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"" SEASIDE SONNET.
ji rnfttn.
Forbßth arrayed.
Oh. not nfrald!
\ bold advance.
A look askance,
A dip,
A squeal,
4 A stocking heel.
" —Life.
Ijn COWSLIP TIME.
In cowslip time 1 met the maid
1 whose voice was like a fairy chime.
And followed her through dell and gade,
in eowsiip time!
I called her eyes a little clime
of tropic sunbeams blent with shade
Her lips twin rosebuds in their prime.
<hc blushed —I kissed her—then she said :
••Your hair is touched with early rime.
Yet of such frost I’m not afraid
In cowslip time!”
" —William 11. Hayno.
Tit Fisherman tf Naples,
BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS*
* , 0.1 I*o4, b.vOjJ I/, illy SOTI,”
the monk to Masaniello, whose cheeks
were pale and whose eyes were red with
weeping
“No,” replied the 3'oung man; “tho load I
now bear crushes me; yesterday I felt strong
aud full of resolution, but t day I feel my
weakness, and am almost sinking beneath de
spair.”
“Courage, Masaniello, courage I Woe bo
tide him who hesitates, after having let loose
the gushing waters of promise!”
“Yes, woe betide me! for my ambition
will lose me!”
“Can you regret your victory?” asked Dom
Francesco, scrutinizing Masanieilo’s coun
tenance.
“The future terrifies me.”
“You are embarked in a good cause, and
bavo accomplished a glorious revolution.
Continuo the work you have so well begun,
| and remain faithful to your principles; ae
f complish, without hesitation, the mission
you have received to free the people of
Naples, and heaven will direct your acts, and
will give you the force to triumph over every
danger.”
“Aid me, then, in my endeavors. Can yoift
not advise me as to what plan 1 ought to pur
sue?”
“On leaving you yesterday, Masaniello, I
drew up the form of a now constitution.
Listen to it.”
And the monk read ns follows:
“In the name of the Holy Trinity, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and
conformably to the principles of the Gospel,
I,* Masaniello, fisherman of Najfles and head
of tlio people, declare what follows:
“The king of Spain and his descendants
have forever forfeited the throno of Naples.
“The form of government will henceforth
be that of a republic founded on election.”
Here Masaniello exhibited signs of impa
tience. Dom Francesco, however, feigned
not to perceive it, and continued:
“Every three years a council of ten,
charged with the drawing up of the laws, will
bo chosen by the Neapolitan people, all of
whom, whatever may bo their station or for
tune, v* ill have a right to vote. Any Neapol
itan is eligible to act in this council.
“A chief magistrate, chosen in the same
manner, will be charged to watch over the
constitution, and to see thattho laws are exe
cuted. Ho will be elected for two years and
will take the title of Tribune.
“Special laws will provide for the inde
pendence and regularity of the elections.
“Done, in the name of the Neapolitan peo
ple, ut the palace of the Vicaria, in the year
of our Lord 1047.”
“Good, father. But tell me, do you think
£mt the king of Spain will allow us to estab
lish our republic without defending his
rights?”
“By the aid of tho people wo have van
quished him, and by tho aid of tho people
wo will vanquish him again.”
Tho fisherman shook his head incredu
lously.
“Have you not proclaimed from the ter
race,” exclaimed the monk, “that Philip tho
Fourth has forfeited the crown? Y r ou assorted
it yourself on the night I guided you to tho
catacombs, and you cannot now abandon tho
cause of the people without committing an
act of cowardice and infamy.”
“Time is a good counselor, Dom Francesco.
The Duke of Arcos occupies the Castel-Nuovo,
tho fortress of St. Elmo, and two or three
other strongholds; in a few hours ho could
reduce Naples to a heap of ruius, while we
have no means of defense. ” 0
“Are not the aqueducts cut off? Will not
the want of water force tho viceroy to sur
render?”
“But we are without money. I had the
\ icaria searched yesterday from top to bot
tom, }et nothing was found. I owe Corcclli
£O,OOO ducats, but 1 do not possess a real.
How, then, are we to raise troops, or to ob-
tuili arms/ 5 ’
“Make an appeal to your brothers —tho
Keapolitans will not refuse to buy their inde
pendence with the sacrifice of a few ducats.”
“So, then, tho revolution, which was
brought about through the enormous amount
of taxes beneath which the people groaned,
would but double the sums of money hitherto
exacted from them. No, no, father; this can
not be.”
“Everything appeal's impossible to those
who have no longer any faith in their cause,”
sorrowfully i-emarked tho monk.
“Our fathers were formerly happy, when
they possessed tho charter granted them by
Charles the Fifth,” continued Masaniello.
“They then loved Spain, and armed them
selves in her defense; let us, therefore, insist
on the restoration of tho rights which this
act gave us, and of which we have been un
justly deprived.”
“In other terms, you are willing to treat
with tho viceroy 1”
“And to restore him that power, tho weight
of which is crushing me,” added tho fisher
man.
Here tho monk Masaniello,
took the young •inn’s hand affectionately in
bis, and, looking him steadfastly in the face,
taid:
“Swear that tho recollection of Isabella
bas had no influenco on your conduct. Masa
liiello, I fear tho contrary. ”
A deep blush spread itself over the young
man’s face. He stammered out a few words,
but Pietro, who entered at this moment,
drew him from his embarrassment.
The smuggler was covered with dust and
mud; his hair was in disorder, and his face
flushed with excitement.
His appearance made the monk and Masa
niello tremble.
“What has happened?” cried the latter.
“Brother, prepare your arms,” replied
Pietro; “we have all received a terrible
blow.”
“Speak!” ,
“CorceUi bas fled, and has left us cause to
remember him.”
“How so?”
“Ho bas pillaged tho convent of banta
Chiara.”
“But Jeanne —what has becom<* of her?”
“He has carried her off.”
“Malediction!—and”
Masaniello dared not pronounce the name
Isabella.
“The daughter of the Duke of Arcos has
teou carried off also.”
“You did not keep watch over the bri
gands, then?” ex\raimed Masaniello.
“I never quitted them for an instant.”
“And yet you did not let me know this!”
cried the fisherman, tearing his hair.
lie fell into a chair, and a long cry of grief
and despair escaped his lips.
“Run to the harbor,” said be to Pietro;
“call to arms ail the fishermen and smugglers
you can find. Adieu, father! This evening
Jeanne and Isabella will be free, or Masu
niello will have ceased to breathe.”
“Are you going to quit Naples, then?”-
asked Dora Francesco.
“Do you know which road Corcelli has
taken ?” askod the fisherman of Pietro.
“The road to Capua.”
“Yes, father, yes; I am going to quit
Naples,” added Masaniello, turning toward
tho Benedictine; “I am going to attack this
vulture’s nest, in which Jeanne and Isabella
ore held cuptive.”
“But all will be lost if you abandon us.
The Duke of Arcos may attack us, and who
will there then be to lead tho people on?”
“What do I now care about the revolu
tion of Naples, or the efforts of the viceroy?
Dom Francesco, your lieart is dead to every
human passion; cold calculation only guides
your steps. But by the holy Madonna l lam
a man; I am young, and may I never see
the light again if, ere the day has sped, Cor
oelli's prisoners are not free.”
“What streams of blood will have flowed,
what number's of victims will have perished,
oh, heaven!”, murmured the Benedictine, “by
tho time Masaniello returns to this city,
which Providence seems to have abandoned 1”
“Sangue di Cristo!” exclaimed tho fisher
man, half suffocated with rage, “you ta k
like a madman, father. For Jeanne, whom
this ruffian orcelli holds in his claws, is my
sister.”
“Is it solely on this account that you are
about to take this journey into tho Apen
nines?” asked Dom Francesco, coldly.
“I go to rescue both her and Isabella,” re
plied Masaniello; “that angel of beauty and
love, who, but yesterday, whispered in my
ear, at the convent of Santa Chiara, such
sweat vows, and such ineffable promises.
Oh! father, one must be mad and cowardly
indeed not to try to redeem, at the cost of all
his blood, the honor and liberty of these poor
women who now hope but in me.”
“Then you have seen the daughter of the
Duke of Arcos again, Masaniello?”
“Sho had taken refuge with Jeanne in the
convent of Santa Chiari, and I went there
to see my sister. ”
“You ought to have told me this, my son,
when I read you tho draft of the constitu
tion; we should have avoided a good deal
of discussion,” added Dom Francesco.
At this moment an arrow, shot from the
place before the Vicaria, struck against tho
wall facing the window and fell at Masani
eilo’s foot.
A letter was attached to it
Masaniello snatched it up and read the fol
lowing words, in a panting voice:
“Masaniello, when you read those lines Isa
bella and your sister will be my prisoners.
If, three days hence, you have not placed
beneath tho large oak which stands in the
midst of the plain of Portici, facing the tav
ern of Buona Fede, 10,000 ducats for Jeanne’s
ransom, and 50,000 ducats for that of tho
noblo Isabella d’Arcos, two women will never
again go in your bark to eat oranges at Pro
cida. Recollect that it is dangerous to de
ceive Corcelli.”
“You see, father, how necessary it is to
treat with the viceroy, and to obtain the
money required for the ransom of his daugh
ter and Jeanne. For if, after all, our expe
dition should not succeed! if in three days—
but it is too horrible to think of, Dom Fran
cesco 1 Therefore, take pity on us, father;
wo were once dear to you. Go to the Castel-
Nuovo, and come to some understanding with
the Spaniards, while I lead tho expedition
against theso brigands. The viceroy will
grant you, who are an ecclesiastic, and whose
virtues are knowm to the 1 whole town, what
ho would refuse a poor fisherman like Masa
niello.”
“My son,” replied tho monk, “I wish to
warn you against an unfortunate love; I
have tried all I could to stop you on that
perilous way, at the end of which you will
find nothing but death, and perhaps dis
honor. But, alas! 1 have not succeeded.
Yet, I will not abandon you in misfortune.
I will go to tho Duke of Arcos; ho will per
haps consent to meet you on some neutral
ground, chosen by common consent. But let
the peoplo remain under arms if you wish to
conquer the viceroy’ pride. Dictate to him
yourself the wishes of the Neapolitans, and
let him know that you have at your orders
20,000 muskets, ready, at a moment’s notice,
to maintain your demands.”
“Thanks, father, thanks! let my interview
with the duke take place about 5 o’clock, in
somo church or other, in that of Santo Do
menico, for instance, which is half way be
tween the Castel-Nuovo and the Vicaria; let
also my edicts and the charter of Charles V
be published toward tho evening, so that I
may afterward be ablo to go and inflict on
this Corcelli just punishment for his perfidy.”
Dom Francesco withdrew.
“Listen, brother,” said Pietro to Masa
niello, after the departure of the monk, “you
must not quit Naples. Besides, by openly
attacking Corcelli in his den, you would ex
pose Jeanne and Isabella to the greatest vio
lence. I have a means of getting at Cor
celli.” *
“What is itP
Pietro related to the fisherman the events
of the preceding night, and told him how
one of the banditti, Conrad, had remained in
tho tavern of II Cappucino. Then he ex
plained the manner in which he hoped to
bring tho prisoners back to Naples; and to
do which ho would not hesitate, if necessary,
to cut tho throats of those who had carried
the two 3'oung girls off.
Masaniello approved of his project.
Ft was therefore agreed that the fisherman
should only employ himself in procuring tho
young girls’ ransom, while Pietro was intro
duced by Conrad into tho fortress occupied
by Corcelli and his band.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CASTELrNUOVO.
Dom Francesco advanced; with a solemn
step and a pensive brow, toward tho Castel-
Nuovo, whither his important mission sum
moned him.
Ho was terrified by the aspect of Naples:
the city was still more agitated and tumultu
ous than it had been the preceding even ing.
Women and armed men filled the streets,
calling for Masaniello to come and lead them
to attack the Castel-Nuovo.
It was with tho greatest difiiculty that the
Benedictine at last contrived to reach tho
gates of the castle.
As soon as he was perceived, with a white
•flag in his hand, from tho turrets, the gover
nor of the fortress went down himself to
meet him.
The Benedictine explained in a few words
the reason for his coming, and asked to see
the archbishop of Naples, who had accompa
nied the Duko of Arcos in his escape from
the Vicaria. The governor led Dom Fran
cesco along the subterraneous passage into tho
presence of his eminency the Cardinal Filo
marini.
Tho cardinal was engaged in prayer when
the Benedictine entered the chamber.
Seated in an armchair, with his head list
lessly resting on his right hand, ho was fol
lowing mechanically the monotonous psalm
ody of bis prostrate chaplains.
The two priests were reading him his bre
viary, and praying in his stead.
For Monsignore Filomarini was a great
church dignitary, aud rich and noble enough
to implore, by proxy, forgiveness of bis sins
and the grace of God.
By an almost imperceptible* gesture the
prelate signed to him to be seated, and tho
monk obeyed.
The service was just over.
We mast not forget to remark that Monsig
nore Filomarini had notquitted, for a single
instant, his listloss position, that his chaplains
had risen and knelt for him, and that he had
bowed and crossed himself throughout by
proxy.
The cardinal’s d-votion cost him exactly a
hundred and sixty ducats a year.
* -
The Ca,<tel~Suovo.
This was not much; but then the cardinal
had other ways of indulging in extrav
agance.
Dom Francesco approached him, as soon as
he hafi sent his chaplains away, and waited
for his eminence to speak to him.
“What are the Neapolitans doing?” asked
the cardinal.
“They are drinking, singing and playing
at musket exercise, monsignore,” replied the
Benedictine.
# “And where is Masaniello?”
“At the Vicaria.”
Monsignore Filomarini smiled.
“This young man has, doubtless, a court.”
said he; “lazaron , fishermen, thieves and
smugglers are, I suppose, his chamberlains,
his stewards, his captains of the guard and
his gentlemen of the ted chamber. You
know him, Francesco?”
“Intimately, monsignore.”
“What sort of a man is he?”
“Very handsome, brave and generous, with
all due deference to your e nine nee.”
“You give him a splendid character! Oh,
I forgot,” added the archbishop, with a smile
and his usual drawl, “vou are his embassa
dor.”
“I come in the name of the people of Naples
to bring words of peace and reconciliation to
the Duke of Arcos.”
„-?“The Duke of Arcos will listen to nothing,
neither ought he.”
“Then he wishes for a war of extermina
tion! Monsignore, he shall have it.”'
“The Neapolitans are rebels; their persons
and goods are confiscated, by law, to his
Catholic majesty. But what are the propo
sals you bring from this Masaniello?”
“I have no power to negotiate; I merely
come to sue for an interview between the
head of the people and the Duko of Arcos.”
“Then your friend means to treat with the
duko on a footing of equality ?”
And the cold, ironical smile of the cardinal
again played upon his lips.
“If it is true, monsignoro, that the people
have not been mado for kings, but kings for
the people, I do not see why Masaniello should,
not place himself, with respect to the Duke
of Arcos, on a footing of the most perfect
equality.”
“I will go and Inform tho viceroy of j r our
presence,” said the cardinal.
And he drew tho arras aside and disap
peared.
The garrison of tho castle was in a de
plorable state. Tho Duke of Arcos not only
saw that his provisions would soon be ex
hausted, but the water had been cut off since
the evening before, and the men were now
receiving but small rations of the stagnant
water of the moats.
Tho chambers of the castlo scarcely suf
ficed to lodge the staff of tho duke’s little
army.
The soldiers, huddled together in tho
courts, and exposed during the night to
damp, aud in the day to tho heat of the sun,
fell ill, while those who withstood the weather
became discouraged.
Thegreater part, too, were suffering from
nostalgia.
It is necessar3' to have seen a revolution in
order to understand how despondency could
have so soon gained on the Spaniards shut
up in Castel-Nuovo. A riot of a few hours
often dispirits men whom twenty regular de
feats would have no effect on. The Duke of
Arcos, who, for the first time in his life, saw
himself obliged to lower his Castilian pride,
dared not own, even to himself, that he
wished to capitulate.
The archbishop found him on the platform
of tho castle, whenco ho was observing tho
Neapolitans, who were hoisting cannon to
the top of the neighboring churches.
Tho viceroy was also exchanging signals
with tho fortress of St. Elmo.
As soon as he had learned the motive which
brought the prelate to him he sent for Fer
nandez. In order to understand the follow
ing dialogue it must be remembered that it
takes place between a cardinal, thoroughly
initiated in tho intrigues of the court of
Romo, and two noblemen whom the cabinet
of Madrid had often employed on tho most
delicato business.
“Fernandez,” said tho duko, “what you
predicted has happened. These louts know
not what to do with the power they have
conquered, and now wish to surrender.”
“It could not happen otherwise, mi senor,”
replied Don Juan. “Your highness’ pres
ence is necessary for the happiness of tho
Neapolitans.”
“This 3*oung fisherman, this Masaniello,
3'ou know, craves an interview; is it proper
that I should grant it?”
“I seo 110 reason why you should not.”
And the eyes of Fernandez turned toward
the gibbet, which gloomed on the summit of
the donjon.
“His eminency the cardinal archbishop
will, therefore, have the kindness,” continued
the duke, “to inform the leader of the rebels
that I will grant him a private audience at
12 precisely.”
"I think,” said tho prelate, “that 3*our
highness would do well to see the envoj r of the
insurgents.”
“Is it 3'our opinion, cousin, that I can
officially receive such a man, without having
him hanged immediately? Would it not bo
better to send at once for Masaniello?”
“I will beg 3’our highness to remark, that
this envoy is a Benedictine monk, anil that
his age and calling ought to shelter him
from all violence.”
“Let him come, then,” said the Duko of
Arcos, “Fernandez, l>e good enough to In
troduce him.”
Don Juan Fernandez left the terrace and
soon returned, followed bj’ the monk.
The Duke of Arcos sat down on the car
riage of a cannon. The archbishop was on
his right, while he had his intended son-in
law on his left,
Francesco stood before them, with his
head uncovered and his eyes tent on the
ground.
“You come from Maeaniellor asked the
viceroy.
“Yes, monsignore,” answered Francesco.
“Have you power to act in his name?”
“I have not; the Head of the People will
himself treat with your highness, monsig
nore. if yon consent to meet him on neutral
ground—at the church of Santa Dominico,
for instance, or at any other spot half way
between the Castel-Nuovo and the Vicaria.”
“Would he not come here f"
“No.”
“Fernandez,” said the duke, turning to
Don Juan, “have you given orders for imme
diately opening the fire on the citt'f’
“Yes, mi sesior; the garrisou is animated
with the best spirit; your soldiers will do
their duty.”
“You so?,” remarked the duke, “all that
remains for the rebels is to submit properly.”
“Take care, monsignore,” replied Dorn
Francesco. “1 have just traversed the streets
of Naples. If the combat begins, not one
singlo Spaniard will escape”
The viceroy burst into a laugh.
“I am anxious to learn what are the con
ditions this Masaniello intends to propose to
our most gracious and noble master, his
Catholic majesty, Philip the Fourth. By the
blood of the Arcos! this young scoundrel
seems to forget that there is a gibbet in the
market place, and that many, more worthy
than he, have perished with a hempen cravat
round their necks.”
“Masaniello wishes to avoid the spilling of
blood, to calm our civil discords, aud to re
place Naples under the rule of the king. If
ho had listened to the advice of those clear
sighted persons who”
“To GUl's, perhaps, Dom Francesco?” in
terrupted the archbishop.
“Exactly, monsignore, to mine.”
“Well, what would he have done, then?”
asked the viceroy.
“He would have forever scared from Naples
those interminable flights of birds of prey
■winch shoot incessantly across tho sea to set
tle in our lovel3' plains. But he would not.
Heaven grant that he may never have to re
pent his moderation I”
“So then, this line fisherman of tho Mer
gollina is willing to let us still reign a little
longer in Naples. Good father, we are grate
ful for this condescension. But what does
he require to allow us to return to the Vi
caria?”
“He himself will lot 3’our highness know.”
“But yet I cannot quit the Castel-Nuovo
without knowing what is the nature of the
negotiation. ”
“The Rev. Pom Francesco,” said the arch
bishop, “thinks that Masaniello, tne head of
the people, as he calls him, will merel3 r ask for
a fresh sanction of the charter of Charles V,
and your signature to certain edicts of his
own. Is it not so, father?”
“Exactly, monsignore.”
“Then what is tho good of aIJ this martial
noise and preparatiou for war?” asked the
duke. “Had 1 not already granted Masani
ello evei'3'thing he requires?”
“I was told that 3’our highness had disap
peared when about to s.gn the decrees which
the insurgents had brought with them.”
“True; for how could I grant ttii3’thing
validl3 r while a hundred poniards threatened
m> T breast and doublo the number of muskets
were leveled at my person?”
“In the Church of Santa Domenico you will
be free from danger.”
“Let hostages be sent, then, and I will go
there.”
“The interview,” said Dom Francesco,
“shall take place in presence of monsignere
the archbishop. Masaniello pledges his word
that 3’ou and your servants shall be sheltered
from all insult. 1 myself will answer for
Masaniello. Accept my proposal, monsignor©,
and at 12 the barricades shall open to let 3 T ou
pass, and the street of Toledo shall bo cleared;
3'ou can then be accompanied by as mau>'
troops as 3’ou like; Masaniello and his friends
will arrive by the street of the Vicaria.”
At last the Duke of Arcos 3'ielded to tho
Benedictine’s wish.
Dom Francesco then settled the way In
which the interview was to take place, and
the viceroy took leave of him, saying:
“Nou r go to Masaniello, and make him
understand that, whatever may be the issue
of this meeting, order will bo re-established
to-night throughout Naples. Father,” added
he, “I have dela3*ed speaking to you till now
of a personal misfortune, which has visited
me in my holiest affections. My daughter
Isabella has been carried off; she is at present
in the midst of the insurgents. I hold Masa
niello answerable to me for her with his head;
and, above all, let him not forget the respect
due to her.”
The Benedictine had received no orders to
inform the duke of the abduction of his
daughter. lie was therefore silent, and
slowty left tho platform of the castle.
Don Juan Fernandez accompanied the
archbishop to the chamber he had quitted,
and then returned to the viceroy.
“Fernandes,” said tho latter, “what do you
think of the visit we are going to pay to
Santo Domenico, in obedience to the good
pleasure of 11 Senor Masaniello?”
“1 think, mi senor, that very strange
things often happen.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that it is a curious sight to see the
heir of Areos parleying with a triple clown
like Masaniello.”
“Patience! Fernandez, patience!”
“Have you determined to regrant these
Neapolitans—whom Heaven confound—tho
charter of Charles the Fifth ?”
“Must we not give way, when tho popular
torrent threatens to swallow us up?”
“Yes; but the breaches it makes, as it
rushes along, are often so wide, mi senor,
that it is impossible to repair them. Let us
argue this a little. ”
“With all my heart.”
“When you have abolished the taxes on
wine, fruit and fish, mi senor, with what will
you pay your annual subsidy to the treasury
of Madrid?”
“We must economize, Fernandez.”
“On what?”
“By our Lady del Pilar, I know not!”
“Will you reduce the number of your
chamberlains?”
“That is impossible.”
“Of your major domi P
“That is still more impossible.”
“Of your equerries?”
“You well know that the etiquette of*
viceroy’s court is regulated by ordinances
which must be obeyed.”
“Then you must dismiss some of your
Spanish companies.”
__ “What? And remain at the mercy of these
Neapolitan scoundrels? You are joking,
Fernandez. ”
“Oh! I understand—voii mean to leave
off hawking, and to do away with your
hounds.”
no - dear Fernandez, but I shall econ
omize in some other manner.”
“Do you intend to put down some of your
equipages?”
“If I do how will my embassadors arrive,
when they come to present their credentials
to me'"
“But you will, at least, lessen the expense
of your stud I can easily understand that
you will soon cure yourself of that mania of
yours for horses, which causes 60,000 ducate
to pass annually from your pocket into that
of the Arab horse dealer* ”
“Silence, Fernandez, you irritate me, and
I want all ray patience for the approaching
. interview.”
“Will you have patience enough, mi senor,
to listen to the complaints of your munici
palities ami cor{)orution<a,when the fat citizens
who form them come to clamor *tK>ut the
maintenance of thou* privileges! Will you
have patience to worm out of them, ducat by
ducat,the sums uecessary to supply the expen
ses of your household! If Marguerite, the re
gent of the Low Countries,were stiil alive, she
could tell you what she had to put up with
from the snarling disposition and sordid ava
rice of the magistrates of Brussels and Ant
werp; she could al o tell you whether she
ever bad an instant’s repose, when the worthy
states general of Flanders, of Brabant, or of
any other province were assembled. The
Emperor Charles the Fifth, mi senor, had,
you see, been brought up among all these
Flemish creatures; he had a mania for char
ters; and the consequence was, that, at his
death, the immense empire he had founded
fell to pieces. It would be letter for you to
abdicate at once than to grant these Neapoli
tan scoundrels the charter they persist in en
deavoring to regain.”
“Isabella, my dear daughter, Isabella, has
fallen into their hands, Fernaudez.” mur
mured the Duke of Arcos, and a tear started
from his eye.
“Alas! mi senor,” replied Don Juan, “I
made snperhuman efforts to save her: and
one would think that your Spaniards are
iu league with the people, for they all took
to flight at the first cry of the multitude,
and 1 was separated from Isabella by the in
furiated crowd.”
There was a moment’s silence between the
viceroy and his counselor.
“And then,” continued the former, “what
will his majesty Philip the Fourth say when
I return to Spain after having lost one of
the brightest jewels of his crown? The Duke
of Arcos will lx? banished from court, ban
ished and dishonored! Oh, G-odl oh, God!
how will it all end?”
“Well, if you choose to listen to me”
“What would you have mo do, then?”
“Why. cut out from the text of Charles
the Fifth all that refers to the privileges of
tho corporations and municipalities and to
the rights and immunities of the nobles, the
clergy and the citizens. I would then put
my seal to tho act thus modified, and would
order tho chancellor to restore the article
suppressed when ho read the charter to the
lazaroni and mendicants of Naples; 1 should
thus gain time, mi senor; and to gain time
is something when we are pressed by revolu
tions.”
“And in the meanwhile his Catholic maj
esty could send a fleet to Naples with re-en
forcements,” added the viceroy.
“To speak frankly, I think that the vessels
of the king of Spain would arrive too late,”
said Fernandez.
“You think, then, that the insurgents
would discover our stratagem, and immedi
ately take dire revenge?”
“They would, on tho contrary, be crawling
in the filth out of which they never ought to
have come, long before the arrival of the
fleet.”
“You mistake. As long as Masaniello lives,
Naples will never be tranquil.”
“Mi senor,” said Don Juan, “will your
highness allow me to invite two of my friends,
t-he prince of Caraffa and the duke of Mon
teleone, to accompany us to the interview?”
“Most certainly; I even beg you to do so.”
“Good,” said Fernandez. “Now, Duke of
Arcos, remember my words: before night
descends from tho heights of Pausilippo, you
will have returned to the Vicaria, and the
whole kingdom of Naples will again be under
the rule of King Philip tho Fourth."
CHAPTER XVII
The charter.
The Duke of Arcos advanced tofmrd the
cliurch of Santo Domenico, through the
street of Toledo, and Masaniello through that
of the Vienna.
But the viceroy’s procession offered a very
different aspect to that of the noisy escort of
the fisherman.
Masaniello wore the costume of his calling
—a slouched felt hat, a woolen mantle, with
hose of the same stuff, a bright colored sash,
and long boots, the thick leather of which
reached above his knee. He walked in the
midst of a group of fishermen of the Mergel
lina.
A squadron of cavalry, sword in hand, pre
ceded the viceroy.
Don Juan Fernandez and some Neapolitan
nobles walked close by his side, less as a mark
of honor than as a rampart to shield his per
son.
Then came a large body of Infantry, intha
midst of whom were seen two pieces of artil
lery, loaded with grapo shot.
The procession was closed by a company of
municipal guards.
Masaniello was the first to arrive.
Everything had been so arranged inside
the church that Masaniello should seem to be
on a footing of the most perfect equality with
the viceroy.
The choir of the church was the place se
lected for the.holding of the conference, and
it had been agreed that the viceroy and his
adversary should enter it from opposite sides
at the same time, and should each walk an
equal distance.
A magnificent throne had been raised for
Monsignore Filomarini, who caine in full
canonicals, accompanied by that crowd of
acolytes whom the princes of the church used
to drag after them wherever they went.
On entering tho church, Masaniello felt his
heart beat violently.
“Father,” murmured ho to Dorn Francesco,
“my courage fails me.”
“Let us pray, my son,” replied the monk;
and they withdrew to a chapel and knelt
down together.
Presently the roll of tho drum was heard,
and tho Duke of Arcos entered the church
shortly afterward. Ho was dressed in the
state costume of a knight of the Toison d'Or,
wore on his breast the order of St. Michael
and that of Saint Esprit, and round his knees
was the order of the Garter sparkling with
diamonds. He was leaning on the left arm
of Don J uan Fernandez, and the Prince of
Caraffa and the Duke of Monteleone followed
them.
His highness retired along a double row of
halberdiers to the chapel reserved for him.
After praying for a short time, he sent his
chancellor to inform the cardinal of his ar
rival.
Two chaplains of the prelate immediately
went to invitJ the duke and Masaniello to
proceed to the choir.
The two latter left their chapels at the same
time, and advanced, step for step, to the
front of the high altar, where they saluted
each other.
Tho Duke of Arcos stretched out his hand
to Masaniello.
Fernandez and Dom Francesco stood at a
little distance behind on their respective sides.
“Mrsaniello,” said the viceroy to the fisher
man, “you this day prove that if you are an
intrepid defender of the rights of the people,
you are also a loyal subject of our well be
sovereign Philip tho Fourth, king of
Bpain.”
“And you, Duke of Arcos,” proudly an
swered Masaniello, “are you really animated
by the desire of defending the authority of
tho king, and of respecting, at the same time,
the liberties of the people?”
“1 am," replied the duke.
Wh* eupon the cardinal spoke, in his ef
feminate voice, as follows:
“Duke of Arcos, tyid you, Masaniello, lis
ten to what 1 have to say. Serious disagree
ments have arisen between the representa
tive of the king, our master, and the popu
lation of Naples. You, Duke of Arcos,
wished to exercise the royal prerogative to
its full extent; you, Masaniello, attempted to
diminish the sufferings of y6ur brothers, and
to secure them, as appeared just, the fruits of
their rude lator. But too much blood has
flowed already. The Church of Naples is in
tears —she is weeping over the loss of so many
of her children. 1, therefore, beseech you, in
the name of that authority with which 1 am
invested, to adjust your differences here; I
beseech you to leave your hatred on the altar
of him who gave his blood to redeem from
crime and to heal the sufferings of mankind.”
[to be continue©.]
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