zanoni-第57章

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whom　the　curse　of　the　leper　had　cut　off　from　mankind。　　They　set

up　a　shrill　cry　as　they　turned　their　ghastly　visages　towards　the

horseman；　and；　without　stirring　from　the　spot；　stretched　out

their　gaunt　arms；　and　implored　charity　in　the　name　of　the

Merciful　Mother！　　Glyndon　hastily　threw　them　some　small　coins；

and；　turning　away　his　face；　clapped　spurs　to　his　horse；　and

relaxed　not　his　speed　till　he　entered　the　village。　　On　either

side　the　narrow　and　miry　street；　fierce　and　haggard　formssome

leaning　against　the　ruined　walls　of　blackened　huts；　some　seated

at　the　threshold；　some　lying　at　full　length　in　the　mudpresented

groups　that　at　once　invoked　pity　and　aroused　alarm：　　pity　for

their　squalor；　alarm　for　the　ferocity　imprinted　on　their　savage

aspects。　　They　gazed　at　him；　grim　and　sullen；　as　he　rode　slowly

up　the　rugged　street；　sometimes　whispering　significantly　to　each

other；　but　without　attempting　to　stop　his　way。　　Even　the　children

hushed　their　babble；　and　ragged　urchins；　devouring　him　with

sparkling　eyes；　muttered　to　their　mothers；　〃We　shall　feast　well

to…morrow！〃　　It　was；　indeed；　one　of　those　hamlets　in　which　Law

sets　not　its　sober　step；　in　which　Violence　and　Murder　house

secure；hamlets　common　then　in　the　wilder　parts　of　Italy；　in

which　the　peasant　was　but　the　gentler　name　for　the　robber。



Glyndon's　heart　somewhat　failed　him　as　he　looked　around；　and　the

question　he　desired　to　ask　died　upon　his　lips。　　At　length　from

one　of　the　dismal　cabins　emerged　a　form　superior　to　the　rest。

Instead　of　the　patched　and　ragged　over…all；　which　made　the　only

garment　of　the　men　he　had　hitherto　seen；　the　dress　of　this　person

was　characterised　by　all　the　trappings　of　the　national　bravery。

Upon　his　raven　hair；　the　glossy　curls　of　which　made　a　notable

contrast　to　the　matted　and　elfin　locks　of　the　savages　around；　was

placed　a　cloth　cap；　with　a　gold　tassel　that　hung　down　to　his

shoulder；　his　mustaches　were　trimmed　with　care；　and　a　silk

kerchief　of　gay　hues　was　twisted　round　a　well…shaped　but　sinewy

throat；　a　short　jacket　of　rough　cloth　was　decorated　with　several

rows　of　gilt　filagree　buttons；　his　nether　garments　fitted　tight

to　his　limbs；　and　were　curiously　braided；　while　in　a　broad　parti…

coloured　sash　were　placed　two　silver…hilted　pistols；　and　the

sheathed　knife；　usually　worn　by　Italians　of　the　lower　order；

mounted　in　ivory　elaborately　carved。　　A　small　carbine　of　handsome

workmanship　was　slung　across　his　shoulder　and　completed　his

costume。　　The　man　himself　was　of　middle　size；　athletic　yet

slender；　with　straight　and　regular　features；　sunburnt；　but　not

swarthy；　and　an　expression　of　countenance　which；　though　reckless

and　bold；　had　in　it　frankness　rather　than　ferocity；　and；　if

defying；　was　not　altogether　unprepossessing。



Glyndon；　after　eyeing　this　figure　for　some　moments　with　great

attention；　checked　his　rein；　and　asked　the　way　to　the　〃Castle　of

the　Mountain。〃



The　man　lifted　his　cap　as　he　heard　the　question；　and；　approaching

Glyndon；　laid　his　hand　upon　the　neck　of　the　horse；　and　said；　in　a

low　voice；　〃Then　you　are　the　cavalier　whom　our　patron　the　signor

expected。　　He　bade　me　wait　for　you　here；　and　lead　you　to　the

castle。　　And　indeed；　signor；　it　might　have　been　unfortunate　if　I

had　neglected　to　obey　the　command。〃



The　man　then；　drawing　a　little　aside；　called　out　to　the

bystanders　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Ho；　ho！　my　friends；　pay　henceforth

and　forever　all　respect　to　this　worshipful　cavalier。　　He　is　the

expected　guest　of　our　blessed　patron　of　the　Castle　of　the

Mountain。　　Long　life　to　him！　　May　he；　like　his　host；　be　safe　by

day　and　by　night；　on　the　hill　and　in　the　waste；　against　the

dagger　and　the　bullet；in　limb　and　in　life！　　Cursed　be　he　who

touches　a　hair　of　his　head；　or　a　baioccho　in　his　pouch。　　Now　and

forever　we　will　protect　and　honour　him；for　the　law　or　against

the　law；　with　the　faith　and　to　the　death。　　Amen！　　Amen！〃



〃Amen！〃　responded；　in　wild　chorus；　a　hundred　voices；　and　the

scattered　and　straggling　groups　pressed　up　the　street；　nearer　and

nearer　to　the　horseman。



〃And　that　he　may　be　known；〃　continued　the　Englishman's　strange

protector；　〃to　the　eye　and　to　the　ear；　I　place　around　him　the

white　sash；　and　I　give　him　the　sacred　watchword；　'Peace　to　the

Brave。'　　Signor；　when　you　wear　this　sash；　the　proudest　in　these

parts　will　bare　the　head　and　bend　the　knee。　　Signor；　when　you

utter　this　watchword；　the　bravest　hearts　will　be　bound　to　your

bidding。　　Desire　you　safety；　or　ask　you　revengeto　gain　a

beauty；　or　to　lose　a　foe；speak　but　the　word；　and　we　are　yours：

we　are　yours！　　Is　it　not　so；　comrades？〃



And　again　the　hoarse　voices　shouted；　〃Amen；　Amen！〃



〃Now；　signor；〃　whispered　the　bravo；　〃if　you　have　a　few　coins　to

spare；　scatter　them　amongst　the　crowd；　and　let　us　be　gone。〃



Glyndon；　not　displeased　at　the　concluding　sentence；　emptied　his

purse　in　the　streets；　and　while；　with　mingled　oaths；　blessings；

shrieks；　and　yells；　men；　women；　and　children　scrambled　for　the

money；　the　bravo；　taking　the　rein　of　the　horse；　led　it　a　few

paces　through　the　village　at　a　brisk　trot；　and　then；　turning　up　a

narrow　lane　to　the　left；　in　a　few　minutes　neither　houses　nor　men

were　visible；　and　the　mountains　closed　their　path　on　either　side。

It　was　then　that；　releasing　the　bridle　and　slackening　his　pace；

the　guide　turned　his　dark　eyes　on　Glyndon　with　an　arch

expression；　and　said；



〃Your　Excellency　was　not；　perhaps；　prepared　for　the　hearty

welcome　we　have　given　you。〃



〃Why；　in　truth；　I　OUGHT　to　have　been　prepared　for　it；　since　the

signor；　to　whose　house　I　am　bound；　did　not　disguise　from　me　the

character　of　the　neighbourhood。　　And　your　name；　my　friend；　if　I

may　so　call　you？〃



〃Oh；　no　ceremonies　with　me；　Excellency。　　In　the　village　I　am

generally　called　Maestro　Paolo。　　I　had　a　surname　once；　though　a

very　equivocal　one；　and　I　have　forgotten　THAT　since　I　retired

from　the　world。〃



〃And　was　it　from　disgust；　from　poverty；　or　from　somesome

ebullition　of　passion　which　entailed　punishment；　that　you　betook

yourself　to　the　mountains？〃



〃Why；　signor；〃　said　the　bravo；　with　a　gay　laugh；　〃hermits　of　my

class　seldom　love　the　confessional。　　However；　I　have　no　secrets

while　my　step　is　in　these　defiles；　my　whistle　in　my　pouch；　and　my

carbine　at　my　back。〃　　With　that　the　robber；　as　if　he　loved

permission　to　talk　at　his　will；　hemmed　thrice；　and　began　with

much　humour；　though；　as　his　tale　proceeded；　the　memories　it

roused　seemed　to　carry　him　farther　than　he　at　first　intended；　and

reckless　and　light…hearted　ease　gave　way　to　that　fierce　and

varied　play　of　countenance　and　passion　of　gesture　which

characterise　the　emotions　of　his　countrymen。



〃I　was　born　at　Terracina；a　fair　spot；　is　it　not？　　My　father　was

a　learned　monk　of　high　birth；　my　motherHeaven　rest　her！an

innkeeper's　pretty　daughter。　　Of　course　there　could　be　no

marriage　in　the　case；　and　when　I　was　born；　the　monk　gravely

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　b