Risifi's Daughter E-Book

Anna Katharine Green

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

In "Risifi's Daughter," Anna Katharine Green weaves a compelling narrative that intricately blends detective fiction with elements of social commentary. The novel unfolds the story of a young girl entangled in a web of mystery and intrigue as she seeks to uncover the truth about her origins. Notable for its rich character development, Green employs a finely tuned prose style that reflects both the Gothic tradition and the emerging detective genre of the late 19th century, echoing the complexity of human emotions and societal structures. The intricate plot, filled with suspense and moral dilemmas, invites readers to explore themes of identity, loss, and redemption. Anna Katharine Green, often hailed as a pioneer of the detective novel, was among the first women to make substantial contributions to this genre. Her extensive legal knowledge, illustrated through her meticulous attention to detail and authenticity in character portrayals, has greatly informed her writing. Green's unique perspective as a woman in a predominantly male literary world allowed her to imbue her works with nuances of female experience and empowerment, further positioning this novel within the early feminist literary canon. "Risifi's Daughter" is highly recommended for readers who appreciate a thoughtfully constructed mystery intertwined with profound social commentary. Green'Äôs masterful storytelling invites readers to investigate the depths of human experience alongside an intrepid and relatable protagonist. This novel will not only captivate fans of the detective genre but also engage those interested in exploring the complexities of identity and societal constraints in the 19th century.

Leseprobe

Anna Katharine Green

Risifi's Daughter

Published by Good Press, 2022

[email protected]

EAN 4066338074386

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

"

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

OSALDI—A Florentine prince. GIOVANNI,) His sons. CAMILLO, ) RISIFI—A wealthy merchant. ZENO—Friend and confidant of OSALDI. LEON,) Gentlemen. SILVIO,) URBINO—Friend and confidant of RISIFI. ANTONIO. BEPPO. PAULO. PAGE. PRIEST. MESSENGER. GINEVRA—Daughter of RISIFI. BIANCA.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ACT I.

SCENE—A dismantled room in the Osaldi palace.

Enter OSALDI and GIOVANNI.

GIOVANNI.

What, gone? All gone? fame, fortune, substance, lands? Nought but the title left?

OSALDI.

Ay, ay, nought else. The goodly tree of our most ancient house Which for so long a time hath stood the shock Of every wind of heav'n, hath fall'n at last; And I th' unhappy cause.

GIOVANNI.

Thou?

OSALDI.

But for me, For me and that wild folly of the blood Which would not look on danger in the bud, However brave to meet it in the flower, You and your brother might have stood this day Among the proudest nobles in the land, Instead of hiding in these dim old halls Heads that were made for council, hands for fight, And hearts whose manly worth a father sees But dares not praise too much, lest men should say, "The loss of fortune, favor, and repute Hath made the old man mad; low as he is, He thinks to charm the world back to his feet With his two needy sons." Ah, my Giovanni, You are too gentle; you but wrench the sword When you should boldly draw it. Wrong like this, Demands a harsher treatment.

GIOVANNI.

Wrong? Well, yes, Perhaps it was a wrong. But when did wrong E'er mount so high that love could not outsoar it? Father, I love you, and in that word toss The past away forever. As for the future, If we be born Osaldis, let us be Osaldis to the core, and made to bend, Stoop with such strength we crush the thing we stoop to, And rise up lords again. You smile, my sire; Does my weak body put to shame my words? If so, my deeds must put to shame my body.

OSALDI.

If I did smile it was with pride, my boy, To find my fledglings grown. You and your brother Are two young eagles hatched upon a rock But needing nought but your great eagle hearts To teach you how to mount. Oh that my strength Were as my years, that I might live to see Your wings above the clouds!

GIOVANNI.

You will, you will. By this right arm's good force—

OSALDI.

No force, my son; I am too old for force. I fain would see The end before I die, and fortune forced, Yields not till blood and sinew, heart and brain Have well-nigh spent themselves.

GIOVANNI.

How then attain?

OSALDI.

As you attain the fruit of yonder tree; Stand up and reach, my son.

GIOVANNI.

But all are reaching, And what am I that I alone should pluck?

OSALDI.

You are a prince.

GIOVANNI.

Ay, but you say a poor one, And gold seeks gold.

OSALDI.

True if it seek not rank. Boy, you are dull, methinks. The ripest fruit Which hangs within the reach of noble youth, Falls but through woman's favor. You must wed.

GIOVANNI.

Ah!

OSALDI.

For— [Enter ZENO. But hold! here comes our worthy Zeno; Step back, I pray, but do not quite withdraw; I 'd speak to you anon. [GIOVANNI draws back. OSALDI approaches ZENO. Well, well, what news? What says the sleek Rigoli?

ZENO.

Good, my lord, The worthy count sends greeting; knows your fame And bows unto it; knows your son's deserts And cries himself his servant; feels them both Too weighty in the balance 'gainst his daughter, And therefore must decline the brave alliance You bade me to propose.

OSALDI.

Ay, ay, ay, ay, A smooth, soft message, but it breaks my heart. My fame? Great heavens! My deserts? Ye powers! They are most weighty. Had we owned more gold, Methinks we then had seen a miracle, Since what had made all other scales weigh down Had tossed this up in air. Ah, well, the world Speaks suavely in this answer of Rigoli.

ZENO.

My lord, a five year hence the Count Rigoli Will think himself much honored if he gain So much as late admission to Osaldi.

OSALDI.

Hath Giocchi then—

ZENO.

My gracious lord, no Giocchi; There's craft in Giocchi blood; I like not Giocchi.

OSALDI.

Ay, but what said he? Something blunt, I wot. What said the jealous Giocchi?

ZENO.

Truly, Prince, He said no more than this: "When proud Osaldi Can show a fortune equal to his birth, Then let him seek my daughter."

OSALDI.

When, when, then! And does he think we e'er should seek his daughter Were we so much as by one scudo richer? Fie on him and his daughter!

ZENO.

Yea, my lord, We are well rid of Giocchi. As to Uzzi—

OSALDI.

Good! what of Uzzi?

ZENO.

He but stared upon me, And waving wide the fringes of his sleeve, Passed by without a word.

OSALDI.

And this from Uzzi! Time was when had an Uzzi but so much As laid his hand upon my grandsire's arm, An hundred swords had winged them to the light To thrust the insult back. O we are fallen! Our day is dead indeed.

ZENO.

Never so dead But it will rise again. There yet is one—

OSALDI.

Who? Who?

ZENO.

An honorable man, my lord, Of wealth so great, Rigoli, ay, or Giocchi, Could not heap up bajocchi to his scudi. One with a daughter as exceeding fair As the Rigoli's foul; a woman, Prince, As young as Giocchi's daughter, and as chaste As Uzzi's wife is not. And though no count— Have you not had enough of counts, my lord? A man of such high-reaching, quick ambition, That in default of wealth more merchantable, He 'd give his very life-blood, drop by drop, To see his daughter wedded honorably. Ah, I have heard him talk! no count, I say, But yet—

OSALDI.

No count? Belike a noble, then, In all but titles: simple seignior, Zeno, But of most gentle pedigree and station.

ZENO.

No pedigree, my lord; but patience! tell me Is it for names we suffer more this hour, Or gold to make the names which we possess As lustrous as they should be?