"By my life, 'tis a pity, Matteo, that you should be a bravo; the
schools have lost an excellent teacher of philosophy."
"Do you think so? Why, the fact is thus, Abellino. I was educated
in a monastery; my father was a dignified prelate in Lucca, and my
mother a nun of the Ursuline order, greatly respected for her
chastity and devotion. Now, Signor, it was thought fitting that I
should apply closely to my studies; my father, good man, would fain
have made me a light of the Church; but I soon found that I was
better qualified for an incendiary's torch. I followed the bent of
my genius, yet count I not my studies thrown away, since they taught
me more philosophy than to tremble at phantoms created by my own
imagination. Follow my example, friend, and so farewell."