Vittoria, Complete

houlders and head, the straining of the buttoned coat across his chest, the air as of one who waited and listened, which distinguished his figure, detracted from the promise of othe

prompt, keen of intellect, acting throughout all its machinery, and having all under full command: an orbed mind, supplying its own philosophy, and arriving at the sword-stroke by logical steps,-a mind much less supple than a soldier's; anything but the mind of a Hamlet. The eyes we

able half inch above the earth we tread. If this man was a problem to others, he was none to himself; and when others called him an idealist, he accepted the title, reading himself, notwithstanding, as one who was less flighty than many philosophers and professedly practical teachers of his generation. He saw far, and he grasped ends beyond obstacles: he was nourished by sovereign principles; he despised material present interests; and, as I have said, he was less supple than a soldier. If the title of idealist belonged to him, we will not immediately decide that it was opprobrious. The idealized conception of stern truths played about his head certainly for those who knew and who loved it. Such a man, perceiving a devout en

this has br

stifling down below. I don't know my own shadow. I begin to think that I am important. Footing up a mountain corrects the notion somewhat. Yonder, I believe, I see t

dily than the rest, and affected to inspect the Grisons' pe

. For he is on that mountain; no doubt of it can exist even in the Boeotian mind of one of

romoter of its excruciating stiffness, until the ground relieved him of its weight. Carlo continued standing, while his eyes examined restlessly the slopes just surmounted by them, and occasionally the deep descent over the green-glowing Orta Lake. It was still early morning. The heat was tempered by a cool breeze that came with scents of thyme.

o set a nation free,-free fro

werving faith and self-sacrifice, he must approve; and when these qualities are displayed in a contest of forces, the wisd

y by the executioner and pecuniary penalties. Thick scars of wounds covered the body and disfigured the face of Giulio Bandinelli. Agostino had crawled but half-a-year previously out of his Piedmontese cell, and Marco Sana, the Brescian, had in such a place tasted of veritable torture. But if the calamity of a great oath was upon them, they had now in their faithful prosecution of it the support which it gives. They were unwearied; the

ere and discus

question Carlo ironically, while the latter appeared to be keeping rigid watch over the safety of the position. Carlo puf

ious matters, and had condescended to father a coarse joke; but his eyes showed no spark of their well-

se hawks from Baveno. Keep watch, dear Ammiani;

side of the mountain, and look over upon Orta; or with the opera-glass clasped in one hand beneath an arm, he stopped in his sentinel-march, frowning reflectively at a word put to him, as if debating within upon all the bearings of it; but the only answer that came was a sharp assent, given after the manner of one who dealt conscientiously in definite affirmatives; and again the glass was in requisition. Marco Sana was a fighting soldier, who stated what he knew, listened, and

arked. "He might say no, for a diversion. He has yeses enough in his pay to earn a Cardinal's hat. 'Is Milan preparing to rise?' 'Yes.'-'Is she ready for the work?' 'Yes.'-'Is the garrison on its guard?' 'Yes.'-'Have you seen Barto Rizzo?' 'Yes.'-'Have the people got the last batch of arms?' 'Yes.'-A

mself hot, and now

y fruit of the Hesperides. Personally, you or I may be irritated by them: but I'm not sure they don't please us. Were Carlo a woman, of course he should learn

to these trifles for the space of two minutes," said Cor

zo, who is a prodigy of nature, and has, luckily for himself, embraced a good cause, for he is certain to be hanged if he is not shot. He has the pro

complacent readiness to give him distinct replies. He t

ed rapidly some spirited words under his breath to t

aviour was odd, and called for reproof. He had come as the deputy of Milan to meet the Chief, and he had not spoken a serious word on the great business of the hour, though the plot had been u

He's an admirable representative of the Lombard metropolis!" Corte drawled out the words in prodigious mimicry. "If Milan has nothing

has a soul: she proves it. Ammiani, too, will prove his value. I have no doubt of him. As to boys, or even g

ignore," Agosti

hen did you lear

ed his hand a little boy

himself-the poor lad wishes he could, I dare swear!-to another bigger speck, which is verily a lady: who has joined herself to a donkey-a common habit of the sex, I am told; but I know them not. That lady, s

tubble moustache. "Are we to have women i

woman, but a noble virgin. I discern a distinction, t

is

ater the illumination when her light shines out! The signorina

talian. I've seen the accursed wenches bow gratefully for Austrian bouquets:-bow? ay, and more; and when the Austrian came to them red with our blood. I spit upon their polluted cheeks! They get us an ill name wherever they go. These singers have no country. One-I knew her-betrayed Filippo

d Corte's face to t

my Ugo," returned the old man, as

signorina Vitto

e boards, as I have already remarked: of La

does she

make her reverence to one who happens to be among us this day; and

r age?" Co

three, and would get scarce a month in addition, hungry as he is for her, and all of us! But Minerva's handmaiden

him, in answer to brutal bellowings against that sex, and hearing of the damsel under debate as one who was expected and was welcome, he flung himself upon

," he

lexion," added Agosti

scorchi

may do mischief; let it

looks

elieve the poor donkey. You, my Giulio, would call a

what a thro

ttle ebbing and flowing wave! Away with the glass, my boy! You must trust t

mmiani, who footed briskly by her side, she drew by degrees among the eyes fixed on her, some of which were not gentle; but hers were for the Chief,

ttoria, gentlemen