242 
wished for) the making a nun, or the profession as 
it is called, of a young lady of noble family : there 
was a great deal of company, and more diamonds 
on the ladies’ heads than ever I saw at one time, 
except at Loretto; the music was very fine: the Ita- 
lians always treat you with good music on every 
occasion. ‘The young lady seemed in high spirits, 
but I should fear a flatness might follow when all 
the splendour and pomp were over. At the end of 
a year she is to come out of the monastery for 
three days, and may then, if she pleases, recant ; 
but if she persists in taking the veil, as is most pro- 
bable, it is irrevocable. “ Voila (said a Venetian 
near me) encore une victime des préjugés.” 
We left Venice May 28th, and went in the barge 
(as in Holland) to Padua, which is like a vast ram- 
bling village more than a city. The church of St. 
Anthony is very rich; the church of St. Justinian 
by Palladio is very fine, and contains a good pic- 
ture by Paul Veronese. Here is Mr. Ardouino, a ce- 
lebrated naturalist, with whom I was much pleased. 
May 30th got to Vicenza by one o'clock, and saw 
most of the fine buildings of Palladio’s, for which 
this town is famous, especially the theatre, built 
after the style of the ancients, and reckoned one of 
the best pieces of modern architecture. 
Next day travelled through a most sweet country 
to Verona; the road was flat, but Mount Baldus, 
with its innumerable snow-capped summits, was al- 
ways on our right hand. Verona is a large hand- 
some town; the amphitheatre is one of the most 
