The Betrothed: I Promessi Sposi

Count Attilio dies of the plague. A short time later, Don Rodrigo falls ill. Though he insists that he does not have the plague, Griso is wary of him. After a restless night, Don Rodrigo discovers “a filthy swollen purple bubo” (546) on his side. He sends Griso to fetch a doctor. Instead, Griso fetches the monatti and, together with them, Griso loots Don Rodrigo’s house as Don Rodrigo is carried away to the lazaretto. Griso, having stolen “his master’s clothes” (549), contracts the plague and soon dies. Renzo returns to Milan in the hope of finding Lucia. He has contracted the plague but survived, so he feels confident to travel. During his travels, he meets Tonio, who is deeply sick, and Don Abbondio, who is scared of the plague after recovering himself. Perpetua died. Renzo is told the vague location of Agnese and Lucia, and he resolves to seek them out in Milan. Before his departure, however, he returns to his family house, where the garden and farmland are overgrown.

Renzo sneaks past the monatti who guard the gates of Milan. He passes dead bodies and living people, who are scared when he asks them for directions. Finally, he is able to locate the house of Don Ferrante and Donna Prassede. The streets are filled with dead bodies. Renzo reaches the home of Donna Prassede, only to be told that Lucia is “at the lazaretto” (578). Renzo fears the worst. Before he can worry too much about Lucia having contracted the plague, however, someone accuses him of being an anointer. Renzo escapes with the help of several monatti, who are busy looting the dead. He goes to the lazaretto as the monatti shout “long live the plague” (582).

At the lazaretto, Renzo finds Fra Cristoforo. The priest is sick, but he is busying himself by taking care of the other 16,000 victims. Fra Cristoforo sympathizes with Renzo’s plight. He has not seen Lucia but suggests that Renzo may spot her in the parade of people who leave the lazaretto once they recover. However, he warns Renzo that should “prepare [himself]” (593) to deal with the possibility that Lucia has died. Renzo is infuriated by this suggestion, blaming Don Rodrigo for his terrible luck. When he swears vengeance against Don Rodrigo, Fra Cristoforo is incensed. He refuses to help Renzo any further, as Renzo is consumed by vengeance and hate. He uses his own example of having constant regret for killing a man to show Renzo that revenge is not good. When Renzo is contrite, Fra Cristoforo leads him to a private room where Don Rodrigo is suffering from the plague. He is near death and delirious. Renzo understands Fra Cristoforo’s words and takes pity on his mortal enemy, praying for Don Rodrigo and offering his “forgiveness” (597).

Renzo searches for Lucia by sneaking into the women’s quarters, briefly disguising himself as one of the monatti. Lucia is beside the bed of a sick widow; Lucia, having recovered herself, has sworn to sit beside the woman who helped her through the sickness. In spite of Renzo’s declarations of love, Lucia refuses to renounce her “vow to the Blessed Virgin” (605). She is upset to see Renzo, being reminded of the love she has sworn to give up. Renzo is distraught. He returns to Fra Cristoforo, telling him of this latest “complication” (610). Fra Cristoforo leads Renzo back to Lucia. There, he convinces her that the vow she made to Renzo predates the vow she made to the Virgin Mary, thus she can adhere to her original promise to marry Renzo without breaking her vows. Fra Cristoforo officially renounces her vow of chastity, allowing Renzo to leave with the promise of a wedding.

A storm comes “down in torrents” (617), and the rain washes away the plague. Renzo travels to Agnese, who is staying in Pasturo. They make plans to move to Bergamo, “where Renzo had already established himself” (623). Renzo departs for Bergamo to buy a house for his family. There, he waits for Lucia and Agnese. Lucia finishes her care for the widow, who survives and accompanies her from the lazaretto. During this time, news of the Signora spreads. She has been sent into a life of deprivation after being accused of terrible crimes. In addition, Fra Cristoforo has succumbed to his sickness. He is dead, as are Donna Prassede and Don Ferrante.

Lucia reunites with Renzo in October 1630. Her joy is only slighted marred by the death of Fra Cristoforo. Don Abbondio remains reluctant to perform the wedding ceremony. When he hears that Don Rodrigo is “gone for good” (635), however, he finally gives his blessing to the couple. A marquis inherits Don Rodrigo’s estate and, on hearing about his relation’s crimes against Renzo and Lucia, offers to help them by buying their original homes for vastly inflated prices. He also dissolves the arrest warrant against Renzo. The couple marries at Don Rodrigo’s house, and a banquet is held to celebrate. In Bergamo, Lucia is mistreated by the locals, which prompts Renzo to use his recent financial influx to set up a new factory with his cousin. He settles down with Lucia, and they start a family, beginning with a girl named Maria.