Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-03
A WELL TOLD STORT.
r 81 e DI AM ND EYES
OR, THE BRONZE HORSE.
A NEAPoLITAN LEGEND.

h PO N L EG END.
1t is now some ninety years since there
lived, in vast Old palace. in one of the
narrow streets that run behind the Strada
Toledo in Naples, the Principe (Priuce)
di San Silvestro. A very distant relation
Of the family to whose honors he had
succeeded, he had passed all his younger
days in obscurity in oae of the provinces
with his father, who, proud of his high
birth, but without the means of support
ing it in the style of his equals, preferred
vegetating in solitude with his only son,
rather than permit him to endeavor to
raise the fortunes of his house again, by
entering any profession that might tar
nish the dignity of his ancient name.
Shortly after the death of his father,
the prince come into his inheritance,
which in reality added but little to
his wealth, as it consisted merely Of the
old gloomy Palazzo Cavallo which was
much dilapidated, and totally UNFINISHED,
excepting few rooms which had been
inhabited by the late prince-an eccentric
character, who lived so retired, and with
SO little show, that it was the surprise of
every one how he could have squandered
a very considerable fortune, when, at his
death, all his estate were obliged to
be sold for the payment of his debts.
The new prince removed to Naples i'm
mediately upon the demise of his relation:
having lost both his father and his wife
in the course of the preceding wear, he
had now no tie to the country, and was
desirous of giving his son the advantage
OF superior education to what retired
province could afford him.
They were soon quietly established in
their new abode; Constantine was sent to
a college; and the prince, who was very
little known in Naples, continued to live
almost as much secluded rs he had done
in Cala3ria. Upon taking possession of
the Palazzo Cavallo, he found that the
only remains of its ancient magnifcence
consisted in a very fine colossal statue
of a bronze horse, which was placed upon
high pedestal in the Center of the court:
and it frequently occurred 10 him how
gladly he would dispose of it if a pur-
chaser would present himself, without
his pride being hurt by Offering it for
SALE
One winter evening, several years after
bis taking up his residence in Naples,
when it was nearly dark, little old man
bending double apparently from age, and
with his hat SO much pulled over his
Face as scarcely to allow any of his fea-
lures to be visible, entered the court of
the palace, and meeting one of the princes
servants, he inquired if he might speak
with his master.
The prince, who was disengaged, !,
desired he might be admitted, and to his
surprise the stranger (who, by his accent
seemed foreigner,) apoligizing for his
intrusion, told him that the reason of his
visit was to inquire if he had any obiec-
ton to sell the bronze horse he mad seen
in the court below, as he wished to become
its purchaser. The prince replied, that
he was willing to dispose of that statue,
provided good price could be laid. but
that the very lowest sum he would take
was 1000 ducats. This the other de-
clared was far above its value: however,
after continuing to discuss the point for
some time, he at last offered $500 ducats
which the prince agreed to accept and
the old man said he would return ON the
following morning to remove the horse,
and bring an order upon a we'll known
banker for the stipulated sum. He then
departed, leaving the prince very much
at loss to guess what could have in
duced this singular looking being to
lnake such purchase and suspecting
that it must be a hoax of some one who
was acquainted with bis necessities, he
scarcely expected to hear anything more
of the matter. However, next evening
the old man called at the gate, and sent
up by the porter bills for the $500 du-
cats, correctly made out upon the before
mentioned banker, along with note from
the unknown, requesting a receipt for
them adding, that he had been prevent
ed bringing workmen to carry away the
statue That morning, but he should Ger.
tainly return for it on the morrow.
| The prince, well pleased to find he was
not to meet with disappointment, has
tened to give the desired receipt but
when the porter descended with it to the
court, the man was nowhere to be seen,
and after waiting sometime in expecta-
ton ofhis reappearing, he went up stairs
to inform his master of the fact. More
than ever amazed, the prince could in
now way account for such conduct but
the next morning the first thing he did
was to go himself to the bankers, to find
out if the money had been actually
placed there. Contrary to his almost ex-
tinguished hopes, the banker replied that
the day before, little man. (answ ering
the description the prince gave had
called and paid him $500 ducats on the
prince account, and had received from