The imagination is very strong,
and may easily give the semblance of reality to unreal things."
"And that I am not a podesta, in fact, but one only in fancy!"
"Just so, friend Vito; and that I am only a vice-governatore, too, in
the imagination."
"And that Elba is not a real island, or Porto Ferrajo a real town; and
that even all our iron, of which we _seem_ to send so much about the
world, in good, wholesome ships, is only a sort of ghost of solid,
substantial metal!"
"_St, si_--that everything which appears to be material is, in fact,
imaginary; iron, gold, or flesh."
"And then I am not Vito Viti, but an impostor? What a rascally
philosophy is this! Why, both of us are as bad as this Sir Smees, if
what you say be true, vice-governatore--or make-believe
vice-governatore."
"Not an impostor, friend Vito; for there is no real being of thy name,
if thou art not he."
"Diavolo! A pretty theory this, which would teach the young people of
Elba that there is no actual podesta in the island, but only a poor,
miserable, sham one; no Vito Viti on earth. If they get to think this,
God help the place, as to order and sobriety."
"I do not think, neighbor, that you fully understand the matter, which
may be owing to a want of clearness on my part; but, as we are now on
our way to visit an unfortunate prisoner, we may as well postpone the
discussion to another time. There are many leisure moments on board a
ship, to the language of which one is a stranger, that might be usefully
and agreeably relieved by going into the subject more at large.
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