Fratelli RINALDI 14 agosto -Francesco e Tommaso
FRATELLI RINALDI 14 agosto -Francesco e Tommaso: Poi la voce dell’oratore ( On.Giuseppe Ferrari) si fa più calda e ammonitrice e prosegue impavida mentre il Primo Ministro, oscuro come la notte, continua a prendere appunti: « Mi trassero innanzi un gentiluomo, il Signor Rinaldi, e fui atterrito. Pallido era, alto e distinto nella persona, nobile il volto, ma gli occhi spenti lo rivelavano colpito da una calamità superiore ad ogni umana consolazione. Appena, appena osai mormorare che non così si intendeva da noi la libertà italica. Nulla chiedo, egli disse. E ammutolimmo tutti. Avevo due figli, il primo avvocato e l’altro negoziante. Entrambi quei giovani avevano vagheggiato di lottare per la libertà del Piemonte, e all’udire che approssimavansi i Piemontesi, cosi si chiama nel paese la truppa italiana, correvano festosi ad incontrarli. Ma la truppa procede militarmente. E i due Rinaldi sono presi, forzati a riscattarsi. Poi, tolto loro il danaro, sono condannati a immediata fucilazione. L’uno cadde subito morto, l’altro viveva ancora con nove pallottole nel corpo. L’infelice perì sotto il decimo colpo tirato alla baionetta (moto di orrore in aula).
BROTHERS RINALDI: Francesco and Tommaso
Ministry Deputy Giuseppe Ferrari tells the story of the Rinaldi Brothers to the Prime Minister.
“When I first met the gentleman, Mr. Antonio Rinaldi, I was terrified. He was so very pale, tall – a distinguished person with a noble face. But it was his lifeless eyes that disturbed me most. They revealed damage from a disaster so terrible that it was beyond all human imagination. Just as soon as I dared, I murmured “ Our intention is Italian liberty.” I have asked nothing, Rinaldi said. Then he told us his story and we were all left speechless.
I had two sons, the eldest a lawyer and the other a shopkeeper. Both young men had dreamed of fighting for the unification of Italy. They were excited to hear that the Piedmontese (as the Italian soldiers were called in Pontelandolfo) were approaching. With the enthusiasm of youth and the fervor of patriots my two sons ran to meet the army. But the troops approached as invaders – marauders! My sons were taken as prisoners and forced to ransome themselves. Then, after their money was taken from them, they were not released but condemned to immediate execution by firing squad. After a barrage of bullits, one fell down dead. The other, riddled with nine bullets, still twitched with life. My unfortunate son perished after the tenth shot.
At the end of the tale, a feeling of horror descended on the meeting room.