“I see,” replied the painter, “you are disposed to laugh at all I have said in their favour; but in answer to your question, I will fairly own, that their religious, or, if you please, we shall rather call them their superstitious, sentiments, seem to be no way influenced by their profession; nor are the duties of their profession in any degree affected by these sentiments. They attend mass, and the ceremonies of devotion, with as much punctuality as if their lives were regular in all other respects; and they pass their lives, in other respects, as if they had never heard of any religious system but that of Epicurus. In some countries of Europe, women of their stamp often despise every appearance of decency, assume the disgusting depravity of male debauchees, with all the airs of affected infidelity, and real profligacy; but here they always remember they are women; and, after they have lost the most valued and brightest ornament of their sex, still endeavour to retain some of the others.”
“After all you have said in their favour,” said I, “”their condition is certainly not to be envied. If, therefore, you have any regard for your young Venus, you will do well to leave her under the care of her mother, and never endeavour to introduce her into the community whose eulogium you have been making.”
When I returned from the house of this artist, I found Mr. —— waiting for me at our lodgings. He has of late paid his court very assiduously to a lady of high rank in this place: she is distinguished, even here, for a punctilious observance of all the ceremonies appointed by the church, and could not eat meat on a meagre-day, or deviate from the canonical regulations in any point of equal importance, without remorse; but in matters of gallantry, she has the reputation of being infinitely more liberal, both in her sentiments and practice. She has been for some time provided with a very able and respectable lover, of her own country. This did not make her blind to the good qualities of Mr. ——, with whom she formed a very intimate connection, soon after his arrival here; not that she prefers him to her other lover, but merely from a strong sense of the truth and beauty of this arithmetical axiom—one and one make two. The new arrangement with our countryman, however pleasing to the lady, gave offence to her Father Confessor. The scrupulous ecclesiastic was of opinion, that a connection of this nature with a heretic was more criminal than with a man of her own communion. Mr. —— was just come from the lady to our lodgings; he had found her in worse humour than he had ever observed before, though her temper is not the mildest in the world. Mr. —— entered as the Confessor went out; she shut the door after him with a violence which shook the whole house, muttering, as she returned to her seat, Che ti possino Cascar le braccia Vecchio Dondolone. Mr. —— expressed his concern on seeing her so much agitated. “No wonder,” said she, “that stubborn Animalaccio who is just gone out, has had the insolence to refuse me absolution. As I expected you this morning, I sent for him betimes, that the matter might have been expedited before you should come; but here I have been above an hour endeavouring to persuade him, but all to no purpose; nothing I could say was able to mollify the obstinate old greasy rascal.” Mr. —— joined in abusing the Confessor’s perverseness, hinting, at the same time, that she ought to despise it as a matter of little importance; that she was sure of receiving absolution sooner or later; and, whenever it happened, all the transactions of the interval would be comprehended within that act of grace. Upon the strength of this reasoning, Mr. —— was proceeding to fulfil the purpose of his visit with as much alacrity as if the most complete discharge had been granted for all proceedings—“Pian Piano Idol mio,” cried the lady, “bisogna rimettersi alla voluntà di Dio.” She then told her lover, that although she despised the Confessor as much as he could do, yet she must take care of her own soul; that not having settled her accounts with heaven for a considerable time, she was determined not to begin a new score till the old should be cleared; adding, for her principal reason, Patto chiaro, amico caro.
END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
TRANSLATIONS
OF THE
LATIN AND ITALIAN QUOTATIONS
IN THE
FIRST VOLUME.
| Page | |
| [12.] | A hundred hours of vexation will not pay one farthing of debt. |
| [19.] | Thro’ various hazards, and many cross events. |
| [62.] | ——What we hear, With slower passion to the heart proceeds, Than when an audience views the very deeds. Francis. |
| [Ibid.] | The business of the drama must appear in action or description. Francis. |
| [75.] | Like a youthful tree, of growth Insensible, high shoots his spreading fame. Francis. |
| [151.] | The place intended for the portrait of Marinus Fallierus, who was beheaded. |
| [244.] | ——to the woods the wanton hies, And wishes to be seen before she flies. Dryden. |
| [275.] | At length he founded Padua’s happy seat. Dryden. |
| [Ibid.] | Where Aponus first springs in smoky steam, And full Timavus rolls his nobler stream; Upon a hill that day, if same be true, A learned Augur sat the skies to view: ’Tis come, the great event is come (he cry’d)! Our impious chiefs their wicked war decide. Rowe. |
| [281.] | Whence bull-faced Po adorned with gilded horns, Than whom no river, thro’ such level meads, Down to the sea with swifter torrents speeds. Warton. |
| [291.] | Three brothers, the sons of Maria Theresa, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary, all of them distinguished by their virtues, and worthy of so illustrious a mother, were entertained at this inn, viz. Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria, who actually supped and passed the night here, on the 30th of May, 1775. Peter Leopold Grand Duke of Tuscany, and the Emperor Joseph the Second, the ornament and glory of the age, who dined here the following day. That such important events may not be lost in the flight of time, let this durable monument inform the latest posterity of the happiness which this inn enjoyed. |
| [301.] | The Bononian Academy of arts and sciences, for the general use of the whole world. |
| [315.] | Some are of opinion, that, captivated by the love of power, and having carefully weighed his own strength and that of his enemies, he had availed himself of this opportunity of seizing the supreme authority, which had been his passion from his early youth. |
| [Ibid.] | For if a violation of equity is ever excusable, it is when a crown is our object—On all other occasions we ought to cultivate justice. |
| [316.] | He never was deterred from any undertaking by religious scruples.—When the animal, destined for sacrifice, fled from the altar, this bad omen did not prevent Cæsar from marching against Scipio and Juba. |
| [317.] | The leader now had passed the torrent o’er, And reached fair Italy’s forbidden shore: Then rearing on the hostile bank his head, Here, farewell peace and injured laws (he said)! Since faith is broke, and leagues are set aside, Henceforth thou, goddess Fortune, art my guide. Let fate and war the great event decide. He spoke; and, on the dreadful task intent, Speedy to near Ariminum he bent; To him the Balearic sling is slow, And the shaft loiters from the Parthian bow. Rowe. |
| [321.] | How much the grandeur of thy rising state Owes to the Neros, Rome imperial! say, Witness Metaurus, and the dismal fate Of vanquished Asdrubal, and that glad day Which first, auspicious, as the darkness fled, O’er Latium’s face a tide of glory shed. Through wide Hesperia’s tow’ring cities, crush’d With hideous fall and desolation dire, Impetuous, wild the Carthaginian rush’d; As through the pitchy pines destructive fire Devours its course, or howling Eurus raves, And posting sweeps the mad Sicilian waves. Francis. |
| [323.] | An Adriatic turbot, of a wonderful size, was caught before the temple of Venus, at Ancona, a city built by the Greeks. |
| [344.] | Be not afraid, my good Sir, these walls are more firm than the Apennines. |
| [369.] | Hannibal, having defeated the Romans at Thrasymene, and marching his army to Rome, was repulsed from Spoletto with great slaughter. The memorable flight of the Carthaginians gave name to this gate. |
| [369.] | Hannibal marched straight through Umbria to Spoletto, and after having laid the country waste, when he began to attack the town, he was beat off, with great slaughter of his soldiers. Such a check from an inconsiderable colony, would naturally lead him to reflect on the difficulties he must encounter in subduing the Roman republic. |
| [376.] | Narnia, surrounded by a sulphureous stream and dangerous cliffs, which render it almost inaccessible. |
| [387.] | Hence the fam’d Latian line, and senates come, And the proud triumphs, and the tow’rs of Rome. Pitt. |
| [388.] | Yes, my Lord—but my husband is an old man. |
| [388.] | O holy Virgin, how exceeding old he is! |
| [408.] | Long live the Holy Father! |
| [Ibid.] | Your blessing, Holy Father. |
| [411.] | This triumph, this, on Libya’s utmost bound, With death and desolation compassed round, To all thy glories, Pompey, I prefer, Thy trophies, and thy third triumphal car; To Marius’ mighty name, and great Jugurthine war. Rowe. |
| [412.] | What tongue, just Cato, can thy praise forbear! Or each brave Scipio’s noble deeds declare? Afric’s dread foes; two thunderbolts of war! Pitt. |
| [415.] | Founded by Marcus Agrippa, the son of Lucius, during his third Consulship. |
| [421.] | Secure in his retreat Vejanius lies; Hangs up his arms, nor courts the doubtful prize; Wisely resolved to tempt his fate no more, Or the light croud for his discharge implore. Francis. |
| [426.] | But if she has made an assignation, and wishes to be drest with more nicety than usual—Poor Psecus (her female slave), with her hair torn about her ears, and stripped to the waist, adjusts the locks of her mistress. Why is this curl so high? Presently the whip punishes the disorder of the least hair. |
| [428.] | ——every moment grows, And gains new strength and vigour as it goes. Pitt. |
| [435.] | Between whom Augustus reclining, quaffs nectar with purple lips. |
| [436.] | My fame ———— shall bloom, And with unfading youth improve, While to th’ immortal fane of Jove The vestal maids, in silent state Ascending, on the Pontiff wait. Francis. |
| [436.] | Hail, happy pair! if fame our verse can give, From age to age your memory shall live; Long as th’ imperial Capitol shall stand, Or Rome’s majestic Lord the conquer’d world command! Pitt. |
| [439.] | From whose bowels the Prince of Peace sprung. |
| [446.] | Why does he hate the sunny plain, While he can sun or dust sustain? Or why no more, with martial pride, Amidst the youthful battle ride, And the fierce Gallic steed command, With bitted curb, and forming hand? Why does he fear the yellow flood? Francis. |
| [447.] | Thus they conversed on works of ancient fame, Till to the monarch’s humble courts they came; There oxen stalk’d, where palaces are raised, And bellowing herds in the proud Forum graz’d. Pitt. |
| [517.] | The Devil go along with you for an old goose. |
| [518.] | Softly, softly, my love. We must submit to the will of Heaven. |
| [Ibid.] | Short accounts make long friends. |
