CHAPTER XXXV. THE AMELIORATION OF MANKIND
Orazio having received and welcomed his friend and brethren, now beganto think of their general safety. He therefore called aside Attilio andthe Prince (who by this time had become firmly devoted to them and thenational cause), and addressed them as follows:-
"It is true we have been victorious in our last encounter, and havevanquished you, Prince, whose noble conduct now conquers our hearts; butI fear now this castle has become too notorious for us to remain longerin it in safety. The Government will employ every means in its power tohunt us out of our retreat and to destroy us, and is capable of sendinga whole army with artillery to demolish these old walls. I do not,however, advise an immediate retreat, as the Cardinals will require timeto form projects and make arrangements; but it behoves us now to use allvigilance, and from this moment to ascertain the movements of the enemyand guard against surprise. As for yourself, Prince, you had betterreturn to Rome; your presence here is not needed for the present, andthere you may be of the greatest use to us. Let it be thought that youwere set at liberty on parole, on condition that you would not bear armsagainst us, and then send in your resignation."
"Yes," replied the Prince, "I can be of more service to you in Rome, andI pledge my word of honor to be yours until death."
Attilio was of the same opinion, and added that Regolo would advise themof the movements of the Pontifical troops. On the Prince desiring somesecure means of remaining with them, Attilio presented him with apiece of paper--so small that it might easily be swallowed in case ofemergency--containing a line of recommendation for the Prince to Regolo.
The rest of the day was devoted to the interment of the dead, of whichthere were not a few, and to tending the wounded, nearly all of whomwere Papalini. Three of the Liberals only were wounded, and those notseriously. This proves that, in the strife of battle, the valorous runthe least danger; and if the statistics of the field were referred to,it would be seen that fugitives lose more men than any army which standsits ground.
At midnight the Prince started for Rome. And who acted as his guide?Who, but Gasparo, the veteran chief of the bandits in old times, now anaffiliated Liberal, as he had proved in the last affray, in which he haddone wonders with his unerring carbine.
I who write this am well persuaded of the truth of the perpetualamelioration of the human race. I am wholly opposed to the cynic and thepessimist, and believe with all my heart and soul in the law of humanprogress by various agencies, under many forms, and with many necessaryinterruptions. Providence has willed that happiness shall be the finalend of this sad planet and suffering race; but Its decrees work slowly,and only by the submission of mankind to the higher law of light ishappiness attainable. Not by miracles will men become regenerated.Voltaire has well said-
"J'en al vaincu plu d'un, Je n'ai forco personne, Et le vrai Dieu, mon fils, Est un Dieu qui pardonne."
If humanity does not improve along with the progress of knowledge, asit should do, the fault must lie with the various governments, for withkind treatment and judicious care, even the wild beasts of the forestbecome domesticated, and their fierce passions are tamed. What, then,may we not accomplish with the very lowest grade of mankind? But can anything be expected from a people kept purposely in ignorance, and reducedto misery by exaction, imposts, and taxes? We know that these taxesand exactions are not, as it is stated, imposed upon the Romans for thedefense of the state, or for the support and maintenance of nationalhonor, but to fatten the Pontifical Government and its multitude ofparasites, who are to the people what vermin are to the body, or whatthe worm is to the corpse, and who exist only to plunder and devour. Whocan deny that the people of Southern Italy were more prosperous in 1860than at the present day, and is not the reason because they were bettergoverned?
In those days brigandage was scarcely known; there were no prefects,no gendarmes, no bravos. Now, with the multitude of satellites who ruinItalian finance existing in the South, anarchy, brigandage, and miseryprevail. Poor people! They hoped, after so many centuries of tyranny,and after the brilliant revolution of 1860, to obtain in a reformedGovernment an era of repose, of progress, and of prosperity. Alas, itwas but a delusion! "Put not your trust in princes," says Holy Writ.
Gasparo had baptized himself a Liberal in the Wood of the oppressors. Hewas received by the young brigand with indulgence, and even enthusiasm,and intrusted, as already mentioned, with the important mission ofconducting Prince T------ out of the forest into the direct road to Rome.
The prediction of Orazio respecting the steps that would be taken bythe Papal Government fulfilled itself exactly. After the reverse it hadsustained at the castle of Lucullus, the bishops decided in council tosend a large body of troops, with artillery, against this stronghold ofthe Liberals; and as it was thought they would not tarry long for sucha descent, the resolution was to carry the assault into immediateexecution.
With this in view, it was determined that not only the Papal, but alsothe foreign troops at the service of the Pope, should be drawn upon forthe expedition. A foreign general of note was called in to direct theenterprise, and every thing was made ready with alacrity, that thecritical assault might be delivered on Easter Day, generally sopropitious to the priests, who on that occasion, after their long fast,gorge even more than usual their capacious stomachs at the expense oftheir ignorant and superstitious flocks.
Orazio and his companions meanwhile were not sleeping, and receivedregular information from their friends in Rome of the plans andpreparations made by the Pontifical Government, albeit it kept them assecret as possible. The first thing Orazio did was to explore thesubterranean passages thoroughly. These were known, even to him, onlypartially, and a few of his comrades; but Gasparo, who had alreadyreturned from his mission, had had better opportunities of examiningthem, and, with his assistance, a thorough exploration was to be made.