第97章

Hewastheauthorofallthepamphletsthathadbeenwrittenonthesubjectofmortmain；andashewasanintimatefriendoftheambassador’s，M。MocenigohadfurnishedhimwithanaccountoftheproceedingsoftheVenetianRepublicagainstthemonks。HemighthavedispensedwiththissourceofinformationifhehadreadthewritingsofFatherPaulSarpionthesamesubject。Quick—sighted，firm，withthecourageofhisopinions，CampomaneswasthefiscaloftheSupremeCouncilofCastille，ofwhichArandawaspresident。Everyoneknewhimtobeathoroughlyhonestman，whoactedsolelyforthegoodoftheState。Thusstatesmenandofficialshadwarmfeelingsofrespectforhim，whilethemonksandbigotshatedthesoundofhisname，andtheInquisitionhadsworntobehisruin。Itwassaidopenlythathewouldeitherbecomeabishoporperishinthecellsoftheholybrotherhood。Theprophecywasonlypartlyfulfilled。FouryearsaftermyvisittoSpainhewasincarceratedinthedungeonsoftheInquisition，butheobtainedhisreleaseafterthreeyears’confinementbydoingpublicpenance。TheleprosywhicheatsouttheheartofSpainisnotyetcured。Olavideswasstillmoreharshlytreated，andevenArandawouldhavefallenavictimifhehadnothadthegoodsensetoaskthekingtosendhimtoFranceashisambassador。Thekingwasverygladtodoso，asotherwisehewouldhavebeenforcedtodeliverhimuptotheinfuriatedmonks。

CharlesIII。（whodiedamadman）wasaremarkablecharacter。Hewasasobstinateasamule，asweakasawoman，asgrossasaDutchman，andathorough—pacedbigot。Itwasnowonderthathebecamethetoolofhisconfessor。

AtthetimeofwhichIamspeakingthecabinetofMadridwasoccupiedinacuriousscheme。AthousandCatholicfamilieshadbeenenticedfromSwitzerlandtoformacolonyinthebeautifulbutdesertedregioncalledtheSierraMorena，wellknownalloverEuropebyitsmentioninDonQuixote。Natureseemedtheretohavelavishedallhergifts；theclimatewasperfect，thesoilfertile，andstreamsofallkindswateredtheland，butinspiteofallitwasalmostdepopulated。

Desiringtochangethisstateofthings，hisCatholicmajestyhaddecidedtomakeapresentofalltheagriculturalproductsforacertainnumberofyearstoindustriouscolonists。HehadconsequentlyinvitedtheSwissCatholics，andhadpaidtheirexpensesforthejourney。TheSwissarrived，andtheSpanishgovernmentdiditsbesttoprovidethemwithlodgingandspiritualandtemporalsuperintendence。Olavideswasthesoulofthisscheme。Heconferredwiththeministerstoprovidethenewpopulationwithmagistrates，priests，agovernor，craftsmenofallkindstobuildchurchesandhouses，andespeciallyabull—ring，anecessityfortheSpaniards，butaperfectlyuselessprovisionasfarasthesimpleSwisswereconcerned。

InthedocumentswhichDonPabloOlavideshadcomposedonthesubjecthedemonstratedtheinexpediencyofestablishinganyreligiousordersinthenewcolony，butifhecouldhaveprovedhisopiniontobecorrectwithfootandrulehewouldnonethelesshavedrawnonhisheadtheimplacablehatredofthemonks，andofthebishopinwhosediocesethenewcolonywassituated。ThesecularclergysupportedOlavides，butthemonkscriedoutagainsthisimpiety，andastheInquisitionwaseminentlymonkishinitssympathiespersecutionhadalreadybegun，andthiswasoneofthesubjectsofconversationatthedinneratwhichIwaspresent。

Ilistenedtothearguments，sensibleandotherwise，whichwereadvanced，andIfinallygavemyopinion，asmodestlyasIcould，thatinafewyearsthecolonywouldbanishlikesmoke；andthisforseveralreasons。

"TheSwiss，"Isaid，"areaverypeculiarpeople；ifyoutransplantthemtoaforeignshore，theylanguishanddie；theybecomeapreytohome—

sickness。WhenthisoncebeginsinaSwitzer，theonlythingistotakehimhometothemountain，thelake，orthevalley，wherehewasborn，orelsehewillinfalliblydie。"

"Itwouldbewise，Ithink，"Icontinued，"toendeavourtocombineaSpanishcolonywiththeSwisscolony，soastoeffectaminglingofraces。Atfirst，atallevents，theirrules，bothspiritualandtemporal，shouldbeSwiss，and，aboveall，youwouldhavetoinsurethemcompleteimmunityfromtheInquisition。TheSwisswhohasbeenbredinthecountryhaspeculiarcustomsandmannersoflove—making，ofwhichtheSpanishChurchmightnotexactlyapprove；buttheleastattempttorestraintheirlibertyinthisrespectwouldimmediatelybringaboutageneralhome—sickness。"

AtfirstOlavidesthoughtIwasjoking，buthesoonfoundoutthatmyremarkshadsomesenseinthem。Hebeggedmetowriteoutmyopinionsonthesubject，andtogivehimthebenefitofmyknowledge。Ipromisedtodoso，andMengsfixedadayforhimtocomeanddinewithmeathishouse。

ThenextdayImovedmyhouseholdgoodstoMengs’shouse，andbeganmyphilosophicalandphysiologicaltreatiseonthecolony。

IcalledonDonEmmanueldeRoda，whowasamanofletters，a’raraaves’

inSpain。HelikedLatinpoetry，hadreadsomeItalian，butverynaturallygavethepalmtotheSpanishpoets。Hewelcomedmewarmly，beggedmetocomeandseehimagain，andtoldmehowsorryhehadbeenatmyunjustimprisonment。

TheDukeofLossadacongratulatedmeonthewayinwhichtheVenetianambassadorspokeofmeeverywhere，andencouragedmeinmyideaofgettingsomeplaceunderGovernment，promisingtogivemehissupportinthematter。

ThePrincedellaCatolica，invitedmetodinnerwiththeVenetianambassador；andinthecourseofthreeweeksIhadmadeagreatnumberofvaluableacquaintances。IthoughtseriouslyofseekingemploymentinSpain，asnothavingheardfromLisbonIdarednotgothereonthechanceoffindingsomethingtodo。IhadnotreceivedanylettersfromPaulineoflate，andhadnoideaastowhathadbecomeofher。

IpassedagoodmanyofmyeveningswithaSpanishlady，namedSabatini，whogave’tertullas’orassemblies，frequentedchieflybyfifth—rateliterarymen。IalsovisitedtheDukeofMedina—Sidonia，awell—readandintelligentman，towhomIhadbeenpresentedbyDonDomingoVarnier，oneofthegentlemenoftheking’schamber，whomIhadmetatMengs’shouse。

IpaidagoodmanyvisitstoDonnaIgnazia，butasIwasneverleftalonewithherthesevisitsbecametiresome。WhenIsuggestedapartyofpleasurewithherandhercousins，sherepliedthatshewouldlikeitasmuchasI，butasitwasLentandnearHolyWeek，inwhichGoddiedforoursalvation，itwasmorefittothinkofpenancethanpleasure。AfterEaster，shesaid，wemightconsiderthematter。IgnaziawasaperfectexampleoftheyoungSpanishdevotee。

Afortnightafter，theKingandCourtleftMadridforAranjuez。

M。deMocenigoaskedmetocomeandstaywithhim，ashewouldbeabletopresentmeatCourt。Asmaybeimagined，Ishouldhavebeenonlytoogladtoaccept，butontheeveofmydeparture，asIwasdrivingwithMengs，Iwassuddenlyseizedwithafever，andwasconvulsedsoviolentlythatmyheadwasdashedagainstthecarriagewindow，whichitshiveredtofragments。Mengsorderedthecoachmantodrivehome，andIwasputtobed。InfourhoursIwasseizedwithasweatingfit，whichlastedfortenortwelvehours。Thebedandtwomattressesweresoakedthroughwithmyperspiration，whichdrippedontothefloorbeneath。Thefeverabatedinforty—eighthours，butleftmeinsuchastateofweaknessthatIwaskepttomybedforawholeweek，andcouldnotgotoAranjueztillHolySaturday。Theambassadorwelcomedmewarmly，butonthenightIarrivedasmalllumpwhichIhadfeltinthecourseofthedaygrewaslargeasanegg，andIwasunabletogotomassonEasterDay。

Infivedaystheexcrescencebecameaslargeasanaveragemelon，muchtotheamazementofManucciandtheambassador，andevenoftheking’ssurgeon，aFrenchmanwhodeclaredhehadneverseenthelikebefore。I

wasnotalarmedpersonally，for，asIsufferednopainandthelumpwasquitesoft，Iguesseditwasonlyacollectionoflymph，theremainderoftheevilhumourswhichIhadsweatedawayinthefever。Itoldthesurgeonthehistoryofthefeverandbeggedhimtolancetheabscess，whichhedid，andforfourdaystheopeningdischargedanalmostincredibleamountofmatter。Onthefifthdaythewoundwasalmosthealed，buttheexhaustionhadleftmesoweakthatIcouldnotleavemybed。

SuchwasmysituationwhenIreceivedaletterfromMengs。Itisbeforemeatthepresentmoment，andIgivebelowatruecopy:

"YesterdaytherectoroftheparishinwhichIresideaffixedtothechurch—dooralistofthoseofhisparishionerswhoareAtheistsandhaveneglectedtheirEasterduties。Amongstthemyournamefiguresinfull，andtheaforesaidrectorhasreproachedmebitterlyforharbouringaheretic。Ididnotknowwhatanswertomake，forIfeelsurethatyoucouldhavestoppedinMadridadaylongertodischargethedutiesofaChristian，evenifitwereonlyoutofregardforme。ThedutyIowetotheking，mymaster，thecareIamboundtotakeofmyreputation，andmyfearsofbeingmolested，allmakemerequestyoutolookuponmyhouseasyoursnolonger。WhenyoureturntoMadridyoumaygowhereyouwill，andmyservantsshalltransportyoureffectstoyournewabode。

"Iam，etc。，"ANTONIORAPHAELMENGS。"

Iwassoannoyedbythisrude，brutal，andungratefulletter，thatifI

hadnotbeensevenleaguesfromMadrid，andinastateoftheutmostweakness，Mengsshouldhavesufferedforhisinsolence。Itoldthemessengerwhohadbroughtittobegone，butherepliedthathehadorderstoawaitmyreply。Icrushedtheletterinmyhandandflungitathisface，saying，——

"GoandtellyourunworthymasterwhatIdidwithhisletter，andtellhimthatistheonlyanswerthatsuchaletterdeserves。"

Theinnocentmessengerwenthiswayingreatamazement。

Myangergavemestrength，andhavingdressedmyselfandsummonedasedan—chairIwenttochurch，andwasconfessedbyaGreyFriar，andatsixo’clockthenextmorningIreceivedtheSacrament。

MyconfessorwaskindenoughtogivemeacertificatetotheeffectthatIhadbeenobligedtokeepmybedsincemyarrival’alsitio’，andthatinspiteofmyextremeweaknessIhadgonetochurch，andhadconfessedandcommunicatedlikeagoodChristian。Healsotoldmethenameofthepriestwhohadaffixedthepapercontainingmynametothedoorofthechurch。

WhenIreturnedtotheambassador’shouseIwrotetothispriest，tellinghimthatthecertificateenclosedwouldinformhimastomyreasonsfornotcommunicating。Iexpressedahopethat，beingsatisfiedofmyorthodoxy，hewouldnotdelayinremovingmynamefromhischurch—doors，andIconcludedbybegginghimtohandtheenclosedlettertotheChevalierMengs。

TothepainterIwrotethatIfeltthatIhaddeservedtheshamefulinsulthehadgivenmebymygreatmistakeinaccedingtohisrequesttohonourhimbystayinginhishouse。However，asagoodChristianwhohadjustreceivedtheHolyCommunion，Itoldhimthathisbrutalbehaviourwasforgiven；butIbadehimtotaketohearttheline，wellknowntoallhonestpeople，anddoubtlessunknowntohim:

’Turpiusejiciturquamnonadmittiturhospes。’

AftersendingtheletterItoldtheambassadorwhathadhappened，towhichhereplied，——

"Iamnotatallsurprisedatwhatyoutellme。Mengsisonlylikedforhistalentsinpainting；ineverythingelseheiswellknowntobelittlebetterthanafool。"

Asamatteroffacthehadonlyaskedmetostaywithhimtogratifyhisownvanity。HeknewthatallthetownwastalkingofmyimprisonmentandofthesatisfactiontheCountofArandahadaccordedme，andhewantedpeopletothinkthathisinfluencehadobtainedthefavourthathadbeenshewnme。Indeed，hehadsaidinamomentofexaltationthatIshouldhavecompelledtheAlcadeMessatoescortmenottomyownhousebuttohis，asitwasinhishousethatIhadbeenarrested。

Mengswasanexceedinglyambitiousandaveryjealousman；hehatedallhisbrotherpainters。Hiscolouranddesignwereexcellent，buthisinventionwasveryweak，andinventionisasnecessarytoagreatpainterasagreatpoet。

Ihappenedtosaytohimoneday，"Justaseverypoetshouldbeapainter，soeverypaintershouldbeapoet；"andhegotquiteangry，thinkingthatIwasalludingtohisweaknessofimagination，whichhefeltbutwouldnotacknowledge。

Hewasanignorantman，andlikedtopassforascholar；hesacrificedtoBacchusandComus，andwouldfainbethoughtsober；hewaslustful，bad—

tempered，envious，andmiserly，butyetwouldbeconsideredavirtuousman。Helovedhardwork，andthisforcedhimtoabstain，asarule，fromdinner，ashedranksoinordinatelyatthatmealthathecoulddonothingafterit。Whenhedinedouthehadtodrinknothingbutwater，soasnottocompromisehisreputationfortemperance。Hespokefourlanguages，andallbadly，andcouldnotevenwritehisnativetonguewithcorrectness；andyetheclaimedperfectionforhisgrammarandorthography，asforallhisotherqualities。WhileIwasstayingwithhimIbecameacquaintedwithsomeofhisweakpoints，andendeavouredtocorrectthem，atwhichhetookgreatoffence。Thefellowwrithedunderasenseofobligationtome。OnceIpreventedhissendingapetitiontotheCourt，whichthekingwouldhaveseen，andwhichwouldhavemadeMengsridiculous。Insigninghisnamehehadwritten’elmasinclito’，wishingtosayyourmosthumble。Ipointedouttohimthat’elmasinclito’meantthemostillustrious，andthattheSpanishfortheexpressionhewantedwas’elmashumilde’。Theproudfoolwasquiteenraged，tellingmethatheknewSpanishbetterthanI，butwhenthedictionarywassearchedhehadtoswallowthebitterpillofconfessinghimselfinthewrong。

AnothertimeIsuppressedaheavyandstupidcriticismofhisonsomeonewhohadmaintainedthattherewerenomonumentsstillexistingoftheantediluvianperiod。MengsthoughthewouldconfoundtheauthorbycitingtheremainsoftheTowerofBabel——adoublepieceoffolly，forinthefirstplacetherearenosuchremains，andinthesecond，theTowerofBabelwasapost—diluvianbuilding。

Hewasalsolargelygiventothediscussionofmetaphysicalquestions，onwhichhisknowledgewassimplynil，andafavouritepursuitofhiswasdefiningbeautyintheabstract，andwhenhewasonthistopicthenonsensehetalkedwassomethingdreadful。

Mengswasaverypassionateman，andwouldsometimesbeathischildrenmostcruelly。MorethanonceIhaverescuedhispoorsonsfromhisfurioushands。Heboastedthathisfather，abadBohemianartist，hadbroughthimupwiththestick。Thus，hesaid，hehadbecomeagreatpainter，andhewishedhisownchildrentoenjoythesameadvantages。

Hewasdeeplyoffendedwhenhereceivedaletter，ofwhichtheaddressomittedhistitleofchevalier，andhisname，Rafael。OnedayIventuredtosaythatthesethingswerebuttriflesafterall，andthatIhadtakennooffenceathisomittingthechevalieronthelettershehadwrittentome，thoughIwasaknightofthesameorderashimself。Heverywiselymadenoanswer；buthisobjectiontotheomissionofhisbaptismalnamewasaveryridiculousone。HesaidhewascalledAntonioafterAntonioCorreggio，andRafaelafterRafaeldaUrbino，andthatthosewhoomittedthesenames，oreitherofthem，implicitlydeniedhispossessionofthequalitiesofboththesegreatpainters。

OnceIdaredtotellhimthathehadmadeamistakeinthehandofoneofhisfigures，astheringfingerwasshorterthantheindex。Herepliedsharplythatitwasquiteright，andshewedmehishandbywayofproof。

Ilaughed，andshewedhimmyhandinreturn，sayingthatIwascertainthatmyhandwasmadelikethatofallthedescendantsofAdam。

"ThenwhomdoyouthinkthatIamdescendedfrom？"

"Idon’tknow，butyouarecertainlynotofthesamespeciesasmyself。"

"Youmeanyouarenotofmyspecies；allwell—madehandsofmen，andwomentoo，arelikemineandnotlikeyours。"

"I’llwagerahundreddoubloonsthatyouareinthewrong。"

Hegotup，threwdownbrushesandpalette，andranguphisservants，saying，——

"Weshallseewhichisright。"

Theservantscame，andonexaminationhefoundthatIwasright。Foronceinhislife，helaughedandpasseditoffasajoke，saying，——

"IamdelightedthatIcanboastofbeinguniqueinoneparticular，atallevents。"

HereImustnoteanotherverysensibleremarkofhis。

HehadpaintedaMagdalen，whichwasreallywonderfullybeautiful。Fortendayshehadsaideverymorning，"Thepicturewillbefinishedto—

night。"AtlastItoldhimthathehadmadeamistakeinsayingitwouldbefinished，ashewasstillworkingonit。

"No，Ihavenot，"hereplied，"ninety—nineconnoisseursoutofahundredwouldhavepronounceditfinishedlongago，butIwantthepraiseofthehundredthman。There’snotapictureintheworldthatcanbecalledfinishedsaveinarelativesense；thisMagdalenwillnotbefinishedtillIstopworkingatit，andthenitwillbeonlyfinishedrelatively，forifIweretogiveanotherday’sworktoititwouldbemorefinishedstill。NotoneofPetrarch’ssonnetsisareallyfinishedproduction；

no，noranyotherman’ssonnets。Nothingthatthemindofmancanconceiveisperfect，saveitbeamathematicaltheorem。"

Iexpressedmywarmapprovaloftheexcellentwayinwhichhehadspoken。

HewasnotsosensibleanothertimewhenheexpressedawishtohavebeenRaphael。

"Hewassuchagreatpainter。"

"Certainly，"saidI，"butwhatcanyoumeanbywishingyouhadbeenRaphael？Thisisnotsense；ifyouhadbeenRaphael，youwouldnolongerbeexisting。ButperhapsyouonlymeanttoexpressawishthatyouweretastingthejoysofParadise；inthatcaseIwillsaynomore。"

"No，no；ImeanIwouldhavelikedtohavebeenRaphaelwithouttroublingmyselfaboutexistingnow，eitherinsoulorbody。"

"Reallysuchadesireisanabsurdity；thinkitover，andyouwillseeitforyourself。"

Heflewintoarage，andabusedmesoheartilythatIcouldnothelplaughing。

Anothertimehemadeacomparisonbetweenatragicauthorandapainter，ofcoursetotheadvantageofthelatter。

Ianalysedthemattercalmly，shewinghimthatthepainter’slabouristoagreatextentpurelymechanical，andcanbedonewhilstengagedincasualtalk；whilstawell—writtentragedyistheworkofgeniuspureandsimple。Therefore，thepoetmustbeimmeasurablysuperiortothepainter。

"Findmeifyoucan，"saidI，"apoetwhocanorderhissupperbetweenthelinesofhistragedy，ordiscusstheweatherwhilstheiscomposingepicverses。"

WhenMengswasbeateninanargument，insteadofacknowledginghisdefeat，heinvariablybecamebrutalandinsulting。Hediedattheageoffifty，andisregardedbyposterityasaStoicphilosopher，ascholar，andacompendiumofallthevirtues；andthisopinionmustbeascribedtoafinebiographyofhiminroyalquarto，choicelyprinted，anddedicatedtotheKingofSpain。Thispanegyricisameretissueoflies。Mengswasagreatpainter，andnothingelse；andifhehadonlyproducedthesplendidpicturewhichhangsoverthehighaltarofthechapelroyalatDresden，hewoulddeserveeternalfame，thoughindeedheisindebtedtothegreatRaphaelfortheideaofthepainting。

WeshallhearmoreofMengswhenIdescribemymeetingwithhimatRome，twoorthreeyearslater。

IwasstillweakandconfinedtomyroomwhenManuccicametome，andproposedthatIshouldgowithhimtoToledo。

"Theambassador，"hesaid，"isgoingtogiveagrandofficialdinnertotheambassadorsoftheotherpowers，andasIhavenotbeenpresentedatCourtIamexcludedfrombeingpresent。However，ifItravel，myabsencewillnotgiverisetoanyremarks。Weshallbebackinfiveorsixdays。"

IwasdelightedtohavethechanceofseeingToledo，andofmakingthejourneyinacomfortablecarriage，soIaccepted。Westartedthenextmorning，andreachedToledointheeveningofthesameday。ForSpainwewerelodgedcomfortablyenough，andthenextdaywewentoutunderthechargeofacicerone，whotookustotheAlcazar，theLouvreofToledo，formerlythepalaceoftheMoorishkings。Afterwardsweinspectedthecathedral，whichiswellworthyofavisit，onaccountoftherich