Of workmanship, it struck some dozens more;

A warning voice that clench'd Bianca's fears,

Such strokes referring doubtless to her years.

XXVI.

At fifteen chimes she was but half a nun,

By twenty she had quite renounced the veil;

She thought of Julio just at twenty-one,

And thirty made her very sad and pale,

To paint that ruin where her charms would run;

At forty all the maid began to fail,