1830.] The Half-Hanged Italian. 41 



conceal the report of my detention ; and a few hours sufficed to construct 

 a gibbet, and to find an executioner. In the morning the officers of justice 

 visited my cell,, and desired me to quit my dungeon. At the outer gate 

 were collected a vast number of Italian penitents, white, black, and 

 gray ; some with sandals, others with their feet naked ; each holding a 

 lighted torch in his hand, his head covered with a san benilo, that ex- 

 posed to view nothing but a ghastly hollow eye, on which the leaden still- 

 ness of death was already imprinted. In front of me a trio of priests, 

 muttering a triple salvo of pater --nosier -s, paraded a funeral bier ; and 

 away I marched gaily to the gallows, which, by way of doing me 

 honour, had been erected in the most distinguished style. It was elevated 

 upon a gentle rising ground, and somewhat resembled a large direction- 

 post; white daisies formed a soft flowery carpet at its foot; behind rose 

 the hills that had so often witnessed my exploits ; in front yawned a pre- 

 cipice, at the base of which rolled, with monotonous murmur, a rapid 

 torrent, whose exhalations penetrated even to the theatre on whose stage 

 I was about to exhibit. Around the instrument of death all was per- 

 fume and light. I advanced with a firm step to the foot of the ladder; but 

 casting a last look upon my coffin, which lay in readiness for the moment 

 when all should be over, and measuring its proportions with a glance, 

 ' this coffin is not near large enough/ cried I ; e and, by the Virgin, be- 

 fore I consent to be hanged, one of the proper dimensions must be 

 brought !' At the same time I assumed so resolute an aspect that the 

 leader of the police gang thought it necessary to venture a few words as 

 a sedative : "My son/ said he with a considerate air, ' you would have 

 just reason to complain, were this coffin destined to contain your remains 

 entire ; but as your exploits have gained you a high reputation, it has 

 been decided, that as soon as you are dead, your head shall be severed 

 from your body, and exposed to public view from the most elevated point 

 of the city. You may therefore make yourself perfectly easy, for you 

 see you will have plenty of room. I scorn to deceive an honest man like 

 you.' 



" With this reasoning I was perfectly satisfied. I ascended the ladder, 

 and in a twinkling was at the top. From my elevated position the view 

 was admirable ; and the hangman being a novice in his art, this circum- 

 stance afforded me sufficient time to take a survey of the crowd. I ob- 

 served some determined young fellows of my own stamp trembling with 

 ill-suppressed rage, and some young girls in tears, while others, on the 

 contrary, hard-hearted jades ! testified every symptom of joy. In the 

 midst of the crowd was one of my own band, a fellow after my own 

 heart, as brave a lad as ever handled blade, one whose parting look pro- 

 mised me a deep and speedy vengeance. Whilst the executioner pre- 

 pared his apparatus, I walked carelessly to and fro upon the platform of 

 the gibbet, just on the brink of the precipice. The sympathetic hang- 

 man stood aghast at my temerity. ' Have a care/ cried he, ( or you will 

 be killed. Would you rob even the gallows?' At last all was in readi- 

 ness ; but the tender-hearted finisher of the law was seized with a vertigo 

 his limbs tottered under his feeble frame the rolling cascade below, 

 the burning sun above, bewildered his brain. At length, however, the 

 cord was arranged around my neck. The executioner pushed me into the 

 yawning gulf, and attempted to shorten my sufferings by pressing his 

 ignoble foot upon my shoulders; but on these firm, tough shoulders 

 mortal foot cannot print its trace with impunity. The executioner slipped. 



M. M. New Senes.Voi. X. No. 55. F 



