Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-02-12
THE FATAL CURIOSITY.

HicilIOHS OIiN ny us CllriStldn nhnie, LtOH-
ardo, returned TO his native Venice, after
having accompanied the ambassador of that
state to Paris. 1, had been surmised, how
ever, from the very circumstance Of this con-
cealmcnt, that he was member Of some
noble and powerful house. At all events he
had other qualities, without which, houses
of any kind, great or little, soon fall to pieces
sometimes with very heavy crasl,--na-
mcly, he was clever, prudent, and coura-
ecous, with only one foibc, and that, I'M
luckily, lying SO Close and dormant in some
niche of his lordly heart and high thoughts,
that he was actually not aware of its cxis-
tcncc. He was, moreover, eloquent, full OF
humor and anccdote, and so good-natured
that no. ono of his friends was afraid of ask
ing him for any favor-his hawk, his stced,
his dog; excepting always his hard edsh--a
request which always put him upon his mettle.
No wonder, then, a man who knew how to
govern his pursc-strings was greatly beloved
by the people for they have invariably the
sinccrcst respect for a strong box-it is the
emhodying of the Plutonan principle within
their souls !; and he was proporiionably en-
We'd by the old aristocrats, and initiated by
the young ones. Though it was believed
|
sole ambition seemed to DC TO pass merry
life, and, according to immcmorial customs
in such cases, he had pleasant country
housc-no doubt for the charms, of solitude
and contemplation. One day, after cxtoling
it to the skies, dear friend did him the
honor of asking him to lend it to hin, foc
short space, that he might, without fear OF
having his throat cut, or being thrown into
the Grand Canal, meet there a certain young
lady, of whom he drew the most charming
and iacinating portrait. Leonardo of course
consented, and then carclcssly asked ic-
spcctine the birth, fortune and accomplish
menis Of the fair incognita.
All he heard, however, only tended to
uhet his curiosity; and, without consulting
the point of honor, or prudence either, he
hid himself fr a freak behind curtain in the
corridor, through which he knew that the
new occupant would pass. and where he
should see her Invested of her envious veil.
The plan succeeded to his wish; the lovers
entered this apartment about midnight-his
young friend having apparently whispered
some words, took oilthc fair ones veil, spite
ola nltlc resistance, real or pretended. A
more perfect beauty never appeared before
the eyes Of Leonardo, or those of mortal
man, as he then decmcd for there was such
an exquisite simplicity, innocence, and gent
lcncsS in her soul-bcaming face, that you
almost forge, Ia look at those eyes of soft, vet
sparkling blue; and in her whole air and
motion there was an cnchantiucni that made
it treason To love and wi.chCratl 80 defy. SO
great was the force of the charm, that the
most prudent manin \cnicc-,hc right hand
and the GLOVE, You may say, of Il Venetian
amhassh3ar,-- where he was, what he
was, and Ike a mathematician, who, in
sQnaring the circle, lost his indemnity, and
was pccrlng for l,imseltn every corner Of the
College SO lost was poor prudent Leonardo
behind the screen, and how will he find him
sell again He tried 10 remember who lis
friend was, what he was about, and who the
lady must be- but all to no purpose. He
WIS clean gone ont of himself, it was to late
To call her simplicity nr,,k OF hyIvou ;sy ,
her beauty an error of nature, her a,paren,
Innocence only lure to deceive and hc,ray.
/ was this a,tc.n;t to dislike and dctcst her,
which impressed her features so powerfully
on his heart and memory.
Now Leonardo was not a match 10 he
sncercd at ; for his alliance was sought by
the richest and most noble aris,ocrats of
Venice; or, at least, by their wives and
daughters than the same thing. Being
resolved TO blot out the thoughts of her he
had seen, by ore grand etl"rt-as man
takes still stronger poison to cancel another
Leonardo swore he would marry for IN
less he had taken an oath, so pruden, man
would never have kept his word in so dcs-
peratc a thiig. Tic began to nv to court bv
degrees the daughter Of an old friend and a
very powerful senator. Having obtained
permission from the lovely Eliza herself, he
commenced by passing every day twice or
three times under her balcony. Although
she looked ont at the windows, he did no,
much look up at ihem-his weak and wicked
thoughts still rrverting to the unknown beauty
which brought his eyes again to the ground ;
besides, wha, use in looking up, when twas
plain that the lady had veil on! This Was
at least very philosophical, if not lovcr-likc
, TILL, at length he mustered propr,ety enough
Y to complain of the strange conduc, of his in
tended in thus conccaling herself; bu, he was
put of with a vow, forsooth. made TO the
: Virgin when she was a little girl, not to show
; her face to any one except her father. This
being highly satisfactory TO jealous lover
\ Such as Leonardo was not the day of mar
, riagc, at IA snail's pace, and drawn by ANY,
:. thing but genuine cloves and doves or bills
and rills,' actually did arrive.
:, The friends and relations Of both familie.
assembled at the mansion of the aged sena-
T. tor;-and Leonardo, agrceably to the GUS
@ tom, received the guests as the arrived AT tn,
II door of the palace. He was the last to en,el
n the great hall, which shonc and sparklcl
with the splcndor and hcanty of its inmates
, no less than Of the magnificent decorations
d The mobiles occupied some dais or steps pre-.
: sening the form Of AN amphiteatre at one
@ end stood a priest, dressed in his cannoni.
# cas-, busily praying before the grand altar
Family trophies, blackcncd by age hang
= upon the walls, a"d the brilliant lights wert
=. hardly sufficient to cxpcl entirely the son,br,
hucs which fell from tho stained windows