nisida-第1章

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　Nisida


by　Alexandre　Dumas；　Pere







If　our　readers；　tempted　by　the　Italian　proverb　about　seeing　Naples
and　then　dying；　were　to　ask　us　what　is　the　most　favourable　moment　for
visiting　the　enchanted　city；　we　should　advise　them　to　land　at　the
mole；　or　at　Mergellina；　on　a　fine　summer　day　and　at　the　hour　when
some　solemn　procession　is　moving　out　of　the　cathedral。　　Nothing　can
give　an　idea　of　the　profound　and　simple…hearted　emotion　of　this
populace；　which　has　enough　poetry　in　its　soul　to　believe　in　its　own
happiness。　　The　whole　town　adorns　herself　and　attires　herself　like　a
bride　for　her　wedding；　the　dark　facades　of　marble　and　granite
disappear　beneath　hangings　of　silk　and　festoons　of　flowers；　the
wealthy　display　their　dazzling　luxury；　the　poor　drape　themselves
proudly　in　their　rags。　　Everything　is　light；　harmony；　and　perfume；
the　sound　is　like　the　hum　of　an　immense　hive；　interrupted　by　a
thousandfold　outcry　of　joy　impossible　to　describe。　　The　bells　repeat
their　sonorous　sequences　in　every　key；　the　arcades　echo　afar　with　the
triumphal　marches　of　military　bands；　the　sellers　of　sherbet　and
water…melons　sing　out　their　deafening　flourish　from　throats　of
copper。　　People　form　into　groups；　they　meet；　question；　gesticulate；
there　are　gleaming　looks；　eloquent　gestures；　picturesque　attitudes；
there　is　a　general　animation；　an　unknown　charm；　an　indefinable
intoxication。　　Earth　is　very　near　to　heaven；　and　it　is　easy　to
understand　that；　if　God　were　to　banish　death　from　this　delightful
spot；　the　Neapolitans　would　desire　no　other　paradise。

The　story　that　we　are　about　to　tell　opens　with　one　of　these　magical
pictures。　　It　was　the　Day　of　the　Assumption　in　the　year　1825；　the　sun
had　been　up　some　four　or　five　hours；　and　the　long　Via　da　Forcella；
lighted　from　end　to　end　by　its　slanting　rays；　cut　the　town　in　two；
like　a　ribbon　of　watered　silk。　　The　lava　pavement；　carefully　cleaned；
shone　like　any　mosaic；　and　the　royal　troops；　with　their　proudly
waving　plumes；　made　a　double　living　hedge　on　each　side　of　the　street。
The　balconies；　windows；　and　terraces；　the　stands　with　their
unsubstantial　balustrades；　and　the　wooden　galleries　set　up　during　the
night；　were　loaded　with　spectators；　and　looked　not　unlike　the　boxes
of　a　theatre。　　An　immense　crowd；　forming　a　medley　of　the　brightest
colours；　invaded　the　reserved　space　and　broke　through　the　military
barriers；　here　and　there；　like　an　overflowing　torrent。　　These
intrepid　sightseers；　nailed　to　their　places；　would　have　waited　half
their　lives　without　giving　the　least　sign　of　impatience。

At　last；　about　noon；　a　cannon…shot　was　heard；　and　a　cry　of　general
satisfaction　followed　it。　　It　was　the　signal　that　the　procession　had
crossed　the　threshold　of　the　church。　　In　the　same　moment　a　charge　of
carabineers　swept　off　the　people　who　were　obstructing　the　middle　of
the　street；　the　regiments　of　the　line　opened　floodgates　for　the
overflowing　crowd；　and　soon　nothing　remained　on　the　causeway　but　some
scared　dog；　shouted　at　by　the　people；　hunted　off　by　the　soldiers；　and
fleeing　at　full　speed。　　The　procession　came　out　through　the　Via　di
Vescovato。　　First　came　the　guilds　of　merchants　and　craftsmen；　the
hatters；　weavers；　bakers；　butchers；　cutlers；　and　goldsmiths。　　They
wore　the　prescribed　dress：　black　coats；　knee　breeches；　low　shoes　and
silver　buckles。　　As　the　countenances　of　these　gentlemen　offered
nothing　very　interesting　to　the　multitude；　whisperings　arose；　little
by　little；　among　the　spectators；　then　some　bold　spirits　ventured　a
jest　or　two　upon　the　fattest　or　the　baldest　of　the　townsmen；　and　at
last　the　boldest　of　the　lazzaroni　slipped　between　the　soldiers'　legs
to　collect　the　wax　that　was　running　down　from　the　lighted　tapers。

After　the　craftsmen；　the　religious　orders　marched　past；　from　the
Dominicans　to　the　Carthusians；　from　the　Carmelites　to　the　Capuchins。
They　advanced　slowly；　their　eyes　cast　down；　their　step　austere；　their
hands　on　their　hearts；　some　faces　were　rubicund　and　shining；　with
large　cheek…hones　and　rounded　chins；　herculean　heads　upon　bullnecks；
some；　thin　and　livid；　with　cheeks　hollowed　by　suffering　and
penitence；　and　with　the　look　of　living　ghosts　；　in　short；　here　were
the　two　sides　of　monastic　life。

At　this　moment；　Nunziata　and　Gelsomina；　two　charming　damsels；　taking
advantage　of　an　old　corporal's　politeness；　pushed　forward　their
pretty　heads　into　the　first　rank。　　The　break　in　the　line　was
conspicuous；　but　the　sly　warrior　seemed　just　a　little　lax　in　the
matter　of　discipline。

〃Oh；　there　is　Father　Bruno！〃　said　Gelsomina　suddenly。　　〃Good…day；
Father　Bruno。〃

〃Hush；　cousin！　　People　do　not　talk　to　the　procession。〃

〃How　absurd！　　He　is　my　confessor。　　May　I　not　say　good…morning　to　my
confessor？〃

〃Silence；　chatterboxes！〃

〃Who　was　that　spoke？〃

〃Oh；　my　dear；　it　was　Brother　Cucuzza；　the　begging　friar。〃

〃Where　is　he？　　Where　is　he？〃

〃There　he　is；　along　there；　laughing　into　his　beard。　　How　bold　he　is！〃

〃Ah；　God　in　heaven！　　If　we　were　to　dream　of　him…〃

While　the　two　cousins　were　pouring　out　endless　comments　upon　the
Capuchins　and　their　beards；　the　capes　of　the　canons　and　the　surplices
of　the　seminarists；　the　'feroci'　came　running　across　from　the　other
side　to　re…establish　order　with　the　help　of　their　gun…stocks。

〃By　the　blood　of　my　patron　saint；〃　cried　a　stentorian　voice；　〃if　I
catch　you　between　my　finger　and　thumb；　I　will　straighten　your　back
for　the　rest　of　your　days。〃

〃Who　are　you　falling　out　with；　Gennaro？〃

〃With　this　accursed　hunchback；　who　has　been　worrying　my　back　for　the
last　hour；　as　though　he　could　see　through　it。〃

〃It　is　a　shame；〃　returned　the　hunchback　in　a　tone　of　lamentation；
〃I　have　been　here　since　last　night；　I　slept　out　of　doors　to　keep　my
place；　and　here　is　this　abominable　giant　comes　to　stick　himself　in
front　of　me　like　an　obelisk。〃

The　hunchback　was　lying　like　a　Jew；　but　the　crowd　rose　unanimously
against　the　obelisk。　　He　was；　in　one　way；　their　superior；　and
majorities　are　always　made　up　of　pigmies。

〃Hi！　　Come　down　from　your　stand！〃

〃Hi！　get　off　your　pedestal！〃

〃Off　with　your　hat！〃

〃Down　with　your　head！〃

〃Sit　down！〃

〃Lie　down！〃

This　revival　of　curiosity　expressing　itself　in　invectives　evidently
betokened　the　crisis　of　the　show。　　And　indeed　the　chapters　of　canons；
the　clergy　and　bishops；　the　pages　and　chamberlains；　the
representatives　of　the　city；　and　the　gentlemen　of　the　king's　chamber
now　appeared；　and　finally　the　king　himself；　who；　bare…headed　and
carrying　a　taper；　followed　the　magnificent　statue　of　the　Virgin。　　The
contrast　was　striking：　after　the　grey…headed　monks　and　pale　novices
came　brilliant　young　captains；　affronting　heaven　with　the　points　of
their　moustaches；　riddling　the　latticed　windows　with　killing　glances；
following　the　procession　in　an　absent…minded　way；　and　interrupting
the　holy　hymns　with　scraps　of　most　unorthodox　conversation。

〃Did　you　notice；　my　dear　Doria；　how　like　a　monkey　the　old　Marchesa
d'Acquasparta　takes　her　raspberry　ice？〃

〃Her　nose　takes　the　colour　of　the　ice。　　What　fine　bird　is　showing　off
to　her？〃

〃It　is　the　Cyrenian。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon！　　I　have　not　seen　that　name　in　the　Golden　Book。〃

〃He　helps　the　poor　marquis　to　bear　his　cross。〃

The　officer's　profane　allusion　was　lost　in　the　prolonged　murmur　of
admiration　that　suddenly　rose　from　the　crowd；　and　every　gaze　was
turned　upon　one　of　the　young　girls　who　was　strewing　flowers　before
the　holy　Madonna。　　She　was　an　exquisite　creature。　　Her　head　glowing
in　the　sun　shine；　her　feet　hidden　amid　roses　and　broom…blossom；　she
rose；　tall　and　fair；　from　a　pale　cloud　of　incense；　like　some　seraphic
apparition。　　Her　hair；　of　velvet　blackness；　fell　in　curls　half…way
down　her　shoulders；　her　brow；　white　as　alabaster　and　polished　as　a
mirror；　reflected　the　rays　of　the　sun；　her　beautiful　and　finely
arched　black　eye…brows　melted　into　the　opal　of　her　temples；　her
eyelids　were　fast　down；　and　the　curled　black　fringe　of　lashes　veiled
a　glowing　and　liquid　glance　of　divine　emotion；　the　nose；　straight；
slender；　and　cut　by　two　easy　nostrils；　gave　to　her　profile　that
character　of　antique　beauty　which　is　vanishing　day　by　day　from　the
earth。　　A　calm　and　serene　smile；　one　of　those　smiles　that　have
already　left　the　soul　and　not　yet　reached　the　lips；　lifted　the
corners　of　her　mouth　with　a　pure　expression　of　infinite　beatitude　and
gentleness。　　Nothing　could　be　more　perfect　than　the　chin　that
completed　the　faultless　oval　of　this　radiant　countenance；　her　neck　of
a　dead　white；　joined　her　bosom　in　a　delicious　curve；　and　supported
her　head　gracefully　like　the　stalk　of　a　flower　moved　by　a　gentle
breeze。　　A　bodice　of　crimson　velvet　spotted　with　gold　outlined　her
delicate　and　finely　curved　figure；　and　held　in　by　means　of　a　handsome
gold　lace　the　countless　folds　of　a　full　and　flowing　skirt；　that　fell
to　her　feet　like　those　severe　robes　in　which　the　Byzantine　painters
preferred　to　drape　their　angels。　　She　was　indeed　a　marvel；　and　so
rare　and　modest　of　beauty　had　not　been　seen　within　the　memory　of　man。

Among　those　who　had　gazed　most　persistently　at　her　was　observed　the
young　Prince　of　Brancaleone；　one　of　the　foremost　nobles　of　the
kingdom。　　Handsome；　rich；　and　brave；　he　had；　at　five…and…twenty；
outdone　the　lists　of　all　known　Don　Juans。　　Fashionable　young　women
spoke　very　ill　of　him　and　adored　him　in　secret；　the　most　virtuous
made　it　their　rule　to　fly　from　him；　so　impossible　did　resistance
appear。　　All　the　young　madcaps　had　chosen　him　for　their　model；　for
his　triumphs　robbed　many　a　Miltiades　of　sleep；　and　with　better　cause。
In　short；　to　get　an　idea　of　this　lucky　individual；　it　will　be　enough
to　know　that　as　a　seducer　he　was　the　most　perfect　thing　that　the
devil　had　succeeded　in　inventing　in　this　progressive　century。　　The
prince　was　dressed　out　for　the　occasion　in　a　sufficiently　grotesque
costume；　which　he　wore　with　ironic　gravity　and　cavalier　ease。　　A
black　satin　doublet；　knee　breeches；　embroidered　stockings；　and　shoes
with　gold　buckles；　formed　the　main　portions　of　his　dress；　over　which
trailed　a　long　brocaded　open…sleeved　robe　lined　with　ermine；　and　a
magnificent　diamond…hilted　sword。　　On　account　of　his　rank　he　enjoyed
the　rare　distinction　of　carrying　one　of　the　six　gilded　staves　that
supported　the　plumed　and　embroidered　canopy。

As　soon　as　the　procession　moved　on　again；　Eligi　of　Brancaleone　gave　a
side　glance　to　a　little　man　as　red　as　a　lobster；　who　was　walking
almost　at　his　side；　and　carrying　in　his　right　hand；　with　all　the
solemnity　that　he　could　muster；　his　excellency's　hat。　　He　was　a
footman　in　gold…laced　livery；　and　we　beg　leave　to　give　a　brief　sketch
of　his　history。　　Trespolo　was　the　child　of　poor　but　thieving　parents；
and　on　that　account　was　early　left　an　orphan。　　Being　at　leisure；　he
studied　life　from　an　eminently　social　aspect。　　If　we　are　to　believe　a
certain　ancient　sage；　we　are　all　in　the　world　to　solve　a　problem：　as
to　Trespolo；　he　desired　to　live　without　doing　anything；　that　was　his
problem。　　He　was；　in　turn；　a　sacristan；　a　juggler；　an　apothecary's
assistant；　and　a　cicerone；　and　he　got　tired　of　all　these　callings。
Begging　was；　to　his　mind；　too　hard　work；　and　it　was　more　trouble　to
be　a　thief　than　to　be　an　honest　man。　　Finally　he