At the Bosco Sacro.
"Now," remarks the guide, "I tell you fonny story—make you laugh. Ven dem eight honderd robbers foundated Rome dey live on a 'ill and dey haf no religion. Den come de King Numa Pompilio: he say 'dey most haf religion,' so he can goffern dem better. Den 'e go to diss bosco, and ven he come back he tell dem robbers he haf seen de Naimp Egeea——"
"The Nymph Egeria," A. intervenes, with superiority.
"Vell, I say de Naimp Egeea. He say he haf seen her, dat she haf appareeted to him, and so dey get deir religion."
A. laughs dubiously.
"Yes," concludes the guide, "dat iss a fonny story."
By the Circus of Maxentius.
"Diss is de Circus of Massenzio. He build 'im ven his son Romulus die. No, diss is not de same Romulus who foundated Rome, but anosser one, a leetle boy, de son of de Emperor Massenzio. He die ven he vos a leetle boy. In dem days it not permitted to make sacrifice of men, so dey build a race-course instead: it is de same ting, for some of de charioteers alvays get dem killed, and Massenzio tink dey go play wiz Romulus."
In the Catacombs.