Note: Translator Pauline Bancroft Flach died in 1966, less than 70 years ago. Therefore, this work is protected by copyright, restricting your legal rights to reproduce it. However, you are welcome to view it on screen, as you do now. Read more about copyright.
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THE BELLS OF SAN PASQUALE ’ 93
base of the mountain, and the almond-trees on Etna
were quite white. Sometimes they passed under an
almond-tree, which arched them over with its
glistening branches, as thickly covered with flowers as if
they had been dipped in a bath of silver. The
moonlight shone so bright on the earth that
everything was divested of its color, and became white.
It seemed almost strange that it could not be felt,
that it did not warm, that it did not dazzle the eyes.
Donna Micaela wondered if it was the moonlight
that subdued Gaetano, so that he did not seize her,
and throw her down into Simeto, when she cursed
the black Madonna.
He walked silent and quiet at her side, but she
was afraid of what he might do. In spite of her
fear, she could not be silent.
What she had still to say was the most dreadful
of all.. She said that she had tried all day long to
think of the real Madonna, and that she had recalled
to her mind all the images of her she had ever seen.
But it had all been in vain, because as soon as she
thought of the shining queen of heaven, the old
black goddess came and placed herself between
them. She saw her come like a dried-up and
officious old maid, and stand in front of the great
queen of heaven, so that now no Madonna existed
for her any longer. She believed that the latter was
angry with her because she had done so much for
the other, and that she hid her face and her grace
from her. And, on account of the false Madonna,
her father was now to suffer misfortune. Now she
would never be allowed to keep him in her home.
Now she would never win his forgiveness. Oh,
God! oh, God!
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