With Regard To Political Opinions Here There Is A Great Stagnation.
It
costs the Neapolitans too much trouble to think and reflect.
M - - -, the
principal minister, is however no favourite; neither is N - - -, who has
quitted the Austrian service, and is nominated Captain-General of the
Neapolitan army.[109]
There is a great talk about the increase of Carbonarism. You will probably
ask me what Carbonarism means. I am not initiated in the secret of the
Carbonari; but as far as I can understand, this sect or secret society has
its mysteries like modern Free-masonry or like the Orphics of old, and
several progressive degrees of initiation are required. Its secret object
is said to be the emancipation of Italy from a foreign despotism and the
forming of a government purely national. This is the reason why this sect
is regarded with as much jealousy by the different governments of Italy as
the early Christians used to be by the Pagan Emperors. Great proofs of
courage, constancy and self denial are required from the initiated; and
very many fail, or do not rise beyond the lower degrees of initiation, for
it is very difficult for an Italian to withstand sensuality. But the
leaders of this sect are perfectly in the right to require such proofs, for
no man is fit to be trusted with any political design whatever, who has not
obtained the greatest mastery over his passions. The word Carbonari, I
need not tell you, means Coalmen; the Italian history presents many
examples of secret societies taking their appellation from some mechanical
profession.
I have now been nearly two months in Naples, and the zampogne or
bag-pipes, which play about the streets at night, announce the speedy
approach of Christmas, so that I shall soon take my departure for Rome.
* * * * *
I left Naples on the 18th of December and arrived at Rome on the 22d. I am
settled in my old lodgings, No. 29 Piazza di Spagna. Nothing worth
mentioning occurred during the journey.
The fete, of the birth of Christ held at Santa Maria Maggiore on the
evening of the 24th December is of the most splendid description, and
attended by an immense crowd of women. Guns are fired on the moment that
the birth of the Saviour is announced, and this event occurs precisely at
midnight. The Romans seem to rejoice as much at the anniversary of this
event, as if it happened for the first time, and as if immediate temporal
advantage were to be derived from it.
I have mixed a good deal in society in Rome since my return from Naples.
Among other acquaintance I must particularly distinguish Mme Dionigi, a
very celebrated lady, possessing universality of talent.[110] She is well
known all over Italy, for the extent of her litterary attainments, but more
particularly for her proficiency in the fine arts, above all in painting,
of which she is an adept. She also possesses the most amiable qualities of
the heart, and is universally beloved and respected for the worth of her
private character, and for her generous disposition. She has all the
vivacity of intellect belonging to youth, tho' now nearly eighty-six years
of age,[111] and of a very delicate physical constitution; in short she
affords, and I often tell her so, the most striking proof of the
immortality of the soul. There is a conversazione at her house twice a
week, where you meet with foreign as well as Italian litterati, and
persons of distinction of all nations, tongues and languages. Her eldest
daughter, Mme D'Orfei, is an excellent improvisatrice, and has frequently
given us very favourable specimens of the inspiration which breathes itself
in her soul. I have likewise witnessed the talent of two very extraordinary
improvisatori, the one a young girl of eighteen years of age, by name
Rosa Taddei. She is the daughter of the proprietor of the Teatro della
Valle at Rome, and sometimes performs herself in dramatic pieces; yet,
strange to say, tho' she is an admirable improvisatrice and possesses a
thorough classic and historical knowledge, she is but an indifferent
actress.
It is a great shame that her father obliges her to act on the stage in very
inferior parts, when she ought only to exhibit on the tripod. I assisted at
an Accademia given by her one evening at the Teatro della Valle, when
she improvised on the following subjects, which were proposed by various
members of the audience: 1st, La morte d'Egeo; 2dy, La Madre Ebrea;
3rd, Coriolano alle mura di Roma; 4th, Ugolino; 5th, Saffo e Faone;
6th, in the Carnaval with the following intercalario: "Maschera ti
conosco, tieni la benda al cor!" which intercalario compels a rhyme in
osco, a most difficult one. The Madre Ebrea and Coriolano were given
in ottava rima with a rima obbligata for each stanza. The Morte
d'Egeo was given in terza rima. Her versification appeared to be
excellent, nor could I detect the absence or superabundance, of a single
syllable. She requires the aid of music, chuses the melody; the audience
propose the subject, and rima obbligata, and the intercalario, where it
is required. In her gestures, particularly before she begins to recite, she
reminded me of the description given of the priestess of. Delphi. She walks
along the stage for four or five minutes in silent meditation on the
subject proposed, then suddenly stops, calls to the musicians to play a
certain symphony and then begins as if inspired. Among the different rhimes
in osco, a gentleman who sat next to me proposed to her Cimosco. I
asked him what Cimosco he meant; he replied a Tuscan poet of that name.
For my part, I had never heard of any other of that name than the King
Cimosco in the Orlando Furioso, who makes use of fire-arms; and Rosa
Taddei was, it appears, of my opinion, since this was the Cimosco she
chose to characterise; and she made thereby a very neat and happy
comparison between the gun of Cimosco and the arrow of Cupid.
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