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Updated: June 22, 2025
The priest was confident that there would be a return of consciousness and a spell of lucidity before the end. Through that lugubrious hour I squatted there, watching the awful process of human dissolution for the first time. Save in the case of Fifanti I had never yet seen death; nor could it be said that I had really seen it then.
"Benedicamus Dominum!" "Deo gratias!" rumbled the fat priest, as he heaved his rotundity from the saddle with the assistance of one of the grooms. They shook hands, and Fifanti turned to survey me for the second time. "And this is my noble charge!" said he. "Salve! Be welcome to my house, Messer Agostino." I got to earth, accepted his proffered hand, and thanked him.
Against the sundial, facing the poet, leaned the tall figure of Messer Fifanti, his bald head uncovered and shining humidly, his eyes ever and anon stealing a look at his splendid wife where she sat so demurely at the prelate's side. Myself, I lay on the grass near the pond, my hand trailing in the cool water, and at first I was not greatly interested.
By a great ill-chance it happened that the sword which I had worn upon that day when I went as Giuliana's escort into Piacenza was still standing in the very corner where I had set it down. Instinctively I sprang for it, and Fifanti, never suspecting my quest until he saw me with a naked iron in my hand, did nothing to prevent my reaching it. Seeing me armed, he laughed. "Ho, ho!
Meanwhile, Giuliana poured wine for the officer, and Busio bore him the cup upon a salver. Fifanti ripped away silk and seals, and set himself to read. I can see him now, standing near the window to which he had moved to gain a better light, the parchment under his very nose, his short-sighted eyes screwed up as he acquainted himself with the letter's contents.
Augustine," I again corrected. "Ah!" said Caro, in his big, full voice. "He aspires not to Rome but to Heaven, my lord." "Then what the devil does he in your house, Fifanti?" quoth the Cardinal. "Are you to teach him sanctity?" And the table shook with laughter at a jest I did not understand any more than I understood my Lord Cardinal.
"Ah, Astorre," his wife greeted him. "My Lord Cardinal brings you good tidings." "Does he so?" quoth Fifanti, sourly as I thought; and he looked at the legate as though his excellency were the very reverse of a happy harbinger. "You will rejoice, I think, doctor," said the smiling prelate, "to hear that I have letters from my Lord Pier Luigi appointing you one of the ducal secretaries.
This was Messer Astorre Fifanti, the pedant under whom I was to study, and with whom I was to take up my residence for some months to come. Seeing in him one who was to be set in authority over me, I surveyed him with the profoundest interest, and from that instant I disliked him. He was, as I have said, a tall, thin man; and he had long hands that were very big and bony in the knuckles.
And the greatest blame of all he attached to that Messer Arcolano who had recommended Fifanti to my mother as a tutor for me, knowing full well as he must have known what manner of house the doctor kept and what manner of wanton was Giuliana.
Anon Fifanti joined in the discussion, and I observed how as soon as he began to speak they all fell silent, all listened to him as to a master, what time he delivered himself of his opinions and criticisms of this Virgil, with a force, a lucidity and an eloquence that revealed his learning even to one so ignorant as myself.
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