Volume I Part 8 (1/2)

de Malipiero in the evening the reason for which I could not go to his house, for I did not feel any inclination to show ain

I went home and partook with my brother of a repast which appeared rather scanty in comparison to the dinners I had with the old senator

The privation of the delicate and plentiful fare to which his excellency had accustomed me was most painful, besides all the enjoyh the atrocious conduct of the virulent priest, as e was increased by the consciousness that there was in this insult a certain dash of coraceful in reatest crime

I went to bed early, and, refreshed by ten hours of profound slury, but quite as determined to summon the priest before a court I dressedupon my advocate, when I received the visit of a skilful hair-dresser whom I had seen at Madame Cantarini's house He told e o out, as the senator wished e done to my head, and said, with a smile, that if I would trust to his art, he would undertake to send ance than I could boast of before; and truly, when he had done, I found e entirely satisfied

Having thus forgotten the injury, I called upon the lawyer to tell his, and I hastened to M de Malipiero's palace, where, as chance would have it, Iallupon him rather unfriendly looks, but not a as said about what had taken place The senator noticed everything, and the priest took his leave, s of mortified repentance, for this time I most verily deserved exco hair

When my cruel Godfather had left us, I did not dissemble with M de Malipiero; I candidly told hi would induce o the length of such proceedings The wise old ht: it was the best way toeveryone in our circle, being well aware of what had happened, co could be handsohted, and was still ht had elapsed, I found that M de Malipiero did not broach the subject of randed er of a storhly at rest on that subject, M de Malipiero threwme that an excellent opportunity offered itself for me to reappear in the church and to secure ample satisfaction from the abbe

”It is my province,” added the senator, ”as president of the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament, to choose the preacher who is to deliver the sermon on the fourth Sunday of this month, which happens to be the second Christmas holiday I mean to appoint you, and I am certain that the abbe will not dare to reject my choice What say you to such a triumphant reappearance? Does it satisfy you?”

This offer causeda preacher, and I had never been vain enough to suppose that I could write a sermon and deliver it in the church I told M de Malipiero that hea joke at my expense, but he answered that he had spoken in earnest, and he soon contrived to persuade me and to make me believe that I was born to becoe as soon as I should have grown fat--a quality which I certainly could not boast of, for at that time I was extremely thin I had not the shadow of a fear as tomy sermon I felt myself equal to the production of a masterpiece

I told M de Malipiero that I was ready, and anxious to be at hoian, I was acquainted with my subject, and would compose a sermon which would take everyone by surprise on account of its novelty

On the following day, when I called upon him, he inforht at the choicethe appointment; but he likewise desired that I should submit my sermon to hi to the y he could not allowsatisfied that I would not utter any heresies I agreed to this deave birth to my masterpiece I have now that first ser that, considering ood one

I could not give an idea ofa grandson who had beco my sermon to her, listened to it with her beads in her hands, and pronounced it very beautiful M de Malipiero, who had no rosary when I read it to him, was of opinion that it would not prove acceptable to the parson My text was from Horace: 'Ploravere suis non respondere favoreratitude of n adopted by Divine wisdom for the redemption of humankind But M de Malipiero was sorry that I had taken h he was pleased that my sermon was not interlarded with Latin quotations

I called upon the priest to read my production; but as he was out I had to wait for his return, and during that tiela She was busy upon so ed me to relate the history of the locks of hair sheared by her venerable uncle

My love for Angela proved fatal totwo other love affairs which, in their turn, gave birth to a great many others, and caused me finally to renounce the Church as a profession But let us proceed quietly, and not encroach upon future events

On his return hoe, and he did not appear to be angry I gave him my sermon: he read it over, and told me that it was a beautiful academical dissertation, but unfit for a serive you a sermon written by myself, which I have never delivered; you will commit it to memory, and I promise to let everybody suppose that it is of your own composition”

”I thank you, very reverend father, but I will preach my own sermon, or none at all”

”At all events, you shall not preach such a sermon as this in my church”

”You can talk the matter over with M de Malipiero In the meantime I will take my work to the censorshi+p, and to His Eminence the Patriarch, and if it is not accepted I shall have it printed”

”All very well, young man The patriarch will coincide withI related uests of M de Malipiero The reading of my sermon was called for, and it was praised by all They laudedthe holy fathers of the Church, whoe I could not be supposed to have sufficiently studied, and the ladies particularly admired me because there was no Latin in it but the Text froreat libertine his A niece of the patriarch, as present that evening, promised to prepare her uncle in my favour, as I had expressed my intention to appeal to him; but M de Malipiero desired me not to take any steps in theday, and I submissively bowed to his wishes

When I called at his mansion the next day he sent for the priest, who soon made his appearance As he knehat he had been sent for, he i discourse, which I did not interrupt, but the moment he had concluded his list of objections I told him that there could not be tays to decide the question; that the patriarch would either approve or disapprove my sermon

”In the first case,” I added, ”I can pronounce it in your church, and no responsibility can possibly fall upon your shoulders; in the second, I ive way”

The abbe was struck by o to the patriarch; I accept your sere your text Horace was a villain”

”Why do you quote Seneca, Tertullian, Origen, and Boethius? They were all heretics, and must, consequently, be considered by you as worse wretches than Horace, who, after all, never had the chance of beco a Christian!”

However, as I saould please M de Malipiero, I finally consented to accept, as a substitute for h it did not suit in any way the spirit of et an opportunity for a visit to his niece, I gave hi that I would call for it the next day My vanity prooodthat I one mad, and that if I were allowed to deliver such a ser dishonour upon myself as well as upon the man who had educated me

I cared but little for his opinion, and on the appointed day I delivered my sermon in the Church of the Holy Sacrament in the presence of the best society of Venice I received much applause, and every one predicted that I would certainly beco ecclesiastic of fifteen had ever been known to preach as well as I had done It is custos for the preacher in a purse which is handed to them for that purpose

The sexton who emptied it of its contents found in it reat scandal of the weaker brethren An anonyuessed, let me into a mistake which I think better not to relate