The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-01
The Bishops Dinner.

Since the reign of Emperor Freder-
lex the Second few Italian lords have
been so rich or so powerful as one
known in his country as the Marquis
de la Scala. He was one of the few
men who are all through life the favor
ties of fortune, yet who know how to
make good use of their honor and of
their wealth. This nobleman was very
generous in entertaining his friends
and acquaintance, and one day SUI
perb fete was announced to be given
by him shortly at his mansion in YER
ona. Great preparations were set on
foot, and all tongues busted themselves
in describing the grandeur of the coming
banquet. Suddenly La Scala changed
his mind for some unexplained reason,
saying the fete would not take place at
all. Many strangers had come to the
town in readiness, and as the marquis
did not wish these to 90 away under the
impression that he was mean, he loaded
each one with presents which in value
would far more than make up to them
for the expense of their journeys.
He forgot one person only, man
named Bergamino, and it was rumored
that this omission on the part of the
nobleman had been voluntary; he did
not know Bergamino, and therefore
thought it needless to take the least
| trouble to please him.
Now Bergamino had undertaken this
| journey to Verona solely to assure him
self if all the widely-spread reports of
La Scala's great magnificence were true.
| 1t was thus most veXatious disap-
pointment the more so as he had been
at great expense in lodging himself,
| his servants and his horses at the inn.
Nevertheless, he remained where he
was until he had spent all the money
| he had brought with him, and that be-
| ing exhausted, he began to pay for his
accommodation by selling his clothes.
Three very rich dresses were in his.
trunks, for he had expected to need
| them when he took part in the gay do
ings at the house of the marquis. One
| of these had to be used to settle for
| what he owed, and it was not long ere
the second was turned to similar ac-
count. The third would doubtless have
followed but that just at the time Ber-
gamino had resolved on another way of
getting out of his difficulty. Present
| ing himself to the Signor La Scala,
when that gentleman was at dinner,
he assumed very sorrowful and alb
stracted air
What ails your" cried the noble
man; you seem unhappy. May | be
allowed to hear the cause of your
| trouble?'
Bergamino had already decided what
he should say, so he at once opened his
lips.
You doubtless have heard, my lord"
said he. " of a celebrated grammarian
| named Primasso, who made the most
| excellent verses of any poet of his time.
His talent for improvising on any sub
| iect, combined with his other rare abil-
tiles, secured him many friends; in fact,
his praise was spread both far and near
| The desire to increase the number of
| his acquaintance led Primasso to I'M
dertake a journey to Paris, but he APP
peared there in humble guise, for his
| knowledge had not made him prosper
ous-great people rarely recompense
real merit
Arrived in the city, Primasso heard
much of the bishop of Cluny, who,
after the pope, was said to possess more
wealth than any other prelate of the
church. Wondrous were the accounts
of his magnificence, of the splendor of
his table, and especially of the manner
in which all were RECALLED who chose
to visit him at the hour of dinner. Gu
riOus to see a rich man who was also
generous, Primasso resolved to pay
visit to the good bishop.
"It appeared that just then the prel-
ate was residing in one of his country
mansions not many miles away from the
city; therefore, Primasso calculated that
by starting early he should be able to
get there in good time for dinner.
4" Having studied the road he made
his arrangements for starting; but for
! fear lest he might lose his way and be
delayed, he had the prudence to pro-
vide himself with three rolls, which
would secure him against hunger.
However, he found the distance easier
to accomplish than he had expected, so
he was at the bishops house somewhat
in advance of the dinner hour. Being
at once admitted, he had time to look
around him and to observe the grand
preparations which were making. Pres
emily the governor of the household
called out that dinner would shortly be
served, and that the guests must place
themselves at table. BY chance Pri-
masso was seated exactly facing the
door through which the prelate would
presently pass to the banquet, and it
was the custom that even the first
course should not be served until he
himself was seated, Suddenly the door
opened and the bishop was advancing,
but his eye lighted on Primasso in his
shabby garments, and feeling of dis
gust took possession of him, though,
by habit, he was the most charitable of
men. Drawing back and closing the
door sharply, he inquired of his SER
wants who that person might be who
was seated facing the door. No one
knew, for Primasso was perfect
stranger to all. While the bishop still
fingered outside the dining hall this
unwelcome guest of his began to feel
hungry, so, drawing one of the rolls
from his pocket, he set to work to eat
it. Presently servant looked in to see
if he were still in the same place. My
Lord said this one, returning to the
bishop, not only is the man there, but
he is eating some bread which he seems
| TO have brought with him. Let him