pictures are forbidden in the churches, and where the people are little better than beasts, without reason!

I will tell you why these people travel to our land. The fewer number come to do penance, and to abjure their heresy; the greater number come to destroy your customs, to mock the respect due to our blessed ruler, to live here in revelry, and to seduce your wives and your daughters: nay, some of them have even ventured to raise their impious eyes to those virgins destined to a Heavenly bridegroom. And now, I have no doubt, you will ask me, how it is that our Holy Father should permit such villians to remain within the walls of this blessed city? My answer is ready. The long-suffering of Heaven is inexhaustible! and the sun sheds his beams alike on the just, and on the unjust!

The story I am going to relate to you, is of one of these profligate foreign painters, and it happened long since.

The painter was one of those men whom we occasionally see going about the town in odd fashioned coats, with long stinking tobacco pipes in their hands, their hair hanging over their shoulders, and but few bajocchis in their pockets.

And now, whilst I take breath, and collect my thoughts, hasten to buy, for a mere nothing, the life of the mad rebel Menotti, who was hung last week, at Modena, and which has been printed for your use and improvement; and whilst doing so, pray for his poor soul, and also for your own, that God may preserve you from the atrocity of revolution, and that you may not become like your guilty fellow-countrymen of Bologna.

Bravo, my friends! go on buying, every bajocchi that you spend will bear fruits a thousand fold, through the

thankful prayer that I will offer up for the poor souls in purgatory.

The name of the painter, whose story I am about to relate to you, was Theobaldo, and at the time to which I refer, there was a maiden named Paola, one of those Transtiverini, who have at all times been so faithful to our holy father.

This maiden used to bring bread for sale into the city; and at the same time generally brought some little delicacy as a present to her brother; who, being a mason, was then working at some palace. It was on one of these expeditions, that Paola was first seen by this foreign painter, and he became instantly enamoured with her beauty.

Our country alone is the land of beauty! In happy Italy alone, are beautiful women to be seen! But women, even in our own country, are inquisitive, vain, and cunning; and, in these respects, are not a whit behind the women of other nations.

Eh, viva! my good neighbour Lorenzo, who have just sneezed so heartily, and who have two beautiful daughters! I have no doubt that you will confirm the truth of what I

say.

Paola soon perceived that Theobaldo admired her, and that he followed her whenever he could. When once she had observed this, and was not offended at it, she had already half fallen into the snares of Satan.

Those foreigners are a terrible race! Those who are rich, chink their money, and say to our beautiful women, “Give yourself up to me, my life, my treasure, my dearest soul! just think that I am here only for a moment, and that I

start to-morrow for Naples, or for Genoa, and then return to my own country; you will not see me again, and there is not a soul can possibly suspect us!"

Those that are poor, say, met with, during my pilgrimage, let me pluck thee, and place thee on my bosom, than which thou wilt not find one more faithful, or more devoted. It is true that my stay here can be but short, but the moment that my wanderings are over, I will return hither, and conduct thee, as my bride, to my own country!"

"Loveliest flower that I have

The artist again says, with diabolical cunning,

"Lovely creature, I admire you, but I admire you in all honor; nature has formed master-pieces in your neck, in your shoulders, and in your arms. Nowhere else are such forms to be met with; give me the use of these treasures for a couple of hours, that I may transfer them to the canvas, and thus perpetuate a memorial of your beauty. There can be no harm in this; it will glorify your Creator, and it will injure neither your body nor your soul !"

Alas! I wish I might add that these diabolical temptations and snares were vain, but, my dear hearers, I am certain that each among you could say, on your own knowledge, such a woman sold herself for a foreigner's money! such another was ruined by a seducer, who abandoned her, never to return! and that numbers daily run into snares set for them by the artists. Flattery produces vanity, this again produces imprudent confidence, and the result of all is-shame! but shame never remains hidden, any more than a conspiracy against those lawful rulers, whose power comes from God. And I may as well take

this opportunity of telling you, that, that infernal Zucchi has been quartered, and that the French are at this very moment dying in crowds from the cholera.

The cholera is nought else but the arch enemy of the human race, whom the Almighty sends as his scourge in the shape of sores, that cover the rebels of all countries. Thus it is that God in his infinite wisdom makes use of the evil one, to punish and subvert the designs of the wicked upon earth. You will learn this truth more fully in the course of the instructive tale which I am relating to you.Amulets against the cholera are to be bought cheap from the learned Doctor Spigoni, who lives close to the Colosseum -they are of certain efficacy to those of firm faith!

Paola was a good girl, she was beautiful as the day, and as pious as if angels themselves had educated her. But this did not prevent her vanity from giving ear to what the painter said: and the Devil was in raptures at the morsel of which he now felt secure, for you must know that his unsainted mouth waters for a devout soul, as much as yours, for the most delicate fritura. Fortunately for Paola, she had a special devotion for the Holy Virgin, to whom her mother had vowed her; this caused her all-powerful patroness to have compassion on her, and she commanded the devil himself to protect her from the stranger's wiles. Satan murmured, and, indeed, how could he help being annoyed, knowing, as he did, that all his trouble would be of no profit to him, for of the German heretic's soul he was already secure enough. There was however no help for him, being forced to do whatever the saints commanded him.

One day that Theobaldo met Paola, he said, "I lodge in

N

a retired house on the Quirinal, not a soul can see you if you come there, and thus, your good name will not run the slightest danger, if you permit me to employ a few moments in sketching your lovely hand and arm. I shall, therefore, expect you to-morrow evening: when the bell rings for vespers, you will find me waiting for you at the door of my lodging, and I feel certain you will not refuse me this request."

Paola at first made some difficulties, but soon gave her consent. You know what women are! she promised to do what the foreigner desired; and, foolish creature, she was delighted at the thought of the adventure that awaited her.

Her mother was bed ridden, and said to her, the ensuing day:

"Why art thou thus adorning thyself, my child? What means that lace, and your god-mother's coral-necklace? I trust that thy poor mother is not to be abandoned; and that thou art not going to a dance! Remain firm to thy duties, and be not inveigled away by those thoughtless lads, who seduce young maidens by music and dancing. Thou wilt soon enter a convent-beware, therefore, of sin!"

The cunning Paola replied:—

"My dearest mother, I am only going to church, to carry into effect a vow, which I have formed for your recovery. I mean to offer a taper to the holy mother, and will return with my brother, when he comes home again from his work."

This intention pleased her mother; she blessed her pious child, and made up her mind to remain alone. But, when,