massimilla doni-第21章
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Barbiere/； while the Duke's steward distributed payment from his
master to the poor artists and bid them to dinner the next day； such
civilities as are expected of grand signors who protect singers； and
of fine ladies who protect tenors and basses。 In these cases there is
nothing for it but to marry all the /corps de theatre/。
Cataneo did things handsomely； he was the manager's banker； and this
season was costing him two thousand crowns。
He had had all the palace furnished； had imported a French cook； and
wines of all lands。 So the supper was a regal entertainment。
The Prince； seated next la Tinti； was keenly alive； all through the
meal； to what poets in every language call the darts of love。 The
transcendental vision of Massimilla was eclipsed； just as the idea of
God is sometimes hidden by clouds of doubt in the consciousness of
solitary thinkers。 Clarina thought herself the happiest woman in the
world as she perceived Emilio was in love with her。 Confident of
retaining him； her joy was reflected in her features； her beauty was
so dazzling that the men； as they lifted their glasses； could not
resist bowing to her with instinctive admiration。
〃The Duchess is not to compare with la Tinti；〃 said the Frenchman；
forgetting his theory under the fire of the Sicilian's eyes。
The tenor ate and drank languidly； he seemed to care only to identify
himself with the prima donna's life； and had lost the hearty sense of
enjoyment which is characteristic of Italian men singers。
〃Come； signorina；〃 said the Duke； with an imploring glance at Clarina；
〃and you； /caro prima uomo/；〃 he added to Genovese； 〃unite your voices
in one perfect sound。 Let us have the C of /Qual portento/； when light
appears in the oratorio we have just heard； to convince my old friend
Capraja of the superiority of unison to any embellishment。〃
〃I will carry her off from that Prince she is in love with； for she
adores himit stares me in the face！〃 said Genovese to himself。
What was the amazement of the guests who had heard Genovese out of
doors； when he began to bray； to coo； mew； squeal； gargle； bellow；
thunder； bark； shriek； even produce sounds which could only be
described as a hoarse rattle；in short； go through an
incomprehensible farce； while his face was transfigured with rapturous
expression like that of a martyr； as painted by Zurbaran or Murillo；
Titian or Raphael。 The general shout of laughter changed to almost
tragical gravity when they saw that Genovese was in utter earnest。 La
Tinti understood that her companion was in love with her； and had
spoken the truth on the stage； the land of falsehood。
〃/Poverino！/〃 she murmured； stroking the Prince's hand under the
table。
〃By all that is holy！〃 cried Capraja； 〃will you tell me what score you
are reading at this momentmurdering Rossini？ Pray inform us what you
are thinking about； what demon is struggling in your throat。〃
〃A demon！〃 cried Genovese； 〃say rather the god of music。 My eyes； like
those of Saint…Cecilia； can see angels； who； pointing with their
fingers； guide me along the lines of the score which is written in
notes of fire； and I am trying to keep up with them。 PER DIO！ do you
not understand？ The feeling that inspires me has passed into my being；
it fills my heart and my lungs； my soul and throat have but one life。
〃Have you never； in a dream； listened to the most glorious strains；
the ideas of unknown composers who have made use of pure sound as
nature has hidden it in all things；sound which we call forth； more
or less perfectly； by the instruments we employ to produce masses of
various color； but which in those dream…concerts are heard free from
the imperfections of the performers who cannot be all feeling； all
soul？ And I； I give you that perfection； and you abuse me！
〃You are as mad at the pit of the /Fenice/； who hissed me！ I scorned
the vulgar crowd for not being able to mount with me to the heights
whence we reign over art； and I appeal to men of mark； to a Frenchman
Why； he is gone！〃
〃Half an hour ago；〃 said Vendramin。
〃That is a pity。 He； perhaps； would have understood me； since
Italians； lovers of art； do not〃
〃On you go！〃 said Capraja； with a smile； and tapping lightly on the
tenor's head。 〃Ride off on the divine Ariosto's hippogriff； hunt down
your radiant chimera； musical visionary as you are！〃
In point of fact； all the others； believing that Genovese was drunk；
let him talk without listening to him。 Capraja alone had understood
the case put by the French physician。
While the wine of Cyprus was loosening every tongue； and each one was
prancing on his favorite hobby； the doctor； in a gondola； was waiting
for the Duchess； having sent her a note written by Vendramin。
Massimilla appeared in her night wrapper； so much had she been alarmed
by the tone of the Prince's farewell； and so startled by the hopes
held out by the letter。
〃Madame；〃 said the Frenchman； as he placed her in a seat and desired
the gondoliers to start； 〃at this moment Prince Emilio's life is in
danger； and you alone can save him。〃
〃What is to be done？〃 she asked。
〃Ah！ Can you resign yourself to play a degrading partin spite of the
noblest face to be seen in Italy？ Can you drop from the blue sky where
you dwell； into the bed of a courtesan？ In short； can you； an angel of
refinement； of pure and spotless beauty； condescend to imagine what
the love must be of a Tintiin her room； and so effectually as to
deceive the ardor of Emilio； who is indeed too drunk to be very clear…
sighted？〃
〃Is that all？〃 said she； with a smile that betrayed to the Frenchman a
side he had not as yet perceived of the delightful nature of an
Italian woman in love。 〃I will out…do la Tinti； if need be； to save my
friend's life。〃
〃And you will thus fuse into one two kinds of love； which he sees as
distinctdivided by a mountain of poetic fancy； that will melt away
like the snow on a glacier under the beams of the midsummer sun。〃
〃I shall be eternally your debtor；〃 said the Duchess； gravely。
When the French doctor returned to the gallery； where the orgy had by
this time assumed the stamp of Venetian frenzy； he had a look of
satisfaction which the Prince； absorbed by la Tinti； failed to
observe； he was promising himself a repetition of the intoxicating
delights he had known。 La Tinti； a true Sicilian； was floating on the
tide of a fantastic passion on the point of being gratified。
The doctor whispered a few words to Vendramin； and la Tinti was
uneasy。
〃What are you plotting？〃 she inquired of the Prince's friend。
〃Are you kind…hearted？〃 said the doctor in her ear； with the sternness
of an operator。
The words pierced to her comprehension like a dagger…thrust to her
heart。
〃It is to save Emilio's life；〃 added Vendramin。
〃Come here；〃 said the doctor to Clarina。
The hapless singer rose and went to the other end of the table where；
between Vendramin and the Frenchman； she looked like a criminal
between the confessor and the executioner。
She struggled for a long time； but yielded at last for love of Emilio。
The doctor's last words were：
〃And you must cure Genovese！〃
She spoke a word to the tenor as she went round the table。 She
returned to the Prince； put her arm round his neck and kissed his hair
with an expression of despair which struck Vendramin and the
Frenchman； the only two who had their wits about them； then she
vanished into her room。 Emilio； seeing Genovese leave the table； while
Cataneo and Capraja were absorbed in a long musical discussion； stole
to the door of the bedroom； lifted the curtain； and slipped in； like
an eel into the mud。
〃But you see； Cataneo；〃 said Capraja； 〃you have exacted the last drop
of physical enjoyment； and there you are； hanging on a wire like a
cardboard harlequin； patterned with scars； and never moving unless the
string is pulled of a perfect unison。〃
〃And you； Capraja； who have squeezed ideas dry； are not you in the
same predicament？ Do you not live riding the hobby of a /cadenza/？〃
〃I？ I possess the whole world！〃 cried Capraja； with a sovereign
gesture of his hand。
〃And I have devoured it！〃 replied the Duke。
They observed tha
