XXI

othemthanIhaveeverbeen.Howmuchbetterwilltheybeinyourstronghandsthanwithme!' 'No,no!Youaretheonlymanwhohaspowerhere.Youcouldnotbereplaced.' 'ButwhatcanIdomorethanIamdoing.IdonotseektoleaveForliIwillstayhereandprotectmyselfasmuchasIcan.Icannotdomore.' 'Oh,Checco,lookattheirstate.Itcannotcontinue.TheyaregrounddownnowtheCountmustimposethesetaxes,andwhatwillbetheirconditionthen?Thepeoplearedyingintheirmisery,andthesurvivorsholdhappythosewhodie.Howcanyoulookonandseeallthis?Andyou,youknowGirolamowillkillyouitisamatteroftime,andwhocantellhowshortatime?Perhapsevennowheisforgingtheweaponofyourdeath.' 'Mydeath!Mydeath!'criedChecco.'Allthatisnothing!' 'Butwhatwillbethelotofthepeoplewhenyouaregone?YouaretheonlycurbonRiario'styranny.Whenyouaredead,nothingwillkeephimback.Andwhenoncehehaseasedhispathbymurderhewillnotfailtodosoagain.Weshallliveunderperpetualterroroftheknife.Oh,havemercyonyourfellow-citizens.' 'Mycountry!'saidChecco.'Mycountry!' 'Youcannotresistthis.Forthegoodofyourcountryyoumustleaduson.' 'Andifmysoul—' 'Itisforyourcountry.Ah!Checco,thinkofusall.Notforourselvesonly,butforourwives,ourinnocentchildren,webegyou,weimplore.Shallwegodownonourkneestoyou?' 'Oh,myGod,whatshallIdo?'saidChecco,extremelyagitated. 'Listentomyfather,Checco!'saidScipione.'Hehasrightonhisside.' 'Oh,notyou,too!Donotoverwhelmme.Ifeelyouareallagainstme.Godhelpme!Iknowitiswrong,butIfeelmyselfwavering.' 'Donotthinkofyourself,Checcoitisforothers,forourliberty,ourlives,ourall,thatweimploreyou.' 'Youmovemeterribly.YouknowhowIlovemycountry,andhowcanIresistyou,appealingonherbehalf!' 'Bebrave,Checco!'saidMatteo. 'Itisthehighestthingofallthatweaskyou,'addedBartolomeo.'Mancandonothinggreater.Weaskyoutosacrificeyourself,evenyoursoul,maybe,forthegoodofusall.' Checcoburiedhisfaceinhishandsandgroaned,— 'Oh,God!Oh,God!' Then,withagreatsigh,heroseandsaid,— 'Beitasyouwill....Forthegoodofmycountry!' 'Ah,thanks,thanks!' Bartolomeotookhiminhisarmsandkissedhimonbothcheeks.ThensuddenlyCheccotorehimselfaway. 'Butlistentothis,allofyou.Ihaveconsented,andnowyoumustletmespeak.IswearthatinthisthingIhavenothoughtofmyself.IfIalonewereconcernedIwouldnotmoveIwouldwaitfortheassassin'sknifecalmly.Iwouldevensacrificemywifeandchildren,andGodknowshowdearlyIlovethem!Iwouldnotstirafingertosavemyself.AndIswear,bya