Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 12.pdf/675

 634

any means the angel of purity that her ad mirers depict. As for the Count, he ap pears to have been one who was experienc ing considerable difficulty in controlling a family rendered licentious and turbulent through force of evil example. Such was the state of affairs in the year of grace, 1598. Affairs had then arrived at so acute a stage that the entire family, with the exception of Bernardo, who was yet a child, entered into conspiracy to bring about the death of Francesco. Guerra, as a friend of Giacomo, was called in to assist. It was the Count's custom to pass a few months in each year at Rocca Petrella, a castle in the central part of Italy lying midway between Rieti and Aquila, in the ancient Kingdom of Naples, and belong ing to his friend Marzio di Colonna, lord of the fief. This fortress, dismantled in 1642 by order of the Neapolitan Government and now only a mass of ruins, was apparently of the usual type of smaller mediaeval strong holds, 'approached by the main street of the village which it was designed both to protect and dominate. It is thus described in a manuscript record, dated 1642 : The Castle or Baron's Court (Baronial Corte) stands on a mountain. It has on the ground rloor, a dining room and six chambers and covered courtyard or cloister leading to the kitchen. Underground are the prisons. Up stairs are two staterooms and a saloon and two bed-chambers. There is a square in front and a rather large chapel, also a fine piscina.

When the time set for Count Cenci's de parture was near at hand, an arrangement was made with two bravi, Olimpio Calvetti and Marzio da Fiorani, who were to collect a troop of their comrades and capture the en tire family while on the way to Petrella. For the release of Francesco, a heavy ransom was to be demanded, and the others sent back to Rome for the purpose of obtaining it. This, it would subsequently be claimed, they were unable to do, by the time set, and

the banditti not having received the stipu lated sum would thereupon put Count Cenci to death. In this way it was believed, no suspicion would attach to the real authors of the, crime. Of the two assassins, Olimpio was at one time castellan of Rocco Petrella. He had been discharged from the employ of Prince Colonna at Francesco's request, for the Count appears to have had suspicions not altogether without foundation, as to his relations with Beatrice. Marzio da Fiorani, alias Catalana, had been a servant of the family, but having incurred Francesco's dis pleasure had lost his situation. Both were urged therefore quite as much by revenge as by hope of securing the large reward offered. The attempt however, miscarried. Either because Francesco started at an hour earlier than expected, or through negligence on the part of the brigands, the expected seizure was not made and the family arrived safely. Giacomo remained at Rome. A new plan consequently became necessary, and on the 8th of September, 1598, Beatrice admitted the assassins into the castle. This was the anniversary of the Blessed Virgin, and at the request of Lucrezia, whose religious scru ples were aroused, the commission of the crime was postponed. The bravi were kept concealed until the following night, their meals being taken to them by Beatrice. On the evening of the gth, during dinner, opium was dexterously poured into the wine of Francesco, who shortly afterwards, feeling its effects, retired. About midnight, Bea trice released Olimpio and Marzio and con ducted them to his room. The assassins appear to have experienced a spasm of weak ness most unusual in members of their pro fession, for they shortly afterward retired from the Count's bed chamber without hav ing accomplished the deed. Meeting Bea trice in an adjoining room, they informed her that it was impossible to commit the murder. As depicted by Shelley, the scene loses none of its dramatic intensity, for the language which he puts into the mouth of