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declared my appearance to be miraculous。 I was dedicated from my
cradle to the altar； and my head was universally declared to be
the orthodox shape for a cowl。 As I grew up； the monk took great
pains with my education； and I learned Latin and psalmody as soon
as less miraculous infants learn crowing。 Nor did the holy man's
care stint itself to my interior accomplishments。 Although vowed
to poverty； he always contrived that my mother should have her
pockets full； and between her pockets and mine there was soon
established a clandestine communication； accordingly； at
fourteen； I wore my cap on one side； stuck pistols in my belt；
and assumed the swagger of a cavalier and a gallant。 At that age
my poor mother died； and about the same period my father； having
written a History of the Pontifical Bulls； in forty volumes； and
being； as I said； of high birth； obtained a cardinal's hat。 From
that time he thought fit to disown your humble servant。 He bound
me over to an honest notary at Naples； and gave me two hundred
crowns by way of provision。 Well； signor； I saw enough of the
law to convince me that I should never be rogue enough to shine
in the profession。 So； instead of spoiling parchment； I made
love to the notary's daughter。 My master discovered our innocent
amusement； and turned me out of doors； that was disagreeable。
But my Ninetta loved me； and took care that I should not lie out
in the streets with the Lazzaroni。 Little jade！ I think I see
her now with her bare feet； and her finger to her lips； opening
the door in the summer nights； and bidding me creep softly into
the kitchen； where； praised be the saints！ a flask and a manchet
always awaited the hungry amoroso。 At last； however； Ninetta
grew cold。 It is the way of the sex； signor。 Her father found
her an excellent marriage in the person of a withered old
picture…dealer。 She took the spouse； and very properly clapped
the door in the face of the lover。 I was not disheartened；
Excellency； no； not I。 Women are plentiful while we are young。
So； without a ducat in my pocket or a crust for my teeth； I set
out to seek my fortune on board of a Spanish merchantman。 That
was duller work than I expected； but luckily we were attacked by
a pirate；half the crew were butchered； the rest captured。 I
was one of the last： always in luck； you see； signor；monks'
sons have a knack that way！ The captain of the pirates took a
fancy to me。 'Serve with us？' said he。 'Too happy；' said I。
Behold me； then； a pirate！ O jolly life！ how I blessed the old
notary for turning me out of doors！ What feasting； what
fighting； what wooing； what quarrelling！ Sometimes we ran ashore
and enjoyed ourselves like princes； sometimes we lay in a calm
for days together on the loveliest sea that man ever traversed。
And then； if the breeze rose and a sail came in sight； who so
merry as we？ I passed three years in that charming profession；
and then； signor； I grew ambitious。 I caballed against the
captain； I wanted his post。 One still night we struck the blow。
The ship was like a log in the sea； no land to be seen from the
mast…head； the waves like glass； and the moon at its full。 Up we
rose； thirty of us and more。 Up we rose with a shout； we poured
into the captain's cabin； I at the head。 The brave old boy had
caught the alarm； and there he stood at the doorway； a pistol in
each hand； and his one eye （he had only one） worse to meet than
the pistols were。
〃'Yield！' cried I； 'your life shall be safe。'
〃'Take that；' said he； and whiz went the pistol； but the saints
took care of their own； and the ball passed by my cheek； and shot
the boatswain behind me。 I closed with the captain； and the
other pistol went off without mischief in the struggle。 Such a
fellow he was；six feet four without his shoes！ Over we went；
rolling each on the other。 Santa Maria！ no time to get hold of
one's knife。 Meanwhile all the crew were up； some for the
captain； some for me；clashing and firing； and swearing and
groaning； and now and then a heavy splash in the sea。 Fine
supper for the sharks that night！ At last old Bilboa got
uppermost； out flashed his knife； down it came； but not in my
heart。 No！ I gave my left arm as a shield； and the blade went
through to the hilt； with the blood spurting up like the rain
from a whale's nostril！ With the weight of the blow the stout
fellow came down so that his face touched mine； with my right
hand I caught him by the throat； turned him over like a lamb；
signor； and faith it was soon all up with him： the boatswain's
brother； a fat Dutchman； ran him through with a pike。
〃'Old fellow；' said I； as he turned his terrible eye to me； 'I
bear you no malice； but we must try to get on in the world； you
know。' The captain grinned and gave up the ghost。 I went upon
deck；what a sight！ Twenty bold fellows stark and cold； and the
moon sparkling on the puddles of blood as calmly as if it were
water。 Well； signor； the victory was ours； and the ship mine； I
ruled merrily enough for six months。 We then attacked a French
ship twice our size； what sport it was！ And we had not had a
good fight so long； we were quite like virgins at it！ We got the
best of it； and won ship and cargo。 They wanted to pistol the
captain； but that was against my laws： so we gagged him； for he
scolded as loud as if we were married to him； left him and the
rest of his crew on board our own vessel； which was terribly
battered； clapped our black flag on the Frenchman's； and set off
merrily； with a brisk wind in our favour。 But luck deserted us
on forsaking our own dear old ship。 A storm came on； a plank
struck； several of us escaped in a boat； we had lots of gold with
us； but no water。 For two days and two nights we suffered
horribly； but at last we ran ashore near a French seaport。 Our
sorry plight moved compassion； and as we had money； we were not
suspected；people only suspect the poor。 Here we soon recovered
our fatigues； rigged ourselves out gayly； and your humble servant
was considered as noble a captain as ever walked deck。 But now；
alas！ my fate would have it that I should fall in love with a
silk…mercer's daughter。 Ah； how I loved her！the pretty Clara！
Yes； I loved her so well that I was seized with horror at my past
life！ I resolved to repent； to marry her； and settle down into
an honest man。 Accordingly； I summoned my messmates； told them
my resolution； resigned my command； and persuaded them to depart。
They were good fellows； engaged with a Dutchman； against whom I
heard afterwards they made a successful mutiny； but I never saw
them more。 I had two thousand crowns still left； with this sum I
obtained the consent of the silk…mercer； and it was agreed that I
should become a partner in the firm。 I need not say that no one
suspected that I had been so great a man； and I passed for a
Neapolitan goldsmith's son instead of a cardinal's。 I was very
happy then； sign