Don Tarquinio: A Kataleptic Phantasmatic Romance (Valancourt eClassics) Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Barón Corvo
to gaze at the carcase.
But, by favour of some benignant star, my wits seemed to be coming back to me. I began to know, one by one in order, the things which I ought to do.
Wherefore, I beckoned to Gioffredo to take the ankles: but I myself took the hollow armpits; and terribly the head waggled between. In this manner we flung the dead slave from the balcony: but, after we had heard the splash of his fall in Tiber, we returned, expecting new events.
Still was the gaze of Ippolito fixed on the mess on the carpet. Cesare walked like a tiger to and fro in a fume. Now my vision was clear; my stars being very benignant: nor did perplexity blind me any more to my chance.
[1] This “oblong cloth” seems to be the original “kilt and plaid” in one garment.
[2] Obviously a fifteenth century “sporran.”
[3] Alexander the Sixth’s successor, Pius the Third (Francesco de’ Piccolhuomini). What particular cantrips Diotisalvi engaged in at that conclave, the gods only know. Anyhow, he richly deserved a hanging long before he got it.
[4] “Cito: Cito: Cito:” in the original holograph.
[5] I am inclined to think that this is what we call indiarubber.
XIII
Having collected the vesture of the runner, I placed myself in the way of the Cardinal of Valencia, whom I addressed, saying:
“Tiber beareth that dead barbarian to the sea; and I, o Lord Cardinal, will be Thy Most Respectable Worship’s angel.” [1]
With which words I flung down my nightgown of ermine.
Cesare instantly stopped, inquiring whether I could run. To whom my mouth gave no response: for my form and membrature testified the thing. His glances impinged upon me, bringing the hot blood from mine heart; and looking down, I saw my breast reddening as though stricken with the flat of the hand.
Ippolito suddenly interrupted, saying:
“Can he run indeed? But he can run, and he will, with the superhuman swiftness and endurance of Wing-footed Hermes, or of Asahel who ran like a wild roe in the Sacred Scriptures.”
Thus was Cesare satisfied. He said:
“ Be then Our angel, o white prince; and run for Us and for thyself.”
In this manner I became the first of the iiij adolescents there present.
At my commandment, pages brought certain matters from the wardrobe, depositing them at my feet: and, retiring, left us alone to make preparations for the running.
I belted the runner’s cloth on my loins, letting the larger portion hang down behind, so that my back was bare. Ippolito very carefully folded ij squares of tanned buckskin round my feet; and firmly bandaged them with thongs of the same. Thus garbed, I turned my face to the ivory door, exposing the flesh of my back as the Cardinal of Valencia willed.
Thereon he began to write cyphers with the brush. The viscous liquid, which he used, seemed somewhat to sting and bite me: but I clenched my teeth and fists, and remained immovable; and anon the little pangs evanesced. He covered my back with writing from shoulder to shoulder and below to my middle, vij lines in all. While he was writing, he explained the thing, saying:
“These characters, which now are wet and glossy, will become invisible when they are dried, being of the same colour as the substance on which We write. Such is the nature of this magic, that neither sweat nor water will affect it. Ye have seen the letters, which We wrote in ink upon the paper, to be naught but a mere blind. The prince will carry those letters in the goatskin pouch; and anyone may read them. But he beareth the real message on his proper body; and no Roman ever hath seen that message: for ye see that each letter evanisheth as We write it. Nor hath this angel himself seen it: for no adolescent can see his own back. But Pietrogorio alone will see it: for he will rub this fine white flesh with soot which, adhering to the cyphers, will render them visible when the back which beareth them shall have been cleansed with washing.”
Thus he spoke: but I was thinking of
But, by favour of some benignant star, my wits seemed to be coming back to me. I began to know, one by one in order, the things which I ought to do.
Wherefore, I beckoned to Gioffredo to take the ankles: but I myself took the hollow armpits; and terribly the head waggled between. In this manner we flung the dead slave from the balcony: but, after we had heard the splash of his fall in Tiber, we returned, expecting new events.
Still was the gaze of Ippolito fixed on the mess on the carpet. Cesare walked like a tiger to and fro in a fume. Now my vision was clear; my stars being very benignant: nor did perplexity blind me any more to my chance.
[1] This “oblong cloth” seems to be the original “kilt and plaid” in one garment.
[2] Obviously a fifteenth century “sporran.”
[3] Alexander the Sixth’s successor, Pius the Third (Francesco de’ Piccolhuomini). What particular cantrips Diotisalvi engaged in at that conclave, the gods only know. Anyhow, he richly deserved a hanging long before he got it.
[4] “Cito: Cito: Cito:” in the original holograph.
[5] I am inclined to think that this is what we call indiarubber.
XIII
Having collected the vesture of the runner, I placed myself in the way of the Cardinal of Valencia, whom I addressed, saying:
“Tiber beareth that dead barbarian to the sea; and I, o Lord Cardinal, will be Thy Most Respectable Worship’s angel.” [1]
With which words I flung down my nightgown of ermine.
Cesare instantly stopped, inquiring whether I could run. To whom my mouth gave no response: for my form and membrature testified the thing. His glances impinged upon me, bringing the hot blood from mine heart; and looking down, I saw my breast reddening as though stricken with the flat of the hand.
Ippolito suddenly interrupted, saying:
“Can he run indeed? But he can run, and he will, with the superhuman swiftness and endurance of Wing-footed Hermes, or of Asahel who ran like a wild roe in the Sacred Scriptures.”
Thus was Cesare satisfied. He said:
“ Be then Our angel, o white prince; and run for Us and for thyself.”
In this manner I became the first of the iiij adolescents there present.
At my commandment, pages brought certain matters from the wardrobe, depositing them at my feet: and, retiring, left us alone to make preparations for the running.
I belted the runner’s cloth on my loins, letting the larger portion hang down behind, so that my back was bare. Ippolito very carefully folded ij squares of tanned buckskin round my feet; and firmly bandaged them with thongs of the same. Thus garbed, I turned my face to the ivory door, exposing the flesh of my back as the Cardinal of Valencia willed.
Thereon he began to write cyphers with the brush. The viscous liquid, which he used, seemed somewhat to sting and bite me: but I clenched my teeth and fists, and remained immovable; and anon the little pangs evanesced. He covered my back with writing from shoulder to shoulder and below to my middle, vij lines in all. While he was writing, he explained the thing, saying:
“These characters, which now are wet and glossy, will become invisible when they are dried, being of the same colour as the substance on which We write. Such is the nature of this magic, that neither sweat nor water will affect it. Ye have seen the letters, which We wrote in ink upon the paper, to be naught but a mere blind. The prince will carry those letters in the goatskin pouch; and anyone may read them. But he beareth the real message on his proper body; and no Roman ever hath seen that message: for ye see that each letter evanisheth as We write it. Nor hath this angel himself seen it: for no adolescent can see his own back. But Pietrogorio alone will see it: for he will rub this fine white flesh with soot which, adhering to the cyphers, will render them visible when the back which beareth them shall have been cleansed with washing.”
Thus he spoke: but I was thinking of
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