Eminent literary and scientific men of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Vol. 2 (of 3)Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
History
Eminent literary and scientific men of Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft
Authors -- Biography; Scientists -- Biography
His success caused him to make many enemies among his fellow-students,
augmented by the distinction derived from the kindness of the marchese
Goldoni; still he passed two years happily enough, returning to Chiozza
during the vacations, and spending his time between unforced studies and
pleasant society. But misfortune was at hand to blight his happiness.
The time approached when he was to take his degree; and this very moment
was seized upon by his college enemies to ensure his disgrace. He had
been admitted into the university at sixteen: the legal age was
eighteen. He was a boy among men, and an easy prey. A serious quarrel
arose between the inhabitants of Pavia and the students: four among the
latter, who had conspired to ruin poor Carlo, persuaded him to revenge
himself and his comrades by a satire. The verses of which he was the
author attacked and insulted many families: his four false friends
dispersed them and betrayed him: the outcry was prodigious; and, despite
every exertion made by his protectors, Goldoni was expelled. The youth
repented very bitterly at once his imprudence and the easiness of his
disposition. Shame and regret overwhelmed him, and the idea of his
parents' reproaches filled him with terror. To escape these he meditated
plans of flight, resolving to seek his fortunes at Rome. It appeared of
slight import to him that he should go on foot without money or
resources, so that he could fly from those who were justly offended.
This idea was frustrated by the vigilance of those about him: he was
sent back to his family under the especial care of the master of the
boat, who never lost sight of him; and a good monk, who was a passenger
with him, comforted him by his pious but kind admonitions. His mother's
affection and his father's easiness of nature led them to pardon his
fault, from which he had suffered severely enough. A few days after he
accompanied his father to Friuli. Goldoni exercised his profession as
physician at Udine, and Carlo studied the law under an eminent advocate;
after a short time, the former proceeded to Gorizia, to the house of
count Landieri, lieutenant-general of the army of the emperor Charles
VI. The count was ill, and having heard of the skill of Goldoni, sent
for him. Carlo, left behind at Udine, got into several youthful scrapes,
very little to his credit: he found himself deceived and betrayed; and,
fearing a dangerous termination, he hurried away, and found his father
at Vispack, where count Landieri had a mansion. They remained there for
some months, till the count was convalescent, hospitably entertained,
and very happy. A dramatic puppet-show was got up, which exercised the
theatrical talents of Carlo; and afterwards he made a tour to Laubeck,
Gratz, and Trieste, with the count's secretary. On his return to
Vispack, he and his father set off on their journey home, the latter
having happily effected the cure of his patient, who rewarded him
handsomely for his trouble.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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