Volume II Part 29 (1/2)
Her own various cares so occupied Madame Ossoli that she seemed to be very much withdrawn from the world of art. During the whole time of my stay in Florence, I do not think she once visited either of the Grand Ducal Galleries, and the only studio in which she seemed to feel any very strong interest, was that of Mademoiselle Favand, a lady whose independence of character, self-reliance, and courageous genius, could hardly have failed to attract her congenial sympathies.
But among all my remembrances of Madame Ossoli, there are none more beautiful or more enduring than those which recall to me another person, a young stranger, alone and in feeble health, who found, in her society, her sympathy, and her counsels, a constant atmosphere of comfort and of peace. Every morning, wild-flowers, freshly gathered, were laid upon her table by the grateful hands of this young man; every evening, beside her seat in her little room, his mild, pure face was to be seen, bright with a quiet happiness, that must have bound his heart by no weak ties to her with whose fate his own was so closely to be linked.
And the recollection of such benign and holy influences breathed upon the human hearts of those who came within her sphere, will not, I trust, be valueless to those friends, in whose love her memory is enshrined with more immortal honors than the world can give or take away.
[Footnote A: Just before I left Florence, Madame Ossoli showed me a small marble figure of a child, playing among flowers or vine leaves, which, she said, was a portrait of the child of Madame Arconati, presented to her by that lady. I mention this circ.u.mstance, because I have understood that a figure answering this description was recovered from the wreck of the Elizabeth.]
[Footnote B: The circ.u.mstances of this story, perhaps, deserve to be recorded. The brothers were two young men, the sons and the chief supports of Madame Ossoli's landlord at Rieti. They were both married,--the younger one to a beautiful girl, who had brought him no dowry, and who, in the opinion of her husband's family, had not shown a proper disposition to bear her share of the domestic burdens and duties. The bickerings and disputes which resulted from this state of affairs, on one unlucky day, took the form of an open and violent quarrel. The younger son, who was absent from home when the conflict began, returned to find it at its height, and was received by his wife with pa.s.sionate tears, and by his relations with sharp recriminations.
His brother, especially, took it upon himself to upbraid him, in the name of all his family, for bringing into their home-circle such a firebrand of discord. Charges and counter charges followed in rapid succession, and hasty words soon led to blows. From blows the appeal to the knife was swiftly made, and when Madame Ossoli, attracted by the unusual clamor, entered upon the scene of action, she found that blood had been already drawn, and that the younger brother was only restrained from following up the first a.s.sault by the united force of all the females, who hung about him, while the older brother, grasping a heavy billet of wood, and pale with rage, stood awaiting his antagonist. Pa.s.sing through the group of weeping and terrified women, Madame Ossoli made her way up to the younger brother and, laying her hand upon his shoulder, asked him to put down his weapon and listen to her. It was in vain that he attempted to ignore her presence. Before the spell of her calm, firm, well-known voice, his fury melted away.
She spoke to him again, and besought him to show himself a man, and to master his foolish and wicked rage. With a sudden impulse, he flung his knife upon the ground, turned to Madame Ossoli, clasped and kissed her hand, and then running towards his brother, the two met in a fraternal embrace, which brought the threatened tragedy to a joyful termination.]
[Footnote C: It will be understood, that this officer was the Marchese's older brother, who still adheres to the Papal cause.]
[Footnote D: She believed herself to be, and I suppose really was, under the surveillance of the police during her residence in Florence.]
HOMEWARD.
BY W.H. CHANNING
Last, having thus revealed all I could love And having received all love bestowed on it, I would die: so preserving through my course G.o.d full on me, as I was full on men: And He would grant my prayer--”I have gone through All loveliness of life; make more for me, If not for men,--or take me to Thyself, Eternal, Infinite Love!”
BROWNING.
Till another open for me In G.o.d's Eden-land unknown, With an angel at the doorway, White with gazing at His Throne; And a saint's voice in the palm-trees, singing,--”ALL IS LOST, and _won_.”
ELIZABETH BARRETT.
La ne venimmo: e lo scaglion primaio Bianco marmo era si pulito e terso, Ch'io mi specchiava in esso, qual io paio.
Era 'l secondo tinto, piu che perso, D'una petrina ruvida ed arsiccia, Crepata per lo lungo e per traverso.
Lo terzo, che di sopra s'amma.s.siccia, Porfido mi parea si fiammegiante, Come sangue che fuor di vena spiccia.
Sopra questa teneva ambo le piante L' angel di Dio, sedendo in su la soglia, Che mi sembiava pietra di diamante.
Per li tre gradi su di buona voglia Mi tra.s.se 'l daca mio, dicendo, chiodi Umilmente che 'l serrame scioglia.
DANTE.
Che luce e questa, e qual nuova beltate?
Dicean tra lor; perch' abito si adorno Dal mondo errante a quest 'alto soggiorno Non sail mai in tutta questa etate.