joan of naples-第15章

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！



〃Take　all；　take　my　life；　but　spare　my　son。〃

Catherine　could　not　contain　herself　for　joy　when　she　saw　spread　out　at　her　feet　exquisite　and　incredibly　valuable　cups；　caskets　of　pearls；　diamonds　and　rubies　of　marvellous　value；　coffers　full　of　gold　ingots；　and　all　the　wonders　of　Asia　that　surpass　the　wildest　imagination。　　But　when　the　old　man；　trembling；　begged　for　the　liberty　of　his　son　as　the　price　of　his　fortune　and　his　own　life；　the　empress　resumed　her　cold；　pitiless　manner；　and　harshly　replied

〃I　have　already　given　orders　for　your　son　to　be　brought　here；　but　prepare　for　an　eternal　farewell；　for　he　is　to　be　taken　to　the　fortress　of　Melfi；　and　you　in　all　probability　will　end　your　days　beneath　the　castle　of　Saint　Agatha。〃

The　grief　of　the　poor　count　at　this　violent　separation　was　so　great；　that　a　few　days　later　he　was　found　dead　in　his　dungeon；　his　lips　covered　with　a　bloody　froth；　his　hands　gnawed　in　despair。　　Bertrand　did　not　long　survive　him。　　He　actually　lost　his　reason　when　he　heard　of　his　father's　death；　and　hanged　himself　on　the　prison　grating。　Thus　did　the　murderers　of　Andre　destroy　one　another；　like　venomous　animals　shut　up　in　the　same　cage。

Catherine　of　Tarentum；　carrying　off　the　treasure　she　had　so　gained；　arrived　at　the　court　of　Naples；　proud　of　her　triumph　and　contemplating　vast　schemes。　　But　new　troubles　had　come　about　in　her　absence。　　Charles　of　Durazzo；　for　the　last　time　desiring　the　queen　to　give　him　the　duchy　of　Calabria；　a　title　which　had　always　belonged　to　the　heir　presumptive；　and　angered　by　her　refusal；　had　written　to　Louis　of　Hungary；　inviting　him　to　take　possession　of　the　kingdom；　and　promising　to　help　in　the　enterprise　with　all　his　own　forces；　and　to　give　up　the　principal　authors　of　his　brother's　death；　who　till　now　had　escaped　justice。

The　King　of　Hungary　eagerly　accepted　these　offers；　and　got　ready　an　army　to　avenge　Andre's　death　and　proceed　to　the　conquest　of　Naples。　The　tears　of　his　mother　Elizabeth　and　the　advice　of　Friar　Robert；　the　old　minister；　who　had　fled　to　Buda；　confirmed　him　in　his　projects　of　vengeance。　　He　had　already　lodged　a　bitter　complaint　at　the　court　of　Avignon　that；　while　the　inferior　assassins　had　been　punished；　she　who　was　above　all　others　guilty　had　been　shamefully　let　off　scot　free；　and　though　still　stained　with　her　husband's　blood；　continued　to　live　a　life　of　debauchery　and　adultery。　　The　pope　replied　soothingly　that；　so　far　as　it　depended　upon　him；　he　would　not　be　found　slow　to　give　satisfaction　to　a　lawful　grievance；　but　the　accusation　ought　to　be　properly　formulated　and　supported　by　proof；　that　no　doubt　Joan's　conduct　during　and　after　her　husband's　death　was　blamable；　but　His　Majesty　must　consider　that　the　Church　of　Rome；　which　before　all　things　seeks　truth　and　justice；　always　proceeds　with　the　utmost　circumspection；　and　in　so　grave　a　matter　more　especially　must　not　judge　by　appearances　only。

Joan；　frightened　by　the　preparations　for　war；　sent　ambassadors　to　the　Florentine　Republic；　to　assert　her　innocence　of　the　crime　imputed　to　her　by　public　opinion；　and　did　not　hesitate　to　send　excuses　even　to　the　Hungarian　court；　but　Andre's　brother　replied　in　a　letter　laconic　and　threatening：

〃Your　former　disorderly　life；　the　arrogation　to　yourself　of　exclusive　power；　your　neglect　to　punish　your　husband's　murderers；　your　marriage　to　another　husband；　moreover　your　own　excuses；　are　all　sufficient　proofs　that　you　were　an　accomplice　in　the　murder。〃

Catherine　would　not　be　put　out　of　heart　by　the　King　of　Hungary's　threats；　and　looking　at　the　position　of　the　queen　and　her　son　with　a　coolness　that　was　never　deceived；　she　was　convinced　that　there　was　no　other　means　of　safety　except　a　reconciliation　with　Charles；　their　mortal　foe；　which　could　only　be　brought　about　by　giving　him　all　he　wanted。　　It　was　one　of　two　things：　either　he　would　help　them　to　repulse　the　King　of　Hungary；　and　later　on　they　would　pay　the　cost　when　the　dangers　were　less　pressing；　or　he　would　be　beaten　himself；　and　thus　they　would　at　least　have　the　pleasure　of　drawing　him　down　with　them　in　their　own　destruction。

The　agreement　was　made　in　the　gardens　of　Castel　Nuovo；　whither　Charles　had　repaired　on　the　invitation　of　the　queen　and　her　aunt。　　To　her　cousin　of　Durazzo　Joan　accorded　the　title　so　much　desired　of　Duke　of　Calabria；　and　Charles；　feeling　that　he　was　hereby　made　heir　to　the　kingdom；　marched　at　once　on　Aquila；　which　town　already　was　flying　the　Hungarian　colours。　　The　wretched　man　did　not　foresee　that　he　was　going　straight　to　his　destruction。

When　the　Empress　of　Constantinople　saw　this　man；　whom　she　hated　above　all　others；　depart　in　joy；　she　looked　contemptuously　upon　him；　divining　by　a　woman's　instinct　that　mischief　would　befall　him；　then；　having　no　further　mischief　to　do；　no　further　treachery　on　earth；　no　further　revenge　to　satisfy；　she　all　at　once　succumbed　to　some　unknown　malady；　and　died　suddenly；　without　uttering　a　cry　or　exciting　a　single　regret。

But　the　King　of　Hungary；　who　had　crossed　Italy　with　a　formidable　army；　now　entered　the　kingdom　from　the　side　of　Aquila：　on　his　way　he　had　everywhere　received　marks　of　interest　and　sympathy；　and　Alberto　and　Mertino　delta　Scala；　lords　of　Verona；　had　given　him　three　hundred　horse　to　prove　that　all　their　goodwill　was　with　him　in　his　enterprise。　　The　news　of　the　arrival　of　the　Hungarians　threw　the　court　into　a　state　of　confusion　impossible　to　describe。　　They　had　hoped　that　the　king　would　be　stopped　by　the　pope's　legate；　who　had　come　to　Foligno　to　forbid　him；　in　the　name　of　the　Holy　Father；　and　on　pain　of　excommunication　to　proceed　any　further　without　his　consent；　but　Louis　of　Hungary　replied　to　the　pope's　legate　that；　once　master　of　Naples；　he　should　consider　himself　a　feudatory　of　the　Church；　but　till　then　he　had　no　obligations　except　to　God　and　his　own　conscience。　Thus　the　avenging　army　fell　like　a　thunderbolt　upon　the　heart　of　the　kingdom；　before　there　was　any　thought　of　taking　serious　measures　for　defence。　　There　was　only　one　plan　possible：　the　queen　assembled　the　barons　who　were　most　strongly　attached　to　her；　made　them　swear　homage　and　fidelity　to　Louis　of　Tarentum；　whom　she　presented　to　them　as　her　husband；　and　then　leaving　with　many　tears　her　most　faithful　subjects；　she　embarked　secretly；　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　on　a　ship　of　Provence；　and　made　for　Marseilles。　　Louis　of　Tarentum；　following　the　prompting　of　his　adventure…loving　character；　left　Naples　at　the　head　of　three　thousand　horse　and　a　considerable　number　of　foot；　and　took　up　his　post　on　the　banks　of　the　Voltorno；　there　to　contest　the　enemy's　passage；　but　the　King　of　Hungary　foresaw　the　stratagem；　and　while　his　adversary　was　waiting　for　him　at　Capua；　he　arrived　at　Beneventum　by　the　mountains　of　Alife　and　Morcone；　and　on　the　same　day　received　Neapolitan　envoys：　they　in　a　magnificent　display　of　eloquence　congratulated　him　on　his　entrance；　offered　the　keys　of　the　town；　and　swore　obedience　to　him　as　being　the　legitimate　successor　of　Charles　of　Anjou。　　The　news　of　the　surrender　of　Naples　soon　reached　the　queen's　camp；　and　all　the　princes　of　the　blood　and　the　generals　left　Louis　of　Tarentum　and　took　refuge　in　the　capital。　　Resistance　was　impossible。　　Louis；　accompanied　by　his　counsellor；　Nicholas　Acciajuoli；　went　to　Naples　on　the　same　evening　on　which　his　relatives　quitted　the　town　to　get　away　from　the　enemy。　　Every　hope　of　safety　was　vanishing　as　the　hours　passed　by；　his　brothers　and　cousins　begged　him　to　go　at　once；　so　as　not　to　draw　down　upon　the　town　the　king's　vengeance；　but　unluckily　there　was　no　ship　in　the　harbour　that　was　ready　to　set　sail。　　The　terror　of　the　princes　was　at　its　height；　but　Louis；　trusting　in　his　luck；　started　with　the　brave　Acciajuoli　in　an　unseaworthy　boat；　and　ordering　four　sailors　to　row　with　all　their　might；　in　a　few　minutes　disappeared；　leading　his　family　in　a　great　state　of　anxiety　till　they　learned　that　he　had　reached　Pisa；　whither　he　had　gone　to　join　the　queen　in　Provence。　　Charles　of　Durazzo　and　Robert　of　Tarentum；　who　were　the　eldest　respectively　of　the　two　branches　of　the　royal　family；　after　hastily　consulting；　decided　to　soften　the　Hungarian　monarch's　wrath　by　a　complete　submission。　Leaving　their　young　brothers　at　Naples；　they　accordingly　set　off　for　Aversa；　where　the　king　was。　　Louis　received　them　with　every　mark　of　friendship；　and　asked　with　much　interest　why　their　brothers　were　not　with　them。　　The　princes　replied　that　their　young　brothers　had　stayed　at　Naples　to　prepare　a　worthy　reception　for　His　Majesty。　　Louis　thanked　them　for　their　kind　intentions；　but　begged　them　to　invite　the　young　princes　now；　saying　that　it　would　be　infinitely　more　pleasant　to　enter　Naples　with　all　his　family；　and　that　be　was　most　anxious　to　see　his　cousins。　　Charles　and　Robert；　to　please　the　king；　sent　equerries　to　bid　their　brothers　come　to　Aversa；　but　Louis　of　Durazzo；　the　eldest　of　the　boys；　with　many　tears　begged　the　others　not　to　obey；　and　sent　a　message　that　he　was　prevented　by　a　violent　headache　from　leaving　Naples。　　So　puerile　an　excuse　could　not　fail　to　annoy　Charles；　and　the　same　day　he　compelled　the　unfortunate　boys　to　appear　before　the…king；　sending　a　formal　order　which　admitted　of　no　delay。　Louis　of　Hungary　embraced　them　warmly　one　after　the　other；　asked　them　several　questions　in　an　affectionate　way；　kept　them　to　supper；　and　only　let　them　go　quite　late　at　night。

When　the　Duke　of　Durazzo　reached　his　room；　Lello　of　Aquila　and　the　Count　of　Fondi　slipped　mysteriously　to　the　side　of　his　bed；　and　making　sure　that　no　one　could　hear；　told　him　that　the　king　in　a　council　held　that　morning　had　decided　to　kill　him　and　to　imprison　the　other　princes。　　Charles　heard　them　out；　but　incredulously：　suspecting　treachery；　he　dryly　replied　that　he　had　too　much　confidence　in　his　cousin's　loyalty　to　believe　such　a　black　calumny。　　Lello　insisted；　begging　him　in　the　name　of　his　dearest　friends　to　listen；　but　the　duke　was　impatient；　and　harshly　ordered　him　to　depart。

The　next　day　there　was　the　same　kindness　on　the　king's　part；　the　same　affection　shown　to　the　children；　the　same　invitation　to　supper。　　The　banquet　was　magnificent；　the　room　was　brilliantly　lighted；　and　the　reflections　were　dazzling：　vessels　of　gold　shone　on　the　table；　the　intoxicating　perfume　of　flowers　filled　the　air；　wine　foamed　in　the　goblets　and　flowed　from　the　flagons　in　ruby　streams：　conversation；　excited　and　discursive；　was　heard　on　every　side：　all　faces　beamed　with　joy。

Charles　of　Durazzo　sat　opposite　the　king；　at　a　separate　table　among　his　brothers。　　Little　by　little　his　look　grew　fixed；　his　brow　pensive。　　He　was　fancying　that　Andre　might　have　supped　in　this　very　hall　on　the　eve　of　his　tragic　end；　and　he　thought　how　all　concerned　in　that　death　had　either　died　in　torment　or　were　now　languishing　in　prison；　the　queen；　an　exile　and　a　fugitive；　was　begging　pity　from　strangers：　he　alone　was　free。　　The　thought　made　him　tremble；　but　admiring　his　own　cleverness　in　pursuing　his　infernal　schemes；　and　putting　away　his　sad　looks；　he　smiled　again　with　an　expression　of　indefinable　pride。　　The　madman　at　this　moment　was　scoffing　at　the　justice　of　God。　　But　Lello　of　Aquila；　who　was　waiting…at　the　table；　bent　down；　whispering　gloomily

〃Unhappy　duke；　why　did　you　refuse　to　believe　me？　　Fly；　while　there　is　yet　time。〃

Charles；　angered　by　the　m