Bernard Capes

Name: A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25
Author: Bernard Capes

A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

Summary

“A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25”, published in 1905, is a work by Bernard Capes. It explores elements such as Cicada, Fool and agony.

Quotes from A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (Bernard Capes)

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ Through the chiming stars, the romp of wind in woods, the gush of spring freshets, the cheery drone of bees; through all happy gales—of innocent frolic, of children's laughter, of sighing, unharmful passion, of joy and gaiety ungrudging; through the associations of his gentle spirit with these, the things it had loved, whereby, by those who had listened and could not altogether forget, came gradually to be vindicated the truth of his kind religion, Bernardo's voice, though grown a phantom voice, spoke on and echoed down the ages. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ He might at least have spared himself that agony. The truth, to one so true, could not long fail of revealing itself. And when it came, lo! he welcomed it, as always, for a friend.
Small birds, small flowers, small wants perish of a little neglect. His sun, his sustenance, were scarce withheld a few hours from this sensitive plant before he began to droop. And ever, with the fading of his mortal tissues, the glow of the intelligence within seemed to grow brighter, until verily the veins upon his temples appeared to stand out, like mystic writing on a lighted porcelain lamp. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ Suddenly he came and threw himself on his knees before the boy, but away from him, and knelt there, rocking and protesting, his face in his hands.
'Ah! let me be myself at last. That disguise—thou mockest—'twas none. Worn like a fool—mayhap—unpractised—yet could I have kissed its skirted hem. I am a woman, though a Fool—what's odd in that?—a woman, dear, a woman, a woman!'
He bowed himself, lower, lower, as if his shame were crushing him. In the deep silence that followed, Bernardo, trembling all through, crept a foot nearer, and paused. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ Most sweet. I'll wait thine agony, though, before I give it. She'll cry, then; and I shall be by; and, look you, emotion is the mother of desire. I'll pillow her upon thy corpse, bastard, and quicken her with new lust of wickedness. She'll never have loved me more. God! what a use for a saint!'
Cicada crawled, and rose, from under her sweet burden.
'Wait,' she hissed; 'the grate's open. A strong leap, and I have him.'
An idle threat; but enough to make the whelp start, and clap to the bars, and fly screaming.
The Fool returned, panting, to her charge. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ Bernardo listened in wonder.
'This ring!' he whispered at the end. 'Right judgment on me for my wicked negligence. Why, I deserve to die. Yet—' he clung a little closer—'Cicca,' he thrilled, 'it is the Duke, then, hath committed us to this?'
Cicada moaned, beating his forehead:—
'Ay, ay! it is the Duke. So I kill thy last hope!'
'Nay, thou reviv'st it.'
'How?' He stared, holding his breath.
'O, my dear!' murmured the boy rapturously; 'since thou acquittest her of this unkindness.'
'Her? Whom? Unkindness!' cried the Fool. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ He will often think of us, and wonder where we are, and frown and gnaw his lip. If I could but hear him speak once more—cry "Bernardo!" in that voice that made one's eyeballs crack like glass, and tickle in their veins. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ Mother, have I failed in everything?'
'Let be! Thou'lt kill me with thy prattle. Thy Christ remains behind. He'll see thy seed is honoured in its fruits.'
'Well, wilt thou kiss me good-night? I'm sleepy.'
He seemed to doze a good deal after that. But, about midnight, it might be, he suddenly sat up, and was singing strongly to his lute—a sweet, unearthly song, of home-returning and farewell. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ He had learned enough of woman in these months to know that the measure of her resentment was not always the measure of the fault—how she would sometimes stab deeper for a disappointment than for a wrong. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Bernard Capes, A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (1905)

“ Sweet babble at the hill-head, it was yet the progenitor of the booming flood which came to take the world with knowledge—knowledge of its own second redemption through the humanity which is born of Nature. ”

Bernard Capes

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Quotes from A Jay of Italy — Chapter 25 (Bernard Capes)

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