massimilla doni-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


set　out　for　Friuli；　your　presence　will　no　doubt　enable　me　to　endure
Cataneo's；〃　said　Massimilla。

Though　this　would　be　torment　to　her　lover's　soul；　he　consented　with
apparent　joy。

If　anything　can　give　us　a　foretaste　of　what　the　damned　will　suffer　on
finding　themselves　so　unworthy　of　God；　is　it　not　the　state　of　a　young
man；　as　yet　unpolluted；　in　the　presence　of　a　mistress　he　reveres；
while　he　still　feels　on　his　lips　the　taste　of　infidelity；　and　brings
into　the　sanctuary　of　the　divinity　he　worships　the　tainted　atmosphere
of　the　courtesan？

Baader；　who　in　his　lectures　eliminated　things　divine　by　erotic
imagery；　had　no　doubt　observed；　like　some　Catholic　writers；　the
intimate　resemblance　between　human　and　heavenly　love。

This　distress　of　mind　cast　a　hue　of　melancholy　over　the　pleasure　the
young　Venetian　felt　in　his　mistress'　presence。　A　woman's　instinct　has
amazing　aptitude　for　harmony　of　feeling；　it　assumes　the　hue；　it
vibrates　to　the　note　suggested　by　her　lover。　The　pungent　flavor　of
coquettish　spice　is　far　indeed　from　spurring　affection　so　much　as　this
gentle　sympathy　of　tenderness。　The　smartness　of　a　coquette　too　clearly
marks　opposition；　however　transient　it　is　displeasing；　but　this
intimate　comprehension　shows　a　perfect　fusion　of　souls。　The　hapless
Emilio　was　touched　by　the　unspoken　divination　which　led　the　Duchess　to
pity　a　fault　unknown　to　her。

Massimilla；　feeling　that　her　strength　lay　in　the　absence　of　any
sensual　side　to　her　love；　could　allow　herself　to　be　expansive；　she
boldly　and　confidently　poured　out　her　angelic　spirit；　she　stripped　it
bare；　just　as　during　that　diabolical　night；　La　Tinti　had　displayed　the
soft　lines　of　her　body；　and　her　firm；　elastic　flesh。　In　Emilio's　eyes
there　was　as　it　were　a　conflict　between　the　saintly　love　of　this　white
soul　and　that　of　the　vehement　and　muscular　Sicilian。

The　day　was　spent　in　long　looks　following　on　deep　meditations。　Each　of
them　gauged　the　depths　of　tender　feeling；　and　found　it　bottomless；　a
conviction　that　brought　fond　words　to　their　lips。　Modesty；　the　goddess
who　in　a　moment　of　forgetfulness　with　Love；　was　the　mother　of
Coquettishness；　need　not　have　put　her　hand　before　her　face　as　she
looked　at　these　lovers。　As　a　crowning　joy；　an　orgy　of　happiness；
Massimilla　pillowed　Emilio's　head　in　her　arms；　and　now　and　then
ventured　to　press　her　lips　to　his；　but　only　as　a　bird　dips　its　beak
into　the　clear　waters　of　a　spring；　looking　round　lest　it　should　be
seen。　Their　fancy　worked　upon　this　kiss；　as　a　composer　develops　a
subject　by　the　endless　resources　of　music；　and　it　produced　in　them
such　tumultuous　and　vibrating　echoes　as　fevered　their　blood。

The　Idea　must　always　be　stronger　than　the　Fact；　otherwise　desire　would
be　less　perfect　than　satisfaction；　and　it　is　in　fact　the　stronger；it
gives　birth　to　wit。　And；　indeed；　they　were　perfectly　happy；　for
enjoyment　must　always　take　something　off　happiness。　Married　in　heaven
alone；　these　two　lovers　admired　each　other　in　their　purest　aspect；
that　of　two　souls　incandescent；　and　united　in　celestial　light；　radiant
to　the　eyes　that　faith　has　touched；　and；　above　all；　filled　with　the
rapture　which　the　brush　of　a　Raphael；　a　Titian；　a　Murillo；　has
depicted；　and　which　those　who　have　ever　known　it；　taste　again　as　they
gaze　at　those　paintings。　Do　not　such　peerless　spirits　scorn　the
coarser　joys　lavished　by　the　Sicilian　singerthe　material　expression
of　that　angelic　union？

These　noble　thoughts　were　in　the　Prince's　mind　as　he　reposed　in
heavenly　calm　on　Massimilla's　cool；　soft；　white　bosom；　under　the
gentle　radiance　of　her　eyes　veiled　by　long；　bright　lashes；　and　he　gave
himself　up　to　this　dream　of　an　ideal　orgy。　At　such　a　moment；
Massimilla　was　as　one　of　the　Virgin　visions　seen　in　dreams；　which
vanish　at　cock…crow；　but　whom　we　recognize　when　we　find　them　again　in
their　realm　of　glory；in　the　works　of　some　great　painters　of　Heaven。

In　the　evening　the　lovers　went　to　the　theatre。　This　is　the　way　of
Italian　life：　love　in　the　morning；　music　in　the　evening；　the　night　for
sleep。　How　far　preferable　is　this　existence　to　that　of　a　country　where
every　one　expends　his　lungs　and　strength　in　politics；　without
contributing　any　more；　single…minded；　to　the　progress　of　affairs　than
a　grain　of　sand　can　make　a　cloud　of　dust。　Liberty；　in　those　strange
lands；　consists　in　the　right　to　squabble　over　public　concerns；　to　take
care　of　oneself；　to　waste　time　in　patriotic　undertakings　each　more
futile　than　the　last；　inasmuch　as　they　all　weaken　that　noble；　holy
self…concern　which　is　the　parent　of　all　great　human　achievement。　At
Venice；　on　the　contrary；　love　and　its　myriad　ties；　the　sweet　business
of　real　happiness；　fills　up　all　the　time。

In　that　country；　love　is　so　much　a　matter　of　course　that　the　Duchess
was　regarded　as　a　wonder；　for；　in　spite　of　her　violent　attachment　to
Emilio；　everybody　was　confident　of　her　immaculate　purity。　And　women
gave　their　sincere　pity　to　the　poor　young　man；　who　was　regarded　as　a
victim　to　the　virtue　of　his　lady…love。　At　the　same　time；　no　one　cared
to　blame　the　Duchess；　for　in　Italy　religion　is　a　power　as　much
respected　as　love。

Evening　after　evening　Massimilla's　box　was　the　first　object　of　every
opera…glass；　and　each　woman　would　say　to　her　lover；　as　she　studied　the
Duchess　and　her　adorer：

〃How　far　have　they　got？〃

The　lover　would　examine　Emilio；　seeking　some　evidence　of　success；
would　find　no　expression　but　that　of　a　pure　and　dejected　passion。　And
throughout　the　house；　as　they　visited　from　box　to　box；　the　men　would
say　to　the　ladies：

〃La　Cataneo　is　not　yet　Emilio's。〃

〃She　is　unwise；〃　said　the　old　women。　〃She　will　tire　him　out。〃

〃/Forse！/〃　（Perhaps）　the　young　wives　would　reply；　with　the　solemn
accent　that　Italians　can　infuse　into　that　great　wordthe　answer　to
many　questions　here　below。

Some　women　were　indignant；　thought　the　whole　thing　ill…judged；　and
declared　that　it　was　a　misapprehension　of　religion　to　allow　it　to
smother　love。

〃My　dear；　love　that　poor　Emilio；〃　said　the　Signora　Vulpato　to
Massimilla；　as　they　met　on　the　stairs　in　going　out。

〃I　do　love　him　with　all　my　might；〃　replied　the　Duchess。

〃Then　why　does　not　he　look　happy？〃

Massimilla's　reply　was　a　little　shrug　of　her　shoulders。

We　in　FranceFrance　as　the　growing　mania　for　English　proprieties　has
made　itcan　form　no　idea　of　the　serious　interest　taken　in　this　affair
by　Venetian　society。

Vendramini　alone　knew　Emilio's　secret；　which　was　carefully　kept
between　two　men　who　had；　for　private　pleasure；　combined　their　coats　of
arms　with　the　motto　/Non　amici；　frates/。



The　opening　night　of　the　opera　season　is　an　event　at　Venice；　as　in
every　capital　in　Italy。　The　/Fenice/　was　crowded。

The　five　hours　of　the　night　that　are　spent　at　the　theatre　fill　so
important　a　place　in　Italian　life　that　it　is　well　to　give　an　account
of　the　customs　that　have　risen　from　this　manner　of　spending　time。

The　boxes　in　Italy　are　unlike　those　of　any　other　country；　inasmuch　as
that　elsewhere　the　women　go　to　be　seen；　and　that　Italian　ladies　do　not
care　to　make　a　show　of　themselves。　Each　box　is　long　and　narrow；
sloping　at　an　angle　to　the　front　and　to　the　passage　behind。　On　each
side　is　a　sofa；　and　at　the　end　stand　two　armchairs；　one　for　the
mistress　of　the　box；　and　the　other　for　a　lady　friend　when　she　brings
one；　which　she　rarely　does。　Each　lady　is　in　fact　too　much　engaged　in
her　own　box　to　call　on　others；　or　to　wish　to　see　them；　also　no　one
cares　to　introduce　a　rival。　An　Italian　woman　almost　always　reigns
alone　in　her　box；　the　mothers　are　not　the　slaves　of　their　daughters；
the　daughters　have　no　mother　on　their　hands；　thus　there　are　no
children；　no　relations　to　watch　and　censure　and　bore；　or　cut　into　a
conversation。

In　front　every　box　is　draped　in　the　same　way；　with　the　same　silk：　from
the　cornice　hang　curtains；　also　all　to　match；　and　these　remain　drawn
when　the　family　to　whom　the　box　belongs　is　in　mourning。　With　very　few
exceptions；　and　those　only　at　Milan；　there　is　no　light　inside　the　box；
they　are　illuminated　only　from　the　stage；　and　from　a　not　very
brilliant　hanging　lustre　which；　in　spite　of　protests；　has　been
introduced　into　the　house　in　some　towns；　still；　screened　by　the
curtains；　they　are　never　very　light；　and　their　arrangement　leaves　the
back　of　the　box　so　dark　that　it　is　very　difficult　to　see　what　is　going
on。

The　boxes；　large　enough　to　accommodate　eight　or　ten　persons；　are
decorated　with　handsome　silks；　the　ceilings　are　painted　and　ornamented
in　light　and　pleasing　colors；　the　woodwork　is　gilt。　Ices　and　sorbets
are　served　there；　and　sweetmeats；　for　only　the　plebeian　classes　ever
have　a　serious　meal。　Each　box　is　freehold　property；　and　of
considerable　value；　some　are　estimated　at　as　much　as　thirty　thousand
lire；　the　Litta　family　at　Milan　own　three　adjoining。　These　facts
sufficiently　indicate　the　importance　attributed　to　this　incident　of
fashionable　life。

Conversation　reigns　supreme　in　this　little　apartment；　which　Stendhal；
one　of　the　most　ingenious　of　modern　writers；　and　a　keen　student　of
Italian　manners；　has　called　a　boudoir　with　a　window　opening　on　to　a
pit。　The　music　and　the　spectacle　are　in　fact　purely　accessory；　the
real　interest　of　the　evening　is　in　the　social　meeting　there；　the　all…
important　trivialities　of　love　that　are　discussed；　the　assignations
held；　the　anecdotes　and　gossip　that　creep　in。　The　theatre　is　an
inexpensive　meeting…place　for　a　whole　society　which　is　content　and
amused　with　studying　itself。

The　men　who　are　admitted　take　their　seats　on　one　of　the　sofas；　in　the
order　of　their　arrival。　The　first　comer　naturally　is　next　to　the
mistress　of　the　box；　but　when　both　seats　are　full；　if　another　visitor
comes　in；　the　one　who　has　sat　longest　rises；　takes　his　leave　and
departs。　All　move　up　one　place；　and　so　each　in　turn　is　next　the
sovereign。

This　futile　gossip；　or　serious　colloquy；　these　elegant　trivialities　of
Italian　life；　inevitably　imply　some　general　intimacy。　The　lady　may　be
in　full　dress　or　not；　as　she　pleases。　She　is　so　completely　at　home
that　a　stranger　who　has　been　received　in　her　box　may　call　on　her　next
day　at　her　residence。　The　foreign　visitor　cannot　at　first　understand
this　life　of　idle　wit；　this　/dolce　far　niente/