1830.] The Half-Hanged Italian. 43 



' ' That is precisely what every one tells me," replied he ; t( and though 

 I have tormented my poor brains about the matter from morning till 

 night, I have never been able to perceive that a trade leads to any thing 

 good in France. Now, in Italy it is different : there the fields produce 

 mushrooms sufficient to feed a city ten times as populous as that of Rome ; 

 in France every thing must be paid for, even to the very mushrooms, 

 which are rank poison." 



" Do you think, then," said I, " that the trade of lazaroni is that of an 

 honest man?" 



' ( Most undoubtedly. Your lazaroni is neither master nor servant ; 

 depends on no man's orders ; works only when his necessities require ; 

 and his necessities are never very urgent, so long as the sun shines bright 

 and warm. And then do you reckon for nothing the pleasure of seeing 

 the Pope every day ? a pleasure that is worth at least twenty indulgences 

 every twenty-four hours. No life like the lazaroni's." 



" In that case I am surprised you have neglected to procure your 

 enrolment as a member of the fraternity." 



" I had some thoughts of it," replied he, " and Maria would fain have 

 persuaded me to it ; but I never liked the eruptions of Vesuvius." 



At the same instant we entered one of the barriers of Paris, and arrived 

 suddenly before the Luxembourg, that beauteous and tranquil retreat 

 formed expressly for the delight of quiet and peaceful souls. The Italian, 

 astonished at every thing, questioned me at every step. His wonder was 

 in turn excited by the old apple-women that encumbered the porch of 

 the palace, and by the young pillars of the state, who came to legislate 

 for the good of the nation. He was amazed that not a single vagabond 

 could be found warming himself lazily and luxuriously in the sun ; that 

 most of the lazaroni, as he called them, in this country work like galley- 

 slaves. His musical ear was shocked to hear other lazaroni in the streets 

 screaming their discordant notes to the accompaniment of a hurdy-gurdy ; 

 his eye was shocked with the sight of clumsy earthen-pots, every thing 

 modern, nothing antique: narrow streets; an infected atmosphere; 

 young girls clad in the livery of wretchedness, and lacking the witchery 

 of an Italian smile ; venders of poison, ycleped apothecaries, in every 

 street ; and not a single Madonna. The bandit was struck with con- 

 sternation. " What can I do among such people ?" said he, in a tone of 

 anxiety that pierced through the natural hilarity of his disposition. 



" In the first place, what are your qualifications ?" asked I, beginning, 

 I confess, to feel rather embarrassed with his person. 



" Not many," replied he ; ' ' and yet I could play better music, I could 

 paint better, I could guard a palace better, than the knaves I have hitherto 

 seen : and as to the venders of poison with whom your streets are filled, 

 here is a stiletto worth all their drugs ;" and he sighed as he examined 

 the point of his dazzling blade. 



'' If these are your only resources, Heaven help you, my good friend ! 

 The market is already stocked with about fifteen thousand painters, twice 

 that number of musicians, and God knows how many poets who mount 

 but slowly to the summit of Parnassus. As to your stiletto, if you will 

 be ruled by me, you will let it repose quietly in the scabbard ; otherwise 

 you may chance to enjoy the swing-swong motion of which you are so 

 fond at a gallows where the rope never breaks." 



" Yet, without boasting, I sing a love- song admirably. At Venice, 

 the amateur serenaders always confided the orchestra to me ; and I gene- 



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