remorse beginning to revive in his troubled thoughts. But Ottima, wishing to check at once the startling effect of the little peasant girl's words, answers with indifference: "Oh-that little ragged girl! She must have rested on the step: we give them But this one holiday the whole year round. Did you ever see our silk-mills-their inside? There are ten silk-mills now belong to you. She stoops to pick my double heart's-ease-Sh! She does not hear: call you out louder!" Sebald, however, scarcely heeds her words. The thought "God's in his heaven!" has taken such hold upon him that at length the full meaning of his crime becomes clear to him, and he even welcomes the punishment of torturing remorse. Then Ottima, too, affected by the great change in her lover, begins to repent, and prays God to be merciful to Sebald. NOONTIME IPPA is now approaching the home of Jules, which overlooks Orcana valley. Several students of painting and sculpture are seen in hiding about the dwelling of the young artist, spying upon him as he returns with his bride from the church at Possagno. Moved by envy, these students have heartlessly tricked Jules into the belief that the young girl whom he has just wed is of high social station and is a patroness of art; whereas she is really very poor and of humble origin, though beautiful and graceful. All unconscious of the eager curiosity of which he is the object, Jules leads his bride into her new home and there speaks long and ardently of his love for her. Apparently as unmoved as the statues, that surround her, the girl continues to listen, until, overcome by her lover's earnestness, she tells him all about the cruel plot by which he has been deceived. Then, so violent a change takes place in the young sculptor's feelings that his passionate love gives way to indifference for his bride, and he can feel only hatred for those who have so basely betrayed him. Just as he is deciding to send Phene away and to seek revenge upon those who have wronged him, Pippa passes, blithely singing of "Kate the Queen." As the sweet tones float upward to Jules, he pauses to listen, though half unwillingly: "Give her but a least excuse to love me! When-where How can this arm establish her above me, There already, to eternally reprove me? ('Hist!' said Kate the Queen; But 'Oh!' cried the maiden, binding her tresses, ""Tis only a page that carols unseen, Crumbling your hounds their messes!') 17 "Is she wronged?-To the rescue of her honour, My heart! Is she poor?-What costs it to be styled a donor? Merely an earth to cleave, a sea to part! But that fortune should have thrust all this upon her! 17. "Crumbling your hounds their messes," means "preparing food for your hounds." ('Nay, list!' bade Kate the Queen; And still cried the maiden, binding her tresses, 9918 Jules has moved to the window, and as his eyes follow the little singer tripping along the street, he muses to himself, "WHAT NAME WAS THAT THE LITTLE GIRL SANG FORTH?" "What name was that the little girl sang forth? Kate? The Cornaro,19 doubtless, who renounced The crown of Cyprus to be lady here At Asolo, where still her memory stays, 18. The allusion is to falconry, a favorite kind of entertainment in the Middle Ages. Trained hawks, held by long leashes, were allowed to range about in pursuit of game. The jesses were the straps of leather or silk bound about the legs of the hawks, bearing rings to which were attached the lines held by those engaging in the sport. The line means, then, binding the jesses about the hawk's legs. 19. The Cornaro. The allusion is to Caterina Cornaro, who upon the death of her husband became Queen of Cyprus in 1472. Seventeen years later Venice took control of the government of the little kingdom, and the Queen then went to live at the castle of Asolo. And peasants sing how once a certain page His power of doing good to 'Kate the Queen''She never could be wronged, be poor,' he sighed, 'Need him to help her!" "20 A queen, then, could humble herself for love's sake. Shall he do less? No; let him give up his proud resolve, accept instead the loving companionship of her whom he was about to send away, and, with the past forgotten, remove to "some isle With the sea's silence on it; there To begin art afresh." A EVENING S the twilight deepens into night, the young patriot Luigi, accompanied by his mother, enters the Turret. They are talking in low tones about the dangerous mission on which Luigi is about to go because of his ardent patriotism, a mission by which Italy is to be freed from a despotic ruler. Fearing that his enthusiasm is becoming madness, the mother tries to persuade the boy to give up his project. To her question: "Ah, will you let me tell you what you are?” Luigi replies: "Why not? Oh, the one thing you fear to hint, You may assure yourself I say and say Ever to myself. At times-nay, even as now We sit-I think my mind is touched, suspect All is not sound; but is not knowing that 20. The word nor is understood at the beginning of this line. What constitutes one sane or otherwise? Were suffering; then I ponder—‘I am rich, And earth seems in a truce with me, and heaven And in return for all this, I can trip Cheerfully up the scaffold-steps. I go This evening, mother!" "But mistrust yourself-" counsels the mother; "Mistrust the judgment you pronounce on him!”22 "Oh, there I feel-am sure that I am right!" confidently replies the boy. Still doubtful, the mother continues, "Mistrust your judgment, then, of the mere means To this wild enterprise: say you are right, 21. "And old quaint turns and passages of my youth," odd little expressions or passages come upon in books read in youth or in childish experiences. 22. The reference is to the ruler who is oppressing Italy. |