The Betrothed: I Promessi Sposi

Renzo escapes from his captors and heads to the town of Bergamo, across the border. He believes that his cousin Bortolo can find him a job. Since he will be across the border, in the Republic of Venice, any warrants for his arrest should be invalid. He avoids obvious roads and tries to cover his path. When he stops in a tavern, he is questioned about the revolt in Milan. The questions reiterate that he is wanted, so he decides to travel to the town of Gorgonzola. In another tavern, he hears a merchant talking about the “ruckus” (274) in Milan. One of the ringleaders, the merchant says, is wanted by the authorities. The “foreigners” (278) are blamed for the problems in the city. Renzo quickly heads away in a different direction.

After leaving Gorgonzola at midnight, Renzo travels along back roads to avoid any attention. He feels despondent as he heads for the Adda River—the border between the two states. He pauses to rest in a thatched hut, where he dreams about the people he has met during recent days. He sees visions of Lucia and Fra Cristoforo. Early in the morning, he wakes, says “his morning prayers with a special fervor” (287), and reaches the Adda.