VALPERGA:
OR, THE
LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
CASTRUCCIO,
PRINCE OF LUCCA.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "FRANKENSTEIN."
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. III.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER,
AVE-MARIA-LANE.
1823.
CONTENTS
The Witch of the Forest.
Beatrice in the Inquisition at Lucca.—Freed
by Castruccio, at the Intercession of Euthanasia.
Beatrice, her Creed, and her Love.
Beatrice's Narrative.
Beatrice resolves to take the Veil.—Euthanasia
visits Florence.
Beatrice meets Tripalda—is led by Bindo to
the Witch's Cave.
Euthanasia returns.—Beatrice meets the witch,
and encounters Castruccio and Tripalda.—Dies.
Castruccio's Progress in Arms.—He brings
Devastation to the Gates of Florence.—A
Conspiracy formed against him.
Euthanasia joins the Conspiracy.—Tripalda
a Member.
Euthanasia removes to Lucca.—Conference
with Tripalda.—Tripalda turns Informer.
Euthanasia in Prison.
Euthanasia sails for Sicily, and is lost.
VALPERGA
CHAPTER I
The Witch of the Forest.
When Bindo had been released by the command of Castiglione from thehands of the Lucchese soldiers, he fled across the country; and,possessed with horror and despair at the issue of all his predictions,hastened to the only human being to whom he ever spoke his realsentiments, or in whom he placed any confidence.
To the north of Lucca, where the mountains rise highest, and the countryis most wild, there was, at the period those people lived concerningwhom I write, an immense ilex wood, which covered the Apennines, and waslost to sight in the grey distance, and among the folds and declivitiesof the hills. In this forest there lived a witch; she inhabited acottage built partly of the trunks of trees, partly of stones, andpartly was inclosed by the side of the mountain against which it leaned.This hut was very old; that part of it which was built of stone wascovered with moss, lichens and wall-flowers, whose beauty and scentappeared alien to the gloom around; but, amidst desolation and horror,Nature loves to place the lovely and excellent, that man, viewing th