{"id":"01KG6YHB0Q83SG0YEY0NHZFV8Z","cid":"bafkreifwwf3smy7fyas5ghpzas7f5ac3bt6g6qmun6bzv5amitzdnauxhy","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8112,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:55.413Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 2","source_file":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","start_line":8045,"text":"of a singular make, intended for suspension in a manner before unknown.\r\nThe purpose of this bell, its rotary motion, and connection with the\r\nclock-work, also executed at the time, will, in the sequel, receive\r\nmention.\r\n\r\nIn the one erection, bell-tower and clock-tower were united, though,\r\nbefore that period, such structures had commonly been built distinct;\r\nas the Campanile and Torre del ’Orologio of St. Mark to this day\r\nattest.\r\n\r\nBut it was upon the great state-bell that the founder lavished his more\r\ndaring skill. In vain did some of the less elated magistrates here\r\ncaution him; saying that though truly the tower was Titanic, yet limit\r\nshould be set to the dependent weight of its swaying masses. But\r\nundeterred, he prepared his mammoth mould, dented with mythological\r\ndevices; kindled his fires of balsamic firs; melted his tin and copper,\r\nand, throwing in much plate, contributed by the public spirit of the\r\nnobles, let loose the tide.\r\n\r\nThe unleashed metals bayed like hounds. The workmen shrunk. Through\r\ntheir fright, fatal harm to the bell was dreaded. Fearless as Shadrach,\r\nBannadonna, rushing through the glow, smote the chief culprit with his\r\nponderous ladle. From the smitten part, a splinter was dashed into the\r\nseething mass, and at once was melted in.\r\n\r\nNext day a portion of the work was heedfully uncovered. All seemed\r\nright. Upon the third morning, with equal satisfaction, it was bared\r\nstill lower. At length, like some old Theban king, the whole cooled\r\ncasting was disinterred. All was fair except in one strange spot. But\r\nas he suffered no one to attend him in these inspections, he concealed\r\nthe blemish by some preparation which none knew better to devise.\r\n\r\nThe casting of such a mass was deemed no small triumph for the caster;\r\none, too, in which the state might not scorn to share. The homicide was\r\noverlooked. By the charitable that deed was but imputed to sudden\r\ntransports of esthetic passion, not to any flagitious quality. A kick\r\nfrom an Arabian charger; not sign of vice, but blood.\r\n\r\nHis felony remitted by the judge, absolution given him by the priest,\r\nwhat more could even a sickly conscience have desired.\r\n\r\nHonoring the tower and its builder with another holiday, the republic\r\nwitnessed the hoisting of the bells and clock-work amid shows and pomps\r\nsuperior to the former.\r\n\r\nSome months of more than usual solitude on Bannadonna’s part ensued. It\r\nwas not unknown that he was engaged upon something for the belfry,\r\nintended to complete it, and surpass all that had gone before. Most\r\npeople imagined that the design would involve a casting like the bells.\r\nBut those who thought they had some further insight, would shake their\r\nheads, with hints, that not for nothing did the mechanician keep so\r\nsecret. Meantime, his seclusion failed not to invest his work with more\r\nor less of that sort of mystery pertaining to the forbidden.\r\n\r\nEre long he had a heavy object hoisted to the belfry, wrapped in a dark\r\nsack or cloak—a procedure sometimes had in the case of an elaborate\r\npiece of sculpture, or statue, which, being intended to grace the front\r\nof a new edifice, the architect does not desire exposed to critical\r\neyes, till set up, finished, in its appointed place. Such was the\r\nimpression now. But, as the object rose, a statuary present observed,\r\nor thought he did, that it was not entirely rigid, but was, in a\r\nmanner, pliant. At last, when the hidden thing had attained its final\r\nheight, and, obscurely seen from below, seemed almost of itself to step\r\ninto the belfry, as if with little assistance from the crane, a shrewd\r\nold blacksmith present ventured the suspicion that it was but a living\r\nman. This surmise was thought a foolish one, while the general interest\r\nfailed not to augment.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 2"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG6YGCCBQ15QDEM5CEG7CHSQ","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG6YDDF6PTWG4P7JTS5THSTD","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG6YCG626JN4FCG8QK17CQCF","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG6YHAB7YKRF06TVVDW4RATW","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG6YHB0QBFYWE44PGMR23DPQ","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T07:57:58.167Z","ts":"2026-01-30T07:58:07.793Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}