massimilla doni-第5章
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Duke。
〃But am I not at home？〃 cried Emilio。 〃I am the Prince of Varese； this
palace is mine。〃
As he spoke； Emilio sat up in bed； his handsome and noble Venetian
head framed in the flowing hangings。
At first Clarina laughedone of those irrepressible fits of laughter
which seize a girl when she meets with an adventure comic beyond all
conception。 But her laughter ceased as she saw the young man； who； as
has been said； was remarkably handsome； though but lightly attired；
the madness that possessed Emilio seized her； too； and； as she had no
one to adore； no sense of reason bridled her sudden fancya Sicilian
woman in love。
〃Although this is the palazzo Memmi； I will thank your Highness to
quit；〃 said the Duke； assuming the cold irony of a polished gentleman。
〃I am at home here。〃
〃Let me tell you； Monsieur le Duc； that you are in my room； not in
your own；〃 said Clarina； rousing herself from her amazement。 〃If you
have any doubts of my virtue； at any rate give me the benefit of my
crime〃
〃Doubts！ Say proof positive； my lady！〃
〃I swear to you that I am innocent；〃 replied Clarina。
〃What； then； do I see in that bed？〃 asked the Duke。
〃Old Ogre！〃 cried Clarina。 〃If you believe your eyes rather than my
assertion； you have ceased to love me。 Go； and do not weary my ears！
Do you hear？ Go； Monsieur le Duc。 This young Prince will repay you the
million francs I have cost you； if you insist。〃
〃I will repay nothing；〃 said Emilio in an undertone。
〃There is nothing due！ A million is cheap for Clara Tinti when a man
is so ugly。 Now； go；〃 said she to the Duke。 〃You dismissed me； now I
dismiss you。 We are quits。〃
At a gesture on Cataneo's part； as he seemed inclined to dispute this
order； which was given with an action worthy of Semiramis；the part
in which la Tinti had won her fame；the prima donna flew at the old
ape and put him out of the room。
〃If you do not leave me in quiet this evening； we never meet again。
And my /never/ counts for more than yours；〃 she added。
〃Quiet！〃 retorted the Duke； with a bitter laugh。 〃Dear idol； it
strikes me that I am leaving you /agitata/！〃
The Duke departed。
His mean spirit was no surprise to Emilio。
Every man who has accustomed himself to some particular taste； chosen
from among the various effects of love； in harmony with his own
nature； knows that no consideration can stop a man who has allowed his
passions to become a habit。
Clarina bounded like a fawn from the door to the bed。
〃A prince； and poor； young； and handsome！〃 cried she。 〃Why； it is a
fairy tale！〃
The Sicilian perched herself on the bed with the artless freedom of an
animal； the yearning of a plant for the sun； the airy motion of a
branch waltzing to the breeze。 As she unbuttoned the wristbands of her
sleeves； she began to sing； not in the pitch that won her the applause
of an audience at the /Fenice/； but in a warble tender with emotion。
Her song was a zephyr carrying the caresses of her love to the heart。
She stole a glance at Emilio； who was as much embarrassed as she； for
this woman of the stage had lost all the boldness that had sparkled in
her eyes and given decision to her voice and gestures when she
dismissed the Duke。 She was as humble as a courtesan who has fallen in
love。
To picture la Tinti you must recall one of our best French singers
when she came out in /Il Fazzoletto/； an opera by Garcia that was then
being played by an Italian company at the theatre in the Rue Lauvois。
She was so beautiful that a Naples guardsman； having failed to win a
hearing； killed himself in despair。 The prima donna of the /Fenice/
had the same refinement of features； the same elegant figure； and was
equally young； but she had in addition the warm blood of Sicily that
gave a glow to her loveliness。 Her voice was fuller and richer； and
she had that air of native majesty that is characteristic of Italian
women。
La Tintiwhose name also resembled that which the French singer
assumedwas now seventeen； and the poor Prince three…and…twenty。 What
mocking hand had thought it sport to bring the match so near the
powder？ A fragrant room hung with rose…colored silk and brilliant with
wax lights； a bed dressed in lace； a silent palace； and Venice！ Two
young and beautiful creatures！ every ravishment at once。
Emilio snatched up his trousers； jumped out of bed； escaped into the
dressing…room； put on his clothes； came back and hurried to the door。
These were his thoughts while dressing：
〃Massimilla； beloved daughter of the Doni； in whom Italian beauty is
an hereditary prerogative； you who are worthy of the portrait of
/Margherita/； one of the few canvases painted entirely by Raphael to
his glory！ My beautiful and saintly mistress； shall I not have
deserved you if I fly from this abyss of flowers？ Should I be worthy
of you if I profaned a heart that is wholly yours？ No； I will not fall
into the vulgar snare laid for me by my rebellious senses！ This girl
has her Duke； mine be my Duchess！〃
As he lifted the curtain； he heard a moan。 The heroic lover looked
round and saw Clarina on her knees； her face hidden in the bed；
choking with sobs。 Is it to be believed？ The singer was lovelier
kneeling thus； her face invisible； than even in her confusion with a
glowing countenance。 Her hair； which had fallen over her shoulders；
her Magdalen…like attitude； the disorder of her half…unfastened dress；
the whole picture had been composed by the devil； who； as is well
known； is a fine colorist。
The Prince put his arm round the weeping girl； who slipped from him
like a snake； and clung to one foot； pressing it to her beautiful
bosom。
〃Will you explain to me；〃 said he； shaking his foot to free it from
her embrace； 〃how you happen to be in my palazzo？ How the impoverished
Emilio Memmi〃
〃Emilio Memmi！〃 cried Tinti； rising。 〃You said you were a Prince。〃
〃A Prince since yesterday。〃
〃You are in love with the Duchess Cataneo！〃 said she； looking at him
from head to foot。
Emilio stood mute； seeing that the prima dona was smiling at him
through her tears。
〃Your Highness does not know that the man who had me trained for the
stagethat the Dukeis Cataneo himself。 And your friend Vendramini；
thinking to do you a service； let him this palace for a thousand
crowns； for the period of my season at the /Fenice/。 Dear idol of my
heart！〃 she went on； taking his hand and drawing him towards her； 〃why
do you fly from one for whom many a man would run the risk of broken
bones？ Love； you see； is always love。 It is the same everywhere； it is
the sun of our souls； we can warm ourselves whenever it shines； and
herenowit is full noonday。 If to…morrow you are not satisfied；
kill me！ But I shall survive； for I am a real beauty！〃
Emilio decided on remaining。 When he signified his consent by a nod
the impulse of delight that sent a shiver through Clarina seemed to
him like a light from hell。 Love had never before appeared to him in
so impressive a form。
At that moment Carmagnola whistled loudly。
〃What can he want of me？〃 said the Prince。
But bewildered by love； Emilio paid no heed to the gondolier's
repeated signals。
If you have never traveled in Switzerland you may perhaps read this
description with pleasure； and if you have clambered among those
mountains you will not be sorry to be reminded of the scenery。
In that sublime land； in the heart of a mass of rock riven by a gorge；
a valley as wide as the Avenue de Neuilly in Paris； but a hundred
fathoms deep and broken into ravines；flows a torrent coming from
some tremendous height of the Saint…Gothard on the Simplon； which has
formed a pool； I know not how many yards deep or how many feet long
and wide； hemmed in by splintered cliffs of granite on which meadows
find a place； with fir…trees between them； and enormous elms； and
where violets also grow； and strawberries。 Here and there stands a
chalet and at the window you may see the rosy face of a yellow…haired
Swiss girl。 According to the moods of the sky the water in this tarn
is blue and green； but as a sapphire is blue； as an emerald is green。
Well； nothing in the world can give such an idea of depth； peace；
immensity； heavenly
