CHAPTER XXII. THE BRIGANDS
Let us leave for a time these scenes of horror, and follow our fugitiveson the road to Porto d'Anzo. Their hearts are sad, for they are leavingmany dear to them behind in the city, and their road is one of danger,until it be the sea; but, as they breathe the pure air of the country,their spirits revive--that country once so populated and fertile, now sobarren and deserted. Perhaps it would be difficult to find another spoton earth that presents so many objects of past grandeur and presentmisery as the Campagna. The ruins, scattered on all sides, givepleasure to the antiquary, and convince him of the prosperity andgrandeur of its ancient inhabitants, while the sportsman finds beastsand birds enough to satisfy him; but the lover of mankind mourns, itis a graveyard of past glories, with the priests for sextons. Theproprietors of these vast plains are few, and those few, priests, whoare too much absorbed by the pleasures and vices of the city, tovisit their properties, keeping, at the most, a few flocks of sheep orbuffaloes.
Brigandage is inseparable from priestly government, which is easy tounderstand when we remember that it is supported by the aid of cowardlyand brutal mercenaries. These, becoming robbers, murderers, andcriminal offenders, flee to such places as this desert, where they findundisturbed refuge and shelter.
Statistics prove that in Rome murders are of more frequent occurrencein proportion to the population than in any other city. And how, indeed,can it be otherwise, when we consider the corrupt education instilled bythe priests?
The outlaws are styled brigands, and to these may be added troops ofrunaway hirelings of the priests, who have committed such dreadfulravages during the last few years. We have a sympathy for the wildspirits who seem to live by plunder, but who retire to the plains, andpass a rambling life, without being guilty of theft or murder, in orderto escape the humiliations to which the citizen is daily subjected.
The tenacity and courage shown by these in their encounters with thepolice and national guards, are worthy of a better cause, and prove thatsuch men, if led by a lawful ruler, and inspired with a love for theircountry, would form an army that would resist triumphantly any foreigninvader.
All "brigands" are, indeed, not assassins.
Orazio, a valorous Roman, though a brigand, was respected and admiredby all in Trastevere, particularly by the Roman women, who never fail torecognize and appreciate personal bravery.
He was reputed to be descended from the famous Horatius Cocles, whoalone defended a bridge against the army of Porsenna, and, like him,curiously enough, had lost an eye. Orazio had served the Roman Republicwith honor. While yet a beardless youth he was one of the first who,on the glorious 30th of April, charged and put to flight the foreigninvaders. In Palestrina he received an honorable wound in the forehead,and at Velletri, after unhorsing a Neapolitan officer with hisarquebuss, deprived him of his arms, and carried him in triumph to Rome.Well would it have been for Julia and her friends had men of this typealone haunted the lonely plain! But when they were not far distant fromthe coast, a sudden shot, which brought the coachman down from his seat,informed our fugitives that they were about to be attacked by brigands,and were already in range of their muskets. Manlio instantly seized thereins and whipped the hones, but four of the band, armed to the teeth,rushed immediately at the horses' heads. "Do not stir, or you are a deadman," shouted one of the robbers, who appeared to be the leader. Manlio,convinced that resistance was useless, wisely remained immovable. In novery gallant tone, the ladies were bidden to descend, but, at the sightof so much beauty, the robbers became softened at first, for a time, andfixed their admiring looks upon the exquisite features of the youthfulClelia and the fair Englishwoman, with some promise of repentance. Buttheir savage natures soon got the better of such a show of grace. Thechief addressed the disconcerted party in a rough tone, saying, "Ladies,if you come with us quietly no harm shall happen to _you_, but if youresist, you will endanger your own lives; while, to show you that we arein earnest, I shall immediately shoot that man," pointing to Manlio, whoremained stationary on the box. The effects produced upon the terrifiedwomen by this threat were various. Silvia and Aurelia burst into tears,and Clelia turned deadly pale. Julia, better accustomed to encounterdangers, preserved her countenance with that fearlessness socharacteristic of her countrywomen. "Will you not," said she, advancingclose to the brigand, "take what we possess? we will willingly give youall we have;" putting, at the same time, a heavily-filled parse into hishand, "but spare our lives, and permit us to continue our journey."
The wretch, after carefully weighing the money, replied, "Not so, prettylady," as he gazed with ardent eyes from her to Clelia; "it is byno means every day that we are favored by fortune with such charmingplunder. We are in luck with such lovely ones. You must accompany us."
Julia remained silent, not realizing the villain's presumption; butClelia, to whom the chill of despair which struck her when herfather's life was menaced was yielding to a deeper horror still atthe scoundrel's words, with a spasm of anger and terror, snatching herponiard from her bosom, sprang upon the unprepared bandit.
Julia, seeing the heroic resolution of her friend, also attacked him;but alas! they had not the chief alone to struggle with. His comradescame to his assistance, and the English girl was speedily overpowered,whilst Clelia was left vainly to assail him, for, although she succeededin inflicting several wounds, they were of so slight a nature that, withthe aid of a follower, he had no difficulty in wresting her weapon fromher and securing her hands.
When Julia was dragged off by two of the ruffians towards some bushes,Aurelia and Silvia followed, entreating them not to kill her.
Manlio, who had attempted to leap to the ground to aid his daughter,had been instantly beaten to the earth, and was being dragged off in thedirection of the same thicket by the band, while the chief brought upthe rear with Clelia in his arms.
All appeared lost. Death--and worse than death--threatened them.
But they had not gone many paces before the knave whose vile armsencircled Julia was felled to the ground by a blow from a sudden hand;and Clelia gave a cry of joy as her deliverer raised her from theground.
Rule of the Monk; Or, Rome in the Nineteenth Century Page 23
