"I agree, I agree.... Just imagine that I pay annually in taxes (beyond the indirect ones, you understand), two hundred and fifty thousand lire!"
At the mention of this sum the Duke turned slightly towards Camerini, looked fixedly at him a short time over his spectacles, then took them off very slowly, folded them and put them in their case, set aside his newspaper, and entered into a conversation with him that only came to an end when we separated. "Oh the power of gold!" said I to myself.... Let us return to the monument.
It is composed thus: on the first foundation a great urn, above which rises the base, on which is placed the seated statue of the Duke in a thoughtful attitude, dressed in the clothes he wore, and wrapped in a cloak. At the sides of the urn, which form two semicircles, are two statues. Beneficence is standing and offering money to a youthful workman, who, in an attitude of affectionate gratitude, wishes to kiss the hand that with such loving wisdom has lifted him out of misery, and ennobled him by the sanctity of labour, so that this payment is only the legitimate recompense of his work. This group represents one of the virtues of Duke Camerini, who made use of his very large rent-roll to alleviate the misery of his fellow-beings, and give them encouragement and work; and certainly no one more than he could feel the usefulness of work, because from being a humble workman (although of a respectable family) he elevated himself to the highest rank of society, and to riches as honourable as they were great. Corresponding to this statue, on the other side kneels Gratitude, who scatters flowers on the urn; and although gratitude is one of the virtues that adorned that great man, as I shall explain hereafter, yet this statue refers to that sentiment of affectionate remembrance by which his nephew, Count Luigi Camerini, wished to honour the memory of his munificent uncle. The lower base is ornamented by a bas-relief, representing Duke Camerini when, during one of the inundations of the Po, an immense population of that desolate country were left without a roof to their heads and without bread, he rescued them, encouraged them, and helped them, giving bread and work to all, ordering the work of new embankments immediately to be undertaken, avoiding most wisely by so doing greater disaster, and saving from misery and hunger that wretched population. This bas-relief is an admirable work of Professor Luigi Ceccon, of Padua; and this, as well as the execution of all the architectural and ornamental parts of the monument, Count Camerini and I intrusted to him.
CHARACTER OF DUKE CAMERINI.
ANECDOTE OF DUKE CAMERINI.
The moral character of Duke Camerini is worthy of being remembered and honoured. It is certainly not my task to relate his life, but I cannot pass by in silence a most notable instance in it, the knowledge of which strengthened the study and affection that I put into the modelling and chiselling of this monument. When the youth Silvestro, in the capacity of simple labourer, worked at I know not what improvement of land in the neighbourhood of Ferrara, he used to go during the hour of rest to a small eating-house to recruit his strength with his usual temperance. It happened one day that he found himself without money, and as he was a daily customer, frankly, with an honest man's conscience, he said to the host, "I will pay you to-morrow." But this man, who was hard and brutal, answered that "when one has no money, one should not order anything to eat;" to which the youth was about to reply, when a young gentleman, who happened by chance to be shooting in those parts, and had come in to take some refreshment, seeing the embarrassment of the young labourer and the hardness of the host, tossed a bit of money on to the counter, saying to the latter, "Take your pay for what this man has eaten here." The host took the money and returned the change; but the excellent gentleman said, "No; give the rest of the money to this youth. He seems to me to have the air of being an honest man, and he can use it another day when his own money fails him." It was not such a small matter either, for the money he had given to be changed was a golden Genova. Then on one side excuses were made and restitution offered, whilst on the other a mild but determined insistence, which ended in the shaking of hands and leave-taking. From that day forward Silvestro Camerini had no more need to go on credit, not because the remainder of that piece of gold could place him for ever beyond necessity, but because those insulting and brutal words had been a lesson to him, with his high and noble spirit, never again to place himself in a similar position. Camerini went out from that house much moved in spirit and full of gratitude towards the gentleman, whose name he inquired and ever kept in his memory. In the meantime, by good conduct, economy, and work, he was able to save something; and as by nature he had a mind much superior to his condition, he was able to take upon himself the direction of some works, and always advancing in his activity, economy, and good administration, he gradually made a considerable fortune, all of which he put into land. But the noble gentleman who had so opportunely helped him, either through bad administration, too much liberality, or some other reason, lost his fortune, and was obliged to sell all his lands to pay his debts. One day the last villa belonging to him, and the one he cared most for, was about to be put up to auction; and that day, so full of sadness for him, turned out perhaps the brightest and happiest of his life. Camerini, who had already become rich, bid at the auction for it, and having obtained it, went to the unhappy gentleman and presented it to him. His surprise, joy, and incredulity are more easily imagined than described. He said, "What is the meaning of this? In what way? Wherefore? Is it perhaps a restitution? So much has been stolen from me that——" "Yes, really," answered Camerini, "it is a restitution, but not of anything stolen." And he then told him, or rather reminded him, of the youth that he had benefited so many years before. The worthy gentleman at first held back, and wished to refuse the gift; but at last overcome by emotion and admiration, he wept and embraced his friend—a true friend indeed, for all the others he had known in his prosperity had disappeared with it.
NOBLE RESTITUTION.
This anecdote deserves to be told, because it draws to the life the lovable, grateful, and most liberal character of Duke Camerini. It was told me by Count Antonio Pallavicini of Bologna, the friend and contemporary of Duke Camerini and the other gentleman, whose name, I regret to say, I do not remember. The anecdote that I have just told, and many others that illustrated the character of this great man, as well as the nobility and generosity of his worthy nephew, who intrusted to me the execution of this monument, spurred me on and facilitated my undertaking.
REJECTED OFFERS.
If the reader has a good memory, he will remember that elsewhere I have spoken of my offers to execute works for their mere cost—that is to say, my proposals to give my time, work, and study gratis et amore Dei. He will remember, also, that these offers were not accepted, and that having been taught by so many lessons of this kind, I advised young artists to abjure and chase from their mind these Utopian ideas that experience had fully shown me could not be carried out. To confirm them in this opinion, I must now add a new and more striking instance of a work offered by me that was not accepted; and I trust that the account of this new fact will not be wanting in importance, and will serve as a good lesson.