Chapter 2 past events

I was born into a noble family in Rome.When I was three years old, my father passed away unfortunately. My mother was still young and decided to remarry. I entrusted a childless uncle to take care of my studies.He took me in gladly, even impatiently, because he wanted to take advantage of his guardianship and decide to raise the orphan he had adopted into a faithful disciple of the priest. There are too many people who know the history of General De Fallo, so I don't need to repeat it here.After the death of the general, the priests saw that the French army threatened the religious country, and they began to report that the wooden statues of Christ and the Virgin had been seen to open their eyes.People are completely credulous to this religious lie.They lined up to ask God to bless them.The whole city was illuminated like daylight.Believers brought offerings and poured into the church one after another.Desperate to witness the miracle that others talked about, the uncle organized the whole family into teams.He was dressed in filial piety, holding a cross with the image of Jesus in his hand, and walked in front.I followed him, holding a lit torch.We were all barefoot, with the firm conviction that the more humble we were, the more we would win the mercy of Our Lady and her Son, and make us see their eyes open.In this way we marched to St. Marcel's Church.Here people crowded shoulder to shoulder and kept shouting: "Long live the Virgin Mary! Long live the Virgin Mary and her divine Creator!" The soldiers guarding the door only allowed the sacrificial procession to pass, and the crowd gathered from around the church were not allowed to enter.We got inside easily, and at the railing we prostrated ourselves before the statue of the Madonna and her Son.The crowd was shouting: "Look, they just opened their eyes!" Most people were in a position where they couldn't see anything, but reverently followed the others and cheered.And those heretics, especially wary of showing doubts, otherwise people will kill them without mercy.My uncle, gazing at the holy image, was ecstatic, and exclaimed: "I see, their eyes opened and closed twice." And I, a poor child, with my legs sore from standing, especially from walking barefoot for long distances, Get exhausted.I burst into tears.My uncle forced me to hold my breath, and told me to think of the Virgin instead of my feet.We also saw a tailor named Badash in the church, with his wife and a lame child who could barely walk with a cane.The well-meaning parents put the child on the platform of the altar and shouted: "Bless him! Bless him!" They shouted the same slogan now to Christ and now to the Virgin.Half an hour later, the mother said to her son: "The Virgin is alive, my child, the Virgin is alive." They thought it was time, so they left the altar, shouting incessantly: "The Virgin is alive, my child, you throw me away!" Can you use crutches?" The poor child listened to his parents, threw away the support, fell down the four steps, and knocked his head on the ground.When the mother heard the sound, she ran to help her up, and immediately sent her to the health care hospital to bandage the wound.The poor child suffered a bruised bone and was unable to get off the crutches.After watching this episode, we left the church.On the way home, we still lined up, shouting the usual slogans.

When I got home, I humbly asked my uncle for advice: Why did the Holy Mother have the heart to let this innocent child fall so badly?My uncle replied: "My child, do you think that God and the Holy Mother will create holy miracles for everyone? This kind of thinking must never be allowed. In order to obtain God's incomparable grace, we should have a devout heart and not have any complain." If I make a lot of effort on the topic of holy relics, I am afraid that several books will not be finished. I will only talk about one thing here: in the Piazza Porlarola in Rome, there is a painting called the Madonna of Sabonaro.Some say that the lamp that illuminates the picture is not made of oil, but of the Virgin's own milk.In order to make others believe this lie, they also poured a milky white liquid into the crystal glass lamp bowl for everyone to see.The priest received the rosary presented by the crowd with a large white cassock and sash, and soaked it in the holy liquid.My uncle and I went to worship the statue of the Virgin with the sacrificial procession.And taking this opportunity, I went to the priest and asked him to take our rosary.After talking for a while, he was willing to answer.He returned our rosary beads not soaked in milk but in sticky oil, which took a while to fit into our pockets.

In 1999, the French army occupied Rome and established a republic.And immediately organized a National Guard.Uncle's thinking and speech are very different from those of the victors, but he also had to cover up his hostility and apply for the rank of captain, which made him upset to help with the preparations for the Union Festival, and asked me to attend the grand festival of the Republic on the eve of A religious ceremony in Vatican Square.I was dressed in old-fashioned clothes like the other kids, with a wreath on my head and a cinnamon wreath around my neck. I find this patriotic ingenuity more interesting than a procession to the Virgin.My companion was as happy as I was.What made us even more delighted was the grand dinner held at the Saint-Pierre Square at the end of the ceremony.But my uncle's criticism of me spoiled my happy mood.As soon as I got home, he cleared my mind and made me realize that it is abominable for pagans to innovate and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Their real purpose is to fill the capital of the Christian world with obscenity and corruption.He also said that such a festival is a day of victory for the devil.We have no choice but to ask God for forgiveness for participating in such dirty activities.It is better to die than suffer such shame and humiliation.He expressed his determination that in the future he would not succumb to any violence and refused to participate in these criminal activities.He kept his word.

Soon, the tide of battle changed and the French were forced to withdraw from Rome.Uncle felt relieved, and he was sincerely relieved to see the papal government re-established.After this revolution, full of ambition, he entrusted me to a gentleman to give me an elementary education in Latin.Because I had to master at least the basics of this language, otherwise I would not be able to enter the public secondary school, that is, the Roman secondary school.I have made little progress in my studies.This is because the tiresome eight courses took too long, and Mr. used to fill the minds of us unfortunate students with sermons and scriptures.Homework restrictions are strict, and students dare not go one step further.The priest is full of words from the Bible, and it is a sin for students to think independently.After two years of study, I was allowed to do my first sacrament.After three months of penance, the sacrament was completed.After the rigorous exam, I went home.Uncle and aunt were indifferent to my academic performance, all they wanted was to save my soul.They embraced me with tears in their eyes and congratulated me on such an honorable admission.But I am out of the track of science!When I went back to middle school, I forgot all the knowledge that Teacher Yan taught me.

In middle school, there was a religious organization called the Society of St. Louis.All the young people who are attending classes at school have to go to hear a sermon, do confession and receive Holy Communion on the morning of the festival, and then go to have dinner and return after two hours.The younger students, led by several priests, went to play ball in a garden outside the city.The price of reciting the Our Father ten times with hands on knees per game.After playing the ball, when you return to the city, you must go to listen to the lecture without delay.Then each of us should receive the whip.This is performed by two priests.They turned off the lights to create a more devotional atmosphere.We undressed, and were free to be whipped by the benevolent priests.This ceremony begins when "God Have Mercy" is sung, and ends when it is sung.Then, the priest asked the ascetic to get dressed before turning on the light again.We had to say a little prayer before we left.At this time, our hearts are filled with the horror of hell and the devil.In order to cultivate our souls, this kind of ritual has to be performed once or twice a week, but what a spiritual price we have paid.The gentlemen don't care about our cultural education. On the contrary, they concentrate on how to keep us in ignorance forever, and how to kill all the virtues that sprout in our hearts through unjust and severe punishment.

No luck, I was lucky enough to make it to the end.One day, I arrived at school too late.Uncharacteristically, I'm a mess with my homework.The teacher immediately called Mr. Zhengji.He is a teacher specially sent by the government to carry out punishment.I received twenty rulers on my hand, and the pain was unbearable.After that, I returned to my seat and sat down, unable to hide my pain and anger.I was too impulsive, and the teacher saw that my face was full of anger, and ordered me to be punished.I was furious and refused to obey.My husband threatened me that if I dared to disobey again, I would enforce it.

In such an aggressive situation, there was no other way out of danger than to flee.I was so angry that I grabbed a pen, paper, knife, and ink, and threw them at Mr. Wang's head. Mr. was frightened.In this way, I left the school. My classmates couldn't help laughing, but the teacher ordered them to chase me.I was afraid of being caught by them, so I hid in a church.In Italy it is sacrosanct sanctuary.Those who chased me outside stopped in front of the church.After I calmed down, I considered what countermeasures I should take: if I went to my uncle, he would undoubtedly speak on the side of my enemies; it would be better to go to my mother, who alone can protect me.Mother came soon.She was terrified and thought I had committed some great crime.I told her what happened by chance today.She was slightly relieved.My mother took me to her husband's house.In order to deal with this matter, she made a lot of representations.In the end, the teacher whom I had offended said that he could only forgive me for my mistake unless I agreed to publicly apologize to him on my knees and make a month of confession in the monastery of Saint-Jean and Saint-Paul.This monastery is one of those educational institutions where the incarcerated are paid for their living expenses.My uncle readily agreed to this treatment.He hoped that my mind would be beneficially influenced by going there to take the monk's lessons.He said to me: "God is waiting for you. Once you come, you will be safe. You must remember that the gates of hell are open and always want to swallow you." He entrusted me to the dean and gave him money, please He said Mass for me.Then he bid me farewell.

I don't know how to put into words what my churchgoers made me suffer in my confession to God.He explained to me methodically that I had committed a grave and unforgivable sin.I was young and ignorant, and I completely believed what he said.My confession is sincere.Every morning I humbly show my back and accept the whip. I was punished for my crime, and I wore a shag shirt with small iron spikes as usual.I believed the words of the counselors, and always thought I would meet the devil who followed me.I was terrified.Every night, a terrifying hallucination haunts me, making it difficult to sleep.They forced me to do total confession.I have admitted many times that my classmates have lent me unhealthy books.The priest asserted that this is a sin, and if I don't repent and donate well, the devil will take away my body and soul.I had to take out the money in my pocket and hand it to him as the priest said.In order to get rid of the devil, I had to fast and do various strict penances.The priest said to me: "You see, my child, for the four crowns you have given me, I will say four Masses at the altar consecrated by His Majesty Pius V, in order to save your soul." At the same time, you have to subject your body to suffering." I promised one by one, and I was able to match my words with my deeds.

My penance has finally come to an end.The day before my release, I received the sacrament.Throughout the ceremony, I couldn't hold back my tears.The next day my uncle came and was surprised to see my thin face, but immediately covered it up.He said to me: "Penancery is very good for you, you have been rescued from the depths of sin, and you have become much more refined." We left the convent, and my uncle drove me to the secondary school in a carriage.I fell on my knees and made a public apology to my teacher.He took this opportunity to ask the students to pay attention to his dignity and personality.After apologizing to several other teachers in this way, my uncle took me home.When my aunt saw me, she asked my uncle, "Why is he so skinny?" My uncle replied, "He has done hard work to atone for his sins." My uncle still wanted me to go back to school, but I firmly refused.He finally decided to send me to Mr. Buller.This man was responsible for signing the papal bull sent to Spain.For nearly two years, he stayed at home due to rheumatism.

His work was limited to issuing letters drafted for him by two old secretaries.While I was studying under him, he lived alone with a servant.My elderly aunt often came to keep him company.In the evening, when I had finished my homework, we would go home together.Afflicted with sickness and bedridden for a long time, the unfortunate lawyer cursed God and the saints, saying that if God is just, he should distinguish between good and evil.With a pious heart, my aunt was very disturbed when she heard these words that slandered the gods.One day she refuted the patient, but he would not listen to her well-intentioned criticism.When I got home, my kind aunt swore to me that she would never see the gouty man again.She said: "I can't listen to his swearing at God anymore. You will get nothing from someone like him who despises God. You should be like me and stop going to him."

I replied, "I'm not afraid of his influence." If my uncle knew this and forbade me to attend Bourle's class, I would be very painful, because this non-religious person taught me a lot and made me understand a lot that I didn't understand before. s things.In addition, he lent me some very interesting books, which I read with fascination, and which became the subject of our conversation.My faith was shaken.The moral principles that the lawyer said are well-founded, and I feel more and more reasonable.I really don't know how to reconcile it with my religious education. My aunt went to the lawyer's house again.One day, Burle had a gout attack and the pain was unbearable.His aunt begged him to endure all suffering for the love of God.The lawyer didn't really believe in God. When he was in pain and annoyed, his aunt's sincere advice made him curse.The poor aunt was too angry to put on her shawl and hat, and hurried away.When she went out, she kept making the sign of the sign of the sign of the sign of the cross, vowing never to set foot in this horrible house again.In the evening, Burle talked to me about it with a smile.When I got home, my aunt didn't say a word about it.On Sunday, when my aunt went to confess, her priest, a Dominican of the Inquisition, said he would not grant her absolution unless she had first exposed the blasphemer.The next day, she went to the sanctuary to denounce, and then to the priest.He offered to forgive her because she had obeyed him. Half a month later, I received a summons notice from the Inquisition.I thought it was a few church members who betrayed me and exposed that I had hidden books.I am very scared.I was careful not to bring this summons to my uncle.I've been on tenterhooks all day.It must be admitted that I was in a difficult position, and that a poor young man with little experience, who could not understand what trouble he had gotten into, was in a very embarrassing situation in this case.The fateful day came when I arrived at the holy court and waited an hour in the anteroom in anxiety.Then I was led into a hall with black curtains, where three Dominicans sat at a table covered with a black sheet.This scene made me shudder.Fortunately I knew the secretary of the three Inquisitors, who was an upright priest.Under his hint, I feel more at ease.I was no longer nervous, and before the court session, I took a leisurely look around.I found a large crucifix with an image of Jesus placed above the heads of the congregation; a smaller crucifix on the table, and next to a book open, lay the New Testament.The Chief Justice asked me my name, and whether I had been summoned by the Holy Court.I answered no to the last question. He then asked me, "Do you know Mr. Buller?" "I know." "Did you hear him insult the Church sometimes?" I replied that he was very ill and I went to his home to do my homework, not to monitor his speech.My answer got everyone's attention.The judge threatened me with severe punishment if I did not reveal everything I knew, without any concealment, and ordered me, in the name of the Holy Trinity and the Bible, to report the insults to religion that the criminal said before me if.He added: "Have you not had an individual conversation with this man?" "never." "I advise you to cut ties with this religious abuser, he deserves hell, but we are still trying to get him clemency, although there is little hope of success. Now, young man, swear at the cross of Jesus , do not reveal to anyone the reason why you were summoned by the court and why we summoned you." I complied with all their demands.Before I left, I went through some routine formalities.When I came out, I found two poor old people in the waiting room who were doing the delivery at the lawyer's house.Trembling, they declared their innocence, and affirmed that they had never had any trouble with the Inquisition.When I got home, I told my uncle what had happened.He blamed my aunt for not being strict with her mouth.My aunt defended herself, saying that the priest forced her to speak out when she was confessing. That night, I went to see the lawyer as usual.Seeing that he was very excited, I asked why.He replied to me: "What is there to be happy about? I've been charged in the Inquisition. What are they going to do with a poor gouty man? I'm lying on my bed and I'll see." Some time later, a judge of the Inquisition went to interrogate the lawyer for four hours.But the defendant was very quiet, and all the tricks of the Dominicans failed.A month after this incident, a justice came to interrogate the lawyer again, and he was not more optimistic than the former.As he left, he threatened to drag the patient, including his hospital bed, to the cell. After the judge left, Buller said to me, "What the hell are they going to do? I'm a good theologian, not their half bottle of water. They can take me to the prison, they can torture me, it's all right, but they will never let me go." I deceive my conscience." Then, taking my hand, he added: "My friend, the Inquisition is generally considered good, but it has a bad reputation among intelligent people. Its logic is to them useless." Two months later, the order to arrest the lawyer came down.His execution had to be suspended because his life was in danger.The lawyer's illness deteriorated rapidly.A few days later, he passed away without making a dying confession. In 1807, the French reoccupied Rome, the ancient capital of the world.Those naive young people were confused by Napoleon's swearing speech.I was the first to be moved by him.True, I admired Napoleon, but as I said, my uncle was a hardcore Catholic, and he ruled over me.I was stared at by him very hard, and I was full of enthusiasm.At this time, my uncle had to go out for a short time due to some business.When he left Rome, he warned me not to leave the house.He invited a priest to be my mentor, and told me to only have contact with him.In particular, he told me not to get involved in politics, this thing is the source of disaster.I readily agreed to all his requests, but my words didn't match my heart. My uncle had just left Rome for a few miles, so I asked my friends about the outside situation.Some of them joined the army, and some got fat jobs in government departments.They all urged me to leave my uncle and immediately enlist in the army. In the army, I can earn a second lieutenant without raising a finger.But I was full of worries, and explained to them that the Pope of Rome called on everyone not to accept official positions in the French government, otherwise they would be excommunicated.My worry amuses my friend.They said to me: "Your uncle has given you ecstasy. Your husband has done his job. Come with us, and you will see that excommunication is worth it before long." Their agitation and desire to command gold and iron horses is very tempting to me.I believe that when my uncle sees the epaulets I wear, he will only think that the raw rice is cooked.Plus, he's coming back in two days, so I have to act fast.I bought a military uniform with my own money.My friend procured for me an officer's commission from General Mioli, the mayor of Rome.In my new military uniform, I am full of air, and I can't wait to show it off, like a pompous upstart.Of course, I was liberated only the day before yesterday, and the freedom I still don't understand is not to the point of becoming obsessed. The next day, I dressed up and met General Mioli, thanked him for his care for me, and expressed my determination to be loyal to the empire.The General received me cordially, assured me that the French Government would rightly remember these first active youths, and assigned me to the battalion commander of the 1st Gendarmerie Regiment, César Mariusch.The battalion commander assigned me a job. When my uncle learned of my situation, he hurriedly ended his affairs and returned to Rome. He was shocked and angry, and it was useless for me to explain.Seeing this, he immediately declared to me that I must leave his house, and that he would not take in a rebel who would be excommunicated.I tried to reassure him, explaining the reasons for my choice; serving Napoleon and being a good Catholic.I was wasting my breath.He shouted: "No, it is impossible to have two masters. You must change your course and rein in the precipice. Now is the time. You should retire from the army and avoid the temptation of those who have ulterior motives." But I did not waver. I knew them and tried to the joys of their lives.This brief experience strengthened my confidence.My uncle didn't dare to do anything to me, for he was afraid of arousing suspicion from the French government.At last he relented and agreed to give me a monthly stipend of four crowns, but from that day forward I would not be allowed to live in his house. As soon as the French arrived in Rome, they went to war.In the open letter to the French government, the Pope's Secretary of State kept asking them to stop using excessive force, but they ignored it.The reply was vague, without any intention of changing the course, and intensified, and began to occupy most of the monasteries and turn them into barracks.The papal government publicly protested against this atrocity of human rights violations, but General Mioli was not impressed.The pope saw that the protest was futile, and he decided that anyone who worked with the French would be excommunicated.The pope's decree was posted overnight on all bulletin boards in Rome and the entire country.The general responded to this hostile measure by replacing the Swiss troops guarding Mount Cavallo Palace with French ones, and forbade anyone from visiting the palace.Seeing that his rights were being despised and that he was under house arrest, the Holy Father closed the door of the palace and refused to have any contact with the outside world.Knowing that the French were trying to kidnap him, he ordered the pope's clothes to be prepared.If anyone acts recklessly and invades his sanctuary, he will wear a costume and protest with death those gangsters who dare to extend the hand of blasphemy to his holy body.The French plan was clearly revealed, and the Roman people boiled.Although General Mioli had a lot of troops in his hands, he did not dare to kidnap the Pope rashly. He had to use an absolutely secret method, and he could not ignore any necessary measures to ensure the implementation of this plan.In this country where the people only recognize religion and regard the pope not only as a monarch but also as a god on earth, the implementation of this plan will encounter almost insurmountable difficulties. Three days before the end of this tragedy, dignitaries such as Townstead, Monty, Popolo, Borgo, etc., used the pretext of presenting a rare big sturgeon weighing about 300 catties to His Majesty the Pope. To the gate of the palace.The ban on entry was not revoked, but the French, afraid of deepening public suspicion if they objected to the request, politely granted their admission.The representatives of the dignitaries entered the palace with the gigantic sturgeon.The Pope was delighted to see them present, and was especially grateful for the devotion they had shown to their sovereign even when they themselves were persecuted by their enemies.A representative explained the real purpose of their visit to the Pope. He said: "There are twenty thousand armed men who are ready to rescue you from the enemy. In this severe situation, it is necessary to use tactics to paralyze the vigilance of the guards. You should believe in everyone's loyalty, for you, they will not hesitate to throw their heads and blood." The pope didn't believe in the conspiracy of the French government, and he didn't believe that he was going to be in trouble, so he expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries and said: "You go, it is not time to act. When I need you, I will tell you Please rest assured that I will always be with you. They dare not harm me.” Then, the Pope blessed them and allowed them to kiss his heels before saying goodbye to them. Sensing signs of popular unrest, General Mioli was disturbed.In order to thwart the revolt brewing under his nose, he decided to hasten the hijacking of the Pope.He sent Gendarmerie Commander General Radh to carry out this special task.Because the attack on the palace was to be carried out at night, Rad ordered all the police chiefs to stand at their posts.One hundred policemen with guns and ammunition, fifty gendarmes, one hundred National Guard soldiers, and ladders were waiting at the foot of the wall of the Pope's Garden.The commander announced to the soldiers who took part in the operation that any soldier who caused any disorder in the palace would be put to death.General Ladd, accompanied by Gendarmerie Sergeant Bao Long, arrived late at night in plain clothes.He gave the order to ascend the stairs: the first to climb were the police, then the National Guard, and finally the general and a few gendarmes.A National Guard soldier named Masarini, with a patriotic passion, longed for the glory of being the first to climb the city.He paid a heavy price for this.He fell from a ladder and broke a leg.When his companions saw it, their enthusiasm was greatly affected. They thought it was God's punishment.These policemen were reluctant to come, but now they refuse to go to the city.At this time the general went up to the gendarmes and said to them: "Warriors, you go up, let these people see whether it is God's punishment or a natural accident. Go up!" The gendarmes immediately boarded the city, and the National Guard and the general also went on.The police came last.The general asked a guide who knew the winding and dark passages leading from the garden to the palace.Holding guns in both hands, they passed through the tunnel until they found the inner response at the end, opened the door for them, and entered the palace compound.The general gathered small troops and ordered them to unload the guns of the Swiss Guards.Fifteen people are enough to carry out this task.The gendarme quickly completed the scheduled task, returned to the assembly point, and assured the general that the Pope's guard would not make any resistance.The general ordered his retinue to remain absolutely silent, and ordered the guide to lead him and the sergeant to the Pope's bedroom.They arrived at the bedroom door smoothly.The general knocked twice on the door. "Who is it?" the Pope asked when he knocked on the door a second time. "I am General Lad, special envoy of the Emperor Napoleon." The pope opened the door.He was fully dressed, and some guessed he hadn't been in bed at all; others thought he had prepared for the visit and was waiting for the moment to be taken away.Whatever the case may be, His Holiness called the general and sergeant into the room.The general paid his respects to the Pope, and said: "Your Majesty, I will give you five minutes to think and make a decision: you must sign this treaty (including the oath of loyalty to the Emperor, the recognition of Napoleonic regulations and other relevant provisions), or leave immediately. here." The pope read the treaty.During these five minutes he stood and played with a snuff-box.The sergeant took the liberty of asking for a puff, and the pope smiled and handed him the case. The sergeant tried it and said, "This is very good." The pope made no reply, and motioned for him to take the packet of shredded tobacco from the table. At the end of five minutes, the general asked the Holy Father what decision he had made, and he replied: "I will go. But I want to take my secretary of state and attendants with me." The general granted his request, and he then ordered the palace gates to be opened immediately to allow the passage of two coaches, stage horses, and six heavily armed gendarmes escorting the vehicles. Cardinal Consawi soon arrived, strongly protesting the kidnapping and asking for more time to prepare for departure.General Rad told him sarcastically that the time for discussion and discussion had passed, and now it was time to get on the road.Vehicles are parked under the stairs.The pope got into a car assigned to him.He offered to join the Secretary of State, but the general refused.For the sake of safety, let the Pope's retinue and Cardinal Consawi take the second car.The sergeant sat behind the cardinal's car; the general sat behind the pope. In this way, the people left the palace and walked through the city without arousing anyone's suspicion.While the pope was leaving, an officer ordered the guards to leave the palace for a while.They returned to the barracks at their ease.Forgot to take the ladder.was discovered in the morning.So the news that the Pope was hijacked through the ladder spread like wildfire.The priest used religion to make a big fuss on the ladder that poor Mazzani fell, and asserted that the Pope could have killed all those present, but he only made one person fall to make an example.He speaks eloquently, citing a large number of myths of the same nature.Those ignorant common people, however, listened with gusto and applauded loudly. The French government seized the palace and sent away all the cardinals who refused to swear allegiance to the Emperor Napoleon. Here, I would like to talk about an accident that almost brought the hijacking to a halt. The general's convoy arrived at Montero Ridge, twenty-five miles from Rome, and was about to change trains.The pope opened a car door.The stagecoach driver, who had started driving from Baccaro, recognized him, fell to the ground, and cried: "Holy Father, protect me, I am innocent. Had I known in advance that they had kidnapped you, I'd rather die than work for them. " After hearing this, the coachmen who were about to mount their horses refused to set off.They started to shout: "Holy Father, protect us, we want to rescue you." Fortunately, the general was prepared, and when he saw that the situation was not right, he ordered the military police to push the drivers away, and at the same time selected two soldiers from among the soldiers to drive quickly.The general raised his guns in both hands and declared: Whoever takes the lead in blocking the vehicles will have his head blown.That's how hard it is to get out. The general and his party ran non-stop until Beiri in Ducana, rested for a few hours, and continued on their way.Later, when I passed by Bijpenzi, I heard an interesting story from the proprietress of a hotel where the Pope and others stayed.A button was missing from the pope's waistcoat, and since he had no spare and the attendant was absent, he had to ask the landlady to sew it on for him.The proprietress immediately helped him.But the Pope had no change to pay for this little service, so he borrowed it from General Rad.The general handed him a purse stuffed with louis d'or.The pope took four and gave them to the proprietress. After the Holy Father left the palace, the world suddenly changed.Everyone forgot his excommunication and rushed to accept the French government.Only the devout followers of the Pope, who are unwilling to rest, remain true to their moral principles.My uncle was such a man, he refused a well-paid job for fear of excommunication.I am not among the believers.I went to Forli, a small city more than a hundred miles away from Rome, to manage the national industry in the name of the French government.I resigned from the rank of second lieutenant, and before I left I went to say goodbye to my uncle and mother and tell them my decision.The stepfather shared the same views as the uncle and also refused to accept the post.They treated me coldly and predicted that I would soon cry with Napoleon's supporters.After hearing this, I thought it was funny.No matter what I said, they didn't agree with me, so I said goodbye to them and started on the road. My partner on the trip had a great personality and deserves a mention.A lawyer went back to the weak city of Foley with his young wife.He does administrative work there.A Capuchin missionary, returning to Brierau Abbey.He was in his late sixties, suffering from wind pain, and in spite of the pain he was in good spirits and entertained us throughout the trip. He was not a man of great expertise, having been a preacher and confessor to Queen Lapro, wife of Ferdinand IV of Naples.After the king retired to Sicily, our Capuchin priest, tired of living in Palermo, returned to the monastery.If I paraphrase all he said, I'm afraid you won't hear it.He had no qualms about his reputation as a royal confessor.I'll just say one interesting thing.The queen has a lover, and this is a pleasure and a necessary diversion for her.But the monk obstructed the queen and forbade her to find a lover.The queen was not discouraged. She came to ask the monk again, but he didn't let go.The monk also said in a harsh tone, "I can't forgive you. You don't want to change at all, and you keep committing the same crime." The queen opened her purse, took out a fair amount of gold coins, and said, "If you can forgive me , just accept the money. And read the Mass for me, so that I can get the power to reform from God." It was unreasonable, and the monk could not refuse, so he accepted the money, forgiven her sins, and promised to reform for her And pray. The priest smiled and said to us, "That's how I made a lot of money by selling forgiveness. We trade fairly and benefit each other. I have money, and the queen has a lover. After all, if I don't compromise, I will be punished." The queen was driven out, and she could find a hundred confessor priests the next day, and they would all compete to give her forgiveness. This story made me understand how reasonable what poor Bourle said. When Foley is weak, I will take office immediately.The first thing I want to do is to abolish the monasteries of men and women, and to make a register of monastic income and property.From the inside of the monasteries, I learned how many victims of family arbitrariness and ambition they had imprisoned.In order to leave a greater fortune to the eldest son, these families are willing to make other children suffer from long-term isolation.那些年长的修女被迫离开她们像王后一样颐指气使的地方时，显得十分痛苦；而那些被强迫抛弃红尘的年轻修女，却欢天喜地，有几次还悄悄向我打听，什么时候放她们自由。她们的天真让我发笑。由此，我真希望能对那些失尽天良、虐待子女的父母，给予严惩。我无法估计在修道院里发现的财产。有几个修道院的收入可以维持几十户人家的生活，却被七八个修士私吞了。尽管我要严厉谴责拿破仑的某些行为，可对于这一点，我得说他几句好话。比如让这些四体不勤、贪图享受、只想肥己的家伙回到社会，参加工作就是一条有益措施。我倒不满意那种给他们津贴的做法。假如我手里有权，我也许会在政治上犯错误，但目睹他们的堕落和虚伪，我一个铜子也不会给他们。越认识到他们的本质，越看出他们是一些无耻之徒。几个不受神品的修士，向我揭露了这个行业的一切秘密，说修道士与城里的头等女人私通，向她们献殷勤，骗取她们的钱财。这些女人也乐意上钩，因为她们看到，受修士庇护的家庭，能得到教皇政府的好处。修女们也有办法减轻幽禁的痛苦。只是她们不能外出，遇到相当多的阻碍。而修士们则自由得多，他们可以无拘无束地干那些极其丑恶的事情。 当我撤销修道院后，便把它们的所有资产都拍卖掉。因价格不高，且来源正当，市民们都争先购买。可佛利弱的老百姓却有顾忌，只需一件事，就能够说明老百姓的迷信。据说某年狂欢节，在化装舞会中，有人看见在圣·菲利散教堂的广场上魔鬼在跳舞。为了镇邪驱魔，愚昧的市民马上集会，举行祈祷仪式，并作出决定，每年狂欢节中间停一个星期，这一星期称为“安神”周。我们想打消这种愚见，可费了很多力，也无济于事。这些不幸的人坚信，若谁犯禁，魔鬼一定会在教堂广场上重新出现。 我常去罗马，有时是寻寻快乐，更多的时候是办公事。我让人为我做了一辆小马车，并有一匹日行千里的好马，这样大大缩短了我的旅途时间。我常独自一人在夜里通过罗马农村，有人提醒我，那里强盗出没，还是小心为好，可我并不害怕什么。因为我从没遇到过一点事，对这些危言耸听的劝说，我付之一笑。可有一次我去罗马参加圣·拿破仑节，在勒比到蒙特罗脊的路上，八个全副武装的人朝我奔来，喊道：“站住！站住！”已是深夜，听到喊声，我站住了，问他们要干什么。他们叫我下车，将我的头压下。下车时，我告诉他们，马要跑的，不要松开缰绳。他们拉住马，问我是什么人。 我当然不能透露自己的真实身份。若说出我是法国政府的官员，他们会立即杀死我的。 我对他们说：“我是商人，在跑生意。” "Where are you from?" “佛利弱。” 他们商量了一下如何对我行动，其中一个说：“我看这家伙在骗我们，他一定是个官员。” 另一个说：“不，假设他是官员，量他不敢一个人夜里旅行。” 第三个说：“这肯定是个商人，他晚上赶路，还不是为省几个歇旅舍的钱。” 他们这样商量了以后，一个人对我说：“你真是个商人吗？” 我回答他们：“当然！我的朋友，你们要相信我的话。为了躲过兵役，我作了很大牺牲，哪里还会到法国政府里去做事。” 另一个人喊道：“你们听听，他被抓过兵哩！” 然后朝我说：“你不用怕，我们也是逃兵，不是强盗。因为我们不愿为拿破仑卖命，就上了山。假如我们碰上哪个官员，或宪兵、士兵之流，我们不会饶过他们的。而一般过路客人，我们只要他们留下点买路钱。你丢下八埃居，我们每人得一埃居，我们就不找你的麻烦了。” 于是我从口袋掏出钱包，里面有十五个金路易。我对他们说：“这包里的钱，你们拿去花吧。” 见我这样慷慨，他们悄声说了几句什么，随后朝我大声说：“我们不是强盗，谁收你的钱包？我们多的不要，只要八埃居。” 我感动地给了他们钱。然后他们对我说：“走吧，愿上帝保佑你。不过，你要等我们走了两百米后才能抬头。” 我立即想到，他们丢开缰绳，马一自由，就会撒腿跑开，我便难控制了。于是我对他们说：“好汉，你们对我太宽容了，还劳驾你们抓住缰绳，等我上了车再松开。我不抬头看你们，我敢用我的荣誉发誓，我不想认识你们，更无心害你们。” “为了更保险，得用手巾捆住你的眼睛。” 我捆了眼睛，迅速登上车。抓住缰绳后，我与他们告别。 我扬鞭策马，到了蒙特罗脊。惊魂稍定，我向人讲起这段险遇。大家都说幸好我隐瞒了自己的职业，不然就没命了。 过了八月十五节，我打算返回佛利弱任上。但听说著名强盗丝包朵利洛四个月前被捕，意大利四面八方纷纷检举他的罪行，法院快要审判他了。我便留在罗马打听案情发展，看看这个可怜人是否会像他在监狱里说的，要在法庭逗得大家好好笑笑。 这个丝包朵利洛从事打家劫舍的营生已有十八年了，从来没有失手。法国政府苦于抓不到他，便派警长安热罗·洛道里去执行任务。他灵活、机警，很善于处理这类棘手案件。 他看到对这强盗来硬的不行，便来软的。他叫人悄悄通知丝包朵利洛：一个警长要求与他面谈，并请他指定会见的地点；警长不带武器，单个去见他。警长还说完全相信他的诚意，且这次会见事关重大。丝包朵利洛接受了这个建议，确定了会面地点。 洛道里按照诺言，没带武器，单人赴约，见到了丝包朵利洛。丝包朵利洛对他说：“洛道里大人，您来这里，是不是要背叛我，或真像您信里说的，有件什么重要事情对我说？” 洛道里说：“我不是个叛徒。法国政府想通过您的合作，一网打尽您的同羽。这样，政府将宽恕您，并保证您安全地享用您积攒的财产。” 丝包朵利洛已经厌倦了冒险生涯，希图过过平静的日子，便同意了这种安排。如果法国政府确实能保证他的安全，他答应交出他的部队。警长以荣誉保证他的要求。丝包朵利洛未免太天真，凭警长空口一言，便相信了这种担保。他说：“那好，就在今天晚上八点，您带二十个宪兵或一支农民部队到这地方来。我将带七八个人来，这是我能做到的。我妻子也会来。我请您同样能保证她的自由。” 这一条好接受。于是双方达成了协议便一块走了。在路上，丝包朵利洛说要给警长两千埃居，作为他获得自由的代价。并说他有一笔相当数量的钱，放在可靠的地方。他们谈了很久才分手。 回到罗马，洛道里向他的上司报告了会谈的成绩。晚上，他依约带了宪兵，到了约定地点。丝包朵利洛及时出现了，向他喊道：“我们进去吧！我的人在吃饭哩。” 随后他又说：“别忘了，我可相信你的话了。不过，我老实告诉你，我还有点怀疑，法国政府未必会宽恕我。” “你一点不用怕，有我担保哩！” 就这样，警长与上了当的丝包朵利洛手挽手地说着话，宪兵静静跟在他们后面。到了房子门口，丝包朵利洛吹了一声口哨，门立即开了。他第一个进去。他的人还以为头儿给他们带来了新的伙伴，仍坐在那里没动。趁他们不备，宪兵各自找到了有利位置，一下逮住了所有匪徒。四个宪兵冲到丝包朵利洛跟前，下了他的武器，跟其他人一样上了铁链。 他喊道：“你背叛了我。” 洛道里冷冷地辩道：“不，这纯粹是走走过场。明天你就自由了。” 丝包朵利洛抗议也白搭。他恍然大悟，不再相信洛道里的话。他痛苦地说：“我十八年间，世上谁也奈何不得我。哪想到，今天让你洛道里立了这个功。我太老实了，也太急躁。 我总以为，一个人发的誓，总有几分可靠吧。我现在看清了，我太轻率，我上当了！我出卖了我的人马，把自己也搭了进去！ " 后来，他看到妻子也上了镣铐，被带往监狱。“我妻子是无辜的。”他喊道，“夫人，我会救你的。不，你不会死，我还是你的保护者。” 他的全部人马都被押进了监狱。一个特别法院预审这个案件。通过五个月的侦讯，搜集了近四百个证据，揭露出了大量凶杀事实。案子提交到法院。丝包朵利洛和妻子及八个同犯到庭。他站着对庭长说了下面的话：“先生，我知道，什么都水落石出了。我没什么好隐瞒的。 我轻信了洛道里的诺言，我不能原谅我的错误。现在无可救药了，我栽倒在诚实上，我是咎由自取。在这里，我将尽可能对我的犯罪事实，作一些具体的交待。只是我有一个请求，就是在我死前，给一小时让我见见妻子。 " 庭长同意了。 “我相信您。毫无疑问。您的话应比洛道里的可信。他本答应放我一条生路的呀！可他把我带到了刑场。” “我答应你的事，你可放心。” “那好，我们就看您的话算不算数。” 他带揶揄的口气接着说：“我们在此是十个被告，但不是所有人都犯了死罪。我得告诉你们法院，谁无罪、谁有罪。” 这段开场白后，证人出庭。每一个人作证后，丝包朵利洛都要指出某些不确切之处。 “您的记忆有误。”他对证人这么说，“这桩暗杀是我干的。”是他以这样或那样的方式作的案，他举出详细事实说明，连加重他的罪行的细节都不遗漏。他决意让四个人承担罪责，救出另外四个同伙和他妻子。他声明过他们是无辜的。妻子执行过他的指示，那是慑于他的压力。他的同伙也是被他拖入罪恶的泥坑的。他这种救人的特殊方式，把听众都逗乐了。 在哄堂大笑中，被告时而转向发出笑声的听众，说：“你们现在在笑，可三四天后，你们看到可怜的丝包朵利洛胸中四弹倒下时，就笑不起来了。” 有次他向听众说话时，认出看守他的一个宪兵，参加过他的部队。他怕认错了人，看了他好一阵之后，才说：“我真不敢相信法国政府是这样招募宪兵的！” 庭长问：“你在讲什么？” “我认出一个宪兵，他跟我干了十五年，与我们一块杀了不少人。您要是不相信我说的，您可叫他出庭对证。他的仆人就是他杀的。他会认得我的同伴的。” 丝包朵利洛指控的宪兵被传出庭，让他们对证。这宪兵对杀死自己仆人一说，供认不讳。其实，即使没证明，从罪犯慌乱的眼神就能看出他的问题了。于是有人下了他的武器，叫他在被告席上坐下。 丝包朵利洛道：“太好了！你坐到了该坐的位置。过去我们一块行动。现在我们一块退下来了。” 不幸的宪兵一声不吭。耷拉着脑袋，几乎没力气登上被告席。案了审了八天。我想这样一个被告，镇定自若地陈述他的作案情节，乐于将这一切公布于世，在别的地方一定见不到。另外，大家看到他因为没有打死证人西维大·卡拉那驿站站长而深感遗憾。当站长到庭作证时，丝包朵利洛站起来说：“庭长先生，这位绅士，我亲手打过他三次。最后一次，我打残了他的手臂，可惜我没杀死他。不论生前死后，他都是我的仇敌。” 法院判处丝包朵利洛、他的四个同伙和那位宪兵的死刑；判他妻子四年监禁，其他四个匪徒强迫劳动十年到二十年。判决宣布后，丝包朵利洛向庭长提起他的诺言。他获准与妻子相会一个半小时。他利用这个机会，告诉了妻子他藏财宝的地方。然后，他要求庭长在监狱里处决他，因为他担心上波卡的威达刑场，要遭众人凌辱。他还声明，他不愿见到神甫，若谁敢贸然行事，就休怪他无礼。大家听到都笑了，他却说得很认真。事实上，丝包朵利洛已经从烟窗上拆下了砖块，堆砌在门房，谁敢闯进来，他就要一砖头劈过去。大家须知，在罗马，关在监狱里的犯人是松了绑的，他们可以自由活动。这就给囚徒自卫提供了方便。狱卒们试图冲进去，他狠狠地打他们。有一个狱卒被他砸伤了。他的打击迅雷不及掩耳，他的同伴都来不及去阻拦。他们想劝说他，也是白费口舌。 他对他们说：“明天我想十点死，不要太早，你们九点来，我整个儿交给你们处置。” 几个神甫到门口，问他愿不愿忏悔。 他对他们说：“假如你们把西维大·卡拉那驿站长和洛道里那个叛徒带来，让我把他们干掉，我就会痛痛快快地来忏悔。” 人们耐心说服他，坚持要求他做忏悔。他听厌了。最后，连别人问话也不愿答了。 次日早晨，当来人向他宣布九点种已到时，他答道：“太好了，我一切就绪了。” 狱卒不敢进他监室，他却对他们说：“请进，我不会伤害你们了。” 确实看到安全后，狱卒才捆绑了他，押上刑场。在路上，神甫又来了，但都被他撵走了。他说，他要在路上，尽情地看看拥到窗口的美女。他步履愉快，一边注视少女，一边还训斥他的同伙，不该搭理那些神甫。到刑场时，他对伙伴说：“我们走吧，朋友们！这个可怜的世界，我们折腾得够了，现在该我们遭折腾了。这是公平的。我们不要抱怨自己命不好。我们要死得勇敢些。” 然后，他转向众人，说道：“请各位记住，丝包朵利洛死得遗憾，因为他没有报复西维大·卡拉那驿站长和害死我的叛徒洛道里。” 这简短的演说后，他命令士兵朝他胸脯打准四颗子弹。他不让人蒙他的眼睛，他无畏地等着致命的一击。这个强盗就这样一命呜呼了。他的事情在罗马反响很大，给现代派诗人提供了悲剧写作题材。 我看完了热闹，又回到佛利弱。我在那里住了五年，直到法国在俄罗斯遭到挫败。约善·穆拉迅速占领了教会支配的所有国家，我在这一时间还保留着原职。但有关恢复教皇政府的严肃话题，民众议论越来越多了。他们在想，教皇坐了牢、受了苦，更磨炼了他的品德。他这次回来，会像父亲一样和蔼地热烈地拥抱亲爱的子民。多善良的人们呀！他们想象圣父要减轻赋税，结束暴力；甚至他们让相信教士也会改变自己的道德标准。 他们忘了法国带来的好处，甚至蔑视起政府官员来。有人还常在我们后面说三道四：“他们失势了。我们倒看看他们会有什么下场。”我们的所有朋友都疏远了我们。我们在公开场合露面，总要受气。人们这样做是要显示他们忠于教皇的事业，因为教皇的胜利日益临近了。 那不勒斯军队开到佛利弱，征用了数百匹马运送行李。这个师的副官为了讨好教皇派，叫人来要我那匹马。我说，根据政府规定，每天我都可能奉命外出，离不开自己的马，要他们到别处去找。几天后，我经过公共场所时，被这位军官下令逮住。国民卫队士兵押我到监狱途中，民众高声喊：“他是第一个。他开了头。以后会有跟着来的。”我的朋友立即到副官那里，对破坏我正常生活的行径，表示强烈抗议。副官表示歉意，说他没下令逮捕我。他亲自来释放了我，并亲热地与我握了手。我也就没让人教训他：在处理这件事中，他凭一时感情，轻举妄动，有失他的身份。 放教皇回宫的事，很快作出了决定。民众准备举行庆祝活动，欢迎他回宫。他们搭起了凯旋门。从瑟姿纳到罗马的路上，花草树木修剪得像公园一样。一天上午，某高级教士来没收我的帐册，并宣布我的职务到此结束。考虑民众对我们的敌对态度，我决定邀我的一个朋友去英国，并让他乘我的车。我们费了很大的劲才弄到去佛罗伦萨的护照。我收到护照后，怀着故乡将沦入苦海的预感和永不复返的决心动身了。接着，我听到教皇政府复辟和巴卡红衣教主大肆煽动复仇的消息，这更坚定了我远走他乡的决心。在接待我的这块好客的土地上，我不止一次地庆幸自己作了这个明智决定。 （黄健崑译）