PREFACE
IN submitting to the English-speaking public this second volume of M. Zola’s trilogy “Lourdes, Rome, Paris,” I have no prefatory remarks to offer on behalf of the author, whose views on Rome, its past, present, and future, will be found fully expounded in the following pages. That a book of this character will, like its forerunner “Lourdes,” provoke considerable controversy is certain, but comment or rejoinder may well be postponed until that controversy has arisen. At present then I only desire to say, that in spite of the great labour which I have bestowed on this translation, I am sensible of its shortcomings, and in a work of such length, such intricacy, and such a wide range of subject, it will not be surprising if some slips are discovered. Any errors which may be pointed out to me, however, shall be rectified in subsequent editions. I have given, I think, the whole essence of M. Zola’s text; but he himself has admitted to me that he has now and again allowed his pen to run away with him, and thus whilst sacrificing nothing of his sense I have at times abbreviated his phraseology so as slightly to condense the book. I may add that there are no chapter headings in the original, and that the circumstances under which the translation was made did not permit me to supply any whilst it was passing through the press; however, as some indication of the contents of the book—which treats of many more things than are usually found in novels—may be a convenience to the reader, I have prepared a table briefly epitomising the chief features of each successive chapter.
MERTON, SURREY, ENGLAND,
April, 1896.
PART I. I
“NEW ROME”—Abbe Froment in the Eternal City—His First Impressions—His
Book and the Rejuvenation of Christianity
II
“BLACK MOUTH, RED SOUL”—The Boccaneras, their Mansion, Ancestors,
History, and Friends
III
ROMANS OF THE CHURCH—Cardinals Boccanera and Sanguinetti—Abbes
Paparelli and Santobono—Don Vigilio—Monsignor Nani
ROMANS OF NEW ITALY—The Pradas and the Saccos—The Corso and the Pincio
V
THE BLOOD OF AUGUSTUS—The Palaces of the Caesars—The Capitol—The
Forum—The Appian Way—The Campagna—The Catacombs—St. Peter’s.
VI
VENUS AND HERCULES—The Vatican—The Sixtine Chapel—Michael Angelo and
Raffaelle—Botticelli and Bernini—Gods and Goddesses—The Gardens—Leo
XIII—The Revolt of Passion
PRINCE AND PONTIFF—The International Pilgrimage—The Papal Revenue—A
Function at St. Peter’s—The Pope-King—The Temporal Power
VIII
THE POOR AND THE POPE—The Building Mania—The Financial Crash—The
Horrors of the Castle Fields—The Roman Workman—May Christ’s Vicar
Gamble?—Hopes and Fears of the Papacy
IX
TITO’s WARNING—Aspects of Rome—The Via Giulia—The Tiber by Day—The
Gardens—The Villa Medici—-The Squares—The Fountains—Poussin and the
Campagna—The Campo Verano—The Trastevere—The “Palaces”—Aristocracy,
Middle Class, Democracy—The Tiber by Night
FROM PILLAR TO POST—The Propaganda—The Index—Dominicans, Jesuits,
Franciscans—The Secular Clergy—Roman Worship—Freemasonry—Cardinal
Vicar and Cardinal Secretary—The Inquisition.
XI
POISON!—Frascati—A Cardinal and his Creature—Albano, Castel Gandolfo,
Nemi—Across the Campagna—An Osteria—Destiny on the March
XII
THE AGONY OF PASSION—A Roman Gala—The Buongiovannis—The Grey
World—The Triumph of Benedetta—King Humbert and Queen Margherita—The
Fig-tree of Judas
XIII
DESTINY!—A Happy Morning—The Mid-day Meal—Dario and the Figs—Extreme
Unction—Benedetta’s Curse—The Lovers’ Death
SUBMISSION—The Vatican by Night—The Papal Anterooms—Some Great
Popes—His Holiness’s Bed-room—Pierre’s Reception—Papal Wrath—Pierre’s
Appeal—The Pope’s Policy—Dogma and Lourdes—Pierre Reprobates his Book
XV
A HOUSE OF MOURNING—Lying in State—Mother and Son—Princess and
Work-girl—Nani the Jesuit—Rival Cardinals—The Pontiff of Destruction
XVI
JUDGMENT—Pierre and Orlando—Italian Rome—Wanted, a Democracy—Italy
and France—The Rome of the Anarchists—The Agony of Guilt—A
Botticelli—The Papacy Condemned—The Coming Schism—The March of
Science—The Destruction of Rome—The Victory of Reason—Justice not
Charity—Departure—The March of Civilisation—One Fatherland for All
Mankind