Concerning the Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli

by Ronald Firbank

  Men (eternal hunters, novelty seekers, insatiable beings), men in their natural lives, pursue the concrete no less than the ideal—qualities not inseldom found combined in fairy childhood.

  "Olé."

  Oblivious of sliding mantle the Primate swooped.

  Up and down, in and out, round and round "the Virgin," over the worn tombed paving, through Saint Joseph, beneath the cobweb banners from Barocco to purest Moorish, by early Philip, back to Turân-Shâh—"Don't exasperate me, boy"—along the raised tribunes of the choristers and the echoing coro—the great fane (after all) was nothing but a cage; God's cage; the cage of God!...

  Through the chancel windows the day was newly breaking as the oleanders will in spring.

  Dispossessed of everything but his fabulous mitre, the Primate was nude and elementary now as Adam himself.

  "As you can perfectly see, I have nothing but myself to declare," he addressed some phantom image in the air.

  With advancing day Don Skylark alias Bright-eyes alias Don Temptation it seemed had contrived an exit, for the cathedral was become a place of tranquillity and stillness.

  "Only myself." He had dropped before a painting of old Dominic Theotocópuli, the Greek, showing the splendour of Christ's martyrdom.

  Peering expectantly from the silken parted curtains of a confessional, paternostering Phoebe Poco caught her breath.

  Confused not a little at the sight before her, her equilibrium was only maintained by the recollection of her status: "I'm an honest widow; so I know what men are, bless them!" And stirred to romantic memories she added: "Poor soul, he had the prettiest teeth...."

  Fired by fundamental curiosity, the dame, by degrees, was emboldened to advance. All over was it, with him, then? It looked as though his Eminence was far beyond Rome already.

  "May God show His pity on you, Don Alvaro of my heart."

  She remained a short while lost in mingled conjecture. It was certain no morning bell would wake him.

  "So." She stopped to coil her brier-wood chaplet about him in order that he might be less uncovered. "It's wonderful what us bits of women do with a string of beads, but they don't go far with a gentleman."

  Now that the ache of life, with its fevers, passions, doubts, its routine, vulgarity, and boredom, was over, his serene, unclouded face was a marvelment to behold. Very great distinction and sweetness was visible there, together with much nobility, and love, all magnified and commingled.

  "Adios, Don Alvaro of my heart," she sighed, turning away towards the little garden door ajar.

  Through the triple windows of the chancel the sky was clear and blue—a blue like the blue of lupins. Above him stirred the wind-blown banners in the Nave.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Transcriber's Notes: original hyphenation, spelling and grammar have been preserved as in the original Page 59, 'enchantress lights!"' changed to 'enchantress lights!' Page 59, 'Marchioness of Macarnudo."' changed to 'Marchioness of Macarnudo.'

  [End of Concerning the Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli by Ronald Firbank]

  Title: Concerning the Eccentricities of Cardinal Pirelli Author: Firbank, Arthur Annesley Ronald (1886-1926) Date of first publication: 1926 Edition used as base for this ebook: London: Duckworth, 1929 [”New Edition”]