After being on the stretch throughout the violent
feverish incidents of the day, his nerves relaxed under the balmy
influences of the spring night. Why should he, without any excuse of
passion, out of mere caprice, from pure vanity and arrogance, have taken
pleasure in awakening the hatred, and deeply wounding the heart of a
fellow man? The thought of the horrid pain that must be torturing his
adversary filled him with a sort of compassion. Elena's image flashed
before him, and he called to mind the anguish he had endured the year
before, what time he had lost her--his jealousy, his anger, his nameless
torments. Then, as now, the nights were serene and calm, and filled
with perfume, and yet how they weighed upon his spirit! He inhaled the
fragrant breath of the roses blooming in the little gardens about, and
watched the flock of sheep passing through the Piazza below.
The mass of thick white fleece advanced with a continuous undulating
motion, a compact and unbroken surface, like a muddy wave pouring over
the pavement. A sharp quavering bleat would mingle with the tinkling
bells to be answered by other voices, fainter and more timid; from time
to time, the mounted shepherds, riding at either side or behind the
flock, gave a sharp word of command, or used their long staves. The
splendour of the moonlight lent to this passage of flocks through the
midst of the slumbering city the mystery of things seen in a dream.
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