Page:Manzoni - The Betrothed, 1834.djvu/40

 do this I neglect my duty, and am covered with reproaches for it."

"In the name of Heaven, keep me not thus in suspense, but tell me at once what is the matter?"

"Do you know how many formalities are required before the marriage can be celebrated?"

"I must, indeed, know something of them," said Renzo, beginning to grow angry, "since you have racked my brains with them abundantly these few days back. But are not all things now ready? have you not done all there was to do?"

"All, all, you expect; but be patient, I tell you. I have been a blockhead to neglect my duty, that I might not cause pain to others;—we poor curates—we are, as may be said, ever between a hawk and a buzzard. I pity you, poor young man! I perceive your impatience, but my superiors Enough, I have reasons for what I say, but I cannot tell all—we, however, are sure to suffer."

"But tell me what this other formality is, and I will perform it immediately."

"Do you know how many obstacles stand in the way?"

"How can I know any thing of obstacles?"

"Error, conditio, votum, cognatis, crimen, cultus disparitas, vis, ordo . . . . Si sit affinis . . . ."

"Oh! for Heaven's sake—how should I understand all this Latin?"

"Be patient, dear Renzo; I am ready to doall that depends on me. I—I wish to see you satisfied—I wish you well And when I think that you were so happy, that you wanted nothing when the whim entered your head to be married"

"What words are these, Signor?" interrupted Renzo, with a look of astonishment and anger.

"I say, do be patient—I say, I wish to see you happy. In short—in short, my dear child, I have not been in fault; I did not make the laws. Before concluding a marriage, we are required to search closely that there be no obstacles."