joan of naples-第9章

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or　their　secret　insults；　their　crafty　injuries；　their　underhand　intrigues。　　It　was　not　because　my　arm　wanted　strength；　but　because　my　head　wanted　a　crown。　　I　might　have　put　an　end　to　some　of　these　wretched　beings；　the　least　dangerous　maybe；　but　it　would　have　been　striking　in　the　dark；　the　ringleaders　would　have　escaped；　and　I　should　never　have　really　got　to　the　bottom　of　their　infernal　plots。　So　I　have　silently　eaten　out　my　own　heart　in　shame　and　indignation。　Now　that　my　sacred　rights　are　recognised　by　the　Church；　you　will　see；　my　mother；　how　these　terrible　barons；　the　queen's　counsellors；　the　governors　of　the　kingdom；　will　lower　their　heads　in　the　dust：　for　they　are　threatened　with　no　sword　and　no　struggle；　no　peer　of　their　own　is　he　who　speaks；　but　the　king；　it　is　by　him　they　are　accused；　by　the　law　they　shall　be　condemned；　and　shall　suffer　on　the　scaffold。〃

〃O　my　beloved　son；〃　cried　the　queen　in　tears；　〃I　never　doubted　your　noble　feelings　or　the　justice　of　your　claims；　but　when　your　life　is　in　danger；　to　what　voice　can　I　listen　but　the　voice　of　fear？　what　can　move　my　counsels　but　the　promptings　of　love？〃

〃Mother；　believe　me；　if　the　hands　and　hearts　alike　of　these　cowards　had　not　trembled；　you　would　have　lost　your　son　long　ago。〃

〃It　is　not　violence　that　I　fear；　my　son；　it　is　treachery。〃

〃My　life；　like　every　man's；　belongs　to　God；　and　the　lowest　of　sbirri　may　take　it　as　I　turn　the　corner　of　the　street；　but　a　king　owes　something　to　his　people。〃

The　poor　mother　long　tried　to　bend　the　resolution　of　Andre　by　reason　and　entreaties；　but　when　she　had　spoken　her　last　word　and　shed　her　last　tear；　she　summoned　Bertram　de　Baux；　chief…justice　of　the　kingdom；　and　Marie；　Duchess　of　Durazzo。　　Trusting　in　the　old　man's　wisdom　and　the　girl's　innocence；　she　commended　her　son　to　them　in　the　tenderest　and　most　affecting　words；　then　drawing　from　her　own　hand　a　ring　richly　wrought；　and　taking　the　prince　aside；　she　slipped　it　upon　his　finger；　saying　in　a　voice　that　trembled　with　emotion　as　she　pressed　him　to　her　heart

〃My　son；　as　you　refuse　to　come　with　me；　here　is　a　wonderful　talisman；　which　I　would　not　use　before　the　last　extremity。　　So　long　as　you　wear　this　ring　on　your　finger；　neither　sword　nor　poison　will　have　power　against　you。〃

〃You　see　then；　mother；〃　said　the　prince；　smiling；　〃with　this　protection　there　is　no　reason　at　all　to　fear　for　my　life。〃

There　are　other　dangers　than　sword　or　poison；〃　sighed　the　queen。

〃Be　calm；　mother：　the　best　of　all　talismans　is　your　prayer　to　God　for　me：　it　is　the　tender　thought　of　you　that　will　keep　me　for　ever　in　the　path　of　duty　and　justice；　your　maternal　love　will　watch　over　me　from　afar；　and　cover　me　like　the　wings　of　a　guardian　angel。〃

Elizabeth　sobbed　as　she　embraced　her　son；　and　when　she　left　him　she　felt　her　heart　was　breaking。　　At　last　she　made　up　her　mind　to　go；　and　was　escorted　by　the　whole　court；　who　had　never　changed　towards　her　for　a　moment　in　their　chivalrous　and　respectful　devotion。　　The　poor　mother；　pale；　trembling；　and　faint；　leaned　heavily　upon　Andre's　arm；　lest　she　should　fall。　　On　the　ship　that　was　to　take　her　for　ever　from　her　son；　she　cast　her　arms　for　the　last　time　about　his　neck；　and　there　hung　a　long　time；　speechless；　tearless；　and　motionless；　when　the　signal　for　departure　was　given；　her　women　took　her　in　their　arms　half　swooning。　　Andre　stood　on　the　shore　with　the　feeling　of　death　at　his　heart：　his　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　sail　that　carried　ever　farther　from　him　the　only　being　he　loved　in　the　world。　　Suddenly　he　fancied　he　beheld　something　white　moving　a　long　way　off：　his　mother　had　recovered　her　senses　by　a　great　effort；　and　had　dragged　herself　up　to　the　bridge　to　give　a　last　signal　of　farewell：　the　unhappy　lady　knew　too　well　that　she　would　never　see　her　son　again。

At　almost　the　same　moment　that　Andre's　mother　left　the　kingdom；　the　former　queen　of　Naples；　Robert's　widow；　Dona　Sancha；　breathed　her　last　sigh。　　She　was　buried　in　the　convent　of　Santa　Maria　delta　Croce；　under　the　name　of　Clara；　which　she　had　assumed　on　taking　her　vows　as　a　nun；　as　her　epitaph　tells　us；　as　follows：

〃Here　lies；　an　example　of　great　humility；　the　body　of　the　sainted　sister　Clara；　of　illustrious　memory；　otherwise　Sancha；　Queen　of　Sicily　and　Jerusalem；　widow　of　the　most　serene　Robert；　King　of　Jerusalem　and　Sicily；　who；　after　the　death　of　the　king　her　husband；　when　she　had　completed　a　year　of　widowhood；　exchanged　goods　temporary　for　goods　eternal。　　Adopting　for　the　love　of　God　a　voluntary　poverty；　and　distributing　her　goods　to　the　poor；　she　took　upon　her　the　rule　of　obedience　in　this　celebrated　convent　of　Santa　Croce；　the　work　of　her　own　hands；　in　the　year　1344；　on　the　gist　of　January　of　the　twelfth　indiction；　where；　living　a　life　of　holiness　under　the　rule　of　the　blessed　Francis；　father　of　the　poor；　she　ended　her　days　religiously　in　the　year　of　our　Lord　1345；　on　the　28th　of　July　of　the　thirteenth　indiction。　　On　the　day　following　she　was　buried　in　this　tomb。〃

The　death　of　Dona　Sancha　served　to　hasten　on　the　catastrophe　which　was　to　stain　the　throne　of　Naples　with　blood：　one　might　almost　fancy　that　God　wished　to　spare　this　angel　of　love　and　resignation　the　sight　of　so　terrible　a　spectacle；　that　she　offered…herself　as　a　propitiatory　sacrifice　to　redeem　the　crimes　of　her　family。




CHAPTER　IV

Eight　days　after　the　funeral　of　the　old　queen；　Bertrand　of　Artois　came　to　Joan；　distraught；　dishevelled；　in　a　state　of　agitation　and　confusion　impossible　to　describe。

Joan　went　quickly　up　to　her　lover；　asking　him　with　a　look　of　fear　to　explain　the　cause　of　his　distress。

〃I　told　you；　madam；〃　cried　the　young　baron　excitedly；　〃you　will　end　by　ruining　us　all；　as　you　will　never　take　any　advice　from　me。〃

〃For　God's　sake；　Bertrand；　speak　plainly：　what　has　happened？　　What　advice　have　I　neglected？〃

〃Madam；　your　noble　husband；　Andre　of　Hungary；　has　just　been　made　King　of　Jerusalem　and　Sicily；　and　acknowledged　by　the　court　of　Avignon；　so　henceforth　you　will　be　no　better　than　his　slave。〃

〃Count　of　Artois；　you　are　dreaming。〃

〃No；　madam；　I　am　not　dreaming：　I　have　this　fact　to　prove　the　truth　of　my　words；　that　the　pope's　ambassadors　are　arrived　at　Capua　with　the　bull　for　his　coronation；　and　if　they　do　not　enter　Castel　Nuovo　this　very　evening；　the　delay　is　only　to　give　the　new　king　time　to　make　his　preparations。〃

The　queen　bent　her　head　as　if　a　thunderbolt　had　fallen　at　her　feet。

〃When　I　told　you　before；〃　said　the　count；　with　growing　fury；　〃that　we　ought　to　use　force　to　make　a　stand　against　him；　that　we　ought　to　break　the　yoke　of　this　infamous　tyranny　and　get　rid　of　the　man　before　he　had　the　means　of　hurting　you；　you　always　drew　back　in　childish　fear；　with　a　woman's　cowardly　hesitation。〃

Joan　turned　a　tearful　look　upon　her　lover。

〃God；　my　God！〃　she　cried；　clasping　her　hands　in　desperation；　〃am　I　to　hear　for　ever　this　awful　cry　of　death！　　You　too；　Bertrand；　you　too　say　the　word；　like　Robert　of　Cabane；　like　Charles　of　Duras？　　Wretched　man；　why　would　you　raise　this　bloody　spectre　between　us；　to　check　with　icy　hand　our　adulterous　kisses？　　Enough　of　such　crimes；　if　his　wretched　ambition　makes　him　long　to　reign；　let　him　be　king：　what　matters　his　power　to　me；　if　he　leaves　me　with　your　love？〃

〃It　is　not　so　sure　that　our　love　will　last　much　longer。〃

〃What　is　this；　Bertrand？　　You　rejoice　in　this　merciless　torture。〃

〃I　tell　you；　madam；　that　the　King　of　Naples　has　a　black　flag　ready；　and　on　the　day　of　his　coronation　it　will　be　carried　before　him。〃

〃And　you　believe；〃　said　Joan；　pale　as　a　corpse　in　its　shroud；〃you　believe　that　this　flag　is　a　threat？〃

〃Ay；　and　the　threat　begins　to　be　put　in　execution。〃

The　queen　staggered；　and　leaned　against　a　table　to　save　herself　from　falling。

〃Tell　me　all；〃　she　cried　in　a　choking　voice；　〃fear　not　to　shock　me；　see；　I　am　not　trembling。　　O　Bertrand；　I　entreat　you！〃

〃The　traitors　have　begun　with　the　man　you　most　esteemed；　the　wisest　counsellor　of　the　crown；　the　best　of　magistrates；　the　noblest…　hearted；　most　rigidly　virtuous…〃

〃Andrea　of　Isernia！〃

〃Madam；　he　is　no　more。〃

Joan　uttered　a　cry；　as　though　the　noble　old　man　had　been　slain　before　her　eyes：　she　respected　him　as　a　father；　then；　sinking　back；　she　remained　profoundly　silent。

〃How　did　they　kill　him？〃　she　asked　at　last；　fixing　her　great　eyes　in　terror　on　the　count。

〃Yesterday　evening；　as　he　left　this　castle；　on　the　way　to　his　own　home；　a　man　suddenly　sprang　out　upon　him　before　the　Porta　Petruccia：　it　was　one　of　Andre's　favourites；　Conrad　of　Gottis　chosen　no　doubt　because　he　had　a　grievance　against　the　incorruptible　magistrate　on　account　of　some　sentence　passed　against　him；　and　the　murder　would　therefore　be　put　down　to　motives　of　private　revenge。　　The　cowardly　wretch　gave　a　sign　to　two　or　three　companions；　who　surrounded　the　victim　and　robbed　him　of　all　means　of　escape。　　The　poor　old　man　looked　fixedly；at　his　assassin；　and　asked　him　what　he　wanted。　'I　want　you　to　lose　your　life　at　my　hands；　as　I　lost　my　case　at　yours！'　cried　the　murderer；　and　leaving　him　no　time　to　answer；　he　ran　him　through　with　his　sword。　　Then　the　rest　fell　upon　the　poor　man；　who　did　not　even　try　to　call　for　help；　and　his　body　was　riddled　with　wounds　and　horribly　mutilated；　and　then　left　bathed　in　its　blood。〃

〃Terrible！〃　murmured　the　queen；　covering　her　face。

〃It　was　only　their　first　effort：　the　proscription　lists　are　already　full：　Andre　must　needs　have　blood　to　celebrate　his　accession　to　the　throne　of　Naples。　　And　do　you　know；　Joan；　whose　name　stands　first　in　the　doomed　list？〃

〃Whose？〃　cried　the　queen；　shuddering　from　head　to　foot。

〃Mine；〃　said　the　count　calmly。

〃Yours！〃　cried　Joan；　drawing　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　〃are　you　to　be　killed　next！　　Oh；　be　careful；　Andre；　you　have　pronounced　your　own　death…sentence。　　Long　have　I　turned　aside　the　dagger　pointing　to　your　breast；　but　you　put　an　end　to　all　my　patience。　　Woe　to　you；　Prince　of　Hungary！　the　blood　which　you　have　spilt　shall　fall　on　your　own　head。〃

As　she　spoke　she　had　lost　her　pallor：　her　lovely　face　was　fired　with　revenge；　her　eyes　flashed　lightning。　　This　child　of　sixteen　was　terrible　to　behold：　she　pressed　her　lover's　hand　with　convulsive　tenderness；　and　clung　to　him　as　if　she　would　screen　him　with　her　own　body。

〃Your　anger　is　awakened　too　late；〃　said　he　gently　and　sadly；　for　at　this　moment　Joan　seemed　so　lovely　that　he　could　reproach　her　with　nothing。　　〃You　'do　not　know　that　his　mother　has　left　him　a　talisman　preserving　him　from　sword　and　poison？〃

〃He　will　die；〃　said　Joan　firmly：　the　smile　that　lighted　up　her　face　was　so　unnatural　that　the　count　was　dismayed；　and　dropped　his　eyes。

The　next　day　the　young　Queen　of　Naples；　lovelier；　more　smiling　than　ever；　sitting　carelessly　in　a　graceful　attitude　beside　a　window　which　looked　out　on　the　magnificent　view　of　the　bay；　was　busy　weaving　a　cord　of　silk　and　gold。　　The　sun　had　run　nearly　two…thirds　of　his　fiery　course；　and　was　gradually　sinking　his　rays　in　the　clear　blue　waters　where　Posilippo's　head　is　reflected　with　its　green　and　flowery　crown。　　A　warm；　balmy　breeze　that　had　passed　over　the　orange　trees　of　Sorrento　and　Amalfi　felt　deliciously　refreshing　to　the　inhabitants　of　the　capital；　who　had　succumbed　to　torpor　in　the　enervating　softness　of　the　day。　　The　whole　town　was　waki