ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

on the chief of the republic. Twenty gentlemen of the highest rank were summoned to partake its deliberations on this important occasion. This was the origin of the powerful and permanent body called the Giunta or Zonta. The doge was brought before the council of ten, and the Giunta. He was confronted with the principal criminals, who were afterwards sent to execution. He confessed the part he had taken in the conspiracy, and on the second day of the proceeding was condemned to death. He was beheaded the 17th April, 1355, upon the grand staircase of the ducal palace, in the same place where the doges, on assuming their functions, took the oath of fidelity to the republic. During the execution of his sentence, the doors were kept shut, but immediately after, a member of the council of ten appeared on the balcony, holding in his hand a bloody sword, and exclaiming, "Justice has been performed upon a great criminal." At the same moment, the gates of the palace were thrown open, and the multitude, rushing impetuously forward, beheld Falieri weltering in his blood.

WOMAN AS SHE SHOULD BE.

I HAVE long wished to introduce to my readers a lady, whopractises a certain art, so much like downright witchcraft that it is well for her she is neither old nor ugly, or she would certainly be in danger of the ordeal. Hitherto I have been deterred by the fear I may be accused of attempting to impose upon the public, by a revival of some of those stale superstitions, which the good sense of my countrymen ought to reject with contempt when applied to their own native land. There are some countries particularly appropriated to feats of magic, and supernatural agency, and events said to take place in these fortunate regions are received with great respect by persons who would reject them with sovereign contempt were the

scene laid any where else. A story of second sight, or witchcraft, is nothing, unless the venue is laid in the Highlands of Scotland, or some one of the western isles; and as to poisons, assassinations, adulteries, monkish villany, and sheeted spectres, one might tell such tales from morning till night, without alarming a single nursery, or disturbing a winter fire-side, unless they were Italianized, and the scene laid in the Apennines, in an old ruined castle.

Discouraged by these untoward circumstances, that lie in the way of all romantic adventure, and check the inventive powers of domestic genius, I have delayed until now the introduction of a character, particularly worthy of being studied by the rest of her sex; nor should I have gained sufficient courage to do it now, did I not flatter myself with being able to explain every thing, without resorting to the interposition of any extraordinary agency.

When I first became acquainted with this singular person, she was a young girl of about seventeen or eighteen, just entering upon the experiment of realising those dreams of the gay and beckoning world, which occupy the waking hours of anticipating youth. I remember it was at an assembly she first attracted my attention, though I could not till long afterwards tell exactly why, for her face, though sufficiently interesting, was not such a one as catches the roving eyes of a ball-room connoisseur, and her figure was no way particularly distinguished. Still there was that in her appearance which caused me to pay particular attention to her movements during the whole evening, in the course of which shẹ led me into at least half a dozen mistakes by her mysterious art.

I inquired of my friend Anthony Evergreen the name of the beautiful girl, with a wreath of roses about her hair, who danced with such exquisite grace and skill. Anthony was at that time, as at present, a complete connoisseur in these matters, and particularly valued himself on his knowledge of dancing, having taken private lessons of the celebrated Vestris, during two whole winters. "You mean," said he, "the tall lady in spangles and

feathers, I presume?" "I presume I mean no such thing; I mean the middle-sized lady, dancing opposite to her, who has neither spangles or feathers, that I can see." "My good friend," replied Anthony-" you never was more mistaken in your life, if you say that lady is a fine dancer. Why she hasn't performed a single step in the whole cotillion-take notice, and see if I am not right."

As no man likes to have his taste questioned, even in the most insignificant affairs, I felt myself called upon to support mine, and for this purpose watched the lady for some time, in order to detect Anthony in an error. Insensibly, however, I was so completely beguiled by the easy grace, the gentle, chastened activity, with which she sailed through the mazes of the dance, without study or effort, that I quite forgot the original motive for this scrutiny, and to this day cannot tell whether she executed any steps or not. I recollect, however, there were other ladies in the set, who paid such special attention to their feet, that they seemed to forget dancing did not entirely consist in feats of extraordinary agility that would do honour to a harlequin at the theatre, or a clown at the Circus.

"Well," said Evergreen, when the dance was finished, "am I right, or am I wrong?" "O, perfectly right, if you mean that dancing consists in such enormities as that lady yonder committed in the last cotillion. However, not to dispute the point, I confess, if you please, she takes no steps-they are something a great deal better. hope now you won't deny that she is the best dressed woman in the room, after I have shown such exemplary moderation in giving up this point." "Pooh !"-said Anthony, rather unceremoniously, as if he thought I was bantering-" Pooh-why she has nothing on her but a white muslin frock, and that paltry wreath of rose buds. I confess her foot is pretty,[but then look what a shoe!It wants glitter, sir-it wants glitter." What was very provoking, I found on a closer inspection Anthony was right; and yet, such was the mysterious power exercised by this singular young lady, that even this conviction did

not destroy the illusion. I continued during the rest of the evening to admire her, as the best dressed woman in the room, although she wore nothing but a muslin frock and wreath of rose buds, and had not a single ornament on her shoes.

. I met her frequently afterwards in public parties, and at social fire-sides, where an acquaintance commenced that was only interrupted by my retirement into the country. On such occasions, though surrounded by women dressed in all the splendour of this age of wasteful prodigality, she always seemed to outdo them all, and I had often the pleasure of hearing my judgment confirmed by persons who had refined their taste by the habitual contemplation of classical models. The same mystery pervaded her behaviour and conversation, though the one never challenged observation, and the other neither sparkled nor astonished. In the whole course of our acquaintance, at that time and since, I cannot remember that she uttered any regular witticism, or special wise saying. All I know is, that without taking any pains to show off in studied declamation, her chat was playful, sometimes attic, and always characterized by a species of feminine good sense that gave it a sort of dignity which awakened respect, without exciting any feeling of inferiority. Her conversation did not abound in fine sayings, but pleased from its general character, and if any thing, more in the recollection than the actual enjoyment. In recalling these things, I have often been struck with little hits of character, and nice touches of wit or discrimination, that escaped my notice at the time they were uttered. She never, I observed, tasked her own mind to appear striking, or drew draughts upon others that might be inconvenient to pay, in those hours of evening relaxation, when men seek society to indulge in that easy interchange of thought which asks no effort, and courts neither admiration nor applause. On these occasions she always appeared to advantage, especially when a blue stocking happened to be present. Though I have seen her deserted for the society of one of these declamatory ladies, I never failed to observe the recreants

who had unwarily been attracted by some emphatic harangue return, after listening and yawning a little while, to the shrine of unpretending modest propriety.

Something more than a year after our acquaintance, I commenced my seclusion in the country, and we did not meet for some years. On my return to the city I learned she was married to a young fellow of small fortune, who had been attached to her for a considerable time. Assuming the privilege of an old friend, and an old man, I called to see her, and was received with such unaffected hospitality both by herself and husband, that I renewed my intimacy, and am now quite domesticated in the house, where a goodly arm-chair is always reserved for my special use.

Though my friend had now past the hey-day of youth, I still found the same mysterious witchcraft hovering around her, and pervading every part of the establishment over which she presided. The first time I entered the house, I was alarmed with an air of gentility, and expense, which, knowing the confined income of the busband, I could not help thinking reflected on the prudence of the wife. Every part seemed to be finished with a degree of liberality, not to say profusion, that apparently vied with the splendour of our most profuse and wealthy citizens. As usual too, the lady appeared dressed quite as much beyond the sphere of her income, as were the decorations of her house; and although I never found her without something about the parlour indicating she had been employed, still she looked and acted and spoke so like a perfect lady, that I could not stretch my faith to a belief of her having been actually busy in such a fine dress as she seemed to wear.

The first time I dined there, the like appearance completely imposed on me, and I went away in the evening accusing my little friend of wastefulness in the dinner, as well as extravagance in the table equipage. In short, not to impose too much on the credulity of my readers, by further details respecting this uncommon species of magical delusion, I was completely the dupe of this domestic Armida, and believed her husband on the high

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »