"This is a sudden blow!" whispered the old man. "We depart together."
"They are long dead, father."
"Why hast thou not told me this before, Jacopo?"
"Hadst thou not sorrows enough without this? Now that thou art about to
join them, it will be pleasant to know that they have so long been
happy."
"And thou?--thou wilt be alone--give me thy hand--poor Jacopo!"
The Bravo reached forth and took the feeble member of his parent; it was
clammy and cold.
"Jacopo," continued the captive, whose mind still sustained the body, "I
have prayed thrice within the hour: once for my own soul--once for the
peace of thy mother--lastly, for thee!"
"Bless thee, father!--bless thee! I have need of prayer!"
"I have asked of God favor in thy behalf. I have bethought me of all thy
love and care--of all thy devotion to my age and sufferings. When thou
wert a child, Jacopo, tenderness for thee tempted me to acts of
weakness: I trembled lest thy manhood might bring upon me pain and
repentance. Thou hast not known the yearnings of a parent for his
offspring, but thou hast well requited them. Kneel, Jacopo, that I may
ask of God, once more, to remember thee."
"I am at thy side, father."
The old man raised his feeble arms, and with a voice whose force
appeared reviving, he pronounced a fervent and solemn benediction.
"The blessing of a dying parent will sweeten thy life, Jacopo," he added
after a pause, "and give peace to thy last moments.
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