But for the Signoria, who had been waiting on their platform against the gates, and had to march out at the right moment, with their orator20 in front of them, to meet the mighty21 guest, the grandeur22 of the scene had been somewhat screened by unpleasant sensations. If Messer Luca Corsini could have had a brief Latin welcome depending from his mouth in legible characters, it would have been less confusing when the rain came on, and created an impatience23 in men and horses that broke off the delivery of his well-studied periods, and reduced the representatives of the scholarly city to offer a makeshift welcome in impromptu24 French. But that sudden confusion had created a great opportunity for Tito. As one of the secretaries he was among the officials who were stationed behind the Signoria, and with whom these highest dignities were promiscuously25 thrown when pressed upon by the horses.
‘Somebody step forward and say a few words in French,’ said Soderini. But no one of high importance chose to risk a second failure. ‘You, Francesco Gaddi — you can speak.’ But Gaddi, distrusting his own promptness, hung back, and pushing Tito, said, ‘You, Melema.’
Tito stepped forward in an instant, and, with the air of profound deference26 that came as naturally to him as walking, said the few needful words in the name of the Signoria; then gave way gracefully27, and let the king pass on. His presence of mind, which had failed him in the terrible crisis of the morning, had been a ready instrument this time. It was an excellent livery servant that never forsook28 him when danger was not visible. But when he was complimented on his opportune29 service, he laughed it off as a thing of no moment, and to those who had not witnessed it, let Gaddi have the credit of the improvised30 welcome. No wonder Tito was popular: the touchstone by which men try us is most often their own vanity.
Other things besides the oratorical31 welcome had turned out rather worse than had been expected. If everything had happened according to ingenious preconceptions, the Florentine procession of clergy32 and laity33 would not have found their way choked up and been obliged to take a make-shift course through the back streets, so as to meet the king at the Cathedral only. Also, if the young monarch34 under the canopy, seated on his charger with his lance upon his thigh35, had looked more like a Charlemagne and less like a hastily modelled grotesque36, the imagination of his admirers would have been much assisted. It might have been wished that the scourge37 of Italian wickedness and ‘Champion of the honour of women’ had had a less miserable38 leg, and only the normal sum of toes; that his mouth had been of a less reptilian39 width of slit40, his nose and head of a less exorbitant41 outline. But the thin leg rested on cloth of gold and pearls, and the face was only an interruption of a few square inches in the midst of black velvet42 and gold, and the blaze of rubies43, and the brilliant tints44 of the embroidered and bepearled canopy, — ‘fu gran magnificenza.’
And the people had cried Francia, Francia! with an enthusiasm proportioned to the splendour of the canopy which they had torn to pieces as their spoil, according to immemorial custom; royal lips had duly kissed the altar; and after all mischances the royal person and retinue45 were lodged46 in the Palace of the Via Larga, the rest of the nobles and gentry47 were dispersed48 among the great houses of Florence, and the terrible soldiery were encamped in the Prato and other open quarters. The business of the day was ended.
But the streets still presented a surprising aspect, such as Florentines had not seen before under the November stars. Instead of a gloom unbroken except by a lamp burning feebly here and there before a saintly image at the street corners, or by a stream of redder light from an open doorway49, there were lamps suspended at the windows of all houses, so that men could walk along no less securely and commodiously50 than by day, — ‘fu gran magnificenza.’
Along those illuminated51 streets Tito Melema was walking at about eight o’clock in the evening, on his way homeward. He had been exerting himself throughout the day under the pressure of hidden anxieties, and had at last made his escape unnoticed from the midst of after-supper gaiety. Once at leisure thoroughly52 to face and consider his circumstances, he hoped that he could so adjust himself to them and to all probabilities as to get rid of his childish fear. If he had only not been wanting in the presence of mind necessary to recognise Baldassarre under that surprise! — it would have been happier for him on all accounts; for he still winced53 under the sense that he was deliberately54 inflicting55 suffering on his father: he would very much have preferred that Baldassarre should be prosperous and happy. But he had left himself no second path now: there could be no conflict any longer: the only thing he had to do was to take care of himself.
While these thoughts were in his mind he was advancing from the Piazza56 di Santa Croce along the Via dei Benci, and as he neared the angle turning into the Borgo Santa Croce his ear was struck by a music which was not that of evening revelry, but of vigorous labour — the music of the anvil57. Tito gave a slight start and quickened his pace, for the sounds had suggested a welcome thought. He knew that they came from the workshop of Niccolo Caparra, famous resort of all Florentines who cared for curious and beautiful iron-work.
‘What makes the giant at work so late?’ thought Tito. ‘But so much the better for me. I can do that little bit of business to-night instead of to-morrow morning.’
Preoccupied58 as he was, he could not help pausing a moment in admiration59 as he came in front of the workshop. The wide doorway, standing60 at the truncated61 angle of a great block or ‘isle’ of houses, was surmounted62 by a loggia roofed with fluted63 tiles, and supported by stone columns with roughly carved capitals. Against the red light framed in by the outline of the fluted tiles and columns stood in black relief the grand figure of Niccolo, with his huge arms in rhythmic64 rise and fall, first hiding and then disclosing the profile of his firm mouth and powerful brow. Two slighter ebony figures, one at the anvil, the other at the bellows65, served to set off his superior massiveness.
Tito darkened the doorway with a very different outline standing in silence, since it was useless to speak until Niccolo should deign66 to pause and notice him. That was not until the smith had beaten the head of an axe67 to the due sharpness of edge and dismissed it from his anvil. But in the meantime Tito had satisfied himself by a glance round the shop that the object of which he was in search had not disappeared.
Niccolo gave an unceremonious but good-humoured nod as he turned from the anvil and rested his hammer on his hip68.
‘What is it, Messer Tito? Business?’
‘Assuredly, Niccolo; else I should not have ventured to interrupt you when you are working out of hours, since I take that as a sign that your work is pressing.’
‘I’ve been at the same work all day — making axes and spear-heads. And every fool that has passed my shop has put his pumpkin-head in to say, “Niccolo, wilt69 thou not come and see the King of France and his soldiers?” and I’ve answered, “No: I don’t want to see their faces — I want to see their backs.” ’
‘Are you making arms for the citizens, then, Niccolo, that they may have something better than rusty70 scythes71 and spits in case of an uproar72?’
‘We shall see. Arms are good, and Florence is likely to want them. The Frate tells us we shall get Pisa again, and I hold with the Frate; but I should be glad to know how the promise is to be fulfilled, if we don’t get plenty of good weapons forged? The Frate sees a long way before him; that I believe. But he doesn’t see birds caught with winking73 at them, as some of our people try to make out. He sees sense, and not nonsense. But you’re a bit of a Medicean, Messer Tito Melema. Ebbene! so I’ve been myself in my time, before the cask began to run sour. What’s your business?’
‘Simply to know the price of that fine coat of mail I saw hanging up here the other day. I want to buy it for a certain personage who needs a protection of that sort under his doublet.’
‘Let him come and buy it himself, then,’ said Niccolo, bluntly. ‘I’m rather nice about what I sell, and whom I sell to. I like to know who’s my customer.’
‘I know your scruples74, Niccolo. But that is only defensive75 armour76: it can hurt nobody.’
‘True: but it may make the man who wears it feel himself all the safer if he should want to hurt somebody. No, no; it’s not my own work; but it’s fine work of Maso of Brescia; I should be loth for it to cover the heart of a scoundrel. I must know who is to wear it.’
‘Well, then, to be plain with you, Niccolo mio, I want it myself,’ said Tito, knowing it was useless to try persuasion77. ‘The fact is, I am likely to have a journey to take — and you know what journeying is in these times. You don’t suspect me of treason against the Republic?’
‘No, I know no harm of you,’ said Niccolo, in his blunt way again. ‘But have you the money to pay for the coat? For you’ve passed my shop often enough to know my sign: you’ve seen the burning account-books. I trust nobody. The price is twenty florins, and that’s because it’s second-hand78. You’re not likely to have so much money with you. Let it be till to-morrow.’
‘I happen to have the money,’ said Tito, who had been winning at play the day before, and had not emptied his purse. ‘I’ll carry the armour home with me.’
Niccolo reached down the finely wrought79 coat, which fell together into little more than two handfuls.
‘There, then,’ he said, when the florins had been told down on his palm. ‘Take the coat. It’s made to cheat sword, or poniard, or arrow. But, for my part, I would never put such a thing on. It’s like carrying fear about with one.’
Niccolo’s words had an unpleasant intensity80 of meaning for Tito. But he smiled and said —
‘Ah, Niccolo, we scholars are all cowards. Handling the pen doesn’t thicken the arm as your hammer-wielding does. Addio!’
He folded the armour under his mantle17, and hastened across the Ponte Rubaconte.
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1
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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2
mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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3
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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4
turreted
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| a.(像炮塔般)旋转式的 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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6
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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7
archers
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| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
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8
ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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10
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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11
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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12
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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13
symbolical
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| a.象征性的 | |
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14
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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15
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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16
mantles
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| vt.&vi.覆盖（mantle的第三人称单数形式） | |
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17
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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18
canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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19
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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20
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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21
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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22
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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23
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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24
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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25
promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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26
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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27
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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28
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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29
opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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30
improvised
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| a.即席而作的,即兴的 | |
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31
oratorical
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| adj.演说的，雄辩的 | |
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32
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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33
laity
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| n.俗人；门外汉 | |
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34
monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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35
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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36
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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37
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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38
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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39
reptilian
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| adj.（像）爬行动物的；（像）爬虫的；卑躬屈节的；卑鄙的n.两栖动物；卑劣的人 | |
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40
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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41
exorbitant
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| adj.过分的；过度的 | |
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42
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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43
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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44
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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45
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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46
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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47
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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48
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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49
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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50
commodiously
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| adv.宽阔地，方便地 | |
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51
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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52
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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53
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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55
inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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56
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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57
anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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58
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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59
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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60
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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61
truncated
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| adj.切去顶端的，缩短了的，被删节的v.截面的( truncate的过去式和过去分词 )；截头的；缩短了的；截去顶端或末端 | |
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62
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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63
fluted
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| a.有凹槽的 | |
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64
rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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65
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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66
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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67
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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68
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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69
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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70
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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71
scythes
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| n.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的名词复数 )v.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的第三人称单数 ) | |
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72
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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73
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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74
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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75
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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76
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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77
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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78
second-hand
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| adj.用过的，旧的，二手的 | |
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79
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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80
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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