Мхи старої садиби

           Hewassurprisedandalittleashamedtofindhowrealandmatter-of-factanaffairitprovedtobe,inthefirstraysofthesunwhichgildedthedew-dropsthathunguponleafandblossom,and,whilegivingabrighterbeautytoeachrareflower,broughteverythingwithinthelimitsofordinaryexperience.Theyoungmanrejoicedthat,intheheartofthebarrencity,hehadtheprivilegeofoverlookingthisspotoflovelyandluxuriantvegetation.Itwouldserve,hesaidtohimself,asasymboliclanguagetokeephimincommunionwithNature.NeitherthesicklyandthoughtwornDr.GiacomoRappaccini,itistrue,norhisbrilliantdaughter,werenowvisible;sothatGiovannicouldnotdeterminehowmuchofthesingularitywhichheattributedtobothwasduetotheirownqualitiesandhowmuchtohiswonder-workingfancy;buthewasinclinedtotakeamostrationalviewofthewholematter.

           InthecourseofthedayhepaidhisrespectstoSignorPietroBaglioni,professorofmedicineintheuniversity,aphysicianofeminentreputetowhomGiovannihadbroughtaletterofintroduction.Theprofessorwasanelderlypersonage,apparentlyofgenialnature,andhabitsthatmightalmostbecalledjovial.Hekepttheyoungmantodinner,andmadehimselfveryagreeablebythefreedomandlivelinessofhisconversation,especiallywhenwarmedbyaflaskortwoofTuscanwine.Giovanni,conceivingthatmenofscience,inhabitantsofthesamecity,mustneedsbeonfamiliartermswithoneanother,tookanopportunitytomentionthenameofDr.Rappaccini.