Giuseppe Tartini - Lettere e documenti / Pisma in dokumenti / Letters and Documents - Volume / Knjiga / Volume II

283 LETTERS leave Padua and renounce the chapel forever, for I intend to inform both His Reigning Highness and the whole world that not only do I have no part in this matter, but I am entirely against it. Furthermore, I went in person to state my reasons to the cavaliere who protects Signor Bernardo, but I am not as strong as he is, nor can I fight against those who are much stronger than me. I can do nothing but give notice thereof to Your Most Illustrious Lordship, so that you may immediately inform the Most Serene Patron of everything, and tell him furthermore that Signor Bernardo is not here, but having pretended to leave and go to Mantua to earn some money with the promise of returning to me, he has not returned to Padua. I am sure that the cavaliere who protects him knows very well where he is, because if he had not known, he would not have nominated him for the chapel of S. Antonio. But may His Reigning Highness rest fully assured that, if Signor Bernardo is here in Padua, I certainly shall not stay here, although I have renounced many courts, and much greater profits, to be here. This is all I can do against a force stronger than mine to ensure that both His Highness and everybody can experience this truth first-hand, that I oppose this disorder with all my strength and to my own disadvantage. Nor do I know what the true reason driving Signor Bernardo to such a decision is: whether it is half desperation or some secret marriage arrangement or some other reason. If he were in Padua, I would have extracted the truth from him either through love or through force, and thus I shall do if he ever appears before me again. But I believe for sure, that he will always avoid me, as well as His Most Serene Patron, after I have made my resentment known in public over such an act, and after saying all I said to that cavaliere who protects him. I have had many protestant students, Saxons, Prussians, Dutch and English. I am an honest man, I know the ways of the world, nor has any misadventure ever happened to me; and in my house there is a general rule not to talk about religion. May Your Most Illustrious Lordship imagine the extent of my pain over the present case that has occurred in a servant of His Reigning Highness, for whom I had and have the most distinct reverence, respect, and serve in every way. I shall write today of this fact to His Excellency my Lord Count Marshal of Schulemburgh, and Your Most Illustrious Lordship shall be promptly informed of anything new which may happen. If, by chance, in answering my other letter, Your Most Illustrious Lordship had sent some other remittance of money for Signor Bernardo, you are assured that the money will stay deposited in my hands until your further orders; and if you have not sent any remittance, send nothing more. Furthermore, you should know that I intended to give Signor Bernardo the money he lacked to make the return journey, and he did not want it; and only now do I realise the reason why he did not want it. In all good conscience I am sure that I have acted, and that I am currently acting, as an honest man and as a faithful servant, to which both His Excellency Schulemburgh and the whole of Padua will always bear witness. May Your Most Illustrious Lordship meanwhile please trouble yourself to reply with regard to this matter, and with the order of His Reigning Highness on how I must behave, as in order to obey him in everything