The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-04
From the Literary American
THE WATERS OF ABANO.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF E. SOU
XESTRE BY 2. Il nj.

pie, and had something about it of a grave, and al
the same time of almost military character The
younger remarkable for that open breasted
elegance which was at that time as fashionable in
Italy as it was in France. This latter individual
was the first TO resume the conversation Whch had
evidently for some minutes been discontinued:
By my faith, my dear Alferi,'' said he to his
companion, shaking off delicatey at the same time
the white ashes from his cigar, 81 did not expect to
| have the pleasure Of meeting you, when came to
| the waters of AbanO'
"And YETI replied the other, it is the likeliest
place to meet sick person." The young man
! looked at the Count.
Truly" said he, :" / do indeed think you are
somewhat changed /; you look somewhat paler than
usual; Have you consulted your physicians -
What have they said to you! .
What they always say. In the winter they
/ promise that | shall be cured next summer, and
when the summer comes they make me the same
| promises for the winter. The doctors of Milan
| recommend to me the air Of Naples, and the doc
/ tors of Naples recommend the air of Milan. / al
| low myself to be advised by them. | do what they
wish me, and quietly live on"
Come, what an idea do you think that people
| ever die at your age I"
g Sometimes" murmured Alferi, with pensive
air, hanging down his head.
g ParbLeu see how il is, - exclaimed the young
man. : could wager any sum you like, that you
thinking of the prediction Of the old sorceres
8 Am wrong, Celini / was only twelve years
OF age when that woman announced TO me every
thing which has happened since. She has told me
that would quit Piedmont that I'wOuld become
poet that my name should become celebrated -
" And that you would die at thirty-iive years of
age. Who does not know the history of the matter
You have made upon this prediction an admirable
some, which all Italy knows by heart. What
the devil! you have surely too much sense to be
supersttous .
The Count sighed without answering, and there
was moments silence
g Do you wish to know what is killing you % said
Celini. " 1t is your isolation; at bottom you are
not sick at all.''
:" The physicians have already told me So an
cred the Count, smiling, " and yet know that
shall die, well though be-
g Why not divert yourself! When you quilted
Milan you spoke of travelling. l imagined you
were in Spain"
g have been there"
:" All you ought also to visit France"
have been there
Germany"
g have been there"
Celini looked him straight in the face.
Then you have been everywhere exclaimed
he. 8 Verify, | remember myself that you are an
expeditions traveller you visit countries if you
did so upon the back of horse, at full gallop. But
you can have seen nothing :"
Pardon me; have seen mountains, roads,
cities; and among these many men who hurried
about and seemed to be busy doing nothing"
And what have you seen that is remarkable 20
Three very beautiful insttutions-ihe scourge
in Germany, the police in France, and the lnquisi-
ton in Spain"
You are always the same,' said Celini, laugh
ing; !" a misanthrope and republican; true de-
scendant OF Brutus become subject OF the Pope.
Assuming more serious tone, he continued
Doyou know, Alfier, that you do not merit the
favors which fate thrusts upon you All our
theatres resound with your triumphs; the whole Of
Italy has its eyes upon you you are noble, rich,
and still young, and yet you appear to be discon-
tented with life. What do you then desire to make
you happy !"
:" My God, who knows something, perhaps,
which is possessed by the lowest of those who gaze
upon me from among the crowd: an obscure bliss,
little cottage concealed among trees, and be-
loved wife TO sit upon my knee"
$ But what prevents you from having ali these
things 3"
Aliieri shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
You forget that blind chance has made me
of celebrity said he, and of celebrity is
a rare animal that everybody wishes to see. In
vain do seek the shade | am obliged to live per-
petually in the full blaze of the sun, that may be
seen. Every one believes that he has right to
look at me, and examine into the most triling
details OF my existence My books are like lackeys,
which proclaim my name everywhere before me.
When | appear, farewell free conversation. Every
one stands on tiptoe, and looks at me over the
shoulder Of his neighbor. In my presence women
silent from fear, or loquacous from vanity; and
you know BESIDES Celini, that brought up as was
at the foot Of the mountains, stranger to the world,
mix with that world with embarrassment and sad
ness. All those looks which are fixed upon me
torture me and make me wretched. Being unable
10 distinguish true sympathy from curiosily,I take
refuge in some corner and am SILENT They think
me naughty, when am only wretched All, had
been poor and obscure, could have believed in
the genuineness of this interest they testify for me-
while, as it is always doubt the sincerity Of their
affection, since | cannot know whether they love
me for myself or for my position"
understand you-you are as miserable as a
king"
'You think you are joking, but it is true.
When came here expected to escape these en-
mus; and for some hours | lived like everybody
else, a free and simple life j; | was happy when
at length man arrived who had seen me some
where, and all was destroyed"
Behold, them the injustice Of Fate,'' said Ce-
lini; your celebrity tortures you, and as for my
self, can well say that l am plunged in obscurity
up to the very ears"
"'Tis your own fault; you do nothing seriously
Indeed that is not the reason! Do you forget
that for the wages Of an iRlpresariO am obliged to
furnish three acts full of humor every month !
You know what our theatres are, my dear fellow
just kind of cabaret, where one has to draw off
his genius with a spigoi"
g At the risk of coming very soon to the lees"
That is precisely what happens. have lived
for a long time upon dozen ideas. You are
aware that an idea can be presented in thousand
different aspects the beginning can be placed at
the end, the middle at the beginning, and the pub
lie call that fertility of genius have gone on in
this fashion for three years. but at length the public
nave perceived that ] presented 70 them turned
cloth Tor new cloth, and they have Missed me-
And what have you done 20
Faith! when found that it was absolutely ne
cessary to look out for new material, have re-
solved to travel and renew my inspirations, and
seek subjects, so that my dear Count, it is not |,
but the theatre of Milan that is sick and takes the
waters
And You think by this means that you will sue
ceed."
am sure oft There is crowd of people at
Alamo cannot fail to fall in with some originals.
to hear some anecdotes, and 10 discover a few in
trigues there are thousand comedies played here
every day, and as many dramas and the devil
will be in it If do not make something Of them,
inasmuch as / intend to adopt the part of a real
spy.
q Have YOU made any discovery as yet %
You think TO laugh at me, because only have
FEoil haf