登陆注册
4606300000179

第179章

In every one of the seventy-two parishes of the city of Venice, there is a large public-house called 'magazzino'. It remains open all night, and wine is retailed there at a cheaper price than in all the other drinking houses. People can likewise eat in the 'magazzino', but they must obtain what they want from the pork butcher near by, who has the exclusive sale of eatables, and likewise keeps his shop open throughout the night. The pork butcher is usually a very poor cook, but as he is cheap, poor people are willingly satisfied with him, and these resorts are considered very useful to the lower class.

The nobility, the merchants, even workmen in good circumstances, are never seen in the 'magazzino', for cleanliness is not exactly worshipped in such places. Yet there are a few private rooms which contain a table surrounded with benches, in which a respectable family or a few friends can enjoy themselves in a decent way.

It was during the Carnival of 1745, after midnight; we were, all the eight of us, rambling about together with our masks on, in quest of some new sort of mischief to amuse us, and we went into the magazzino of the parish of the Holy Cross to get something to drink. We found the public room empty, but in one of the private chambers we discovered three men quietly conversing with a young and pretty woman, and enjoying their wine.

Our chief, a noble Venetian belonging to the Balbi family, said to us, "It would be a good joke to carry off those three blockheads, and to keep the pretty woman in our possession." He immediately explained his plan, and under cover of our masks we entered their room, Balbi at the head of us. Our sudden appearance rather surprised the good people, but you may fancy their astonishment when they heard Balbi say to them: "Under penalty of death, and by order of the Council of Ten, I command you to follow us immediately, without making the slightest noise; as to you, my good woman, you need not be frightened, you will be escorted to your house." When he had finished his speech, two of us got hold of the woman to take her where our chief had arranged beforehand, and the others seized the three poor fellows, who were trembling all over, and had not the slightest idea of opposing any resistance.

The waiter of the magazzino came to be paid, and our chief gave him what was due, enjoining silence under penalty of death. We took our three prisoners to a large boat. Balbi went to the stern, ordered the boatman to stand at the bow, and told him that he need not enquire where we were going, that he would steer himself whichever way he thought fit. Not one of us knew where Balbi wanted to take the three poor devils.

He sails all along the canal, gets out of it, takes several turnings, and in a quarter of an hour, we reach Saint George where Balbi lands our prisoners, who are delighted to find themselves at liberty.

After this, the boatman is ordered to take us to Saint Genevieve, where we land, after paying for the boat.

We proceed at once to Palombo Square, where my brother and another of our band were waiting for us with our lovely prisoner, who was crying.

"Do not weep, my beauty," says Balbi to her, "we will not hurt you.

We intend only to take some refreshment at the Rialto, and then we will take you home in safety."

"Where is my husband?"

"Never fear; you shall see him again to-morrow."

Comforted by that promise, and as gentle as a lamb, she follows us to the "Two Swords." We ordered a good fire in a private room, and, everything we wanted to eat and to drink having been brought in, we send the waiter away, and remain alone. We take off our masks, and the sight of eight young, healthy faces seems to please the beauty we had so unceremoniously carried off. We soon manage to reconcile her to her fate by the gallantry of our proceedings; encouraged by a good supper and by the stimulus of wine, prepared by our compliments and by a few kisses, she realizes what is in store for her, and does not seem to have any unconquerable objection. Our chief, as a matter of right, claims the privilege of opening the ball; and by dint of sweet words he overcomes the very natural repugnance she feels at consummating the sacrifice in so numerous company. She, doubtless, thinks the offering agreeable, for, when I present myself as the priest appointed to sacrifice a second time to the god of love, she receives me almost with gratitude, and she cannot conceal her joy when she finds out that she is destined to make us all happy. My brother Francois alone exempted himself from paying the tribute, saying that he was ill, the only excuse which could render his refusal valid, for we had established as a law that every member of our society was bound to do whatever was done by the others.

After that fine exploit, we put on our masks, and, the bill being paid, escorted the happy victim to Saint Job, where she lived, and did not leave her till we had seen her safe in her house, and the street door closed.

My readers may imagine whether we felt inclined to laugh when the charming creature bade us good night, thanking us all with perfect good faith!

Two days afterwards, our nocturnal orgy began to be talked of. The young woman's husband was a weaver by trade, and so were his two friends. They joined together to address a complaint to the Council of Ten. The complaint was candidly written and contained nothing but the truth, but the criminal portion of the truth was veiled by a circumstance which must have brought a smile on the grave countenances of the judges, and highly amused the public at large:

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 老公大人举起手

    老公大人举起手

    白思涵还是个大学生的时候,没事喜欢泡在自习室里,自习室里有空调,又安静。白思涵是B市公安大学的一名学生,人看起来比较瘦弱,给人一种弱不经风的感觉,但是她在体能方面的表现,不亚于班上任何一个男生。老师对她的评价是,吃苦耐劳,思维敏捷。翻看了几页书,白思涵觉得小腹有些疼痛,隐隐地感到一股热流涌了出来,熟悉的感觉让她知道发生了什么,身旁没有熟悉的人,自习室的一楼有个小卖部,白思涵收拾……
  • 史海远航:章开沅传

    史海远航:章开沅传

    本书作为一本名人传记是大家系列丛书的其中一本。此本传记的主人公章开沅是我国著名的史学研究大家、光荣的无产阶级革命者、文学家、教育家、艺术家。作为一名当代有名的大家章开沅的一生有着太多的闪光点,少年时的风雨飘摇与天涯浪迹赋予了他无比坚韧的性格;青年时的投笔从戎和支援抗战赐予了他无比强烈的爱国主义情怀;新中国成立后他毅然决然的拿起教鞭奋战在为祖国发展而培养人才的教育第一线,将一腔热血和美好的青春无私的奉献给了祖国的新苗。他潜心钻研史学,为中国的辛亥革命史研究的国际化做出了重大贡献。生活的逆境并没有将他摧垮反而激起了他的斗志,在潜心著述多年后他担任了华中师大的校长。
  • 庚子销夏记

    庚子销夏记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 地球与环境(人与环境知识丛书)

    地球与环境(人与环境知识丛书)

    我们只有一个地球,幸运的是,人类已经觉醒。目前,世界各国政府和人民都在想尽办法治理环境污染,保护生态平衡,为人类的可持续发展寻求出路。世界正行进在环保之路上,这需要每一个社会成员的参与。只有今天对环保付出努力,才有人类明天的健康。刘芳主编的《地球与环境》从地球与环境的角度来阐释人与环境之间的关系。
  • 中国老板演讲录

    中国老板演讲录

    有这样一句话:君子生非异也,善假于物也。意思是说,君子和常人没有什么区别,只是善于借助外物罢了。因此,对于一个梦想取得事业成功的人来说,善于从这些成功的企业领导者身上学习到闪光点,必将受益匪浅。追求梦想,获得事业成功,是胸怀大志的人们奋斗的目标,编者从这个角度出发,收集了大量的著名企业领导者的演讲,内容广泛,包括创业、经营智慧、创新、国际竞争、企业文化、社会责任以及资本运作等共10个方面,从不同的角度展现了优秀企业家的风采。通过这本书,读者可以了解企业家成功背后的感人故事和经营哲学,相信本书,必将给那些谋求事业成功的人们,以很好的启迪和鼓舞。
  • 做最有价值的员工

    做最有价值的员工

    世界500强企业首选的职业精神培训工具书。112项实现自我、提升业绩的职业修炼。112个跨越平庸、成就卓越的工作法则。遵循自我修炼的贴心指南。探索职业生涯成功轨迹,并创完美人生的实战宝典。
  • 居灵山夜话·樱颜

    居灵山夜话·樱颜

    仲春时节。子时。钟声悠远地递送至山岭的每一处罅隙。在这本应安然沉睡的时刻,有一人悄悄打开了禅房的门。这人便是今日前来拜访观煜住持的述缙。他弯下身子贴着墙根走,按照白日所默记的线路,摸索着去往寺庙东北角一棵枝木茂盛的樱花树下。此刻,述缙身处距离宛陵城百里有余的霖元寺内。他受宛陵城士绅祝老爷所托,前来绘制一幅《夜里芳樱图》。祝老爷新纳的七姨娘是金陵城风月场中花魁,色艺双绝,纳入祝府后颇受祝老爷爱宠。
  • 前世今生2:总有奇迹降临

    前世今生2:总有奇迹降临

    魏斯和他的女儿艾米跟我们共同分享了发生在现实生活中许多不同寻常的故事,为我们揭示了前世回溯即通往灵性目标的神秘之处。这里有个人讲述的故事和魏斯博士的教导,这些都为根本地、永久地慰藉我们的身体和心灵提供了可能。如果我们能够意识到自己曾有过多次生命经历,只是被心灵的插曲隔开而已,我们对死亡的恐惧可能就会消解,我们将焕然一新。或许当我们沿着灵性之路循着自我的目标前行时,也能为当下的自己带来更多的平和与喜乐。奇迹仍在上演,上万读者参悟生命真谛,改变命运的连锁反应仍在传递中……
  • 海贼之念念果实

    海贼之念念果实

    一念控物,一念生火,一念万物现!备注:群号:878561243
  • 骚土

    骚土

    老村的长篇小说《骚土》讲述的是鄢崮村在“文革”初起时的故事,以揶揄式的笔调、喜剧化的风格,对农村生活作了描写:季工作组进入鄢崮村,他煞有介事地指手画脚,句句不离“阶级斗争”,俨然是一部不食人间烟火的政治机器;而那些整天围着这位“钦差”团团转的叶支书、吕连长等,个个奴颜婢膝……作者用一个个《阿Q正传》式的情节,让读者在漫画式的人物形象中看到他们可笑而又卑微的灵魂。