按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the wind wafted them away； as though he saw in their arabesques an
echo of this last thought。
In the distance he could now perceive the mauresque pinnacles that
crowned his palazzo； and he was sadder than ever。 The Duchess' gondola
had vanished in the Canareggio。
These fantastic pictures of a romantic and perilous existence； as the
outcome of his love； went out with his cigar； and his lady's gondola
no longer traced his path。 Then he saw the present in its real light：
a palace without a soul； a soul that had no effect on the body； a
principality without money； an empty body and a full hearta thousand
heartbreaking contradictions。 The hapless youth mourned for Venice as
she had been；as did Vendramini； even more bitterly； for it was a
great and common sorrow； a similar destiny； that had engendered such a
warm friendship between these two young men； the wreckage of two
illustrious families。
Emilio could not help dreaming of a time when the palazzo Memmi poured
out light from every window； and rang with music carried far away over
the Adriatic tide； when hundreds of gondolas might be seen tied up to
its mooring…posts； while graceful masked figures and the magnates of
the Republic crowded up the steps kissed by the waters； when its halls
and gallery were full of a throng of intriguers or their dupes； when
the great banqueting…hall； filled with merry feasters； and the upper
balconies furnished with musicians； seemed to harbor all Venice coming
and going on the great staircase that rang with laughter。
The chisels of the greatest artists of many centuries had sculptured
the bronze brackets supporting long…necked or pot…bellied Chinese
vases； and the candelabra for a thousand tapers。 Every country had
furnished some contribution to the splendor that decked the walls and
ceilings。 But now the panels were stripped of the handsome hangings；
the melancholy ceilings were speechless and sad。 No Turkey carpets； no
lustres bright with flowers； no statues； no pictures； no more joy； no
moneythe great means to enjoyment！ Venice； the London of the Middle
Ages； was falling stone by stone； man by man。 The ominous green weed
which the sea washes and kisses at the foot of every palace； was in
the Prince's eyes； a black fringe hung by nature as an omen of death。
And finally； a great English poet had rushed down on Venice like a
raven on a corpse； to croak out in lyric poetrythe first and last
utterance of social manthe burden of a /de profundis/。 English
poetry！ Flung in the face of the city that had given birth to Italian
poetry！ Poor Venice！
Conceive； then； of the young man's amazement when roused from such
meditations by Carmagnola's cry：
〃Serenissimo； the palazzo is on fire； or the old Doges have risen from
their tombs！ There are lights in the windows of the upper floor！〃
Prince Emilio fancied that his dream was realized by the touch of a
magic wand。 It was dusk； and the old gondolier could by tying up his
gondola to the top step； help his young master to land without being
seen by the bustling servants in the palazzo； some of whom were
buzzing about the landing…place like bees at the door of a hive。
Emilio stole into the great hall； whence rose the finest flight of
stairs in all Venice； up which he lightly ran to investigate the cause
of this strange bustle。
A whole tribe of workmen were hurriedly completing the furnishing and
redecoration of the palace。 The first floor； worthy of the antique
glories of Venice； displayed to Emilio's waking eyes the magnificence
of which he had just been dreaming； and the fairy had exercised
admirable taste。 Splendor worthy of a parvenu sovereign was to be seen
even in the smallest details。 Emilio wandered about without remark
from anybody； and surprise followed on surprise。
Curious； then； to know what was going forward on the second floor； he
went up； and found everything finished。 The unknown laborers；
commissioned by a wizard to revive the marvels of the Arabian nights
in behalf of an impoverished Italian prince； were exchanging some
inferior articles of furniture brought in for the nonce。 Prince Emilio
made his way into the bedroom； which smiled on him like a shell just
deserted by Venus。 The room was so charmingly pretty； so daintily
smart； so full of elegant contrivance； that he straightway seated
himself in an armchair of gilt wood； in front of which a most
appetizing cold supper stood ready； and； without more ado； proceeded
to eat。
〃In all the world there is no one but Massimilla who would have
thought of this surprise；〃 thought he。 〃She heard that I was now a
prince； Duke Cataneo is perhaps dead； and has left her his fortune；
she is twice as rich as she was； she will marry me〃
And he ate in a way that would have roused the envy of an invalid
Croesus； if he could have seen him； and he drank floods of capital
port wine。
〃Now I understand the knowing little air she put on as she said； 'Till
this evening！' Perhaps she means to come and break the spell。 What a
fine bed！ and in the bed…place such a pretty lamp！ Quite a Florentine
idea！〃
There are some strongly blended natures on which extremes of joy or of
grief have a soporific effect。 Now on a youth so compounded that he
could idealize his mistress to the point of ceasing to think of her as
a woman； this sudden incursion of wealth had the effect of a dose of
opium。 When the Prince had drunk the whole of the bottle of port；
eaten half a fish and some portion of a French pate； he felt an
irresistible longing for bed。 Perhaps he was suffering from a double
intoxication。 So he pulled off the counterpane； opened the bed；
undressed in a pretty dressing…room； and lay down to meditate on
destiny。
〃I forgot poor Carmagnola；〃 said he； 〃but my cook and butler will have
provided for him。〃
At this juncture； a waiting…woman came in； lightly humming an air from
the /Barbiere/。 She tossed a woman's dress on a chair； a whole outfit
for the night； and said as she did so：
〃Here they come！〃
And in fact a few minutes later a young lady came in； dressed in the
latest French style； who might have sat for some English fancy
portrait engraved for a /Forget…me…not/； a /Belle Assemblee/； or a
/Book of Beauty/。
The Prince shivered with delight and with fear； for； as you know； he
was in love with Massimilla。 But； in spite of this faith in love which
fired his blood； and which of old inspired the painters of Spain；
which gave Italy her Madonnas； created Michael Angelo's statues and
Ghilberti's doors of the Baptistery；desire had him in its toils； and
agitated him without infusing into his heart that warm； ethereal glow
which he felt at a look or a word from the Duchess。 His soul； his
heart； his reason； every impulse of his will； revolted at the thought
of an infidelity； and yet that brutal； unreasoning infidelity
domineered over his spirit。 But the woman was not alone。
The Prince saw one of those figures in which nobody believes when they
are transferred from real life； where we wonder at them； to the
imaginary existence of a more or less literary description。 The dress
of this stranger； like that of all Neapolitans； displayed five colors；
if