The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-02
BEATRICE cENCI.
Exchange.l

world. The story of Beatrice Cenci IS still of such absorbing and tragic interest that while few artists and amateurs may lin- ger to study the portraits of Raphael San klo and the Eoniarina which hang in that gallery, the crowd IS always to be found before the picture of this too celebrated patrioian-a crowd as full of sympathy to-day as nearly three centuries ago, on the day of her execution before Castle of St. Angelo.
 Since her death, Beatrice has not lacked advocates to urge her innocence and to charge injustice upon the sentence which condemned her. Both poet and painter have been inspired by her tragic death, and they have cndeavored to place the double crown of virginity and martyrdom on the brow of the illustrious patrician Nearly three centuries have passed, and the truth of fhis matter would be still to discover were it not for Signor A. Berto- lot,i.' who recently published the second edition ofhis Studies of Francesca Cenci and His Family This book, says the Cafhohe Woyld, is a collection of irrefu- table documents, which, when they are analysed with the skill of an arehivist, are more than sufficient to convince the most lncredulous and to place this tragic his tory on its true basis.
 Beatrice Cenci is the one of all the members of of this wretched family who excites the most interest. on account of her misfortunes and Of the imaginary halo with which popular tradition has crowned her. The truth Tn regard to this parricidal heroine has been so distorted that 1t has ended in making her an angel of beauty, innocence and candor. d mar tyr a young girl clothed with every virtue: above all, very rich, and victim of the injustice and rapacity of the venerable octogenarian who then filled the office of wear of Him who pardoned his execu- tloners. IL IS important to be very accu- rate as to the date of Beatriee's birth. The archives ot the basilica of San Lo- renzo in Damaso show that she was born the ,th oi February, 577. She mounted the scatfold the 10th of September. I59y She was. therefore. twenty-one when her father died. and tweny-two when her head fell under the axe of the execu- tioner.
 Baron Cenci's family was made up of three childrea-Bernardo. Paolo and Beatrice. Oftnese, Paoio alone appears 10 have taken no part in the plot to murder him tor. as we have seen, he died before Ii occurred. IL IS Beatrice who appears as the heroine of this horrible tragedy. Ii IS she who, by her emissaries. finds as- sassins to undertake the bushes it is she who introduces by night. through un- derground passages af the castle, the wretches to murder her father II IS she who. aided by her stepmother. -ucrezia. cunningly administers 10 the victim a powerful opiate. 1t Is she who, while Francesca Cenci sleeps the sleep of the drugged. introduces the assassins into his chamb T. F. en they recoh in presence pf thls sleeping victim. Beatrice. this ilmid young g,rl. by threat and invective succeeds Tn quelling their tear and shame. and forces them to consummate the crime rather than see herself use the sword which she brandlshes over the head of her father. The crime accomplished, the two murdcrers ice. leaving to the two new Eumenides the task ot finishing their work. Then-horrible thing the young girl and her mother seize this still bleed- ing body by the feet. drag il through cor rldors 10 window opening on d garden. and hurl Ii on to an enormous elder-tree. on the branches of which the corpse lies hanging till the following morning. This was the night of September $. lboS. l Some weeks after we find the whole iamlly al Rome again. shut up in their apartments. shrouded in mourning. and affecting the profoundest griet for the ! h h a1 fall sb l..
 man justice was not slow m discovering the secret Of Baron Cenci's death The report of his death soon reached Naples. for Rocca di letrella was on Ncapolitan territory. An inquest was ordered, at the close of which all the baron's servants. vasSals and tenants were carried in chains to Naples. In the meantime Olympic and Mario, Beatrice's two assasins. paid dearly for their criminal complieity. The tirst was basely assassinated. that his se- cret might be buried with him the sec ond fell into the hands of the Neapolitan police. who sough, him as the instigator of ssne notorious robbery. His confes- sion attracted the attention of the judges There was no longer any doubt concern ing the murder at Rocca di retrella, and
 
 tions tha, the guilty family were arrested.
 All the accused made their confessions. with the exception of Beatrice. who, in spite of torture, persisted in absolute de- nial. Neither menaces nor prayers could move her. At last her mother approached the rope by which she was suspended, and which tore the flesh from her wrists and dislocated the bones of her arms. Her persuasions proved more efectual. My poor child. says she. [" le, us not be use,essly tortured. The sin was committed nothing remains bu, to do penance to save our souls and to accept with courage the death we deserve" Death is nothing replied Beatrice. casting look of ineffable disdain on her mother. woald have submitted 10 that without, hinching. were not the hon. or of my house involved but, since you all combine against me, surrender" Then. turning toward the tribunal, Have me unbound, and submit me ,o another