_Castle of Valperga described--Friendship
and Love._
"This is a well known road to me," thought Castruccio, as he rode across
the plain of Lucca towards the hills of the Baths; "there is still that
mountain, that as a craggy and mighty wall surmounts and bounds the
other Apennines; the lower peaks are still congregated round it,
attracting and arresting the clouds that pause on their summits, and
then slowly roll off. What a splendid garb of snow these old mountains
have thrown over themselves, to shield them from the _tramontano_[3],
that buffets them all the winter long, while their black sides appear
almost as the shadows of a marble statue. Looking at these hills, it
seems to me as if I had suddenly a recollection of a previous existence,
such a crowd of ideas rush upon me, the birth of my early years, long
dead, now revived. There on that hill stands the old sheep-cot, in which
I once took refuge during a storm; there is the castle of the Fondi,
near which grow the largest ilexes of these hills; and in that recess of
the mountain is the holy spring, near which on summer mornings
Euthanasia and I have often gathered flowers, and placed leaves for
boats, seeing them swallowed up and again cast forth in the whirl of
that strange pool; I wonder if that tall cypress still throws its shade
upon the water; methinks it would well please me, to sit as of yore,
Euthanasia by my side, on its moss-covered roots."
Castruccio's heart was much softened, as he successively recognized
objects, which he had forgotten for so many years, and with which he had
been most intimately acquainted. The peculiar form of the branches of a
tree, the winding of an often-trod mountain-path, the murmurs of small
streams, their banks bedecked with dwarf shrubs; things which would have
appeared uncharacterized to one who viewed them for the first time; bore
for him some distinguishing mark, some peculiar shape, which awoke
within him memories that had been long laid asleep.
The road that led from Lucca to Valperga struck directly across the
plain to the foot of the rock on which the castle was built. This rock
overhung the road, casting a deep shade; and projected, forming a
precipice on three sides; the northern side, at the foot of which the
Secchio flowed, was disjoined from the mountain by a ravine, and a
torrent struggled in the depth, among loose stones, and the gnarled and
naked roots of trees that shaded the side of the cleft. Castruccio began
to ascend the path which led to the portal of the castle, that was cut
in the precipitous side of this recess, and was bordered by hedges of
stunted myrtles overtopped by chesnut trees; the foliage of these had
fallen; and their spoils, yellow, and brown, and red, were strewed on
the shining leaves of the myrtle underwood. The path was steep,
serpentine and narrow; so that Castruccio, who now looked on nature with
a soldier's eye, remarked what an excellent defence Valperga might make,
if that were the only access to it: the torrent roared below, keeping
the air for ever awake; for that commoner babbles more and louder among
huge mountains, and solitudes which may never be still, than among the
haunts of men; but all sounds are melodious there; none harsh and
obtrusive.
At the summit of the path was a drawbridge that connected it with the
almost isolated platform of rock on which the castle stood:--the
building nearly covered this space, leaving room only for a small plot
of ground, which overlooked the plain, and was guarded by a barbican;
and on which a few trees, dark ilexes, and light acacias, mingled their
contrasted foliage. Behind the castle the mountain rose, barren and
nearly perpendicular; and, when you looked up, the dark and
weather-stained precipice towered above, while the blue sky seemed to
rest upon it. The castle itself was a large and picturesque building,
turreted, and gracefully shaded by trees. Castruccio entered the gate on
the side of the drawbridge, and passed between the main building and the
barbican which guarded the pass; so coming round to the front of the
castle, which opened on the grassy plot; here he was met by several
servants, and conducted to the apartment of Euthanasia. The counts of
Valperga had been rich; and the castle was more magnificent than those
rocky strong holds usually were. The great banqueting hall was painted
with various figures, which, though rude, and defective in shade and
perspective, were regarded with admiration in those days. A large
fireplace, now illumined by a blazing fire, gave an air of cheerfulness
to the hall; several serving-men, and two large and beautiful dogs, were
cowering round the fire, as a cold January blast rushed through the
opposite door, through which Castruccio passed into an inner, open court
of the castle.
This court was surrounded by gothic cloisters on all sides except one,
where the huge mountain formed the barrier: high, near the summit of the
rock, grew a few cypresses; and, as you gazed upwards at them, they
seemed to pierce the sky with their dark and motionless spires. On one
side of this court was a handsome staircase built of the marble of
Carrara, and by this he ascended into the audience chamber. It was then,
being winter, hung with scarlet cloth; the ceiling was painted; and the
bright marble pavement reflected in dim colours the Venus and her Cupids
depicted above. A small tripod of white marble curiously carved, stood
in the middle of the room, supporting a bronze censer in which incense
was burning; several antique vases and tripods adorned the room; the
tables were of the finest stones, or of glass mosaic; and the seats or
couches were covered with scarlet cloth inwoven with gold. Within this
was Euthanasia's own apartment; it was hung with blue silk, and the
pavement was of mosaic; the couches were richly embroidered, and a small
table of _verde antique_ stood in the middle of the room. In the
recesses were several stands for books, writing materials, etc.; and in
the embrasures of the windows were bronze stands, on which were placed
finely embossed gold vases, filled with such flowers as the season
afforded. But, amidst all this luxury, the richest ornament of the room
was the lovely possessor herself.
Castruccio and Euthanasia met; after many years of absence, they gazed
on each other with curiosity and interest. Euthanasia had awaited his
arrival with unwonted anxiety: she could not explain to herself the
agitation that she felt at the idea of meeting him; but, when she saw
him, beautiful as a god, power and love dwelling on every feature of his
countenance, and in every motion of his graceful form, the unquiet
beatings of her heart ceased, and she became calm and happy. And was she
not also beautiful? Her form was light, and every limb was shaped
according to those rules by which the exquisite statues of the antients
have been modelled. A quantity of golden hair fell round her neck, and,
unless it had been confined by a veil that was wreathed round her head,
it would almost have touched the ground; her eyes were blue; a blue that
seemed to have drunk-in the depths of an Italian sky, and to reflect
from their orbs the pure and unfathomable brilliance, which strikes the
sight as darkness, of a Roman heaven; but these beauteous eyes were
fringed by long, pointed lashes, which softened their fire, and added to
their sweetness: the very soul of open-hearted Charity dwelt on her
brow, and her lips expressed the softest sensibility; there was in her
countenance, beyond all of kind and good that you could there discover,
an expression that seemed to require ages to read and understand; a
wisdom exalted by enthusiasm, a wildness tempered by self-command, that
filled every look and every motion with eternal change. She was dressed
according to the custom of the times, yet her dress was rather plain,
being neither ornamented with gold nor jewels; a silk vest of blue
reached from her neck to her feet, girded at the waist by a small
embroidered band; the wide and, hanging sleeves were embroidered at the
edge, and fell far over her hands, except when, thrown back, they
discovered her rosy-tipt fingers and taper wrist.
They met then and often again; and the difference of their political
parties only drew them closer. Euthanasia perceived that Castruccio
intended to work some change in the state of her country; and she
earnestly wished,--not to draw him over to her party,--but to shew how
futile that distinction and enmity were, if one love of peace and good
animated all hearts. She wished also to read his mind, to know if the
love of liberty lived there. Euthanasia had this foible, if indeed it
might be called one in her, to love the very shadow of freedom with
unbounded enthusiasm. She was bred a Guelph among the leaders of that
party at Florence, a party whose watchword was liberty; her rank itself
would have forced her to take part in the contentions of the times; but
she was no narrow partizan; her father, and the studies she had followed
under him, had taught her higher lessons; and the history of the Roman
republic had increased her love of freedom, while it had annihilated in
her mind all interest in petty intrigue. Castruccio was a staunch
Ghibeline, and his soul was set on the advancement of that party; he did
not sympathize with Euthanasia, but he appeared to do so, for he loved
her, and listened, his eyes shining with pleasure, while she spoke in
silver tones, and all appeared wise and good that came from her lips.
Often her gentle eloquence would for a while carry him along with it,
and he would talk of republics, and the energy and virtue that every
citizen acquires, when each, acting under the censure of each, yet
possesses power; and men, not as children obedient to the mere word of
command, discuss and regulate their own interests. Her admiration for
the character of several of the Florentine chiefs gave interest to her
details respecting the changes that had occurred there during the last
years, and to the many anecdotes that she dwelt upon as demonstrating
the power and grandeur of her beloved Florence.
Nor were their conversations only political. Euthanasia's mind was
stored with sweet lore; she loved poetry, and sang or repeated the
verses of Guido or Dante; and, as she made excursions among the woods,
or joined in hunting-parties with Castruccio and her other friends, her
conversation appeared one strain of poetry. Castruccio related his
adventures, and Euthanasia was never weary of listening to the details
of the English and French courts and manners; two systems of society, so
widely opposite to each other, and both so different from the scenes to
which she had been accustomed. Their love for one another, and their
confidence increased: the winter months passed on, and the first days of
spring, bringing with them green leaves and soft air, found them vowed
friends, each believing to be knit to the other for life with the
strongest ties of enduring love.
Euthanasia said that she loved for the first time, and a falsehood had
never stained her purest soul; a well of intensest and overflowing
passion was opened in her heart; every feeling was softened, every
emotion modulated by this change: she was penetrated with love; and,
admiration and esteem forming but a part of this, she made a god of him
she loved, believing every virtue and every talent to live in his soul.
Thus, unrestrained by any latent fear or ungenerous suspicion, she gave
up her heart to him, and was for a while happy. They passed much time
together; and every day each made a discovery of some new excellence,
some till then unobserved accomplishment.
Her feelings were indeed entirely changed by the birth of this new and
powerful sentiment. Hitherto she had been in a great degree alone in the
world; finding none who entirely sympathized with her, she had poured
out the treasure of her heart to the ear of silence alone. She was happy
among the gaieties of Florence; the wit and imagination of the people
formed an agreeable variety to her life; but there was a mutable and
changeful spirit among them, that did not invite her confidence. Her
eyes had often been lighted up, and her spirit awakened in conversation,
where wit sharpens wit, and the ideas of one mind seem to cause the
birth of the children of another. But, when tenderness softened her
heart, and the sublime feeling of universal love penetrated her, she
found no voice that replied so well to hers as the gentle singing of the
pines under the air of noon, and the soft murmurs of the breeze that
scattered her hair and freshened her cheek, and the dashing of the
waters that has no beginning or end.
It was not thus now; the words and looks of Castruccio replied to her,
and she felt happier than she had ever been. There was no doubt, no
sorrow; all was security and calm; and her heart softened, until tears
sprang forth under the weight of unmitigated pleasure. She was frank,
generous and fearless; therefore she instantly believed and trusted;
while the master-passions which ever ruled her life were not forgotten,
but, mingling with and heightened by love, glowed with greater energy.
They passed several months in the enjoyment of this intercourse; they
hoped, they felt, that their destinies were intertwined never to be
separated; and their union was only deferred until Castruccio should
free his country. The summer advancing would soon give the signal for
separation. On one of these days, one of the last before their parting,
Euthanasia related to Castruccio the few events of her peaceful life
which had occurred since their separation ten years before. The tale was
short, but it was one that deeply interested the listener.
[Footnote 3: The _Tramontano_ is the north wind; the _Scirocco_ the
south-west and the _Libeccio_ the south-east.]