Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

The Italian, or the Confessional of the Black Penitents. A Romance

London

Cadell and Davies

1797

"'I have been through life,' said the penitent, 'the slave of my passions, and they have led me into horrible excesses."

'"I have been through life," said the penitent, "the slave of my passions, and they have led me into horrible excesses. I had once a brother." - He stopped, and deep groans again told the agony of his soul; at length, he added - "That brother had a wife! - Now listen, father, and say, whether guilt like mine may hope for absolution! She was beautiful - I loved her; she was virtuous, and I despaired. You, father," he continued in a frightful tone, "never knew the fury of despair! It overcame or communicated its own force to every other passion of my soul, and I sought to release myself from its tortures by any means. My brother died!" - The penitent paused again,' continued Ansaldo, 'I trembled while I listened; my lips were sealed. At length, I bade him proceed, and he spoke as follows. - "My brother died at a distance from home." - Again the penitent paused, and the silence continued so long, that I thought it proper to inquire of what disorder the brother had expired. "Father, I was his murderer!" said the penitent in a voice which I never can forget; it sunk into my heart.'
(III.vii, p. 393)

Government::Slavery

Reading

At least 7 entries in the ESTC (1797)

Radcliffe, Ann. The Italian, ed. Robert Miles (New York: Penguin, 2000). <Google Books: vol. I, vol. II, vol. III>

06/04/2013