Lombardy, many of whom are extremely powerful; and rest
assured, that whether he be successful or not, he will not quit
Italy without endeavouring to change the politics of the Tuscan
republics. Now let us join our friends; tomorrow I will talk
further with you; and, if we have recourse to arms, I need not say
how proud I should be in having my party distinguished by the
acquisition of Castruccio dei Antelminelli."
They then mingled with the rest of the company; and Galeazzo
introduced his new friend to the Ghibeline lords of Lombardy. He
here saw for the first time the magnificent Cane della Scala, lord
of Verona, and the generous Guido della Polenta, lord of Ravenna,
and father of the unhappy Francesca of Rimini. These nobles had
assembled at Milan, to be present at the coronation of the emperor,
which had taken place a few weeks before; all wore the appearance
of gaiety and good humour; the empress headed the band, accompanied
by a beautiful youth who bore a bow in his hand; and Cane della
Scala was beside her, descanting on the merits of his falcon.
Castruccio was struck by the countenance of the youth who rode near
the empress. He was dressed with a profusion of magnificence; at
his back he wore a gilt quiver studded with gems, and a scarf
embroidered with pearls was thrown over one shoulder, and tied
under the other arm; in every way he was accoutred as might become
the favourite page of an empress. Yet Castruccio thought that he
remembered those light blue eyes; and his sweet yet serious smile
filled his own with tears of tender recollection. He eagerly asked
Galeazzo who and what he was: his friend replied; "He is the
squire of Can' Grande, and he is called Arrigo; I do not know
what other name he bears; the empress wishes to attach him to her
suite; but the youth would prefer bearing arms under his munificent
patron, to the situation of the effeminate page of a queen's
ante-chamber."
"That cannot surprise me," said Castruccio; "for
his infancy was spent in the labour of the fields, and in listening
to the lessons of his godlike father; he must therefore be ill
prepared to enter into the intrigues and follies of a court. If he
have not forgotten his childish affection for me, I shall win him
from them both; and, if indeed his father be dead, it shall be my
pride and boast to be the protector of his Arrigo."
As they re-entered the gates of the town, the trains of the
emperor and empress joined; and, Arrigo falling back among the
nobles, Castruccio rode up to him. For some time he gazed on him,
and heard the gentle tones of his youthful voice; he dared not
speak; his heart was full; and to his eyes dimmed by emotion, he
fancied that the revered form of Guinigi stood beside his son,
smiled on Castruccio, and pointed to the boy. At length, recovering
himself, he came abreast with the horse of Arrigo, and whispered,
"Does the son of Guinigi forget me? does he forget the farm
among the Euganean hills?"
Arrigo started; his countenance became radiant with joy; and he
exclaimed, "My own Castruccio!"
They rode away from the company, and entered the town by more
lonely streets. Castruccio saw by the looks of his young friend,
that his worst fears were true, and that Guinigi was dead; and
Arrigo easily read in Castruccio's face that he was thinking of
his father. At length he said: "My brother, if so you will
permit me to call you, a year has now passed since I was left an
orphan; ten months ago I quitted my happy life among the hills, to
dwell with a patron, who is indeed munificent and kind to me; but
who is not as my father. It appears to me a vision that such a
being ever existed; he was so great, so angelically wise and good;
and I now float down the stream with the rest, an esquire, an
attendant; I pass my life without enjoyment, and look forward to
the future without pleasure; but if, my brother, you would grant me
one request, a brighter sun would shine upon me."
"Dearest Arrigo, my dear, dear brother, I read in
assured, that whether he be successful or not, he will not quit
Italy without endeavouring to change the politics of the Tuscan
republics. Now let us join our friends; tomorrow I will talk
further with you; and, if we have recourse to arms, I need not say
how proud I should be in having my party distinguished by the
acquisition of Castruccio dei Antelminelli."
They then mingled with the rest of the company; and Galeazzo
introduced his new friend to the Ghibeline lords of Lombardy. He
here saw for the first time the magnificent Cane della Scala, lord
of Verona, and the generous Guido della Polenta, lord of Ravenna,
and father of the unhappy Francesca of Rimini. These nobles had
assembled at Milan, to be present at the coronation of the emperor,
which had taken place a few weeks before; all wore the appearance
of gaiety and good humour; the empress headed the band, accompanied
by a beautiful youth who bore a bow in his hand; and Cane della
Scala was beside her, descanting on the merits of his falcon.
Castruccio was struck by the countenance of the youth who rode near
the empress. He was dressed with a profusion of magnificence; at
his back he wore a gilt quiver studded with gems, and a scarf
embroidered with pearls was thrown over one shoulder, and tied
under the other arm; in every way he was accoutred as might become
the favourite page of an empress. Yet Castruccio thought that he
remembered those light blue eyes; and his sweet yet serious smile
filled his own with tears of tender recollection. He eagerly asked
Galeazzo who and what he was: his friend replied; "He is the
squire of Can' Grande, and he is called Arrigo; I do not know
what other name he bears; the empress wishes to attach him to her
suite; but the youth would prefer bearing arms under his munificent
patron, to the situation of the effeminate page of a queen's
ante-chamber."
"That cannot surprise me," said Castruccio; "for
his infancy was spent in the labour of the fields, and in listening
to the lessons of his godlike father; he must therefore be ill
prepared to enter into the intrigues and follies of a court. If he
have not forgotten his childish affection for me, I shall win him
from them both; and, if indeed his father be dead, it shall be my
pride and boast to be the protector of his Arrigo."
As they re-entered the gates of the town, the trains of the
emperor and empress joined; and, Arrigo falling back among the
nobles, Castruccio rode up to him. For some time he gazed on him,
and heard the gentle tones of his youthful voice; he dared not
speak; his heart was full; and to his eyes dimmed by emotion, he
fancied that the revered form of Guinigi stood beside his son,
smiled on Castruccio, and pointed to the boy. At length, recovering
himself, he came abreast with the horse of Arrigo, and whispered,
"Does the son of Guinigi forget me? does he forget the farm
among the Euganean hills?"
Arrigo started; his countenance became radiant with joy; and he
exclaimed, "My own Castruccio!"
They rode away from the company, and entered the town by more
lonely streets. Castruccio saw by the looks of his young friend,
that his worst fears were true, and that Guinigi was dead; and
Arrigo easily read in Castruccio's face that he was thinking of
his father. At length he said: "My brother, if so you will
permit me to call you, a year has now passed since I was left an
orphan; ten months ago I quitted my happy life among the hills, to
dwell with a patron, who is indeed munificent and kind to me; but
who is not as my father. It appears to me a vision that such a
being ever existed; he was so great, so angelically wise and good;
and I now float down the stream with the rest, an esquire, an
attendant; I pass my life without enjoyment, and look forward to
the future without pleasure; but if, my brother, you would grant me
one request, a brighter sun would shine upon me."
"Dearest Arrigo, my dear, dear brother, I read in
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