登陆注册
4606300000084

第84章

An hour after I had left Castel-Nuovo, the atmosphere being calm and the sky clear, I perceived on my right, and within ten paces of me, a pyramidal flame about two feet long and four or five feet above the ground. This apparition surprised me, because it seemed to accompany me. Anxious to examine it, I endeavoured to get nearer to it, but the more I advanced towards it the further it went from me. It would stop when I stood still, and when the road along which I was travelling happened to be lined with trees, I no longer saw it, but it was sure to reappear as soon as I reached a portion of the road without trees. I several times retraced my steps purposely, but, every time I did so, the flame disappeared, and would not shew itself again until I proceeded towards Rome. This extraordinary beacon left me when daylight chased darkness from the sky.

What a splendid field for ignorant superstition, if there had been any witnesses to that phenomenon, and if I had chanced to make a great name in Rome! History is full of such trifles, and the world is full of people who attach great importance to them in spite of the so-called light of science. I must candidly confess that, although somewhat versed in physics, the sight of that small meteor gave me singular ideas. But I was prudent enough not to mention the circumstance to any one.

When I reached the ancient capital of the world, I possessed only seven paoli, and consequently I did not loiter about. I paid no attention to the splendid entrance through the gate of the polar trees, which is by mistake pompously called of the people, or to the beautiful square of the same name, or to the portals of the magnificent churches, or to all the stately buildings which generally strike the traveller as he enters the city. I went straight towards Monte-Magnanopoli, where, according to the address given to me, I was to find the bishop. There I was informed that he had left Rome ten days before, leaving instructions to send me to Naples free of expense. A coach was to start for Naples the next day; not caring to see Rome, I went to bed until the time for the departure of the coach. I travelled with three low fellows to whom I did not address one word through the whole of the journey. I entered Naples on the 6th day of September.

I went immediately to the address which had been given to me in Rome;

the bishop was not there. I called at the Convent of the Minims, and I found that he had left Naples to proceed to Martorano. I enquired whether he had left any instructions for me, but all in vain, no one could give me any information. And there I was, alone in a large city, without a friend, with eight carlini in my pocket, and not knowing what to do! But never mind; fate calls me to Martorano, and to Martorano I must go. The distance, after all, is only two hundred miles.

I found several drivers starting for Cosenza, but when they heard that I had no luggage, they refused to take me, unless I paid in advance. They were quite right, but their prudence placed me under the necessity of going on foot. Yet I felt I must reach Martorano, and I made up my mind to walk the distance, begging food and lodging like the very reverend Brother Stephano.

First of all I made a light meal for one fourth of my money, and, having been informed that I had to follow the Salerno road, I went towards Portici where I arrived in an hour and a half. I already felt rather fatigued; my legs, if not my head, took me to an inn, where I ordered a room and some supper. I was served in good style, my appetite was excellent, and I passed a quiet night in a comfortable bed. In the morning I told the inn-keeper that I would return for my dinner, and I went out to visit the royal palace. As I

passed through the gate, I was met by a man of prepossessing appearance, dressed in the eastern fashion, who offered to shew me all over the palace, saying that I would thus save my money. I was in a position to accept any offer; I thanked him for his kindness.

Happening during the conversation to state that I was a Venetian, he told me that he was my subject, since he came from Zante. I

acknowledged his polite compliment with a reverence.

"I have," he said, "some very excellent muscatel wine 'grown in the East, which I could sell you cheap."

"I might buy some, but I warn you I am a good judge."

"So much the better. Which do you prefer?"

"The Cerigo wine."

"You are right. I have some rare Cerigo muscatel, and we can taste it if you have no objection to dine with me."

"None whatever."

"I can likewise give you the wines of Samos and Cephalonia. I have also a quantity of minerals, plenty of vitriol, cinnabar, antimony, and one hundred quintals of mercury."

"Are all these goods here?"

"No, they are in Naples. Here I have only the muscatel wine and the mercury."

It is quite naturally and without any intention to deceive, that a young man accustomed to poverty, and ashamed of it when he speaks to a rich stranger, boasts of his means--of his fortune. As I was talking with my new acquaintance, I recollected an amalgam of mercury with lead and bismuth, by which the mercury increases one-fourth in weight. I said nothing, but I bethought myself that if the mystery should be unknown to the Greek I might profit by it. I felt that some cunning was necessary, and that he would not care for my secret if I proposed to sell it to him without preparing the way. The best plan was to astonish my man with the miracle of the augmentation of the mercury, treat it as a jest, and see what his intentions would be. Cheating is a crime, but honest cunning may be considered as a species of prudence. True, it is a quality which is near akin to roguery; but that cannot be helped, and the man who, in time of need, does not know how to exercise his cunning nobly is a fool. The Greeks call this sort of wisdom Cerdaleophyon from the word cerdo;

fox, and it might be translated by foxdom if there were such a word in English.

同类推荐
  • 随园食单

    随园食单

    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。
  • 大集譬喻王经

    大集譬喻王经

    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。
  • 遁甲演义

    遁甲演义

    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。
  • 金花女

    金花女

    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。
  • Heroes and Hero Worship

    Heroes and Hero Worship

    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。
热门推荐
  • 异界重生之葵花宝典

    异界重生之葵花宝典

    “美女,打个折吧?‘万水千山总是情,便宜一点行不行?’”“看你穿着不凡、器宇轩昂、骨骼精奇、万中无一,是块练武的好材料,我这里有一本失传已久的武林秘籍,便宜你!十块钱!”金钱?知道我的外号叫什么吗?陆有钱...美女?实在是躲都躲不及...宠物?除了兽王没有拿得出手的了...势力?认了几个国王当小弟!认了几个神做兄弟...
  • 大荒天帝

    大荒天帝

    世界巅峰强者陨落重生,这一世重来,他绝对不会让上一世的憾事重演!且看主角踏破诸天,重启传奇路,碾压万族天骄,成就无上天帝位!
  • 神皇归来

    神皇归来

    之前将一丝灵魂附在神剑玄黄剑上,21世纪的现代,被大学生刘云所得,从此,一个融合神皇思想的强者诞生了……神秘的仙女,善良的魔女,恶毒的魔族,仙魔大战的秘密,一切从这里开始。
  • 坠落的心痕

    坠落的心痕

    难不成还真的是老天对我的告诫不成吗……慕容炮灰的思绪中那所说的如今这个时候所亲眼目睹的这所有的一切种种的不尽相同的那些发生以前的那边的那么多时间里面直到到了如今这个时候所亲眼目睹的这所有的一切时候,才发生了一下如今这个时候所亲眼目睹的这所有的一切词,便非常神速的给毙掉了。
  • 历史的真相

    历史的真相

    《历史的真相》是“茅盾文学奖获奖者散文丛书”之一,这套丛书共收入了8位茅盾文学奖获得者的8部散文集,包括李国文的《历史的真相》、陈忠实的《俯仰关中》、刘心武的《人情似纸》、宗璞的《二十四番花信》、迟子建的《我对黑暗的柔情》、周大新的《我们会遇到什么》、熊召政的《醉里挑灯看剑》和刘玉民的《爱你生命的每一天》。这套丛书是国内第一次将多位茅盾文学奖获奖者的散文以丛书的形式集中呈现,反映了他们散文创作的主要成就和独特风格。书中不仅包括他们过去的散文佳作,也酌选了每人最新的散文名篇。
  • 最强游戏分身

    最强游戏分身

    带着变异的单机版网络游戏来到平行现代世界,林云轩得到召唤游戏分身为其所用的能力!格斗士,魔法师,暗夜刺客,圣骑士,鬼剑士,神枪手众多游戏角色等待着他的召唤。炼金术师,人偶师,附魔师……诸多副职业等待着他的学习。流星陨落之刃,神圣千年之光,精灵之语……无数神兵利器等待着他的使用。更有千百种技能,千百种道具,静待林云轩的发掘!面对着分身带来的无限可能,林云轩发誓开展定要以一己之力!搅乱大地,改变整个世界!PS:新书《无敌神皇》已经上传,主角靠着异位面网络游戏在都市创圣域,建神选之军,立神国,纵横两界,请各位书友能够登录点击,推荐,收藏O(∩_∩)O
  • 慧剑心魔

    慧剑心魔

    本书承接了《大唐游侠传》和《龙凤宝钗缘》,是“唐代三部曲”的最后一部。讲述着一众少年英雄的成长历程。光阴似箭,日月如梭,绿林几世恩怨,宿恨难消。当年被王燕羽一剑灭族的飞虎山窦家居然留下了一个遗孤窦元,卧薪尝胆三十年,学成绝艺登门寻仇,杀死了王燕羽、展元修夫妇。王燕羽临终之时嘱咐其子展伯承投奔王伯通当年的副手褚遂,且要其不得报仇,亦不许将父母被害之事告知绿林盟主、当年窦家义子铁摩勒。
  • 北征事迹

    北征事迹

    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。
  • 新常态改变中国

    新常态改变中国

    中国经济进入新常态,增长速度换挡、结构调整阵痛、前期刺激政策消化的“三期叠加”现象明显,经济趋势从未如今天这般扑朔迷离。针对这一情况,国内最权威的学者,根据自己多年的思考、调研,为我们在下一个时期顺势而为,获取经济红利,用智慧跑赢经济下行压力,给出了极具针对性的分析、建议。
  • 低调是一种大智慧(精华版)

    低调是一种大智慧(精华版)

    低调是一种做人处世的大智慧。低调是表示一种谦虚谨慎的生活态度,低调是不张扬的处世经。低调是暂时隐藏自己的能力,不到处炫耀自己,张扬自己,以免带来不必要的麻烦。有的人确实很聪明,但因为不懂得低调做人的道理,结果一事无成,甚至是落得了很悲惨的结局。这样的人在历史上大有人在,在我们的现实生活中也很多。其实,聪明是一笔财富,关键在于人怎么使用。懂得低调的人会使用自己的聪明和智慧,那是因为他们懂得低调,懂得深藏不露,不到火候不会轻易使用。一味地耍小聪明,时时处处显露精明,不仅不会帮助你成功,反而会招灾引祸。低调是一种更具智慧的竞争策略,低调是一种更高境界的自我保护。