and Juliano, were greatly affected.
I then addressed myself to the marquis, who sat undetermined, as to
speech: My venerable lord, forgive me, that my address was not first paid
here. My heart overflows with gratitude for your goodness in permitting
me to throw myself at your feet, before I took a last farewell of a city
favoured with your residence. Best of fathers, of friends, of men, let
me entreat the continuance of your paternal indulgence to the child
nearest, and deserving to be nearest, to your heart. She is all you and
her mother. Restore her to yourself, and to her, by your indulgence:
that alone, and a blessing on your prayers, can restore her. Adieu, my
good lord: repeated thanks for all your hospitable goodness to a man that
will ever retain a grateful sense of your favour.
You will not yet go, was all he said--he seemed in agitation. He could
not say more.
I then, turning to the count his brother, who sat next him, said, I have
not the honour to be fully known to your lordship: some prejudices from
differences in opinion may have been conceived: but if you ever hear
anything of the man before you unworthy of his name, and of the favour
once designed him; then, my lord, blame, as well as wonder at, the
condescension of your noble brother and sister in my favour.
Who, I! Who, I! said that lord, in some hurry.--I think very well of
you. I never saw a man, in my life, that I liked so well!
Your lordship does me honour. I say this the rather, as I may, on this
solemn occasion, taking leave of such honourable friends, charge my
future life with resolutions to behave worthy of the favour I have met
with in this family.
I passed from him to the general--Forgive, my lord, said I, the seeming
formality of my behaviour in this parting scene: it is a very solemn one
to me. You have expressed yourself of me, and to me, my lord, with more
passion, (forgive me, I mean not to offend you,) than perhaps you will
approve in yourself when I am far removed from Italy. For have you not a
noble mind? And are you not a son of the Marquis della Porretta? Permit
me to observe, that passion will make a man exalt himself, and degrade
another; and the just medium will be then forgot. I am afraid I have
been thought more lightly of, than I ought to be, either in justice, or
for the honour of a person who is dear to every one present. My country
was once mentioned with disdain: think not my vanity so much concerned in
what I
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