…A Continuation
Sleep, it is said, is a cure to the problems of life; as we drift down into worlds of our own fancy, we forget about this pesky life with its pain and suffering. And, for just a few hours, we are at peace. I couldn’t disagree more; when I sleep I dream, and when I dream I have nightmares, and in those nightmares I relive life only more vividly. I see again all that I have seen, and start to see what I did not see at first, what I could not see. Ah my dear, for the first time I see what it must have been like for you…
But…again, I must remind myself, this is not my story. My story is not the point here, it is not my purpose, and, even if it were, it would make sense without the story I am trying to tell. So let us, I in this cramped and gloomy cell, and you, dear reader, wherever you are, see this story. Let us go back into the past, oh so many years, and watch this tale unfold. Imagine, if you will, a noble man of some seven and twenty years of the name Iacopo Orsini, a man of humble enough beginning, though he claimed a noble past, a man seeing his new home for the first time…
“It’s a pigsty.”
“Oh I wouldn’t go quite that far, sir.”
“Who in all God’s glories are you?”
“Taddeo, sir. I was the Holy See’s official in charge of the affairs of Orvieto.”
“Well I can’t say you did a very good job, the place is a pigsty. No, that’s being too generous; there are no pigs here, nor cows nor chickens, nor a recognizable system of farming, nor anything else. Just…that…what would you call that anyway?”
“Your castle sir, now then if you would just sign th-“
“My castle? It looks like a dilapidated farmhouse.”
“Yes well, times haven’t been good for us. Now as I was saying if you would just sign this order confirming you ha-“
“Times haven’t been good? That’s your excuse? Own up to your faults man, you were in charge here!”
“It was not my fault milord, now then I am told you are an educated man so if you would just sign this here we can-“
“Not your fault? You were in charge here, were you not?”
“Well yes, technically, but a man named Florentin was in charge of all monies and took most of it for his personal use. It’s no use looking for him, if that is what you are thinking, he has fled back to his Duchess, with all our monies in tow.”
“Duchess? You couldn’t possibly mean…?”
“Yes, sir. Mathilda of Cannosa, the Duchess of Toscana and Sporleto. A more wretched and selfish woman is not to be found.”
“Ahh a man after my own heart, I can see we will get along splendidly. Now let us get about the business of fixing this place up.”
“Yes sir, but first wouldn’t you like signing this official Papal docu-“
“No time for that Taddeo. I have only known you perhaps two minutes and already I can see that you have some trouble getting your mind from one topic to another, move with the times. I am ten feet and several minutes past where you stand, now try to catch up… there is work to do!”
Such words may sound harsh, but Iacopo was right, Orvieto really wasn’t much to look at. Florentin had ravaged the treasury and ruined such trade as there was to the point that in the whole of the county less a half a gold ducat was earned in a month. It is true in those times little enough money did exist, but Orvieto was worse off then most. As the Church would say: “A truer example can not be found of life as it was before the invocation of powers, life is so much better now is it not?” Life may be easier, so long as independent thinking on the myriad of forbidden topics is not high on your list of priorities, but is it really better?”
Such judgment calls are not mine to make, for what do I, one who lost al, really know about this life, when so many seem happy in it? No matter though… Let us then return to Iacopo just a few short hours later, at dinner that night where he introduced himself to such nobility as there was in the county.
“Honored Lords and Ladies, allow me to introduce our new Lord Count Iacopo Orsini.”
“Thank you Sir Taddeo, and I just want to take a moment here to thank you for assistance in adjusting myself to these new surroundings, it has been appreciated and I assure that you will have a continued role in the governing of these lands. So, to point, allow me to welcome you all to my hall, a place which has since even before the Romans been a place of power and dignity. It has a long and glorious tradition, a tradition which you and your families have been a part of for many years, a tradition which I would no more interrupt then renounce my faith …an interesting choice of words, as we shall see…
However just because something is ancient and venerable doesn’t mean that we must allow it to consume us, we must look to the present and future, not just the past; and to do so I am telling you, here and now, that our traditional customs must change, to a certain extent, while at the same making a conscience effort to respect them as much as possible. I understand that is must come as a shock and undoubtedly angers you, but we must be feudal, not futile…ah ha. The way it works is simple, you rule your traditional…lands, such as they are, and inside these lands your words are law, but outside these lands you answer to me, and if I say prepare for war, do it.
As you can see it is not a complicated system, just an effective one. Now then let us eat ….....umm…Taddeo?”
“Yes milord?”
“What is it we’re eating? It looks and tastes like an old boot.”
“Close milord. We prefer to call it prime aged beef with a sole.”
“A soul? You know it goes against Church law to say animals have souls.
“Sole, not soul.”
“Don’t follow.”
Now Dear Reader I feel I can not continue in good spirit… well ever, considering my current predicament… but in this particular instance because I am sure you are full of questions. Now to answer your question:, I have spent many years piecing together ancient records and court documents and the like to piece together individual events and what was said, where there are holes I have made the decision that where ever possible create a dialogue consistent with events and characters into a tapestry of history. As to your other question, quite frankly the only answer I can give is that times were different. In an age when one could die at any moment one could chose to be fatalistic and dwell on the negative ‘till the shuffling off of this mortal coil… or one could embrace life and stay in good spirits in all things.
Furthermore the times were not right for long flowery turns of phrase and poetry, but rather for course, rough language to get a point across quickly. I do envy them in that. Not to say I have no great love for literature, I do, though I wish there were more accepted topics that one could write on in these days… as I was saying, there is, or rather was, a time and place for being rough around the ages which is something we have lost I fear; along with much else. But I digress I fear, to continue, after the meal the assembled baronets and lords and ladies and such went their separate ways with much too talk of, while Taddeo introduced to Iacopo to the most important men in the county, after himself of course…
“Gentlemen, it is a pleasure.”
“The feeling is mutual, Lord Count.”
“Aye, aye ‘tis a certainty.”
“Milord, if you will allow me…this is Ubaldo of Orvieto, the richest man in Orvieto.”
“Aye that is the truth of it… now pray tell, I know you be a man of god, but this question must be asked: what is your stance on usury.”
“I’m flattered, but we just met, I’m not sure I’m ready for that level of commitment. Besides, with all respect, you’re a man.”
“Begging your lord’s pardon, but-”
“Nothing, nothing, just a little joke; as to your question, we do consider it a sin, so I think you know the answer to that all ready.”
“Perhaps, perhaps, it is known to me though one says such words they do not mean it nor would do anything to stop such sins.”
“What do you mean by that, sir?”
“Why nothing, a slip of tongue that is all.”
“Ahem. If I could continue my lord, this man is Luca Sfondrati, the head of one of the oldest families in Orvieto, and the father of Giovanna Sfondrati, the greatest beauty seen in many a year.”
“Indeed, I saw her at dinner. You must be quite a proud father.”
“I am, Lord Count. Would you like to be a proud husband?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I believe you heard me quite well Lord Count. If your answer be yes, she is upstairs awaiting you. And, now Lord Count I must go, I have duties to attend too. Farewell.”
“What an extraordinarily direct fellow.”
“In truth, though the lady is of a rare caliber of beauty and learning. As you doth decide your course of action, I must say that the night is late in hours, as I am in years, and fear I must leave you.”
“Hmm? Ohh, ohh yes. Well, may God guide your steps home, good night.”
“Good night Lord Count.”
“What do you say Taddeo?”
“It is as Ubaldo says milord, further it would make Luca ever your ally and strengthen your position here in Orvieto.”
“Well, that decides it. If you’ll excuse me I’ll just go upstairs.”
….
“Wow, um hello Giovanna, how are you?”
“Ready and willing, and this is my friend Julia.”
“So you must be our new count I’ve heard so much of…”
“Ah, er, yes…well… unexpected, not unwelcome though I suppose. And it’s not like there could be any long lasting consequences here, like a bastard or anything…”
In the interest of brevity, and perhaps good taste, I feel I must cut in here and leave the rest to the imagination; if you are young and have not the imagination… I’m not sure a tale of treachery, deceit, etc. is right for you, but if you reading anyway, and who am I to say what is right or wrong?… they all sat down and had a lovely conversation over a cup of tea and were all home by bedtime.
To continue…Iacopo marries Giovanna within a week, and a midwife confirms she is pregnant less then a month later, while her ‘friend’ goes back to whatever such people do when they are not in stories such as these. Iacopo rules for an uneventful few months, happy to be away from the intrigue and politics of Rome, until one day in April a man-
I hear the sound of footsteps coming near my cell and must put away this work for now.
“Still working on your insanity, Legate?”
“The truth is never insane warden.”
“Of course it is, that is why we hide it with lies that make sense.”
“What an interesting phrase, I must remember it; and it sounds as though you’d be the perfect one to give my work due consideration.”
“No Legate, I am not insane and prefer not to see insanity, I enjoy my life as is, there are those however who find insanity so much more interesting then ‘real’ life though, aren’t there… Until later, Legate.”
What now, could that mean?
