by George Eliot
CHAPTER FOUR.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.
"Good-day, Messer Domenico," said Nello to the foremost of the twovisitors who entered the shop, while he nodded silently to the other."You come as opportunely as cheese on macaroni. Ah! you are in haste--wish to be shaved without delay--ecco! And this is a morning when everyone has grave matter on his mind. Florence orphaned--the very pivot ofItaly snatched away--heaven itself at a loss what to do next. _Oime_!Well, well; the sun is nevertheless travelling on towards dinner-timeagain; and, as I was saying, you come like cheese ready grated. Forthis young stranger was wishing for an honourable trader who wouldadvance, him a sum on a certain ring of value, and if I had countedevery goldsmith and money-lender in Florence on my fingers, I couldn'thave found a better name than Menico Cennini. Besides, he hath otherware in which you deal--Greek learning, and young eyes--a doubleimplement which you printers are always in need of."
The grave elderly man, son of that Bernardo Cennini, who, twenty yearsbefore, having heard of the new process of printing carried on byGermans, had cast his own types in Florence, remained necessarily inlathered silence and passivity while Nello showered this talk in hisears, but turned a slow sideway gaze on the stranger.
"This fine young man has unlimited Greek, Latin, or Italian at yourservice," continued Nello, fond of interpreting by very ampleparaphrase. "He is as great a wonder of juvenile learning as FrancescoFilelfo or our own incomparable Poliziano. A second Guarino, too, forhe has had the misfortune to be shipwrecked, and has doubtless lost astore of precious manuscripts that might have contributed somecorrectness even to your correct editions, Domenico. Fortunately, hehas rescued a few gems of rare value. His name is--you said your name,Messer, was--?"
"Tito Melema," said the stranger, slipping the ring from his finger, andpresenting it to Cennini, whom Nello, not less rapid with his razor thanwith his tongue, had now released from the shaving-cloth.
Meanwhile the man who had entered the shop in company with thegoldsmith--a tall figure, about fifty, with a short trimmed beard,wearing an old felt hat and a threadbare mantle--had kept his eye fixedon the Greek, and now said abruptly--
"Young man, I am painting a picture of Sinon deceiving old Priam, and Ishould be glad of your face for my Sinon, if you'd give me a sitting."
Tito Melema started and looked round with a pale astonishment in hisface as if at a sudden accusation; but Nello left him no time to feel ata loss for an answer: "Piero," said the barber, "thou art the mostextraordinary compound of humours and fancies ever packed into a humanskin. What trick wilt thou play with the fine visage of this youngscholar to make it suit thy traitor? Ask him rather to turn his eyesupward, and thou mayst make a Saint Sebastian of him that will drawtroops of devout women; or, if thou art in a classical vein, put myrtleabout his curls and make him a young Bacchus, or say rather a PhoebusApollo, for his face is as warm and bright as a summer morning; it mademe his friend in the space of a `credo.'"
"Ay, Nello," said the painter, speaking with abrupt pauses; "and if thytongue can leave off its everlasting chirping long enough for thyunderstanding to consider the matter, thou mayst see that thou hast justshown the reason why the face of Messere will suit my traitor. Aperfect traitor should have a face which vice can write no marks on--lips that will lie with a dimpled smile--eyes of such agate-likebrightness and depth that no infamy can dull them--cheeks that will risefrom a murder and not look haggard. I say not this young man is atraitor: I mean, he has a face that would make him the more perfecttraitor if he had the heart of one, which is saying neither more norless than that he has a beautiful face, informed with rich young blood,that will be nourished enough by food, and keep its colour without muchhelp of virtue. He may have the heart of a hero along with it; I avernothing to the contrary. Ask Domenico there if the lapidaries canalways tell a gem by the sight alone. And now I'm going to put the towin my ears, for thy chatter and the bells together are more than I canendure: so say no more to me, but trim my beard."
With these last words Piero (called "di Cosimo," from his master, CosimoRosselli) drew out two bits of tow, stuffed them in his ears, and placedhimself in the chair before Nello, who shrugged his shoulders and cast agrimacing look of intelligence at the Greek, as much as to say, "Awhimsical fellow, you perceive! Everybody holds his speeches as merejokes."
Tito, who had stood transfixed, with his long dark eyes resting on theunknown man who had addressed him so equivocally, seemed recalled to hisself-command by Piero's change of position, and apparently satisfiedwith his explanation, was again giving his attention to Cennini, whopresently said--
"This is a curious and valuable ring, young man. This intaglio of thefish with the crested serpent above it, in the black stratum of theonyx, or rather nicolo, is well shown by the surrounding blue of theupper stratum. The ring has, doubtless, a history?" added Cennini,looking up keenly at the young stranger.
"Yes, indeed," said Tito, meeting the scrutiny very frankly. "The ringwas found in Sicily, and I have understood from those who busythemselves with gems and sigils, that both the stone and intaglio are ofvirtue to make the wearer fortunate, especially at sea, and also torestore to him whatever he may have lost. But," he continued, smiling,"though I have worn it constantly since I quitted Greece, it has notmade me altogether fortunate at sea, you perceive, unless I am to countescape from drowning as a sufficient proof of its virtue. It remains tobe seen whether my lost chests will come to light; but to lose no chanceof such a result, Messer, I will pray you only to hold the ring for ashort space as pledge for a small sum far beneath its value, and I willredeem it as soon as I can dispose of certain other gems which aresecured within my doublet, or indeed as soon as I can earn something byany scholarly employment, if I may be so fortunate as to meet withsuch."
"That may be seen, young man, if you will come with me," said Cennini."My brother Pietro, who is a better judge of scholarship than I, willperhaps be able to supply you with a task that may test yourcapabilities. Meanwhile, take back your ring until I can hand you thenecessary florins, and, if it please you, come along with me."
"Yes, yes," said Nello, "go with Messer Domenico, you cannot go inbetter company; he was born under the constellation that gives a manskill, riches, and integrity, whatever that constellation may be, whichis of the less consequence because babies can't choose their ownhoroscopes, and, indeed, if they could, there might be an inconvenientrush of babies at particular epochs. Besides, our Phoenix, theincomparable Pico, has shown that your horoscopes are all a nonsensicaldream--which is the less troublesome opinion. _Addio! bel giovane_!don't forget to come back to me."
"No fear of that," said Tito, beckoning a farewell, as he turned roundhis bright face at the door. "You are to do me a great service:--thatis the most positive security for your seeing me again."
"Say what thou wilt, Piero," said Nello, as the young strangerdisappeared, "I shall never look at such an outside as that withouttaking it as a sign of a lovable nature. Why, thou wilt say next thatLeonardo, whom thou art always raving about, ought to have made hisJudas as beautiful as Saint John! But thou art as deaf as the top ofMount Morello with that accursed tow in thy ears. Well, well: I'll geta little more of this young man's history from him before I take him toBardo Bardi."