The Sun.
London, England, 1835-04-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

HECTOR FIERAMASCA ;

OR, THE (IHAL

LENGE OF BARLETTA.

131' THE MARQUIS OF D'AZEOLIO. TRANSLATED FROM TILE

ITALIAN.
_Longman, 1835.

There exists not a lover of elegant literature, who,
after perusing this interesting historical tale, will not

thank the translator for having presentecl it to the
British public in a form intelligible to all classes of
readers. The author, who is son-in-law of the far-

famed Manzoni, is a nobleman of great abilities and

extensive research in the literature of the middle ages.
Nevertheless, the translator informs us that, on the
first appearance of this work in Italy, about
three years ago, the author's claim to its sole
production was doubted, the public attributing
it to Manzoni himself. In style and sentiment, the
" Challenge of Barletta " bears the strongest possible

resemblance to the " Betrothed," and yet it does no

appear to us that both works are the production of the
same author. The incidents in the " Betrothed" are

more striking, and the characters more strongly marked
and directly opposed to each other than they are in
the tale now before us. The difference between them
is the difference between sculpture and painting—the
successful efforts of the pencil and brush charm the eye
in the one, but in the other the chisel, has left mate-
rials for the sense of feeling as well as sight. Any
person who recollects the interview between Car-
dinal Borromeus and the unknown bandit of the castle
in the "Betrothed" can require no further illustration of
of the superioty of Manzoni's genius in this respect.
At the same time, in keenness of observation, in dis-
covering the peculiarities of every-day life, and in the
nice adaptation. of shape, features, and general habits
to subsequent acts, the Marquis D'AZEGLIO stands
almost alone. His descriptions of the bull-fights,
tournaments, and public entertainments, common in
Italy during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, are
as vivid and as correct as if he had witnessed them all

in his own proper person.
Most of the characters who figure in this
tale are drawn from history. The scene is laid in
Naples during the `Pontificate of Alexander 111.
and the bloody career of his son, the Duke of Va-
lentinois, better known by the name of Caesar
Borgia, when the possession of Italy was contested
by the arms of the Emperor and Louis XII. King of
France. The character of Borgia, who is a prin-
cipal personage in this tale, is finely drawn. The fol-
lowing extract is a brief sketch of the history of the
only attendant who accompanied him, when about to
betray his former allies the French into the power of
Gonsolva

" Don Michael had a youthful and lovely wife, and a
younger brother, a bachelor, lived in his house. The beauty
of his sister-in-law had such an effect on this youth, that--
abandoning all regard to morality or the consequences, he used
every means to seduce her, and succeeded. But he did not
succeed so well as to prevent the plot being discovered by a
servant maid, who informed the husband. The latter having
placed himself in ambush, surprised them. Drawing his
poiard he attempted to murder them both at the same time,
but it chanced that they escaped out of his hands with some
slight wounds. So exasperated was he at the wrong received,
that he endeavoured to trace his brother, who, with the lady,
fled to some place of security, and determined to kill him at
all costs. But the brother having heard of the deadly oath of
the injured husband, managed to defend himself in different
ways, so as to set at nought all the other's designs; and the
offended man, entirely despairing of being able to inflict his
vengeance, was, by the excess of passion, carried almost to the
grave.
" In the mean time the jubilee of the year 1.500 occurred ;
and in the town where Don Michael resided there were abun-
dance of processions, and penitences, and public preachings,
by means of which several party disputes were made up, and
families and individuals pacified; and amongst the rest Don
Michael also seemed resolved to lay aside all rancorous feel-
ings, and. devote himself to holy things. But the brother
would not suffer himself to be persuaded to an interview, spite
of the numerous kindly and sacred protestations that came
from the other side. At the end of a holy year, employed by
Don Michael in continual penances and religious pursuits, he
determined to abandon the world entirely ; and going to a mo-
nastery of Scalzi, entered into his noviciate ; and that being
completed, pronounced the solemn vows. Sent by his supe-
riors into various parts of Spain, and even as far as Rome, in
order to study theology, he became very learned, and on his
return to his country with the reputation of being a particularly
holy man, the rank of priesthood was conferred on him. He
went through the first mass with the usual pomp, amidst a
crowd of relations and friends, and other people. After its
conclusion, returning into the sacristy, he seated himself (such
is the custom) with his Priest's cope still on his back, upon a
stool, which his friends and relations approached one after ano-
ther, in order to kiss his hand, and give him the congratulator)?
embraces. Ile had been repeatedly heard to deplore the ha-
tred he had so many years nourished against his brother, and
frequently to sny that the only desire in the world which he
now had, was not only to obtain oblivion and forgiveness for
the past, but likewise, as a servant of God, to be the first and
the humblest in offering it. Upon this solemn occasion, moved
by the entreaties of all his relations, the brother at last resolved
to go with the others. As he advanced he began a humble
address, while the priest, extending his arms, pressed him to
his bosom ; but instead of the brother again raising his head,
his knees were seen to fail, and lie sunk on the ground with a
dreadful groan ; and the priest, brandishing a small dagger,
which in that embrace he had plunged into his brother's heart,
'kissed the still reeking blade, spurned the corpse with his foot;
and then exclaimed, " I have caught thee at last l" The
wretch escaped; and such was the confusion and amazement
of the bystanders, that no efforts were made to detain him. For
this crime he was banished, under pain of death if found. He
fled from country to country, until he took refuge in Rome,
where he was protected by the Duke of Valentinois. The
latter took but little trouble to find out his virtues, but soon
found him of use in most important affairs, and the villainous
priest soon became the life of all his undertakings."

The close of this tale is remarkably striking, and, in
our opinion, singularly beautiful. The fate of the
hero, who is a soldier of Fortune under Colonna, re-
minds us of the last moments of young Ravensworth
in the " Bride of Lamermoor." Indeed, so striking
is the semblance that one would almost be tempted to
believe the main incidents were borrowed one from
another. The description of the battle of the cham-
pions of France and Italy, is equal to anything in
Scott. This work deserves to be incorporated among
standard works of fiction.