habiting a sultry one, condemn your innocent children to the ordeal of a red-hot gravel. I have now, signor marchese, performed the conditions you imposed on me, to the extent of my observation; hastily, I confess it, and preoccupied by the interest you excited. PALLAVICINI. Across the road, exactly four paces from your antechamber, were the quarters of your general: exactly forty-eight from his window, out of which he was looking, did this peasant woman lie groaning with labour, when several soldiers entered her bedroom, and carried off the articles most necessary in her condition. Her husband ran under the window of the general, which faced the wife's, entreating his compassion. He was driven away. LANDOR. Was nothing done? PALLAVICINI. A few threats were added. might ripen three thousand; in Sicily the same, or nearly so. The fruit however of the tree at Croscello is small, of little juice, and bad quality. I presume it to be a wilding. This and the celebrated vine at Hampton-Court are the two most extraordinary fruit-bearing trees on record; they have quintupled the most prolific of their species in Europe. LANDOR. Impossible, impossible! PALLAVICINI. Since, sir, we are in the regions of impossibility, do look again, I entreat you, at the palace just before us: and I am greatly mistaken if I cannot fix your attention upon something of higher import than a span of turf. LANDOR. It is among the most magnificent and, what is better, the most elegant, that I have hitherto seen in Italy; for I have not yet visited the Venetian territory, and know merely from engravings the admirable architecture of Palladio. Whose is it? PALLAVICINI. It belongs to the family of Cambiagi, to which our republic, while it pleased God to preserve it, owed many signal benefits, as doges and as senators. In the latter capacity a private man from amongst them constructed at his own expense the most commodious of our roads, and indeed the first deserving the name that had ever been formed in Liguria, whether by the moderns or ancients. LANDOR. How grand is that flight of steps upon which the children are playing! These are my vases, marchese, these are my images, this is ornamental gardening, these are decorations for architecture. Take care, blessed creatures, a fall from such a highth!... PALLAVICINI. Over those steps, amidst the screams and embraces of those children, with her arms tied behind her, imploring help, pity, mercy, was dragged by the hair the marchesa Cambiagi. For what offence? LANDOR. PALLAVICINI. Because her husband had mastered all his prejudices, and resigned all his privileges. LANDOR. Signor marchese, the English general, whatever may be the public opinion of his talents, his principles, and his conduct, could never have known and permitted it. PALLAVICINI. Perhaps not. I can only declare that his windows were filled with military men, if uniforms make them, and that he was amongst them. This I saw. Your Houses of Parliament, M. Landor, for their own honour, for the honour of the service and of the nation, should have animadverted on such an outrage: he should answer for it: he should suffer for it. |