The Complete Memoires of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
by
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Part 40 out of 70
it."
I told the story to Mengs, who said,--
"It's a lucky folly for you this time; but it always is a folly."
He was quite right, and I told him that I agreed with him; but I
added that to make a worthy use of the fifteen hundred roman
crowns which fortune had given me, I should go and spend fifteen
days at Naples.
"I will come too," said the Abbe Alfani. "I will pass for your
secretary."
"With all my heart," I answered, "I shall keep you to your word."
I asked Winckelmann to come and eat polenta with the scopatore
santissimo, and told my brother to shew him the way; and I then
called on the Marquis Belloni, my banker, to look into my
accounts, and to get a letter of credit on the firm at Naples, who
were his agents. I still had two hundred thousand francs: I had
jewellery worth thirty thousand francs, and fifty thousand florins
at Amsterdam.
I got to Momolo's in the dusk of the evening, and I found
Winckelmann and my brother already there; but instead of mirth
reigning round the board I saw sad faces on all sides.
"What's the matter with the girls?" I asked Momolo.
"They are vexed that you did not stake for them in the same way as
you did for yourself."
"People are never satisfied. If I had staked for them as I did
for myself, and the number had come out first instead of fifth,
they would have got nothing, and they would have been vexed then.
Two days ago they had nothing, and now that they have twenty-seven
pounds apiece they ought to be contented."
"That's just what I tell their, but all women are the same."
"And men too, dear countryman, unless they are philosophers. Gold
does not spell happiness, and mirth can only be found in hearts
devoid of care. Let us say no more about it, but be happy."
Costa placed a basket containing ten packets of sweets, upon the
table.
"I will distribute them," said I, "when everybody is here."
On this, Momolo's second daughter told me that Mariuccia and her
mother were not coming, but that they would send them the sweets.
"Why are they not coming?"
"They had a quarrel yesterday," said the father, "and Mariuccia,
who was in the right, went away saying that she would never come
here again."
"You ungrateful girls!" said I, to my host's daughters, "don't you
know that it is to her that you owe your winnings, for she gave me
the number twenty-seven, which I should never have thought of.
Quick! think of some way to make her come, or I will go away and
take all the sweets with me."
"You are quite right," said Momolo.
The mortified girls looked at one another and begged their father
to fetch her.
"Ira," said he, "that won't do; you made her say that she would
never come here again, and you must make up the quarrel."
They held a short consultation, and then, asking Costa to go with
them, they went to fetch her.
In half an hour they returned in triumph, and Costa was quite
proud of the part he had taken in the reconciliation. I then
distributed the sweets, taking care to give the two best packets
to the fair Mary.
A noble polenta was placed upon the board, flanked by two large
dishes of pork chops. But Momolo, who knew my tastes, and whom I
had made rich in the person of his daughters, added to the feast
some delicate dishes and some excellent wine. Mariuccia was
simply dressed, but her elegance and beauty and the modesty of her
demeanour completely seduced me.
We could only express our mutual flames by squeezing each other's
hands; and she did this so feelingly that I could not doubt her
love. As we were going out I took care to go downstairs beside
her and asked if I could not meet her by herself, to which she
replied by making an appointment with me far the next day at eight
o'clock at the Trinity of Monti.
Mariuccia was tall and shapely, a perfect picture, as fair as a
white rose, and calculated to inspire voluptuous desires. She had
beautiful light brown hair, dark blue eyes, and exquisitely arched
eyelids. Her mouth, the vermilion of her lips, and her ivory
teeth were all perfect. Her well-shaped forehead gave her an air
approaching the majestic. Kindness and gaiety sparkled in her
eyes; while her plump white hands, her rounded finger-tips, her
pink nails, her breast, which the corset seemed scarcely able to
restrain, her dainty feet, and her prominent hips, made her worthy
of the chisel of Praxiteles. She was just on her eighteenth year,
and so far had escaped the connoisseurs. By a lucky chance I came
across her in a poor and wretched street, and I was fortunate
enough to insure her happiness.
It may easily be believed that I did not fail to keep the
appointment, and when she was sure I had seen her she went out of
the church. I followed her at a considerable distance: she
entered a ruined building, and I after her. She climbed a flight
of steps which seemed to be built in air, and when she had reached
the top she turned.
"No one will come and look for me here," said she, "so we can talk
freely together."
I sat beside her on a stone, and I then declared my passionate
love for her.
"Tell me," I added, "what I can do to make you happy; for I wish
to possess you, but first to shew my deserts."
"Make me happy, and I will yield to your desires, for I love you."
"Tell me what I can do."
"You can draw me out of the poverty and misery which overwhelm me.
I live with my mother, who is a good woman, but devout to the
point of superstition; she will damn my soul in her efforts to
save it. She finds fault with my keeping myself clean, because
I have to touch myself when I wash, and that might give rise to
evil desires.
"If you had given me the money you made me win in the lottery as a
simple alms she would have made me refuse it, because you might
have had intentions. She allows me to go by myself to mass
because our confessor told her she might do so; but I dare not
stay away a minute beyond the time, except on feast days, when I
am allowed to pray in the church for two or three hours. We can
only meet here, but if you wish to soften my lot in life you can
do so as follows:
"A fine young man, who is a hairdresser, and bears an excellent
character, saw me at Momolo's a fortnight ago, and met me at the
church door next day and gave me a letter. He declared himself my
lover, and said that if I could bring him a dowry of four hundred
crowns, he could open a shop, furnish it, and marry me.
"'I am poor,' I answered, 'and I have only a hundred crowns in
charity tickets, which my confessor keeps for me.' Now I have two
hundred crowns, for if I marry, my mother will willingly give me
her share of the money you made us gain. You can therefore make
me happy by getting me tickets to the amount of two hundred crowns
more. Take the tickets to my confessor, who is a very good man
and fond of me; he will not say anything to my mother about it."
"I needn't go about seeking for charity tickets, my angel. I will
take two hundred piastres to your confessor to-morrow, and you
must manage the rest yourself. Tell me his name, and to-morrow I
will tell you what I have done, but not here, as the wind and the
cold would be the death of me. You can leave me to find out a
room where we shall be at our ease, and without any danger of
people. suspecting that we have spent an hour together. I will
meet you at the church to-morrow at the same hour and when you see
me follow me."
Mariuccia told me her confessor's name, and allowed me all the.
caresses possible in our uncomfortable position. The kisses she
gave me in return for mine left no doubt in my mind, as to her
love for me. As nine o'clock struck I left her, perishing with
cold, but burning with desire; my only thought being where to find
a room in which I might possess myself of the treasure the next
day.
On leaving the ruined palace, instead of returning to the Piazza
di Spagna I turned to the left and passed along a narrow and dirty
street only inhabited by people of the lowest sort. As I slowly
walked along, a woman came out of her house and asked me politely
if I were looking for anybody.
"I am looking for a room to let."
"There are none here, sir, but, you will find a hundred in the
square."
"I know it, but I want the room to be here, not for the sake of
the expense, but that I may be sure of being able to spend an hour
or so of a morning with a person in whom I am interested. I am
ready to pay anything."
"I understand what you mean, and you should have a room in my
house if I had one to spare, but a neighbour of mine has one on
the ground floor, and if you will wait a moment I will go and
speak to her."
"You will oblige me very much."
"Kindly step in here."
I entered a poor room, where all seemed wretchedness, and I saw
two children doing their lessons. Soon after, the good woman came
back and asked me to follow her. I took several pieces of money
from my pocket, and put them down on the only table which this
poor place contained. I must have seemed very generous, for the
poor mother came and kissed my hand with the utmost gratitude. So
pleasant is it to do good, that now when I have nothing left the
remembrance of the happiness I have given to others at small cost
is almost the only pleasure I enjoy.
I went to a neighbouring house where a woman received me in an
empty room, which she told me she would let cheaply if I would pay
three months in advance, and bring in my own furniture.
"What do you ask for the three months' rent?"
"Three Roman crowns."
"If you will see to the furnishing of the room this very day I
will give you twelve crowns."
"Twelve crowns! What furniture do you want?"
"A good clean bed, a small table covered with a clean cloth, four
good chairs, and a large brazier with plenty of fire in it, for I
am nearly perishing of cold here. I shall only come occasionally
in the morning, and I shall leave by noon at the latest."
"Come at three o'clock, then, to-day, and you will find everything
to your satisfaction."
From there I went to the confessor. He was a French monk, about
sixty, a fine and benevolent-looking man, who won one's respect
and confidence.
"Reverend father," I began, "I saw at the house of Abbe Momolo,
'scoptore santissimo', a young girl named Mary, whose confessor
you are. I fell in love with her, and offered her money to try
and seduce her. She replied that instead of trying to lead her
into sin I would do better to get her some charity tickets that
she might be able to marry a young man who loved her, and would
make her happy. I was touched by what she said, but my passion
still remained. I spoke to her again, and said that I would give
her two hundred crowns for nothing, and that her mother should
keep them.
"'That would be my ruin,' said she; 'my mother would think the
money was the price of sin, and would not accept it. If you are
really going to be so generous, take the money to my confessor,
and ask him to do what he can for my marriage.'"
"Here, then, reverend father, is the sum of money for the good
girl; be kind enough to take charge of it, and I will trouble her
no more. I am going to Naples the day after to-morrow, and I hope
when I come back she will be married."
The good confessor took the hundred sequins and gave me a receipt,
telling me that in interesting myself on behalf of Mariuccia I was
making happy a most pure and innocent dove, whom he had confessed
since she was five years old, and that he had often told her that
she might communicate without making her confession because he
knew she was incapable of mortal sin.
"Her mother," he added, "is a sainted woman, and as soon as I have
enquired into the character of the future husband I will soon
bring the marriage about. No one shall ever know from whom this
generous gift comes."
After putting this matter in order I dined with the Chevalier
Mengs, and I willingly consented to go with the whole family to
the Aliberti Theatre that evening. I did not forget, however, to
go and inspect the room I had taken. I found all my orders
executed, and I gave twelve crowns to the landlady and took the
key, telling her to light the fire at seven every morning.
So impatient did I feel for the next day to come that I thought
the opera detestable, and the night for me was a sleepless one.
Next morning I went to the church before the time, and when
Mariuccia came, feeling sure that she had seen me, I went out.
She followed me at a distance, and when I got to the door of the
lodging I turned for her to be sure that it was I, and then went
in and found the room well warmed. Soon after Mariuccia came in,
looking timid, confused, and as if she were doubtful of the path
she was treading. I clasped her to my arms, and reassured her by
my tender embraces; and her courage rose when I shewed her the
confessor's receipt, and told her that the worthy man had promised
to care for her marriage. She kissed my hand in a transport of
delight, assuring me that she would never forget my kindness.
Then, as I urged her to make me a happy man, she said,--
"We have three hours before us, as I told my mother I was going to
give thanks to God for having made me a winner in the lottery."
This reassured me, and I took my time, undressing her by degrees,
and unveiling her charms one by one, to my delight, without the
slightest attempt at resistance on her part. All the time she
kept her eyes fixed on mine, as if to soothe her modesty; but when
I beheld and felt all her charms I was in an ecstasy. What a
body; what beauties! Nowhere was there the slightest
imperfection. She was like Venus rising from the foam of the sea.
I carried her gently to the bed, and while she strove to hide her
alabaster breasts and the soft hair which marked the entrance to
the sanctuary, I undressed in haste, and consummated the sweetest
of sacrifices, without there being the slightest doubt in my mind
of the purity of the victim. In the first sacrifice no doubt the
young priestess felt some pain, but she assured me out of delicacy
that she had not been hurt, and at the second assault she shewed
that she shared my flames. I was going to immolate the victim for
the third time when the clock struck ten. She began to be
restless, and hurriedly put on our clothes. I had to go to
Naples, but I assured her that the desire of embracing her once
more before her marriage would hasten my return to Rome. I
promised to take another hundred crowns to her confessor, advising
her to spend the money she had won in the lottery on her
trousseau.
"I shall be at Monolo's to-night, dearest, and you must come, too;
but we must appear indifferent to each other, though our hearts be
full of joy, lest those malicious girls suspect our mutual
understanding."
"It is all the more necessary to be cautious," she replied, "as I
have noticed that they suspect that we love each other."
Before we parted she thanked me for what I had done for her, and
begged me to believe that, her poverty notwithstanding, she had
given herself for love alone.
I was the last to leave the house, and I told my landlady that I
should be away for ten or twelve days. I then went to the
confessor to give him the hundred crowns I had promised my
mistress. When the good old Frenchman heard that I had made this
fresh sacrifice that Mariuccia might be able to spend her lottery
winnings on her clothes, he told me that he would call on the
mother that very day and urge her to consent to her daughter's
marriage, and also learn where the young man lived. On my return
from Naples I heard that he had faithfully carried out his
promise.
I was sitting at table with Mengs when a chamberlain of the Holy
Father called. When he came in he asked M. Mengs if I lived
there, and on that gentleman pointing me out, he gave me, from his
holy master, the Cross of the Order of the Golden Spur with the
diploma, and a patent under the pontifical seal, which, in my
quality as doctor of laws, made me a prothonotary-apostolic 'extra
urbem'.
I felt that I had been highly honoured, and told the bearer that I
would go and thank my new sovereign and ask his blessing the next
day. The Chevalier Mengs embraced me as a brother, but I had the
advantage over him in not being obliged to pay anything, whereas
the great artist had to disburse twenty-five Roman crowns to have
his diploma made out. There is a saying at Rome, 'Sine efusione
sanguinis non fit remissio', which may be interpreted, Nothing
without money; and as a matter of fact, one can do anything with
money in the Holy City.
Feeling highly flattered at the favour the Holy Father had shewn
me, I put on the cross which depended from a broad red ribbon-red
being the colour worn by the Knights of St. John of the Lateran,
the companions of the palace, 'comites palatini', or count-
palatins. About the same time poor Cahusac, author of the opera
of Zoroaster, went mad for joy on the receipt of the same order.
I was not so bad as that, but I confess, to my shame, that I was
so proud of my decoration that I asked Winckelmann whether I
should be allowed to have the cross set with diamonds and rubies.
He said I could if I liked, and if I wanted such a cross he could
get me one cheap. I was delighted, and bought it to make a show
at Naples, but I had not the face to wear it in Rome. When I went
to thank the Pope I wore the cross in my button-hole out of
modesty. Five years afterwards when I was at Warsaw, Czartoryski,
a Russian prince-palatine, made me leave it off by saying,--
"What are you doing with that wretched bauble? It's a drug in the
market, and no one but an impostor would wear it now."
The Popes knew this quite well, but they continued to give the
cross to ambassadors while they also gave it to their 'valets de
chambre'. One has to wink at a good many things in Rome.
In the evening Momolo gave me a supper by way of celebrating my
new dignity. I recouped him for the expense by holding a bank at
faro, at which I was dexterous enough to lose forty crowns to the
family, without having the slightest partiality to Mariuccia who
won like the rest. She found the opportunity to tell me that her
confessor had called on her, that she had told him where her
future husband lived, and that the worthy monk had obtained her
mother's consent to the hundred crowns being spent on her
trousseau.
I noticed that Momolo's second daughter had taken a fancy to
Costa, and I told Momolo that I was going to Naples, but that I
would leave my man in Rome, and that if I found a marriage had
been arranged on my return I would gladly pay the expenses of the
wedding.
Costa liked the girl, but he did not marry her then for fear of my
claiming the first-fruits. He was a fool of a peculiar kind,
though fools of all sorts are common enough. He married her a
year later after robbing me, but I shall speak of that again.
Next day, after I had breakfasted and duly embraced my brother, I
set out in a nice carriage with the Abbe Alfani, Le Duc preceding
me on horseback, and I reached Naples at a time when everybody was
in a state of excitement because an eruption of Vesuvius seemed
imminent. At the last stage the inn-keeper made me read the will
of his father who had died during the eruption of 1754. He said
that in the year 1761 God would overwhelm the sinful town of
Naples, and the worthy host consequently advised me to return to
Rome. Alfani took the thing seriously, and said that we should do
well to be warned by so evident an indication of the will of God.
The event was predicted, therefore it had to happen. Thus a good
many people reason, but as I was not of the number I proceeded on
my way.
CHAPTER IX
My Short But Happy Stay at Naples--The Duke de Matalone My
Daughter--Donna Lucrezia--My Departure
I shall not, dear reader, attempt the impossible, however much I
should like to describe the joy, the happiness, I may say the
ecstasy, which I experienced in returning to Naples, of which I
had such pleasant memories, and where, eighteen years ago, I had
made my first fortune in returning from Mataro. As I had come
there for the second time to keep a promise I had made to the Duke
de Matalone to come and see him at Naples, I ought to have visited
this nobleman at once; but foreseeing that from the time I did so
I should have little liberty left me, I began by enquiring after
all my old friends.
I walked out early in the morning and called on Belloni's agent.
He cashed my letter of credit and gave me as many bank-notes as I
liked, promising that nobody should know that we did business
together. From the bankers I went to see Antonio Casanova, but
they told me he lived near Salerno, on an estate he had bought
which gave him the title of marquis. I was vexed, but I had no
right to expect to find Naples in the statu quo I left it. Polo
was dead, and his son lived at St. Lucia with his wife and
children; he was a boy when I saw him last, and though I should
have much liked to see him again I had no time to do so.
It may be imagined that I did not forget the advocate, Castelli,
husband of my dear Lucrezia, whom I had loved so well at Rome and
Tivoli. I longed to see her face once more, and I thought of the
joy with which we should recall old times that I could never
forget. But Castelli had been dead for some years, and his widow
lived at a distance of twenty miles from Naples. I resolved not
to return to Rome without embracing her. As to Lelio Caraffa, he
was still alive and residing at the Matalone Palace.
I returned, feeling tired with my researches, dressed with care,
and drove to the Matalone Palace, where they told me that the duke
was at table. I did not care for that but had my name sent in,
and the duke came out and did me the honour of embracing me and
thouing me, and then presented me to his wife, a daughter of the
Duke de Bovino, and to the numerous company at table. I told him
I had only come to Naples in fulfillment of the promise I had made
him at Paris.
"Then," said he, "you must stay with me;" and, without waiting for
my answer, ordered my luggage to be brought from the inn, and my
carriage to be placed in his coach-house. I accepted his
invitation.
One of the guests, a fine-looking man, on hearing my name
announced, said gaily,--
"If you bear my name, you must be one of my father's bastards."
"No," said I, directly, "one of your mother's."
This repartee made everybody laugh, and the gentleman who had
addressed me came and embraced me, not in the least offended. The
joke was explained to me. His name was Casalnovo, not Casanova,
and he was duke and lord of the fief of that name.
"Did you know," said the Duke de Matalone, "that I had a son?"
"I was told so, but did not believe it, but now I must do penance
for my incredulity, for I see before me an angel capable of
working this miracle."
The duchess blushed, but did not reward my compliment with so much
as a glance; but all the company applauded what I had said, as it
was notorious that the duke had been impotent before his marriage.
The duke sent for his son, I admired him, and told the father that
the likeness was perfect. A merry monk, who sat at the right hand
of the duchess, said, more truthfully, that there was no likeness
at all. He had scarcely uttered the words when the duchess coolly
gave him a box on the ear, which the monk received with the best
grace imaginable.
I talked away to the best of my ability, and in half an hour's
time I had won everybody's good graces, with the exception of the
duchess, who remained inflexible. I tried to make her talk for
two days without success; so as I did not care much about her I
left her to her pride.
As the duke was taking me to my room he noticed my Spaniard, and
asked where my secretary was, and when he saw that it was the Abbe
Alfani, who had taken the title so as to escape the notice of the
Neapolitans, he said,--
"The abbe is very wise, for he has deceived so many people with
his false antiques that he might have got into trouble."
He took me to his stables where he had some superb horses, Arabs,
English, and Andalusians; and then to his gallery, a very fine
one; to his large and choice library; and at last to his study,
where he had a fine collection of prohibited books.
I was reading titles and turning over leaves, when the duke said,--
"Promise to keep the most absolute secrecy on what I am going to
shew you."
I promised, without making any difficulty, but I expected a
surprise of some sort. He then shewed me a satire which I could
not understand, but which was meant to turn the whole Court into
ridicule. Never was there a secret so easily kept.
"You must come to the St. Charles Theatre," said he, "and I will
present you to the handsomest ladies in Naples, and afterwards you
can go when you like, as my box is always open to my friends. I
will also introduce you to my mistress, and she, I am sure, will
always be glad to see you."
"What! you have a mistress, have you?"
"Yes, but only for form's sake, as I am very fond of my wife. All
the same, I am supposed to be deeply in love with her, and even
jealous, as I never introduce anyone to her, and do not allow her
to receive any visitors."
"But does not your young and handsome duchess object to your
keeping a mistress?"
"My wife could not possibly be jealous, as she knows that I am
impotent--except, of course, with her."
"I see, but it sems strange; can one be said to have a mistress
whom one does not love?"
"I did not say I loved her not; on the contrary, I am very fond of
her; she has a keen and pleasant wit, but she interests my head
rather than my heart."
"I see; but I suppose she is ugly?"
"Ugly? You shall see her to-night, and you can tell me what you
think of her afterwards. She is a handsome and well-educated girl
of seventeen."
"Can she speak French?"
"As well as a Frenchwoman."
"I am longing to see her."
When we got to the theatre I was introduced to several ladies, but
none of them pleased me. The king, a mere boy, sat in his box in
the middle of the theatre, surrounded by his courtiers, richly but
tastefully dressed. The pit was full and the boxes also. The
latter were ornamented with mirrors, and on that occasion were all
illuminated for some reason or other. It was a magnificent scene,
but all this glitter and light put the stage into the background.
After we had gazed for some time at the scene, which is almost
peculiar to Naples, the duke took me to his private box and
introduced me to his friends, who consisted of all the wits in the
town.
I have often laughed on hearing philosophers declare that the
intelligence of a nation is not so much the result of the climate
as of education. Such sages should be sent to Naples and then to
St. Petersburg, and be told to reflect, or simply to look before
them. If the great Boerhaave had lived at Naples he would have
learnt more about the nature of sulphur by observing its effects
on vegetables, and still more on animals. In Naples, and Naples
alone, water, and nothing but water, will cure diseases which are
fatal elsewhere, despite the doctors' efforts.
The duke, who had left me to the wits for a short time, returned
and took me to the box of his mistress, who was accompanied by an
old lady of respectable appearance. As he went in he said,
"'Leonilda mia, ti presento il cavalier Don Giacomo Casanova,
Veneziano, amico mio'."
She received me kindly and modestly, and stopped listening to the
music to talk to me.
When a woman is pretty, one recognizes her charms instantaneously;
if one has to examine her closely, her beauty is doubtful.
Leonilda was strikingly beautiful. I smiled and looked at the
duke, who had told me that he loved her like a daughter, and that
he only kept her for form's sake. He understood the glance, and
said,--
"You may believe me."
"It's credible," I replied.
Leonilda no doubt understood what we meant, and said, with a shy
smile,--
"Whatever is possible is credible."
"Quite so," said I, "but one may believe, or not believe,
according to the various degrees of possibility."
"I think it's easier to believe than to disbelieve. You came to
Naples yesterday; that's true and yet incredible."
"Why incredible?"
"Would any man suppose that a stranger would come to Naples at a
time when the inhabitants are wishing themselves away?"
"Indeed, I have felt afraid till this moment, but now I feel quite
at my ease, since, you being here, St. Januarius will surely
protect Naples."
"Why?"
"Because I am sure he loves you; but you are laughing at me."
"It is such a funny idea. I am afraid that if I had a lover like
St. Januarius I should not grant him many favours."
"Is he very ugly, then?"
"If his portrait is a good likeness, you can see for yourself by
examining his statue."
Gaiety leads to freedom, and freedom to friendship. Mental graces
are superior to bodily charms.
Leonilda's frankness inspired my confidence, and I led the
conversation to love, on which she talked like a past mistress.
"Love," said she, "unless it leads to the possession of the
beloved object, is a mere torment; if bounds are placed to
passion, love must die."
"You are right; and the enjoyment of a beautiful object is not a
true pleasure unless it be preceded by love."
"No doubt if love precedes it accompanies, but I do not think it
necessarily follows, enjoyment."
"True, it often makes love to cease."
"She is a selfish daughter, then, to kill her father; and if after
enjoyment love still continue in the heart of one, it is worse
than murder, for the party in which love still survives must needs
be wretched."
"You are right; and from your strictly logical arguments I
conjecture that you would have the senses kept in subjection: that
is too hard!"
"I would have nothing to do with that Platonic affection devoid of
love, but I leave you to guess what my maxim would be."
"To love and enjoy; to enjoy and love. Turn and turn about."
"You have hit the mark."
With this Leonilda burst out laughing, and the duke kissed her
hand. Her governess, not understanding French, was attending to
the opera, but I was in flames.
Leonilda was only seventeen, and was as pretty a girl as the heart
could desire.
The duke repeated a lively epigram of Lafontaine's on "Enjoyment,"
which is only found in the first edition of his works. It begins
as follows:--
"La jouissance et les desirs
Sont ce que l'homme a de plus rare;
Mais ce ne sons pas vrais plaisirs
Des le moment qu'on les separe."
I have translated this epigram into Italian and Latin; in the
latter language I was almost able to render Lafontaine line for
line; but I had to use twenty lines of Italian to translate the
first ten lines of the French. Of course this argues nothing as
to the superiority of the one language over the other.
In the best society at Naples one addresses a newcomer in the
second person singular as a peculiar mark of distinction. This
puts both parties at their ease without diminishing their mutual
respect for one another.
Leonilda had already turned my first feeling of admiration into
something much warmer, and the opera, which lasted for five hours,
seemed over in a moment.
After the two ladies had gone the duke said, "Now we must part,
unless you are fond of games of chance."
"I don't object to them when I am to play with good hands."
"Then follow me; ten or twelve of my friends will play faro, and
then sit down to a cold collation, but I warn you it is a secret,
as gaming is forbidden. I will answer for you keeping your own
counsel, however."
"You may do so."
He took me to the Duke de Monte Leone's. We went up to the third
floor, passed through a dozen rooms, and at last reached the
gamester's chamber. A polite-looking banker, with a bank of about
four hundred sequins, had the cards in his hands. The duke
introduced me as his friend, and made me sit beside him. I was
going to draw out my purse, but I was told that debts were not
paid for twenty-four hours after they were due. The banker gave
me a pack of cards, with a little basket containing a thousand
counters. I told the company that I should consider each counter
as a Naples ducat. In less than two hours my basket was empty. I
stopped playing and proceeded to enjoy my supper. It was arranged
in the Neapolitan style, and consisted of an enormous dish of
macaroni and ten or twelve different kinds of shellfish which are
plentiful on the Neapolitan coasts. When we left I took care not
to give the duke. time to condole with me on my loss, but began
to talk to him about his delicious Leonilda.
Early next day he sent a page to my room to tell me that if I
wanted to come with him and kiss the king's hand I must put on my
gala dress. I put on a suit of rose-coloured velvet, with gold
spangles, and I had the great honour of kissing a small hand,
covered with chilblains, belonging to a boy of nine. The Prince
de St. Nicander brought up the young king to the best of his
ability, but he was naturally a kindly, just, and generous
monarch; if he had had more dignity he would have been an ideal
king; but he was too unceremonious, and that, I think, is a defect
in one destined to rule others.
I had the honour of sitting next the duchess at dinner, and she
deigned to say that she had never seen a finer dress. "That's my
way," I said, "of distracting attention from my face and figure."
She smiled, and her politeness to me during my stay were almost
limited to these few words.
When we left the table the duke took me to the apartment occupied
by his uncle, Don Lelio, who recognized me directly. I kissed the
venerable old man's hand, and begged him to pardon me for the
freaks of my youth. "It's eighteen years ago," said he, "since I
chose M. Casanova as the companion of your studies" I delighted
him by giving him a brief account of my adventures in Rome with
Cardinal Acquaviva. As we went out, he begged me to come and see
him often.
Towards the evening the duke said,--
"If you go to the Opera Buffa you will please Leonilda."
He gave me the number of her box, and added,--
"I will come for you towards the close, and we will sup together
as before."
I had no need to order my horses to be put in, as there was always
a carriage ready for me in the courtyard.
When I got to the theatre the opera had begun. I presented myself
to Leonilda, who received me with the pleasant words, "Caro Don
Giacomo, I am so pleased to see you again."
No doubt she did not like to thou me, but the expression of her
eyes and the tone of her voice were much better than the to which
is often used lavishly at Naples.
The seductive features of this charming girl were not altogether
unknown to me, but I could not recollect of what woman she
reminded me. Leonilda was certainly a beauty, and something
superior to a beauty, if possible. She had splendid light
chestnut hair, and her black and brilliant eyes, shaded by thick
lashes, seemed to hear and speak at the same time. But what
ravished me still more was her expression, and the exquisite
appropriateness of the gestures with which she accompanied what
she was saying. It seemed as if her tongue could not give speech
to the thoughts which crowded her brain. She was naturally quick-
witted, and her intellect had been developed by an excellent
education.
The conversation turned upon Lafontaine's epigram, of which I had
only recited the first ten verses, as the rest is too licentious;
and she said,--
"But I suppose it is only a poet's fancy, at which one could but
smile."
"Possibly, but I did not care to wound your ears."
"You are very good," said she, using the pleasant tu, "but all the
same, I am not so thin-skinned, as I have a closet which the duke
has had painted over with couples in various amorous attitudes.
We go there sometimes, and I assure you that I do not experience
the slightest sensation."
"That may be through a defect of temperament, for whenever I see
well-painted voluptuous pictures I feel myself on fire. I wonder
that while you and the duke look at them, you do not try to put
some of them into practice."
"We have only friendship for one another."
"Let him believe it who will."
"I am sure he is a man, but I am unable to say whether he is able
to give a woman any real proofs of his love."
"Yet he has a son."
"Yes, he has a child who calls him father; but he himself
confesses that he is only able to shew his manly powers with his
wife."
"That's all nonsense, for you are made to give birth to amorous
desires, and a man who could live with you without being able to
possess you ought to cease to live."
"Do you really think so?"
"Dear Leonilda, if I were in the duke's place I would shew you
what a man who really loves can do."
"Caro Don Giacomo, I am delighted to hear you love me, but you
will soon forget me, as you are leaving Naples."
"Cursed be the gaming-table, for without it we might spend some
delightful hour together."
"The duke told me that you lost a thousand ducats yesterday
evening like a perfect gentleman. You must be very unlucky."
"Not always, but when I play on a day in which I have fallen in
love I am sure to lose."
"You will win back your money this evening."
"This is the declaration day; I shall lose again."
"Then don't play."
"People would say I was afraid, or that all my money was gone."
"I hope at all events that you will win sometimes, and that you
will tell me of your good luck. Come and see me to-morrow with
the duke."
The duke came in at that moment, and asked me if I had liked the
opera. Leonilda answered for me,
"We have been talking about love all the time, so we don't know
what has been going on the stage."
"You have done well."
"I trust you will bring M. Casanova to see me tomorrow morning,
as I hope he will bring me news that he has won."
"It's my turn to deal this evening, dearest, but whether he wins
or loses you shall see him to-morrow. You must give us some
breakfast."
"I shall be delighted."
We kissed her hand, and went to the same place as the night
before. The company was waiting for the duke. There were twelve
members of the club, and they all held the bank in turn. They
said that this made the chances more equal; but I laughed at this
opinion, as there is nothing more difficult to establish than
equality between players.
The Duke de Matalone sat down, drew out his purse and his pocket-
book, and put two thousand ducats in the bank, begging pardon of
the others for doubling the usual sum in favour of the stranger.
The bank never exceeded a thousand ducats.
"Then," said I, "I will hazard two thousand ducats also and not
more, for they say at Venice that a prudent player never risks
more than he can win. Each of my counters will be equivalent to
two ducats." So saying, I took ten notes of a hundred ducats each
from my pocket, and gave them to the last evening's banker who had
won them from me.
Play began; and though I was prudent, and only risked my money on
a single card, in less than three hours my counters were all gone.
I stopped playing, though I had still twenty-five thousand ducats;
but I had said that I would not risk more than two thousand, and I
was ashamed to go back from my word.
Though I have always felt losing my money, no one has ever seen me
put out, my natural gaiety was heightened by art on such
occasions, and seemed to be more brilliant than ever. I have
always found it a great advantage to be able to lose pleasantly.
I made an excellent supper, and my high spirits furnished me with
such a fund of amusing conversation that all the table was in a
roar. I even succeeded in dissipating the melancholy of the Duke
de Matalone, who was in despair at having won such a sum from his
friend and guest. He was afraid he had half ruined me, and also
that people might say he had only welcomed me for the sake of my
money.
As we returned to the palace the conversation was affectionate on
his side and jovial on mine, but I could see he was in some
trouble, and guessed what was the matter. He wanted to say that I
could pay the money I owed him whenever I liked, but was afraid of
wounding my feelings; but as soon as he got in he wrote me a
friendly note to the effect that if I wanted money his banker
would let me have as much as I required. I replied directly that
I felt the generosity of his offer, and if I was in need of funds
I would avail myself of it.
Early next morning I went to his room, and after an affectionate
embrace I told him not to forget that we were going to breakfast
with his fair mistress. We both put on great coats and went to
Leonilda's pretty house.
We found her sitting up in bed, negligently but decently dressed,
with a dimity corset tied with red ribbons. She looked beautiful,
and her graceful posture added to her charms. She was reading
Crebillon's Sopha. The duke sat down at the bottom of the bed,
and I stood staring at her in speechless admiration, endeavouring
to recall to my memory where I had seen such another face as hers.
It seemed to me that I had loved a woman like her. This was the
first time I had seen her without the deceitful glitter of
candles. She laughed at my absent-mindedness, and told me to sit
down on a chair by her bedside.
The duke told her that I was quite pleased at having lost two
thousand ducats to his bank, as the loss made me sure she loved
me.
"Caro mio Don Giacomo, I am sorry to hear that! You would have
done better not to play, for I should have loved you all the same,
and you would have been two thousand ducats better off."
"And I two thousand ducats worse off," said the duke, laughing.
"Never mind, dear Leonilda, I shall win this evening if you grant
me some favour to-day. If you do not do so, I shall lose heart,
and you will mourn at my grave before long."
"Think, Leonilda, what you can do for my friend."
"I don't see that I can do anything."
The duke told her to dress, that we might go and breakfast in the
painted closet. She began at once, and preserved a just mean in
what she let us see and what she concealed, and thus set me in
flames, though I was already captivated by her face, her wit, and
her charming manners. I cast an indiscreet glance towards her
beautiful breast, and thus added fuel to the fire. I confess that
I only obtained this satisfaction by a species of larceny, but I
could not have succeeded if she had not been well disposed towards
me. I pretended to have seen nothing.
While dressing she maintained with much ingenuity that a wise girl
will be much more chary of her favours towards a man she loves
than towards a man she does not love, because she would be afraid
to lose the first, whereas she does not care about the second.
"It will not be so with me, charming Leonilda," said I.
"You make a mistake, I am sure."
The pictures with which the closet where we breakfasted was
adorned were admirable more from the colouring and the design than
from the amorous combats they represented.
"They don't make any impression on me," said the duke, and he
shewed us that it was so.
Leonilda looked away, and I felt shocked, but concealed my
feelings.
"I am in the same state as you," said I, "but I will not take the
trouble of convincing you."
"That can't be," said he; and passing his hand rapidly over me he
assured himself that it was so. "It's astonishing," he cried;
"you must be as impotent as I am."
"If I wanted to controvert that assertion one glance into
Leonilda's eyes would be enough."
"Look at him, dearest Leonilda, that I may be convinced."
Leonilda looked tenderly at me, and her glance produced the result
I had expected.
"Give me your hand," said I, to the poor duke, and he did so.
"I was in the wrong," he exclaimed, but when he endeavoured to
bring the surprising object to light I resisted. He persisted in
his endeavours, and I determined to play on him a trick. I took
Leonilda's hand and pressed my lips to it, and just as the duke
thought he had triumphed I besprinkled him, and went off into a
roar of laughter. He laughed too, and went to get a napkin.
The girl could see nothing of all this, as it went on under the
table; and while my burning lips rested on her hand, my eyes were
fixed on hers and our breath mingled. This close contact had
enabled me to baptise the duke, but when she took in the joke we
made a group worthy of the pen of Aretin.
It was a delightful breakfast, though we passed certain bounds
which decency ought to have proscribed to us, but Leonilda was
wonderfully innocent considering her position. We ended the scene
by mutual embraces, and when I took my burning lips from
Leonilda's I felt consumed with a fire which I could not conceal.
When we left I told the duke that I would see his mistress no
more, unless he would give her up to me, declaring that I would
marry her and give her a dower of five thousand ducats.
"Speak to her, and if she consents I will not oppose it. She
herself will tell you what property she has."
I then went to dress for dinner. I found the duchess in the midst
of a large circle, and she told me kindly that she was very sorry
to hear of my losses.
"Fortune is the most fickle of beings, but I don't complain of my
loss--nay, when you speak thus I love it, and I even think that
you will make me win this evening."
"I hope so, but I am afraid not; you will have to contend against
Monte Leone, who is usually very lucky."
In considering the matter after dinner, I determined for the
future to play with ready money and not on my word of honour, lest
I should at any time be carried away by the excitement of play and
induced to stake more than I possessed. I thought, too, that the
banker might have his doubts after the two heavy losses I had
sustained, and I confess that I was also actuated by the gambler's
superstition that by making a change of any kind one changes the
luck.
I spent four hours at the theatre in Leonilda's box, where I found
her more gay and charming than I had seen her before.
"Dear Leonilda," I said, "the love I feel for you will suffer no
delay and no rivals, not even the slightest inconstancy. I have
told the duke that I am ready to marry you, and that I will give
you a dower of five thousand ducats."
"What did he say?"
"That I must ask you, and that he would offer no opposition."
"Then we should leave Naples together."
"Directly, dearest, and thenceforth death alone would part us."
"We will talk of it to-morrow, dear Don Giacomo, and if I can make
you happy I am sure you will do the same by me."
As she spoke these delightful words the duke came in.
"Don Giacomo and I are talking of marrying," said she.
"Marriage, mia carissima," he replied, "ought to be well
considered beforehand."
"Yes, when one has time; but my dear Giacomo cannot wait, and we
shall have plenty of time to think it over afterwards."
"As you are going to marry," said the duke, "you can put off your
departure, or return after the wedding."
"I can neither put it off nor return, my dear duke. We have made
up our minds, and if we repent we have plenty of time before us."
He laughed and said we would talk it over next day. I gave my
future bride a kiss which she returned with ardour, and the duke
and I went to the club, where we found the Duke de Monte Leone
dealing.
"My lord," said I, "I am unlucky playing on my word of honour, so
I hope you will allow me to stake money."
"Just as you please; it comes to the same thing, but don't trouble
yourself. I have made a bank of four thousand ducats that you may
be able to recoup yourself for your losses."
"Thanks, I promise to break it or to lose as much."
I drew out six thousand ducats, gave two thousand ducats to the
Duke de Matalone, and began to punt at a hundred ducats. After a
short time the duke left the table, and I finally succeeded in
breaking the bank. I went back to the place by myself, and when I
told the duke of my victory the next day, he embraced me with
tears of joy, and advised me to stake money for the future.
As the Princess de Vale was giving a great supper, there was no
play that evening. This was some respite. We called on Leonilda,
and putting off talking of our marriage till the day after we
spent the time in viewing the wonders of nature around Naples. In
the evening I was introduced by a friend at the princess's supper,
and saw all the highest nobility of the place.
Next morning the duke told me that he had some business to do, and
that I had better go and see Leonilda, and that he would call for
me later on. I went to Leonilda, but as the duke did not put in
an appearance we could not settle anything about our marriage. I
spent several hours with her, but I was obliged to obey her
commands, and could only shew myself amorous in words. Before
leaving I repeated that it only rested with her to unite our lives
by indissoluble ties, and to leave Naples almost immediately.
When I saw the duke he said,--
"Well, Don Giacomo, you have spent all the morning with my
mistress; do you still wish to marry her?"
"More than ever; what do you mean?"
"Nothing; and as you have passed this trial to which I purposely
subjected you, we will discuss your union tomorrow, and I hope you
will make this charming woman happy, for she will be an excellent
wife."
"I agree with you."
When we went to Monte Leone's in the evening, we saw a banker with
a good deal of gold before him. The duke told me he was Don Marco
Ottoboni. He was a fine-looking man, but he held the cards so
closely together in his left hand that I could not see them. This
did not inspire me with confidence, so I only punted a ducat at a
time. I was persistently unlucky, but I only lost a score of
ducats. After five or six deals the banker, asked me politely why
I staked such small sums against him.
"Because I can't see half the pack," I replied, "and I am afraid
of losing."
Some of the company laughed at my answer.
Next night I broke the bank held by the Prince the Cassaro, a
pleasant and rich nobleman, who asked me to give him revenge, and
invited me to supper at his pretty house at Posilipo, where he
lived with a virtuosa of whom he had become amorous at Palermo.
He also invited the Duke de Matalone and three or four other
gentlemen. This was the only occasion on which I held the bank
while I was at Naples, and I staked six thousand ducats after
warning the prince that as it was the eve of my departure I should
only play for ready money.
He lost ten thousand ducats, and only rose from the table because
he had no more money. Everybody left the room, and I should have
done the same if the prince's mistress had not owed me a hundred
ducats. I continued to deal in the hope that she would get her
money back, but seeing that she still lost I put down the cards,
and told her that she must pay me at Rome. She was a handsome and
agreeable woman, but she did not inspire me with any passions, no
doubt because my mind was occupied with another, otherwise I
should have drawn a bill on sight, and paid myself without
meddling with her purse. It was two o'clock in the morning when I
got to bed.
Both Leonilda and myself wished to see Caserta before leaving
Naples, and the duke sent us there in a carriage drawn by six
mules, which went faster than most horses. Leonilda's governess
accompanied us.
The day after, we settled the particulars of our marriage in a
conversation which lasted for two hours.
"Leonilda," began the duke, "has a mother, who lives at a short
distance from here, on an income of six hundred ducats, which I
have given her for life, in return for an estate belonging to her
husband; but Leonilda does not depend on her. She gave her up to
me seven years ago, and I have given her an annuity of five
hundred ducats, which she will bring to you, with all her diamonds
and an extensive trousseau. Her mother gave her up to me
entirely, and I gave my word of honour to get her a good husband.
I have taken peculiar care of her education, and as her mind has
developed I have put her on her guard against all prejudices, with
the exception of that which bids a woman keep herself intact for
her future husband. You may rest assured that you are the first
man whom Leonilda (who is a daughter to me) has pressed to her
heart."
I begged the duke to get the contract ready, and to add to her
dower the sum of five thousand ducats, which I would give him when
the deed was signed.
"I will mortgage them," said he, "on a house which is worth
double."
Then turning to Leonilda, who was shedding happy tears, he said,--
"I am going to send for your mother, who will be delighted to sign
the settlement, and to make the acquaintance of your future
husband."
The mother lived at the Marquis Galiani's, a day's journey from
Naples. The duke said he would send a carriage for her the next
day, and that we could all sup together the day after.
"The law business will be all done by then, and we shall be able
to go to the little church at Portici, and the priest will marry
you. Then we will take your mother to St. Agatha and dine with
her, and you can go your way with her maternal blessing."
This conclusion gave me an involuntary shudder, and Leonilda fell
fainting in the duke's arms. He called her dear child, cared for
her tenderly, and brought her to herself.
We all had to wipe our eyes, as we were all equally affected.
I considered myself as a married man and under obligation to alter
my way of living, and I stopped playing. I had won more than
fifteen thousand ducats, and this sum added to what I had before
and Leonilda's dowry should have sufficed for an honest
livelihood.
Next day, as I was at supper with the duke and Leonilda, she
said,--
"What will my mother say to-morrow evening, when she sees you?"
"She will say that you are silly to marry a stranger whom you have
only known for a week. Have you told her my name, my nation, my
condition, and my age?"
"I wrote to her as follows:
"'Dear mamma, come directly and sign my marriage contract with a
gentleman introduced to me by the duke, with whom I shall be
leaving for Rome on Monday next.'"
"My letter ran thus," said the duke,
"'Come without delay, and sign your daughter's marriage contract,
and give her your blessing. She has wisely chosen a husband old
enough to be her father; he is a friend of mine.'"
"That's not true," cried Leonilda, rushing to my arms, "she will
think you are really old, and I am sorry."
"Is your mother an elderly woman?"
"She's a charming Woman," said the duke, "full of wit, and not
thirty-eight yet."
"What has she got to do with Galiani?"
"She is an intimate friend of the marchioness's, and she lives
with the family but pays for her board."
Next morning, having some business with my banker to attend to, I
told the duke that I should not be able to see Leonilda till
supper-time. I went there at eight o'clock and I found the three
sitting in front of the fire.
"Here he is!" cried the duke.
As soon as the mother saw me she screamed and fell nearly fainting
on a chair. I looked at her fixedly for a minute, and exclaimed,--
"Donna Lucrezia! I am fortunate indeed!"
"Let us take breath, my dear friend. Come and sit by me. So you
are going to marry my daughter, are you?"
I took a chair and guessed it all. My hair stood on end, and I
relapsed into a gloomy silence.
The stupefied astonishment of Leonilda and the duke cannot be
described. They could see that Donna Lucrezia and I knew each
other, but they could not get any farther. As for myself, as I
pondered gloomily and compared Leonilda's age with the period at
which I had been intimate with Lucrezia Castelli, I could see that
it was quite possible that she might be my daughter; but I told
myself that the mother could not be certain of the fact, as at the
time she lived with her husband, who was very fond of her and not
fifty years of age. I could bear the suspense no longer, so,
taking a light and begging Leonilda and the duke to excuse me, I
asked Lucrezia to come into the next room with me.
As soon as she was seated, she drew me to her and said,--
"Must I grieve my dear one when I have loved so well? Leonilda is
your daughter, I am certain of it. I always looked upon her as
your daughter, and my husband knew it, but far from being angry,
he used to adore her. I will shew you the register of her birth,
and you can calculate for yourself. My husband was at Rome, and
did not see me once, and my daughter did not come before her time.
You must remember a letter which my mother should have given you,
in which I told you I was with child. That was in January, 1744,
and in six months my daughter will be seventeen. My late husband
gave her the names of Leonilda Giacomina at the baptismal font,
and when he played with her he always called her by the latter
name. This idea of your marrying her horrifies me, but I cannot
oppose it, as I am ashamed to tell the reason. What do you think?
Have you still the courage to marry her? You seem to hesitate.
Have you taken any earnest of the marriage-bed?"
"No, dear Lucrezia, your daughter is as pure as a lily."
"I breathe again."
"Ah, yes! but my heart is torn asunder."
"I am grieved to see you thus."
"She has no likeness to me."
"That proves nothing; she has taken after me. You are weeping,
dearest, you will break my heart."
"Who would not weep in my place? I will send the duke to you; he
must know all."
I left Lucrezia, and I begged the duke to go and speak to her.
The affectionate Leonilda came and sat on my knee, and asked me
what the dreadful mystery was. I was too much affected to be able
to answer her; she kissed me, and we began to weep. We remained
thus sad and silent till the return of the duke and Donna
Lucrezia, who was the only one to keep her head cool.
"Dear Leonilda, said she, "you must be let into the secret of this
disagreeable mystery, and your mother is the proper person to
enlighten you. Do you remember what name my late husband used to
call you when he petted you?"
"He used to call me his charming Giacomina."
"That is M. Casanova's name; it is the name of your father. Go
and kiss him; his blood flows in your veins; and if he has been
your lover, repent of the crime which was happily quite
involuntary."
The scene was a pathetic one, and we were all deeply moved.
Leonilda clung to her mother's knees, and in a voice that
struggled with sobs exclaimed,--
"I have only felt what an affectionate daughter might feel for a
father"
At this point silence fell on us, a silence that was only broken
by the sobs of the two women, who held each other tightly
embraced; while the duke and I sat as motionless as two posts, our
heads bent and our hands crossed, without as much as looking at
each other.
Supper was served, and we sat at table for three hours, talking
sadly over this dramatic recognition, which had brought more grief
than joy; and we departed at midnight full of melancholy, and
hoping that we should be calmer on the morrow, and able to take
the only step that now remained to us.
As we were going away the duke made several observations on what
moral philosophers call prejudices. There is no philosopher who
would maintain or even advance the thesis that the union of a
father and daughter is horrible naturally, for it is entirely a
social prejudice; but it is so widespread, and education has
graven it so deeply in our hearts, that only a man whose heart is
utterly depraved could despise it. It is the result of a respect
for the laws, it keeps the social scheme together; in fact, it is
no longer a prejudice, it is a principle.
I went to bed, but as usual, after the violent emotion I had
undergone, I could not sleep. The rapid transition from carnal to
paternal love cast my physical and mental faculties into such a
state of excitement that I could scarcely withstand the fierce
struggle that was taking place in my heart.
Towards morning I fell asleep for a short time, and woke up
feeling as exhausted as two lovers who have been spending a long
and voluptuous winter's night.
When I got up I told the duke that I intended to set out from
Naples the next day; and he observed that as everybody knew I was
on the eve of my departure, this haste would make people talk.
"Come and have some broth with me," said he; "and from henceforth
look upon this marriage project as one of the many pranks in which
you have engaged. We will spend the three or four days pleasantly
together, and perhaps when we have thought over all this for some
time we shall end by thinking it matter for mirth and not sadness.
Believe me the mother's as good as the daughter; recollection is
often better than hope; console yourself with Lucrezia. I don't
think you can see any difference between her present appearance
and that of eighteen years ago, for I don't see how she can ever
have been handsomer than she is now."
This remonstrance brought me to my senses. I felt that the best
thing I could do would be to forget the illusion which had amused
me for four or five days, and as my self-esteem was not wounded it
ought not to be a difficult task; but yet I was in love and unable
to satisfy my love.
Love is not like merchandise, where one can substitute one thing
for another when one cannot have what one wants. Love is a
sentiment, only the object who has kindled the flame can soothe
the heat thereof.
We went to call on my daughter, the duke in his usual mood, but I
looking pale, depressed, weary, and like a boy going to receive
the rod. I was extremely surprised when I came into the room to
find the mother and daughter quite gay, but this helped on my
cure. Leonilda threw her arms round my neck, calling me dear
papa, and kissing me with all a daughter's freedom. Donna
Lucrezia stretched out her hand, addressing me as her dear friend.
I regarded her attentively, and I was forced to confess that the
eighteen years that had passed away had done little ill to her
charms. There was the same sparkling glance, that fresh
complexion, those perfect shapes, those beautiful lips--in fine,
all that had charmed my youthful eyes.
We mutely caressed each other. Leonilda gave and received the
tenderest kisses without seeming to notice what desires she might
cause to arise; no doubt she knew that as her father I should have
strength to resist, and she was right. One gets used to
everything, and I was ashamed to be sad any longer.
I told Donna Lucrezia of the curious welcome her sister had given
me in Rome, and she went off into peals of laughter. We reminded
each other of the night at Tivoli, and these recollections
softened our hearts. From these softened feelings to love is but
a short way; but neither place nor time were convenient, so we
pretended not to be thinking of it.
After a few moments of silence I told her that if she cared to
come to Rome with me to pay a visit to her sister Angelique, I
would take her back to Naples at the beginning of Lent. She
promised to let me know whether she could come on the following
day.
I sat between her and Leonilda at dinner; and as I could no longer
think of the daughter, it was natural that my old flame for
Lucrezia should rekindle; and whether from the effect of her
gaiety and beauty, or from my need of someone to love, or from the
excellence of the wine, I found myself in love with her by the
dessert, and asked her to take the place which her daughter was to
have filled.
"I will marry you," said I, "and we will all of us go to Rome on
Monday, for since Leonilda is my daughter I do not like to leave
her at Naples."
At this the three guests looked at each other and said nothing. I
did not repeat my proposal, but led the conversation to some other
topic.
After dinner I felt sleepy and lay down on a bed, and did not wake
till eight o'clock, when to my surprise I found that my only
companion was Lucrezia, who was writing. She heard me stir, and
came up to me and said affectionately,--
"My dear friend, you have slept for five hours; and as I did not
like to leave you alone I would not go with the duke and our
daughter to the opera."
The memory of former loves awakens when one is near the once
beloved object, and desires rapidly become irresistible if the
beauty still remain. The lovers feel as if they were once more in
possession of a blessing which belongs to them, and of which they
have been long deprived by unfortunate incidents. These were our
feelings, and without delay, without idle discussion, and above
all, without false modesty, we abandoned ourselves to love, the
only true source of nature.
In the first interval, I was the first to break the silence; and
if a man is anything of a wit, is he the less so at that delicious
moment of repose which follows on an amorous victory?
"Once again, then," said I, "I am in this charming land which I
entered for the first time to the noise of the drum and the rattle
of musket shots."
This remark made her laugh, and recalled past events to her
memory. We recollected with delight all the pleasures we had
enjoyed at Testaccio, Frascati, and Tivoli. We reminded each
other of these events, only to make each other laugh; but with two
lovers, what is laughter but a pretext for renewing the sweet
sacrifice of the goddess of Cythera?
At the end of the second act, full of the enthusiasm of the
fortunate lover, I said,--
"Let us be united for life; we are of the same age, we love each
other, our means are sufficient for us, we may hope to live a
happy life, and to die at the same moment."
"Tis the darling wish of my heart," Lucrezia replied, "but let us
stay at Naples and leave Leonilda to the duke. We will see
company, find her a worthy husband, and our happiness will be
complete."
"I cannot live at Naples, dearest, and you know that your daughter
intended to leave with me."
"My daughter! Say our daughter. I see that you are still in love
with her, and do not wish to be considered her father."
"Alas, yes! But I am sure that if I live with you my passion for
her will be stilled, but otherwise I cannot answer for myself. I
shall fly, but flight will not bring me happiness. Leonilda
charms me still more by her intelligence than by her beauty. I
was sure that she loved me so well that I did not attempt to
seduce her, lest thereby I should weaken my hold on her
affections; and as I wanted to make her happy I wished to deserve
her esteem. I longed to possess her, but in a lawful manner, so
that our rights should have been equal. We have created an angel,
Lucrezia, and I cannot imagine how the duke . . ."
"The duke is completely impotent. Do you see now how I was able
to trust my daughter to his care?"
"Impotent? I always thought so myself, but he has a son"
"His wife might possibly be able to explain that mystery to you,
but you may take it for granted that the poor duke will die a
virgin in spite of himself; and he knows that as well as anybody."
"Do not let us say any more about it, but allow me to treat you as
at Tivoli."
"Not just now, as I hear carriage wheels."
A moment after the door opened, and Leonilda laughed heartily to
see her mother in my arms, and threw herself upon us, covering us
with kisses. The duke came in a little later, and we supped
together very merrily. He thought me the happiest of men when I
told him I was going to pass the night honourably with my wife
and daughter; and he was right, for I was so at that moment.
As soon as the worthy man left us we went to bed, but here I must
draw a veil over the most voluptuous night I have ever spent. If
I told all I should wound chaste ears, and, besides, all the
colours of the painter and all the phrases of the poet could not
do justice to the delirium of pleasure, the ecstasy, and the
license which passed during that night, while two wax lights
burnt dimly on the table like candles before the shrine of a saint.
We did not leave the stage, which I watered with my blood, till
long after the sun had risen. We were scarcely dressed when the
duke arrived.
Leonilda gave him a vivid description of our nocturnal labours,
but in his unhappy state of impotence he must have been thankful
for his absence.
I was determined to start the next day so as to be at Rome for the
last week of the carnival and I begged the duke to let me give
Leonilda the five thousand ducats which would have been her dower
if she had become my bride.
"As she is your daughter," said he, "she can and ought to take
this present from her father, if only as a dowry for her future
husband."
"Will you accept it, then, my dear Leonilda?"
"Yes, papa dear," she said, embracing me, "on the condition that
you will promise to come and see me again as soon as you hear of
my marriage."
I promised to do so, and I kept my word.
"As you are going to-morrow," said the duke, "I shall ask all the
nobility of Naples to meet you at supper. In the meanwhile I
leave you with your daughter; we shall see each other again at
suppertime."
He went out and I dined with my wife and daughter in the best of
spirits. I spent almost the whole afternoon with Leonilda,
keeping within the bounds of decency, less, perhaps, out of
respect to morality, than because of my labours of the night
before. We did not kiss each other till the moment of parting,
and I could see that both mother and daughter were grieved to lose
me.
After a careful toilette I went to supper, and found an assembly
of a hundred of the very best people in Naples. The duchess was
very agreeable, and when I kissed her hand to take leave, she
said,
"I hope, Don Giacomo, that you have had no unpleasantness during
your short stay at Naples, and that you will sometimes think of
your visit with pleasure."
I answered that I could only recall my visit with delight after
the kindness with which she had deigned to treat me that evening;
and, in fact, my recollections of Naples were always of the
happiest description.
After I had treated the duke's attendants with generosity, the
poor nobleman, whom fortune had favoured, and whom nature had
deprived of the sweetest of all enjoyments, came with me to the
door of my carriage and I went on my way.
CHAPTER X
My Carriage Broken--Mariuccia's Wedding-Flight of Lord Lismore--My
Return to Florence, and My Departure with the Corticelli
My Spainiard was going on before us on horseback, and I was
sleeping profoundly beside Don Ciccio Alfani in my comfortable
carriage, drawn by four horses, when a violent shock aroused me.
The carriage had been overturned on the highway, at midnight,
beyond Francolisa and four miles from St. Agatha.
Alfani was beneath me and uttered piercing shrieks, for he thought
he had broken his left arm. Le Duc rode back and told me that the
postillions had taken flight, possibly to give notice of our
mishap to highwaymen, who are very common in the States of the
Church and Naples.
I got out of the carriage easily enough, but poor old Alfani, who
was unwieldly with fat, badly hurt, and half dead with fright,
could not extricate himself without assistance. It took us a
quarter of an hour to get him free. The poor wretch amused me by
the blasphemies which he mingled with prayers to his patron saint,
St. Francis of Assisi.
I was not without experience of such accidents and was not at all
hurt, for one's safety depends a good deal on the position one is
in. Don Ciccio had probably hurt his arm by stretching it out
just as the accident took place.
I took my sword, my musket, and my horse-pistols out of the
carriage, and I made them and my pockets pistols ready so as to
offer a stiff resistance to the brigands if they came; and I then
told Le Duc to take some money and ride off and see if he could
bring some peasants to our assistance.
Don Ciccio groaned over the accident, but I, resolving to sell my
money and my life dearly, made a rampart of the carriage and four
horses, and stood sentry, with my arms ready.
I then felt prepared for all hazards, and was quite calm, but my
unfortunate companion continued to pour forth his groans, and
prayers, and blasphemies, for all that goes together at Naples as
at Rome. I could do nothing but compassionate him; but in spite
of myself I could not help laughing, which seemed to vex the poor
abbe, who looked for all the world like a dying dolphin as he
rested motionless against the bank. His distress may be imagined,
when the nearest horse yielded to the call of nature, and voided
over the unfortunate man the contents of its bladder. There was
nothing to be done, and I could not help roaring with laughter.
Nevertheless, a strong northerly wind rendered our situation an
extremely unpleasant one. At the slightest noise I cried, "Who
goes there?" threatening to fire on anyone who dared approach.
I spent two hours in this tragic-comic position, until at last
Le Duc rode up and told me that a band of peasants, all armed and
provided with lanterns, were approaching to our assistance.
In less than an hour, the carriage, the horses, and Alfani were
seen to. I kept two of the country-folk to serve as postillions,
and I sent the others away well paid for the interruption of their
sleep. I reached St. Agatha at day-break, and I made the devil's
own noise at the door of the postmaster, calling for an attorney
to take down my statement, and threatening to have the postillions
who had overturned and deserted me, hanged.
A wheelwright inspected my coach and pronounced the axle-tree
broken, and told me I should have to remain for a day at least.
Don Ciccio, who stood in need of a surgeon's aid, called on the
Marquis Galliani without telling me anything about it. However,
the marquis hastened to beg me to stay at his home till I could
continue my journey. I accepted the invitation with great
pleasure, and with this my ill humour, which was really only the
result of my desire to make a great fuss like a great man,
evaporated.
The marquis ordered my carriage to be taken to his coach-house,
took me by the arm, and led me to his house. He was as learned as
he was polite, and a perfect Neapolitan--i.e., devoid of all
ceremony. He had not the brilliant wit of his brother, whom I had
known at Paris as secretary of embassy under the Count Cantillana
Montdragon, but he possessed a well-ordered judgment, founded on
study and the perusal of ancient and modern classics. Above all,
he was a great mathematician, and was then preparing an annotated
edition of Vitruvius, which was afterwards published.
The marquis introduced me to his wife, whom I knew as the intimate
friend of my dear Lucrezia. There was something saint-like in her
expression, and to see her surrounded by her little children was
like looking at a picture of the Holy Family.
Don Ciccio was put to bed directly, and a surgeon sent for, who
consoled him by saying that it was only a simple luxation, and
that he would be well again in a few days.
At noon a carriage stopped at the door, and Lucrezia got down.
She embraced the marchioness, and said to me in the most natural
manner, as we shook hands,--
"What happy chance brings you hear, dear Don Giacomo?"
She told her friend that I was a friend of her late husband's, and
that she had recently seen me again with great pleasure at the
Duke de Matalone's.
After dinner, on finding myself alone with this charming woman, I
asked her if it were not possible for us to pass a happy night
together, but she shewed me that it was out of the question, and I
had to yield. I renewed my offer to marry her.
"Buy a property," said she, "in the kingdom of Naples, and I will
spend the remainder of my days with you, without asking a priest
to give us his blessing, unless we happen to have children."
I could not deny that Lucrezia spoke very sensibly, and I could
easily have bought land in Naples, and lived comfortably on it,
but the idea of binding myself down to one place was so contrary
to my feelings that I had the good sense to prefer my vagabond
life to all the advantages which our union would have given me,
and I do not think that Lucrezia altogether disapproved of my
resolution.
After supper I took leave of everybody, and I set out at day-break
in order to get to Rome by the next day. I had only fifteen
stages to do, and the road was excellent.
As we were getting into Carillano, I saw one of the two-wheeled
carriages, locally called mantice, two horses were being put into
it, while my carriage required four. I got out, and on hearing
myself called I turned round. I was not a little surprised to
find that the occupants of the mantice were a young and pretty
girl and Signora Diana, the Prince de Sassaro's mistress, who
owed me three hundred ounces. She told me that she was going
to Rome, and that she would be glad if we could make the journey
together.
"I suppose you don't mind stopping for the night at Piperno?"
"No," said I, "I am afraid that can't be managed; I don't intend
to break my journey."
"But you would get to Rome by to-morrow."
"I know that, but I sleep better in my carriage than in the bad
beds they give you in the inns."
"I dare not travel by night."
"Well, well, madam, I have no doubt we shall see each other at
Rome."
"You are a cruel man. You see I have only a stupid servant, and a
maid who is as timid as I am, besides it is cold and my carriage
is open. I will keep you company in yours."
"I really can't take you in, as all the available space is taken
up by my old secretary, who broke his arm yesterday."
"Shall we dine together at Terracino? We could have a little
talk."
"Certainly."
We made good cheer at this small town, which is the frontier of
the States of the Church. We should not reach Piperno till far on
in the night, and the lady renewed and redoubled her efforts to
keep me till daybreak; but though young and pretty she did not
take my fancy; she was too fair and too fat. But her maid, who
was a pretty brunette, with a delicious rounded form and a
sparkling eye, excited all my feelings of desire. A vague hope of
possessing the maid won me over, and I ended by promising the
signora to sup with her, and not to continue my journey without
giving notice to the landlord.
When we got to Piperno, I succeeded in telling the pretty maid
that if she would let me have her quietly I would not go any
further. She promised to wait for me, and allowed me to take such
liberties as are usually the signs of perfect complaisance.
We had our supper, and I wished the ladies good night and escorted
them to their room, where I took note of the relative positions of
their beds so that there should be no mistake. I left them and
came back in a quarter of an hour. Finding the door open I felt
sure of success, and I got into bed; but as I found out, it was
the signora and not the maid who received me. Evidently the
little hussy had told her mistress the story, and the mistress had
thought fit to take the maid's place. There was no possibility of
my being mistaken, for though I could not see I could feel.
For a moment I was undecided, should I remain in bed and make the
best of what I had got, or go on my way to Rome immediately? The
latter counsel prevailed. I called Le Duc, gave my orders, and
started, enjoying the thought of the confusion of the two women,
who must have been in a great rage at the failure of their plans.
I saw Signora Diana three or four times at Rome, and we bowed
without speaking; if I had thought it likely that she would pay me
the four hundred louis she owed me I might have taken the trouble
to call on her, but I know that your stage queens are the worst
debtors in the world.
My brother, the Chevalier Mengs, and the Abbe Winckelmann were all
in good health and spirits. Costa was delighted to see me again.
I sent him off directly to His Holiness's 'scopatore maggiore' to
warn him that I was coming to take polenta with him, and all he
need do was to get a good supper for twelve. I was sure of
finding Mariuccia there, for I knew that Momolo had noticed her
presence pleased me.
The carnival began the day after my arrival, and I hired a superb
landau for the whole week. The Roman landaus seat four people and
have a hood which may be lowered at pleasure. In these landaus
one drives along the Corso with or without masks from nine to
twelve o'clock during the carnival time.
From time immemorial the Corso at Rome has presented a strange and
diverting spectacle during the carnival. The horses start from
the Piazza del Popolo, and gallop along to the Column of Trajan,
between two lines of carriages drawn up beside two narrow
pavements which are crowded with maskers and people of all
classes. All the windows are decorated. As soon as the horses
have passed the carriages begin to move, and the maskers on foot
and horseback occupy the middle of the street. The air is full of
real and false sweetmeats, pamphlets, pasquinades, and puns.
Throughout the mob, composed of the best and worst classes of
Rome, liberty reigns supreme, and when twelve o'clock is announced
by the third report of the cannon of St. Angelo the Corso begins
to clear, and in five minutes you would look in vain for a
carriage or a masker. The crowd disperses amongst the
neighbouring streets, and fills the opera houses, the theatres,
the rope-dancers' exhibitions, and even the puppet-shows. The
restaurants and taverns are not left desolate; everywhere you will
find crowds of people, for during the carnival the Romans only
think of eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves.
I banked my money with M. Belloni and got a letter of credit on
Turin, where I expected to find the Abbe Gama and to receive a
commission to represent the Portuguese Court at the Congress of
Augsburg, to which all Europe was looking forward, and then I went
to inspect my little room, where I hoped to meet Mariuccia the
next day. I found everything in good order.
In the evening Momolo and his family received me with joyful
exclamations. The eldest daughter said with a smile that she was
sure she would please me by sending for Mariuccia.
"You are right," said I, "I shall be delighted to see the fair
Mariuccia."
A few minutes after she entered with her puritanical mother, who
told me I must not be surprised to see her daughter better
dressed, as she was going to be married in a few days. I
congratulated her, and Momolo's daughters asked who was the happy
man. Mariuccia blushed and said modestly, to one of them,--
"It is somebody whom you know, So and so, he saw me here, and we
are going to open a hair-dresser's shop."
"The marriage was arranged by good Father St. Barnabe," added the
mother. "He has in his keeping my daughter's dower of four
hundred Roman crowns."
"He's a good lad," said Momolo. "I have a high opinion of him; he
would have married one of my daughters if I could have given him
such a dowry."
At these words the girl in question blushed and lowered her eyes.
"Never mind, my dear," said I, "your turn will come in time."
She took my words as seriously meant, and her face lit up with
joy. She thought I had guessed her love for Costa, and her idea
was confirmed when I told him to get my landau the next day and
take out all Momolo's daughters, well masked, as it would not do
for them to be recognized in a carriage I meant to make use of
myself. I also bade him hire some handsome costumes from a Jew,
and paid the hire-money myself. This put them all in a good humour.
"How about Signora Maria?" said the jealous sister.
"As Signora Maria is going to be married," I replied, "she must
not be present at any festivity without her future husband."
The mother applauded this decision of mine, and sly Mariuccia
pretended to feel mortified. I turned to Momolo and begged him to
ask Mariuccia's future husband to meet me at supper, by which I
pleased her mother greatly.
I felt very tired, and having nothing to keep me after seeing
Mariuccia, I begged the company to excuse me, and after wishing
them a good appetite I left them.
I walked out next morning at an early hour. I had no need of
going into the church, which I reached at seven o'clock, for
Mariuccia saw me at some distance off and followed me, and we were
soon alone together in the little room, which love and voluptuous
pleasure had transmuted into a sumptuous place. We would gladly
have talked to each other, but as we had only an hour before us,
we set to without even taking off our clothes. After the last
kiss which ended the third assault, she told me that she was to be
married on the eve of Shrove Tuesday, and that all had been
arranged by her confessor. She also thanked me for having asked
Momolo to invite her intended.
"When shall we see each other again, my angel?"
"On Sunday, the eve of my wedding, we shall be able to spend four
hours together."
"Delightful! I promise you that when you leave me you will be in
such a state that the caresses of your husband won't hurt you."
She smiled and departed, and I threw myself on the bed where I
rested for a good hour.
As I was going home I met a carriage and four going at a great
speed. A footman rode in front of the carriage, and within it I
saw a young nobleman. My attention was arrested by the blue
ribbon on his breast. I gazed at him, and he called out my name
and had the carriage stopped. I was extremely surprised when I
found it was Lord O'Callaghan, whom I had known at Paris at his
mother's, the Countess of Lismore, who was separated from her
husband, and was the kept mistress of M. de St. Aubin, the
unworthy successor of the good and virtuous Fenelon in the
archbishopric of Cambrai. However, the archbishop owed his
promotion to the fact that he was a bastard of the Duc d'Orleans,
the French Regent.
Lord O'Callaghan was a fine-looking young man, with wit and
talent, but the slave of his unbridled passions and of every
species of vice. I knew that if he were lord in name he was not
so in fortune, and I was astonished to see him driving such a
handsome carriage, and still more so at his blue ribbon. In a few
words he told me that he was going to dine with the Pretender, but
that he would sup at home. He invited me to come to supper, and I
accepted.
After dinner I took a short walk, and then went to enliven myself
at the theatre, where I saw Momolo's girls strutting about with
Costa; afterwards I went to Lord O'Callaghan, and was pleasantly
surprised to meet the poet Poinsinet. He was young, short, ugly,
full of poetic fire, a wit, and dramatist. Five or six years
later the poor fellow fell into the Guadalquivir and was drowned.
He had gone to Madrid in the hope of making his fortune. As I had
known him at Paris I addressed him as an old acquaintance.
"What are you doing at Rome? Where's my Lord O'Callaghan?"
"He's in the next room, but as his father is dead his title is now
Earl of Lismore. You know he was an adherent of the Pretender's.
I left Paris with him, well enough pleased at being able to come
to Rome without its costing me anything."
"Then the earl is a rich man now?"
"Not exactly; but he will be, as he is his father's heir, and the
old earl left an immense fortune. It is true that it is all
confiscated, but that is nothing, as his claims are irresistible."
"In short, he is rich in claims and rich in the future; but how
did he get himself made a knight of one of the French king's
orders?"
"You're joking. That is the blue ribbon of the Order of St.
Michael, of which the late Elector of Cologne was grand master.
As you know, my lord plays exquisitely on the violin, and when he
was at Bonn he played the Elector a concerto by Tartini. The
prince could not find words in which to express the pleasure of my
lord's performance, and gave him the ribbon you have seen."
"A fine present, doubtless."
"You don't know what pleasure it gave my lord, for when we go back
to Paris everybody will take it for the Order of the Holy Ghost."
We passed into a large room, where we found the earl with the
party he had asked to supper. As soon as he saw me he embraced
me, called me his dear friend, and named his guests. There were
seven or eight girls, all of them pretty, three or four castrati
who played women's parts in the Roman theatre, and five or six
abbes, the husband of every wife and the wives of every husband,
who boasted of their wickedness, and challenged the girls to be
more shameless than they. The girls were not common courtezans,
but past mistresses of music, painting, and vice considered as a
fine art. The kind of society may be imagined when I say that I
found myself a perfect novice amongst them.
"Where are you going, prince?" said the earl to a respectable-
looking man who was making for the door.
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