"THE BETROTHED" ""... memento Domine David et omnis..."" ""... memento Domine David et omnis..."" "Signor Curate!" "Gentlemen..." "You intend, tomorrow, to marry  Renzo Tramaglino and Lucia Mondella?" "That is..." "You, gentlemen, are men of the world  and know well how these things go." "A poor curate has nothing to do with them." "They patch up their little treaties between themselves and then come to us..." " We are servants of the community..." " Mark well!" "This marriage is not to be performed, not tomorrow, nor ever!" "But, gentlemen..." "If the thing depended on me..." "Enough of your prating!" "The marriage is not to be performed!" "Or he who performs it will never repent, because he shall have no time for it." " But... but..." " A warned man, you understand." "What would you have us say to the Illustrious Don Rodrigo, our master?" " My respects..." " Be clear, now." " Disposed... always to obedience." " Very well." " Good evening, Sir." " Good evening." " Gentlemen!" "Gentlemen!" " And above all..." " Perpetua!" "Perpetua!" " I'm coming!" "Mercy!" " What has happened to you, master?" " Nothing, nothing..." "How nothing?" "So disordered you are..." "When I say "nothing", it is nothing!" "Or it is something I cannot tell." "Bring me something to drink." "Will you persist, Sir, that it is nothing?" "For heaven's sake!" "Let us have no brawling - let us have no noise!" " It is... it is my life!" " Your life?" " My life!" " Don Rodrigo." " Don Rodrigo?" "!" " Yes." "He doesn't want Lucia to get married." " Mercy!" "Oh, what a wretch!" "What a tyrant!" "What a godless man!" " Will you hold your tongue?" "!" " Why, we're all alone: no one can hear us." " Oh, my poor master!" "What now?" " What will I do now?" "What will I do?" "I would write to our saintly Archbishop, a bold-hearted man  who fears no one, and inform him that..." "And when a bullet is lodged in my back..." "Heaven forbid!" "Would the Archbishop remove it?" "Why!" "They don't throw out bullets like confetti!" "Woe to us, if these dogs could bite whenever they bark!" "When the world sees a man, always ready to yield..." "Will you hold your tongue?" "!" " Are you not going to eat anything?" " No." "I don't want anything." "There are other things to worry about!" "It had to happen to a gentleman like me, didn't it?" "For heaven's sake..." "For heaven's sake!" " Where shall we put them?" " Inside!" "Oh, here's Lucia!" "You look wonderful!" " What a lovely necklace!" " What a beautiful veil!" "Why are you ashamed?" "See how pretty she looks?" "Oh, it's Father Cristoforo!" " Oh, Friar Cristoforo!" " May peace be with you, Agnese!" " Good day, Lucia." " Good day, Father." " And where is Renzo?" " With the curate, deciding on the time of the ceremony." " Your confessor has come to give you his blessing." " Oh, Father..." "No..." ""Error, conditio, votum, cognatio, crimen..."" ""... cultus disparitas, vis, ordo, ligamen, honestas..."" "What do you expect me to know of your latinorum?" "Quiet, my dear Renzo." "Don't get in a passion..." "If you don't understand things, have patience, and leave them to those who do." "I wish to see you satisfied." "When I think of how well off you were..." "What were you wanting?" "The whim to get married came to you..." " What talk is this, Sir?" " I'm just saying... have patience..." " In short, what is it..." " Be patient, it is no fault of mine." "I did not make the law, "Antequam matrimonium...."" " I told you, no Latin!" " But I must spend more time  researching, so that I can explain..." " Did you not finish your research?" "Look now!" "You are finding fault with my over-kindness!" " Have patience for a few days..." " For how long?" " Come now, in 15 days I will endeavour to do... - 15 days!" " 15 days?" " One week!" "I'll see..." "I'll try..." "And Lucia, what must I say to her?" "What will the world say?" "Tell them too, that I have made a blunder through over haste." "Lay all the fault on me!" "Very well." "I will wait for one week..." "But then there shall be no more hindrances, yes?" "When I tell you..." "Then I shall retire." "Good morning, Renzo." "Good morning, Perpetua." "I hoped we should have been merry today altogether  but instead..." " But!" "As Heaven wills, my poor Renzo..." "The Signor Curate gave me many reasons that I did not well understand." "Why will he not marry us today?" "Is it likely I know my master's secrets?" "But there certainly are some wretches in the world, tyrants, without fear of God..." "Tyrants?" "Wretches?" "Come, tell me who it is!" "You want to make me speak, and I cannot, because..." "I know nothing." "When I know nothing, it is the same as if I had taken an oath not to tell." "You might put me to the rack, and you would get nothing from my mouth!" " Good bye!" " Perpetua!" " Good bye!" "Who is the tyrant who is unwilling that I should marry Lucia?" "Renzo!" "Renzo!" "Signor Curate, everybody knows my affairs except myself." "But, by Bacchus, I too will know." "What is his name?" "Renzo, for charity!" "Careful what you say!" " Think of your soul!" " I want to know right now!" " Do you wish me to be killed?" " I wish to know!" " But if I speak, I'm a dead man!" "Do you not care?" " Then speak!" "Promise me - swear to me not to speak of it to anyone, never to tell..." "I promise you, Sir, that I will do an ill deed, if you don't tell me his name!" "Don...." "Don?" "Don Rodrigo." "Don Rodrigo?" "!" "The dog!" "You have done a pretty deed!" "To trick an honest man, your curate  in his own house, in a sacred place!" "To force from me that which I concealed from you in prudence, for your own good!" "And now, how much wiser do you feel?" "This is no question of right and wrong." "This a question of mere force!" " I may have been wrong... excuse me." " Swear to me..." " I may have...." " Swear to me not to talk!" " I may have been wrong!" "Renzo, listen to me!" "Renzo!" "You have spoken." "I have not spoken." "Put the bar across the door and do not open it to anybody!" " You only can have spoken." " I have not spoken, I say!" "Renzo..." "Renzo!" " It is all up for today." " What?" "!" " Yes." "Tell the people that the Signor Curate is ill, or make something up..." " Send me Lucia!" " Yes, yes." "Renzo, what is the matter?" " The Signor Curate has refused to marry us at the last minute." " What?" "Yes, Lucia." "Don Rodrigo threatened the curate with death, if he marries us." " No!" " Yes." " Has it come to this point..." "Come to this point?" "Then, you already knew  and never told me anything?" "I told everything to Father Cristoforo, in confession." "Listen to me, Renzo." "That man  has tried many times to snare Lucia  when she has returned from the mill with her companions." "It was I who advised her to say nothing  and to hasten the wedding." "And it was then that I put on a too-bold face  and begged you to get it done soon  to have it concluded before the fixed time." "This morning I was so far from thinking..." "Lucia!" "Lucia!" " This is the last deed that assassin shall do!" " No!" "Renzo!" "Where are you going?" "Renzo!" "Will you trust to me?" "To me, did I say?" "Will you trust in God?" "It is he who judges  it is he who castigates." "You wish to inflict your own justice!" "And even if..." "Even if they did  it is a terrible gain." "Promise me that you will not confront him, that you will not challenge him." "Yes, Renzo." "I promise." " I will speak to that man." " You?" "Yes." "And hopefully it shall please God to touch his heart." "Stay in your houses and do not show yourselves." "You, Agnese, come to the convent this evening to speak with me." "Yes, Father." " Farewell, my children." " Farewell, Father." " Goodbye." "Put your faith in God." "Let us hope, Renzo." "Let us hope." "Friar Cristoforo knows the true nature of people better than we." "He has seen and experienced the world before joining the convent." " He joined the convent after murdering a young upstart." " Renzo!" "How can you believe such stories?" "Did you not see how touched he was?" " As if he was speaking for himself." " I don't believe it, he is a saintly man." "No, gentlemen!" "The authority of Tasso  will not serve your purpose, respected Signor Podestà  it even militates against you, for that learned, great man  who perfectly understood all the rules of chivalry  has made the messenger of Argante ask leave of the pious Buglione  before delivering the challenge to the Christian knights..." "But the messenger is, in his nature, inviolable by the law of nations." ""Jure gentium" But, without seeking so far, the proverb says:" ""Ambasciator non Porta Pena."" "According to the laws of modern chivalry  I affirm and maintain that a messenger who dared to place a challenge  in the hand of a knight without having asked his permission  is a fool!" " Yes." "Let's hear what Dr. Azzecca-Garbugli thinks!" "I enjoy this learned dispute, and am glad of the accident  that has given occasion to so agreeable a war of genius." "Illustriousness!" "What is it?" "Friar Cristoforo is here." "Come in, Father." " Give the Father a seat!" " No..." "I wish to speak with you alone  on a matter of importance." "Very well, we shall speak!" "We shall speak!" "Gentlemen, let us refer this to Father Cristoforo  and abide by his sentence!" "The case is this..." "Let me tell it, who am neutral, cousin..." "This is the story: a Spanish cavalier sent a challenge to a Milanese cavalier." "The bearer, not finding him at home, delivered the summons  to the cavalier's brother." " Who, after reading it  gave the bearer in reply a good thrashing." " Precisely!" "From what I have heard, these are matters I know nothing of." "The modest excuses of you Fathers!" "Come, we know very well that you did not enter the world with a cowl on your head." "I have already excused myself by saying  that I do not understand the matter." " Poor excuses!" " We must have your sentence!" " Of course!" "Since you wish it, my humble opinion is that there   should be neither challenges, bearers, nor blows!" "Pardon me, Father, but this is too bad." "I see you know nothing of the world." "He?" "He knows it, cousin, as well as you." "Isn't that true, Father?" "Tell them that you have not already done your worst." "Signor Podestà, and gentlemen, a toast to the Count Duke!" "Very good!" " Bring wine for the Friar!" " Please!" "Long live Don Gasparo Guzman, Duke of Olivares, Count of San Lucar  grand Private of the King, Don Philip the Great, our Sovereign!" "Long live the Count!" "At your command, Father!" "With your leave." "How can I obey you?" "I come to propose you an act of justice, to supplicate a deed of mercy." "Some men of bad character have made use of the name of your illustrious Lordship  to alarm a poor curate, and to dissuade him from performing his duty  and to oppress two innocent persons." " Well?" "You can confound them by a word, and relieve those who are wronged." "Your conscience..." "If it takes my fancy to listen to a priest  I know well enough to visit the church, just like everyone else." "You will be good enough to talk of my conscience when I ask advice about it." "God bestows upon you a token of His mercy, by sending His minister  though indeed a poor and unworthy one, but His minister  to intercede for an innocent..." " In short, Father, I don't know what you mean." "I can only suppose there must be some young girl... you are concerned about." "Make confidants of whom you please  but don't have the assurance to annoy a gentleman any longer." "I am concerned for her, it is true, but not more than for yourself." "There are two souls who concern me more than my own life, Don Rodrigo." "Do not keep a poor innocent in anguish and in terror." "One word from you will do all." "Since you seem to think I can do so much for this person  since you are so much interested for her..." " Well?" "Advise her to come and put herself under my protection, in my house." "She shall want for nothing, and no one shall dare molest her  as I am a gentleman." " Your protection?" "!" "Woe be to you that you have thus spoken, you have filled up the measure  and I no longer fear you." " How are you speaking to me, friar?" "!" "I speak as to one who is forsaken by God  and who can no longer excite fear." "Your protection?" "Your house?" "!" "A curse is suspended over it!" "Listen what I predict to you." "A day will come..." "Get out of my sight, rash villain!" "Cowled rascal!" "You treat me me like an equal!" "But thank the cassock that covers your cowardly shoulders  for saving you from the caresses that such scoundrels as you should receive!" "Depart with sound limbs, for this once!" "Cousin, you want to play the politician but I understand all." " This friar has converted you." " A mere fancy of your own!" "What a fine sight it will be to see you quite penitent, with downcast eyes!" "And what triumph for this Father!" "How proud they will all be of him  in fact, I can hear them now:" ""In a certain part of this work, which from motives of respect we forbear to name..."" ""... there lived a cavalier, the friend of women rather than of good men..."" ""... who, accustomed to make no distinctions, had set his eyes upon..."" ""... a graceful maiden, Lucia." "And, certain that she would be his..."" ""... made a bet with his cousin..."" " Enough!" " If you wish to repeat the wager, I am ready!" " Either way, you shall pay soon." " All the saints in the calendar will pass before..." " We shall see!" "Griso!" "Griso!" "We shall see." " Illustriousness." " Griso!" "Before tomorrow, Lucia must be in this palace!" "But, above all, be sure you do her no harm." "I could not pluck a flower from its stalk, and bring it to your lordship  without touching it." "But I will do no more than is necessary." "Well, that young Renzo had left the house just now." " And the women?" " They are still in the house." " Doing what?" " When I went in pretending to be a beggar, the girl was crying." "But I got a good look at the house." "There is a court-yard with a fig tree on one side  and next to the fig tree the wall is easy enough to climb over." "They are sleeping." "You and you, with me!" "You, stay here, at the ready!" "There is no one here." "Quick, follow me." "It's empty!" "Curse them!" "There is no one here." "Some traitorous dog must have been acting as spy." " Aunt Agnese!" " Quiet!" "Move!" "Aunt Agnese!" "Aunt Agnese!" "Aunt Agnese!" " Quiet, or you're dead!" " Help!" " Stop him!" " What shall we do now?" " We shall wait for them to return." " ....22, 23, 24 and 25." "Do you understand me?" " Yes, yes." " And you?" " If he understands... then so do I." "Then go!" "Come, come!" "No, Renzo." "It is all confusion, it is not perfectly honest." " Will you fail me now?" " What if the curate doesn't approve?" "It doesn't matter, just as long as he is there, with two witnesses." "But why didn't this plan come into Father Cristoforo's mind?" "Why?" "Why?" "Because, well, the friars think it not exactly a proper thing." "No, Renzo." "We didn't begin so." "I wish to be your wife, but in the right way  in the fear of God, at the alter." "Have we not done like all good Christians?" "Whose fault is it, if we are not yet husband and wife?" "What good do you wish me?" "What proof have you given me?" "Haven't I begged, begged?" "And you say: "No, no, no!"" "If you do not wish it, I shall put an end to it!" "For heaven's sake, Renzo, do not speak this way!" "Do not look so furious!" "I cannot bear to see you thus." "I will come." "Carneades..." "Who was he?" "But whoever was he?" "Signor Curate!" "Tonio is outside, he says he is here to pay that debt." "At this hour?" "What would you have?" "No consideration, but if you don't take him now..." "Let him come in." " Are you quite sure it is he?" " Of course!" "I am coming down!" " Oh, Mother!" " Courage!" "It is but a moment, like drawing a tooth." "Go in!" "Go in!" " Good evening, Perpetua." " Agnese?" "!" " Where are you coming from at this hour?" " From Pescarenico." "And if you knew, I've been kept late just for you sake." "What for?" "Go in, I'll follow." " What for?" " What for?" "What for?" "Because, a gossiping woman who knows nothing about the matter..." "Would you believe it?" "... persists in saying that you were not married to Beppo Suolavecchia  nor to Anselmo Lunghigna, because they wouldn't have you!" "I maintained that you had refused both one and the other." "Oh, what a false-tongued woman!" "Who is she?" "Don't ask me, I don't want to make mischief." "But you must tell me!" "I say, she's a false body!" "You cannot think how vexed I was that I didn't know the whole history..." "The Signor Curate will say that it is very late." " Certainly." "Don't you know I am ill?" " I am very sorry for it." "You must have heard I was ill, and didn't know whether to see me." "Why have you brought this boy with you?" "For company, Signor Curate." "There are 25 new berlinghe, with the figure of Saint Ambrose on horseback." "Now, Signor Curate, perhaps we should put it in black and white..." "How suspicious the world has become!" "You do not trust me..." "Of course I trust you, Signor Curate." "But as my name  is in your black books, on the debtor's side  then, since you have had the trouble of writing once  so, from life to death..." "Now, you will be content..." "Signor Curate, in the presence of these witnesses, this is my wife..." " And this is..." " Stop!" "Perpetua!" "Perpetua!" "Help!" "Treachery!" "Out!" "Everyone out!" "Open!" "Open!" "Lucia!" "Help!" "Ambrogio!" "Ambrogio!" "My God!" "What is it?" "What's the matter?" "Let's go!" "Quick, daggers in readiness!" " What's the matter?" " There's a fire." " A fire!" " What's going on?" " Thieves!" "Thieves!" " What is it?" " The bell is ringing!" " Fire!" " Thieves!" "Aunt Agnese!" "Aunt Agnese!" "Where are you going?" " There are devils in your house!" " What?" " Yes!" "They wanted to murder me!" "Go to the convent, Father Cristoforo is waiting." " Even you, Renzo, go with them." " Yes, let us go." "Signor Curate!" " Why did you leave me alone in this confusion?" " Go on, go on!" "Who is in there?" "Hey, Signor Curate!" " What has happened?" " What have they done to you?" " Who are they?" " Where are they now?" "There's nobody here now." "Thank you." "Please return to your homes." "But who has been here?" "Bad people, people who go about by night." "But they are gone, go home again." "There is no longer anything." "Another time, my children." "I thank you for your kindness." "This village is no longer safe for you." "This is why I have thought of a refuge for you." "Be brave, Lucia." "In the convent of Monza you will be far from every danger." "And you, Renzo, as soon as you arrive in Milan  take this letter to Father Bonaventura." " He will guide you and find you work." " Yes, Father." "Before you go, let us pray all together that the Lord  may be with you on this journey, and for ever." "We beseech Thee, Lord  also, for the unhappy person  who has brought us to this." "He is Thine enemy!" "Alas, wretched man!" "He is striving with Thee!" "Have mercy on him, O Lord." "Touch his heart." "Now go, my children, you have no time to lose." "There on the shore of the lake you will see a boat waiting." "Say: "Boat", you will be asked: "For whom?" And you must reply: "San Francesco."" "On the other side you will find a cart waiting." "Now go." "Thank you, Father." " God defend you, his angel go with you." " Let us go." "What are you looking at?" "My home  your home, Renzo." "Do not cry." "My heart tells me that we will meet again soon." "That's right throw another one away!" "You good-for-nothing child!" "I'm not throwing them away, they're falling themselves!" " Think yourself lucky I can't smack you!" " What is going on, good woman?" " Is this the land of plenty?" " Today there's bread for everyone!" "My friends, what are you doing here?" "Go home, go home!" "We don't wish to do you any harm, but go home!" " Make them give way." " We want bread!" " This is the sheriff!" " Open up!" "You, inside!" "Thieves!" "Silence!" "Silence!" "Justice, my friends!" "You have time, return to your houses." "You shall have bread, but this is not the way to get it." "Down with the bakery, they're hiding our bread!" "You Milanese, who are talked of all over the world for peaceableness!" "You have always been..." "Scoundrel!" "Arrest him!" "Close the gate!" "With these we shall nail the vicar to his own door!" "For shame!" "Would you rob the executioner of his business?" "Murder a Christian!" "Ah, the dog!" "He is a servant of the superintendent, dressed like a peasant!" " He is a spy!" " A spy!" "Here is the ladder!" "Let us pass!" "Long live Ferrer!" "The friend of poor people!" "He is a gentleman!" "He comes for justice!" "Yes, my friends, you will have bread and abundance." " Long live Ferrer!" " Long live Ferrer!" "Long live Ferrer!" " Is this the Ferrer who helps with proclamations?" " Yes, the high chancellor!" " He is a worthy man, isn't he?" " More than that!" "It is he who had fixed bread at a low price and they wouldn't have it so." "Now he is come to take the superintendent prisoner, who has not dealt justice." "Long live Ferrer!" " Go on, Pedro, if you can!" " I can, Sir!" "Forward, quickly but carefully!" " Long live Ferrer!" " Make way!" "Make way!" "Long live Ferrer!" "He is a worthy man!" "Long live Ferrer!" "Back!" "Back!" "Long live Ferrer!" "Yes, a little room, please." "Abundance, I promise you!" "I am here to take him to prison, and give him just punishment." "If he be guilty..." "The bakers are protected by the Court of Provision." " It is them!" "It's their fault!" " They are all rogues!" " They are the guilty ones!" " Death to those who starve us!" "Death to the Court of Provision!" "Yes!" "To death!" "Yes!" "Yes, gentlemen!" "He shall be punished!" "I will conduct him to prison." "Yes!" "If he be guilty..." "Yes, justice!" "To the castle, to prison, under my guard..." "It is to coax them." "I say this for your good." "We are almost out of danger." "Courage!" "Yet there are other iniquities besides this of bread!" " Don't I say right, my good sirs?" " It is too true!" "So I say, we must cure these grievances, so that the world may be Christian again." " It is true." " Yes." " Yes." "We should go to Ferrer for help, for he is a worthy man." "We saw today how glad he was to be amongst the poor, was he not?" "Listen to a mountaineer:" "They are all advocates." " Goodbye, and until tomorrow." " Where?" " At the square of the Cathedral." " Something will be done." " Yes, something will be done." " Goodbye." " Until tomorrow." "We should return home." "Which of these gentleman will direct me to the local Capuchin Convent?" " In Porta Orientale." " I can show you the way, young man." " Thank you kindly." " Ah, it is nothing." " Goodbye." "One hand washes the other, does it not?" "Must we not serve our neighbour?" "Not out of curiosity about your doings, but you seem tired." " Where do you come from?" " I come as far as from Lecco." " You're from Lecco?" " Yes, that is, from the area." "From what I have gathered, you seem to have been badly treated." "I was obliged to speak rather carefully, so as not to publish my affairs to the world." " Behold the bread of providence!" " And at a low price!" "I should not like you to think ill of me." "I did not steal it, I found it on the ground." "If I could find its owner, I am ready to pay him for it." "If I were ruling, I would find a way of making things right." " How would you do?" " I would have bread for all: for poor as well as rich." "Ah, so far well!" "To me, for example, they should give a note of this kind:" ""Ambrogio Fusella, a sword-cutler by trade, with a wife and 4 children."" ""Let them have so much bread, and pay so many pence."" "You, we will suppose, ought to have a note for... your name?" " Lorenzo Tramaglino." " Very well!" "But, have you a wife and children?" "I ought, indeed... to soon for children, but a wife..." "If the world went as it ought!" "If it wasn't for certain rogues..." "One day soon, I shall..." " What treachery is this?" " No more talk, come with us!" "Where?" "Release me!" " I have done nothing wrong!" " That's enough!" "Traitor, I'm an honest man!" "Go quickly and quietly, otherwise you shall not be set free!" " Help!" " Pull it tight!" "Have patience, they are mere formalities." "An hour hence you will be set at liberty  and no one will know that you have been in the hands of justice." "Let's go!" "Go straightforward, without a fuss." "As though we are out for a stroll." " What the devil..." " Let's go and see." " What happened?" " He is a dissolute fellow  a thief taken in the act!" "They are carrying me off because I shouted "Bread and justice!"" "I've done nothing, I am an honest man." "Help me!" "Do not abandon me, friends!" "I am an honest man!" "Do not abandon me!" "Escape!" "Escape!" "Run!" "Run!" " What's all this stir?" " You ugly raven!" "Get out of here!" "Oste!" " Good evening, Sir." " Who do you have staying here?" " The list of the guests!" " No one comes here anymore." "Fedele Scarmio." "He is a trader from Pavia, I've known him for years." "Zaccaria Pinto." "A person of spotless integrity!" "We seek a young man by the name of Lorenzo Tramaglino." " He is not here." " You have been warned." "If he arrives here, you know what to do!" "Halt!" " Where are you headed?" " To Liscate, we are from there." " Your names?" " Girolamo Paruta, and this is  my son Domenico and my cousin Antonio." "Antonio Rivolta, at your service." " Go on." " Thank you." " Go!" " We made it." "Take my advice: do not dwell among the Milanese  by now they will have your name in their books and will find you." "Go to sleep!" "I will drop you off next to the Adda, and the start of the Venetian states." "Once you make it to the Bergamo side of the river, you're safe." "My cousin Bortolo lives in Bergamo, he works there too." " He has invited me often..." " Well then, that's a start!" "One moment!" "May I pay you to ferry me to the other side?" "Very well." "There." "And good luck!" " Here." " Thank you." "Calm your soul, my child, I will return soon." "Father Cristoforo will help us and bring us news." "Renzo is a good young man, he can't have done such a thing." "Mother I want to believe you, but the portress said his name." "Who knows what they have against him?" "Who knows where he is now?" " Oh, Mother, come back soon." " Yes, please do not worry." "Here you are safe." "The Reverend Mother will look after you." " Farewell, my child." " Farewell, Mother." "Lucia  she is waiting for you." " Yes." "It is a sack, not a dress!" "Go away!" "And learn to dress as a person of condition  and not as the wretch you are!" " Please..." " Quiet, you!" " Reverend Mother, you said that..." "You are very ready to speak without being spoken to!" "You called for me?" "Return to your work." " Has your mother left?" " Yes, Ma'am." "Off you go, you must be tired." "Go to sleep now, my children." " Yes, Reverend Mother." " Yes, Ma'am." "Come, Lucia, do not be sad." "Your mother shall soon return." " And with good news." " May the Lord will it!" " So, you are very much in love?" " Reverend Mother..." "Lucia, I have taken your case to heart." "Worry not  that cavalier can do you no harm while you are here." "I would rather die than fall into his hands." "Then he is a monster, a monster who is feared by all." "What are you waiting for, Cousin?" "I have turned Milan upside-down for you!" "My uncle has managed  to get all the friars from Pescarenico to Rimini on our side!" "That boy Renzo is out of the picture, now that the law are after him." "The old woman has gone home, so the girl is alone." "Alone, but in a convent." "And it's the convent of Monza!" "The girl is under the protection of the Princess of Leyva  the daughter of a Spanish Governor." " It has become too risky." " It seems to me as though you are afraid." "This humiliation will fall on our entire family, you know." "If the convent of Monza is a bone too hard even for your teeth  perhaps you can ask for help." "From who?" "From he who just passed." "He?" "In all of Milan there is not a gentleman more feared than he  yet I do not doubt that we may intimidate even him." "It is an idea..." "Egidio!" "Why did you call to see me?" "I have already told you everything." "Yes, but I cannot do it!" "The Lord will forgive us for all the bad we have done!" "We should not add weight to our sins!" "I have already told you, this is not up for debate." "I have given my word to someone, and cannot take it back now." "But she is just an innocent girl!" "I cannot!" "I am already damned!" "I am already damned!" "Leave me be, please!" "Leave me be!" "I will become kind, and when these thoughts come to torment me  I will close my eyes and say:" "... "At least for this I have done well."" "You must obey me!" "You must!" "Egidio!" "Egidio!" "At the convent, you are to tell the friar that he must come to me!" "But what shall I say to the portress, who has never seen me go out  and will ask where I am going?" " Do not let her see you  or tell her that you are going to the Church of Saint Antonio  where you have vowed to offer up some prayers." "Go!" "Go!" " May the Lord help me." " Go!" "Listen, Lucia!" "Ma'am?" "Nothing, nothing!" "Do all that I have told you and then return." "Yes, Ma'am." "Help!" "Help!" "Go!" "Help!" "Help me!" "Quiet!" "Quiet, and we shall do you no harm!" "END OF PART ONE" "PART TWO" " On with you!" " No!" " Silence!" "Walk!" " Let's go!" "Walk!" " Help!" "Close that door!" "Walk!" "Everything exactly right!" "The girl in time, nobody on the spot, only one scream!" "The horses swift, and nobody met with!" "I don't want her in the house!" "Mount your horse, take a companion - two, if you like  and ride away, till you reach this Don Rodrigo's palace, and tell him to send..." "But immediately, otherwise..." "Go!" "No!" "Go and take some rest, you may leave tomorrow morning." "You too, go!" "Oh, Signor..." "Get up." "I mean you no harm." "Get up!" "Who are you?" "What do you want with me?" "Where am I?" "What have I done to you?" "Why make me suffer the agonies of hell?" " Perhaps they have treated you badly?" " Why have they seized me?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I?" "What have I done?" "I am a poor, harmless girl." "In the name of God!" "God..." "God!" "Always God!" "They who cannot defend themselves  must always bring forth this God, as if they had spoken to him." "What do you expect by this word?" "To scare me?" "Oh Signor, expect!" "What can a girl like me expect?" "They have seized me by treachery, brought me here by force." "You, who can give the command, bid them let me go!" "Let me return to my mother!" "God pardons so many sins for one deed of mercy." "Let me go!" "Let me go!" "Oh, Signor..." "Most holy Virgin, thou who has borne away so many sorrows  and who has so often comforted me, help me!" "Bring me out of this danger!" "Bring me safely to my mother!" "And I shall renounce my Renzo forever  my poor thing  so that I belong to none but you." ""Ave Maria, Gratia plena, Dominus tecum..."" ""..." "Benedicta tu in mulieribus..."" ""... et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus."" ""Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora pro nobis peccatoribus..."" ""...nunc et in hora mortis nostrae." "Amen."" "Shall thou not sleep, Signor?" "Where is that rabble headed?" "They go to meet the Cardinal Borromeo, who has just arrived at Chiuso." "For a man!" "Everybody eager, everybody joyful, at the sight of a man!" "What has this man about him to make so many people merry?" "Some pennies to distribute among them?" "No, not all of them go for charity." "Each has his own demon that torments him." "Leave me!" "See him in." "But your illustrious Lordship must surely be aware who he is  that outlaw, that famous..." " See him in." "His Grace waits for your Lordship." "What a welcome visit is this!" "And how thankful I ought to be to you for taking such a step  although it may convey to me a little reproof." "Reproof?" "Certainly, for it might and ought to have been myself visiting you." "Visiting me?" "You?" "Do you know who I am?" " Did they deliver in my name rightly?" " And the happiness I feel  do you think I should feel it at the announcement and visit of a stranger?" "It is you, you, whom I have at least loved and wept over  you, among all my children, for each one I love with all my heart  whom I should most have desired to receive and embrace." "You have good news to tell me." "Good news?" "I have hell in my heart." "Tell me, if you know, what good news you can expect from such as I am?" "Not I." " That God has touched your heart." " God!" "If this be God, if He be such as they say  what do you suppose He can do with me?" "A token of His power and goodness." "You would bring him glory  if you only rise up and condemn your past life, and become your own accuser." "No, no!" "Suffer me!" "Suffer me to press the hand  which will repair so many wrongs, comfort so many afflicted." "How many, how many..." "But, at least, one there is which I can quickly undo and repair." "Then you are indeed blessed!" "This is an earnest of God's forgiveness!" "She is a poor young girl that my men abducted yesterday  from a convent in Monza." "The Archbishop may think differently, but I would not have received such a man." " What say you?" " They are our superiors, they are always in the right." ""The wolf and the lamb shall feed together..."" "More than a wolf, much worse!" "Isn't that right?" " I ask nothing more than to be allowed to live." " But of course..." " Are you the Signor Curate of Olate?" " I am, but..." " His most noble and very reverend Lordship asks for you." " Me?" "!" " What can they want with me?" " I do not know..." "I was told that your most illustrious Lordship wanted me." " There must be some misunderstanding..." " There is no misunderstanding." "I have a task to impose upon you." "One of your parishioners  whom you must have lamented as lost, Lucia Mondella, is again found." "She is in the house of my good friend here  and you will go now with him, to fetch this poor creature  and accompany her here." "Yes, my Lord." "Does the mother of the girl reside in your village?" "Yes, my Lord." "Despatch a man of discretion to fetch this woman." " Had not I better go?" " No, I have already requested you do otherwise." "But it requires one who knows her nature, for she is a sensitive woman!" "No, you will do better elsewhere." "Don't think that I shall be content with this visit for today." "You will return." "Will I return?" "I am in need of you!" "Is he really so suddenly converted?" "What if some fancy should take him?" "Oh, woe is me!" "What an expedition!" "What an expedition!" "Everyone in the great hall, orders of his illustrious Lordship!" "Out!" " Leave your arms!" " What?" " Unarmed?" " What's going on?" "Hey, look!" " Forgive me!" " Oh, my Lord  God reward you for this deed of mercy." "And you, a thousand fold, for the good you do me by these words." "Go!" "Everyone take your positions, and be silent!" "I do not mean to upbraid you  I, who have been the worst of all, but listen to what I have to say." "The merciful God has called me to change my ways  and I will change them  I have already changed them." "I revoke all the wicked commands  you may have received from me." "And no one, from this day forward, shall do evil with my sanction  in my service." "He who will remain with me under these conditions  shall be to me as a son  he who does not wish to remain, shall be gifted what is due of his salary  and may go away." "But must never again set foot here  unless it be to change his ways." "And may God, who has exercised such mercy towards me  incline you to good resolutions." "Now go!" "This lady will take care of you, you are to go and live with her." "Yes." "And my mother?" " She can see you whenever she wishes." " Certainly." "The blessing of God be upon you." "It would be well if all priests were like your Lordship." "What do you mean?" "Speak freely." "That they would sometimes take the part of the poor  and not help to put them in difficulties to get themselves out." "Take, as from His hand, the sufferings you have undergone  and be of good courage." "Signor Curate." "You are to stay here." "I must speak with you." "I have received good news about Renzo!" "He has managed to escaped to the state of Veneto and is working with his cousin!" "Thank the Lord he's safe." "What?" "Aren't you happy to know that he is now safe and sound?" "Yes, Mother." "Perhaps I have not sufficiently explained myself." "I was prohibited  under pain of death, to perform this marriage." "And does this appear to you a sufficient reason for not carrying out your duty?" "I have always endeavoured to do my duty, even at very great inconvenience." "But when one's life is concerned  it is difficult to find the courage." "And when you presented yourself to the church, to receive Holy Orders  did she caution you about your life?" " I have done wrong." "I see that  but I myself saw those faces, I myself heard those words." " What could I have done?" " Must you ask me?" "Knowing your weakness  why did you not think to inform your bishop on the matter?" "Why did you not think, that if there were no other retreat open to these  betrayed innocents, I at least was ready to put them in safety." "But they won't have told you that they came treacherously to my house  to force me to contract a marriage contrary to the laws." "They did tell me, my son." "And it is this that grieves me  to see you still anxious to excuse yourself  still thinking to excuse yourself by accusing others." "My... my..." "We have both lived long." "Heaven knows if it has not been painful to grieve your grey hairs with reprimands." "God grant that the language which I have been compelled to use with you  may be of use to us both." "To that fiend, this morning, his arms around his neck  and to me, for a half-lie, uttered only to save my life.  all this fuss and noise." "It is my ill star that everybody sets upon me  even the saints." " Good evening." " Good evening." "Yes, there are 20... 30,000!" "And all from the army of Collalto." " But where are they going?" " To Mantova." "With teams from Montecuccoli and from Colloredo." "They have plundered Cortenuova  set fire to Primaluna and Ballabio." "Tomorrow they will be here!" " Is he here?" " Yes, he is here." "Ah, here's the doctor." " Where is the sick man?" " In there." "The pestilence!" "The pestilence!" "The pestilence!" "The pestilence!" "Help!" "Help!" "Away!" "Away!" "Away!" "Away!" "Quick!" "Go!" "We must burn everything!" "God, no!" "Let me go!" "No, don't take her from me yet, I must place her myself on the cart." "Take this." "Promise me not to take a thread from around her  and to lay her in the ground thus." "Farewell, Cecilia." "Rest in peace." "This evening we, too, will join you, to rest together for ever." "And you, when you pass this way in the evening  may come to fetch me too, and not me only." "Forward!" "Ambrogio!" " Ambrogio!" " Who goes there?" " Do you not recognise me?" "It is I, Renzo." " Renzo?" "Come no closer!" "Ambrogio, why is the house of Agnese boarded up?" "Agnese has gone to Valsassina, she is among her relations." "And..." "Lucia?" "She is in Milan, with Donna Prassede." "At least that's what I was told." " And the curate?" " After Perpetua died, he too left for Valsassina." " Perpetua is dead?" " Many are dead." "I have had it." "Thank Heaven I am now free of it." "Now where will you go?" "Back to Bergamo?" " I shall go to Milan." " To Milan?" "!" "Don't you fear your apprehension?" "These days they have other things to think about in Milan." "Numbers for the last week." "The region of Como: 104." "Territory of Lecco: 242." "Gera d'Adda: 396." "Monte Di Brianza: 402." "Mortara: 508." "Milan: 1,822." "A total of more than 3,000 dead." "3,000 dead?" "If the epidemic makes such frightful progress  we must take new measures." " We have tried everything." "No blame can be laid at the feet of the Health Tribunal." "If the illustrious medical examiner can tell us what measures have been taken  against the poisoners?" " The poisoners?" "!" "But they do not exist!" "How can it be that there are people who wish  to spread such a plague." "It is nothing but foolish rumour!" "The real causes of this growing scourge  are that we are unable to isolate the infected  and this terrible drought." "The canal is without water  as is the lazzeretto  that can hold only 3,000 patients yet at this moment hosts 16,000!" "The gravity of the situation has been noted." "All we can do is attempt to give the people some hope." "This is why I have urged His Eminence the Cardinal Borromeo.." "... to lead a solemn procession  bearing the body of Saint Carlo through the streets this Sunday." " Saint Carlo, help us!" " Water!" "Water!" "Saint Carlo, water!" "Blessed Saint Carlo, help us!" "Water!" "Water!" "Water!" "Signora!" "Is there a young country girl here who goes by the name of Lucia?" " She's here no longer." " One moment, for pity's sake!" " Where is she?" " At the Lazzeretto!" " At the Lazzeretto?" "!" "For the love of Heaven, do not go!" " With the pestilence?" " To be sure, something new." "Get you gone!" "Signora!" "Open up!" "Please, open up!" "Seize the poisoner!" "Seize the poisoner!" " Who?" "I!" "?" " Seize the poisoner!" "You lying old witch, hold your tongue there!" " He is a poisoner?" " Seizer the poisoner!" "Take him!" "Take him!" "He is one of those wretches who anoint the doors of gentlefolks!" " I saw him anoint that door!" " Kill him!" "Seize him!" "Rogues!" "Let him who dares come forward, come!" "I'll anoint him with this, in earnest!" "The monatti!" "The monatti!" "The pestilence!" "Bravo!" "You've come to put yourself under the protection of the monatti!" "You may reckon yourself as safe as in church!" "Long live the pestilence, and death to the rabble!" "Here, drink to our health!" "I wish it, with my whole heart, by I'm not thirsty." "Give it here!" "You've had a fine fright, then?" "A harmless creature indeed!" "You should have another face than that to be a poisoner!" " Good evening." " What's wrong, Rodrigo?" " Nothing." " How nothing?" "You were so funny at the funeral of your cousin..." " Yes." " Poor Attilio!" "All so suddenly..." "I've taken perhaps a too much to drink." "It's just the effects of wine." " Good night, my darling." " Good night." " Good night." " Good night." "Onward!" "Griso, help me!" "I am ill, Griso." "Griso..." " You have always been my trusty servant." " Yes, Signor." " I have always dealt well by you." " Of your bounty..." "Do you know where the surgeon, Chiodo, lives?" " I know very well." " He is a worthy man  and if he is well paid, he will conceal the sick." "Tell him I will give him 4..." "6 scudi per visit." "More, if he demands more." "Tell him to come here directly." "Directly!" "Ah, infamous traitor!" "Be gone, you rascals!" "Biondino!" "Carlotto!" "Quick!" "Help me!" "Help me!" "Ah, villain!" "Against the monatti!" "Against those who perform works of mercy!" "Hold him fast till we carry him off!" " Let me kill that infamous rascal!" " Be quiet, will you!" "Here, take this!" "Take him away!" "But I may still die..." "I may still die..." "Water!" "Water!" "Excuse me, could you tell me where..." "You, here?" "Oh, Father!" "How are you, Father Cristoforo?" "Better than the many poor creatures that you see." " But how is it you are here?" " I come to seek Lucia." "Lucia?" "!" " Is Lucia here?" " She is." "At least, I hope in God she may still be here." "Have you any idea whereabouts she is, or at what time she came?" "None, except that she is here." "I have looked for here all night, all day, and in every place..." "Now I shall look for her from top to bottom of the Lazzeretto." "And if I don't find her..." "If you don't find her?" "If I don't find her, I'll succeed in finding somebody else, either in Milan  of in his detestable palace, or at the end of the world!" "I'll find that rascal who separated us!" "That villain but for whom Lucia would have been mine 20 months ago!" "If we had been doomed to die  we would have at least died together." " If that fellow still lives, I'll find him!" " Renzo!" "If the plague hasn't already wrought justice, I'll get justice!" "Miserable wretch!" "Look!" "Who is He that judges?" "Dare you require that I should steal time from these poor afflicted  who are waiting for me to speak to them of the pardon of God  to listen to your words of fury, your propositions of revenge?" "If you have vengeance in your heart, begone!" "Begone!" "Oh, Father, do not send me away in this manner." "You know why I bear this habit." "You know it." "I do." "I too have hated." "And the man who I hated for so long, I murdered." " Yes, but a tyrant!" "One of those..." " Hush!" "If I could now instill into your heart the sentiment I have had since  and still have." "If I could..." "But God can..." "Believe me, Renzo, you may seek revenge, but whatever happens  whatever luck you may have, all will be punishment  until you have forgiven." "Yes." "I see now that I have spoken like a beast, and not like a Christian." "Now, by the grace of God, yes  I'll forgive him from my heart." " Renzo!" " Father Cristoforo!" " And supposing you were to see him?" " I would pray the Lord give me patience  and to touch his heart." "Well then, come with me." "You see..." "Perhaps the salvation of this man and your own depend at this moment  upon your forgiveness, your compassion, your love." "Go now, and seek your Lucia." "Seek her with faith and resignation." "Yes, Father." "Who are those?" " They are convalescents who are leaving." " They're leaving?" " Which way do they leave?" " Through that gate." "Lucia!" "Lucia!" "Renzo!" "I've found you!" "It's really you." "Oh, blessed Lord..." "Lucia!" " Renzo, why are you here?" " Why?" "Do you ask why?" "Need I say why?" "Who is there I ought think about?" "Am I no longer Renzo?" "What are you saying?" "Why did you come?" "Why?" "But Lucia, what about our promises?" "Are we no longer ourselves?" "Do you no longer remember?" "I was beginning to hope that in time you would have forgotten me  and set your heart at rest." " My heart at rest?" "Oh, you may drive this idea out of your head." "You've already had those abominable words written to me." "And now you've the heart to tell me so." "You want to forget me." "But I don't want to forget you!" "Whom do you think I have thought about for all this time?" "After so many things, promises, you treat me like this because I've suffered?" " No!" " Because I've had misfortunes?" " No!" " Because they persecuted me?" " No." "Because the first moment I could, I came to look for you?" "Lucia!" " Lucia!" " Father Cristoforo!" "Father!" "Father!" "God has sent you!" "Lucia!" "Father, tell that poor man to begone, to forget me." "Why?" "It's a vow that I made to the Madonna." "In a moment of great tribulation." "A vow?" "Yes, to not marry." "So, it is this!" "You have done this!" "Poor thing..." "My daughter, the Lord approves of sacrifices and offerings  but you could not offer him the will of another  to whom you had already pledged." " Have I done wrong?" "No, my child." "And I see no reason why God may wish you separated." "I bless Him that He has given me, unworthy as I am  the power of speaking in His name  and returning to you your plighted word." " If you request to be absolved..." " Then... then I do request you." "By the authority of the Church, I declare you absolved of your vow." "Lucia!" "Renzo!" " Lucia!" " Oh, Renzo!" "Return in security and peace to your former desires." "Pray for he who wronged you  and tell your children always to forgive, always, everything  and to pay for the poor friar." "Oh, Father." "I, who am of no service in this world, have recovered." "And you?" "It is now a long time ago since I besought the Lord  the mercy that I might end my days in the service of my fellow men." "That all those who have any love for me assist me in praising Him!" "Oh, Father, shall we see you again?" "Above, I hope." "It's raining!" "It's raining!"