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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PALAZZO GERACI — PALAZZO CORVAJA 271
the house they fitted up a magnificent hall. In the
floor was built a basin for gold-fish; in niches in the
walls fountains covered with mosaic, in which clear
water spouted into gigantic shells. Over it all, a
Moorish vaulted roof, supported on slender pillars,
with twining vines in mosaic. It was a hall whose
equal is only to be seen in the Moorish palace in
Palermo.
There was much rivalry and emulation during all
the time of building. When Palazzo Geraci put
forth a balcony, Palazzo Corvaja acquired its high
Gothic bay-windows; when the roof of Palazzo
Geraci was adorned with richly carved battlements,
a frieze of black marble, inlaid with white a yard
wide, appeared on Palazzo Corvaja. The Geraci
house was crowned by a high tower; the Corvaja
had a roof garden, with antique pots along the
railing.
When the palaces were finished the rivalry began
between the families who had built them. The
houses seemed to breed hostility and strife for all
who lived in them. A Baron Geraci could never
agree with a Baron Corvaja. When Geraci fought
for Anjou, Corvaja fought for Manfred. If Geraci
changed sides, and supported Aragoni, Corvaja went
to Naples, and fought for Robert and Joanna.
But that was not all. It was an understood thing
that when Geraci found a son-in-law, Corvaja had to
increase his power by a rich marriage. Neither of
the families could rest. They had to vie with each
other while eating, while amusing themselves, while
working. The Geraci came to the court of the
Bourbons in Naples, not out of desire of distinction,
but because the Corvaja were there. The Corvaja
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