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The Princess could not bear the silence any longer, and she looked at Sister Giovanna with a rather pinched smile. 'My dear Angela, she said, 'there is really no reason why we should keep up this absurd little comedy any longer, is there? The nun did not betray the least surprise at the sudden question.
He made it quite clear to me that the request to be released from your vows must come from you, if it is to be considered at all. You understand that, do you not? 'Is it possible that you yourself do not yet understand? Sister Giovanna asked, as quietly as she could. 'Did I not tell you to-day that no power could loose me from my vows? 'You were mistaken.
Amongst other fine things of his, he was used to tell that there was once in Florence a young man called Federigo, son of Messer Filippo Alberighi and renowned for deeds of arms and courtesy over every other bachelor in Tuscany, who, as betideth most gentlemen, became enamoured of a gentlewoman named Madam Giovanna, in her day held one of the fairest and sprightliest ladies that were in Florence; and to win her love, he held jousts and tourneyings and made entertainments and gave gifts and spent his substance without any stint; but she, being no less virtuous than fair, recked nought of these things done for her nor of him who did them.
Those may blame him who think otherwise, but no one can find fault with Sister Giovanna for following his advice; she had a right to believe that it was the best, and as for herself, she had never hesitated. The mere suggestion that she should not see Giovanni at least once and alone looked to her outrageous and contrary to all sense, as perhaps it was.
"I Lombardi," brought out at La Scala in 1843; "Ernani," at Venice in 1844; "I Due Foscari," at Rome in 1844; "Giovanna D'Arco," at Milan, and "Alzira," at Naples in 1845; "Attila," at Venice in 1846; and "Macbetto," at Florence in 1847, were all of them successful works.
Two could bear what one could not. Sister Giovanna felt that fresh strength was given her, and the long-tried elder woman was conscious that her will to do good was renewed and doubled and trebled, so that it could accomplish twice and three times as much as before.
It contained a pair of fur-lined velvet shoes, a bow-knot of blue satin ribbon, and a bottle of almond milk, things of her own which through carelessness had been left behind. She could not know that the honest Giovanna alone was responsible for this return of her property. Coming at that moment, it formed the occasion for two stinging tears rising to the edge of Aurora's eyes.
But such as I am, you must hear me to the end this time, for you have no choice. Sister Giovanna understood that there was no escape and she stood quite still; but he saw that her lips moved a little. 'God is not here, he said, in a hard voice, for he knew that she was praying. 'God is here, she answered, crossing her hands on her breast.
There are some fine scenes in 'I Due Foscari' , but it has little of the vigour of 'Ernani. 'Giovanna d'Arco' , 'Alzira' , and 'Attila' , were almost total failures. In 'Macbeth' , however, Verdi seems to have been inspired by his subject, and wrote better music than he had yet given to the world.
Sadder music I have never heard, but though it has at times drawn from me the sigh of sensibility without referring sympathy to my pocket, I always hear the compassionate soldo of Giovanna clink reproof to me upon the pavement.
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