Rule of the Monk; Or, Rome in the Nineteenth CenturyGaribaldi, Giuseppe
History
Rule of the Monk; Or, Rome in the Nineteenth Century
Garibaldi, Giuseppe
Italian fiction -- Translations into English; Rome (Italy) -- History -- 1798-1870 -- Fiction
It was 7 p.m. when the fire of the insurgents ceased, and a division of
Papal troops commenced the assault. They began by attacking the large
front door of the factory, which the workmen had barricaded but not
closed. Orazio and Muzio, after further strengthening the entrance,
armed each man with an axe, and, picking out the youngest and boldest
Romans, stationed some of them to the right and some to the left of the
door to defend it. Thus prepared for a desperate resistance, determining
to sell their lives dearly, the assault was received.
Attilio had undertaken to defend the other entrance, and keep off the
second portion of the assailants. Having secured the back doors in the
best manner possible with his appliances, he placed a number of workmen
at the windows of the upper floor, from whence they were to cast npon
the assailants whatever missiles could be found. As soon as he had
completed these arrangements, he placed himself with his friends at
the most dangerous post, armed with the sabre of a gendarme whom he had
slain during the day.
The internal appearance of the factory presented at this moment a sad
picture. Many bodies of courageous citizens killed in its defense had
been carried to and deposited in an obscure corner of its extensive
court-yard. In other corners, lying here and there, were the wounded,
and some were also stretched in the rooms upon the ground-floor. But not
a groan was heard from these valorous sons of the people.
An immense table, with a candelabrum in the centre, occupied the middle
of an extensive saloon on the left side of the front entrance to the
building, and on that table could be seen heaps of bandages, slings,
cotton-wool, and linen of various kinds--the best which the house could
furnish for the use of the wounded. A large vessel of water was
under the table--perhaps the most useful relief of all to the wounded
sufferers, be it to moisten and cool their wounds by bathing, or to
quench the thirst which wounds generally occasion.
Three women of rare and noble beauty moved about in this improvised
hospital superintending the wounded, and we recognize in their gentle
yet bold mien our three heroines, Clelia, Julia, and Irene.
The poor abandoned Camilla, ignorant of the loss of her Silvio, and
with the traces of her past sorrows still lingering on her sweet face,
mechanically assisted the three merciful women in their kind attentions
to the sufferers. They had awaited their friends in the factory with
these preparations as soon as the battle on the bridge commenced, and
they received the wounded when the people, driven back, sought refuge in
the establishment, and entrenched themselves there. Other women of the
people were on the spot also, tending the suffering, and carrying them
what relief the circumstances permitted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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