The Daughter of an Empress

"You, then, consider it a happiness," said Ganganelli, slowly letting

himself down upon the grass-bank. "Yes, yes, such are you good human

beings! wherever there is a little bit of show, a little bit of outward

splendor, you immediately conclude that there is great happiness. This

proves that you see only the outward form, paying no regard to what is

concealed under that form, and which is often very bitter. Believe me,

Lorenzo, in these times there is no very great happiness in being pope

and the so-called father of Christendom. The princes have become very

troublesome and disobedient children; they are no longer willing to

recognize our paternal authority, and if the holy father does not

manifest a complaisant friendliness toward these refractory princely

children, and wink at their independence, they will renounce the whole

connection and quit the paternal mansion. We should then, indeed, be the

holy father of Christendom, but no longer have any children under the

paternal authority! For having so expressed myself, I shall never be

pardoned by the cardinals and princes of the Church; it has made them

my deadly enemies, and yet it is with these principles alone that I have

succeeded in bringing the refractory Portuguese court again under my

parental control!

"But here in this pleasant place let us dismiss such unpleasant

thoughts," the pope more cheerfully continued, after a pause. "Here

I will forget that I am pope; here I will never be anything more than

brother Clement of the Franciscan convent, nor shall the cares and

troubles of the pope, nor his holiness or infallibility, accompany him

to this dear quiet place. Here I will only be a man, and forgetting my

cramping highness and my forced splendor, will here right humanly enjoy

the sun and this soft green grass, and in deep draughts inhale this

sweet balsamic air. Ah, how happy one may yet be if he can for a moment

escape from the envelope of dignity by which he is kept a chrysalis, and

freely exercise the butterfly wings of manhood! And hear me for once,

brother Lorenzo, so very human has your pope here become, that he feels

a right fresh human appetite. If all here is as it used to be at the

convent, then must you have something to appease my hunger."

Brother Lorenzo nodded with a sly smile. Stepping to the side of the

grassy bank, and slipping aside a small door concealed by the grass, he

disclosed a walled excavation, filled with fruits and pastry.

"I see you have forgotten nothing!" joyfully exclaimed Ganganelli,

taking some of the fragrant fruit which Lorenzo tendered him. "Ah, you

make me very happy, Lorenzo."

Saying this, he threw his arm around Lorenzo's neck, and silently

pressed him to his bosom.

Brother Lorenzo was equally silent, but he no longer laughed;

his usually cheerful face assumed a wonderfully clear and pleased

expression, and two large tears rolled down over his cheek--but they

were tears of joy.