Even to Rome I several times have went,
In Naples, too, I’ve had full many a turn
And know old Spartivento like a dern;
And most of us, I reckon—though we’re Yankee—
Can go the Dago, or some lingua frankey.
We ain’t so ignorant of what we know;
So go ahead, Signor—prestissimo!
Ef we don’t catch the sense ’twill be a pity.”—
So thus encouraged I began my ditty: