the bravo of venice-第4章

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daggers　to　remain　idle　in　their　sheaths。　　This　proceeded　partly　from

his　not　being　as　yet　sufficiently　acquainted　with　the　windings　and

turnings；　the　bye…lanes　and　private　alleys　of　the　town；　and　partly

because　he　had　hitherto　found　no　customers；　whose　murderous　designs

stood　in　need　of　his　helping　hand。



This　want　of　occupation　was　irksome　to　him　in　the　extreme；　he　panted

for　action；　and　was　condemned　to　indolence。



With　a　melancholy　heart　did　he　roam　through　Venice；　and　number　every

step　with　a　sigh。　　He　frequented　the　public　places；　the　taverns；　the

gardens；　and　every　scene　which　was　dedicated　to　amusement。　　But

nowhere　could　he　find　what　ho　soughttranquillity。



One　evening　he　had　loitered　beyond　the　other　visitants　in　a　public

garden；　situated　on　one　of　the　most　beautiful　of　the　Venetian

islands。　　He　strolled　from　arbour　to　arbour；　threw　himself　down　on

the　sea…shore；　and　watched　the　play　of　the　waves　as　they　sparkled　in

the　moonshine。



〃Four　years　ago；〃　said　he；　with　a　sigh；　〃just　such　a　heavenly

evening　was　it；　that　I　stole　from　Valeria's　lips　the　first　kiss；　and

heard　from　Valeria's　lips　for　the　first　time　the　avowal　that　she

loved　me。〃



He　was　silent；　and　abandoned　himself　to　the　melancholy　recollections

which　thronged　before　his　mind's　eye。



Everything　around　him　was　so　calm；　so　silent！　　Not　a　single　zephyr

sighed　among　the　blades　of　grass；　but　a　storm　raged　in　the　bosom　of

Abellino。



〃Four　years　ago　could　I　have　believed　that　a　time　would　come　when　I

should　play　the　part　of　a　bravo　in　Venice！　　Oh；　where　are　they

flown；　the　golden　hopes　and　plans　of　glory　which　smiled　upon　me　in

the　happy　days　of　my　youth？　　I　am　a　bravo：　　to　be　a　beggar　were　to

be　something　better。〃



〃When　my　good　old　father；　in　the　enthusiasm　of　paternal　vanity；　so

oft　threw　his　arms　around　my　neck；　and　cried；　'My　boy；　thou　wilt

render　the　name　of　Rosalvo　glorious！'　　God；　as　I　listened；　how　was

my　blood　on　fire？　　What　thought　I　not；　what　that　was　good　and　great

did　I　not　promise　myself　to　do！　　The　father　is　dead；　and　the　son　is

a　Venetian　bravo！　　When　my　preceptors　praised　and　admired　me；　and；

carried　away　by　the　warmth　of　their　feelings；　clapped　my　shoulder；

and　exclaimed；　'Count；　thou　wilt　immortalise　the　ancient　race　of

Rosalvo！'　　Ha；　in　those　blessed　moments　of　sweet　delirium；　how

bright　and　beauteous　stood　futurity　before　me！　　When；　happy　in　the

performance　of　some　good　deed；　I　returned　home；　and　saw　Valeria

hasten　to　receive　me　with　open　arms；　and　when；　while　she　clasped　me

to　her　bosom　I　heard　her　whisper　'Oh；　who　could　forbear　to　love　the

great　Rosalvo？'　　God！　oh；　God！　　Away；　away；　glorious　visions　of　the

past。　　To　look　on　you　drives　me　mad！〃



He　was　again　silent；　he　bit　his　lips　in　fury；　raised　one　emaciated

hand　to　heaven；　and　struck　his　forehead　violently　with　the　other。



〃An　assassin；　the　slave　of　cowards　and　rascals；　the　ally　of　the

greatest　villains　that　the　Venetian　sun　ever　shines　upon；　such　is

now　the　great　Rosalvo。　　Fie；　ah；　fie　on't；　and　yet　to　this　wretched

lot　hath　fatality　condemned　me。〃



Suddenly　he　sprang　from　the　ground　after　a　long　silence；　his　eyes

sparkled；　his　countenance　was　changed；　he　drew　his　breath　easier。



〃Yes；　by　Heaven；　yes。　　Great　as　Count　Rosalvo；　that　can　I　be　no

longer；　but　from　being　great　as　a　Venetian　bravo；　what　prevents　me？

Souls　in　bliss；〃　he　exclaimed；　and　sank　on　his　knee；　while　he　raised

his　folded　hands　to　heaven；　as　if　about　to　pronounce　the　most　awful

oath；　〃Spirit　of　my　father；　spirit　of　Valeria；　I　will　not　become

unworthy　of　you。　　Hear　me；　if　your　ghosts　are　permitted　to　wander

near　me；　hear　me　swear　that　the　bravo　shall　not　disgrace　the　origin；

nor　render　vain　the　hopes　which　soothed　you　in　the　bitterness　of

death。　　No；　sure　as　I　live；　I　will　be　the　only　dealer　in　this

miserable　trade；　and　posterity　shall　be　compelled　to　honour　that

name；　which　my　actions　shall　render　illustrious。〃



He　bowed　his　forehead　till　it　touched　the　earth；　and　his　tears

flowed　plenteously。　　Vast　conceptions　swelled　his　soul；　he　dwelt　on

wondrous　views；　till　their　extent　bewildered　his　brain；　yet　another

hour　elapsed；　and　he　sprang　from　the　earth　to　realise　them。



〃I　will　enter　into　no　compact　against　human　nature　with　five

miserable　cut…throats。　　ALONE　will　I　make　the　Republic　tremble；　and

before　eight　days　are　flown；　these　murderous　knaves　shall　swing　upon

a　gibbet。　　Venice　shall　no　longer　harbour　FIVE　banditti；　ONE　and　ONE

only　shall　inhabit　here；　and　that　one　shall　beard　the　Doge　himself；

shall　watch　over　right　and　wrong；　and　according　as　he　judges；　shall

reward　and　punish。　　Before　eight　days　are　flown；　the　State　shall　be

purified　from　the　presence　of　these　outcasts　of　humanity；　and　then

shall　I　stand　here　alone。　　Then　must　every　villain　in　Venice；　who

hitherto　has　kept　the　daggers　of　my　companions　in　employment；　have

recourse　to　me；　then　shall　I　know　the　names　and　persons　of　all　those

cowardly　murderers；　of　all　those　illustrious　profligates；　with　whom

Matteo　and　his　companions　carry　on　the　trade　of　blood。　　And　then

Abellino！　　Abellino；　that　is　the　name。　　Hear　it；　Venice；　hear　it；

and　tremble。〃



Intoxicated　with　the　wildness　of　his　hopes；　he　rushed　out　of　the

garden。　　He　summoned　a　gondolier；　threw　himself　into　the　boat；　and

hastened　to　the　dwelling　of　Cinthia；　where　the　inhabitants　already

were　folded　in　the　arms　of　sleep。







CHAPTER　VI：　　ROSABELLA；　THE　DOGE'S　LOVELY　NIECE。







〃Hark；　comrade；〃　said　Matteo　the　next　morning　to　Abellino；　〃to…day

thou　shalt　make　thy　first　step　in　our　profession。〃



〃To…day！〃　hoarsely　murmured　Abellino；　〃and　on　whom　am　I　to　show　my

skill？〃



〃Nay；　to　say　truth；　'tis　but　a　woman；　but　one　must　not　give　too

difficult　a　task　to　a　young　beginner。　　I　will　myself　accompany　you；

and　see　how　you　conduct　yourself　in　the　first　trial。〃



〃Hum！〃　said　Abellino；　and　measured　Matteo　with　his　eye　from　head　to

foot。



〃To…day；　about　four　o'clock；　thou　shalt　follow　me　to　Dolabella's

gardens；　which　are　situated　on　the　south　side　of　Venice。　　We　must

both　be　disguised；　you　understand。　　In　these　gardens　are　excellent

baths；　and　after　using　the　baths；　the　Doge's　niece；　the　lovely

Rosabella　of　Corfu；　frequently　walks　without　attendants。　　And　then

you　conceive　me？〃



〃And　you　will　accompany　me？〃



〃I　will　be　a　spectator　of　your　first　adventure；　'tis　thus　I　deal　by

every　one。〃



〃And　how　many　inches　deep　must　I　plunge　my　dagger？〃



〃To　the　hilt；　boy；　to　the　very　hilt！　　Her　death　is　required；　and　the

payment　will　be　princely；　Rosabella　in　the　grave；　we　are　rich　for

life。〃



Every　other　point　was　soon　adjusted。　　Noon　was　now　past；　the　clock

in　the　neighbouring　church　of　the　Benedictines　struck　four；　and

Mattes　and　Abellino　were　already　forth。　　They　arrived　at　the　gardens

of　Dolabella；　which　that　day　were　unusually　crowded。　　Every　shady

avenue　was　thronged　with　people　of　both　sexes；　every　arbour　was

occupied　by　persons　most　distinguished　in　Venice。　　In　every　corner

sighed　lovesick　couples；　as　they　waited　for　the　wished　approach　of

twilight；　and　on　every　side　did　strains　of　vocal　and　instrumental

music　pour　their　harmony　on　the　enchanted　ear。



Abellino　mingled　with　the　crowd。　　A　most　respectable　looking　peruke

concealed　the　repulsive　ugliness　of　his　features；　he　imitated　the

walk　and　manners　of　a　gouty　old　man；　and　supported　himself　by　a

crutch；　as　he　walked　slowly　through　the　assembly。　　His　habit；　richly

embroidered；　procured　for　him　universally　a　good　reception；　and　no

one　scrupled　to　enter　into　conversation　with　him　respecting　the

weather；　the　commerce　of　the　Republic；　or　the　designs　of　its

enemies；　and　on　none　of　these　subjects　was　Abellino　found　incapable

of　sustaining　the　discourse。



By　these　means　he　soon　contrived　to　gain　intelligence　that　Rosabella

was　certainly　in　the　gardens；　how　she　was　habited；　and　in　what

quarter　he　was　most　likely　to　find　her。



Thither　he　immediately　bent　his　course；　and　hard　at　his　heels

followed　Matteo。



Alone；　and　in　the　most　retired　arbour；　sat　Rosabella　of　Corfu；　the

fairest　maid　in　Venice。



Abellino　drew　near　the　arbour；　he　tottered；　as　he　passed　its

entrance；　like　one　oppressed　with　sudden　faintness；　and　attracted

Rosabella's　attention。



〃Alas；　alas！〃　cried　he；　〃is　there　no　one　at　hand　who　will　take

compassion　on　the　infirmity　of　a　poor　old　man？〃



The　Doge's　fair　niece　quitted　the　arbour　hastily；　and　flew　to　give

assistance　to　the　sufferer。



〃What　ails　you；　my　good　father？〃　she　inquired　in　a　melodious　voice；

and　with　a　look　of　benevolent　anxiety。



Abellino　pointed　towards　the　arbour；　Rosabella　led　him　in；　and

placed　him　on　a　seat　of　turf。



〃God　reward　you；　lady；〃　stammered　Abellino；　faintly。　　He　raised　his

eyes；　they　met　Rosabella's；　and　a　blush　crimsoned　her　pale　cheeks。



Rosabella　stood　in　silence　before　the　disguised　assassin；　and

trembled　with　tender　concern　for　the　old　man's　illness；　and　oh；　that

expression　of　interest　ever　makes　a　lovely　women　look　so　much　more

lovely！　　She　bent　her　delicate　form　over　the　man　who　was　bribed　to

murder　her；　and　after　a　while　asked　him；　in　gentlest　tone；　〃Are　you

not　better？〃



〃Better？〃　stammered　the　deceiver；　with　a　feeble　voice；　〃betteroh；

yes；　yes；　yes。　　Youyou　are　the　Doge's　niecethe　noble　Rosabella

of　Corfu？〃



〃The　same；　my　good　old　man。〃



〃Oh；　lady；　I　have　somewhat　to　tell　you。　　Be　on　your　guard；　Start

not！　　What　I　would　say　is　of　the　utmost　consequence；　and　demands　the

utmost　prudence。　　Ah；　God；　that　there　should　live　men　so　cruel！

Lady；　your　life　is　in　danger。〃



The　maiden　started　back；　the　colour　fled　from　her　cheeks。



〃Do　you　wish　to　behold　your　assassin？　　You　shall　not　die；　but　if　you

value　your　life；　be　silent。〃



Rosabella　knew　not　what　to　think；　the　presence　of　the　old　man

terrified　her。



〃Fear　nothing；　lady；　fear　nothing；　you　have　nothing　to　fear；　while　I

am　with　you。　　Before　you　quit　this　arbour　you　shall　see　the　assassin

expire　at　your　feet。〃



Rosabella　made　a　movement　as　if　she　would　have　fled；　but　suddenly

the　person　who　sat　beside　her　was　no　longer　an　infirm　old　man。　　He

who　a　minute　before　had　scarcely　strength　to　mutter　out　a　few

sentences；　and　reclined　against　the　arbour　trembling　like　an　aspen；

sprang　up　with　the　force　of　a　giant；　and　drew　her　back　with　one　arm。



〃For　the　love　of　heaven！〃　she　cried；　〃release　me。　　Let　me　fly！〃



〃Lady；　fear　nothing；　_I_　protect　you。〃　　This　said；　Abellino　placed　a

whistle　at　his　lips；　and　blew　it　shrilly。



Instantly　sprang　Matteo　from　his　concealment　in　a　neighbouring　clump

of　trees；　and　rushed　into　the　arbour。　　Abellino　threw　Rosabella　on

the　bank　of　turf；　advanced　a　few　steps　to　meet　Matteo；　and　plunged

his　dagger　in　his　heart。



Without　uttering　a　single　cry；　sank　the　banditti　captain　at　the　feet

of　Abellino：　　the　death…