Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-28
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NEW YORK, October N.-Mr. William
Waldorf Astor, heir actual or presumptive
to more millions than are at present pos
sessed by any American, is literary man
of modest methods but decided ability.
During his residence in Italy az American
Minister, he made study of italian life in
books of the past and people Of the present.
Your correspondent is enabled to give an
unpublished poem by Mr.. Astor, in which
he renders into English an old Milanese
song:
Reclining low on mossy bed, through the sum-
-mer's dreamy ropose,
Blushing at MONDAY deeper red, lay the luster
of earth-a Rose:
As fair as hope of tomorrow, as sweet as q
dream of to-day,
She knew not the autumn of sorrow, nor the
freezing touch of decay.
A Sunbeam parting the leaves above stole softly
through creeper and vine,
And whispering words of burning love cried,
Rose. darling Rose, thou art miner
But ending their fondest embraces, and quench-
ing the thrill of delight,
Fell veil that dispels and effaces with the
shadowy languors Of night.
As man reverts to the:brilliant past, when the
day we call Life" is done,
So. as the Sunbeam faded at last the Rose
turned to the setting sun;
And the evening breeze idling near her caught
amurmur it echoes yet,
That was partly sob of rapture, and partly q
sigh of regret.
Mr.. Astor has written Q novel, entitled
"Sforza," and it is in the hands of his pub
fishers. In it the quoted verses will appear.
The work is a semi-historical romance of
Italy in the fifteenth century, dealing with
the petty wars between the italian king
doms Of that period. One of the episodal
adventures is that of Hermes Sforza, a
nephew of the Grand Duke of Milan, who
was sent on perilous mission into Venice
Sforza had for companion Narvaez, pro-
fessional swordsman, and by birth Span
| lard. They went to deliver secretly docu-
ment to Barbarigo, the Doge of Venice
They made their way disguised into Venice,
but were there separated and arrested. The
narrative runs in Mr.. Astor's words as fol-
lows:
At the close Of the fifteenth century the Re-
! public Of Venice had attained its greatest de.
velopment of genius and strength.
The administration of this redoubtable State
was absorbed by Senate representing the
families inscribed upon the Libro d. Orno; since
the failure of Falieros plot to recover by blood
shed the prerogatives Withdrawn piecemeal from
the Doge. the power of the nominal chief of the
State had been further reduced, till now little
remained but the exercises of high ceremonies,
and the chair of honor in the great Council.
But the Senate. in its turn, had suffered an
equal encroachment from the Executive Coun-
Gil of Ten, and from the famous Council Of
Three, which held absolute power over life and
property. 1t was before the second of these
that Hermes was now to appear.
The fenciug-master was led from the private
landing through the central court, with its
flights OF sculptured stairs and the domes and
pinnacles OF St Marks, and profusion OF
palm trees and odorous shrubs, in imitation of
the shaded and fragrant courts of Stamboul,
and thence to secluded room. where sat Bar
barigo and his brother. At sight of them the
Spaniard rejoiced to know that they shared his
preaicament, and would be glad as himself to
shorten it Motioning him to approach, and
bidding his escort retire, Barbarigo addressed
him in the suppressed tone to which deaf man
moderates his voice.
"Your companion" he began, Twill presently
be brought before me. charge of conspiracy
has been preferred against him. Tell me had
he other. documents beside the two you
DrOuRQbT
"Yes," answered Narvaez, hoping that the
worse the case appeared, the sooner It would be
the Doge's desire to end it; ''only yesterday
morning saw him draw roll of papers from
his wallet"
Have you knowledge of their imports' NUT
tered Barbarigo, glancing nervously at his
brother.
There was safe-conduct to pass the vene.
tian lines, some bills Of exchange, and q map
'sBy whom was the safe-conduct signed?''
1T looked regular enough, but the signature
was fictitious"
"And the bills Of exchangeT'
ITO aytruth, they were imaginary also, being
merely part of our equipment, SO to speak, and
intended, if we fell in with the Venetian troops,
missioned M % with some me bankers business Us % '0"
"And when this nephew of Sforza is exam.
ined what story will he tell?'
''That we are entrusted with the sale of the
| exchanges he bears"
Entrusted with the sale of forged bills and
treveling under a false safe-conduct! Those
damning papers found upon him, and SO lame q
story on his tongue, will be put to the ques-
tion."
young man." uuoth the Doge, with voice
subdued by emotion, and with every perception
intent "you stand before me in grievous peril
am heartily sorry for 1t, since imprudence is
lsss to be blamed upon, you than upon my
brother of Milan. would gladly set you free,
but it is too late-you win presently be required
from me by an authority superior to mine.
Profit by this moment, then. to tell me the
words you bear from Sforza."
Your Highness well knows" began Hermes
with earnestness, 'the straits in which we Of
Milan stand through the double invasion We
have to confront. To SO painful a pass are we
| brought, that death were no worse than the
shame which must presently overwhelm u.s.
Our army can face the French, for, however
| outnumbered. we have stout hearts and strong
| walls, and time saves many beleaguered army
| But therein lies the limit Of our resistance. If
| the soldiers of Venice unite with those of
France, we shall utterly perish. Therefore in
| the name of Sforza. beseech You refrain from
| doing us so grievous hurt. Suffer generous
| compassion at the calamities that besets one
whom year ago you called friend. to move
YOU, and give us that respite which brave man
accords to the antagonist he sees overborne;
| halt your troops, delay their march for two
months, set them to plundering our cities if you
will; but, as you honor the reputation of Italian
arms, grant that when we face the French it be
| not as men who fight without hope"
These were straightforward words, and they
pierced to the sensbilities of both the brothers.
"Woe is me-" answered the Doge, withiyerit-
| able concern, that cannot do what you ask
| and what my desire would accord. But you
know not Venice; the trouble of her neighbors
! has always been her opportunity-and is SO
now. The army has crossed your frontier: the
| provveditori watch the generals with jealous
| vigilance; what, then can /, old, infirm, unable
| to leave this city do to prevent their advance?'
my uncle said that which the righteous
man steadfastly wills, the devil shall not pre-
vent;' moreover, he wrote certain ietter-Nar-
| vaez, gave 1t yon-"
"Ay, truly" interposed the Doge; 'it was
| faithfully delivered me last night Then, af-
| ter laboring with a spasm that took him as
| often as that cipher letter was mentioned, he
went on to say: You may tell the Duke of
Milan that, as am Christian, will seek to
| halt the troops, even to the limit Of risking my
| life in the attempt. No matter. all shall yet be
| well, provided you leave everything implicitly
to my judgment"
Hermes was about to assent to this reassur-
| ing declaration, when an imperative summons
was heard. Barbarigo's eyes fell at the sound,
and his fingers trembed as they toyed with a
! long quill pen. Then, with abrupt resolution,
| circulating ordeal.
"Hermes Sforzan he said, this is message
from the Council; we must not be found so