ThedayafterIaccompaniedM。ZaguritoGorice，wherehestayedthreedaystoenjoythehospitalityofthenobility。Iwasincludedinalltheirinvitations，andIsawthatastrangercouldliveverypleasantlyatGorice。
　　ImetthereacertainCountCobenzl，whomaybealivenow——amanofwisdom，generosity，andthevastestlearning，andyetwithoutanykindofpretention。HegaveaStatedinnertoM。Zaguri，andIhadthepleasureofmeetingtherethreeorfourmostcharmingladies。IalsometCountTomes，aSpaniardwhosefatherwasinintheAustrianservice。Hehadmarriedatsixty，andhadfivechildrenallasuglyashimself。Hisdaughterwasacharminggirlinspiteofherplainness；sheevidentlygothercharacterfromthemother’sside。Theeldestson，whowasuglyandsquinted，wasakindofpleasantmadman，buthewasalsoaliar，aprofligate，aboaster，andtotallydevoidofdiscretion。Inspiteofthesedefectshewasmuchsoughtafterinsocietyashetoldagoodtaleandmadepeoplelaugh。Ifhehadbeenastudent，hewouldhavebeenadistinguishedscholar，ashismemorywasprodigious。HeitwaswhovainlyguaranteedtheagreementImadewithValerioValeriforprintingmy"HistoryofPoland。"IalsometatGoriceaCountCoronini，whowasknowninlearnedcirclesastheauthorofsomeLatintreatisesondiplomacy。Nobodyreadhisbooks，buteverybodyagreedthathewasaverylearnedman。
　　IalsometayoungmannamedMorelli，whohadwrittenahistoryoftheplaceandwasonthepointofpublishingthefirstvolume。HegavemehisMS。beggingmetomakeanycorrectionsthatstruckmeasdesirable。
　　Isucceededinpleasinghim，asIgavehimbackhisworkwithoutasinglenoteoralterationofanykind，andthushebecamemyfriend。
　　IbecameagreatfriendofCountFrancisCharlesCoronini，whowasamanoftalents。HehadmarriedaBelgianlady，butnotbeingabletoagreetheyhadseparatedandhepassedhistimeintriflingintrigues，hunting，andreadingthepapers，literaryandpolitical。Helaughedatthosesageswhodeclaredthattherewasnotonereallyhappypersonintheworld，andhesupportedhisdenialbytheunanswerabledictum:
　　"Imyselfamperfectlyhappy。"
　　However，ashediedofatumorintheheadattheageofthirty—five，heprobablyacknowledgedhismistakeintheagoniesofdeath。
　　Thereisnosuchthingasaperfectlyhappyorperfectlyunhappymanintheworld。Onehasmorehappinessinhislifeandanothermoreunhappiness，andthesamecircumstancemayproducewidelydifferenteffectsonindividualsofdifferenttemperaments。
　　Itisnotafactthatvirtueensureshappinessfortheexerciseofsomevirtuesimpliessuffering，andsufferingisincompatiblewithhappiness。
　　MyreadersmaybeawarethatIamnotinclinedtomakementalpleasurepre—eminentandallsufficing。Itmaybeafinethingtohaveaclearconscience，butIcannotseethatitwouldatallrelievethepangsofhunger。
　　BaronPittoniandmyselfescortedZaguritotheVenetianborder，andwethenreturnedtoTriestetogether。
　　InthreeorfourdaysPittonitookmeeverywhere，includingtheclubwherenonebutpersonsofdistinctionwereadmitted。ThisclubwasheldattheinnwhereIwasstaying。
　　Amongsttheladies，themostnoteworthywasthewifeofthemerchant，DavidRiguelin，whowasaSwabianbybirth。
　　Pittoniwasinlovewithherandcontinuedsotillherdeath。Hissuitlastedfortwelveyears，andlikePetrarch，hestillsighed，stillhoped，butneversucceeded。HernamewasZanetta，andbesidesherbeautyshehadthecharmofbeinganexquisitesingerandapolishedhostess。Stillmorenoteworthy，however，wastheunvaryingsweetnessandequabilityofherdisposition。
　　Ididnotwanttoknowherlongbeforerecognizingthatshewasabsolutelyimpregnable。ItoldPittoniso，butallinvain；hestillfedonemptyhope。
　　Zanettahadverypoorhealth，thoughnoonewouldhavejudgedsofromherappearance，butitwaswellknowntobethecase。Shediedatanearlyage。
　　AfewdaysafterM。Zaguri’sdeparture，IhadanotefromtheconsulinformingmethattheProcuratorMorosiniwasstoppinginmyinn，andadvisingmetocallonhimifIknewhim。
　　Iwasinfinitelyobligedforthisadvice，forM。Morosiniwasapersonageofthegreatestimportance。Hehadknownmefromchildhood，andthereadermayrememberthathehadpresentedmetoMarshalRichelieu，atFontainebleau，in1750。
　　IdressedmyselfasifIhadbeenabouttospeaktoamonarch，andsentinanotetohisroom。
　　Ihadnotlongtowait；hecameoutandwelcomedmemostgraciously，tellingmehowdelightedhewastoseemeagain。
　　WhenheheardthereasonofmybeingatTrieste，andhowIdesiredtoreturntomycountry，heassuredmehewoulddoallinhispowertoobtainmemywish。HethankedmeforthecareIhadtakenofhisnephewatFlorence，andkeptmeallthedaywhileItoldhimmyprincipaladventures。
　　HewasgladtohearthatM。Zaguriwasworkingforme，andsaidthattheymustconcertthematertogether。Hecommendedmewarmlytotheconsul，whowasdelightedtobeabletoinformtheTribunaloftheconsiderationwithwhichM。Morosinitreatedme。
　　AftertheprocuratorhadgoneIbegantoenjoylifeatTrieste，butinstrictmoderationandwithdueregardforeconomy，forIhadonlyfifteensequinsamonth。Iabjuredplayaltogether。
　　EverydayIdinedwithoneofthecircleofmyfriends，whoweretheVenetianconsul，theFrenchconsul（aneccentricbutworthymanwhokeptagoodcook），Pittoni，whokeptanexcellenttable，thankstohismanwhoknewwhatwastohisowninterests，andseveralothers。
　　AsforthepleasuresofloveIenjoyedtheminmoderation，takingcareofmypurseandofmyhealth。
　　TowardstheendofthecarnivalIwenttoamaskedballatthetheatre，andinthecourseoftheeveningaharlequincameupandpresentedhiscolumbinetome。Theybothbegantoplaytricksonme。Iwaspleasedwiththecolumbine，andfeltastrongdesiretobeacquaintedwithher。
　　AftersomevainresearchestheFrenchconsul，M。deSt。Sauveur，toldmethattheharlequinwasayoungladyofrank，andthatthecolumbinewasahandsomeyoungman。
　　"Ifyoulike，"headded，"Iwillintroduceyoutotheharlequin’sfamily，andIamsureyouwillappreciatehercharmswhenyouseeherasagirl。"
　　AstheypersistedintheirjokesIwasable，withoutwoundingdecencyovermuch，toconvincemyselfthattheconsulwasrightonthequestionofsex；andwhentheballwasoverIsaidIshouldbeobligedbyhisintroducingmeashehadpromised。HepromisedtodosothedayafterAshWednesday。
　　ThusImadetheacquaintanceofMadameLeo，whowasstillprettyandagreeable，thoughshehadlivedveryfreelyinheryoungerdays。Therewasherhusband，ason，andsixdaughters，allhandsome，butespeciallytheharlequinwithwhomIwasmuchtaken。NaturallyIfellinlovewithher，butasIwasherseniorbythirtyyears，andhadbegunmyaddressesinatoneoffatherlyaffection，afeelingofshamepreventedmydisclosingtohertherealstateofmyheart。Fouryearslatershetoldmeherselfthatshehadguessedmyrealfeelings，andhadbeenamusedbymyfoolishrestraint。
　　Ayounggirllearnsdeeperlessonsfromnaturethanwemencanacquirewithallourexperience。
　　AttheEasterof1773CountAuersperg，theGovernorofTrieste，wasrecalledtoVienna，andCountWagensbergtookhisplace。Hiseldestdaughter，theCountessLantieri，whowasagreatbeauty，inspiredmewithapassionwhichwouldhavemademeunhappyifIhadnotsucceededinhidingitunderaveiloftheprofoundestrespect。
　　IcelebratedtheaccessionofthenewgovernorbysomeverseswhichIhadprinted，andinwhich，whilelaudingthefather，Ipaidconspicuoushomagetothecharmsofthedaughter。
　　Mytributepleasedthem，andIbecameanintimatefriendofthecount’s。
　　Heplacedconfidenceinmewiththeideaofmyusingittomyownadvantage，forthoughhedidnotsaysoopenlyIdivinedhisintention。
　　TheVenetianconsulhadtoldmethathehadbeenvainlyendeavouringforthelastfouryearstogettheGovernmentofTriestetoarrangefortheweeklydiligencefromTriestetoMestretopassbyUdine，thecapitaloftheVenetianFriuli。
　　"Thisalteration，"hehadsaid，"wouldgreatlybenefitthecommerceofthetwostates；buttheMunicipalCouncilofTriesteopposesitforaplausiblebutridiculousreason。"
　　Thesecouncillors，inthedepthoftheirwisdom，saidthatiftheVenetianRepublicdesiredthealterationitwouldevidentlybetotheiradvantage，andconsequentlytothedisadvantageofTrieste。
　　TheconsulassuredmethatifIcouldinanywayobtaintheconcessionitwouldweighstronglyinmyfavourwiththeStateInquisitors，andevenintheeventofmynon—successhewouldrepresentmyexertionsinthemostfavourablelight。
　　IpromisedIwouldthinkthematterover。
　　Findingmyselfhighinthegovernor’sfavour，Itooktheopportunityofaddressingmyselftohimonthesubject。Hehadheardaboutthematter，andthoughttheobjectionoftheTownCouncilabsurdandevenmonstrous；
　　butheprofessedhisinabilitytodoanythinghimself。
　　"CouncillorRizzi，"saidhe，"isthemostobstinateofthemall，andhasledastraytherestwithhissophisms。ButdoyousendmeinamemorandumshewingthatthealterationwillhaveamuchbettereffectonthelargecommerceofTriestethanonthecomparativelytriflingtradeofUdine。IshallsenditintotheCouncilwithoutdisclosingtheauthorship，butbackingitwithmyauthority，andchallengingtheoppositiontorefuteyourarguments。Finally，iftheydonotdecidereasonablyIshallproclaimbeforethemallmyintentiontosendthememoirtoViennawithmyopiniononit。"
　　Ifeltconfidentofsuccess，andwroteoutamemoirfullofincontrovertiblereasonsinfavouroftheproposedchange。
　　Myargumentsgainedthevictory；theCouncilwerepersuaded，andCountWagensberghandedmethedecree，whichIimmediatelylaidbeforetheVenetianconsul。Followinghisadvice，IwrotetothesecretaryoftheTribunaltotheeffectthatIwashappytohavegiventheGovernmentaproofofmyzeal，andanearnestofmydesiretobeusefultomycountryandtobeworthyofbeingrecalled。
　　Outofregardformethecountdelayedthepromulgationofthedecreeforaweek，sothatthepeopleofUdineheardthenewsfromVenicebeforeithadreachedTrieste，andeverybodythoughtthattheVenetianGovernmenthadachieveditsendsbybribery。ThesecretaryoftheTribunaldidnotanswermyletter，buthewrotetotheconsulorderinghimtogivemeahundredducats，andtoinformmethatthispresentwastoencouragemetoservetheRepublic。HeaddedthatImighthopegreatthingsfromthemercyoftheInquisitorsifIsucceededinnegotiatingtheArmeniandifficulty。
　　Theconsulgavemetherequisiteinformation，andmyimpressionwasthatmyeffortswouldbeinvain；however，Iresolvedtomaketheattempt。
　　FourArmenianmonkshadlefttheConventofSt。LazarusatVenice，havingfoundtheabbot’styrannyunbearable。TheyhadwealthyrelationsatConstantinople，andlaughedtheexcommunicationoftheirlatetyranttoscorn。TheysoughtasylumatVienna，promisingtomakethemselvesusefultotheStatebyestablishinganArmenianpresstofurnishalltheArmenianconventswithbooks。TheyengagedtosinkacapitalofamillionflorinsiftheywereallowedtosettleinAustria，tofoundtheirpress，andtobuyorbuildaconvent，wheretheyproposedtoliveincommunitybutwithoutanyabbot。
　　AsmightbeexpectedtheAustrianGovernmentdidnothesitatetogranttheirrequest；itdidmore，itgavethemspecialprivileges。
　　TheeffectofthisarrangementwouldbetodepriveVeniceofalucrativetrade，andtoplaceitintheemperor’sdominions。ConsequentlytheVienneseCourtsentthemtoTriestewithastrongrecommendationtothegovernor，andtheyhadbeenthereforthepastsixmonths。
　　TheVenetianGovernment，ofcourse，wishedtoenticethembacktoVenice。
　　Theyhadvainlyinducedtheirlateabbottomakehandsomeofferstothem，andtheythenproceededbyindirectmeans，endeavoringtostirupobstaclesintheirway，andtodisgustthemwithTrieste。
　　Theconsultoldmeplainlythathehadnottouchedthematter，thinkingsuccesstobeoutofthequestion；andhepredictedthatifIattempteditIshouldfindmyselfinthedilemmaofhavingtosolvetheinsoluble。
　　Ifelttheforceoftheconsul’sremarkwhenIreflectedthatIcouldnotrelyonthegovernor’sassistance，orevenspeaktohimonthesubject。
　　IsawthatImustnotlethimsuspectmydesign，forbesideshisdutytohisGovernmenthewasadevotedfriendtotheinterestsofTrieste，andforthisreasonagreatpatronofthemonks。
　　InspiteoftheseobstaclesmynostalgiamadememakeacquaintancewiththesemonksunderpretenceofinspectingtheirArmeniantypes，whichtheywerealreadycasting。InaweekortendaysIbecamequiteintimatewiththem。OnedayIsaidthattheywereboundinhonourtoreturntotheobedienceoftheirabbot，ifonlytoannulhissentenceofexcommunication。
　　Themostobstinateofthemtoldmethattheabbothadbehavedmorelikeadespotthanafather，andhadthusabsolvedthemfromtheirobedience。
　　"Besides，"hesaid，"norascallypriesthasanyrighttocutoffgoodChristiansfromcommunionwiththeSaviour，andwearesurethatourpatriarchwillgiveusabsolutionandsendussomemoremonks。"
　　Icouldmakenoobjectiontothesearguments；however，IaskedonanotheroccasiononwhatconditionstheywouldreturntoVenice。
　　ThemostsensibleofthemsaidthatinthefirstplacetheabbotmustwithdrawthefourhundredthousandducatswhichhehadentrustedtotheMarquisSerposatfourpercent。
　　ThissumwasthecapitalfromwhichtheincomeoftheConventofSt。
　　Lazaruswasderived。Theabbothadnorightwhatevertodisposeofit，evenwiththeconsentofamajorityamongthemonks。Ifthemarquisbecamebankrupttheconventwouldbeutterlydestitute。ThemarquiswasanArmeniandiamondmerchant，andagreatfriendoftheabbot’s。
　　Ithenaskedthemonkswhatweretheotherconditions，andtheyrepliedthattheseweresomemattersofdisciplinewhichmighteasilybesettled；
　　theywouldgivemeawrittenstatementoftheirgrievancesassoonasI
　　couldassurethemthattheMarquisSerposwasnolongerinpossessionoftheirfunds。
　　Iembodiedmynegotiationsinwriting，andsentthedocumenttotheInquisitorsbytheconsul。InsixweeksIreceivedananswertotheeffectthattheabbotsawhiswaytoarrangingthemoneydifficulty，butthathemustseeastatementofthereformsdemandedbeforedoingso。
　　Thisdecidedmetohavenothingtodowiththeaffair，butafewwordsfromCountWagensbergmademethrowitupwithoutfurtherdelay。Hegavemetounderstandthatheknewofmyattemptstoreconcilethefourmonkswiththeirabbot，andhetoldmethathehadbeensorrytohearthereport，asmysuccesswoulddoharmtoacountrywhereIlivedandwhereIwastreatedasafriend。
　　Iimmediatelytoldhimthewholestory，assuringhimthatIwouldneverhavebegunthenegotiationifIhadnotbeencertainoffailure，forI
　　heardonundoubtedauthoritythatSerposcouldnotpossiblyrestorethefourhundredthousandducats。
　　Thisexplanationthoroughlydissipatedanycloudthatmighthavearisenbetweenus。
　　TheArmeniansboughtCouncillorRizzi’shouseforthirtythousandflorins。Heretheyestablishedthemselves，andIvisitedthemfromtimetotimewithoutsayinganythingmoreaboutVenice。
　　CountWagensberggavemeanotherproofofhisfriendship。Unhappilyformehediedduringtheautumnofthesameyear，attheageoffifty。
　　Onemorninghesummonedme，andIfoundhimperusingadocumenthehadjustreceivedfromVienna。HetoldmehewassorryIdidnotreadGerman，butthathewouldtellmethecontentsofthepaper。
　　"Here，"hecontinued，"youwillbeabletoserveyourcountrywithoutinanywayinjuringAustria。
　　"IamgoingtoconfideinyouaStatesecret（itbeingunderstoodofcoursethatmynameisnevertobementioned）whichoughttobegreatlytoyouradvantage，whetheryousucceedorfail；atallhazardsyourpatriotism，yourpromptaction，andyourclevernessinobtainingsuchinformationwillbemademanifest。Rememberyoumustneverdivulgeyoursourcesofinformation；onlytellyourGovernmentthatyouareperfectlysureoftheauthenticityofthestatementyoumake。
　　"Youmustknow，"hecontinued，"thatallthecommoditiesweexporttoLombardypassthroughVenicewheretheyhavetopayduty。Suchhaslongbeenthecustom，anditmaystillbesoiftheVenetianGovernmentwillconsenttoreducethedutyoffourpercenttotwopercent。
　　"AplanhasbeenbroughtbeforethenoticeoftheAustrianCourt，andithasbeeneagerlyaccepted。Ihavereceivedcertainordersonthematter，whichIshallputintoexecutionwithoutgivinganywarningtotheVenetianGovernment。
　　"InfutureallgoodsforLombardywillbeembarkedhereanddisembarkedatMezzolawithouttroublingtheRepublic。MezzolaisintheterritoriesoftheDukeofModem；ashipcancrossthegulfinthenight，andourgoodswillbeplacedinstorehouses，whichwillbeerected。
　　"Inthiswayweshallshortenthejourneyanddecreasethefreights，andtheModeneseGovernmentwillbesatisfiedwithatriflingsum，barelyequivalenttoafourthofwhatwepaytoVenice。
　　"Inspiteofallthis，IfeelsurethatiftheVenetianGovernmentwrotetotheAustrianCouncilofCommerceexpressingtheirwillingnesstotaketwopercenthenceforth，theproposalwouldbeaccepted，forweAustriansdislikenovelties。
　　"IshallnotlaythematterbeforetheTownCouncilforfourorfivedays，asthereisnohurryforus；butyouhadbettermakehaste，thatyoumaybethefirsttoinformyourGovernmentofthematter。
　　"IfeverythinggoesasIshouldwishIhopetoreceiveanorderfromViennasuspendingthedecreejustasIamabouttomakeitpublic。"
　　Nextmorningthegovernorwasdelightedtohearthateverythinghadbeenfinishedbeforemidnight。HeassuredmethattheconsulshouldnothaveofficialinformationbeforeSaturday。Inthemeanwhiletheconsul’suneasystateofmindwasquiteatroubletome，forIcouldnotdoanythingtosethismindatease。
　　SaturdaycameandCouncillorRizzitoldmethenewsattheclub。Heseemedinhighspiritsoverit，andsaidthatthelossofVenicewasthegainofTrieste。Theconsulcameinjustthen，andsaidthatthelosswouldbeameretrifleforVenice，whilethefirst—shipwreckwouldcostmoretoTriestethantenyears’duty。Theconsulseemedtoenjoythewholething，butthatwastheparthehadtoplay。InallsmalltradingtownslikeTrieste，peoplemakeagreataccountoftrifles。
　　Iwenttodinewiththeconsul，whoprivatelyconfessedhisdoubtsandfearsonthematter。
　　IaskedhimhowtheVenetianswouldparrytheblow，andhereplied，——
　　"The...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：

前往下载：https://www.kanbaapp.com/share/