Volume II Part 11 (1/2)
Just about this time I had planned and partly executed a new comedy, which afterwards obtained a _succes de scandale_ under the title of _Le Droghe d'Amore_[52] The dust stirred up by this innocent piece in three acts obliges th into the circumstances which attended its composition and production
Everybody is aware that, after the long series of e, I thought fit to change my manner, and adapted several Spanish dra me bundles of Spanish plays I turned them over, and selected those which see the bare skeleton and ground-plot of these pieces, I worked theue, and an improved conduct of the action, to suit the requirements of the Italian theatre A whole array of dramas--the _Donna Innamorata_, the _Donna Vendicativa_, the _Donna Elvira_, the _Notti Affannose_, the _Fratelli Nireto_, the _Moro di Corpo Bianco_, the _Metafisico_, and the _Bianca di Melfi_, all of which issued from my pen, attest the truth of these remarks[53] I need say no more about them, because the prefaces hich I sent them to the press have sufficiently informed the public
In pursuance of this plan, then, I had been working up Tirso da Molina's piece, entitled _Zelos cuhe d'Aress, and had even laid aside theit, like scores of other abortive pieces, to the waste-paper basket It so happened that after Christmas in this year, 1775, I was laid up with a tedious attack of rheumatism, which threatened to pass over into putrid fever, and which confined nora Ricci kept up a this illness; and even after Carnival began, she and her husband used to spend their spare evenings atconvalescence included the patrician Paolo Balbi, Doctor Andrea Conor Raffaelle Todeschini, nor Michele Molinari, and an occasional actor fro occupation for he d'Arain, however, for the piece see and to want life There is so much improbability in the plots of Spanish dramas that all the arts of rhetoric and eloquence have to be employed in order to convey an appearance of reality to the action This tends to prolixity, and I felt that my unfinished piece was particularly faulty in that respect It was divided into three acts, and I had brought the dialogue down to the middle of the third Little as I liked it, the fancy took me to see what ily, I read it aloud one evening to Teodora Ricci, nor Molinari They were interested beyondit aside The _priest terentlemen I have just named can bear witness to the sincerity of my coldness for this play, which afterwards, by a succession of accidents, cale individual
Sonora Ricci asked nor Piero Antonio Gratarol, secretary to the Senate
I answered that I did not know him, which was the simple truth I added, however, that he had been pointed out to ait, and costume struck me as very different frorave Venetian Senate
”Yet I have heard hience”
”He has a great respect for you,” said she ”I aood opinion,” I replied ”I think hi,” she went on, ”and I also think him a man of honour” ”So far as I a to the contrary, unless it be his unfortunate notoriety for what is now called gallantry” There was noto as universally talked about, and had even coive a hint to ossip, which I soon discovered to be too late for any service Having spoken, I i: ”I do not deny that externals may expose afanor Gratarol, I neither affirm nor deny what is commonly voiced abroad about him” ”He is elected ambassador to Naples,”
she continued, ”and I am anxious to appear upon a theatre in that capital He may be of the utoing to Paris?” ”I must try,” she replied, ”to make my fortune where and how I can” ”Do as you like,” I answered, and turned the conversation upon other topics
It was clear toillness, the Ricci had struck up a friendshi+p with this Signor Gratarol, and that she was beating about the bush to bring us together at her house She had not forgotten my determination to cut short my daily visits if she received attentions from a man of fashi+on and pleasure I, for nor Gratarol anywhere but in the dwelling of the actress I had protected and publicly acknowledged for the last five years
It now became my fixed resolve to procrastinate until the end of the Carnival, avoiding the scandal which would ensue from a sudden abandon and summer tour, I determined to drop our correspondence by letter, and toof distant civility Events proved how useless it was to form any such plans with reference to a wo iainst my doctor's advice, and found myself much the better for a ed me to seek my accustomed recreation in the small rooms behind the scenes of the theatre There I elcoht by all the members of the company But, much to my surprise, and in spite of Sacchi's usual strictness with regard to visitors, I found Signor Gratarol installed in the green-roo a cri candied citrons and Neapolitan bonbons[55] right and left He very politely offered irl, on whos are well bestowed I thanked hiood care to utter no remarks upon the novelty of his appearance in that place
I have already nora Ricci's removal to a lonely quarter of the town had exposed her to ested that she was laying herself out for clandestine visits and company which compromised her reputation I went to see her still, but not every day as formerly, and always at tinor Gratarol He uest behind the scenes of the theatre
In order to cast dust in my eyes, and not to lose the support ofto the good-breeding and excellent behaviour of her new friend He treated her with the respect due to a queen, she said, and greatly regretted that he was never fortunate enough to find nor Gratarol would indeed have been delighted to aallantry, his ossip to rely on Anyhow, I responded to her suggestions in terentleh nobody else would believe it You know ly assu yourself to fresh calunor Gratarol, lad to enter into social relations anywhere but under your roof You must have observed that I treat hiether behind the scenes It is inorant of the open friendshi+p I have professed for you during five whole years All Venice knows it I desire nothing more than that he should continue to treat you like a queen, as you say he does But since I do not seek to oppose your liberty of action, I trust that you will not be so indiscreet as to impose conditions on my freedonor Gratarol is known only to her and him She was exasperated, and I do not think the picture she drew ofProbably I was described as weakly jealous:--jealous, however, I had never been of other admirers, who did not compromise me in my intimacy with this actress
A feeeks were left of the Carnival, when, entering the snor Gratarol as usual there He addressed me courteously: ”Count, Sacchi here and Fiorelli and Zannoni have been invited to eat a pheasant with me at my casino at S Mose I hardly venture to invite you also; yet knowing the kindly feeling you have for these persons, and the pleasure you take in their company, if you were disposed to join our party, I should esteem it an honour” The invitation could not have been uests had been named, I saw no reason to refuse I added, however, that the state ofwith certainty upon the pleasure he offered; anyhow, reat loss to his party After a few co Ifroent need of ue Sacchi began:--
”A short tiht at the house of a patrician, the President of the Supreme Tribunal[56] He took me aside and said: 'Such and such a noble last night about the theatres; in the course of his remarks he let these words fall:--I do not kno it is that Sacchi, who has the reputation ofa few confidential friends to appear behind the scenes of his theatre, should receive secretaries of the Senate openly and every night in the green-rooentleman continued, 'do not tell any one that I have reported these words; uard' You see, sir, that the colect it rashly, I shall find myself in difficulties I confess that I am puzzled, and come to you for counsel”
”You have chosen an inappropriate adviser in this affair,” I answered
”You are the master in your own theatre, and have always been severe upon the point in question Why did not you civilly put a stop to the irregularity before it assu an aspect? I was a wholeto nor Gratarol installed, and hail-felloell-met with everybody At any rate, it would not have befitted me to make remarks upon the sort of people you admitted”
”I did not introduce the ht his visit ain, I made inquiries; and the whole troupe assured me with ironical malice that he came in the company of the Ricci, was introduced by her, and only came on her account”
”That makes it still more difficult for me to advise you,” I replied
”Yet I think I nor Gratarol to be indiscreet If you inforh Mme
Ricci, what has been reported to you, I aain”
”I a is brusque, passionate, and aard Pray do me the kindness to speak to Ricci”
”Excuse me,” said I; ”I do not undertake commissions of this kind, and have no wish to be mixed up hat only concerns you”
”Nay, I beseech you to do me this kindness!” exclaimed Sacchi once more