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But do not be alarmed： all the fishes in the Mediterranean will be
drowned before any harm comes to him。 Water is his natural element。
Good…day； sister； good…day； father。〃
The young fisherman kissed Nisida on the forehead； drew near to his
father； and； bowing his handsome head before him； took off his red
cap and respectfully kissed the old man's hand。 He came thus to ask
his blessing every evening before putting out to sea； where he often
spent the night fishing from his boat。
〃May God bless thee； my Gabriel！〃 said the old man in a tone of
emotion； as he slowly passed his hand over his son's black curls； and
a tear came into his eye。 Then； rising solemnly and addressing the
groups around him； he added in a voice full of dignity and of
gentleness。 〃Come； my children； it is time to separate。 The young
to work； the old to rest。 There is the angelus ringing。〃
Everybody knelt； and after a short prayer each went on his way。
Nisida； after having given her father the last daily attentions； went
up to her room； replenished the oil in the lamp that burned day and
night before the Virgin； and； leaning her elbow on the window ledge；
divided the branches of jasmine which hung like perfumed curtains；
began to gaze out at the sea； and seemed lost in a deep； sweet
reverie。
At this very time； a little boat； rowed silently by two oarsmen；
touched shore on the other side of the island。 It had become quite
dark。 A little man first landed cautiously； and respectfully offered
his hand to another individual； who； scorning that feeble support；
leapt easily ashore。
〃Well； knave；〃 he cried； 〃are my looks to your taste？〃
〃Your lordship is perfect。〃
〃I flatter myself I am。 It is true that； in order to make the
transformation complete； I chose the very oldest coat that displayed
its rags in a Jew's shop。〃
〃Your lordship looks like a heathen god engaged in a love affair。
Jupiter has sheathed his thunderbolts and Apollo has pocketed his
rays。〃
〃A truce to your mythology。 And； to begin with； I forbid you to call
me ' your lordship。'〃
〃Yes； your lordship。〃
〃If my information that I have procured during the day is correct；
the house must be on the other side of the island； in a most remote
and lonely spot。 Walk at a certain distance； and do not trouble
yourself about me； for I know my part by heart。'
The young Prince of Brancaleone； whom； in spite of the darkness of
the night； our readers will already have recognised； advanced towards
the fisherman's house； with as little noise as possible； walked up
and down several times upon the shore； and； after having briefly
reconnoitred the place that he wished to attack； waited quietly for
the moon to rise and light up the scene that he had prepared。 He was
not obliged to exercise his patience very long； for the darkness
gradually disappeared； and Solomon's little house was bathed in
silvery light。 Then he approached with timid steps； lifted towards
the casement a look of entreaty； and began to sigh with all the power
of his lungs。 The young girl； called suddenly from her meditations
by the appearance of this strange person； raised herself sharply and
prepared to close the shutters。
〃Stay； charming Nisida！〃 cried the prince； in the manner of a man
overcome by irresistible passion。
〃What do you want with me； signor？〃 answered the maiden； amazed to
hear herself called by name。
〃To adore you as a Madonna is adored； and to make you aware of my
sighs。〃
Nisida looked at him steadily； and； after a moment or two of
reflection； asked suddenly； as though in response to some secret
thought； 〃Do you belong to this country； or are you a foreigner？〃
〃I arrived in this island；〃 replied the prince without hesitation；
〃at the moment when the sun was writing his farewell to the earth and
dipping the rays that serves as his pen into the shadow that serves
as his inkstand。〃
〃And who are you？〃 returned the young girl； not at all understanding
these strange words。
〃Alas！ I am but a poor student； but I may become a great poet like
Tasso； whose verses you often hear sung by a departing fisherman who
sends his thrilling music as a last farewell that returns to die on
the beach。〃
〃I do not know whether I am doing wrong to speak to you； but at least
I will be frank with you；〃 said Nisida； blushing； 〃I have the
misfortune to be the richest girl on the island。〃
〃Your father will not be inexorable；〃 returned the prince ardently；
〃one word from you； light of my eyes； goddess of my heart； and I will
work night and day； never pausing nor slackening； and will render。
myself worthy to possess the treasure that God has revealed to my
dazzled eyes； and； from being poor and obscure as you see me； I will
become rich and powerful。〃
〃I have stayed too long listening to talk that a maiden should not
hear； permit me； signor； to withdraw。〃
〃Have pity on me； my cruel enemy！ What have I done to you that you
should thus leave me with death in my soul？ You do not know that；
for months past； I have been following you everywhere like a shadow；
that I prowl round your home at night； stifling my sighs lest they
should disturb your peaceful slumber。 You are afraid； perhaps； to
let yourself be touched； at a first meeting； by a poor wretch who
adores you。 Alas！ Juliet was young and beautiful like you； and she
did not need many entreaties to take pity on Romeo。〃
Nisida suffered a sad and thoughtful look to fall upon this handsome
young man who spoke to her in so gentle a voice； and withdrew without
further reply； that she might not humiliate his poverty。
The prince made great efforts to suppress a strong inclination
towards laughter； and； very well satisfied with this opening； turned
his steps towards the spot where he had left his servant。 Trespolo；
after having emptied a bottle of lacryma with which he had provided
himself for any emergency； had looked long around him to choose a
spot where the grass was especially high and thick； and had laid
himself down to a sound sleep； murmuring as he did so； this sublime
observation； 〃O laziness； but for the sin of Adam you would be a
virtue！〃
The young girl could not close her eyes during the whole night after
the conversation that she had held with the stranger。 His sudden
appearance； his strange dress and odd speech； had awakened in her an
uncertain feeling that had been lying asleep in the bottom of her
heart。 She was at this time in all the vigour of her youth and of
her resplendent beauty。 Nisida was not one of the weak and timid
natures that are broken by suffering or domineered over by tyranny。
Far otherwise： everything around her had contributed towards shaping
for her a calm and serene destiny； her simple； tender soul had
unfolded in an atmosphere of peace and happiness。 If she had not
hitherto loved； it was the fault； not of her coldness but of the
extreme timidity shown by the inhabitants of her island。 The blind
depth of respect that surrounded the old fisherman had drawn around
his daughter a barrier of esteem and submission that no one dared to
cross。 By means of thrift and labour Solomon had succeeded in
creating for himself a prosperity that put the poverty of the other
fishermen to the blush。 No one had asked for Nisida because no one
thought he deserved her。 The only admirer who had dared to show his
passion openly was Bastiano； the most devoted and dearest friend of
Gabriel； but Bastiano did not please her。 So； trusting in her
beauty； upheld by the mysterious hope that never deserts youth； she
had resigned herself to wait； like some princess who knows that her
betrothed will come from a far country。
On the day of the Assumption she had left her island for the first
time in her life； chance having chosen her among the maidens of the
kingdom vowed by their mothers to the special protection of the
Virgin。 But； overwhelmed by the weight of a position so new to her；
blushing and confused under the eyes of an immense crowd； she had
scarcely dared to raise her wondering looks； and the splendours of
the town had passed before her like a dream； leaving but a vague
remembrance。
When she perceived the presence of this handsome young man； so
slenderly and elegantly built； whose noble and calm demeanour
contrasted with the timidity and awkwardness of her other admirers；
she felt herself inwardly disturbed； and no doubt she would have
believed that her prince had come； if she had been unpleasantly
struck by the poverty of his dress。 She had； nevertheless； allowed
herself to listen to him longer than she ought to have done； and she
drew back with her bosom heavy； her cheek on fire； and her heart rent
by an ache that was both dull and sharp。
〃If my father does not wish me to marry him；〃 she said to herself；
tormented by the first remorseful feeling of her life。 〃I shall have
done wrong to speak to him。 And yet he is so handsome！〃
Then she knelt before the Virgin； who was her only confidante； the
poor child having never known her mother； and tried to tell her the
torments of her soul； but she could not achieve her prayer。 The
thoughts became entangled within her brain； and she surprised herself
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