the daughter of an empress-第53部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ensing　Church！there；　with　rage　in　their　hearts；　they　meditated　plans　of　vengeance　against　this　criminal　pope　who　had　condemned　them　to　a　living　death；　who；　like　a　wicked　magician；　had　changed　their　sacred　college　into　an　open　grave！　He　had　killed　them；　and　he；　should　he　nevertheless　live？

With　these　fatal　questions　did　the　holy　fathers　occupy　themselves；　reflecting　upon　them　in　their　gloomy　leisure；　and　in　low　whisperings　consulting　with　their　prior。　And　in　such　secret　consultation　did　Cardinal　Francesco　Albani　find　the　prior　with　his　confidant　in　the　refectorium。

〃Do　not　let　me　disturb　you；〃　he　said　laughing；　〃I　see　by　your　faces　you　are　engaged　in　conversation　upon　the　subject　in　which　I　yesterday　took　a　part。　That　is　very　wellwe　can　resume　it　where　we　yesterday　broke　off；　and　again　knot　the　threads　which　I　yesterday　so　violently　rent。　With　which　knot　shall　we　begin？〃

The　eyes　of　the　pious　Jesuit　father　flashed　with　joy。　Francesco　Albani　was　inclined　to　favor　their　plans　and　wishes；　they　saw　that　in　his　cunning　smile；　in　his　return　to　them。

〃We　were　speaking　of　the　sacred　and　important　duty　you　will　have　to　perform　to…morrow；　your　eminence；〃　said　the　prior；　with　a　winning　smile。

〃Ah；　yes；　I　remember；〃　said　the　cardinal；　with　apparent　indifference。　〃We　spoke　of　the　to…morrow's　communion　of　his　holiness　the　pope。〃

〃And　of　the　fact　that　you；　your　eminence；　would　to…morrow　have　to　discharge　the　important　duty　of　pouring　the　sacred　wine　into　the　golden　chalice　of　the　vicegerent　of　God；〃　said　the　prior。

〃Yes；　yes；　I　now　remember　it　all；〃　said　Albani；　with　a　smile。　〃You　spoke　to　me　of　a　wonderful　flask　of　wine；　which；　by　means　of　the　golden　tube；　you　would　gladly　help　to　the　honor　of　being　drunk　by　his　holiness　from　the　communion　chalice。〃

〃It　is　so　precious　a　wine　that　only　the　vicegerent　of　God　is　worthy　of　wetting　his　lips　with　it。　It　must　touch　the　lips　of　no　other　mortal！〃

〃I　know　such　a　wine；〃　said　Albani；　〃it　thrives　best　in　the　region　of　Naples；＇*＇　and　whoever　drinks　of　it　becomes　a　partaker　of　eternal　blessedness。〃

＇*＇　The　celebrated　poison；　/Acqua　Tofana/；　is　prepared　only　in　Naples。

〃Yes；　you　are　right；　it　is　a　wonderfully　strengthening　wine！〃　said　the　prior；　folding　his　hands　and　directing　his　eyes　toward　the　heavens。　〃We　thank　God　that　He　has　left　us　in　possession　of　so　precious　an　essence！　The　pope；　they　say；　is　suffering　and　needs　strengthening。　See　how　closely　we　follow　the　teaching　of　Him　whose　name　we　bear；　and　who　has　commanded；　'Love　your　enemies；　bless　those　who　curse　you！'　Instead　of　avenging　ourselves；　we　would　be　his　benefactors；　and　refresh　him　with　the　most　precious　of　what　we　possess！〃

〃And　you　would　be　so　unselfish　as　to　keep　from　him　all　knowledge　of　your　benevolence；　you　would　bless　him　quite　secretly！　But　how　if　I　should　betray　you；　and　communicate　your　precious　secret　to　his　holiness　the　pope？　Yes；　yes；　I　shall　open　my　mouth　and　speak；　unless　I　am　prevented　by　a　golden　lock　put　upon　my　lips。〃

〃We　shall　willingly　apply　such　a　lock！〃　said　the　pleased　prior。

〃But；　that　it　may　entirely　close　my　mouth；　the　lock　will　need　to　be　very　heavy！〃　responded　Albani；　with　a　laugh。

〃It　is　soit　weighs　six　thousand　scudi！〃　said　the　prior。

〃That　is　much　too　light！〃　exclaimed　Albani；　laughing；　〃it　will　hardly　cover　my　mouth。　It　still　remains　that　I　am　to　undertake　a　very　hazardous　affair。　Reflect；　if　any　one　should　discover　my　possession　of　this　strange　wine；　if　Ganganelli　should　perceive　that　it　is　not　wine　from　his　own　cellar　that　I　have　poured　into　the　cup　for　him！　It　is　dangerous　work　that　you　would　assign　to　me；　a　work　for　which　I　might　lose　my　head；　and　you　venture　to　offer　me　a　poor　six　thousand　scudi　for　it！　Adieu；　then；　pious　fathers；　keep　you　your　golden　lock；　and　I　my　unclosed　lips。　I　shall　know　when　and　where　to　speak！〃

And　the　cardinal　moved　toward　the　door。　Hastening　after　him；　the　prior　handed　him　a　small　flask；　the　contents　of　which　were　clear　and　pure　as　crystal　water；　timidly　and　anxiously　whispering；　〃Ten　drops　of　this　in　Ganganelli's　communion　wine；　and　ten　thousand　scudi　are　yours！〃

〃Give　the　ten　thousand　scudi　at　once！〃　said　Albani；　with　decision。

〃And　the　drops？〃

〃The　pope's　wine　is　too　strong：　I　will　reduce　it　a　little　with　this　pure　water。〃＇*＇

＇*＇　The　poison；　/Acqua　Tofana/；　is　pure　and　clear　as　water；　without　　　　　taste　or　smell。　It　is　prepared　from　opium　and　Spanish　flies；　　　　　combined　with　some　other　ingredients；　which；　however；　are　only　　　　　known　to　the　makers　of　it。　That　the　/Acqua　Tofana/　is　made　from　　　　　the　foam　sometimes　found　upon　the　lips　of　the　dying；　is　an　idle　　　　　tale。　Allessandro　Borgia　was　the　first　to　bring　it　into　use。



SIC　TRANSIT　GLORIA　MUNDI

On　the　following　day　there　was　a　solemn　high　office　in　St。　Peter's。　All　Rome　flocked　there；　to　see　this　great　and　touching　spectacle。　A　dense　crowd　thronged　the　streets；　and　all　shouted　and　cried　when　the　pope；　surrounded　by　his　Swiss　guard；　appeared　in　their　midst　in　his　gilded　armchair；　and　received　the　greetings　of　the　people　with　a　bland　smile。

Toward　St。　Peter's　waved　the　human　throng；　and　to　St。　Peter's　the　pope　was　borne。　The　features　of　Ganganelli　had　an　expression　of　sadness；　and　as　he　now　glanced　down　upon　the　thousands　of　his　subjects　who；　shouting；　followed　him；　he　asked　in　his　heart；　〃Who　among　you　will　be　my　murderers？　And　how　long　will　you　yet　allow　me　to　live？　Ah；　were　I　yet　the　poor　Franciscan　monk　I　was；　then　no　one　would　take　the　pains　to　assassinate　me。　Why；　then；　does　the　world；　precisely　now；　seem　so　fair　to　me；　now；　when　I　know　that　I　must　leave　it　so　soon？〃　And　the　pope　shed　a　secret　tear　while；　surrounded　by　royal　splendor；　he　imparted　his　blessing　to　the　thousands　who　reverently　knelt　at　his　feet。

The　bells　rang；　the　organ　resounded；　the　wide　halls　of　St。　Peter's　were　penetrated　by　the　marvellous　singing　of　the　Sistine　chapel。　Thousands　and　thousands　of　wax　tapers　lighted　the　noble　space　of　the　church；　thousands　and　thousands　of　people　pressed　into　the　sacred　halls。　Under　his　canopy；　opposite　the　high　altar；　sat　the　vicegerent　of　God　upon　his　golden　throne；　surrounded　by　the　consecrated　cardinals　and　bishops；　protected　by　the　Swiss　guard！　Who　could　have　ventured　to　attack　the　holy　fatherwho　would　have　been　so　foolhardy　as　to　attempt　to　penetrate　that　thick　wall　of　Swiss　guards　and　princes　of　the　Church　who　could　have　been　successful　in　such　an　attempt？　No　human　being！　But　where　the　people　could　not　penetrate；　where　there　was　no　room　for　the　swinging　of　a　dagger；　there　the　malignant　poison　lurked　unseen！

Ganganelli　sat　upon　his　golden　throne；　intoxicated　by　the　clang　of　the　organ　and　charmed　by　the　singing　of　the　high　choir；　and　the　pope；　looking　down　upon　the　human　crowd；　again　asked　himself：　〃Who　among　you　are　my　murderers？〃

The　singing　ceased；　the　organ　was　silent；　and　only　the　solemn　tones　of　all　the　bells　of　St。　Peter's　resounded　through　the　church。　A　death…　like　stillness　else；　the　people　lay　upon　their　knees　and　crossed　themselves；　before　the　altar　kneeling　priests　murmured　prayers。

It　was　a　solemn；　a　sublime　moment；　for　the　pope　must　now　receive　the　communionthe　vicegerent　of　God　must　drink　the　blood　of　the　Lamb。　But　still　the　pope　remains　sacred；　he　cannot；　like　other　mortals；　make　use　of　his　earthly　feet；　he　must　not；　like　them；　approach　the　altar。　Sitting　upon　his　throne；　he　has　partaken　of　the　holy　wafer；　and；　as　it　was　unbecoming　his　dignity　to　descend　to　the　altar　in　order　to　come　to　Christ；　the　latter　must　decide　to　come　to　him！

The　golden　chalice　at　the　high　altar　contains　the　blood　of　the　Lamb；　the　Cardinal　Francesco　Albani　performs　the　holy　office。　He　has　the　blessed　host；　and　under　his　consecrated　hand　will　now　be　effected　the　miracle　of　turning　the　wine　into　the　blood　of　Christ！

And　Cardinal　Albani　lays　the　golden　tube　in　the　cup；　and　another　cardinal　passes　the　other　end　of　the　tube　to　the　pope。

Through　this　sacred　tube　will　he　sip　the　consecrated　wine；　the　blood　of　the　Redeemer！

Rushing　and　thundering　recommences　the　high　office；　the　trumpets　renew　their　blasts；　the　drums　roll；　the　bells　ring；　the　organ　rattles　its　song　of　jubilee；　the　trombones　crash　in　unison。　It　is　the　greatest；　most　sublime　moment　of　the　whole　ceremony。　The　pope；　having　put　the　golden　tube　to　his　lips；　sips　the　wine　changed　into　blood。

While　the　pope　drinks　the　two　cardinals　who　to…day　are　on　service　approach　the　sacred　throne。　They　hold　a　torch　in　the　right　hand　and　a　small　bundle　of　tow　in　the　left；　and　according　to　the　custom；　set　the　tow　on　fire。

It　flashes　up　in　a　bright　flame；　is　soon　extinguished；　and　a　small；　almost　imperceptible　quantity　of　ashes　floats　from　it　to　the　feet　of　the　pope。

〃/Sic　transit　gloria　mundi！/〃　（So　passes　the　glory　of　the　world！）　exclaimed　Francesco　Albani；　with　proud　presumptuousness　and　with　maliciously　scornful　glances；　while　with　an　expression　of　savage　triumph　he　stares　in　the　paling　face　of　the　pope。　〃/Sic　transit　gloria　mundi！/〃　repeated　Albani；　in　a　yet　louder　and　more　thundering　voice。

The　bells　ring；　the　hymn　resounds；　the　trombone　and　organ　clang；　the　audience　are　on　their　knees　in　prayer。　A　bustle　arises；　a　suppressed　murmurthe　holy　father　of　Christendom　has　fainted　upon　his　throne　like　any　common　mortal　man。



THE　VAPO

Since　Paulo　had　left　her；　and　she　found　herself　alone；　Natalie　felt　sad；　solitary；　in　the　paradise　that　surrounded　her。　No　longer　did　she　sing　in　emulation　of　the　birds；　no　longer　did　she　hop　with　youthful　delight　and　the　impetuosity　of　a　young　roe　through　the　charming　alleys。　Sadly；　and　with　downcast　eyes；　sat　she　under　the　myrtle　bush　by　the　murmuring　fountains；　and　frequent　heavy　sighs　heaved　her　laboring　breast。

〃All　is　changed；　all！〃　she　often　thoughtfully　said　to　herself。　〃A　great　and　terrible　secret　has　been　unveiled　within　methe　secret　of　my　utter　abandonment！　I　have　no　one　on　earth　to　whom　I　belong！　Once　I　never　thought　of　that。　Paulo　was　all　to　me；　my　friend；　my　father；　my　brother；　but　Paulo　has　abandoned　me；　I　belong　not　to　him；　and　hence　I　could　not　go　with　him。　And　who　is　left　to　me？　Carlo！〃　she　answered　herself　in　a　low　tone；　and　with　a　melancholy　smile。　〃But　Carlo　has　not　filled　the　void　that　Paulo's　absence　has　left　in　my　heart。　At　first　I　thou