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tattered garments。
〃No！ not one paolo； by heavens！and I hunger almost to death。〃
He unsheathed his sword； he waved it in the moonshine； and sighed；
as he marked the glittering of the steel。
〃No； no； my old true companion； thou and I must never part。 Mine
thou shalt remain； though I starve for it。 Oh； was not that a
golden time when Valeria gave thee to me； and when she threw the
belt over my shoulder； I kissed thee and Valeria？ She has deserted
us for another world； but thou and I will never part in this。〃
He wiped away a drop which hung upon his eyelid。
〃Pshaw！ 'twas not a tear； the night wind is sharp and bitter； and
makes the eyes water； but as for TEARSAbsurd！ my weeping days are
over。〃
And as he spoke； the unfortunate （for such by his discourse and
situation he appeared to be） dashed his forehead against the earth；
and his lips were already unclosed to curse the hour which gave him
being； when he seemed suddenly to recollect himself。 He rested his
head on his elbow； and sang mournfully the burthen of a song which
had often delighted his childhood in the castle of his ancestors。
〃Right；〃 he said to himself； 〃were I to sink under the weight of my
destiny； I should be myself no longer。〃
At that moment he heard a rustling at no great distance。 He looked
around； and in an adjacent street； which the moon faintly
enlightened； he perceived a tall figure； wrapped in a cloak； pacing
slowly backwards and forwards。
〃'Tis the hand of God which hath guided him hitheryesI'llI'll
BEGbetter to play the beggar in Venice than the villain in Naples；
for the beggar's heart may beat nobly； though covered with rags。〃
He then sprang from the ground； and hastened towards the adjoining
street。 Just as he entered it at one end； he perceived another
person advancing through the other； of whose approach the first was
no sooner aware than he hastily retired into the shadow of a piazza；
anxious to conceal himself。
〃What can this mean？〃 thought our mendicant。 〃Is yon eavesdropper
one of death's unlicensed ministers？ Has he received the retaining
fee of some impatient heir； who pants to possess the wealth of the
unlucky knave who comes strolling along yonder； so careless and
unconscious？ Be not so confident； honest friend！ I'm at your
elbow。〃
He retired further into the shade； and silently and slowly drew near
the lurker； who stirred not from his place。 The stranger had
already passed them by； when the concealed villain sprang suddenly
upon him； raised his right hand in which a poniard was gleaming； and
before he could give the blow； was felled to the earth by the arm of
the mendicant。
The stranger turned hastily towards them； the bravo started up and
fled； the beggar smiled。
〃How now？〃 cried the stranger； 〃what does all this mean？〃
〃Oh； 'tis a mere jest； signor； which has only preserved your life。〃
〃What？ my life？ How so？〃
〃The honest gentleman who has just taken to his heels stole behind
you with true cat…like caution； and had already raised his dagger；
when I saw him。 You owe your life to me； and the service is richly
worth one little piece of money！ Give me some alms； signor； for on
my soul I am hungry； thirsty； cold。〃
〃Hence； scurvy companion！ I know you and your tricks too well。
This is all a concerted scheme between you； a design upon my purse；
an attempt to procure both money and thanks； and under the lame
pretence of having saved me from an assassin。 Go； fellow； go！
practise these dainty devices on the Doge's credulity if you will；
but with Buonarotti you stand no chance； believe me。〃
The wretched starving beggar stood like one petrified； and gazed on
the taunting stranger。
〃No； as I have a soul to save； signor； 'tis no lie I tell you！'tis
the plain truth； have compassion； or I die this night of hunger。〃
〃Begone this instant； I say； or by Heaven〃
The unfeeling man here drew out a concealed pistol； and pointed it
at his preserver。
〃Merciful Heaven！ and is it thus that services are acknowledged in
Venice？〃
〃The watch is at no great distance； I need only raise my voice and
〃
〃Hell and confusion！ do you take me for a robber； then？〃
〃Make no noise； I tell you。 Be quietyou had better。〃
〃Hark you； signor。 Buonarotti is your name； I think？ I will write
it down as belonging to the second scoundrel with whom I have met in
Venice。〃
He paused for a moment； then continuing in a dreadful voice； 〃And
when；〃 said he； 〃thou； Buonarotti； shalt hereafter hear the name of
ABELLINOTREMBLE！〃
Abellino turned away； and left the hard…hearted Venetian。
CHAPTER II： THE BANDITTI。
And now rushed the unfortunate wildly through the streets of Venice。
He railed at fortune； he laughed and cursed by turns； yet sometimes
he suddenly stood still； seemed as pondering on some great and
wondrous enterprise； and then again rushed onwards； as if hastening
to its execution。
Propped against a column of the Signoria； he counted over the whole
sum of his misfortunes。 His wandering eyeballs appeared to seek
comfort； but they found it not。
〃Fate；〃 he at length exclaimed in a paroxysm of despair； 〃Fate has
condemned me to be either the wildest of adventurers； or one at the
relation of whose crimes the world must shudder。 To astonish is my
destiny。 Rosalvo can know no medium； Rosalvo can never act like
common men。 Is it not the hand of fate which has led me hither？
Who could ever have dreamt that the son of the richest lord in
Naples should have depended for a beggar's alms on Venetian charity？
II； who feel myself possessed of strength of body and energy of
soul fit for executing the most daring deeds； behold me creeping in
rags through the streets of this inhospitable city； and torturing my
wits in vain to discover some means by which I may rescue life from
the jaws of famine！ Those men whom my munificence nourished； who at
my table bathed their worthless souls in the choicest wines of
Cyprus； and glutted themselves with every delicacy which the globe's
four quarters could supply； these very men now deny to my necessity
even a miserable crust of mouldy bread。 Oh； that is dreadful；
cruelcruel of mencruel of Heaven！〃
He paused； folded his arms； and sighed。
〃Yet will I bear itI will submit to my destiny。 I will traverse
every path and go through every degree of human wretchedness； and
whate'er may be my fate； I will still be myself； and whate'er may be
my fate； I will still act greatly！ Away； then； with the Count
Rosalvo； whom all Naples idolised； nownow； I am the beggar
Abellino。 A beggarthat name stands last in the scale of worldly
rank； but first in the list of the famishing； the outcast； and the
unworthy。〃
Something rustled near him。 Abellino gazed around。 He was aware of
the bravo； whom he struck to the ground that night； and whom two
companions of a similar