The Fool Errant: Being the Memoirs of Francis-Anthony Strelley, Esq., Citizen of LuccaHewlett, Maurice
General
The Fool Errant: Being the Memoirs of Francis-Anthony Strelley, Esq., Citizen of Lucca
Hewlett, Maurice
Historical fiction
"Sovereigns and rulers of States," said the officer, "will require more
particulars, and so, for that matter, will the police of Bologna. This
is useless for any such purpose, and your pretence only adds urgency to
my desire of you. I don't wish to be severe with you. I ask you in a
friendly and reasonable way to give me the crucifix."
"Never," said I. "Without it I am lost to Tuscany."
"With it," replied the officer, "you are lost to the world for some
time. This indecent profession of opinion--What! a wooden cross as big
as a dagger! Give it to me at once, and follow me to the tribunal of the
police."
I confess that I grew cold before such irrational tyranny. "You are
going the way to work, sir," I said, "to make me an atheist. I shall
yield only to force."
Vain protest! "Have it as you will," said the officer, and signed to the
sbirri, who came forward at once, cleaving the crowd with their drawn
swords. "This young man is illuminated," said the officer; "take him to
the tribunal, and look into his papers." I saw that submission was my
only course, and took it. The police led me away.
A much more severe scrutiny of my miserable passport than had taken
place at Ferrara followed upon this. Nothing but the "assured manner" of
Issachar was allowed to stand up for me. My nose was fatally straight,
my hair fatally out of curl. I was asked was I a Jew? and had I dared to
pretend it, I know not to what extremes they might not have proceeded.
But I had never learned to lie; I admitted at once that I had bought the
passport. Instant action was taken upon this. My crucifix was burnt, the
passport confiscated. I was given six hours in which to leave Bologna,
and did not take three. I departed in a towering rage, which perhaps did
me good, and devoured the leagues between the city and the mountains at
a pace which I am sure did me credit. The lengthening shadows of these
engulfed and sobered me. Late at night I reached a village at the foot
of the mountains, whose name I don't know, and sought out the only inn
the place boasted--if any place could have been assured enough to boast
of so miserable a shelter. By this time I had walked off my fury and a
great part of my piety. I shall only add of Bologna, which I have never
revisited, that, if it is the duty of a city of the Church to freeze the
faith out of the heart of a son of the Church, then that haughty seat
may boast of having fulfilled it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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