her fears increase and quickened her steps as she found herself quite alone on entering it. But a few paces further, her courage revived on seeing a travelling carriage standing and two travellers looking this way and that as if uncertain of the road. On drawing nearer, she overheard one of them say, Here is a good woman who will show us the way. In fact, when she had got opposite the carriage, the same person, with a more courteous manner than catenance, turned and addressed her. My good girl, can you tell us which is the way to Monza? You have taken the wrong direction, replied the poor girl. Monza is there and turning to point it out with her finger, the other companion, it was Nibbio, seized her unexpectedly round the waist and lifted her from the ground. Lucia, in great alarm, turned her head and uttered a scream. The ruffian pushed her into the carriage. A third, who was seated at the back of it, concealed from view, received her and forced her in spite of her struggles and cries to sit down opposite him. While another put a handkerchief over her mouth and stifled her cries. Nibbio now hastily threw himself into the carriage, shut the door and they set off at a rapid pace. The other, who had made the treacherous inquiry, remained in the road and looked hurriedly around. No one was to be seen. He therefore sprang upon the bank, grasped a branch of the hedge which was planted upon the summit, pushed through the fence and entering a plantation of green oaks which, for a short distance, ran alongside the road, stooped down there that he might not be seen by the people who would probably be attracted by the cries. This man was one of Egidio's villains. He had been to watch Newigate of the monastery, had seen Lucia go out, had noticed her dress and figure and then run by a shorter way to wait for her at the appointed spot. Who can represent the terror, the anguish of the unfortunate girl or describe what was passing in her mind? She opened her terrified eyes from anxiety to a certain or horrible situation and quickly closed them again with a shudder of fear at the sight of the dreadful faces that met her view. She writhed her body but found that she was held down on all sides. She collected all her strength and made desperate effort to push towards the door, but two sinewy arms held her as if she were nailed to the bottom of the carriage while four other powerful hands supported her there. At every signal she gave of intending to utter a cry, the handkerchief was instantly stuffed into her mouth to smother the sound while three infernal mouths with voices more human than they were accustomed to utter continued to repeat, Be still, be still, don't be afraid, we don't want to do you any harm. After a few moments of agonized struggle she seemed to become quieter. Her arms sank by her side, her head fell backwards, she half opened her eyelids and her eyes became fixed. The horrible faces which surrounded her appeared to mingle and flock before her in one monstrous image. The colour fled from her cheek, the cold moisture overspread her face, her consciousness vanished and she fainted away. Come, come courage said Nibbio, courage, courage repeated the other ruffians, but the prostration of every faculty preserved Lucia at that moment from hearing the consolations addressed to her by these horrible voices. But she seems to be dead, said one of them, if she's really dead. Faw, said the other, it's only a swoon such as women often fall into. I know well enough that when I've wanted to send another, be it man or woman to the other world, it has required something more than this. Hold your tongue, said Nibbio, attend to your own business and mind nothing else. Take your muskets from under the seat and keep them in readiness, for there are always some villains hidden in the wood we are entering. Notting your hands, put them behind your backs and let them lie there. Don't you see that she's cowardly chicken who faints for nothing? If she sees firearms it will be enough to kill her outright. When she recovers take good care you don't frighten her, don't touch her unless I beckon to you. I am enough to manage her and hold your tongues, leave me to talk to her. In the meanwhile the carriage which was proceeding at a very rapid pace entered the wood. After some time the unhappy Lucia gradually began to come to her senses as if awakening from a profound and troubled sleep and slowly opened her eyes. At first she found it difficult to distinguish the gloomy objects that surrounded her and collect her scattered thoughts but she at last succeeded in recalling her fearful situation. The first use she made of her newly recovered though still feeble powers was to rush towards the door and attempt to throw herself out but she was forcibly restrained and had only time to get a glance at the wild solitude of the place through which they were passing. She again uttered a cry but Nibbio holding up the handkerchief in his dreaded hand come he said in the gentlest tone he could command be quiet and it will be better for you we don't want to do you any harm but if you don't hold your tongue we'll make you let me go who are you where are you taking me why have you sees me let me go let me go I tell you you don't need to be afraid you're not a baby and you ought to understand that we don't want to do you any harm don't you see that we might have murdered you a hundred times if we had any bad intentions so be quiet no no let me go on my own business I don't know you we know you however almost holy virgin let me go for pity's sake who are you why have you taken me because we have been bid to do so who who can have bid you hush said Nibbio with a stern look you mustn't ask such questions Lucia made a third attempt to throw herself suddenly out of the window but finding it in vain she again had recourse to entreaties and with her head bent her cheeks bathed with tears her voice interrupted by sobs and her hands clasped before her oh she cried for the love of God and the most holy virgin let me go what harm have I done I am an innocent creature and I have done nobody any harm I forgive you the wrongs you have done me from the bottom of my heart and will pray to God for you if any of you have a daughter a wife a mother think what they would suffer if they were in this state remember that we all must die and that you will one day want God to be merciful towards you let me go leave me here the Lord will teach me to find my way we cannot you cannot oh my God why can't you where are you taking me why we cannot it's no use asking don't be afraid for we won't harm you be quiet and nobody will touch you overcome with distress agony and terror at finding her words made no impression Lucia turned to him who holds the hearts of men in his hand and can when it pleases him soften the most obturant she sank back into the corner where she had been placed crossed her arms on her breast and prayed fervently from the bottom of her heart then drawing out her rosary she began to repeat the prayers with more faith and devotion than she had ever done before in her life from time to time she would turn to entreat her companions in hopes that she might gain the mercy she implored but she implored in vain then she fell back and again became senseless only to wait to new anguish but we have not the heart to relate these agonizing vicissitudes more at length a feeling of overpowering compassion makes us hasten to the close of this mournful journey which lasted for more than four hours succeeding which we shall be obliged to describe many hours of still more bitter anguish we will transport ourselves to the castle where the unhappy girl was expected she was awaited by the unnamed with the solicitude and anxiety of mine which were very unusual strange that he who had disposed of so many lives with an impreturbed heart who in so many undertakings had considered as nothing the sufferings he inflicted unless it were sometimes to glut his appetite with fierce enjoyment of revenge should now feel a recoiling a regret I might almost say a feeling of alarm at the authority he was exercising over this luchia a stranger a poor peasant girl from a lofty window in his castle he had been for some time watching the entrance of the valley by and by the carriage made its appearance slowly advancing along the road for the rapid pace at which they had first started had curbed the metal and cooled the ire of the horses and although from the post where he stood and watched the convoy look no larger than one of those diminutive vehicles with which children are wont to amuse themselves yet he hesitated not a moment to recognise it and his heart began afresh to beat violently will she be there? thought he immediately and he continued to say to himself what trouble this creature gives me I will free myself from it and he prepared to summon one of his men and dispatch him immediately to meet the carriage with orders to Nibbio to turn around and conduct her at once to Don Rodrigo's palace but an imperative no that instantly flashed across his mind made him at once abandon this design wearied at length by the desire of ordering something to be done and intolerably tired of the idly waiting the approach of the carriage as it advanced slowly step by step like a traitor to his punishment he at length summoned an old woman of his household this person was the daughter of a former keeper of the castle had been born within its walls and had spent all her life there all that she had seen and heard around her from a very infancy had contributed to impress upon her mind a lofty and terrible idea of the power of her masters and the principal maxim that she had acquired from instruction and example was that they must be obeyed in everything because they were capable of doing either great good or great harm the idea of duty deposited like a germ in the hearts of all men and mingled in hers with the sentiments of respect, dread and servile devotion was associated with and solely directed to these objects when the unnamed became her lord and began to make such terrible use of his power she felt from the first a kind of horror and at the same time a more profound feeling of subjection in time she became habituated to what she daily saw and heard around her the potent and unbridled will of such a senior was, in her idea, a kind of justice appointed by fate when somewhat advanced in years she had married a servant of the household who, being sent on some hazardous expedition shortly afterwards, left his bones on the highway and her a widow in the castle the vengeance which the senior quickly took on the instruments of his death yielded her a savage consolation and increased her pride at being under such protection from that time forward she rarely set foot outside the castle and, by degrees, retained no other ideas of human life than such as she had received within its precincts she was not confined to any particular branch of service but among such a crowd of ruffians one or other was constantly finding her something to do which furnished her with a never-failing subject for grumbling sometimes she would have clothes to repair sometimes a meal to provide in haste for one who had returned from an expedition and sometimes she was called upon to exercise her medical skills in dressing a wound the commands reproaches and thanks of these ruffians were generally seasoned with jokes and rude speeches old woman was her usual appellation while the adjuncts which were perpetually attached to it varied according to the circumstances and humour of the speaker crossed thus in her idleness and irritated in her peevish temper which were her two predominant passions she sometimes returned these compliments with ledge in which Satan might have recognised more of his own spirits than in that of her tormentors you see that carriage down there said the senior to this amiable specimen of one kind I see it she replied protruding her sharp chin and staring with her sunken eyes as if trying to force them out of their sockets bid them prepare a litter immediately get into it yourself and let it be carried to Malanotte instantly you may get there before the carriage she's coming on at a funeral pace in that carriage there is there ought to be a young girl if she's there tell Nibbio it is my order that she should be put into the litter and that she must come directly to me you will come up in the litter with the girl and when you get up here take her into your own room if she asks you where you are taking her whom the castle belongs to take care oh said the old woman but continued the unnamed try to encourage her what must I say to her what must you say to her try to encourage her I tell you have you come to this age and you don't know how to encourage others when you want it have you ever known a sorrow of heart have you never been afraid don't you know what words soothe and comfort at such moments say those words to her find them in the remembrance of your own sorrows go directly as soon as she had taken her departure he stood for a while at the window with his eyes fixed on the carriage which had already considerably increased in size afterwards he watched the sun at that moment sinking behind the mountain then he contemplated the fleecy clouds scattered above a setting orb and from their usual grayish hue almost instantaneously assuming a fiery tinge he drew back, closed the window and began to pace up and down the apartment with the step of a hurried traveller End of Chapter 20 Part 2 Recording by Alan Mapstone in Oxford, England Chapter 21 Part 1 of The Betroth This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Reading done by Jules Harlock of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada The Betroth by Alessandro Manzoni Chapter 21 Part 1 The old woman immediately hastened to obey and to give commands under the sanction of that name which by whomsoever pronounced always set the whole household on alert for it never entered the imagination of anyone that another person would venture to use it unauthorized. She reached Melanati shortly before the carriage arrived and on seeing it approach got out of the litter back into the driver to stop, advanced towards the door and whispered to Nibbio, who put his head out of the window the wishes of his master. Lucia aroused herself on feeling the carriage stop and awakening from a kind of lethargy was seized with renewed terror as she widely gazed around her. Nibbio had pushed himself back on the seat and the old woman with her chin resting on the door was looking at Lucia and saying, Come my good girl, come, you poor thing, come with me for I have orders to treat you well and try to comfort you. At the sound of the female voice the poor girl felt a ray of comfort, a momentary flash of courage, but she quickly relapsed into still more terrible fears. Who are you, as she, in a trembling voice, fixing her astonished gaze on the old woman's face? Come, come, you poor creature, was the unvaried answer she received. Nibbio and his two companions, gathering from the words and the unusually softened tones of the old hag what were intentions of their lord, endeavored by kind and soothing words to persuade the unhappy girl to obey. She only continued, however, to stare wildly around and though the unknown and savage character of the place and the close guardianship of her keepers forbade her indulging a hope of relief, she nevertheless attempted to cry out but seeing Nibbio cast a glance towards the handkerchief she stopped, trembled, gave a momentary shudder and was then seized and placed in the litter. The old woman entered after her, Nibbio left the other two villains to follow behind as an escort while he himself took the shortest assent to attend to the call of his master. Who are you, anxiously demanded, luchee of her unknown and ugly visaged companion? Why am I with you? Where am I? Where are you taking me? To one who wishes to do you good, replied the aged dame. To a great happy are they to whom he wishes good. You are very lucky, I can tell you. Don't be afraid. Be cheerful. He bid me try to encourage you. You'll tell him, won't you, that I tried to comfort you? Who is he? Why? What does he want with me? Tell him where I am. Let me go. Bid these people, let me go. Bid them, carry me to some church. Oh, you are a woman in the name of Mary the Virgin. This holy and soothing name once repeated with veneration in her early years and now for so long a time uninvoked and perhaps unheard. Produced in the mind of the unhappy creature, on again reaching her ear, a strange confused and distant recollection like the remembrance of light and form in an aged person who has been blind from infancy. In the meanwhile the unnamed standing at the door of his castle was looking downwards and watching the litter as before he had watched the carriage while it slowly ascended step by step. Nibbio rapidly advancing before it at a distance which every moment became greater. When he had at length attained the summit come this way cried the senor and taking the lead he entered the castle and went into one of the apartments. Well, said he, making a stand. Everything exactly right replied Nibbio with a profound obeisance. The intelligence in time, the girl in time, nobody on the spot, only one scream, was acted by it, the coachman ready, the horses swift, nobody met with, but what? But I will tell the truth. I would rather have been commanded to shoot her in the back without hearing her speak, without seeing her face. What, what, what do you mean? I mean that all this time, all this time I've felt too much compassion for her. Compassion? Oh, of compassion. What is compassion? I never understood so well what it was as this time. It is something that resembles fear. Let it once take possession of you and you are no longer a man. Let me hear a little of what she did to excite your compassion. Almost nobles in your such a time, weeping, praying and looking at one with such eyes and becoming pale as death and then sobbing and praying again in certain words. I won't have this creature in my house, thought the unnamed. Meanwhile to himself, in an evil hour I engage to do it, but I've promised, I've promised, when she's far away and raising his face with an imperious air towards Nebio. Now, said he, you must lay aside compassion, mount your horse, take a companion, two if you like, and ride away till you get to the palace of this Don Rodrigo. You know, tell him to send immediately, immediately or else. But another internal know, more imperative than the first, prohibited his finishing. No, said he, in a resolute tone, almost as it were, to express to himself the command of this secret voice. No, go and take some rest, and tomorrow morning you shall do as I will tell you. This girl must have some demon of her own, thought he, when left alone, standing with his arms crossed on his breast and his gaze fixed upon a spot on the floor, where the rays of the moon entering through a lofty window traced out a square of pale light, checkered like a draft board by the mass of iron bars and more minutely divided into smaller compartments by the little panes of glass. Some demon, or some angel who protects her, compassion ennibial? Tomorrow morning, tomorrow morning, early she must be off from this, she must go to her place of destination, and she shall not be spoken of again, and continued he to himself with the resolution with which one gives a command to a rebellious child, knowing that it will not be obeyed, and she shall not be thought of again either. That animal of a Don Rodrigo must not come to pester me with thanks, for I don't want to hear her spoken of any more. I have served him because, because I promised, and I promised because it was my destiny, but I am determined the fellow shall pay me well for this piece of service. Let me see a little, and he tried to devise some intricate undertaking to impose upon Don Rodrigo by way of compensation, and almost as a punishment, but the words again shot across his mind. Compassion ennibial? What can this girl have done? continued he, following out the thought. I must see her. Yes, no, yes I will see her. He went from one room to another, came to the foot of the flight of stairs, and, irresolutely ascending, proceeded to the old woman's apartment. Here he knocked with his foot at the door. Who's there? Open the door. The old woman made three bounds at the sound of his voice. The bolt was quickly heard in the staples, and the door was thrown wide open. The unnamed cast a glance around the room, as he paused in the doorway, and by the light of a lamp which stood on the three-legged table, discovered Lucia crouched down on the floor in the corner farthest from the entrance. Who bid you thrower there, like a bag of rags you civil old bell-dam? Said he to the aged matron with an angry frown. She chose it herself, replied she, in a humble tone. I've done my best to encourage her. She can tell you so herself, but she won't mind me. Get up, said he to Lucia, approaching her. But she, who's already terrified, mined at experience a fresh and mysterious addition to her terror at the knocking. The opening of the door, the footsteps, and his voice only gathered herself still closer into the corner, and with her face buried in her hands, remained perfectly motionless, accepting that she trembled from head to foot. Get up, I will do you no harm, and I can do you some good, repeated the Signor. Get up, thundered he forth at last, irritated at having twice commanded in vain. As if invulcurated by fear, the unhappy girl instantly raised herself upon her knees, and joining her hands as she would have knelt before a sacred image lifted her eyes to the face of the unnamed, and instantly dropping them, said, here I am, kill me if you will. I have told you I would do you no harm, replied the unnamed, in a softened tone gazing at her agonized features of grief and terror. Courage, courage, said the old woman, if he himself tells you he will do you no harm. And why rejoined Lucia with a voice in which the daringness of despairing indignation was mingled with the tremor of fear. Why make me suffer the agonies of hell? What have I done to you? What have I done to you? Treated me badly, they have seized me by treachery, by force. Why, why have they seized me? Why am I here? Where am I? I'm a poor, harmless girl. What have I done to you? In the name of God. God, God, interrupted the unnamed, always God, they who cannot defend themselves, if they had spoken to him. What do you expect by this word? To make me? And he left the sentence unfinished. O, senor, expect what can a poor girl like me expect, except that you should have mercy upon me. God, pardon so many sins for one deed of mercy. Let me go, for charity's sake. Let me go. It will do no good to one who must die. Let a poor creature suffer thus. O, you who can give the command, bid them let me go. They brought me here by force. Bid them send me again with this woman and take me to where my mother is. O, most holy virgin, my mother, my mother, for pity's sake, my mother. Perhaps she is not far from here. I saw my mountains. I saw all this suffering. Bid them take me to a church. I will pray for you all my life. What will it cost you to say one word? O, see, you are moved to pity. Say one word. O, say it. God, pardon so many sins for one's deed of mercy. O, why isn't she the daughter of one of those rascally dogs that outlawed me? Thought the unnamed. Of one of the villains who wished me dead, then I should enjoy her sufferings, but instead don't drive away a good inspiration continued Lucia earnestly reanimated by seeing a certain air of hesitation in the countenance and behavior of her oppressor. If you don't grant me this mercy, the Lord will do it for me. I shall die and all will be over with me but you, perhaps someday even you. But no, no, I will always pray the Lord to keep you from every evil. What will it cost you to say one word? If you knew what it was to suffer this agony, come, take courage, interrupted the unnamed with a gentleness that astonished the old woman. Have I done you any harm? Have I threatened you? O, no, I see that you have a kind heart and feel some pity for an unhappy creature. If you chose, you could terrify me more than all the others. You could kill me with fear but instead of that, you have rather light in my heart God will reward you for it. Finish your deed of mercy. Set me free. Set me free. Tomorrow morning. O, set me free now. Now. Tomorrow morning I will see you again. I say, come in meanwhile, be of good courage, take a little rest. You must want something to eat. They shall bring you something directly. No, no, I shall die. If anybody comes here I shall die. Take me to a church. God will reward you for that step. A woman shall bring you something to eat, said the unnamed and having said so, he stood wondering at himself how such a remedy had entered his mind and how the wish had arisen to seek a remedy for the sorrows of a poor, humble villager. And you, resumed he hastily, turning to the aged matron, persuade her to eat something and let her lie down to rest on this bed. And if she is willing to have you as a companion, well, if not, you can sleep well enough for one night on the floor. Encourage her, I say, and keep her cheerful. Beware that she has no cause to complain of you. So saying he moved quickly towards the door, Lucia sprang up and ran to detain him and renew her entreaties, but he was gone. Oh, poor me, shut the door quickly, and having heard the door closed and the bolt again drawn, she returned to seat herself in her corner. Oh, poor me, repeated she, sobbing, whom shall I implore now? Where am I? Do you tell me? Tell me for pity's sake, who is this Signor? He who has been speaking to me. Who is he? Eh? Who is he? Do you think I may tell you? Wait till he tells you himself. You are proud because he protects you and you want to be satisfied and make me your go-between. If I were to tell you this, I shouldn't get the good words he has just given you. I am an old woman, an old woman, continued she, muttering between her teeth. Hang these young folks who may make a fine show of either laughing or crying just as they like, and yet are always in the right. But hearing Lucia's sobs and the commands of her master returning in a threatening manner she stooped toward the poor, crouching girl, and in a gentle and more humane tone resumed. Come, I have said no harm to you. Be cheerful. Don't ask me questions which I have no business to answer. But pluck up your heart, my good girl. Ah! If you knew how many people would be glad to hear him speak as he has spoken to you. Be cheerful for he will send you something to eat just now, and I know by the way he spoke I'm sure it will be something good. And then you lie down and you will leave just a little corner for me, added she, with an accent of suppressed rancor. I don't want to eat. I don't want to sleep. Let me alone. Don't come near me. But you won't leave the room. No, no, not I, said the old woman drawing back and seating herself on an old arm chair when she casts sundry glances of alarm and at the same time of envy towards the poor girl. Then she looked at the bed, vexed at the idea of being perhaps excluded from it for the whole night and grumbling at the cold. But she comforted herself with the thoughts of supper and with the hope that there might be some to spare for her. Lucia was sensible of neither cold nor hunger and almost as if deprived of her senses had but a confused idea of her very grief and terror like the undefined objects seen by a delirious patient. She roused herself when she heard a knocking at the door and raising her head exclaimed in much alarm who's there, who's there don't let anyone in. Nobody, nobody, good news said the old woman, it's Martha bringing something to eat. Shut the door, shut the door cried Lucia. I directly replied the old woman and taking a basket out of Martha's hand, she hastily nodded to her, shut the door and came and set the basket on a table in the middle of the room. She then repeatedly invited Lucia to come and partake of the tempting repast and employing words which according to her ideas were most likely to be efficacious in restoring the poor girl's appetite broke forth into exclamations on the excellence of the food. Morsels which when common people have once got a taste they don't forget in a hurry. Wine which her master drank with his friends when any of them happened to arrive and they wanted to be merry. But seeing that all these charms produced no effect it is you who won't eat said she. Don't you be saying tomorrow that I didn't try to persuade you. I'll eat something however and then there'll be more than enough left for you when you come to your senses and are willing to do as you are bid. So saying she applied herself to the refreshments when she had satisfied herself she rose advanced towards the corner and bending over Lucia again invited her to take something and then lie down. No no I don't want anything replied she with a feeble and almost drowsy voice then with more energy she continued is the door locked is it well secured and having looked around she rose and feeling with her hands walked with a suspicious step towards the door the old woman sprang thither before her stretched out her hand to the lock seized the handle shook it rattled the bolt and made it great against the staple that received and secured it do you hear do you see it is well locked are you content now oh content I content here said Lucia again arranging herself in her corner but the Lord knows I'm here come to bed what would you do there crouching like a dog did ever anybody see a person refuse comforts when he could get them no no let me alone well it's your own wish see I'll leave you the best place I'm lying here at the very edge I shall be uncomfortable enough for your sake if you want to come to bed you know what you have to do remember I've asked you very often so saying she's crept dressed as she was under the counter pain and soon all was silent end of chapter 21 part 1 chapter 21 part 2 of the betroth this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading done by Jules Harlech of Mississauga Ontario Canada the betroth by Aleksandro Manzoni chapter 21 part 2 Lucia remained motionless shrunk up in the corner her knees drawn close to her breast her hands resting on her knees and her face buried in her hands she was neither asleep nor awake but worn out with a rapid succession a tumultuous alternation of thoughts anticipations and heart throbbing recalled in some degree to consciousness and recollecting more distinctly the horrors she had seen in her horrible day she would now dwell mournfully on the dark and formidable realities in which she found herself involved then her mind being carried onward into a still more obscure region she had to struggle against the phantoms conjured up by uncertainty and terror in this distressing state she continued for a long time which we would hear prefer rapidly but at length exhausted and overcome she relaxed her hold on her benumbed limbs and sinking at full length upon the floor remained for some time in a state closely resembling real sleep but suddenly awakening as at some inward call she tried to arouse herself completely to regain her scattered senses and to remember where she was and how why she listened to some sound that caught her ear it was the slow deep breathing of the old woman she opened her eyes and saw a faint light now glimmering for a moment and then again dying away it was the wick of a lamp which almost ready to expire emitted a tremulous gleam and quickly drew it back so to say like the ebb and flow of a wave on the sea shore and thus withdrawing from the surrounding objects ere there was time to display them in distinct coloring and relief it merely presented to the eye a succession of confused and indistinct glimpses but the recent impression she had received quickly returned to her mind and assisted her in distinguishing what appeared so disorderly to her visual organs when fully aroused the unhappy girl recognized her prison all the recollections of the horrible day that was fled all the uncertain terrors of the future rushed at once upon her mind the very calm in which she now found herself after so much agitation the sort of repose she had just tasted the desertion in which she was left all combined to inspire her with a new dread till overcome by alarm she earnestly longed for death but at this juncture she remembered that she could still pray and with that thought there seemed to shine forth a sudden ray of comfort she once more took out her rosary and began to repeat the prayers and in proportion as the words fell from her trembling lips she felt an indefinite confiding faith taking possession of her heart suddenly another thought rushed into her mind that her prayer might perhaps be more readily accepted and more certainly heard if she were to make some offering in her desolate condition she tried to remember what she most prized or rather what she had once most prized or at this moment her heart could feel no other affection than that of fear nor conceive any other desire than that of deliverance she did remember it and resolved it once to make the sacrifice rising upon her knees and grasping her hands from whence the rosary was suspended before her breast she raised her face and eyes to heaven and said almost holy virgin I have so often recommended myself and who has so often comforted me thou has born so many sorrows and art now so glorious thou who has brought so many miracles for the poor and afflicted help me bring me out of this danger bring me safely to my mother oh mother of our lord and I vow unto thee to continue a virgin I renounce forever my unfortunate betroth that from henceforth I may belong only to thee having uttered these words she bowed her head and placed the beads around her neck almost as a token of her consecration and at the same time as a safeguard a part of the armor for the new warfare to which she had devoted herself seating herself again on the floor a king of tranquility a more childlike reliance gradually diffuse themselves over her soul the tomorrow morning repeated by the unknown nobleman came to her mind and seemed to her ear to convey a promise of deliverance her senses wearied by such struggles gradually gave way before these soothing thoughts but length towards daybreak and with the name of her protectoress upon her lips Lucia sank into a profound and unbroken sleep but in this same castle there was one who would willingly have followed her example yet who tried in vain after departing or rather escaping from Lucia giving orders for her supper and paying his customary visits to several posts in his castle with her image ever vividly before his eyes and her words resounding in his ears the nobleman had hastily retired to his chamber impetuously shut the door behind him and hurriedly undressing had laid down but that image which now most closely than ever haunted his mind seemed at that moment to say thou shalt not sleep what absurd womanly curiosity tempted me to go to see her thought he that fool of a Nibbio was right one is no longer a man yes one is no longer a man I am I no longer a man what has happened what devil has got possession of me what is there new in all this didn't I know before now that women always weep and implore and men do sometimes when they have not the power to rebel what the have I never heard a woman cry before and here without giving himself much trouble to task his memory it suggested to him of its own accord more than one instance in which neither on treaties nor lamentations availed to deter him from the completion of enterprises upon which he had once resolved but these remembrances instead of inspiring him with the courage he now needed to prosecute his present design as it would seem he expected and wished they might instead of helping to dispel his feelings of compassion only added to them those of terror and consternation until they compelled him to return to that first image of Lucia against which he had been seeking to fortify his courage she still lives said he, she is here I am in time I can yet say to her go and be happy I can yet see that countenance change I can even say forgive me forgive me I ask for forgiveness and of a woman too I ah however if one word one such word could do me good any of the demon that now possesses me I would say it yes I feel that I would say it to what am I reduced I am no longer a man surely no longer a man away said he turning himself with impetuosity on the couch which had now become so hard under the covering which had now become so intolerable away these are fulleries which have many a time passed through my head this will take its flight too and to effect such a riddance he began seeking some important subject some of the many which often so busily occupied his mind in hopes he might be entirely engrossed by it but he sought in vain all appeared changed that which once most urgently stimulated his desires now no longer possessed any charm for him his passions like a steed suddenly become rest of at the sight of a shadow refused to carry him any further in reflecting on enterprises engaged in and not yet concluded instead of animating himself to their completion and feeling irritated at the obstacles interposed for an anger at this moment would have been sweet to him he felt regret nay almost consternation at the steps already taken his life presented itself to his mind devoid of all interest deprived of all will divested of every action and only laden with insupportable recollections every hour resembling that which now rolled so slowly and heavily over his head he drew out before his fancy all his ruffians in a kind of battle array and could drive nothing of importance in which to employ one of them nay the very idea of seeing them again and mixing among them was an additional weight a fresh object of annoyance and detestation and when he sought an occupation for the morrow a feasible employment he could only remember that on the morrow he might liberate his unfortunate prisoner I will set her free yes I will I will fly to her by daybreak and bid her depart safely she shall be accompanied by and my promise my engagement Don Rodrigo who is Don Rodrigo like one suddenly surprised by an unexpected and embarrassing question from a superior the unnamed hastily sought an answer to the query he had just put to himself or rather which had been suggested to him by that new voice which had all at once made itself heard and sprung up to be as it were a judge of his former self he tried to imagine any reason which could have induced him almost before being requested to engage in inflicting so much suffering without any incentive of hatred or fear on a poor unknown creature only to render a service to this man but instead of succeeding in discovering such motives as he would now have deemed sufficient to excuse the deed he could not even imagine how he had ever been induced to undertake it the willingness rather than the determination to do so had been the instantaneous impulse of a mind obedient to its old and habitual feelings the consequence of a thousand antecedent actions and to account for this one deed the unhappy self-examiner found himself involved in an examination of his whole life backwards from year to year from engagement to engagement from bloodshed to bloodshed from crime to crime each one stood before his conscious, stricken soul divested of the feelings which had induced him to will and commit it and therefore appearing in all its monstrousness which those feelings had at the time prevented his perceiving they were all his own they made up himself and the horror of this thought renewed with each fresh remembrance and cleaving to all at least at last to desperation he sprang up impetuously in his bed eagerly stretched out his hand towards the wall at his side touched a pistol grasped it reached it down and at the moment of finishing a life which had become insupportable his thoughts seized with terror and a so as to say superstitious dread rushed forward to the time which would still continue to flow on after his end he pictured with horror his disfigured corpse lying motionless and in the power of his vilest survivor the astonishment the confusion of the castle in the morning everything turned upside down and he, powerless and voiceless, thrown aside he knew not whether he fancied the reports that would be spread conversations to which it would give rise both in the castle the neighborhood and at a distance together with the rejoicing of his enemies the darkness and the silence around him presented death in a still more mournful and frightful aspect it seemed to him that he would not have hesitated in open day out of doors and in the presence of spectators to throw himself into the water and vanish absorbed in such tormenting reflections he continued alternately snapping and unsnapping the cock of his pistol with the convulsive movement of his thumb when another thought flashed across his mind if this other life of which they told me when I was a boy of which everybody talks now as if it were a certain thing if there be not such a thing if it be an invention of the priest what am I doing why should I die what matters all that I have done what matters it it is an absurdity my but if there really be another life at such a doubt at such a risk he was seized with a blacker and deeper despair from which even death afforded no escape he dropped the pistol with his fingers twined among his hair his teeth chattering and trembling in every limb suddenly the words he had heard repeated a few hours before rose to his remembrance God pardoned so many sins for one deed of mercy they did not come to him with that tone of humble supplication in which they had been pronounced they came with a voice of authority at the same time excited a distant glimmering of hope it was a moment of relief he raised his hands from his temples and in a more composed attitude fixed his mind's eye on her who had uttered the words she seemed to him no longer like his prisoner and suppliant but in a posture of one who dispenses mercy and consolation he anxiously awaited the dawn of day that he might fly to liberate her and to hear from her lips other words of alleviation and life and even thought of conducting her himself to her mother and then what shall I do tomorrow for the rest of the day what shall I do the day after tomorrow and the day after that again and at night the night which will return in twelve hours no the night no the night and falling again into the weary void of the future he sought in vain for some employment of time some way of living through the days and nights one moment he proposed leaving his castle and going into some distant country where he had never been known or heard of but he felt that he should carry himself with him and he realized that he should resume his former courage and inclinations and that this would prove only a transient delirium now he dreaded the light which would show him to his followers so miserably changed then he longed for it as if it would bring light also to his gloomy thoughts and lo about the break of day a few moments after Lucia had fallen asleep and proceeded motionless in his bed a floating and confused murmur reached his ear bringing with it something joyous and festive in its sound assuming a listening posture he distinguished a distant chiming of bells and giving still more attention he could hear the mountain echo every now and then languidly repeating the harmony and mingling itself with it immediately afterwards his ear caught another and still nearer peal and then another and another what rejoicings are these what are they so merry about what is their cause of gladness he sprang from his bed of thorns and half dressing himself in haste went to the window threw up the sash and looked out the mountains were still wrapped in gloom not so much cloudy as composed of one entire lead colored cloud but by the already glimmering light of day he distinguished in the road at the bottom of the valley numbers of people passing eagerly along some leaving their dwellings and moving on with the crowd and all taking the same direction towards the outlet of the veil on the right of the castle he could even distinguish the joyous bearing and holiday dress of the passengers what the is the matter with these people what cause of merriment can there be in this cursed neighborhood and calling a confidential bravo who slept in the adjoining room he asked him what was the cause of this movement the man replied that he knew no more than his master but would go directly to make inquiry the man remained with his eyes riveted upon the moving spectacle which increasing day rendered every moment more distinct he watched crowds pass by and new crowds constantly appear men, women, children in groups, in couples or alone one overtaking another who was before him walked in company with him another just leaving his door made the first he fell in with by the way and so they proceeded together like friends in a preconcerted journey their behavior evidently indicated a common haste and joy and the unharmonious but simultaneous burst of the different chimes some more, some less contiguous and distinct seemed, so to say the common voice of these gestures and a supplement to the words which could not reach him from below he looked and looked till he felt more than common curiosity to know what could communicate so unanimous a will so general a festivity to so many different people End of Chapter 21 Part 2 Chapter 22 Part 1 The Betrothed This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Martin Giesen The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni Chapter 22 Part 1 Shortly afterwards the Bravo returned with the information that cardinal Federigo Borromeo Archbishop of Milan had arrived the day before it with the purpose of spending there that which was now just dawning that the news of his arrival which had been spread around for a considerable distance the preceding evening had excited a desire in the people to go and see this great man and that the bells were ringing both to express their joy and more widely to diffuse the glad intelligence when again alone the senior continued to look down into the valley still more absorbed in sort for a man everybody eager everybody joyful at the sight of a man and yet doubtless each has his own demon that torments him but none, none will have one like mine none will have passed such a night as I have what has this man about him to make so many people merry some pence perhaps that he will distribute at random among them but all these cannot be going for arms well then a few acknowledgments and salutations the word or two if he had any words for me that could impart peace if why shouldn't I go to why not I will go what else can I do I will go and I will talk with him face to face I'll have some talk with him shall I say though well whatever, whatever I'll hear first what the man has to say for himself having come to this vague determination he hastily finished dressing himself and put on overall a great coat which had something of a military cut about it he then took up the pistol which lay upon the bed secured it on one side of his belt fastening at the other its fellow which hung upon a nail in the wall stuck a dagger into this same girdle and taking a caribine from the wall which was almost as famous as himself swung it across his shoulders then he put on his hat quitted the apartment and repaired at once to that in which he had left Lucia setting down his caribine in a corner near the door he knocked at the same time letting them know by his voice who he was the old woman sprang out of bed through some articles of clothing around her and flew to open the door the senior entered and casting a glance around the room saw Lucia lying in her little corner perfectly quiet does she sleep asked he in an undertone of the old woman what is she sleeping there but these my orders you old hag I did all I could replied the woman but she wouldn't eat and she wouldn't come let her sleep quietly take care you don't disturb her and when she awakes Martha shall wait in the next room and you must send her to fetch anything that she may ask for when she awakes tell her that I that the master has gone out for a little while that he will be back soon and that he will do all that she wishes the old woman stood perfectly astonished thinking to herself this girl must surely be some princess the senior then left the room took up his carabine sent Martha to wait in the adjoining apartment and the first bravo whom he met to keep guard that no one but this woman might presume to approach Lucia and then leaving the castle took the descent with a rapid step the manuscript here fails to mention the distance from the castle to the village where the Cardinal was staying it cannot however have been more than a moderate walk we do not infer the proximity merely from the flocking thither of the inhabitants of the valley since we find in the histories of these times that people came for twenty miles or more to get but one sight of Cardinal Federigo from the circumstances that we are about to relate as happening on this day we may however easily conjecture that the distance cannot have been very great the bravos whom he met ascending stopped respectfully as their lord passed waiting to see if he had any orders to give or if he wished of them to accompany him on some expedition and seemed perfectly astonished at his countenance and the glances he returned in answer to their salutations when however he reached the base and entered the public road it was a very different matter there was a general whispering among the first passengers who observed him an exchange of suspicious looks and an endeavour on each side to get out of his reach for the whole length of the way he could not take two steps by the side of another passenger for everyone who found him quickly gaining upon him cast an uneasy look around made him a low bow and slackened his pace so as to remain behind on reaching the village he found a large crowd assembled his name spread rapidly from mouth to mouth the moment he made his appearance the throng fell back to make way for him he accosted one of these prudent gentry and asked where the cardinal was in the curate's house replied the addressed party reverently and at the same time pointing out the mansion the senior went forward entered a little court where many priests were assembled of whom regarded him with surprised and doubtful looks and saw before him an open door which gave admission into a small hall where they were also collected a considerable number of priests taking his carabine from his shoulders he deposited it in one corner of the little court and then entered the hall where he was received with significant glances and murmurs and his oft-repeated name then all was silent turning to one of those who surrounded him he asked where the cardinal was and said that he wished to speak to him I am a stranger replied the priest but hastily glancing around he called the chaplain and the cross-bearer who seated in a corner of the hall playing in an undertone to his companion this man this notorious character what can he have to do here make way however at this call which resounded in the general silence he was obliged to come forward he made a lowly reverence to the unnamed listened to his inquiry raised his eyes with uneasy curiosity towards his face and instantly bending them on the ground stood hesitating for a moment and then said or rather stammered out I don't know whether his illustrious lordship just now is to be, can, may but I will go and see and he very unwillingly carried the message into the adjoining room where the cardinal was by himself at this point in our story we cannot do less than pause for a little while as the traveller wearied and worn out with a lengthened journey through a wild and sterile country retards his pace and halts for a little time under the shade of a noble tree reclining on the grassy bank of a stream of running water we have now fallen upon a person whose name and memory occurring when they will to the mind refresh it with a calm emotion of reverence and a pleasurable feeling of sympathy how much more then after so many mournful pictures after the contemplation of such fearful and hateful depravity on the history of this personage we must absolutely expend a few words he who cares not about hearing them and is anxious to proceed with the story may pass on at once to the succeeding chapter Federigo Borromeo born in 1564 was among those characters rare in whatever age who have employed singular talents all the resources of great wells all the advantages of privileged rank and an unwerying diligence in the search and exercise of the highest objects and principles his life resembles a rivulet which issuing limpid from the rock flows in a ceaseless and unruffled though lengthened course through various lands and clear and limpid still falls at last into the ocean amidst comforts and luxuries he attended even from childhood to those lessons of self-denial and humility and those maxims on the vanity of worldly pleasures and the sinfulness of pride on true dignity and true riches which whether acknowledged or not in the heart have been transmitted from one generation to another in the most elementary instruction in religion he attended I say to these lessons and maxims he received them in real earnest he tried them and found them true he saw therefore that other and contrary lessons and maxims could not possibly be true which yet were transmitted with the same a separation and sometimes by the same lips and he resolved to take the rule of his thoughts and actions those which were indeed right by these he understood that life was not designed to be a burden to many and a pleasure to only a few but was intended as a time of employment for all everyone would have to give an account and he began from a child to consider how he could render his useful and holy in 1580 he declared his resolution of dedicating himself to the ministry of the church and received ordination from the hands of his cousin Carlo whom long and universal suffrage had already signalized as a saint shortly afterwards he entered the college founded by this relative in Pavia which still bears the name of their house and here while applying himself with aciduity to the occupations which were prescribed he added to them two others of his own free will and these were to give instruction to the most ignorant and neglected among the population in the doctrines of the Christian religion and to visit, assist, comfort and relieve the sick and needy he employed the authority conceded to him by all around in including his companions to second him in such works of charity and set a noble example of spending in every honest and beneficial employment preeminence which considering his superior mind and talents he would perhaps equally have attained had he been the lowest in rank and fortune the advantages of a different nature which the circumstances of fortune could have procured for him he not only sought not after but studiously neglected he kept a table bigger than frugal and wore a dress rather mean than decent while the whole tenor of his life and behaviour was in conformity with these particulars nor did he think it necessary to alter it because some of his relatives exclaimed loudly against such a practice and complained that by this means he would degrade the dignity of the house he had also another warfare to maintain against his instructors who stealthily and as it were by surprise endeavored to place before behind and around him more noble appendages something which might distinguish him from others and make him appear the first in the place either thinking by this means to ingratiate themselves with him in the long run or influenced by that servile attachment which prides itself in and rejoices at the splendour of others or being among the number of those prudent persons who shrink back with alarm from the extreme of virtue as well as vice or forever proclaiming that perfection lies in a medium between the two and fix that medium exactly at the point which they have reached and where they find themselves very much at their ease Federigo not only refused these kindly offices but rebuked the officious instruments and that between the ages of childhood and youth that during the life of the cardinal is senior by 26 years in his authoritative and so to say solemn presence surrounded by homage and respectful silence incited by the fame and impressed with the tokens of sanctity Federigo as a boy and a youth should have endeavoured to conform himself to the behaviour and talents of such a cousin is certainly not to be wondered at but it is indeed much to be able to say that after his death no one could perceive that Federigo then 20 years of age had lost a guide and sensor the increasing fame of his talents erudition and piety the relationship and connection of more than one powerful cardinal the credit of his family is very name to which Carlo had almost annexed in people's minds an idea of sanctity and saccadotal preeminence all that should and all that could lead men to ecclesiastical dignities concurred to predict them for him but he persuaded in heart of what no one who professes Christianity can deny with the lips that there is no real superiority of a man over his fellow men accepting in so far as he devotes himself to their service both dreaded exaltation and sought to avoid it not indeed that he might shrink from serving others for few lives have been more devoted to this object than his own but because he considered himself neither worthy enough of so high and perilous a service nor sufficiently competent for it for these reasons the Archbishopric of Milan being offered to him in 1595 by Clement VIII he seemed much disturbed and refused the charge without hesitation he yielded afterwards however to the express command of the Pope such demonstrations who knows it not are neither difficult nor uncommon and it requires no greater effort of subtlety for hypocrisy to make them than for railery to divide them and hold them cheap on every occasion but do they therefore cease to be the natural profession of a wise and virtuous principle one's life is the touchstone of profession and the profession of this sentiment though it may have been on the tongue of all the imposters and all the scoffers in the world will ever be worthy of admiration when preceded and followed by a life of disinterested self-sacrifice End of chapter 22 part 1 Recording by Martin Giesen Chapter 22 part 2 of The Betrothed This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Martin Giesen The Betrothed The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni Chapter 22 part 2 In Federigo as Archbishop was apparent a remarkable and constant carefulness to devote to himself no more of his wealth his time, his care in short of his whole self than was absolutely necessary he said as everybody says that ecclesiastical revenues are the patrimony of the poor how he showed he understood such a maxim in reality will be evident from this fact he caused an estimate to be taken of the sum required for his own expenditure and that of those in his personal service and being told that 600 sculdi sculdo was at that time the name of a golden coin which retaining the same weight and value was afterwards called a zekino he gave orders that this sum should annually be set apart out of his patrimonial estate for the expenses of the table so sparing and scrupulous was he in his personal outlay that he was careful never to leave off a dress which was not completely worn out uniting, however as was recorded by contemporary writers to this habit of simplicity that of singular neatness to remarkable qualities in fact in this age of ostentation and uncleanliness that nothing again might be wasted of the remnants of his frugal table he assigned them to a hospital for the poor one of whom came daily by his orders to the dining apartment to gather up all that remained such instances of economy might perhaps suggest the idea of a close, parsimonious over-careful virtue of a mind wrapped up in a tension to minutiae and incapable of elevated designs where it's not for an ambrosian library still standing which Federigo projected with such noble magnificence and executed from the foundations upwards with such munificent liberality to supply which with books and manuscripts besides the presentation of those he had already collected with great labour and expense he sent eight of the most learned and experienced men he could find to make purchases throughout Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Flanders, Greece, Lebanon and Jerusalem by this means he succeeded in gathering together about thirty thousand printed volumes and fourteen thousand manuscripts to this library he united a college of doctors nine in number at first and maintained at his charge while he lived afterwards the ordinary income not surprising for this expense they were reduced to two their office was to cultivate various branches of study, theology, history, polite literature and the oriental languages obliging each one to publish some work on the subject assigned to him to this he also added a college which he called Prilingue for the study of Greek, Latin and Italian languages a college of pupils for instruction in these several faculties and languages that they might become professors in their turn a printing office for the oriental languages for Hebrew that is to say caldaic Arabic, Persian and Armenian a gallery of paintings another of statues and a school for the three principal arts of design for these last he could find professors already existing but as to the rest we have seen the trouble it cost him to collect books and manuscripts undoubtedly it would be more difficult to meet with types in those languages then much less cultivated in Europe than they are at present and still more difficult than types would be men who understood them suffice it to say but out of nine professors eight were taken from among the young pupils of the seminary from which circumstance we may infer what was his opinion of the schools then established and the celebrity gained in those days an opinion agreeing with that which posterity seems to have formed of them by suffering both one and the other to sink into oblivion in the regulations which he left for the youth and government of the library a provision for perpetual utility is conspicuous not only admirable in itself but in many particulars judicious elegant far beyond the general ideas and habits of the age he required the librarian to keep up a correspondence with the most learned men in Europe that he might have information of the state of science and intelligence of the best works on any subject that should be published and immediately purchase them he gave him in charge to point out to the students those works which might assist them in their designs and ordered that the advantages of consulting the works here preserved should be open to all whether citizens or strangers such a regulation will now appear quite natural one and the same thing with the founding of a library but in those days it was not so in a history of the Ambrosian library written with the precision and elegance usual in that age by one Pierpaolo Bosca a librarian after the death of Federico it is expressly noted as a remarkable fact but in this library built by a private individual almost entirely at his own expense the books were accessible to the view of all and brought to anyone who should demand them with liberty to sit down and study them and the provision of pen, ink and paper to take notes while in some other celebrated public libraries in Italy the volumes were not only not visible but concealed in closets where they were never disturbed except when the humanity as he says of the presidents prompted them sometimes to display them for a moment as to accommodation and conveniences for study provided for those who frequented it they had not the least idea of such a thing so that to burnish such libraries was to withdraw books from the use of the public one of those means of cultivation many of which were and still employed that only served to render the soil more sterile it were useless to inquire what were the effects of this foundation of Borromeo on public education it would be easy enough to demonstrate in two words according to the general method of demonstration that they were miraculous or that they were nothing to investigate and explain up to a certain point what they really were would be a work of much difficulty little advantage and somewhat ill-timed rather let us think what a generous judicious benevolent persevering lover of the improvement of mankind he must have been who planned such an undertaking and planned it on so grand a scale and who executed it in the midst of ignorance inertness and general contempt of all studious application and consequently in spite of what does it matter and there's something else to think about and what a fine invention and this was certainly wanting similar remarks which undoubtedly will have been more in number than the scoody expended by him in the undertaking amounting to a hundred and five thousand the greatest part of his property to style such a man beneficent and liberal in a high degree it would be unnecessary perhaps that he should have spent much in the immediate relief needed and there are besides many in whose opinion expenditure of the character we have described and indeed I may say all expenditure is the best and more beneficial ounce giving but in Federigo's opinion ounce giving properly speaking was a paramount duty and here as in everything else were in accordance with his principles his life was one continual overflowing charity on occasion of this very scarcity to which our story has already alluded we shall have presently to relate several trades which will exhibit the judgment and delicacy he knew how to employ even in his liberality of the many remarkable examples which his biographers have recorded of this virtue we will hear a sight but one having heard that a certain nobleman was using artifices and compulsion to force into a convent one of his daughters who wished rather to be married he had an interview with her father and drawing from him the acknowledgement that the true motive of this oppression was the one to 4,000 scudi which according to his idea were necessary towards marrying his daughter suitably Federigo immediately presented the required dowry some may perhaps think this an extravagant act of bounty not well judged and too condescending to the foolish caprices of a vain nobleman and that 4,000 scudi might have been better employed in this or that manner to which we have nothing to answer accepting that it were devoutly to be wished that one could more frequently see excesses of a virtue so unfettered by prevailing opinion every age has its own and so free from the general tendency as in this instance that must have been which induced the man to give 4,000 scudi that a young person might not be made a nun the inexhaustible charity of this man appeared not only in his arms giving but in his whole behaviour easy of access to all he considered a cheerful countenance and an affectionate courtesy particularly due to those in the lower ranks of life and the more so in proportion as they were little thought of by the world here therefore he had to combat with the gentleman of the Nei Quid Nimes school who were anxious to keep him within limits i.e. within their limits one of these on occasion of a visit to a wild countenance country when Federigo was teaching some poor children and during the interrogations an instruction was fondly caressing them he sought him to be more cautious in handling such children as they were dirty and repelling as if the worthy gentleman supposed that Federigo had not discernment enough to make the discovery or acumen enough to suggest this recondite council for himself such in certain circumstances of times and things is the misfortune of men exalted to high stations that while they so seldom find anyone to inform them of their failings there is no lack of persons courageous enough to reprove them for doing right but the good bishop not without anger replied they are my lambs and perhaps may never again see my face and would you not have me caress them very seldom however did he exhibit any anger being admired for his mild and imperturbable gentleness of behaviour which might be attributed to an extraordinarily happy temperament of mind while in truth it was the effect of constant discipline over a naturally hasty and passionate disposition if ever he showed himself severe, even harsh it was towards those pastors under his authority whom he discovered guilty of avarice or negligence or any other conduct opposed to the spirit of high vocation upon what might effect his own interest or temporal glory he never betokened either joy regret, eagerness or anxiety wonderful indeed if these emotions were not excited in his mind more wonderful if they were not only in the many conclaves at which he assisted did he acquire the reputation of having never aspired to that lofty post so desirable to ambition and so terrible to piety but on one occasion when a colleague who possessed considerable influence came to offer him his vote and those of his, so alas it was termed, faction Federigo refused the proposal in such a manner that his friend immediately abandoned the idea and turned his views elsewhere this same humility, this dread of preeminence was equally apparent in the more common occurrences of life careful and indefatigable in ordering and governing everything where he considered it his duty to do so he always shrank from intruding the affairs of others and even when solicited refused if possible to interfere discretion and temperance are from common as everybody knows in men as zealous in the cause of good as Federigo was where we to allow ourselves to prosecute the pleasing task of collecting together the remarkable points in his character the result would certainly be a complication of virtues in apparent opposition to each other and assuredly difficult to find combined we cannot however omit to notice one more excellency in his excellent life replete as it was with action, government functions, instruction audiences diocesan visitations journeys and controversies he not only found time for study but devoted as much to this object as a professor of literature would have required indeed among many other and various titles of commendation he possessed in a high degree among his contemporaries that of a man of learning we must not however conceal that he held with firm persuasion and maintained in fact with persevering constancy some opinions which in the present day would appear to everyone rather singular than ill-founded even to such as would be anxious to consider them sound for anyone who would defend him on this head there is the current and commonly received excuse that they were the errors of the age rather than his own an excuse to say the truth which when it results from the minute consideration of facts may be valid and significant but which generally applied in the usual naked way and as we must do in this instance comes in the end to mean exactly nothing at all and besides not wishing to resolve complicated questions with simple formulae we will venture to leave this unsolved resting satisfied with having thus cursorily mentioned that in a character so admirable as a whole we do not pretend to affirm that every particular was equally so lest we should seem to have intended making a funeral oration we shall not be doing justice to our readers to suppose that some of them may inquire whether this person has left any monument of so much talent and erudition whether he has left any the works remaining from him great and small Latin and Italian published and manuscript amount to about a hundred volumes preserved in the library he himself founded moral treatises discourses dissertations on history sacred and profane antiquities literature arts and various other subjects and however does it happen this inquirer may ask that so many works are forgotten or at least so little known so little sought after how is it that with such talents such learning, such experience of men and things such profound thought such a sense of the good and the beautiful such purity of mind and so many other qualities which constitute the elegant author how is it that out of a hundred works he has not left even one to be considered excellent by those who approve not the whole and to be known by title even by those who have never read it how is it that all of them together have not sufficed at least by their number to procure for his name a literary fame among posterity the inquiry is undoubtedly reasonable and the question sufficiently interesting because the reasons of this phenomenon are to be found or at least must be sought for in many general facts and when found would lead to the explanation of other similar phenomena but they would be many and prolics and what if they should not prove satisfactory if they should make the reader turn away in disgust so that it will be better to resume our walk through the story and instead of digressing more at length on the character of this wonderful man proceed to observe him in action under the conduct of our anonymous author end of chapter 22 part 2 recording by Martin Giesen in Hazelmere Surrey