Sicilian Romance

Ann Radcliffe

Description

A Sicilian Romance is an early novel by one of the masters of Gothic fiction, Ann Radcliffe. Two young women live in an isolated mansion near the Straits of Messina. Mysterious sights and sounds begin haunting a neglected wing of the house, and their quest to discover the truth behind these mysteries leads them through the labyrinthine landscape of Sicily and into the darkest secrets of its aristoracy.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775416647
• Langue: English

Extrait

A SICILIAN ROMANCE
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ANN RADCLIFFE
 
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A Sicilian Romance First published in 1790.
ISBN 978-1-775416-64-7
© 2009 THE FLOATING PRESS.
While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike.
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Contents
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A Sicilian Romance Chapter I Chapter II Chapter III Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter XII Chapter XIII Chapter XIV Chapter XV Chapter XVI
A Sicilian Romance
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On the northern shore of Sicily are still to be seen the magnificentremains of a castle, which formerly belonged to the noble house ofMazzini. It stands in the centre of a small bay, and upon a gentleacclivity, which, on one side, slopes towards the sea, and on theother rises into an eminence crowned by dark woods. The situation isadmirably beautiful and picturesque, and the ruins have an air ofancient grandeur, which, contrasted with the present solitude of thescene, impresses the traveller with awe and curiosity. During mytravels abroad I visited this spot. As I walked over the loosefragments of stone, which lay scattered through the immense area ofthe fabrick, and surveyed the sublimity and grandeur of the ruins, Irecurred, by a natural association of ideas, to the times when thesewalls stood proudly in their original splendour, when the halls werethe scenes of hospitality and festive magnificence, and when theyresounded with the voices of those whom death had long since sweptfrom the earth. 'Thus,' said I, 'shall the present generation—he whonow sinks in misery—and he who now swims in pleasure, alike passaway and be forgotten.' My heart swelled with the reflection; and, asI turned from the scene with a sigh, I fixed my eyes upon a friar,whose venerable figure, gently bending towards the earth, formed nouninteresting object in the picture. He observed my emotion; and, asmy eye met his, shook his head and pointed to the ruin. 'These walls,'said he, 'were once the seat of luxury and vice. They exhibited asingular instance of the retribution of Heaven, and were from thatperiod forsaken, and abandoned to decay.' His words excited mycuriosity, and I enquired further concerning their meaning.
'A solemn history belongs to this castle, said he, 'which is too longand intricate for me to relate. It is, however, contained in amanuscript in our library, of which I could, perhaps, procure you asight. A brother of our order, a descendant of the noble house ofMazzini, collected and recorded the most striking incidents relatingto his family, and the history thus formed, he left as a legacy to ourconvent. If you please, we will walk thither.'
I accompanied him to the convent, and the friar introduced me to hissuperior, a man of an intelligent mind and benevolent heart, with whomI passed some hours in interesting conversation. I believe mysentiments pleased him; for, by his indulgence, I was permitted totake abstracts of the history before me, which, with some furtherparticulars obtained in conversation with the abate, I have arrangedin the following pages.
Chapter I
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Towards the close of the sixteenth century, this castle was in thepossession of Ferdinand, fifth marquis of Mazzini, and was for someyears the principal residence of his family. He was a man of avoluptuous and imperious character. To his first wife, he marriedLouisa Bernini, second daughter of the Count della Salario, a lady yetmore distinguished for the sweetness of her manners and the gentlenessof her disposition, than for her beauty. She brought the marquis oneson and two daughters, who lost their amiable mother in earlychildhood. The arrogant and impetuous character of the marquisoperated powerfully upon the mild and susceptible nature of his lady:and it was by many persons believed, that his unkindness and neglectput a period to her life. However this might be, he soon afterwardsmarried Maria de Vellorno, a young lady eminently beautiful, but of acharacter very opposite to that of her predecessor. She was a woman ofinfinite art, devoted to pleasure, and of an unconquerable spirit. Themarquis, whose heart was dead to paternal tenderness, and whosepresent lady was too volatile to attend to domestic concerns,committed the education of his daughters to the care of a lady,completely qualified for the undertaking, and who was distantlyrelated to the late marchioness.
He quitted Mazzini soon after his second marriage, for the gaietiesand splendour of Naples, whither his son accompanied him. Thoughnaturally of a haughty and overbearing disposition, he was governed byhis wife. His passions were vehement, and she had the address to bendthem to her own purpose; and so well to conceal her influence, that hethought himself most independent when he was most enslaved. He paid anannual visit to the castle of Mazzini; but the marchioness seldomattended him, and he staid only to give such general directionsconcerning the education of his daughters, as his pride, rather thanhis affection, seemed to dictate.
Emilia, the elder, inherited much of her mother's disposition. She hada mild and sweet temper, united with a clear and comprehensive mind.Her younger sister, Julia, was of a more lively cast. An extremesensibility subjected her to frequent uneasiness; her temper was warm,but generous; she was quickly irritated, and quickly appeased; and toa reproof, however gentle, she would often weep, but was never sullen.Her imagination was ardent, and her mind early exhibited symptoms ofgenius. It was the particular care of Madame de Menon to counteractthose traits in the disposition of her young pupils, which appearedinimical to their future happiness; and for this task she hadabilities which entitled her to hope for success. A series of earlymisfortunes had entendered her heart, without weakening the powers ofher understanding. In retirement she had acquired tranquillity, andhad almost lost the consciousness of those sorrows which yet threw asoft and not unpleasing shade over her character. She loved her youngcharge with maternal fondness, and their gradual improvement andrespectful tenderness repaid all her anxiety. Madame excelled in musicand drawing. She had often forgot her sorrows in these amusements,when her mind was too much occupied to derive consolation from books,and she was assiduous to impart to Emilia and Julia a power sovaluable as that of beguiling the sense of affliction. Emilia's tasteled her to drawing, and she soon made rapid advances in that art.Julia was uncommonly susceptible of the charms of harmony. She hadfeelings which trembled in unison to all its various and enchantingpowers.
The instructions of madame she caught with astonishing quickness, andin a short time attained to a degree of excellence in her favoritestudy, which few persons have ever exceeded. Her manner was entirelyher own. It was not in the rapid intricacies of execution, that sheexcelled so much in as in that delicacy of taste, and in thoseenchanting powers of expression, which seem to breathe a soul throughthe sound, and which take captive the heart of the hearer. The lutewas her favorite instrument, and its tender notes accorded well withthe sweet and melting tones of her voice.
The castle of Mazzini was a large irregular fabrick, and seemed suitedto receive a numerous train of followers, such as, in those days,served the nobility, either in the splendour of peace, or theturbulence of war. Its present family inhabited only a small part ofit; and even this part appeared forlorn and almost desolate from thespaciousness of the apartments, and the length of the galleries whichled to them. A melancholy stillness reigned through the halls, and thesilence of the courts, which were shaded by high turrets, was for manyhours together undisturbed by the sound of any foot-step. Julia, whodiscovered an early taste for books, loved to retire in an evening toa small closet in which she had collected her favorite authors. Thisroom formed the western angle of the castle: one of its windows lookedupon the sea, beyond which was faintly seen, skirting the horizon, thedark rocky coast of Calabria; the other opened towards a part of thecastle, and afforded a prospect of the neighbouring woods. Her musicalinstruments were here deposited, with whatever assisted her favoriteamusements. This spot, which was at once elegant, pleasant, andretired, was embellished with many little ornaments of her owninvention, and with some drawings executed by her sister. The ciosetwas adjoining her chamber, and was separated from the apartments ofmadame only by a short gallery. This gallery opened into another, longand winding, which led to the grand staircase, terminating in thenorth hall, with which the chief apartments of the north side of theedifice communicated.
Madame de Menon's apartment opened into both galleries. It was in oneof these rooms that she usually spent the mornings, occupied in theimprovement of her young charge. The windows looked towards the sea,and the room was light and pleasant. It was their custom to dine inone of the lower apartments, and at table they were always joined by adependant of the marquis's, who had resided many years in the castle,and who instructed the young ladies in the Latin tongue, and ingeography. During the fine evenings of summer, this little partyfrequently supped in a pavilion, which was built on an eminence in thewoods belonging to the castle. From this spot the eye had an almostboundless range of sea and land. It commanded the straits of Messina,with the opposite shores o