1829-3 a Mediterranean Sketch. 27 



preserve thine ignorance : the science of the spirit is the price of the 

 pains of the heart." 



A long silence followed the words. Lord Charles interrupted it : — 

 " I know little of the history of Sampietro — merely that he was a hero. 

 Were it not that I have observed the preparations for a large banquet 

 — to which, of course, you expect guests — I should request you to give 

 nie some details of this ancestor, which, doubtless, must gratify the pride 

 of any one connected with him." 



" It is long since there hath been a banquet in the dwelling of the 

 widow of ]\Iatteo. Thou hast seen the repast for my dead : yesterday 

 evening I served it to them. They know that I live upon roots, to 

 reserve for them all that our earth produces, and the wine of my vines is 

 poured out but for them. But I have the children of our poor goat- 

 herds, who come to seek their portions — the Virgin be praised ! — 

 ]\Iatteo ! my children ! sleep in peace : I watch for ye !" 



" Then this repast is prepared for the poor ?" 



" No ; I prepared it for my dead. They disdain it ; and the poor, 

 while blessing the memory of mine, nourish themselves with it. It is 

 Christian fellowship. — But thou wouldst speak to me of Sampietro." 



Thus saying. Sacra had fixed her eyes on the most obscure corner of 

 the apartment, with the air of interrogating some one. Lord Charles and 

 the count could see nothing there but Sacra's crucifix. 



She arose, and opening a small coffer, took out a porti-ait : it was the 

 countenance of a young Corsican female, of remarkable beauty. She 

 also took out a small manuscript volume. 



"Yes!" said Sacra, in a low tone — "it may save him! This," 



said she, " was written by one who bore a name dear to the Corsicans — 

 the name of Colonna. She was a Genoese ; and Sampietro might well 

 have wished that any other historian had taught his descendants the 

 events of his life ! But" — and her eyes glanced at the crucifix — " so 

 it ought to be, perhaps ! — Read this, then," added she : " some leaves 

 of the writing are wanting ; but there remain enough to satisfy thy 

 curiosity. The sons of Sampietro — the d'Ornanos, have succeeded to 

 eminent dignities : their father, also, was well worthy of honours. 

 Avoid his eri'ors — thou, who art so like him !" 



Lord Charles received the volume respectfully. 



" I bestow this gift on thee," said Sacra : " I must soon have bestowed 



it on some one, on my death-bed I have now no more to say to 



thee," resumed the Corsican, after a pause : " my hour of silence is 

 come !" 



Count Talzikoff drew his friend away, glad to escape from a person- 

 age, Avho at least chilled his heart, if she did not overpower his under- 

 standing. As the friends descended, they perceived that all the provi- 

 sions had disappeared. 



" I breathe once more !" exclaimed the count, as they returned. — 

 " Never more may I encounter either witch or saint while I live !" 



The guide, at this moment, came to inform the travellers that it was 

 time to set off, if they wished to reach Ajaccio before night. Ettore and 

 his wife gratefully received the presents of their guests. The young 

 Laura filled Paolo's sack with biscolelli and pomegranates ; and, wishing 

 the travellers the protection of all the saints, did not quit the threshold 

 imtil she h; d lost sight of them. 



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