the memories of casanova 141

the memories of casanova 141

"And supposing the news vexes her?"

 

"So much the better. Will you do it for me? it's the first favour I have

asked of you."

 

"I promise to do so."

 

After this rapid dialogue we took breakfast, and then, perfectly agreed,

we went to bed, rather as if we were about to sacrifice to Hymen than to

love.

 

The game was new to Barberine, and her transports, her green notions--

which she told me openly--her inexperience, or rather her awkwardness,

enchanted me. I seemed for the first time to pluck the fruit of the tree

of knowledge, and never had I tasted fruit so delicious. My little maid

would have been ashamed to let me see how the first thorn hurt her, and

to convince me that she only smelt the rose, she strove to make me think

she experienced more pleasure than is possible in a first trial, always

more or less painful. She was not yet a big girl, the roses on her

swelling breasts were as yet but buds, and she was a woman only in her

heart.

 

After more than one assault delivered and sustained with spirit, we got

up for dinner, and after we had refreshed ourselves we mounted once more

the altar of love, where we remained till the evening. Laura found us

dressed and well pleased with each other on her return. I made Barberine

another present of twenty sequins, I swore to love her always, and went

on my way. At the time I certainly meant to keep to my oath, but that

which destiny had in store for me could not be reconciled with these

promises which welled forth from my soul in a moment of excitement.

 

The next morning Righelini took me to see the lodging he had spoken to

me about. I liked it and took it on the spot, paying the first quarter

in advance. The house belonged to a widow with two daughters, the elder

of whom had just been blooded. Righelini was her doctor, and had treated

her for nine months without success. As he was going to pay her a visit

I went in with him, and found myself in the presence of a fine waxen

statue. Surprise drew from me these words:

 

"She is pretty, but the sculptor should give her some colour."

 

On which the statue smiled in a manner which would have been charming if

her lips had but been red.

 

"Her pallor," said Righelini, "will not astonish you when I tell you she

has just been blooded for the hundred and fourth time."

 

I gave a very natural gesture of surprise.

 

This fine girl had attained the age of eighteen years without

experiencing the monthly relief afforded by nature, the result being

that she felt a deathly faintness three or four times a week, and the

only relief was to open the vein.

 

"I want to send her to the country," said the doctor, "where pure and

wholesome air, and, above all, more exercise, will do her more good than

all the drugs in the world."

 

After I had been told that my bed should be made ready by the evening, I

went away with Righelini, who told me that the only cure for the girl

would be a good strong lover.

 

"But my dear doctor," said I, "can't you make your own prescription?"

 

"That would be too risky a game, for I might find myself compelled to

marry her, and I hate marriage like the devil."

 

Though I was no better inclined towards marriage than the doctor, I was

too near the fire not to get burnt, and the reader will see in the next

chapter how I performed the miraculous cure of bringing the colours of

health into the cheeks of this pallid beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXV

 

 

The Fair Invalid I Cure Her--A Plot Formed to Ruin Me--What Happened at

the House of the Young Countess Bonafede--The Erberia--Domiciliary

Visit--My Conversation with M. de Bragadin--I Am Arrested by Order of

the State Inquisitors.

 

After leaving Dr. Righelini I went to sup with M. de Bragadin, and gave

the generous and worthy old man a happy evening. This was always the

case; I made him and his two good friends happy whenever I took meals

with them.

 

Leaving them at an early hour, I went to my lodging and was greatly

surprised to find my bedroom balcony occupied. A young lady of an

exquisite figure rose as soon as she saw me, and gracefully asked me

pardon for the liberty she had taken.

 

"I am," she said, "the statue you saw this morning. We do not light the

candles in the evening for fear of attracting the gnats, but when you

want to go to bed we will shut the door and go away. I beg to introduce

you to my younger sister, my mother has gone to bed."

 

I answered her to the effect that the balcony was always at her service,

and that since it was still early I begged their permission to put on my

dressing-gown and to keep them company. Her conversation was charming;

she made me spend two most delightful hours, and did not leave me till

twelve o'clock. Her younger sister lighted me a candle, and as they went

they wished me a good night.

 

I lay down full of this pretty girl, and I could not believe that she

was really ill. She spoke to the point, she was cheerful, clever, and

full of spirits. I could not understand how it came to pass that she had

not been already cured in a town like Venice, if her cure was really

only to be effected in the manner described by Dr. Righelini; for in

spite of her pallor she seemed to me quite fair enough to charm a lover,

and I believed her to be spirited enough to determine to take the most

agreeable medicine a doctor can prescribe.

 

In the morning I rang the bell as I was getting up, and the younger

sister came into my room, and said that as they kept no servant she had

come to do what I wanted. I did not care to have a servant when I was

not at M. de Bragadin's, as I found myself more at liberty to do what I

liked. After she had done me some small services, I asked her how her

sister was.

 

"Very well," said she, "for her pale complexion is not an illness, and

she only suffers when her breath fails her. She has a very good

appetite, and sleeps as well as I do."

 

"Whom do I hear playing the violin?"

 

"It's the dancing master giving my sister a lesson."

 

I hurried over my dressing that I might see her; and I found her

charming, though her old dancing master allowed her to turn in her toes.

All that this young and beautiful girl wanted was the Promethean spark,

the colour of life; her whiteness was too like snow, and was distressing

to look at.

 

The dancing master begged me to dance a minuet with his pupil, and I

assented, asking him to play larghissimo. "The signorina would find it

too tiring," said he; but she hastened to answer that she did not feel

weak, and would like to dance thus. She danced very well, but when we

had done she was obliged to throw herself in a chair. "In future, my

dear master," said she, "I will only dance like that, for I think the

rapid motion will do me good."

 

When the master was gone, I told her that her lessons were too short,

and that her master was letting her get into bad habits. I then set her

feet, her shoulders, and her arms in the proper manner. I taught her how

to give her hand gracefully, to bend her knees in time; in fine, I gave

her a regular lesson for an hour, and seeing that she was getting rather

tired I begged her to sit down, and I went out to pay a visit to M. M.

 

I found her very sad, for C---- C----'s father was dead, and they had

taken her out of the convent to marry her to a lawyer. Before leaving C-

--- C---- had left a letter for me, in which she said that if I would

promise to marry her at some time suitable to myself, she would wait for

me, and refuse all other offers. I answered her straightforwardly that I

had no property and no prospects, that I left her free, advising her not

to refuse any offer which might be to her advantage.

 

In spite of this dismissal C---- C---- did not marry N---- till after my

flight from The Leads, when nobody expected to see me again in Venice. I

did not see her for nineteen years, and then I was grieved to find her a

widow, and poorly off. If I went to Venice now I should not marry her,

for at my age marriage is an absurdity, but I would share with her my

little all, and live with her as with a dear sister.

 

When I hear women talking about the bad faith and inconstancy of men,

and maintaining that when men make promises of eternal constancy they

are always deceivers, I confess that they are right, and join in their

complaints. Still it cannot be helped, for the promises of lovers are

dictated by the heart, and consequently the lamentations of women only

make me want to laugh. Alas! we love without heeding reason, and cease

to love in the same manner.

 

About this time I received a letter from the Abbe de Bernis, who wrote

also to M---- M----. He told me that I ought to do my utmost to make our

nun take a reasonable view of things, dwelling on the risks I should run

in carrying her off and bringing her to Paris, where all his influence

would be of no avail to obtain for us that safety so indispensable to

happiness. I saw M---- M----; we shewed each other our letters, she had

some bitter tears, and her grief pierced me to the heart. I still had a

great love for her in spite of my daily infidelities, and when I thought

of those moments in which I had seen her given over to voluptuousness I

could not help pitying her fate as I thought of the days of despair in

store for her. But soon after this an event happened which gave rise to

some wholesome reflections. One day, when I had come to see her, she

said,

 

"They have just been burying a nun who died of consumption the day

before yesterday in the odour of sanctity. She was called 'Maria

Concetta.' She knew you, and told C---- C---- your name when you used to

come to mass on feast days. C---- C---- begged her to be discreet, but

the nun told her that you were a dangerous man, whose presence should be

shunned by a young girl. C---- C---- told me all this after the mask of Pierrot."

소색공해와 흰띠 같은 튼살치료

소색공해와 흰띠 같은 튼살치료

1981년 도영버스의 차채 색은 아이보리에 스카이 블루의 띠가 둘러져 있었다. 도의 결정으로 이것을 밝은 노란색 바탕에 적갈색의 띠를 두른 것으로 바꾸게 되었다. 300대 가까이가 도색을 바치고 시내를 달릴 때 도쿄 예술대학의 고이케 이와타로 명예교수와 일본색채 연구소의 호소노 쇼지 이사장으로부터 중지 요청이 나왔다. 노란색은 주의를 촉구하고 빨간색은 위험을 나타내는 색이므로 그 계통으로 그리면 사람들의 위험색에 대한 감각을 마비시켜 도리어 위험하다. 소음이 아닌 소색(騷色)이라는 말이 신문에 등장했다.

처음으로 거리의 미관과 색에 대해 도민들이 머리를 맞대는 일이 벌어졌다. 이듬해에는 위와 아래를 하얀색, 가운데를 폭이 넓은 초록색으로 하자는 안이 지지되어 그를 바탕으로 도영버스가 새로이 디자인되었다.

노랑은 주의를 촉구하고 빨강은 위험을 나타내는 색이므로 버스를 그 색으로 칠하면 사람들의 노란색과 빨간색에 대한 주의력이 감소한다는 의견은 지당하다. 편의점과 패스트푸드 점포들은 잘 보이게 빨강과 노랑으로 배색되어 현대인들은 이미 위험 색에 대한 감각이 마비되어 있다.

 

사람은 분위기가 90%, 다케우치 이치로 지음, 한명희 옮김, 수희재, 페이지 132-133

 

소음이 아니라 색이 소동을 일으킬수 있다는 소색 공해는 말이 된다. 만약 소방차가 아닌데 버스가 붉은칠을 하면 너무 눈에 띠어서 불편할 수도 있다. 이와 마찬가지로 피부에서도 본래 주위 피부색과 달라보이면 소색 공해를 유발할 수 있다. 처음에는 튼살이 붉은색으로 염증반응 단계에서 시작되어 몇 달이 지나면 흰색으로 튼살이 변화하게 된다. 붉은색 단계 튼살만 눈에 잘 보일것이라는 생각과 달리 백색 튼살은 잘 눈에 띤다. 검은 고양이든 흰 고양이든 쥐만 잘 잡으면 된다. 이미지한의원에서는 백색 흰색이든 상관없이 모든 튼살을 ST침으로 치료를 잘 하게 해준다.

the memories of casanova 140

the memories of casanova 140

"I am charmed with the sense of your arguments; speak about it to your

mother."

 

"I daren't, sweetheart; this kind of thing is too delicate to be

discussed between a mother and her daughter speak to her yourself."

 

"I will, indeed."

 

Laura, whom I had not seen since she had given me her daughter, asked

for no time to think it over, but full of glee told me that now her

daughter would be able to soothe her declining years, and that she would

leave Muran of which she was tired. She shewed me a hundred and thirty

sequins which Tonine had gained in my service, and which she had placed

in her hands.

 

Barberine, Tonine's younger sister, came to kiss my hand. I thought her

charming, and I gave her all the silver in my pocket. I then left,

telling Laura that I should expect her at my house. She soon followed

me, and gave her child a mother's blessing, telling her that she and her

family could go and live in Venice for sixty sous a day. Tonine embraced

her, and told her that she should have it.

 

This important affair having been managed to everybody's satisfaction, I

went to see M---- M----, who came into the parlour with C---- C----,

whom I found looking sad, though prettier than ever. She was melancholy,

but none the less tender. She could not stay for more than a quarter of

an hour for fear of being seen, as she was forbidden ever to go into the

parlour. I told M. M. the story of Tonine, who was going to live with

Murray in Venice; she was sorry to hear it, "for," said she, "now that

you have no longer any attraction at Muran, I shall see you less than

ever." I promised to come and see her often, but vain promises! The time

was near which parted us for ever.

 

The same evening I went to tell the good news to my friend Murray. He

was in a transport of joy, and begged me to come and sup with him at his

casino the day after next, and to bring the girl with me, that the

surrender might be made in form. I did not fail him, for once the matter

was decided, I longed to bring it to an end. In my presence he assigned

to her the yearly income for her life of two hundred Venetian ducats,

and by a second deed he gave her all the contents of the house with

which he was going to provide her, provided always that she lived with

him for a year. He allowed her to receive me as a friend, also to

receive her mother and sisters, and she was free to go and see them when

she would. Tonine threw her arms about his neck, and assured him that

she would endeavour to please him to the utmost of her ability. "I will

see him," said she, pointing to me, "but as his friend he shall have

nothing more from me." Throughout this truly affecting scene she kept

back her tears, but I could not conceal mine. Murray was happy, but I

was not long a witness of his good fortune, the reason of which I will

explain a little later.

 

Three days afterwards Laura came to me, told me that she was living in

Venice, and asked me to take her to her daughter's. I owed this woman

too much to refuse her, and I took her there forthwith. Tonine gave

thanks to God, and also to me, and her mother took up the song, for they

were not quite sure whether they were more indebted to God or to me.

Tonine was eloquent in her praise of Murray, and made no complaint at my

not having come to see her, at which I was glad. As I was going Laura

asked me to take her back in my gondola, and as we had to pass by the

house in which she lived she begged me to come in for a moment, and I

could not hurt her feelings by refusing. I owe it to my honour to remark

here that I was thus polite without thinking that I should see Barberine

again.

 

This girl, as pretty as her sister, though in another style, began by

awakening my curiosity--a weakness which usually renders the profligate

man inconstant. If all women were to have the same features, the same

disposition, and the same manners, men would not only never be

inconstant, but would never be in love. Under that state of things one

would choose a wife by instinct and keep to her till death, but our

world would then be under a different system to the present. Novelty is

the master of the soul. We know that what we do not see is very nearly

the same as what we have seen, but we are curious, we like to be quite

sure, and to attain our ends we give ourselves as much trouble as if we

were certain of finding some prize beyond compare.

 

Barberine, who looked upon me as an old friend--for her mother had

accustomed her to kiss my hand whenever I went there, who had undressed

more than once in my presence without troubling about me, who knew I had

made her sister's fortune and the family fortune as well, and thought

herself prettier than Tonine because her skin was fairer, and because

she had fine black eyes, desiring to take her sister's place, knew that

to succeed she must take me by storm. Her common sense told her that as

I hardly ever came to the house, I should not be likely to become

amorous of her unless she won me by storm; and to this end she shewed

the utmost complaisance when she had the chance, so that I won her

without any difficulty. All this reasoning came from her own head, for I

am sure her mother gave her no instructions. Laura was a mother of a

kind common the world over, but especially in Italy. She was willing to

take advantage of the earnings of her daughters, but she would never

have induced them to take the path of evil. There her virtue stopped

short.

 

After I had inspected her two rooms and her little kitchen, and had

admired the cleanness which shone all around, Barberine asked me if I

would like to see their small garden.

 

"With pleasure," I replied, "for a garden is a rarity in Venice."

 

Her mother told her to give me some figs if there were any ripe ones.

The garden consisted of about thirty square feet, and grew only salad

herbs and a fine fig tree. It had not a good crop, and I told her that I

could not see any figs.

 

"I can see some at the top," said Barberine, "and I will gather them if

you will hold me the ladder."

 

"Yes, climb away; I will hold it quite firmly."

 

She stepped up lightly, and stretching out an arm to get at some figs to

one side of her, she put her body off its balance, holding on to the

ladder with the other hand.

 

"My dear Barberine, what do you think I can see?"

 

"What you have often seen with my sister."

 

"That's true! but you are prettier than she is."

 

The girl made no reply, but, as if she could not reach the fruit, she

put her foot on a high branch, and spewed me the most seductive picture.

I was in an ecstasy, and Barberine, who saw it, did not hurry herself.

At last I helped her to come down, and letting my hand wander

indiscreetly, I asked her if the fruit I held had been plucked, and she

kept me a long time telling me it was quite fresh. I took her within my

arms, and already her captive, I pressed her amorously to my heart,

printing on her lips a fiery kiss, which she gave me back with as much

ardour.

 

"Will you give me what I have caught, dearest?"

 

"My mother is going to Muran to-morrow, and she will stay there all the

day; if you come, there is nothing I will refuse you."

 

When speech like this proceeds from a mouth still innocent, the man to

whom it is addressed ought to be happy, for desires are but pain and

torment, and enjoyment is sweet because it delivers us from them. This

shews that those who prefer a little resistance to an easy conquest are

in the wrong; but a too easy conquest often points to a depraved nature,

and this men do not like, however depraved they themselves may be.

 

We returned to the house, and I gave Barberine a tender kiss before

Laura's eyes, telling her that she had a very jewel in her daughter--a

compliment which made her face light up with pleasure. I gave the dear

girl ten sequins, and I went away congratulating myself, but cursing my

luck at not being able to make as good provision for Barberine as Murray

had made for her sister.

 

Tonine had told me that for manners' sake I should sup once with her. I

went the same evening and found Righelini and Murray there. The supper

was delicious, and I was delighted with the excellent understanding the

two lovers had already come to. I complimented the ambassador on the

loss of one of his tastes, and he told me he should be very sorry at

such a loss, as it would warn him of his declining powers.

 

"But," said I, "you used to like to perform the mysterious sacrifice of

Love without a veil."

 

"It was not I but Ancilla who liked it, and as I preferred pleasing her

to pleasing myself, I gave in to her taste without any difficulty."

 

"I am delighted with your answer, as I confess it would cost me

something to be the witness of your exploits with Tonine."

 

Having casually remarked that I had no longer a house in Muran,

Righelini told me that if I liked he could get me a delightful house at

a low rent on the Tondamente Nuovo.

 

As this quarter facing north, and as agreeable in summer as disagreeable

in winter, was opposite to Muran, where I should have to go twice a

week, I told the doctor I should be glad to look at the house.

 

I took leave of the rich and fortunate ambassador at midnight, and

before passing the day with my new prize I went to sleep so as to be

fresh and capable of running a good course.

 

I went to Barberine at an early hour, and as soon as she saw me she

said,

 

"My mother will not be back till the evening, and my brother will take

his dinner at the school. Here is a fowl, a ham, some cheese, and two

bottles of Scopolo wine. We will take our mess whenever you like:"

 

"You astonish me, sweetheart, for how did you manage to get such a good

dinner?"

 

"We owe it to my mother, so to her be the praise."

 

"You have told her, then, what we are going to do?"

 

"No, not I, for I know nothing about it; but I told her you were coming

to see me, and at the same time I gave her the ten sequins."

 

"And what did your mother say?"

 

"She said she wouldn't be sorry if you were to love me as you loved my

sister."

 

"I love you better, though I love her well."

 

"You love her? Why have you left her, then?"

 

"I have not left her, for we supped together yesterday evening; but we

no longer live together as lovers, that is all. I have yielded her up to

a rich friend of mine, who has made her fortune."

 

"That is well, though I don't understand much about these affairs. I

hope you will tell Tonine that I have taken her place, and I should be

very pleased if you would let her know that you are quite sure you are my first lover."