of all who knew hei. Her minncrs were fimple, but degalit, unadorned by artifieial attraaions.
Such ivas this lovely maid, whofe aiFeSion! were placed on » young and valknl
youth, famed for hia courage and his humanity, and to whom the was ihortly to be wedded,
with the eonfent of her aged fether; who, an experienced veteran in the ferrdee of Delvafto,
had oftentimes witneH'cd his heroic valour and amiable qualities. To this gallant
youth, whofe name is not known, did he owe his hfe i tlirice had he refcued him from the
hands of death durbg the various campaigns they had fought together i he tl.etcfore felt
a fatliet's afTcaion for him, and loved him as his eliild. But when tlic good old man perceived
the rifmg attachment which he eherithed for his Lavinia, his only darling, and tliat
tliat love met with a favourable return, his joy was unbounded, and he fcemed to have
attained the utmoU ftate of human feKeity. Every preparation was accordingly made to
celebrate the nuptials, and tlic happy day drew near at hand in which this virtuous pair
were to be united i rfien, behold, Dcl-vaito, regardlefs of every tic of friendfhip or gratitude,
which he fmel y owed to the ttjfpeaable Kivalta, whofe venerable locks had grown
grey in his fervice, having fought many a batde by his tide witli marks of the greateft
heroifm, yet, ajas! neiflier his wounds nor gallant aaions went found fufficicnt to avert or
p r o t e a b i n from the infults of tliis tyrant, who mamtiined his pretended rights with unrelentingfeverily,
and ruled his feudal tcnnira wi th a rod of h-on, too often ttained with marks
of cruelty. He fent to acquaint this venerable Rivalta, tliat on the bridal day he thould
e x p e a to enjoy tlie privileges his rank allowed him on his fah- daughter : for which purpofe
h e determined on having the marriage ceremony performed at liis cliateau, in order
to veil his vile intentions by the eclat of the entertainment which he faid was dtje to the
great afFeaion he bore his fiefman. Extmme was the anguith with which Uiis unfortunate
family received the direM mandate! Like a thunderbolt it filled them with inexpreffible
defpair and eonllernation, at the very moment when they fancied then.fclves aitived at the
goal of happinefs. Good heavens 1 what a fudden change, to be thus hurled from the pinnacle
of joy to a ftate of the gnatett: di thonour ! Sad revcrfe of human bhfs! This cmel
order plmiged dtem in the moll gloomy tefleaions ^ fhey lamented in vain that fate which
compelled them to bear in fdonce die effeas of fuch arbitrary fway. In the mean while,
the good Bivalta, this venerable fatl.er, fcarcely able to futlain this additional load of
mifery and infult, widi difScnlty reached the eaffle, and endeavoured, by every foothing
and pcrfuafive argument, to foften the heart of his unrelendng lord; urging in modpathetic
terms his great age and long fervicea; requeuing him to retraa an order which, if coniplied
with, would effeilually carry his filver locks with IbiTOw to the gi'ave. But finding
him inexorable; and having cxhaaiied every expreffion which a father's aifeflioii, guided
by a tnie fenfe of lionour, could fuggeft, he apparently dcfifted and retired, not without
determining in lilence, that fincc tliere could be no medium between his diihonour and
that of his Lavinia's, and a revolt, an idea which filled him with the moil agonizing reflc(
5Uons, he would decide on tlie latter. He therefore immediately imparted this determination
to the gallant youth, whofe courage and intrepidity he had experienced, and
whom he now looked on as one of his family. This brave young man, awaking from his
defpondency, and animated by the love he bore his Lavinia, eagerly entered into her
father's views, and joined by a confiderablc number of friends who had grievoufly fuffcred
by Del-vafto's inceffant exadlions and cruelties, refolved on accepting his offer wi th the
moll determined refohition, that he ihould meet with inftant death at the very moment he
fliould attempt to execute his horrid intentions.
The confpirators, who were ali-cady fifty, fixed on a woody tra«$l of ground, fituated at
llic conflucnce of the rivers Gezzo and Stura, for their rendezvous, where they foon coll
e f t e d a number of male-contents, who were rejoiced at the opportunity of throwing off
their ihacldes.
The friends of Rivalta, on the day appointed for the nuptials, aiTembled at Del-vafto'^
caiile, agreeable to the invitation, as though they intended to commemorate the feilival;
their arms being carefully concealed, they were not fufpefled, and the rcil of the party
guarded the avenues.
The company was numerous, the tjTant having taken care to invite fuch of his relatives
and friends as paitook of his injufrice, and fupported his tj-ranny.
When they had indulged in the moil unbounded and riotous mirth, Del-vafto prepared
to retire with his viaim, and a felcfl party of favourites. The brave youth, no
longer able to contain his indignation and fury, at fuch premeditated injufiice, darted from
his feat like an arrow, purfued the tyrant, and ftretched him lifelefs at his feet. This iignal
being given, a moil dreadful maffacre enfued, as replete with horrors as the adlions of Delvailo's
life had been with vice and cruelt)'; for not one of his relatives or adherents, which
were at the wedding, were fpared.
The confpirators carried their thirft for vengeance to fuch lengths, that Uiey fcarched
the other Urong places of reti-cat, and indifcriminately put to death whoever they met, ref
p e d i n g neither age nor fcx. Although the infuireaion had been nearly general, and
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