Asmodeus and the Incognito. 519 



si che sei veramente perfetto. Non ti mancava che cid. Dov' e it 

 tuo diavolo ? " " Eccomi, eccomi," cried Asmodeus, showing him- 

 self. " Ebbehe," said the Neapolitan, "Signor Don Asinodeo, vi 

 ringrazio di tutto cuore di avermi condotto il mio amico. For a 

 long while I have been greatly annoyed by political and epidemic 

 terrors. Oggi almeno pranzereno insieme, ed allegramente. But 

 pray tell me how things go on in England," asked he. " So so," 

 replied I. As usual, the Tories and the Whigs struggle for places 

 and emoluments; the Radicals make great noise and do no good; 

 and the people groan, murmur, and begin to lose their patience. 

 "A-propos," said the Neapolitan, "how does Lord Brougham do? 

 We have been told that he is quite undone both in health and in- 

 fluence." *' Not at all," replied I ;" in despite of his revilers and 

 of the Tories, he is perfectly restored to health and vigour; I saw 

 him the other day, and he truly looked twenty years younger." " I 

 am very glad to hear it," quoth my friend, " because I have always 

 considered him a great man." " And so he is," subjoined Asmodeus ; 

 ** he has, however, committed a great fault, he ought never to have 

 accepted the peerage. The House of Commons wanted his talents 

 and his wonderful activity. As it is, he may still be of much utility 

 to his nation in the Upper House, and I think he will." " Ma dimmi 

 un poco," said I to my friend, u come vanno gli' affari in Napoli." 

 " Malissimo, peggio che mai," answered he. " We are oppressed 

 by despotic laws, we are impoverished both by taxation and by the 

 preventive system of commerce, the priests and monks have become 

 more numerous and more powerful than ever, and the political in- 

 quisition is overbearing. However, the present state cannot last 

 much longer." " How has the cholera treated you ? " asked I. " Why, 

 our physicians were more frightened of it than even our Lazzaroni. 

 said he. I assure you that la paura hafattopiu male than the cholera, 

 and the government, taking advantage of every misfortune, through 

 its ecclesiastical supporters, has gained much in favour of its 

 absolutism." " Now, will you inform me, what you think of 

 the late fire of the Royal Palace," questioned I. " Non saprei 

 che dirti di certo," rejoined he ; " corre voce, che i Carbo- 

 nari hanno voluto carbonizzare il Re e tutta la famiglia ; but it 

 appears that the mine failed, and the people will be obliged to pay 

 a good deal more than it will cost to repair the damage done ; for 

 you know that the Bourbons are all infected with the disease of 

 craftiness and avarice." While he was still speaking, a servant came 

 in to announce that the dinner was on the table. " Andiamo," said the 

 Neapolitan ; " Con piacere," quoth I ; u Con piacere," echoed 

 Asmodeus. 



After having partaken of an excellent dinner, and drank of 

 the best Lacrima-Christi and Montepulciano ; Asmodeus and I 

 took leave of my friend, who, in shaking hands said to me, smiling, 

 " II Diavolo t'accompagni." " Grazie molte," replied I, " and, arm 

 in arm with the Devil, we walked through Toledo to the Mole. 

 There numberless Lazzaroni were assembled, listening to an old 

 man who, standing on a bench, was reciting to them from the 

 " Jerusalem" of Tasso, and then explained the finest passages 

 which relate the exploits of Tancredi and Rinaldo. He must have 



