1832.] A Merry Tale with a Merry Moral. 



that they wanted his shirt. To their dismay they find that neither he nor 

 his companion had ever been rich enough to own one ! The novel 

 winds up as follows : 



The fact was so, altho' most unexpected 

 He wore no shirt, and had none to his back ! 



The satraps, disappointed and dejected, 

 To Ormus recommenced their weary track. 



It seemed impossible, when they reflected, 

 That such a man, who never cried " alack !" 



At any chance contented in his dirt 



Should be so happy, yet without a shirt. 



Reaching the realm of Ormus at the end 



Of their long journey, they with grief reported 



Their search the adverse stars would not befriend ; 

 That those who shirts, and other linen sported, 



Were not as blest as flatterers might pretend, 

 Who to the palaces of kings resorted. 



Henceforth the vulgar only we must call 



The really happy they've no shirts at all ! 



It is in the Appendix to this novella., that Casti has been especially 

 blameable. It is sufficient for me to add that Arsaces died. Of Irene 

 and Marzucco I shall say nothing what could they say for themselves ? 



C. C. 



MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO IN THE DUNGEONS OF THE INQUISITION 

 OF ROME, IN 1818. 



(EXTRACTED FROM THE ENGLISH MS. OF AN ITALIAN EXILE.) 



.ROME, the majestic queen of the universe, the terror and admiration 

 of the known world, under the dominion of the ancient Romans, became, 

 in the first centuries of Christianity, the cradle of religion, and the seat 

 of apostles and martyrs. 



But when the successors of St. Peter, forgetting their divine institu- 

 tion, and the precepts and examples of their holy predecessors, began 

 to seek after worldly empire, Rome was soon changed into a new Baby- 

 lon ; and in the Vatican were collected ambition, hypocrisy, craftiness, 

 and all the concomitant vices of those base passions. 



Who is not acquainted with the present miserable condition of the 

 capital of Catholicism ? An immense and beautiful city, the incom- 

 parable monument of ancient and modern wonders, thinly peopled by 

 inhabitants, rendered unworthy of the glorious name of Romans, by the 

 despotism, superstition, and tyranny of the thousands of monks and 

 priests that literally swarm in that splendid metropolis. 



However, as the Italians have a naturally lively disposition, and think 

 but little about past and future sorrows, one may not be surprised to 

 see in all places of amusement the appearance at least of true enjoyment. 

 It is for this reason that the Carnival of Rome presents, within the short 

 space of twenty-four hours,* the length of its real duration, more inte- 



* The Carnival of Home lasts eight days, but the masks are only permitted to 

 circulate during three hours of each day. 



