the bravo of venice-第18章

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handsome　Florentine　stood　before　the　whole　assembly；　dressed　in　the

habit　of　the　bravo　Abellino。



Abellino。Mark　me；　Rosabella！　　Seven　times　over；　and　seven　times

again；　will　I　change　my　appearance；　even　before　your　eyes；　and　that

so　artfully　that；　study　me　as　you　will；　the　transformation　shall

deceive　you。　　But　change　as　I　may；　of　one　thing　be　assured：　　I　am

the　man　whom　you　loved　as　Flodoardo。



The　Doge　gazed　and　listened　without　being　able　to　recover　from　his

confusion；　but　every　now　and　then　the　words　〃Dreadful！　dreadful！〃

escaped　from　his　lips；　and　he　wrung　his　hands　in　agony。　　Abellino

approached　Rosabella；　and　said　in　the　tone　of　supplication：

〃Rosabella；　wilt　thou　break　thy　promise？　　Am　I　no　longer　dear　to

thee？〃



Rosabella　was　unable　to　answer；　she　stood　like　one　changed　to　a

statue；　and　fixed　her　motionless　eyes　on　the　bravo。



Abellino　took　her　cold　hand　and　pressed　it　to　his　lips。



〃Rosabella；〃　said　he；　〃art　thou　still　mine？〃



Rosabella。Flodoardo；　oh！　that　I　had　never　loved；　had　never　seen

thee！



Abellino。Rosabella　wilt　thou　still　be　the　bride　of　Flodoardo？　wilt

thou　be　〃the　Bravo's　Bride？〃



Love　struggled　with　abhorrence　in　Rosabella's　bosom；　and　painful　was

the　contest。



Abellino。Hear　me；　beloved　one！　　It　was　for　thee　that　I　have

discovered　myselfthat　I　have　delivered　myself　into　the　hands　of

justice。　　For　theeoh；　what　would　I　not　do　for　thee！　　Rosabella；　I

wait　but　to　hear　one　syllable　from　your　lips；　speak　but　a　decisive

yes　or　no；　and　all　is　ended。　　Rosabella；　dost　thou　love　me　still？



And　still　she　answered　not；　but　she　threw　upon　him　a　look　innocent

and　tender　as　ever　beamed　from　the　eye　of　an　angel；　and　that　look

betrayed　but　too　plainly　that　the　miscreant　was　still　master　of　her

heart。　　She　turned　from　him　hastily；　threw　herself　into　Camilla's

arms；　and　exclaimed；　〃God　forgive　you；　man；　for　torturing　me　so

cruelly！〃



The　Doge　had　by　this　time　recovered　from　his　stupor。　　He　started

from　his　chair；　threats　flashed　from　his　eyes；　and　his　lips　trembled

with　passion。　　He　rushed　towards　Abellino；　but　the　senators　threw

themselves　in　his　passage；　and　held　him　back　by　force。　　In　the

meanwhile　the　bravo　advanced　towards　him　with　the　most　insolent

composure；　and　requested　him　to　calm　his　agitation。



〃Doge　of　Venice；〃　said　he；　〃will　you　keep　your　promise？　　That　you

gave　it　to　me；　these　noble　lords　and　ladies　can　testify。〃



Andreas。Monster！　miscreant！　　Oh！　how　artfully　has　this　plan　been

laid　to　ensnare　me！　　Tell　me；　Venetians；　to　SUCH　a　creditor　am　I

obliged　to　discharge　my　fearful　debt？　　Long　has　he　been　playing　a

deceitful　bloody　part；　the　bravest　of　our　citizens　have　fallen

beneath　his　dagger；　and　it　was　the　price　of　their　blood　which　has

enabled　him　to　act　the　nobleman　in　Venice。　　Then　comes　he　to　me　in

disguise　of　a　man　of　honour；　seduces　the　heart　of　my　unfortunate

Rosabella；　obtains　my　promise　by　an　artful　trick；　and　now　claims　the

maiden　for　his　bride；　in　the　hope　that　the　husband　of　the　Doge's

niece　will　easily　obtain　an　absolution　for　his　crimes。　　Tell　me；

Venetians；　ought　I　to　keep　my　word　with　this　miscreant？



All　the　Senators。No；　no；　by　no　means。



Abellino　（with　solemnity）。If　you　have　once　pledged　your　word；　you

ought　to　keep　it；　though　given　to　the　Prince　of　Darkness。　　Oh；　fie；

fie！　　Abellino；　how　shamefully　hast　thou　been　deceived　in　thy

reckoning。　　I　thought　I　had　to　do　with　men　of　honour。　　Oh！　how

grossly　have　I　been　mistaken。　　（In　a　terrible　voice。）Once　again；

and　for　the　last　time；　I　ask　you；　Doge　of　Venice；　wilt　thou　break

thy　princely　word？



Andreas　（in　the　tone　of　authority）。Give　up　your　arms。



Abellino。And　you　will　really　withhold　from　me　my　just　reward？

Shall　it　be　in　vain　that　I　delivered　Abellino　into　your　power？



Andreas。It　was　to　the　brave　Flodoardo　that　I　promised　Rosabella。

I　never　entered　into　any　engagement　with　the　murderer　Abellino。　　Let

Flodoardo　claim　my　niece；　and　she　is　his；　but　Abellino　can　have　no

claim　to　her。　　Again　I　say　lay　down　your　arms。



Abellino　（laughing　wildly）。The　murderer　Abellino；　say　you？　　Ho！

ho！　　Be　it　your　care　to　keep　your　own　promises；　and　trouble　not

yourself　about　my　murders；　they　are　MY　affair；　and　I　warrant　I　shall

find　a　word　or　two　to　say　in　defence　of　them；　when　the　judgment　day

arrives。



Gonzaga　（to　the　Doge）。What　dreadful　blasphemy。



Abellino。Oh；　good　Lord　Cardinal；　intercede　in　my　behalf；　you　know

me　well；　I　have　always　acted　by　you　like　a　man　of　honour；　that　at

least　you　cannot　deny。　　Say　a　word　in　my　favour；　then；　good　Lord

Cardinal。



Gonzaga　（angrily；　and　with　imperious　dignity）。Address　not　thyself

to　ME；　miscreant。　　What　canst　thou　and　I　have　to　do　together？

Venerable　Andreas；　delay　no　longer；　let　the　guards　be　called　in。



Abellino。What？　　Is　there　then　no　hope　for　me？　　Does　no　one　feel

compassion　for　the　wretched　Abellino？　　What！　NO　ONE？（a　pause）All

are　silent？ALL！　　'Tis　enough。　　Then　my　fate　is　decidedcall　in

your　guards。



Rosabella　（with　a　scream　of　agony；　springing　forward；　and　falling　at

the　feet　of　the　Doge）。Mercy；　mercy！　　Pardon　himpardon　ABELLINO！



Abellino　（in　rapture）。Sayest　thou　so？　　Ho！　ho！　then　an　angel　prays

for　Abellino　in　his　last　moments。



Rosabella　（clasping　the　Doge's　knees）。Have　mercy　on　him；　my

friend；　my　father；　he　is　a　sinner；　but　leave　him　to　the　justice　of

Heaven。　　He　is　a　sinner；　but　oh；　Rosabella　loves　him　still。



Andreas　（pushing　her　away　with　indignation）。Away；　unworthy　girl；

you　rave。



Abellino　folded　his　arms；　gazed　with　eagerness　on　what　was　passing；

and　tears　gushed　into　his　brilliant　eyes。　　Rosabella　caught　the

Doge's　hand；　as　he　turned　to　leave　her；　kissed　it　twice；　and　said；

〃If　you　have　no　mercy　on　HIM；　then　have　none　on　ME。　　The　sentence

which　you　pass　on　Abellino　will　be　mine；　'tis　for　my　own　life　that　I

plead　as　well　as　Abellino's。　　Father；　dear　father；　reject　not　my

suit；　but　spare　him。〃



Andreas　（in　an　angry　and　decided　tone）。Abellino　dies。



Abellino。And　can　you　look　on　with　dry　eyes　while　that　innocent

dove　bleeds　at　your　feet？　　Go；　barbarian；　you　never　loved　Rosabella

as　she　deserved。　　Now　she　is　yours　no　longer。　　She　is　mine；　she　is

Abellino's。



He　raised　her　from　the　ground；　and　pressed　her　pale　lips　against　his

own。



〃Rosabella；　thou　art　mine；　death　alone　can　part　us。　　Thou　lovest　me

as　I　WOULD　be　loved；　I　am　blest　whate'er　may　happen；　and　can　now　set

fortune　at　defiance。　　To　business；　then。〃



He　replaced　Rosabella；　who　was　almost　fainting；　on　the　bosom　of

Camilla；　then　advanced　into　the　middle　of　the　chamber；　and　addressed

the　assembly　with　an　undaunted　air　…



〃Venetians；　you　are　determined　to　deliver　me　up　to　the　axe　of

justice；　there　is　for　me　no　hope　of　mercy。　　'Tis　well；　act　as　you

please；　but　ere　you　sit　in　judgment　over　ME；　signors；　I　shall　take

the　liberty　of　passing　sentence　upon　some　few　of　YOU。　　Now　mark　me；

you　see　in　me　the　murderer　of　Conari；　the　murderer　of　Paolo

Manfrone；　the　murderer　of　Lomellino。　　I　deny　it　not。　　But　would　you

know　the　illustrious　persons　who　paid　me　for　the　use　of　my　dagger？〃



With　these　words　he　put　a　whistle　to　his　lips；　sounded　it；　and

instantly　the　doors　flew　open；　the　guards　rushed　in；　and　ere　they

had　time　to　recollect　themselves；　the　chief　conspirators　were　in

custody；　and　disarmed。



〃Guard　them　well；〃　said　Abellino；　in　a　terrible　voice　to　the

sentinels；　〃you　have　your　orders。　　Noble　Venetians；　look　on　these

villains；　it　is　to　them　that　you　are　indebted　for　the　loss　of　your

three　citizens。　　I　accuse　of　those　murders　one；　two；　three；　four；

and　my　good　Lord　Cardinal　there　has　the　honour　to　be　the　fifth。〃



Motionless　and　bewildered　stood　the　accused；　tale…telling　confusion

spoke　in　every　feature　that　the　charge　was　true；　and　no　one　was　bold

enough　to　contradict　Abellino。



〃What　can　all　this　mean？〃　asked　the　senators　of　each　other；　in　the

utmost　surprise　and　confusion。



〃This　is　all　a　shameful　artifice；〃　the　Cardinal　at　length　contrived

to　say；　〃the　villain；　perceiving　that　he　has　no　chance　of　escaping

punishment；　is　willing；　out　of　mere　resentment；　to　involve　us　in　his

destruction。〃



Contarino　（recovering　himself　）。In　the　wickedness　of　his　life　he

has　surpassed　all　former　miscreants；　and　now　he　is　trying　to　surpass

them　in　the　wickedness　of　his　death。



Abellino　（with　majesty）。Be　silent。　　I　know　your　whole　plot；　have

seen　your　list　of　proscriptions；　am　well　informed　of　your　whole

arrangement；　and　at　the　moment　that　I　speak　to　you　the　officers　of

justice　are　employed；　by　my　orders；　in　seizing　the　gentlemen　with

the　white　ribbons　round　their　arms；　who　this　very　night　intended　to

overturn　Venice。　　Be　silent；　for　defence　were　vain。



Andreas　（in　astonishment）Abellino；　what　is　the　meaning　of　all

this？



Abellino。Neither　more　nor　less　than　that　Abellino　has　discovered

and　defeated　a　conspiracy　against　the　constitution　of　Venice　and　the

life　of　its　Doge！　　The　bravo；　in　return　for　your　kind　intention　of

sending　him　to　destruction　in　a　few　hours；　has　preserved　you　from

it。



Vitalba　（to　the　accused）。Noble　Venetians；　you　are　silent　under

this　heavy　charge。



Abellino。They　are　wise；　for　no　defence　can　now　avail　them。　　Their

troops　are　already　disarmed；　and　lodged　in　separate　dungeons　of　the

State　prison；　visit　them　there；　and　you　will　learn　more。　　You　now

understand　probably　that　I　did　not　order　the　doors　of　this　saloon　to

be　guarded　for　the　purpose　of　seizing　the　terrible　bravo　Abellino；

but　of　taking　those　heroes　into　secure　custody。



And　now；　Venetians；　compare　together　YOUR　conduct　and　MINE。　　At　the

hazard　of　my　life　have　I　preserved　the　State　from　ruin。　　Disguised

as　a　bravo；　I　dared　to　enter　the　assembly　of　those　ruthless

villains；　whose　daggers　laid　Venice　waste。　　I　have　endured　for　your

sakes　storm；　and　rain；　and　frost；　and　heat；　I　have　watched　for　your

safety　while　you　were　sleeping。　　Venice　owes　to　my　care　her

constitution　and　your　lives；　and　yet　are　my　services　deserving　of　no

reward？　　All　this　have　I　done　for　Rosabella　of　Corfu；　and　yet　will

you　withhold　from　me　my　promised　bride？　　I　have　saved　you　from

death；　have　saved　the　honour　of　your　wives；　and　the　throats　of　your

innocent　children　from　the　knife　of　the　assassin。　　Men！　men！　and　yet

will　you　send　me　to　the　scaffold？



Look　on　this　list！　　See　how　many　among　you　would　have　bled　this

night；　had　it　not　been　for　Abellino；　and　see　where　the　miscreants

stand　by　whom　you　would　have　bled！　　Read　you　not　in　every　feature

that　they　are　already　condemned　by　heaven　and　their　own　conscience？

Does　a　single　mouth　unclose　itself　in　exculpation？　　Does　a　single

movement　of　the　head　give　the　lie　to　my　charge？　　Yet　the　truth　of

what　I　have　advanced　shall　be　made　still　more　evident。



He　turned　himself　to　the　conspirators



〃Mark　me！〃　said　he；　〃the　first　among　you　who　ackn