"Because such is the will of God; because you were born to crawl and I to trample you under my feet; because all the blood that I could shed in this island would not purchase one drop of my blood; because a thousand lives of wretches like you are not equal to one hour of mine; because you will kneel at my name that I, am now going to utter; because, in short, you are but a poor fisherman and my name is Prince of Brancaleone."At this dreaded name, which the young nobleman flung, like a thunderbolt, at his head, the fisherman bounded like a lion.He drew a deep breath, as though he had lifted a weight that had long rested on his heart.
"Ah!" he cried, "you have given yourself into my hands, my lord!
Between the poor fisherman and the all-powerful prince there is a debt of blood.You shall pay for yourself and for your father.We are going to settle our accounts, your excellency," he added, rising his axe over the head of the prince, who was aiming at him."Oh!
you were in too great haste to choose: the rifle is not loaded." The prince turned pale.
"Between our two families," Gabriel continued, "there exists a horrible secret which my mother confided to me on the brink of the grave, of which my father himself is unaware, and that no man in the world must learn.You are different, you are going to die."He dragged him into the space outside the house.
"Do you know why my sister, whom you wished to dishonour, was vowed to the Madonna? Because your father, like you, wished to dishonour my mother.In your accursed house there is a tradition of infamy.
You do not know what slow and terrible torments my poor mother endured-torments that broke her strength and caused her to die in early youth, and that her angelic soul dared confide to none but her son in that supreme hour and in order to bid me watch over my sister."The fisherman wiped away a burning tear."One day, before we were born, a fine lady, richly dressed, landed in our island from a splendid boat; she asked to see my mother, who was as young and beautiful as my Nisida is to-day.She could not cease from admiring her; she blamed the blindness of fate which had buried this lovely jewel in the bosom of an obscure island; she showered praises, caresses, and gifts upon my mother, and after many indirect speeches, finally asked her parents for her, that she might make her her lady-in-waiting.The poor people, foreseeing in the protection of so great a lady a brilliant future for their daughter, were weak enough to yield.That lady was your mother; and do you know why she came thus to seek that poor innocent maiden? Because your mother had a lover, and because she wished to make sure, in this infamous manner, of the prince's indulgence.""Silence, wretch!"
"Oh, your excellency will hear me out.At the beginning, my poor mother found herself surrounded by the tenderest care: the princess could not be parted from her for a moment; the most flattering words, the finest clothes, the richest ornaments were hers; the servants paid her as much respect as though she were a daughter of the house.
When her parents went to see her and to inquire whether she did not at all regret having left them, they found her so lovely and so happy, that they blessed the princess as a good angel sent them from God.Then the prince conceived a remarkable affection for my mother;little by little his manners became more familiar and affectionate.
At last the princess went away for a few days, regretting that she could not take with her her dear child, as she called her.Then the prince's brutality knew no further barriers; he no longer concealed his shameful plans of seduction; he spread before the poor girl's eyes pearl necklaces and caskets of diamonds; he passed from the most glowing passion to the blackest fury, from the humblest prayers to the most horrible threats.The poor child was shut up in a cellar where there was hardly a gleam of daylight, and every morning a frightful gaoler came and threw her a bit of black bread, repeating with oaths that it only depended upon herself to alter all this by becoming the prince's mistress.This cruelty continued for two years.The princess had gone on a long journey, and my mother's poor parents believed that their daughter was still happy with her protectress.On her return, having; no doubt fresh sins for which she needed forgiveness, she took my mother from her dungeon, assumed the liveliest indignation at this horrible treatment, about which she appeared to have known nothing, wiped her tears, and by an abominable refinement of perfidy received the thanks of the victim whom she was about to sacrifice.
One evening--I have just finished, my lord--the princess chose to sup alone with her lady-in-waiting: the rarest fruits, the most exquisite dishes, and the most delicate wines were served to my poor mother, whose prolonged privations had injured her health and weakened her reason; she gave way to a morbid gaiety.Diabolical philtres were poured into her cup; that is another tradition in your family.My mother felt uplifted, her eyes shone with feverish brilliance, her cheeks were on fire.Then the prince came in--oh! your excellency will see that God protects the poor.My darling mother, like a frightened dove, sheltered herself in the bosom of the princess, who pushed her away, laughing.The poor distraught girl, trembling, weeping, knelt down in the midst of that infamous room.It was St.
Anne's Day; all at once the house shook, the walls cracked, cries of distress rang out in the streets.My mother was saved.It was the earthquake that destroyed half Naples.You know all about it, my lord, since your old palace is no longer habitable.""What are you driving at? " cried Brancaleone in terrible agitation.
