the bravo of venice-第6章

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with　all　our　might　and　main。　　Things　must　change；　or　if　they　do　not；

take　my　word　for　it；　my　friends；　this　world　is　no　longer　a　world　for

us。



Memmo。Nay；　it's　a　melancholy　truth；　that　during　the　last　half…year

my　creditors　have　been　ready　to　beat　my　door　down　with　knocking。　　I

am　awakened　out　of　my　sleep　in　the　morning；　and　lulled　to　rest　again

at　night　with　no　other　music　than　their　eternal　clamour。



　Parozzi。Ha！　ha！　ha！　　As　for　me；　I　need　not　tell　you　how　I　am

suited。



Falieri。Had　we　been　less　extravagant；　we　might　at　this　moment　have

been　sitting　quietly　in　our　palaces；　but　as　things　stand　now　…



Parozzi。Well；　as　things　stand　nowI　verily　believe　that　Falieri

is　going　to　moralise。



Contarino。That　is　ever　the　way　with　old　sinners　when　they　have

lost　the　power　to　sin　any　longer。　　Then　they　are　ready　enough　to

weep　over　their　past　life；　and　talk　loudly　about　repentance　and

reformation。　　Now；　for　my　own　part；　I　am　perfectly　well　satisfied

with　my　wanderings　from　the　common　beaten　paths　of　morality　and

prudence。　　They　serve　to　convince　me　that　I　am　not　one　of　your

every…day　men；　who　sit　cramped　up　in　the　chimney…corner；　lifeless；

phlegmatic；　and　shudder　when　they　hear　of　any　extraordinary

occurrence。　　Nature　evidently　has　intended　me　to　be　a　libertine；　and

I　am　determined　to　fulfil　my　destination。　　Why；　if　spirits　like　ours

were　not　produced　every　now　and　then；　the　world　would　absolutely　go

fast　asleep；　but　we　rouse　it　by　deranging　the　old　order　of　things；

force　mankind　to　quicken　their　snail's　pace；　furnish　a　million　of

idlers　with　riddles　which　they　puzzle　their　brains　about　without

being　able　to　comprehend；　infuse　some　hundreds　of　new　ideas　into　the

heads　of　the　great　multitude；　and；　in　short；　are　as　useful　to　the

world　as　tempests　are；　which　dissipate　those　exhalations　with　which

Nature　otherwise　would　poison　herself。



Falieri。Excellent　sophistry；　by　my　honour。　　Why；　Contarino；

ancient　Rome　has　had　an　irreparable　loss　in　not　having　numbered　you

among　her　orators。　　It　is　a　pity；　though；　that　there　should　be　so

little　that's　solid　wrapped　up　in　so　many　fine…sounding　words。　　Now

learn　that　while　you；　with　this　rare　talent　of　eloquence；　have　been

most　unmercifully　wearing　out　the　patience　of　your　good…natured

hearers；　Falieri　has　been　in　ACTION。　　The　Cardinal　Gonzaga　is

discontented　with　the　governmentHeaven　knows　what　Andreas　has　done

to　make　him　so　vehemently　his　enemybut；　in　short；　Gonzaga　now

belongs　to　our　party。



Parozzi　（with　astonishment　and　delight）。Falieri；　are　you　in　your

senses？　　The　Cardinal　Gonzaga？



Falieri。Is　ours；　and　ours　both　body　and　soul。　　I　confess　I　was

first　obliged　to　rhodomontade　a　good　deal　to　him　about　our

patriotism；　our　glorious　designs；　our　love　for　freedom；　and　so

forth；　in　short；　Gonzaga　is　a　hypocrite；　and　therefore　is　Gonzaga

the　fitter　for　us。



Contarino　（clasping　Falieri's　hand）。Bravo；　my　friend！　　Venice

shall　see　a　second　edition　of　Catiline's　conspiracy。　　Now；　then；　it

is　MY　turn　to　speak；　for　I　have　not　been　idle　since　we　parted。　　In

truth；　I　have　as　yet　CAUGHT　nothing；　but　I　have　made　myself　master

of　an　all…powerful　net；　with　which　I　doubt　not　to　capture　the　best

half　of　Venice。　　You　all　know　the　Marchioness　Olympia？



Parozzi。Does　not　each　of　us　keep　a　list　of　the　handsomest　women　in

the　Republic；　and　can　we　have　forgotten　number　one？



Falieri。Olympia　and　Rosabella　are　the　goddesses　of　Venice；　our

youths　burn　incense　on　no　other　altars。



Contarino。Olympia　is　my　own。



Falieri。How？



Parozzi。Olympia？



Contarino。Why；　how　now？　　Why　stare　ye　as　had　I　prophesied　to　you

that　the　skies　were　going　to　fall？　　I　tell　you　Olympia's　heart　is

mine；　and　that　I　possess　her　entire　and　most　intimate　confidence。

Our　connection　must　remain　a　profound　secret；　but　depend　on　it；

whatever　_I_　wish　SHE　wishes　also；　and　you　know　she　can　make　half

the　nobility　in　Venice　dance　to　the　sound　of　her　pipe；　let　her　play

what　tune　she　pleases。



Parozzi。Contarino；　you　are　our　master。



Contarino。And　you　had　not　the　least　suspicion　how　powerful　an　ally

I　was　labouring　to　procure　for　you？



Parozzi。I　must　blush　for　myself　while　I　listen　to　you；　since　as

yet　I　have　done　nothing。　　Yet　this　I　must　say　in　my　excuse：　　Had

Matteo；　bribed　by　my　gold；　accomplished　Rosabella's　murder；　the　Doge

would　have　been　robbed　of　that　chain　with　which　he　holds　the　chief

men　in　Venice　attached　to　his　government。　　Andreas　would　have　no

merit；　were　Rosabella　once　removed。　　The　most　illustrious　families

would　care　no　longer　for　his　friendship　with　their　hopes　of　a

connection　with　him　by　means　of　his　niece　buried　in　her　grave。

Rosabella　will　one　day　be　the　Doge's　heiress。



Memmo。All　that　I　can　do　for　you　in　this　business　is　to　provide　you

with　pecuniary　supplies。　　My　old　miserable　uncle；　whose　whole

property　becomes　mine　at　his　death；　has　brimful　coffers；　and　the　old

miser　dies　whenever　I　say　the　word。



　Falieri。You　have　suffered　him　to　live　too　long　already。



Memmo。Why；　I　never　have　been　able　to　make　up　my　mind　entirely　to

You　would　scarcely　believe　it；　friends；　but　at　times　I　am　so

hypochondriac；　that　I　could　almost　fancy　I　feel　twinges　of

conscience。



Contarino。Indeed。　　Then　take　my　advice；　go　into　a　monastery。



Memmo。Our　care　first　must　be　to　find　out　our　old　acquaintances；

Matteo's　companions：　　yet；　having　hitherto　always　transacted

business　with　them　through　their　captain；　I　know　not　where　they　are

to　be　met　with。



Parozzi。As　soon　as　they　are　found；　their　first　employment　must　be

the　removal　of　the　Doge's　trio　of　advisers。



Contarino。That　were　an　excellent　idea；　if　it　were　as　easily　done

as　said。　　Well；　then；　my　friends；　this　principal　point　at　least　is

decided。　　Either　we　will　bury　our　debts　under　the　ruins　of　the

existing　constitution　of　the　Republic；　or　make　Andreas　a　gift　of　our

heads　towards　strengthening　the　walls　of　the　building。　　In　either

case；　we　shall　at　least　obtain　quiet。　　Necessity；　with　her　whip　of

serpents；　has　driven　us　to　the　very　highest　point　of　her　rock；

whence　we　must　save　ourselves　by　some　act　of　extraordinary　daring；

or　be　precipitated　on　the　opposite　side　into　the　abyss　of　shame　and

eternal　oblivion。　　The　next　point　to　be　considered　is；　how　we　may

best　obtain　supplies　for　our　necessary　expenses；　and　induce　others

to　join　with　us　in　our　plans。　　For　this　purpose　we　must　use　every

artifice　to　secure　in　our　interests　the　courtesans　of　the　greatest

celebrity　in　Venice。　　What　WE　should　be　unable　to　effect　by　every

power　of　persuasion；　banditti　by　their　daggers；　and　princes　by　their

treasuries；　can　one　of　those　Phrynes　accomplish　with　a　single　look。

Where　the　terrors　of　the　scaffold　are　without　effect；　and　the

exhortations　of　the　priests　are　heard　with　coldness；　a　wanton　look

and　a　tender　promise　often　perform　wonders。　　The　bell　which　sounded

the　hour　of　assignation　has　often　rang　the　knell　of　the　most　sacred

principles　and　most　steadfast　resolutions。　　But　should　you　either

fail　to　gain　the　mastery　over　the　minds　of　these　women；　or　fear　to

be　yourselves　entangled　in　the　nets　which　you　wish　to　spread　for

others；　in　these　cases　you　must　have　recourse　to　the　holy　father

confessors。　　Flatter　the　pride　of　these　insolent　friars；　paint　for

them　upon　the　blank　leaf　of　futurity　bishops'　mitres；　patriarchal

missions；　the　hats　of　cardinals；　and　the　keys　of　St。　Peter；　my　life

upon　it；　they　will　spring　at　the　bait；　and　you　will　have　them

completely　at　your　disposal。　　These　hypocrites　who　govern　the

consciences　of　the　bigoted　Venetians；　hold　man　and　woman；　the　noble

and　the　mendicant；　the　Doge　and　the　gondolier；　bound　fast　in　the

chains　of　superstition；　by　which　they　can　head　them　wheresoever　it

best　suits　their　pleasure。　　It　will　save　us　tons　of　gold　in　gaining

over　proselytes；　and　keeping　their　consciences　quiet　when　gained；　if

we　can　but　obtain　the　assistance　of　the　confessors；　whose　blessings

and　curses　pass　with　the　multitude　for　current　coin。　　Now；　then；　to

work；　comrades；　and　so　farewell。







CHAPTER　IX：　　CINTHIA'S　DWELLING。







Scarcely　had　Abellino　achieved　the　bloody　deed　which　employed　every

tongue　in　Venice；　when　he　changed　his　dress　and　whole　appearance

with　so　much　expedition　and　success　as　to　prevent　the　slightest

suspicion　of　his　being　Matteo's　murderer。　　He　quitted　the　gardens

unquestioned；　nor　left　the　least　trace　which　could　lead　to　a

discovery。



He　arrived　at　Cinthia's　dwelling。　　It　was　already　evening。　　Cinthia

opened　the　door；　and　Abellino　entered　the　common　apartment。



〃Where　are　the　rest？〃　said　he　in　a　savage　tone　of　voice　whose　sound

made　Cinthia　tremble。



〃They　have　been　asleep；〃　she　answered；　〃since　mid…day。　　Probably

they　mean　to　go　out　on　some　pursuit　to…night。〃　　Abellino　threw

himself　into　a　chair；　and　seemed　to　be　lost　in　thought。



〃But　why　are　you　always　so　gloomy；　Abellino？〃　said　Cinthia；　drawing

near　him；　〃it's　that　which　makes　you　so　ugly。　　Prithee　away　with

those　frowns；　they　make　your　countenance　look　worse　than　nature　made

it？〃



Abellino　gave　no　answer。



〃Really；　you　are　enough　to　frighten　a　body！　　Come；　now；　let　us　be

friends；　Abellino；　I　begin　not　to　dislike　you；　and　to　endure　your

appearance；　and　I　don't　know　but〃



〃Go；　wake　the　sleepers！〃　roared　the　bravo。



　〃The　sleepers？　　Pshaw；　let　them　sleep　on；　the　stupid　rogues。　　Sure

you　are　not　afraid　to　be　alone　with　me？　　Mercy　on　me；　one　would

think　I　looked　as　terrible　as　yourself？　　Do　I？　　Nay；　look　on　me；

Abellino。〃



Cinthia；　to　say　the　truth；　was　by　no　means　an　ill…looking　girl；　her

eyes　were　bright　and　expressive；　the　hair　fell　in　shining　ringlets

over　her　bosom；　her　lips　were　red　and　full；　and　she　bowed　them

towards　Abellino's。　　But　Abellino's　were　still　sacred　by　the　touch

of　Rosabella's　cheek。　　He　started　from　his　seat；　and　removed；　yet

gently；　Cinthia's　hand；　which　rested　on　his　shoulder。



〃Wake　the　sleepers；　my　good　girl；〃　said　he；　〃I　must　speak　with　them

this　moment。〃



Cinthia　hesitated。



〃Nay；　go；〃　said　he；　in　a　fierce　voice。



Cinthia　retired　in　silence；　yet　as　she　crossed　the　threshold；　she

stopped　for　an　instant　and　menaced　him　with　her　finger。



Abellino　strode　through　the　chamber　with　hasty　steps；　his　head

reclining　on　his　shoulder；　his　arms　folded　over　his　breast。



〃The　first　step　is　taken；〃　said　he　to　himself。　　〃There　is　one　moral

monster　the　less　on　earth。　　I　have　committed　no　sin　by　this　murder；

I　have　but　performed　a　sacred　duty。　　Aid　me；　thou　Great　and　Good；

for　arduous　is　the　task　before　me。　　Ah；　should　that　task　be　gone

through　with　success；　and　Rosabella　be　the　reward　of　my　labours

Rosabella？　　What；　shall　the　Doge's　niece　bestow　on　the　outcast

Abellino？　　Oh；　madman　that　I　am　to　hope　it；　never　can　I　reach　the

goal　of　my　wishes！　　No；　never　was　there　frenzy　to　equal　mine。　　To

attach　mysel