THE GOLDSMITH OF PADUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 26 September 1891, Page 4

THE GOLDSMITH OF PADUA.

In the end of the fifteenth century, when | the cities of Italy were rendered rich by their trades to the Indies, Padua was one of the most flourishing of its towns, and possessed a body of merchants, and r> irticularly gold- j smiths, jewellf-* ' : <\ -Mk, with ' whom Yeni ;j,ir a comTvmsfv> • ' : "i5 ,md ' jewellers in. m~.ii than his brethren was upon the | bridge, and P .rcely more uni- i versally knowr i Jeronimo Yin- I cente was kiii- s citizens. "It never rains : ivs a norther i proverb; "n. : ie.>," says an Italian one. • j . v.iv the truth of , both these sayings. h.c was already rich enough to satisfy a dozen merchants, and to ■ make a score of German princes. Fortune, J however, did not yet think that she had done enough for him ; every day some J traveller was arriving at Padua, in the I exchange of whose foreign money for the j coin of Padua he obtained some good bar--1 gains, and added 10 liis overflowing coffers. Few died without relatives but that he was appointed their executor. Many paid tribute to his wealth and reputation by leaving him their heir. The city of Padua gave him all their public contracts; and he almost sunk under the weight of trusts, offices, etc., f not merely offered, but obtruded and imposed upon him. Who would be more happy than Jeronimo Vincente ? So he thought himself as he walked on the bridge of Padua one beautiful summer's evening. A coach of one of the nobles passed at the same moment : no one noticed it. On the other hand, every one who passed him saluted him. — " Such has been the effects of my industry, my dexterity of business, and my assiduous application. Yes, Jeronimo, others have to thank their ancestors ; you have to thank only yourself. It is all your own merit." And with these reflections his stature, as it were, increased some inches higher, and assuming a peculiar port, and a self-satisfied step, he walked in vanity, and almost in defiance of everything and every one to his own house. He fell asleep in the same mood, . and dreamed that the ancient fable of Jupiter was repeated in his house, and that the heavens opened, and descended upon him a shower of ducats and pistoles. In all this soliloquy of Jeronimo, the reader will observe, theije was not a word or thought of any one but himself; he did not attribute his plenty to the blessing of God : he felt no gratitude to him who had showered down upon him his abundance ; his mind, his spirit, and his vanity were that of Nebuchadnezzar ; and the iate of Nebuchadnezzar was nearer to him than he imagined. It is a part of the wise economy of Providence to vindicate the honour and duty which belong to him ; it is a part of his mercy to humble those who in ior;, r etting him are about tc lose themselves. He sends them prosperity as a blessing ; they abn.se it, and convert it to a curse. He recalls the abused giit, and sends them adversity to bring them to their duty. Such was the course of divine government in the early ages of the world, such it ; s to the present day, and such did Jeronimo find it much sooner than he expected. On a sudden, without any apparent cause, he saw, to his astonishment, the universal respect to his wealth and reputation on a manifest decrease. Some who had before nearly kissed the ground of his presence, now looked erectly in his face, and kept their siraightforward course, without giving him the honourable side of the path ; others Icept their bonnets as if they were nailed to their heads ; two or three recalled their trusts; others happening to call for accounts of such trusts, when he was not at home or busy, spoke in a peremptory tone, dropped hints of the laws of the country, and the duty of guardians. In plain words, he gradually discovered himself to be as much avoided as he had hitherto been sought. No one was punctual in their attendance but those to i whom he paid their weekly or monthly pensions. If there could be any doubt that something extraordinary had happened, Jeronimo had at length sufficient proof ; for having put himself in nomination for one of the offices of parochial intendant, and of the great church and treasury of Padua, a competitor ! was preferred, less wealthy than himself by some thousands. Jeronimo returned home much confounded at this unexpected defeat. In vain he examined himself and his situation for the cause. "Am I not as rich as ever ?" said he. " Have I defrauded any one ? — No. Have I suffered any one to demand their payment of me twice ?— No. What then can be the cause of all this ?" This was a question he could not answer, but the fact became daily and hourly so much more evident, that he shortly found himself as much avoided, and apparently condemned in every respectable company, as he had formerly been courted and honoured, j It is time, however, to give the reader some information as to the actual cause. A \ whisper was suddenly circulated that Jero- | nimo had not acquired his wealth by honest means. It was reported, and gradually universally believed, that he was an utterer, if not a coiner, of base money. He had the j reputation, as has been before said, of being j the most able workman in Padua, in gold, silver, and lace. " And surely," said the gossips of Padua, "he does not wear his I talent in a napkin. He employshis dexterity to some purpose." •• Are you not speaking too fast ?" said another neighbour : " I have ! always held Jeronimo to be an honest man." I — " And so have I hitherto," said the other. I " But do you see this ducat ?" — " Yes ; and i a very good one it is." — "So I thought," I said the other ; " till I assayed it : this ducat I I received from Jeronimo ; let us prove it at i your assay, and you will allow that I did ! not speak without some good foundation." j The proposal was accepted, the trial made, i and the ducat found to be base in the proportion of one-third copper to two-thirds j silver. , j The name of this neighbour of Jeronimo, i who had defended him, was Guiseppe Cognigero, a very worthy and honest man ; not one of those who found a triumph in the downfall of another, though above him in ■ wealth and honour. Guiseppe, as he had ; said, had always held Jeronimo to be a respectable worthy citizen. He had many dealings with him, and had always found him just and punctual to the lowest coin. " Is it possible," said he to himself, " that after such a long course oi honesty and reputation, he has so far forgotten himself as to become a common cheat ? I will not believe it. But this fact of the base ducat ? Well ; but my friend may be mistaken, he might not have received this ducat from Jeronimo. lam resolved I will make a trial of him myself, before I give in to the belief of these reports in the teeth of so fair a j character for so many years. Guiseppe was a shrewd man, and never fixed on a purpose but when- he had the ingenuity to find the means of executing it. He went immediately to bis home, and talcing a hundred ducats from his private store, went with them to the house, of Jeronimo. " Signor Jeronimo," said he, " here are a hundred ducats which I wish to keep secret for a certain purpose. I have just embarked in a speculation of great extent, the result of which no one can foresee. I wish to keeo this sum as a deposit, in the event of the failure of my hopes, if you will do me the favour to take the custody of it." Jeronimo pleased at a confidence to which he now was (To bo. Continued.)