passes judgment on them； and London pays them。 Genovese and la Tinti
will not be left to us for six months〃
At this juncture； the Austrian left the box。 Vendramin； the Prince；
and the other two Italians exchanged a look and a smile； glancing at
the French physician。 He； for a moment； felt doubtful of himself；a
rare thing in a Frenchman；fancying he had said or done something
incongruous； but the riddle was immediately solved。
〃Do you thing it would be judicious；〃 said Emilio； 〃if we spoke our
mind in the presence of our masters？〃
〃You are in a land of slaves；〃 said the Duchess； in a tone and with a
droop of the head which gave her at once the look for which the
physician had sought in vain。 〃Vendramin；〃 she went on； speaking so
that only the stranger could hear her； 〃took to smoking opium； a
villainous idea suggested to him by an Englishman who； for other
reasons of his； craved an easy deathnot death as men see it in the
form of a skeleton； but death draped with the frippery you in France
call a flaga maiden form crowned with flowers or laurels； she
appears in a cloud of gunpowder borne on the flight of a cannon…ball
or else stretched on a bed between two courtesans； or again； she rises
in the steam of a bowl of punch； or the dazzling vapor of a diamond
but a diamond in the form of carbon。
〃Whenever Vendramin chooses； for three Austrian lire； he can be a
Venetian Captain； he can sail in the galleys of the Republic； and
conquer the gilded domes of Constantinople。 Then he can lounge on the
divans in the Seraglio among the Sultan's wives； while the Grand
Signor himself is the slave of the Venetian conqueror。 He returns to
restore his palazzo with the spoils of the Ottoman Empire。 He can quit
the women of the East for the doubly masked intrigues of his beloved
Venetians； and fancy that he dreads the jealousy which has ceased to
exist。
〃For three zwanziger he can transport himself into the Council of Ten；
can wield there terrible power； and leave the Doges' Palace to sleep
under the watch of a pair of flashing eyes； or to climb a balcony from
which a fair hand has hung a silken ladder。 He can love a woman to
whom opium lends such poetic grace as we women of flesh and blood
could never show。
〃Presently he turns over； and he is face to face with the dreadful
frown of the senator； who holds a dagger。 He hears the blade plunged
into his mistress' heart。 She dies smiling on him； for she has saved
him。
〃And she is a happy woman！〃 added the Duchess； looking at Emilio。
〃He escapes and flies to command the Dalmatians； to conquer the
Illyrian coast for his beloved Venice。 His glory wins him forgiveness；
and he enjoys a life of domestic happiness；a home； a winter evening；
a young wife and charming children； who pray to San Marco under the
care of an old nurse。 Yes； for three francs' worth of opium he
furnishes our empty arsenal； he watches convoys of merchandise coming
in； going to the four quarters of the world。 The forces of modern
industry no longer reign in London； but in his own Venice； where the
hanging gardens of Semiramis； the Temple of Jerusalem； the marvels of
Rome； live once more。 He adds to the glories of the middle ages by the
labors of steam； by new masterpieces of art under the protection of
Venice； who protected it of old。 Monuments and nations crowd into his
little brain； there is room for them all。 Empires and cities and
revolutions come and vanish in the course of a few hours； while Venice
alone expands and lives； for the Venice of his dreams is the empress
of the seas。 She has two millions of inhabitants； the sceptre of
Italy； the mastery of the Mediterranean and the Indies！〃
〃What an opera is the brain of man！ What an unfathomed abyss！even to
those who； like Gall； have mapped it out；〃 cried the physician。
〃Dear Duchess；〃 said Vendramin； 〃do not omit the last service that my
elixir will do me。 After hearing ravishing voices and imbibing music
through every pore； after experiencing the keenest pleasures and the
fiercest delights of Mahomet's paradise； I see none but the most
terrible images。 I have visions of my beloved Venice full of
children's faces； distorted； like those of the dying； of women covered
with dreadful wounds； torn and wailing； of men mangled and crushed by
the copper sides of crashing vessels。 I begin to see Venice as she is；
shrouded in crape； stripped； robbed； destitute。 Pale phantoms wander
through her streets！
〃Already the Austrian soldiers are grinning over me； already my
visionary life is drifting into real life； whereas six months ago real
life was the bad dream； and the life of opium held love and bliss；
important affairs and political interests。 Alas！ To my grief； I see
the dawn over my tomb； where truth and falsehood mingle in a dubious
light； which is neither day nor darkness； but partakes of both。〃
〃So you see that in this head there is too much patriotism；〃 said the
Prince； laying his hand on the thick black curls that fell on
Vendramin's brow。
〃Oh； if he loves us he will give up his dreadful opium！〃 said
Massimilla。
〃I will cure your friend；〃 said the Frenchman。
〃Achieve that； and we shall love you；〃 said the Duchess。 〃But if on
your return to France you do not calumniate us； we shall love you even
better。 The hapless Italians are too much crushed by foreign dominion
to be fairly judgedfor we have known yours；〃 she added； with a
smile。
〃It was more generous than Austria's；〃 said the physician； eagerly。
〃Austria squeezes and gives us nothing back； and you squeeze to
enlarge and beautify our towns； you stimulated us by giving us an
army。 You thought you could keep Italy； and they expect to lose it
there lies the difference。
〃The Austrians provide us with a sort of ease that is as stultifying
and heavy as themselves； while you overwhelmed us by your devouring
energy。 But whether we die of tonics or of narcotics； what does it
matter？ It is death all the same； Monsieur le docteur。〃
〃Unhappy Italy！ In my eyes she is like a beautiful woman whom France
ought to protect by making her his mistress；〃 exclaimed the Frenchman。
〃But you could not love us as we wish to be loved；〃 said the Duchess；
smiling。 〃We want to be free。 But the liberty I crave is not your
ignoble and middle…class liberalism； which would kill all art。 I ask；〃
said she； in a tone that thrilled through the box；〃that is to say； I
would ask；that each Italian republic should be resuscitated； with
its nobles； its citizens； its special privileges for each caste。 I
would have the old aristocratic republics once more with their
intestine warfare and rivalry that gave birth to the noblest works of
art； that created politics； that raised up the great princely houses。
By extending the action of one government over a vast expanse of
country it is frittered down。 The Italian republics were the glory of
Europe in the middle ages。 Why has Italy succumbed when the Swiss； who
were her porters； have triumphed？〃
〃The Swiss republics；〃 said the doctor； 〃were worthy housewives； busy
with their own little concerns； and neither having any cause for
envying another。 Your republics were haughty queens； preferring to
sell themselves rather than bow to a neighbor； they fell too low ever
to rise again。 The Guelphs are triumphant。〃
〃Do not pity us too much；〃 said the Duchess； in a voice that made the
two friends start。 〃We are still supreme。 Even in the depths of her
misfortune Italy governs through the choicer spirits that abound in
her cities。
〃Unfortunately the greater number of her geniuses learn to understand
life so quickly that they lie sunk in poverty…stricken pleasure。 As
for those who are willing to play the melancholy game for immortality；
they know how to get at your gold and to secure your praises。 Ay； in
this landpitied for its fallen state by traveled simpletons and
hypocritical poets； while its character is traduced by politiciansin
this land； which appears so languid； powerless； and ruinous； worn out
rather than old； there are puissant brains in every branch of life；
genius throwing out vigorous shoots as an old vine…stock throws out
canes productive of delicious fruit。 This race of ancient rulers still
gives birth to kingsLagrange； Volta； Rasori； Canova； Rossini；
Bartolini； Galvani； Vigano； Beccaria； Cicognara； Corvetto。 These
Italians are masters of the scientific peaks on which they stand； or
of the arts to which they devote themselves。 To say nothing of the
singers and executants who captivate Europe by their amazing
perfections： Taglioni； Paganini； and the rest。 Italy still rules the
world which will always come to worship her。
〃Go to Florian's to…night； you will find in Capraja one of our
cleverest men； but in love with obscurity。 No one but the Duke； my
master； understands music so thoroughly as he does； indeed he is known
here as /il Fanatico/。〃
After sitting a few minutes listening to the eager war of words
between the physician and the Duchess； who showed much ingenious
eloquence； the Italians； one by one； took leave； and went off to tell
the news in every box； that la Cataneo； who was regarded as a woman of
great wit and spirit； had； on the question of Italy； defeated a famous
French doctor。 This was the talk of the evening。
As soon as the Frenchman found himself alone with the Duchess and the
Prince； he understood that they were to be left together； and took
leave。 Massimilla bowed with a bend of the neck that placed him at
such a distance that this salute might have secured her the man's
hatred； if he could have ignored the charm of her eloquence and
beauty。
Thus at the end of the opera； Emilio and Massimilla were alone； and
holding hands they listened together to the duet that finishes /Il
Barbiere/。
〃There is nothing but music to express love；〃 said the Duchess； moved
by that song as of two rapturous nightingales。
A tear twinkled in Emilio's eye； Massimilla； sublime in such beauty as
beams in Raphael's Saint…Cecilia； pressed his hand； their knees
touched； there was； as it seemed； the blossom of a kiss on her lips。
The Prince saw on her blushing face a glow of joy like that which on a
summer's day shines down on the golden harvest； his