CHAPTER XIV.
The crowd began to disperse; some went home to take care of theirfamilies, some wandered off from the desire to breathe more freely,after such a squeeze, and others sought their acquaintances, to chatwith them over the deeds of the day. The other end of the street wasalso thinning, so that the detachment of Spanish soldiers could withoutresistance advance near the superintendent's house. In front of it therestill remained, so to speak, the dregs of the commotion; a company ofthe seditious, who, discontented with "so lame and impotent aconclusion," of that which promised so much, muttered curses at thedisappointment, and united themselves in knots to consult with eachother on the possibility of yet attempting something; and, to affordthemselves proof that this was in their power, they attacked and poundedthe poor door, which had been propped up anew from within. At thearrival of the troop, however, their valour diminished, and withoutfurther consultation they dispersed, leaving the place free to thesoldiers, who took possession, in order to serve as a guard to the houseand road. But the streets and small squares of the vicinity were full oflittle gatherings; where three or four individuals stopped, twenty weresoon added to them; there was a confused and constant babbling; onenarrated with emphasis the peculiar incidents of which he had been thewitness, another related his own feats, another rejoiced that the affairhad ended so happily, loaded Ferrer with praises, and predicted seriousconsequences to the superintendent; to which another still replied,that there was no danger of it, because wolves do not eat wolves;others, in anger, muttered that they had been duped, and that they werefools to allow themselves to be deceived in this manner.
Meanwhile the sun had set, and twilight threw the same indistinct hueover every object. Many, fatigued with the day, and wearied withconversing in the dark, returned to their houses. Our hero, after havingassisted the carriage as far as was necessary, rejoiced when he beheldit in safety, and as soon as it was in his power left the crowd, so thathe might, once more, breathe freely. Hardly had he taken a few steps inthe open air, when he experienced a re-action after such excitement, andbegan to feel the need of food and repose; he therefore looked upward oneither side, in search of a sign, which might hold out to him theprospect of satisfying his wants, as it was too late to think of goingto the convent. Thus, walking with his eyes directed upward, he stumbledon one of these groups, and his attention was attracted by hearing themspeak of designs and projects for the morrow; it appeared to him thathe, who had been such a labourer in the field, had a right to give hisopinion. Persuaded from all he had witnessed during the day, that, inorder to secure the success of an enterprise, it was only necessary togain the co-operation of the populace, "Gentlemen," cried he, in a toneof exordium, "allow me to offer my humble opinion. My humble opinion isthis; it is not only in the matter of bread that iniquity is practised:and since we have discovered to-day, that we have only to make ourselvesheard, to obtain justice, we must go on, until we obtain redress for alltheir other knavish tricks--until we compel them to act like Christians.Is it not true, gentlemen, that there is a band of tyrants who reversethe tenth commandment; who commit injuries on the peaceful and the poor,and in the end make it out that they act justly? And even when they havecommitted a greater villany than usual, they carry their heads higherthen ever. There are some such even in Milan."
"Too many," said a voice.
"I say it, I do," resumed Renzo; "it has even reached our ears. And thenthe thing speaks for itself. By way of illustration, let us suppose oneof those to whom I allude to have one foot in Milan, and the otherelsewhere; if he is a devil there, will he be an angel here? Tell me,gentlemen, have you ever seen one of these people with a countenancelike Ferrer's? But what renders their practices more wicked, I assureyou that there are printed proclamations against them, in which theirevil deeds are clearly pointed out, and a punishment assigned to each,and it is written, '_Whoever he be, ignoble and plebeian_, &c. &c.' Butgo now to the doctors, scribes, and pharisees, and demand justiceaccording to the proclamation; they listen to you as the pope does torogues: it is enough to make an honest man turn rascal! It is evident,that the king and those who govern would willingly punish the villains,but they can do nothing, because there is a league among them. We mustbreak it up, then; we must go to-morrow to Ferrer, who is a good worthyman; it was plain how delighted he was to-day to find himself among thepoor; how he tried to hear what was said to him, and how kindly heanswered them. We must go, then, to Ferrer, and inform him how thingsare situated; and I, for my part, can tell him something that willastonish him; I, who have seen with my own eyes a proclamation, withever so many coats of arms at the head of it, and which had been made bythree of the rulers; their names were printed at the bottom, and one ofthese names was Ferrer; this I saw with my own eyes! Now thisproclamation was exactly suited to my case; so that I demanded justicefrom the doctor, since it was the desire of these three lords, amongwhom was Ferrer; but in the eyes of this very doctor, who had himselfshown me this fine proclamation, I appeared to be a madman. I am surethat when this dear old man shall hear these doings, especially in thecountry, he will not let the world go on in this manner, but willquickly find some remedy. And then, they themselves, if they issueproclamations, they should wish to see them obeyed; for it is an insult,an epitaph, with their _name_, if counted for nothing. And if thenobility will not lower their pretensions, and cease their evil doings,we must compel them as we have done to-day. I do not say that he shouldgo in his carriage to take all the rascals to gaol--it would need Noah'sark for that; he must give orders to those whose business it is, notonly at Milan but elsewhere, to put the proclamations in force, to enteran action against such as have been guilty of those iniquities, andwhere the edict says, 'Prison,' then prison; where it says, 'Thegalleys,' the galleys; and to say to the various _podesta_ that theymust conduct themselves uprightly, or they shall be dismissed and othersput in their place, and then, as I say, we will be there also to lend ahelping hand, and to command the doctors to listen to the poor, and talkreasonably. Am I not right, gentlemen?"
Renzo had spoken so vehemently, that he had attracted the attention ofthe assembly, and, dropping by degrees all other discourse, they had allbecome his listeners. A confused clamour of applause, a "bravo!certainly! assuredly! he is right, it is but too true," followed hisharangue. Critics, however, were not wanting. "It is a pretty thing,indeed," said one, "to listen to a mountaineer! they are all lawyers!"and he turned on his heel.
"Now," muttered another, "every barefooted fellow will give his opinion,and with this rage for meddling, we shall at last not have bread at alow price, and that is all that disturbs us." Compliments, however, wereall that reached the ears of Renzo; they seized his hands, andexclaimed,--
"We will see you again to-morrow."
"Where?"
"On the square of the cathedral."
"Yes, very well. And something shall be done, something shall be done."
"Which of these good gentlemen will show me an inn, where I may obtainrefreshment and repose for the night?" said Renzo.
"I am the one for your service, worthy youth," said one, who hadlistened to the sermon very attentively, but had not yet opened hismouth; "I know an inn, that will suit you exactly; I will recommend youto the keeper, who is my friend, and moreover a very honest man."
"Near by?"
"Not very far off."
The assembly dissolved; and Renzo, after many shakes of the hand, frompersons unknown, followed his guide, adding many thanks for hiscourtesy.
"It is nothing, it is nothing," said he; "one hand washes the other, andboth the face. We ought to oblige our neighbour." As they walked along,he put many questions to Renzo, by way of discourse.
"It is not from curiosity, nor to meddle with your affairs, but youappear to be fatigued. From what country do you come?"
"All the way from Lecco, all the way from Lecco."
"All the way from Lecco! Are you from Lecco?"
"From Lecco; that is to say, from the province."
"Ah! my dear and worthy man, I have been obliged to use much skill inspeaking, not to make the public acquainted with my affairs; but--it isenough that they will one day be known, and then---- But I see here asign, and, by my faith, I don't wish to go farther."
"No, no; come to the place I told you of, it is but a short distanceoff. You will not be well accommodated here."
"Oh yes. I am not a gentleman accustomed to delicacies; any thing tosatisfy my hunger; and a little straw will answer my purpose: that whichI have most at heart is to find them both very soon, under Providence!"And he entered a large gate, from which hung a sign of the _Full Moon_.
"Well, I will conduct you here, since you desire it," said the unknown;and Renzo followed him.
"There is no necessity for troubling you longer," replied Renzo; "but,"he added, "do me the favour to go in, and take a glass with me."
"I accept your obliging offer," said he; and preceding Renzo as beingmore accustomed to the house, he entered a little court-yard,approached a glass door, and opening it, advanced into the kitchen withhis companion.
It was lighted by two lamps suspended from the beam of the ceiling. Manypeople, all busy, were seated on benches which surrounded a narrowtable, occupying almost all one side of the apartment; at intervalsnapkins were spread, and dishes of meat; cards played, and dice thrown;and bottles and wine-glasses amid them all. _Berlinghe_, _reali_, and_parpagliole_[26], were also scattered in profusion over the table,which, could they have spoken, would probably have said, "We were thismorning in a baker's counter, or in the pocket of some spectator of thetumult, who, occupied with public affairs, neglected the care of privateaffairs." The confusion was great; a boy ran to and fro busily engagedin attending to the dinner and gaming tables; the host was seated on alow bench under the mantle-tree of the chimney, apparently occupied intracing figures in the ashes with the tongs, but in reality deeplyattentive to all that passed around him. He raised his head at the soundof the latch, and turned towards the new comers. When he saw the guide,"Curse the fellow," said he to himself, "he must always be under myfeet, when I wish him at the devil!" Casting a rapid glance towardsRenzo, he continued, "I know you not; but if you come with such ahunter, you are either a dog or a hare. When you shall have spoken a fewwords, I shall know which of the two you are."
[26] Different coins.
Nothing of this mute soliloquy could be traced, however, in thecountenance of the host, who was motionless as a statue: his eyes weresmall and without expression, his face fat and shining, and his shortand thick beard of a reddish hue.
"What are your orders, gentlemen?" said he.
"First, a good flagon of wine," said Renzo, "and then something to eat."So saying, he threw himself on a bench at one end of the table, anduttered a loud and sonorous _Ah!_ as if to say, "It is a good thing tosit down after having been so long on one's feet." But recollecting thetable at which he had been seated the evening before with Agnes andLucy, he sighed deeply. The host brought the wine; his companion hadseated himself opposite to him; Renzo filled a glass for him, saying,"To wet your lips," and another for himself, which he swallowed at adraught.
"What can you give me to eat?" said he, addressing the host.
"A good piece of stewed meat," replied he.
"Well, sir, a good piece of stewed meat."
"You shall be served immediately," said the host, and calling to theboy, "Serve this gentleman. But," resumed he, turning again to Renzo, "Ihave no bread to-day."
"As for bread," said Renzo, in a loud voice, and laughing, "Providencehas provided that." And he drew forth the third and last loaf, picked upunder the cross of _St. Dionigi_, and holding it up, cried, "Here is thebread of Providence!"
At this exclamation many of the company turned round, and seeing thistrophy in the air, one of them cried, "Bread for ever at a low price!"
"At a low price!" said Renzo; "_gratis et amore_."
"Better still, better still."
"But," added he, "I do not wish these gentlemen to think evil of me. Ihave not stolen it--I found it on the ground; and if I could find theowner, I am ready to pay him."
"Bravo, bravo!" cried they, laughing louder still, not imagining that hewas in earnest.
"They think that I jest, but it is really so," said Renzo to his guide,and turning the bread in his hand; "see how they have formed it--youwould call it a cake, but they were so packed one on the other. If therewere any with the crust a little tender, one might know they werefresh." Then devouring three or four mouthfulls of the bread, he washedthem down with another glass of wine, adding, "The bread will not godown alone--my throat was never so dry--a glorious uproar we made!"
"Prepare a good bed for this young man," said the guide; "he is going topass the night here."
"Do you wish to sleep here?" said the host to Renzo, approaching thetable.
"Certainly; I shall be content with any bed, provided the sheets arewhite; for although poor, I am accustomed to cleanliness."
"Oh, as to that----" said the host. So saying, he went to his counter,which was in a corner of the kitchen, and returned, bringing in his handpaper, pen, and ink.
"What does this mean?" swallowing a piece of the stew which had beenplaced before him, and smiling with an air of surprise; "is that thewhite sheet?"
The host, without replying, placed the paper on the table, and himselfin an attitude to write, and with the pen in his hand, leaning towardsRenzo, he said, "Do me the favour to tell me your name and country."
"What!" said Renzo, "what has this to do with the bed?"
"I do my duty," said the host, looking at the guide. "We are obliged togive an exact account of all who lodge at our house. _Name and surname,and from what country they are; why they are here; if they have arms;and how long they expect to remain in the city._ These are the verywords of the proclamation."
Before answering, Renzo emptied another glass; it was the third, but Ifear for the future we shall not find it possible to count them. "Ah,ah!" exclaimed he, "you have the proclamation. Well, I pride myself onbeing a doctor of laws, and I know what importance is attached toproclamations."
"I speak in earnest," said the host, looking again at the mute companionof Renzo; and returning to his desk, he drew from it a large sheet ofpaper, which he unfolded before Renzo, as an exact copy of theproclamation.
"Ah! there it is!" cried he, quickly emptying the contents of the glasswhich he held in his hand. "Ah! there it is! the fine sheet! I rejoiceto see it. I know these arms; I know what this pagan head means with anoose around its neck." (The proclamations of that time were headed bythe arms of the governor, and in those of Don Gonzalo Fernandez deCordova was seen a Moorish king, chained by the throat.) "This facemeans, Command who can, and obey who will. When the Signor Don----shallhave been sent to the galleys--well, well, I know what I would say--Ihave seen another leaf just like this. When he shall have so takenmeasures that an honest young man can, without molestation, marry her towhom he is betrothed, and by whom he is beloved, then I will tell myname to this face, and will give him a kiss in the bargain. I may havevery good reasons for not telling my name; it's a fine thing, truly! Andif a robber, who might have under his command a band of villains,because if he were alone----" He hesitated a moment, finishing thephrase with a gesture, and then proceeded, "If a robber wished to knowwho I was, in order to do me some evil turn, I ask you if that facewould move from the paper to help me. Am I obliged to tell my business?Truly, this is something new. Suppose, for instance, that I have come toMilan to confess--I would wish to do it to a capuchin father, and not tothe landlord of an inn."
The host kept silence, looking at the guide, who appeared not to noticeany thing that passed. Renzo, it grieves us to say, swallowed anotherglass, and continued, "I will give you reasons enough to satisfy you, mydear host; if those proclamations which speak favourably of goodChristians are worth not
hing, those which speak unfavourably are worthless than nothing. Take away, then, all these encumbrances, and bring inexchange another flagon, because this one is broken." So saying, hestruck it lightly with his hand, adding, "Don't you hear how it iscracked?"
The discourse of Renzo had again attracted the general attention of thecompany, and when he concluded, there was a general murmur of applause.
"What must I do?" said the host, looking at the strange companion, whowas, however, no stranger to him.
"Yes, yes," cried many of the company, "this countryman is right; theyare vexatious impositions. New laws to-day! new laws to-day!"
The stranger took advantage of the noise to say to the host, in a toneof reproach for his too abrupt demand, "Leave him to his own way alittle; do not raise a disturbance."
"I have done my duty," said the host aloud, "and secured myself,"continued he, lowering his voice; "and that is all I care for." Heremoved the pen, ink, and paper, and gave the empty flagon to the boy.
"Bring the same kind of wine," said Renzo, "for it suits my tasteexactly; and we will send it to sleep with the other, without asking itsname, surname, nor what is its business, nor whether it is going toremain long in this city."
"Of the same kind," said the host to the boy, giving him the flagon, andreturning to his seat by the chimney. "He is no other than a hare,"thought he, raking in the ashes. "And in what hands art thou fallen,poor silly youth! If you will drown, drown; but the host of the _FullMoon_ will not go halves with thy folly."
Renzo returned thanks to his guide, and to all those who had taken hisside. "Worthy friends," said he, "I know that honest people support eachother." Then striking the table, and placing himself in the attitude ofan orator, "Is it not an unheard of thing," cried he, "that those whogovern must always introduce paper, pen, and ink? Always the pen inhand! Such a passion for the pen!"
"Eh! young and worthy stranger! would you know the reason?" said one ofthe gamesters, laughing.
"Let us hear it," replied Renzo.
"The reason is, as these lords eat geese, they have so many quills, theyknow not what to do with them."
"Oh, oh!" said Renzo, "you are a poet! You have poets here, then? I havealso a vein for poetry, and I sometimes make verses--but it is whenthings go on well."
To comprehend this witticism of poor Renzo, it is necessary to beinformed, that in the eyes of the vulgar of Milan, and more particularlyin its environs, the name of poet did not signify, as among cultivatedpeople, a sublime genius, an inhabitant of Pindus, a pupil of the muses,but a whimsicality and eccentricity in discourse and conduct, which hadmore of singularity than sense; and an absurd wresting of words fromtheir legitimate signification.
"But I will tell the true reason," added Renzo, "it is because theythemselves hold the pen, and, therefore, they do not record their ownwords; but let a poor man speak, they are very attentive, and in amoment, _there_ it is, in black and white for some future occasion. Theyare cunning, also; and when they want to perplex a poor youth, who doesnot know how to read, but who has a little----I know well----" beatinghis forehead with his hand, and pointing to it with his finger, to makehimself understood; "and when they perceive that he begins to comprehendthe difficulty, they throw into the conversation some Latin, to make himlose the thread of their argument, to put him at his wits' end, toconfuse his brains. This custom must be broken up: to-day, every thinghas been done after the people's fashion, without paper, pen, and ink.To-morrow, if they know how to conduct themselves, we shall do stillbetter, without hurting a hair of any one's head; all in the way ofjustice."
In the mean while some of the company had engaged again in play, andsome in eating; some went away, others came in their place. The unknownguide continued to remain; and without appearing to have any business todetain him, lingered to talk a little more with Renzo, and resumed theconversation about bread.
"If I had the control, I would order things better," said he.
"What would you do?" said Renzo, endeavouring to exhibit everyappearance of attention.
"What would I do? Every one should have bread--the poor as well as therich."
"Ah! that is right."
"See how I would do. I would fix a reasonable rate within the ability ofevery one; then bread should be distributed according to the number ofmouths, because there are gluttons who seize all they can get forthemselves, and leave the poor still in want. We must then divide it.And how shall we do this? Why in this way. Give a ticket to every familyin proportion to the mouths, to authorise them to get bread from thebakers. For example: they give me a ticket expressed in this manner;Ambrose Fusella, by trade a sword cutler, with a wife and four children,all old enough to eat bread (mind that); he must be furnished with somuch bread at such a price. But the thing must be done in order, alwayswith regard to the number of mouths. For instance, they should give youa ticket for--your name?"
"Lorenzo Tramaglino," said the young man, who, enchanted with theproject, did not reflect that it all depended on pen, ink, and paper;and that the first point towards its success was to collect the names ofthe persons to be served.
"Very well," said the unknown; "but have you a wife and children?"
"I ought to have--children, no--not yet--but a wife--if people had actedas their duty required----"
"Ah, you are single! then have patience; they will only give you asmaller portion."
"That is but just. But if soon, as I hope--by the help of God--enough;suppose I have a wife."
"Then the ticket must be changed, and the portion increased, as I havesaid, according to the mouths," replied the unknown, rising.
"That would be very good," cried Renzo, thumping the table with hisfist; "and why don't they make such a law?"
"How can I tell you? meanwhile I wish you a good night, as my wife andchildren must have been expecting me this long while."
"Another drop, another drop," filling his glass, and endeavouring toforce him to sit down again; "another drop!"
But his friend contrived to disengage himself; and leaving Renzo,pouring forth a torrent of entreaties and reproaches, he departed. Renzocontinued to talk until he was in the street, and then fell back on hisseat. He looked at the glass which he had filled to the brim; and seeingthe boy pass before the table, he beckoned to him, as if he hadsomething particular to communicate. He pointed to the glass, and with atone of solemnity said, "See there! I prepared it for that worthy man;you see it is full, as it should be for a friend; but he would not haveit. Sometimes people have singular ideas; however, I have shown my goodwill; but now, since the thing is done, it must not be lost." So saying,he emptied it at one draught.
"I understand," said the boy, moving off.
"You understand too, do you? It is true, when the reasons aresufficient----"
Here we have need of all our love of truth to induce us to pursuefaithfully our hero's history; at the same time this same impartialityleads us to inform the reader, that this was his first error of asimilar character; and precisely because he was so unaccustomed tomerry-making did this prove so fatal. The few glasses of wine which heswallowed so rapidly, contrary to his custom, partly to cool his throat,and partly from an exaltation of spirits, which deprived him of thepower of reflection, went immediately to his head. Upon an habitualdrinker it would have produced no visible effect; our author observesthis, that "temperate and moderate habits have this advantage, that themore a man practises them, the more he finds a departure from them to bedisagreeable and inconvenient; so that his fault itself serves as alesson to him for the future."
However this may be, when these first fumes had mounted to the brain ofRenzo, wine and words continued to flow without rule or reason. He felta great desire to speak, and for a while his words were arranged withsome degree of order, but by little and little he found it difficult toform a connected sentence. The thoughts which presented themselves tohis mind were cloudy and indistinct, and his expressions, inconsequence, unconnected and obscure: to relieve his perplexity, by
oneof those false instincts which, under similar circumstances, lead men tothe accomplishment of their own ruin, he had recourse to the flagon.
We will relate only a few of the words which he continued to ejaculate,during the remainder of this miserable evening. "Ah! host, host,"resumed he, following him with his eye around the table, or gazing athim where he was not, and taking no notice of the noise of the company,"host that thou art! I cannot swallow it--this request of name, surname,and business. To a peaceable youth like me! you have not behaved well!what satisfaction, what advantage, what pleasure--to put a poor youth onpaper? Am I not right--speak, gentlemen? Hosts should stand by goodfellows. Listen, listen, host, I wish to make a comparison for you--forthe reason----They laugh, do they? I am a little gay, I know; but thereasons, I say, are just. Tell me, if you please, who is it that bringscustom to your house? Poor young men, is it not? Do these lords, they ofthe proclamations, ever come here to wet their lips?"
"They are all water-drinkers," said one who sat near Renzo.
"They wish to keep possession of their understandings, so as to telllies skilfully," added another.
"Ah!" cried Renzo, "that is the poet who spoke. Then hear my reasons.Answer me, host. Ferrer, who is the best of all of them, has he everbeen here to drink the health of any one, and to spend so much as afarthing? And this dog of an assassin, this Don ----? I must be silent,because I am too much in the humour for babbling. Ferrer, and FatherCrr----, I know, are two honest men. But there are few honest men. Theold are worse than the young; and the young--are much worse than theold. I am glad there was no blood shed, these are things we must leaveto the hangman. Bread! Oh yes, for that I have had many a thrust, but Ihave also given some. Make way! Abundance! _vivat!_ And Ferrer too--somewords in Latin,--_Si es baraos trapolorum._ Cursed fault! _vivat!_justice! bread! Ah, those are good words! We had need of them. When weheard that cursed ton, ton, ton, and then again, ton, ton, ton, thequestion was not of flight; but hold the signor curate to--I, I knowwhat I am thinking of."
At these words he hung down his head, and remained for a time as ifabsorbed by some new imagination; then, sighing deeply, he raised itagain, and looked up with such a mournful and silly expression, asexcited the amusement of all around. In short, he became thelaughingstock of the whole company. Not that they were all perfectlysober, but, to say truth, they were so in comparison with poor Renzo.They provoked and angered him with silly questions, and with mockcivilities; sometimes he pretended to be offended, then, withoutnoticing them at all, spoke of other things; then replied, theninterrogated, and always wide of the mark. By good fortune, in hisfolly, he seemed from instinct to avoid pronouncing the names ofpersons; so that the one most deeply graven in his memory was notuttered. We should have been sorry ourselves if this name, for which wefeel so much love and respect, had passed from mouth to mouth, and beenmade a theme of jesting by these vulgar and degraded wretches.
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