The humour of Italy

by Unknown

“‘In times less pleasant and more fierce, of old,

The thieves were hung on crosses, so we’re told;

In times less fierce, more pleasant, like to-day,

Crosses are hung upon the thieves, they say.’

“When the Emperor Francis of Austria visited Rome, Pasquin called him ‘Gaudium urbis—Fletus provinciorum—Risus mundi.’ (The joy of the city—the tears of the provinces—the laughter of the world.)

“A clever epigram was also made on Canova’s draped statue of Italy—

“‘For once Canova surely has tripped:

Italy is not draped but stripped.’

EPIGRAM ON CANOVA’S STATUE OF ITALY.