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CHAPTER 7
MOOD DISORDERS
TRUE OR FALSE
1. The classical, or orthodox, psychoanalytic perspective suggested that depression was a
phenomenon where the superego acts as a “punisher” to the ego.
3. The classical psychoanalytic perspective suggested that children could not experience depression.
4. The concept of masked depression posits that sad mood is often not present in children and
adolescents.
5. In the DSM-IV, depression and mania are described in the category of Mood Disorders.
6. The term bipolar refers to depression where one pole is mild and the other pole is severe.
10. According to the research by Kazdin (1989), diagnosing depression in young people can be
impacted by the criterion or assessment device used and the informant.
11. When diagnosing a depressive episode, irritability can be substituted for depressed mood in
children and adolescents.
12. Double depression means that a person has dysthymia and major depression.
13. Many youngsters who exhibit depressive symptoms, but fall short of meeting the diagnostic
criteria for a depressive disorder, may still exhibit impairment in their everyday functioning.
14. Bipolar disorder is the most frequently diagnosed mood disorder among children and adolescents.
16. Research indicates that 40 to 70% of youth diagnosed with major depressive disorder have a co-
occurring disorder.
17. Gender differences in major depressive disorders probably emerge between the ages of 12 and 14.
18. Lower socioeconomic (SES) status is associated with lower rates of depression.
19. Given cognitive, language, and other developmental differences, it is unlikely that depressive
behavior in children will be similar to those of adults.
20. Studies indicate that relapse or re-occurrence of depressive episodes is common in youth.
21. Genetic influences are generally thought not to play a role in depression.
22. A common psychological explanation of childhood depression is that depression derives from
separation or loss.
23. The term anaclitic depression refers to the cognitive components of depression.
24. Youth with high negative affect and low positive affect who experience parental warmth will still
develop depression.
25. Numerous studies have found that youngsters from homes with a depressed parent are at no
greater risk for developing a psychological disorder.
26. Frank and Joe in the case study from the textbook both came from homes where a parent
experienced depression. According to this case study, parental depression is debilitating to the
child regardless of the environment.
27. Peer status has been found to be associated with adjustment difficulties, including depression.
29. Research indicates that there are low levels of correlation between parent and child reports of
measures of depression.
30. Antidepressant medications have been principally developed and marketed for American youth.
31. Tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine are the medications most likely to be recommended
for the treatment of depression in children.
32. The Treatment of Adolescent Depression Study found that rates of remission for depression were
high.
33. The Treatment of Resistant Depression in Adolescents Study supports previous research findings
that cognitive behavioral therapy plus medication is superior to medication alone.
34. Current research indicates that universal prevention programs for depression are highly effective.
36. Recent data indicates that the rate of bipolar disorder is increasing in young people.
37. The heritability estimate of bipolar disorder hovers around 50 percent.
40. Suicide among younger children is occurring at a lower rate than two decades ago.
41. Research indicates that as many as 25% of adolescents engage in non-suicidal self injury.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
44. The distinction between depression as a symptom and as a syndrome is
a. a distinction between a negative mood state compared to the negative mood state plus certain
other problems that lead to impaired functioning.
b. depression as a symptom of some other disorder compared to depression as a separate
disorder.
c. depression as a disorder that occurs by itself compared to depression as a disorder that occurs
along with other disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders).
d. a distinction between depression as manifested in young children compared to depression as
manifested in adolescents.
45. The book reports a study by Kazdin where youth were designated as depressed or non depressed
using three methods (DSM interview, parent CDI or child CDI). On the self report CDI, how did
the depressed and non-depressed groups differ?
46. __________ is the primary DSM diagnostic category for depression in youngsters.
47. In diagnosing a major depressive episode in a child, DSM-IV requires that one of the symptoms
present must be
48. Tommy exhibits symptoms of irritable mood, poor appetite, disturbed sleep, low energy,
difficulty concentrating, and feelings of worthlessness. These symptoms are fairly severe and
have been present for about one month. They are interfering with Tommy’s functioning at school
and with his peers. Tommy would most likely receive a DSM-IV diagnosis of
49. Jada exhibits symptoms of irritable mood, poor appetite, disturbed sleep, low energy, difficulty
concentrating, and low self-esteem. These symptoms are not very severe but have been present
for about one year. They are interfering with Jada’s functioning at school and with her peers. Jada
would most likely receive a DSM-IV diagnosis of
50. Which of the following statements regarding empirically derived syndromes and depression is
accurate?
a. None of the empirically defined syndromes of the Achenbach measures includes depressive
symptoms (behaviors).
b. A separate syndrome of depression has emerged in the Achenbach measures.
c. A syndrome of mixed anxiety and depression symptoms (behaviors) has emerged in the
Achenbach measures.
d. The empirical approach has identified a separate category for childhood depression.
51. The most prevalent form of affective disorder among children and adolescents is
52. Among youngsters with unipolar disorders, about ______ experience major depressive disorder.
a. 1 percent c. 30 percent
b. 10 percent d. 80 percent
53. In the Oregon Adolescent Depression Project, Lewinsohn and his colleagues found that by age 19
approximately _____ of adolescents had experienced an episode of major depressive disorder.
a. 2 percent c. 28 percent
b. 12 percent d. 56 percent
54. Which of the following statements regarding the relationship of age and gender to the usual
findings regarding the prevalence of depression is correct?
a. There are no gender differences in children (ages 6-12) or in adolescents.
b. There are no gender differences in children (ages 6-12), but in adolescence, depression is
more common in boys.
c. There are no gender differences in children (ages 6-12), but in adolescence, depression is
more common in girls.
d. Depression is more common in girls in both age groups.
56. Depression with onset in ______ is most similar to adult forms of the disorder.
a. preschool c. preadolescence
b. early school age d. later adolescence
57. In the text the case study of Amy, the preschooler with depression, highlights which of the
following symptoms?
58. Regarding the duration of episodes of major depressive disorder among adolescents, it is probably
the case that
a. the median duration of an episode is 2 weeks among community samples, and about twice as
long for clinical samples.
b. the median duration of an episode is 2 weeks among community samples, and about the same
length in clinical samples.
c. the median duration of an episode is 8 weeks among community samples, and over three
times as long in clinical samples.
d. the median duration of an episode is 8 weeks among community samples, and about the same
length in clinical samples.
59. When the role of hormones in depression is discussed, the discussion concerns hormones such as
a. prolactin. c. imipramine.
b. norepinephrine. d. monoamine oxidase.
60. _______________ includes qualities such as the tendency to experience negative emotions, to be
sensitive to negative stimuli and to be wary and vigilant.
a. Paranoia
b. Hypomania
c. Dysthymia
d. Negative Affectivity
61. Behavioral theorists such as Ferster and Lewinsohn have suggested that separation-loss may lead
to depression because
62. The statement, "research suggests that the link between loss and depression is indirect" means
that
a. the loss leads to anxiety or some other disorder and that these disorders, in turn, lead to
depression.
b. the loss may set in motion a chain of adverse circumstances that increase the risk for
depression.
c. the research shows a link to sadness and this indirectly suggests a link to depression.
d. research indicates negative correlations.
63. The ____________ perspective attributes depression to low social competence, cognitive
distortions, and low self-esteem.
a. psychoanalytic c. biological
b. cognitive behavioral d. family systems
64. An explanatory style that blames negative events on _______, _______, and _______ attributes is
hypothesized to be characteristic of depressed individuals.
65. Susie’s mother abandoned her when she was 5 years old. Now at age 8, Susie thinks that she has
little control over her environment. This is an example of:
a. anaclitic depression
b. learned helplessness
c. hopelessness
d. projection
66. The hopelessness theory of depression would predict that youngsters with a negative attributional
style, as compared to youngsters with a positive attributional style, would
a. be more depressed under low stress conditions, but not under high stress conditions.
b. be more depressed under high stress conditions, but not under low stress conditions.
c. be more depressed under both high and low stress conditions.
d. be less depressed under both high and low stress conditions.
67. Depressed youth who catastrophize, overgeneralize, personalize, and selectively attend to
negative events are exhibiting
a. cognitive refocusing.
b. brain training.
c. reparenting.
d. cognitive restructuring.
70. The results of the research by Hammen and her colleagues comparing the long-term effects of
maternal depression (MD) and maternal chronic illness (MCI) on children found that
a. rates of psychological disorder in both MD and MCI children were higher than in children of
non-ill mothers, but MD and MCI children did not differ from each other.
b. rates of psychological disorder in both MD and MCI children were higher than in children of
non-ill mothers and MD children had higher rates of psychological disorders than MCI
children.
c. rates of psychological disorders were higher only for the MD children compared to the MCI
children and children of non-ill mothers.
d. neither MD or MCI children differed from children of non-ill mothers in rates of
psychological disorders.
71. Weissman and her colleagues compared offspring of parents, neither of whom had a
psychological disorder (low risk) and offspring of parents, one or both of whom had a diagnosis
of major depressive disorder (high risk). These researchers found which of the following?
72. Beardslee and his colleagues examined the impact of parental depression in a nonclinically
referred population by conducting two measurements four years apart. Which of the following
risk factors affected the likelihood of a youngster experiencing serious affective disorder in the
time between the two assessments?
73. Research on interactional patterns in families with a depressed parent or child suggest that
74. The notion that the depressed mother may be emotionally unavailable and insensitive to her
young child is important to which explanation of the maternal depression/child depression
association?
76. In the Kupersmidt and Patterson study of peer status and adjustment,
77. In the Kupersmidt and Patterson study of peer status and adjustment, the group exhibiting the
strongest relationships between peer status and depression in the clinical range was
81. Measures of a youngster’s depression completed by both the youngster and the parent
a. show low levels of correlation, and agreement is fairly constant across ages of youngsters.
b. show low levels of correlation, and agreement may vary with the age of youngster.
c. show high levels of correlation, and agreement is fairly constant across ages of youngsters.
d. show high levels of correlation, and agreement may vary with the age of youngster.
83. The Treatment of Adolescent Depression Study (2007, 2009) found that initially
84. In the Stark et al., studies where 9-13 year old girls received a school based treatment for
depression (Action Program), which of the following is true?
a. The girls were taught to use coping skills if they were unhappy and did not know why.
b. Behavioral activation referred to efforts made to identify behaviors that triggered depression.
c. The cognitive behavioral program alone was not as effective as the program using parent
training and cognitive behavioral therapy combined.
d. Improvements were initially strong but were not maintained at a 1-year follow up.
85. The findings of the study by Lewinsohn and his colleagues on the cognitive-behavioral treatment
of depressed adolescents suggest that
a. treatment is effective only if parents are included.
b. treatment is effective only if parents are excluded.
c. post-treatment, only about 55 percent of treated youngsters, but 95 percent of control
youngsters still met diagnostic criteria for depression.
d. treatment gains are not maintained at two years following treatment.
86. Research by Mufson and colleagues and by Rosselló and Bernal comparing the use of
interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with depressed Latino
adolescents
a. the effectiveness rates are good immediately following the treatment, but diminish over time.
b. the effectiveness rates are good immediately following treatment and at long term follow up.
c. the severity of the depression appears unrelated to success.
d. the treatment is more effective for teens with co-occurring disorders.
89. Ana is 17 years old and experiencing a persistent elevated mood. She feels like her thoughts are
racing. Ana reports that she needs less sleep than she did before. She has been buying an
extensive new wardrobe and has been involved in sexual relations with several older men. She is
doing poorly in school and is in conflict with her family and friends. Ana would most likely be
diagnosed, according to DSM-IV, as experiencing a
90. Jake is 15 years old. Since about age 10, he has had periods of sadness, irritability and
withdrawal. At times, he was so down that he could not get out of bed or make it to school.
Recently, he has begun to experience times where he felt energized and needed less sleep. He got
caught up on his homework, joined three clubs at school and tried out for the basketball team. He
asked “the best looking girl in the school,” a senior, to prom . His parents describe him as
arrogant and irritable at times. He seems annoyed that people can’t keep up with him in
conversation. Which of the following best describes Jake’s symptoms?
a. Bipolar I
b. Bipolar II
c. Cyclothmia
d. Depression in remission
91. The presentation of bipolar disorder in youth differs from the adult presentation in which of the
following ways?
92. Reported rates of bipolar disorders in children and adolescents range from ____ to ____ in
clinical samples.
a. 0-6 percent c. 10-14 percent
b. 3-9 percent d. 17-30 percent
93. Based on the work of Lewinsohn et al., and others, which of the following statements regarding
bipolar disorders is correct?
a. The median duration of the most recent manic episode was 10.8 months.
b. Youngsters with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder had a later age of onset for their affective
disorder than youngsters with major depression.
c. The total amount of time with an affective disorder was longer for the youngsters with
depression than for those with bipolar disorders.
d. Approximately 2% of the adolescents had a chronic course (nonstop symptoms until age 24).
a. the rate of completed suicides among 5 to 14-year-olds decreased between 1980 and 2007.
b. the rate of completed suicides among 15- to 19-year-olds increased considerably from 1980
to 2007.
c. among 15- to 19-year-olds, the rate of completed suicides is higher for white males than for
black males.
d. risk of completed suicide is greatest for white females.
a. completed suicides.
b. completed suicides and suicide attempts.
c. completed suicides and suicidal ideation.
d. completed suicides, suicide attempts, and suicidal ideation.
96. Based on the longitudinal study by Lewinsohn and his colleagues, which of the following
statements regarding suicidal ideation among adolescents is accurate?
a. The risk for a reattempt is significantly diminished weeks after the initial attempt.
b. Attempts by females most often involved ingestion of harmful substances and cutting.
c. Suicide attempts made before puberty were the most common.
d. Approximately 2 percent of previous attempters reattempt suicide.
100. According to the Add Health Survey, which of the following is true regarding youth with same-
sex orientation and suicide?
103. What are the issues regarding how to best define and classify depression in children and
adolescents?
104. Describe the experience of depression in children. What behaviors might adults report seeing in
these children? What other disorders are often present?
105. Briefly describe the developmental course of depression by describing features in three different
developmental periods and how they compare to each other and to adult depression.
106. Briefly describe the research findings on brain functioning and neurochemistry in relation to
depression. How do these results apply to children and adolescents?
107. Briefly compare the psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral conceptions of the relationship
between separation/loss and the development of depression.
108. Briefly describe three different mechanisms that may account for the link between parental
depression and depression in a child.
109. List 5 of the 11 categories that may be used to rate behaviors when observing a social interaction
task.
110. Describe the core elements of the Action program used to treat 9-12 year old girls with
depression.
112. Briefly describe four characteristics of manic episodes or bipolar disorder in prepubertal
youngsters or adolescents that indicate how they may differ from the presentation in adults.
113. Describe the symptoms that may be displayed by a youngster with bipolar disorder. What co-
occurring problems are possible?
ANSWER KEY
1. T, p. 144, factual
2. F, p. 144, factual
3. T, p. 144, factual
4. T p. 144, conceptual
5. T, p. 144, factual
6. F, p. 144, conceptual
7. F, p. 144, factual
8. T, p. 144, factual
9. F, p. 144, factual
10. T, p. 145 (Table 7.1), applied
11. T, p. 146, factual
12. T, p. 146, factual
13. T, p. 146, factual
14. F, p. 147, factual
15. F, p. 148, factual
16. T, p. 149, factual
17. T, p. 149, factual
18. F, p. 149, factual
19. T, p. 149, conceptual
20. T, p. 151, conceptual
21. F, p. 151, factual
22. T, p. 153, factual
23. F, p. 153, conceptual
24. F, p. 153, conceptual
25. F, p. 156, factual
26. F, p. 158, applied
27. T, p. 158, factual
28. T, p. 159, factual
29. T, p. 159, factual
30. F, p. 160, factual
31. F, p. 160, factual
32. F, p. 161, factual
33. T, p. 161, factual
34. F p. 164, factual
35. T, p. 165 (Scott case study), conceptual
36. T, p. 167, factual
37. F, p. 169, factual
38. T, p. 170, factual
39. T, p. 170, factual
40. F, p. 171, factual
41. T, p. 172 (Accent), factual
42. T, p. 173, factual
43. F, p. 174, conceptual
44. A, p. 144, conceptual
45. A, p. 145, applied
46. B, p. 146, factual
47. B, p. 146, factual
48. C, p. 146, applied
49. D, p. 146, applied
50. C, p. 146, conceptual
51. D, p. 147, factual
52. D, p. 147, factual
53. C, p. 148, factual
54. C, p. 148, factual
55. D, p. 149, applied
56. D, p. 150, factual
57. A, p. 150 (Accent), applied
58. C, p. 151, factual
59. B, p. 152 factual
60. D, p. 152, conceptual
61. B, p. 153, factual
62. B, p. 154, factual
63. B, p. 154, conceptual
64. C, p. 154, conceptual
65. B, p. 154, applied
66. B, pp. 154-155 (Figure 7.3), conceptual
67. B, p. 155, conceptual
68. D. p. 155, conceptual
69. A, p. 155, factual
70. B, p. 156, applied
71. B, p. 156, factual
72. D, p. 156, factual
73. A, pp. 156-157 (Mary case study), conceptual
74. C, p. 157, conceptual
75. A, p. 157 (Figure 7.4), applied
76. B, p. 158, applied
77. C, p. 158, applied
78. C, p. 159, conceptual
79. D, p. 159, factual
80. B, p. 159, factual
81. B, p. 159, factual
82. D, pp. 160-161, factual
83. C, p. 161, factual
84. A, p. 162, applied
85. C, p. 162, applied
86. C, p. 163, applied
87. A, p. 164, conceptual
88. B, p. 165, factual
89. B, p. 165, applied
90. B, p. 165, applied
91. D. p. 165, factual
92. D, p. 167, factual
93. A, pp. 168-169, applied
94. C, p. 171, factual
95. D, p. 171, conceptual
96. D, p. 171, applied
97. B, p. 171, applied
98. A, pp. 171-173, conceptual
99. C, pp. 173-174, conceptual
100. A, p. 174, conceptual
101. p. 144, conceptual
102. p. 144, conceptual
103. p. 146, conceptual
104. p. 147 (Accent), conceptual
105. pp. 149-151, conceptual
106. p. 152, conceptual
107. pp. 153-155, conceptual
108. pp. 156-157, conceptual
109. p. 160 (Table 7.2), factual
110. pp. 161-162, factual
111. p. 165, conceptual
112. p. 167, factual
113. pp. 166-167 (Table 7.4), conceptual
114. p. 170, factual
115. pp. 173-174, factual
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Marta entrò e mosse verso il letto che era di fianco al camino, e
sovra il quale giaceva il vecchio.
Quasi sepolto sotto alle coperte che si era ammonticchiate addosso
onde difendersi forse dal freddo della morte che già l’agguantava col
suo inesorabile artiglio, non scorgevasi di lui che la smunta faccia ed
il crine rabbuffo sovra cui in atto d’impazienza si agitava un braccio
quasi di scheletro che si movesse nella tomba.
Le pupille roteavano dentro alle livide occhiaje come fosse sotto
l’impressione d’uno spasimo convulso... — Marta... Marta... strega
del demonio.... vuoi farmi morir dannato che non ti avvicini al mio
letto?.... strideva egli con tuono gutturale. Un violento impeto di
tosse gli ruppe la foga del dire... e bianche le labbra, per lo sforzo
operato agitatosi un istante sul letto ricadde.
— I vostri nipoti non sono ancora arrivati... ma arriveranno in tempo,
state sicuro... e la vecchia lo guardò scuotendo il capo come allora
che s’era alzata dalla sua seggiola.
— Marta... vuoi farmi dannar l’anima sconoscendo il mio sangue!...
balbettò il morente... e dal suo ciglio uscì un lampo.
— Enrico e Carlo s’ubbriacano alla taverna del Gallo nero, ribattè
Marta. Nelle fibbre del vecchio corse un fremito!...
— Dannazione!... urlò sollevandosi come macchina inerte allo scatto
d’una molla... E il mio oro a chi lo lascierò io?... e ne ho molto
dell’oro!... dell’oro!... ripetè tra sè... dell’oro!...
— Verranno a tempo.... mormorò la vecchia.
Un lampo seguìto da uno scroscio di folgore passò dalla finestra, un
buffo di vento vi gettò contro la pioggia che diluviava.
Il vecchio rise... stese il braccio ed afferrò l’aggrinzata mano di
Marta.
— La dicono la casa dello stregone... gli susurrò piano all’orecchio, e
il demonio riderà. Ah si ubbriacano alla taverna mentre io muojo
qua?... solo, come un cane arrabbiato?... e tu, vecchia strega, dici
che verranno in tempo per avere il mio oro?... Ma sai tu ciò che io
lascio loro?...
— Quella cassa là... disse Marta segnando un angolo della stanza...
tanto di grazia di Dio!... che sarà gettata come un osso nella bocca
del lupo!...
— No... Marta... no... tu sei scema e non vedi un palmo al di là del
naso!...
Il vecchio s’era rizzato sul letto; Marta lo guardò e diè addietro d’un
passo; quasi ebbe paura di quella sua faccia che rideva d’un riso da
demone. — No, Marta, no!... ripetè egli... è la dannazione che io
lascio loro!... e l’ho accumulato per loro tutto quel tesoro... guardalo,
vecchia!... vi sono gemme che abbagliano, verghe d’oro che
pesano... ho sofferto ed essi non hanno mai avuto una parola per
me... li ho chiamati e mi hanno riso in volto... mi credevano povero, e
mi lasciano morire come m’hanno lasciato vivere... bisognava bene
che mi vendicassi dei loro torti!... bisognava bene che loro rendessi il
male che m’avevano fatto!...
— Ed avete lavorato e studiato, e vegliate le notti, e consumati i
giorni per far ciò?...
— Sì, ripetè il vecchio, il cui aspetto divenne cupo e severo. Sì,
Marta!... ho lavorato, ho studiato, ho vegliato le notti sui libri, ho
consumati i giorni chiuso nel mio laboratorio, mi abbisognava dell’oro
per coricarmi vendicato nel mio sepolcro... e ne ebbi... fra poche
ore... ebbri dall’orgia essi cacceranno le mani entro quelle gemme....
palleggeranno quelle verghe che io ho fuse... e sai tu che sia l’oro
per due anime dannate... in cui non ha alimento un’idea che non sia
una colpa?...
— Quell’oro dev’esser diviso, Marta!.. essi si uccideranno per non
dividerlo!...
Marta arretrò spaventata e biascicò tra le labbra non so quali parole.
— Sì, continuò il vecchio, aveva bisogno d’aver dell’oro perchè
voleva che fosse d’oro il pugnale avvelenato con cui voleva colpire...
L’oro... questa leva potente delle umane passioni è in mia mano....
ed io me ne faccio strumento... Io punisco... Dio perdoni!...
Il vecchio erasi sollevato sul letto grande d’una maestosa
imponenza... L’avresti detto bello!... la lunga barba cadevagli sul
petto e vi tremolava sopra; il capo maestosamente teneva alto, sulla
sua fronte eransi appianate le rughe, il fuoco dell’animo ridesto come
da focolare sotto la di cui cenere si rimuova la bragia, lampeggiava
sinistramente... Egli lasciò il braccio di Marta che lo trasse
intormentito e levò gli occhi al cielo quasi chiamandolo a testimone,
giudice ei della colpa, a cui faceva tribunale la sua coscienza... La
procella infuriava sempre più, Marta attonita guardava il vecchio
alchimista la cui figura assumeva in faccia al suo spirito agitato
strane e fantastiche forme... le parve intendere all’orecchio un ronzio
di leggende, di fantasimi e di morti, e di diavoli che sulla groppa
portavano le anime che avevano comperate, e si ricantucciò presso
al fuoco ascoltando lo sbatter delle imposte scosse dal vento, il
rimbalzar della pioggia sui vetri delle finestre, e sogguardando furtiva
verso il letto, tal quale il vecchio si era disteso in un assopimento che
assomigliava l’immobilità della morte.
CAPITOLO III.
La taverna del Gallo Nero.
— Apri strega! borbottò ma più piano la voce d’Enrico, quasi che egli
stesso ne avesse avuto paura.
La porta stridette sopra i suoi cardini arrugginiti, la vecchia sempre
avvolta nel bigio suo sciallo, reggendo una lanterna che spandeva
d’intorno una fiocca luce, diè passo ai due fratelli che entrarono e
mossero verso la scala che metteva al solo piano di cui era formata
la casa ripetendo fra sè mentre richiudeva la porta le strofe della sua
lugubre ballata...
Enrico era rimasto solo signore della Casa della valle; ei vi stette
assente per molto tempo e tra le mura del vasto edificio non s’udia in
allora dai passanti che la monotona cantilena d’una canzone che di
tratto in tratto vi vagava come un lamento, era la canzone della
vecchia Marta.... la pazza della Casa della valle, che sola vi abitava,
ed a cui consentiva quella dimora la voce generale che tale la
chiamò pel tempo che vi visse chiusa sempre in sè stessa, muto il
labbro ad ogni inchiesta, se pur fuvvi qualcuno che avesse osato
interrogare la vecchia custode d’una casa fatta segno dalla
superstizione dell’epoca alle più assurde e strane dicerie.
Il signore di quel luogo v’era tenuto quasi per un essere
soprannaturale che avesse stretto chi sa qual patto colle potenze
infernali che gli davan mano a compiere le sue faccende, a voce
bassa il popolo lo chiamava il diavolo nero; il vecchio portone del
palazzo schiudeva i suoi battenti per lasciarlo passare montato
sopra un nero cavallo, alto di forme, robusto, indomato, che
scalpitava caracollando e via fuggiva portandosi sulla groppa il
giovane cavaliere che i passanti stavano paurosi a riguardare da
lontano, parendo loro di vederlo ad ogni sbalzo rotolargli tra le
zampe; ma nulla di questo accadeva, ed ei noncurante, reggendolo
colla destra leggiermente, via passava come una visione che
impauriva i fanciulli e le vecchie della città. Di notte allor che cupo
sibilava il vento o scrosciava la pioggia, sentivasi dagli abitanti che
queti dormivano, batter l’ugna ferrata del suo cavallo il quale
galoppava per le vie... e allora qualche finestra aprivasi furtivamente
per tener dietro all’ombra che rapida passava di via in via finchè ogni
rumore taceva, e bisbigliavansi al domani strane voci di fantasmi, e
dicevasi che da un balcone fosse sceso uno spirito bianco che il
cavaliere aveva portato con sè fuggendo a corsa verso il suo
palazzo, e che quando il portone s’era spalancato da sè stesso per
lasciarlo passare, una gran vampa di fuoco tutto lo avesse ravvolto...
ond’ei scomparve non sapevan se sotterra, ma lo credevano i più.
Fuvvi qualcuno che disse arditamente dover la giustizia metter mano
entro i misteri della Casa della valle; ma un tal fornajo che aveva
parlato di ciò troppo forte e con troppo calore fu trovato morto sul
ponte del canale là dove ove ora si fe‘ della vecchia casa che lo
fiancheggiava il macello pubblico della città, e le voci si tacquero
impaurite e tremanti, che dove c’entran le corna del diavolo diceva il
volgo, il berretto della giustizia non può far capo.
Arrivati a questo punto del nostro romanzo a cui la leggenda presta
le sue tinte fosche ed indefinite... ne è d’uopo portare l’attenzione dei
nostri lettori sopra alcuni fatti che accadevano prima ancora che
queste varie vicende si fosser compiute nella Casa della valle... vale
a dire quando appena lasciato il soldo del Visconti fra la cui
sgherraglia militava Enrico a Milano, ei venisse a Mantova
chiamatovi dal desiderio della vistosa eredità che sapeva spettargli
dopo la morte dello zio e che da uomo della sua tempra, stimava
non potergli sfuggire, qualunque fosse per essere il mezzo col quale
avesse dovuto conseguirla.