Мхи старой усадьбы

           del’Aubepine;andwewouldfaindothelittleinourpowertowardsintroducinghimfavorablytotheAmericanpublic.Theensuingtaleisatranslationofhis"Beatrice;oulaBelleEmpoisonneuse,"recentlypublishedin"LaRevueAnti-Aristocratique."Thisjournal,editedbytheComtedeBearhaven,hasforsomeyearspastledthedefenceofliberalprinciplesandpopularrightswithafaithfulnessandabilityworthyofallpraise.

           Ayoungman,namedGiovanniGuasconti,came,verylongago,fromthemoresouthernregionofItaly,topursuehisstudiesattheUniversityofPadua.Giovanni,whohadbutascantysupplyofgoldducatsinhispocket,tooklodgingsinahighandgloomychamberofanoldedificewhichlookednotunworthytohavebeenthepalaceofaPaduannoble,andwhich,infact,exhibitedoveritsentrancethearmorialbearingsofafamilylongsinceextinct.Theyoungstranger,whowasnotunstudiedinthegreatpoemofhiscountry,recollectedthatoneoftheancestorsofthisfamily,andperhapsanoccupantofthisverymansion,hadbeenpicturedbyDanteasapartakeroftheimmortalagoniesofhisInferno.Thesereminiscencesandassociations,togetherwiththetendencytoheartbreaknaturaltoayoungmanforthefirsttimeoutofhisnativesphere,causedGiovannitosighheavilyashelookedaroundthedesolateandill-furnishedapartment.