The final judgment10 properly lay with the Eight, who presided over the administration of criminal justice; and the sentence depended on a majority of six votes. But the Eight shrank from their onerous11 responsibility, and asked in this exceptional case to have it shared by the Signoria (or the Gonfaloniere and the eight Priors). The Signoria in its turn shrugged12 its shoulders, and proposed the appeal to the Great Council. For, according to a law passed by the earnest persuasion13 of Savonarola nearly three years before, whenever a citizen was condemned14 to death by the fatal six votes (called the sei fave or six beans, beans being in more senses than one the political pulse of Florence), he had the right of appealing from that sentence to the Great Council.
But in this stage of the business, the friends of the accused resisted the appeal, determined15 chiefly by the wish to gain delay; and, in fact, strict legality required that sentence should have been passed prior to the appeal. Their resistance prevailed, and a middle course was taken; the sentence was referred to a large assembly convened16 on the seventeenth, consisting of all the higher magistracies, the smaller council or Senate of Eighty, and a select number of citizens.
On this day Romola, with anxiety heightened by the possibility that before its close her godfather’s fate might be decided17, had obtained leave to see him for the second time, but only in the presence of witnesses. She had returned to the Via de’ Bardi in company with her cousin Brigida, still ignorant whether the council had come to any decisive issue; and Monna Brigida had gone out again to await the momentous18 news at the house of a friend belonging to one of the magistracies, that she might bring back authentic19 tidings as soon as they were to be had.
Romola had sunk on the first seat in the bright saloon, too much agitated20, too sick at heart, to care about her place, or be conscious of discordance21 in the objects that surrounded her. She sat with her back to the door, resting her head on her hands. It seemed a long while since Monna Brigida had gone, and Romola was expecting her return. But when the door opened she knew it was not Monna Brigida who entered.
Since she had parted from Tito on that memorable22 night, she had had no external proof to warrant her belief that he had won his safety by treachery; on the contrary, she had had evidence that he was still trusted by the Mediceans, and was believed by them to be accomplishing certain errands of theirs in Romagna, under cover of fulfilling a commission of the government. For the obscurity in which the evidence concerning the conspirators23 was shrouded25 allowed it to be understood that Tito had escaped any implication.
But Romola’s suspicion was not to be dissipated: her horror of his conduct towards Baldassarre projected itself over every conception of his acts; it was as if she had seen him committing a murder, and had had a diseased impression ever after that his hands were covered with fresh blood.
As she heard his step on the stone floor, a chill shudder26 passed through her; she could not turn round, she could not rise to give any greeting. He did not speak, but after an instant’s pause took a seat on the other side of the table just opposite to her. Then she raised her eyes and looked at him; but she was mute. He did not show any irritation27, but said, coolly —
‘This meeting corresponds with our parting, Romola. But I understand that it is a moment of terrible suspense28. I am come, however, if you will listen to me, to bring you the relief of hope.’
She started, and altered her position, but looked at him dubiously29.
‘It will not be unwelcome to you to hear — even though it is I who tell it — that the council is prorogued31 till the twenty-first. The Eight have been frightened at last into passing a sentence of condemnation32, but the demand has now been made on behalf of the condemned for the Appeal to the Great Council.’
Romola’s face lost its dubious30 expression; she asked eagerly —
‘And when is it to be made?’
‘It has not yet been granted; but it may be granted. The Special Council is to meet again on the twenty-first to deliberate whether the Appeal shall be allowed or not. In the meantime there is an interval of three days, in which chances may occur in favour of the prisoners — in which interest may be used on their behalf.’
Romola started from her seat. The colour had risen to her face like a visible thought, and her hands trembled. In that moment her feeling towards Tito was forgotten.
‘Possibly,’ said Tito, also rising, ‘your own intention may have anticipated what I was going to say. You are thinking of the Frate.’
‘I am,’ said Romola, looking at him with surprise. ‘Has he done anything? Is there anything to tell me?’
‘Only this. It was Messer Francesco Valori’s bitterness and violence which chiefly determined the course of things in the council to-day. Half the men who gave in their opinion against the prisoners were frightened into it, and there are Council and out of it who are strongly opposed to the sentence of death — Piero Guicciardini, for example, who is one member of the Signoria that made the stoutest33 resistance; and there is Giovan Battista Ridolfi, who, Piagnone as he is, will not lightly forgive the death of his brother Niccolo.’
‘But how can the Appeal be denied,’ said Romola, indignantly, ‘when it is the law — when it was one of the chief glories of the popular government to have passed the law?’
‘They call this an exceptional case. Of course there are ingenious arguments, but there is much more of loud bluster34 about the danger of the Republic. But, you see, no opposition35 could prevent the assembly from being prorogued, and a certain powerful influence rightly applied36 during the next three days might determine the wavering courage of those who desire that the Appeal should be granted, and might even give a check to the headlong enmity of Francesco Valori. It happens to have come to my knowledge that the Frate has so far interfered37 as to send a message to him in favour of Lorenzo Tornabuoni. I know you can sometimes have access to the Frate: it might at all events be worth while to use your privilege now.’
‘It is true,’ said Romola, with an air of abstraction. ‘I cannot believe that the Frate would approve denying the Appeal.’
‘I heard it said by more than one person in the court of the Palazzo, before I came away, that it would be to the everlasting38 discredit39 of Fra Girolamo if he allowed a government which is almost entirely40 made up of his party, to deny the Appeal, without entering his protest, when he has been boasting in his books and sermons that it was he who got the law passed.’ But between ourselves, with all respect for your Frate’s ability, my Romola, he has got into the practice of preaching that form of human sacrifices called killing41 tyrants42 and wicked malcontents, which some of his followers43 are likely to think inconsistent with lenity in the present case.’
‘I know, I know,’ said Romola, with a look and tone of pain. ‘But he is driven into those excesses of speech. It used to be different. I will ask for an interview. I cannot rest without it. I trust in the greatness of his heart.’
She was not looking at Tito; her eyes were bent44 with a vague gaze towards the ground, and she had no distinct consciousness that the words she heard came from her husband.
‘Better lose no time, then,’ said Tito, with unmixed suavity45, moving his cap round in his hands as if he were about to put it on and depart. ‘And now, Romola, you will perhaps be able to see, in spite of prejudice, that my wishes go with yours in this matter. You will not regard the misfortune of my safety as an offence.’
Something like an electric shock passed through Romola: it was the full consciousness of her husband’s presence returning to her. She looked at him without speaking.
‘At least,’ he added, in a slightly harder tone, ‘you will endeavour to base our intercourse46 on some other reasonings than that because an evil deed is possible, I have done it. Am I alone to be beyond the pale of your extensive charity?’
The feeling which had been driven back from Romola’s lips a fortnight before rose again with the gathered force of a tidal wave. She spoke47 with a decision which told him that she was careless of consequences.
‘It is too late, Tito. There is no killing the suspicion that deceit has once begotten48. And now I know everything. I know who that old man was: he was your father, to whom you owe everything — to whom you owe more than if you had been his own child. By the side of that, it is a small thing that you broke my trust and my father’s. As long as you deny the truth about that old man, there is a horror rising between us: the law that should make us one can never be obeyed. I too am a human being. I have a soul of my own that abhors49 your actions. Our union is a pretence50 — as if a perpetual lie could be a sacred marriage.’
Tito did not answer immediately. When he did speak it was with a calculated caution, that was stimulated51 by alarm.
‘And you mean to carry out that independence by quitting me, I presume?’
‘I desire to quit you,’ said Romola, impetuously.
‘And suppose I do not submit to part with what the law gives me some security for retaining? You will then, of course, proclaim your reasons in the ear of all Florence. You will bring forward your mad assassin, who is doubtless ready to obey your call, and you will tell the world that you believe his testimony52 because he is so rational as to desire to assassinate53 me. You will first inform the Signoria that I am a Medicean conspirator24, and then you will inform the Mediceans that I have betrayed them, and in both cases you will offer the excellent proof that you believe me capable in general of everything bad. It will certainly be a striking position for a wife to adopt. And if, on such evidence, you succeed in holding me up to infamy54, you will have surpassed all the heroines of the Greek drama.’
He paused a moment, but she stood mute. He went on with the sense of mastery.
‘I believe you have no other grievance55 against me — except that I have failed in fulfilling some lofty indefinite conditions on which you gave me your wifely affection, so that, by withdrawing it, you have gradually reduced me to the careful supply of your wants as a fair Piagnone of high condition and liberal charities. I think your success in gibbeting me is not certain. But doubtless you would begin by winning the ear of Messer Bernardo del Nero?’
‘Why do I speak of anything?’ cried Romola, in anguish56, sinking on her chair again. ‘It is hateful in me to be thinking of myself.’
She did not notice when Tito left the room, or know how long it was before the door opened to admit Monna Brigida. But in that instant she started up and said —
‘Cousin, we must go to San Marco directly. I must see my confessor, Fra Salvestro.’
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1
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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confiscation
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| n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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8
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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10
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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onerous
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| adj.繁重的 | |
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12
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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15
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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discordance
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| n.不调和，不和，不一致性；不整合；假整合 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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29
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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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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prorogued
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| v.使（议会）休会( prorogue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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34
bluster
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| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
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35
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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42
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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44
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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46
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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48
begotten
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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49
abhors
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| v.憎恶( abhor的第三人称单数 )；（厌恶地）回避；拒绝；淘汰 | |
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50
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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51
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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52
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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53
assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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54
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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55
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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56
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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