The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-04-29

"WHAr is the story of Beatrice CenoiY
is one of the questions in last weeks
Query Column; and the editor refers the
correspondent to Shelley's poem, The
Cenci Shelley, in the preface to his
drama, for it is not a poem, says: "a
manuscript was communicated 10 me dur
ing my travels in Italy. (l9l9) which was
copied from the archives Of the CeEcI
Palace, at Rome, and contains u detailed
account of the horrors which ended IN
the extinction Of one of the uoblest and
richest families Of that city, during The
poutifcate Of Clement VIII, in the year
1899 The story Is that an old nan, AGv-
ing spent his life in debauchery and
wickedness, conceived OF length an im-
placable hatred towards his children;
which showed itself towards one daughter
under the form of an incestuous passion.
aggravated by every circumstance Of
cruelty and violence. This daughter
after long and vain attempts to escape
from what she considered a perpetual
contamination beth of body and mind, at
length plotted with her mother-in law
and brother to murder their common ty-
rant. The young maiden, who was urged
10 this tremendous deed by an impulse
which overpowered lis horror, Was evil
QtuAA1 q uibHL EtnllC Aul q ahb.t DElL ~
a creature formed to adorn and be admir-
ed and thus violently thwarted from her
nature by the necessity Of circumstances
and opinion. The deed was quickly dis
covered, and in spite of the most earnest
prayers made 10 the Pope by the highest
persons in Rome, the criminals were put
to death" In the preface, Shell
ley further says: II endeay0ured, whilst
at Rome, 10 observe such monuments of
this story as might be accessible 10 "a
stranger The portrait Of Beatrice. at
the Colonna Palace, is most admirable as
q work of art; it was taken by Guido dur
ing her confinement in prison. But it lie
most interesting as a just representation
of one of the loveliest specimens Of the
w ork manship Of Nature. There is a tx
ed and pale composure upon the featuresi
she seems sad aud stricken down iG spirit
yet the despair thus expressed IS tighten
ed by the patience of geut!eness. Her
head is bound with folds Of white drape-
ry, from which the yellow strings Of her
golIen hair escape, and fan about her
neck. The moulding Of her face is eX-
quisitely delicate; the eye brows are dis
tinct and arched; the lips have that per-
manent meaning of imagination and SEN
sibility which suffering has not repressed,
and which II seems As If death scarcely
could extingUish- Her forehead IS large
and clear her eyes, Which we are told
were remarkable for their vivacity, are
swollen with weeping aud lustreless, bus
beautifully tender aud serene. Ia tAe
whole mien there is a simplicity and d &
nifty which united with her exquisite
loveliness and deep sorrow, are lneNpres
sibly pathetic. Beatrice Cenci appears
to have been one of those rare persons
in whom energy and gentleness dwell 20
gether without destroying one another.
her nature was simple and profound.
The crimes and miscriss in which she WAS
an actor aud a sufferer. are IS the mass
and the mantle, ia which circumstances
clothed her for her impersonation on the
scene Of the world
d. II has never been put uIon The stage,
owing, I suppose, 10 the chief circa1-
stance Of the play, although touched very
deHcately by the author. ".