Confessioni di Sorelli

MY CONFESSIONS TO SILVIO PELLICO

...are nothing more, nor less, than a faithful statement of the uninterrupted mercy of the Lord towards a sinner — showing by what a chain of strange, unavoidable and unforeseen events, and by what a path of deep, though transient sorrow, I have been led by Divine Providence to open the Bible, to read it in the spirit of prayer and humility, and, at last, having become a Protestant, to be enabled to feel, and to say with David : "Great is the peace that they have who love Thy law, and they are not offended at it."

It only now remains for me to return my heart-felt thanks to my subscribers, and to all who take an interest in this production; but especially to Miss Susan Wollaston for her exquisite version of the poetry contained in it.

18, Piccadilly, July 1st, 1836.

In Guido Sorelli, who ventures to address you, picture to yourself a Florentine, who, in search of an honourable subsistence, voluntarily banished himself from his native country in the year 1821, and has since that period dwelt in England's capital. That which he has in common with you, Silvio, is piety, philosophy, and benevolence. Many readers will doubtless hastily close my book at the very outset for my presumption in venturing to address one to whom I am unknown. But you, Pellico, will listen to me. Your incomparable book, " Le mie Prigioni," is the very mirror of your soul ; and in it I behold reflected that which the Lord takes pleasure in creating — an honest man — the noblest work of God ! (p. 1).

"IT was customary for my brothers, and sisters, and myself to assemble every morning and evening at prayers. Our devotions consisted of a ' Pater,' an 'Ave,' and ' Gloria,' which repeated a hundred times, comprehended all our religious instructions. The Bible was utterly unknown to us, and had it not been that each year brought its Good Friday and Easter Sunday, scarcely should we have known that Christ had died

for us, and risen again for our salvation. Feast-days beheld me regularly at church, where I listened to the Mass without distinctly understanding its import. From the commencement to the conclusion of the service, I was compelled to remain upon my knees ; and were it ever my mischance to turn my head to the right or the left, a smart cuff was sure to remind me of my transgression, and restore it to its proper position. I was wearied by the monotonous length of the prayers ; I repeated them only as a task, and that an unpleasing one, insomuch

that, whilst I remained with my family, I cannot recall having ever repeated the Lord's prayer sincerely and fervently. No one would imagine that so essential a branch in the education of youth should have been so little understood, or so much neglected by my mother ; nor should I hare deserved much censure had I taken a distaste to religion and prayer altogether. But it was not so ; I abhorred the discipline, not the doctrine,

the distinction between which I was not then able to appreciate. When alone, and with the feeling that I had a petition to offer to my God, prayer was to me an ecstasy ; it seemed to me a moment of beatitude. Oh, how lovely is the prayer of a soul unstained by heinous sin ! How different is the tear of remorse ! It was God who inspired me with the desire for prayer . . . that best gift which the Creator can bestow upon His creature ; and often as I have had recourse to it, it has never seemed to me in vain ; for my petition was either granted, or, if unaccepted, I always afterwards was compelled to acknowledge my prayer to hare been absurd, and that its accordance would not have been conducive to my happiness" (p. 19).