THE next morning we left Udine by dawn of day. The affectionate Dario
was already in the street, wrapped in his mantle; he beckoned to us and
followed us a long way. A coach also continued at some little distance
from us for several miles. Some one waved a handkerchief from it, till
it turned back; who could it have been? We had our own conjectures on
the subject. May Heaven protect those generous spirits that thus cease
not to love, and express their love for the unfortunate. I had the more
reason to prize them from the fact of having met with cowards, who, not
content with denying me, thought to benefit themselves by calumniating
their once fortunate _friend_. These cases, however, were rare, while
those of the former, to the honour of the human character, were numerous.
I had supposed that the warm sympathy expressed for us in Italy would
cease when we entered on a foreign soil. But I was deceived; the good
man is ever the fellow-countryman of the unhappy! When traversing
Illyrian and German ground, it was the same as in our own country. There
was the same general lamentation at our fate; “Arme herren!” poor
gentlemen, was on the lips of all.
Sometimes, on entering another district, our escort was compelled to stop
in order to decide in what part to take up our quarters. The people
would then gather round us, and we heard exclamations, and other
expressions of commiseration, which evidently came from the heart. These
proofs of popular feeling were still more gratifying to me, than such as
I had met with from my own countrymen. The consolation which was thus
afforded me, helped to soothe the bitter indignation I then felt against
those whom I esteemed my enemies. Yet, possibly, I reflected, if we were
brought more nearly acquainted, if I could see into their real motives,
and I could explain my own feelings, I might be constrained to admit that
they are not impelled by the malignant spirit I suppose, while they would
find there was as little of bad in me. Nay, they might perhaps be
induced not only to pity, but to admire and love us!
It is true, indeed, that men too often hate each other, merely because
they are strangers to each other’s real views and feelings; and the
simple interchange of a few words would make them acknowledge their
error, and give the hand of brotherhood to each other.
We remained a day at Lubiana; and there Canova and Rezia were separated
from us, being forthwith conducted into the castle. It is easy to guess
our feelings upon this painful occasion.
On the evening of our arrival at Lubiana and the day following, a
gentleman came and joined us, who, if I remember rightly, announced
himself as the municipal secretary. His manners were gentle and humane,
and he spoke of religion in a tone at once elevated and impressive. I
conjectured he must be a priest, the priests in Germany being accustomed
to dress exactly in the same style as laymen. His countenance was
calculated to excite esteem. I regretted that I was not enabled further
to cultivate his acquaintance, and I blame myself for my inadvertency in
not having taken down his name.
It irks me, too, that I cannot at this time recall the name of another
gentle being, a young girl of Styria, who followed us through the crowd,
and when our coach stopped for a few minutes, moved towards us with both
hands, and afterwards, turned weeping away, supported by a young man,
whose light hair proclaimed him of German extraction. But most probably
he had been in Italy, where he had fallen in love with our fair
countrywoman, and felt touched for our country. Yes! what pleasure it
would have given me to record the names of those venerable fathers and
mothers of families, who, in different districts, accosted us on our
road, inquiring if we had parents and friends; and on hearing that we
had, would grow pale, and exclaim, “Alas! may it please God to restore
you soon to those wretched, bereaved ones whom you have left behind.”