That branch of the lake of Como, which extends

towards the south, is enclosed by two unbroken chains of mountains, which, as they

advance and recede, diversify its shores with numerous bays and

inlets. ………. where the lake ends, and the Adda again begins - soon to

resume the name of the lake.

A. Manzoni

Magritte

Farewell, ye mountains, rising from the waters, and pointing to the heavens! ye varied summits, familiar to him who has been brought up among you, and impressed upon his mind as clearly as the countenance of his dearest friends! ye torrents, whose murmur he recognizes like the sound of the voices of home! (….).

Renzo and Lucia LEAVING THE HOMETOWN, to avoid Don Rodrigo kidnappes Lucia, to go to a Monastery in Monza. Peculiar personage and literary passages, the nun of Monza (Gertrude), became nun because her father wanted to leave the heredity to his firstborn male only. She will have an affair with somebody working with one of the terrible lord of the story (the Unnamed). They were seen, so the other nun got killed by the two. Gertrude will be found dead herself.

Lecco

Como

Vaprio d’Adda (Bergamo)

Monza, wall of the old monastery of the nun of Monza cited in the novel.

A lady came from the threshold of one of the houses towards the convoy, whose aspect announced advanced youth, but which had not yet passed away ; the beauty which she possessed was obscured, but not obliterated, by much distress and mortal langor. There was in her grief something inexpressibly quiet and deep, which indicated a soul all imbued and filled with it. She bore in her arms a young girl of about nine years old, dead; but dressed, and laid out, with her hair divided in front, in a white frock of the greatest purity, as if her own hands had adorned her for a feast promised some time ago, as a reward for her goodness.

DRAMATIC MOMENT, collecting bodies from the victim of the PLAGUE in Milan. The Mother of Cecilia

The castle of the Unnamed was commandingly situated over a dark and narrow valley, on the summit of a cliff projecting from a rugged ridge of hills. From the height of this castle, like an eagle from his sanguinary nest, the savage nobleman surveyed every spot around where the foot of man could tread, and heard no human sound above him.

Don Rodrigo captures Lucia from the Convent through the Unnamed and she is brought to the Unnamed (lord)’s castle.

In the meantime Renzo travel several places, and his involved in THE STEALING OF THE BREAD with other Milan’s citizens from the bakeries since is a moment of poverty and is sentenced to death. I was striked by the moments where he notices things while walking in the cities, such as several torture’s machine here and there to kill dissidents. Of course as other novels the description, geographical, historical, psychological are paramount. MAHLER “ A symphony includes life”.

The castle in Rossino

Navigli di Milano. Old way of communication between Lombardia (county of), Switzerland, and the sea. Naviglio grande)(Big) and Piccolo (small) the latter also projected by Leonardo da Vinci

`Oh no! I see that you have a kind heart, and feel some pity for an unhappy creature. If you chose, you could terrify me more than all the others: you could kill me with fear; but instead of that, you have . . . rather lightened my heart; God will reward you for it. Finish your deed of mercy; set me free, set me free.` `To - morrow morning, I will see you again, I say. Come, in the mean while, be of good courage. Take a little rest; you must want something to eat. They shall bring you something directly.`

All appeared changed: that which once most urgently stimulated his desires, now no longer possessed any charms for him: his passions, like a steed suddenly become restive at the sight of a shadow, refused to carry him any further.

If this other life, of which they told me when I was a boy, of which everybody talks now, as if it were a certain thing, if there be not such a thing, if it be an invention of the priests; what am I doing?.... But if there really be another life!. . . –

`God! God! God! If I could see Him! If I could hear Him! Where is this God?` `Do you ask this? you? And who has Him nearer than you? Do you not feel Him in your heart, overcoming, agitating you, never leaving you at ease, and at the same time drawing you forward, presenting to your view a hope of tranquility and consolation, a consolation which shall be full and boundless, as soon as you recognize Him, acknowledge, and implore Him?` - I, such as I am, long so ardently for your salvation, that, for its sake, I would joyfully give (and He is my witness!) the few days that still remain to me; oh, think what, and how great, must be the love of Him, Who inspires me with this imperfect, but ardent affection; how must He love you, what must He desire for you, Who has bid and enabled me to regard you with a charity that consumes me!` `

The Unnamed meets the Cardinal Borromeo

Perhaps God, Who has wrought in you this miracle of mercy, is diffusing in their hearts a joy of which they know not yet the reason. These people are, perhaps, united to us without being aware of it: perchance the Spirit may be instilling into their hearts an undefined feeling of charity, a petition which He will grant for you, an offering of gratitude of which you are, as yet, the unknown object.`

.

Both Renzo and Lucia become infected by the Plague but overcame it. Don Rodrigo died from it. Beautiful passages of when Lucia is visited in the Lazzaretto (place for the one affected by the Plague and the homeless).

Magritte