Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/229



the time when the fisherman, Massaniello proclaimed by the sound of the tocsin, liberty in Naples, the painter Salvator, driven from the city by the terror which this eight days' revolution occasioned, fled, destitute of everything, and took the road to Rome. He wore a costume of humble appearance, and two poor sequins, well worn, chinked in the bottom of his almost empty purse, when he arrived, towards dark, at the gates of Rome, the same day that witnessed the death of Massaniello, and Naples return to the yoke of Spain. He slipped like a shadow through the deserted streets, until he reached the Navona Square. It was there that, in happier times, he had lived in a beautiful house, near the Pamfili palace. His gaze was fixed, with all the anguish of a sad remembrance, on the high windows which reflected the brilliancy of the full moon.

"Alas!" said he to himself, I shall have to expend much time in producing paintings before I shall be able to regain my favorite studio!"

This thought agitated him with a painful shudder; then, his strength being nearly exhausted suddenly failed him, and, sinking down on a stone seat, before the regretted house, he exclaimed:

"How many pictures must I daub, in order to live, and satisfy the caprice of fools? I feel no longer courage, or confidence in the future!"