'He talked of making a vow never to cut his beard or his hair till he
had his revenge, but I implored him not to make himself more hideous
than a merciful Providence had already made him.'
I thought of the ferocious Ercole with a long, untrimmed beard and
unkempt hair falling over his face.
'He would have looked like a wild man of the woods,' I said. 'I should
have had to allow myself to be massacred for the good of society. I
should have been one more of the martyrs of humanity--Saint Philip
Brandolini!'
I offered her my arm, suggesting a saunter through the gardens.... We
wandered along cool paths bordered with myrtle and laurel and cypress
trees; the air was filled with the song of birds, and a gentle breeze
bore to us the scent of the spring flowers. By-and-by we came to a
little lawn shut in by tall shrubs; in the middle a fountain was
playing, and under the shadow of a chestnut-tree was a marble seat
supported by griffins; in one corner stood a statue of Venus framed in
green bushes. We had left the throng of guests far behind, and the place
was very still; the birds, as if oppressed with its beauty, had ceased
to sing, and only the fountain broke the silence. The unceasing fall of
water was like a lullaby in its monotony, and the air was scented with
lilac.
We sat down. The quiet was delightful; peace and beauty filled one, and
I felt a great sense of happiness pass into me, like some subtle liquid
permeating every corner of my soul. The smell of the lilac was beginning
to intoxicate me; and from my happiness issued a sentiment of love
towards all nature; I felt as though I could stretch out my arms and
embrace its impalpable spirit. The Venus in the corner gained flesh-like
tints of green and yellow, and seemed to be melting into life; the lilac
came across to me in great waves, oppressive, over-powering.
I looked at Claudia. I thought she was affected as myself; she, too, was
overwhelmed by the murmur of the water, the warmth, the scented air. And
I was struck again with the wonderful voluptuousness of her beauty; her
mouth sensual and moist, the lips deep red and heavy. Her neck was
wonderfully massive, so white that the veins showed clear and blue; her
clinging dress revealed the fulness of her form, its undulating curves.
She seemed some goddess of Sensuality. As I looked at her I was filled
with a sudden blind desire to possess her. I stretched out my arms, and
she, with a cry of passion, like an animal, surrendered herself to my
embrace. I drew her to me and kissed her beautiful mouth sensual and
moist, her lips deep red and heavy....
We sat side by side looking at the fountain, breathing in the scented
air.
'When can I see you?' I whispered.
'To-morrow.... After midnight. Come into the little street behind my
house, and a door will be opened to you.'
'Claudia!'
'Good-bye. You must not come back with me now, we have been away so
long, people would notice us. Wait here a while after me, and then there
will be no fear. Good-bye.'
She left me, and I stretched myself on the marble seat, looking at the
little rings which the drops made as they fell on the water. My love for
Giulia was indeed finished now--dead, buried, and a stone Venus erected
over it as only sign of its existence. I tried to think of a suitable
inscription.... Time could kill the most obstinate love, and a beautiful
woman, with the breezes of spring to help her, could carry away even
the remembrance. I felt that my life was now complete. I had all
pleasures imaginable at my beck and call: good wines to drink, good
foods to eat, nice clothes; games, sports and pastimes; and, last of
all, the greatest gift the gods can make, a beautiful woman to my youth
and strength. I had arrived at the summit of wisdom, the point aimed at
by the wise man, to take the day as it comes, seizing the pleasures,
avoiding the disagreeable, enjoying the present, and giving no thought
to the past or future. That, I said to myself, is the highest
wisdom--never to think; for the way of happiness is to live in one's
senses as the beasts, and like the ox, chewing the cud, use the mind
only to consider one's superiority to the rest of mankind.
I laughed a little as I thought of my tears and cries when Giulia left
me. It was not a matter worth troubling about; all I should have said to
myself was that I was a fool not to abandon her before she abandoned me.
Poor Giulia! I quite frightened her in the vehemence of my rage.
The following evening I would not let Matteo go to bed.
'You must keep me company,' I said, 'I am going out at one.'
'Very well,' he said, 'if you will tell me where you're going.'
'Ah, no, that is a secret; but I am willing to drink her health with
you.'
'Without a name?'
'Yes!'
'To the nameless one, then; and good luck!'