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hundred or so of phrases which every musician has at his command； a
more or less agreeable form of babble which most composers live in。 We
listen to their strains； their would…be melodies； with more or less
satisfaction； but absolutely nothing is left in our mind； by the end
of the century they are forgotten。 But the nations； from the beginning
of time till our own day； have cherished as a precious treasure
certain strains which epitomize their instincts and habits； I might
almost say their history。 Listen to one of these primitive tones；the
Gregorian chant； for instance； is； in sacred song； the inheritance of
the earliest peoples；and you will lose yourself in deep dreaming。
Strange and immense conceptions will unfold within you； in spite of
the extreme simplicity of these rudimentary relics。 And once or twice
in a centurynot oftener； there arises a Homer of music； to whom God
grants the gift of being ahead of his age； men who can compact
melodies full of accomplished facts； pregnant with mighty poetry。
Think of this； remember it。 The thought； repeated by you； will prove
fruitful； it is melody； not harmony； that can survive the shocks of
time。
〃The music of this oratorio contains a whole world of great and sacred
things。 A work which begins with that introduction and ends with that
prayer is immortalas immortal as the Easter hymn； /O filii et
filioe/； as the /Dies iroe/ of the dead； as all the songs which in
every land have outlived its splendor； its happiness； and its ruined
prosperity。〃
The tears the Duchess wiped away as she quitted her box showed plainly
that she was thinking of the Venice that is no more； and Vendramin
kissed her hand。
The performance ended with the most extraordinary chaos of noises：
abuse and hisses hurled at Genovese and a fit of frenzy in praise of
la Tinti。 It was a long time since the Venetians had had so lively an
evening。 They were warmed and revived by that antagonism which is
never lacking in Italy； where the smallest towns always throve on the
antagonistic interests of two factions： the Geulphs and Ghibellines
everywhere； the Capulets and the Montagues at Verona； the Geremei and
the Lomelli at Bologna； the Fieschi and the Doria at Genoa； the
patricians and the populace； the Senate and tribunes of the Roman
republic； the Pazzi and the Medici at Florence； the Sforza and the
Visconti at Milan； the Orsini and the Colonna at Rome；in short；
everywhere and on every occasion there has been the same impulse
Out in the streets there were already /Genovists/ and /Tintists/。
The Prince escorted the Duchess； more depressed than ever by the loves
of Osiride； she feared some similar disaster to her own； and could
only cling to Emilio； as if to keep him next her heart。
〃Remember your promise；〃 said Vendramin。 〃I will wait for you in the
square。〃
Vendramin took the Frenchman's arm； proposing that they should walk
together on the Piazza San Marco while awaiting the Prince。
〃I shall be only too glad if he should not come；〃 he added。
This was the text for a conversation between the two； Vendramin
regarding it as a favorable opportunity for consulting the physician；
and telling him the singular position Emilio had placed himself in。
The Frenchman did as every Frenchman does on all occasions： he
laughed。 Vendramin； who took the matter very seriously； was angry； but
he was mollified when the disciple of Majendie； of Cuvier； of
Dupuytren； and of Brossais assured him that he believed he could cure
the Prince of his high…flown raptures； and dispel the heavenly poetry
in which he shrouded Massimilla as in a cloud。
〃A happy form of misfortune！〃 said he。 〃The ancients； who were not
such fools as might be inferred from their crystal heaven and their
ideas on physics； symbolized in the fable of Ixion the power which
nullifies the body and makes the spirit lord of all。〃
Vendramin and the doctor presently met Genovese； and with him the
fantastic Capraja。 The melomaniac was anxious to learn the real cause
of the tenor's /fiasco/。 Genovese； the question being put to him；
talked fast； like all men who can intoxicate themselves by the
ebullition of ideas suggested to them by a passion。
〃Yes； signori； I love her； I worship her with a frenzy of which I
never believed myself capable； now that I am tired of women。 Women
play the mischief with art。 Pleasure and work cannot be carried on
together。 Clara fancies that I was jealous of her success； that I
wanted to hinder her triumph at Venice； but I was clapping in the
side…scenes； and shouted /Diva/ louder than any one in the house。〃
〃But even that；〃 said Cataneo； joining them； 〃does not explain why；
from being a divine singer； you should have become one of the most
execrable performers who ever piped air through his larynx； giving
none of the charm even which enchants and bewitches us。〃
〃I！〃 said the singer。 〃I a bad singer！ I who am the equal of the
greatest performers！〃
By this time； the doctor and Vendramin； Capraja； Cataneo； and Genovese
had made their way to the piazzetta。 It was midnight。 The glittering
bay； outlined by the churches of San Giorgio and San Paulo at the end
of the Giudecca； and the beginning of the Grand Canal； that opens so
mysteriously under the /Dogana/ and the church of Santa Maria della
Salute； lay glorious and still。 The moon shone on the barques along
the Riva de' Schiavoni。 The waters of Venice； where there is no tide；
looked as if they were alive； dancing with a myriad spangles。 Never
had a singer a more splendid stage。
Genovese； with an emphatic flourish； seemed to call Heaven and Earth
to witness； and then； with no accompaniment but the lapping waves； he
sang /Ombra adorata/； Crescentini's great air。 The song； rising up
between the statues of San Teodoro and San Giorgio； in the heart of
sleeping Venice lighted by the moon； the words； in such strange
harmony with the scene； and the melancholy passion of the singer； held
the Italians and the Frenchman spellbound。
At the very first notes； Vendramin's face was wet with tears。 Capraja
stood as motionless as one of the statues in the ducal palace。 Cataneo
seemed moved to some feeling。 The Frenchman； taken by surprise； was
meditative； like a man of science in the presence of a phenomenon that
upsets all his fundamental axioms。 These four minds； all so different；
whose hopes were so small； who believed in nothing for themselves or
after themselves； who regarded their own existence as that of a
transient and a fortuitous being；like the little life of a plant or
a beetle；had a glimpse of Heaven。 Never did music more truly merit
the epithet divine。 The consoling notes； as they were poured out；
enveloped their souls in soft and soothing airs。 On these vapors；
almost visible； as it seemed to the listeners； like the marble shapes
about them in the silver moonlight； angels sat whose wings； devoutly
waving； expressed adoration and love。 The simple； artless melody
penetrated to the soul as with a beam of light。 It was a holy passion！
But the singer's vanity roused them from their emotion with a terrible
shock。
〃Now； am I a bad singer？〃 he exclaimed； as he ended。
His audi