Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

"Tales of My Landlord." Dined. Read the Lugano Gazette. Read-I forget what. At eight

'went to conversazione. Found there the Countess Geltrude, Betti V. and her husband, and others. Pretty black-eyed woman that-only twenty-two'same age as Teresa, who is prettier, though.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

The Count Pietro G. took me aside to say that the Patriots have had notice from Forli (twenty miles off) that to-night the government and its party mean 'to strike a stroke-that the Cardinal here has had ' orders to make several arrests immediately, and that, in consequence, the Liberals are arming, and have 'posted patroles in the streets, to sound the alarm and 'give notice to fight for it.

I an

'He asked me "what should be done?" 'swered "fight for it, rather than be taken in detail;" ' and offered, if any of them are in immediate apprehension of arrest, to receive them in my house (which 'is defensible), and to defend them, with my servants and themselves (we have arms and ammunition), as long as we can,-or to try to get them away under 'cloud of night. On going home, I offered him the 'pistols which I had about me-but he refused, but 'said he would come off to me in case of accidents.

6

[ocr errors]

It wants half an hour of midnight, and rains ;-as "Gibbet says, "a fine night for their enterprise-dark ' as hell, and blows like the devil." If the row don't happen now, it must soon. I thought that their system of shooting people would soon produce a 'reaction-and now it seems coming. I will do what 'I can in the way of combat, though a little out of 'exercise. The cause is a good one.

[ocr errors]

Turned over and over half a score of books for the

'passage in question, and can't find it. Expect to

hear the drum and the musquetry momently (for they 'swear to resist, and are right)-but I hear nothing, 'as yet, save the plash of the rain and the gusts ' of the wind at intervals. Don't like to go to bed, 'because I hate to be waked, and would rather sit up for the row, if there is to be one.

Mended the fire-have got the arms-and a book or two, which I shall turn over. I know little of 'their numbers, but think the Carbonari strong enough to beat the troops, even here. With twenty men this house might be defended for twenty-four hours against any force to be brought against it, now in this place, for the same time; and, in such a time, 'the country would have notice, and would rise,—if 'ever they will rise, of which there is some doubt. In the mean time, I may as well read as do anything ' else, being alone.

'January 8th, 1821, Monday.

Rose, and found Count P. G. in my apartments. 'Sent away the servant. Told me that, according to 'the best information, the Government had not issued 'orders for the arrests apprehended; that the attack

in Forli had not taken place (as expected) by the 'Sanfedisti-the opponents of the Carbonari or Libe'rals-and that, as yet, they are still in apprehension.

only. Asked me for some arms of a better sort, 'which I gave him. Settled that, in case of a row, 'the Liberals were to assemble here (with me), and 'that he had given the word to Vincenzo G. and ' others of the Chiefs for that purpose. He himself ' and father are going to the chase in the forest; but 'V. G. is to come to me, and an express to be sent off

to him, P. G., if anything occurs.

Concerted ope

'rations. They are to seize-but no matter.

'I advised them to attack in detail, and in different 'parties, in different places (though at the same time), so as to divide the attention of the troops, who, though few, yet being disciplined, would beat any 'body of people (not trained) in a regular fight— ' unless dispersed in small parties, and distracted with 'different assaults. Offered to let them assemble here, if they choose. It is a strongish post-narrow street, commanded from within-and tenable walls.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Dined. Tried on a new coat. Letter to Murray, 'with corrections of Bacon's Apophthegms and an epigram-the latter not for publication. At eight went to Teresa, Countess G. At nine and a half came in Il Conte P. and Count P. G. Talked of a 'certain proclamation lately issued. Count R. G. ' ** had been with * * (the (the) to sound him about the 'arrests. He, * *, is a trimmer, and deals, at present, his cards with both hands. If he don't mind, they'll be full. ** pretends (I doubt him—they don't,— 'we shall see) that there is no such order, and seems 'staggered by the immense exertions of the Neapolitans, and the fierce spirit of the Liberals here. The truth is, that cares for little but his place (which is a good one), and wishes to play pretty with both 'parties. He has changed his mind thirty times these last three moons, to my knowledge, for he corre'sponds with me. But he is not a bloody fellow

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

* *

'only an avaricious one.

[ocr errors]

It seems that, just at this moment (as Lydia Languish says) there will be no elopement after all. I wish that I had known as much last night-or,

'rather, this morning-I should have gone to bed two hours earlier. And yet I ought not to complain; 'for, though it is a sirocco, and heavy rain, I have not 'yawned for these two days.

"Came home-read History of Greece-before din'ner had read Walter Scott's Rob Roy. Wrote ad'dress to the letter in answer to Alessio del Pinto,

who has thanked me for helping his brother (the late Commandant, murdered here last month) in his last 'moments. Have told him I only did a duty of 'humanity-as is true. The brother lives at Rome.

'Mended the fire with some "sgobole," (a Romag' nuole word) and gave the falcon some water. Drank 'some Seltzer-water. Mem.-received to-day a print, 'or etching, of the story of Ugolino, by an Italian painter-different, of course, from Sir Joshua Rey ́nolds's, and I think (as far as recollection goes) no 'worse, for Reynolds's is not good in history. Tore a ' button in my new coat.

I wonder what figure these Italians will make in a regular row. I sometimes think that, like the 'Irishman's gun (somebody had sold him a crooked one), they will only do for " shooting round a cor'ner;" at least, this sort of shooting has been the 'late tenor of their exploits. And yet, there are ma'terials in this people, and a noble energy, if well ' directed. But who is to direct them? No matter. 'Out of such times heroes spring. Difficulties are 'the hot-beds of high spirits, and Freedom the 'mother of the few virtues incident to human na' ture.

'Rose-the day fine.

VOL. III.

Tuesday, January 9th, 1821. Ordered the horses; but

H

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Lega (my secretary, an Italianism for steward or 'chief servant) coming to tell me that the painter had finished the work in fresco, for the room he has been employed on lately, I went to see it before I set out. The painter has not copied badly the prints from Titian, &c. considering all things.

'Dined. Read Johnson's Vanity of Human 'Wishes,”—all the examples and mode of giving them sublime, as well as the latter part, with the exception of an occasional couplet. I do not so much admire the opening. I remember an ob'servation of Sharpe's (the Conversationist, as he was 'called in London, and a very clever man), that the 'first line of this poem was superfluous, and that Pope (the best of poets, I think) would have begun at ' once, only changing the punctuation—

The

Survey mankind from China to Peru." The former line, "Let observation," &c. is certainly heavy and useless. But 'tis a grand poem-and so true!-true as the 10th of Juvenal himself. lapse of ages changes all things-time-languagethe earth-the bounds of the sea-the stars of the sky, and every thing" about, around, and under'neath" man, except man himself, who has always 'been, and always will be, an unlucky rascal. The 'infinite variety of lives conduct but to death, and the infinity of wishes lead but to disappointment. All the discoveries which have yet been made have 'multiplied little but existence. An extirpated dis'ease is succeeded by some new pestilence; and a 'discovered world has brought little to the old one, except the p- first and freedom afterwards-the latter a fine thing, particularly as they gave it to

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »