Gilbert’s neighbour heard him enthralled. “But I am listening to a master!” he exclaimed, when Gilbert paused, afraid of saying too much. “Citizen, you are fortunate indeed, in these days of political turmoil, to know such rural delights! How true to-day is what the Mantuan writes—I was just reading it when my cabbage fell down.” He picked up his book and began to declaim—
“‘Fortunatus et ille, Deos qui novit agrestes,
Panaque, Silvanumque senem, Nymphasque sorores!
Illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum
Flexit, et infidos agitans discordia fratres;’—
that line might almost apply to the Princes—
‘Aut conjurato descendens Dacus ab Istro’
—the Austrians to the life!
‘Non res Romano, perituraque regna.’
How extraordinarily apt a passage, citizen!”