Carrara's Toilet Box.
Francis Carrara, the last Lord of Padua, was famous for his cruelties. At Venice is exhibited a little box for the toilet, in which are six little guns, which were adjusted with springs in such a manner, that upon opening the box the guns were discharged, and killed the lady to whom Carrara had sent it for a present.
Executioner's Sword.
This weapon forms one of the curiosities in the superb collection of ancient armor which belonged to Sir Samuel R. Meyrick, at Herefordshire. It bears the date of 1674. The blade is thin and exceedingly sharp at both edges. Engraved on it is a man impaled, above which are some words in German, of which the following is a translation:—
Look every one that has eyes,
Look here, and see that
To erect power on wickedness
Cannot last long.
A man holding a crucifix, his eyes bandaged, is on his knees; the executioner, with his right hand on the hilt and his left on the pommel, is about to strike the blow; above is engraved—
He who ambitiously exalts himself,
And thinks only of evil,
Has his neck already encompassed
By punishment.
On the other side is a man broken on a wheel, over which is—
I live, I know not how long;
I die, but I know not when.