VALPERGA:
OR, THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
CASTRUCCIO,
PRINCE OF LUCCA.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "FRANKENSTEIN."
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER,
AVE-MARIA-LANE.
1823.
CONTENTS
Conference of Castruccio and Galeazzo Visconti—of
Castruccio and the Bishop of Ferrara.
Parentage of Beatrice.—She is arrested by
the Inquisition.
Judgement of God.—Revolution of Ferrara.
Fall of Beatrice.
Visit to Pepi at Cremona.
Galeazzo Visconti at Florence.—Castruccio and
Euthanasia meet at Valperga: Doubts and
Reserve.
Castruccio exiles three hundred Families from
Lucca—Visits at Valperga—His Character
further developed.
Beatrice, disguised as a Pilgrim, visits Valperga.—Castruccio
relates her Story.
Castruccio plots the Assassination of Robert
King of Naples.—Made Prince of Lucca.—Declares
War against Florence.—Plot
for a Revolution in Lucca defeated.—Castruccio
summons Valperga.
Castruccio reconnoitres for a Surprise.—Embassy
of Tripalda.
Valperga taken.
Euthanasia at Lucca.
VALPERGA
CHAPTER I
Conference of Castruccio and Galeazzo Visconti—of
Castruccio and the Bishop of Ferrara.
When Castruccio and Euthanasia arrived at Florence, they found thecitizens celebrating a festival: the bells were ringing; the countrypeople were flocking into the town; and the youths of both sexes, of thehighest rank, and richly dressed, were parading the streets, coveredwith wreaths of flowers, and singing the poems of Dante, or his friendGuido, to the accompaniment of many instruments. Castruccio said: "Imust ask you, fair Euthanasia, who are so learned in Florentine customs,to inform me of the meaning of this gaiety."
"Indeed, I am entirely ignorant. I know that during peace joyfulmeetings take place every May, among the young nobility; but this seemsa general festivity. Let us ask that grave gentleman in the blackcapuchin, if he knows the reason of a merriment, which at least has notcommunicated itself to his face."
The man, on being asked, replied: "You must be but lately arrived, notto have heard of the cause of our rejoicings; the Florentines,