1826.] The liat-Tm}). o7 



moment — in Ravenna ; in whose Iiands such men would aiways he a 

 dangerous implement, and w Ith whom the first fair opportunity was sure 

 to bring them into comnmnication. The local authorities of the pro\ ince 

 were tainted with the policy of the time — they desired the acquittance of 

 these outlaws, but they would have purchased their allegiance or their 

 absence. Sansovino disliked such a course : he did not need their aid ; 

 and he had, moreover, a natmal disposition to cleave such people to the 

 brisket, rather than capitulate with them. A fancy — for it could scarcely 

 be called a plan — presented itself to his imagination on this subject. It was 

 needlessly perilous; but the " terror of outlaws" was in sjiirit more than 

 half an outlaw, perhaps, himself. His fame, m ith what l-.ad been done 

 already, was ringing — and he knew it — through the Papal states. His 

 courage made him almost popular, even in llavenna, where men said — 

 when they spoke of Sanso\ ino ! — " that it was not the monk's frock that 

 made the priest, nor the steel corslet tlie soldier." One single captain 

 Mas the confidant of his project. That officer would have remonstrated, 

 but was commanded to be silent and obey. And, on a dreary evening 

 in the month of February, which is the rainy season, and the most 

 cheerless of all the )ear m Italy, disguised in the garb of a country 

 curate, or priest, travelling, on foot, for his affairs, the Cardinal Legate 

 of Ravenna privately departed from his episcopal palace in the Piazza 

 Larga ; and, with no arms beyond a staff — unaccomjjanied and unat- 

 tended — took his way, through the meaner and less treq^uented streets, 

 towards the western gate of the city. 



It is about six miles from Ravenna, to the Villa di Corvo, on the 

 same road that leads forward from thence to Forli ; and about midway 

 on this track, there stood, in Sansovino's time, an osterio. long infamous 

 from the character of the persons who kept it, known among the pea- 

 santry by the name of " La Trappola," or " the Rat Trap." Placed 

 apart, a few furlongs from the high road, which, at that point, sinks 

 into a deep and woody dell, all people of the locality preferred going 

 out of their way, to even passing near it ; and — for chance travellers — 

 by day, it was easier for such to miss the house than find it, so bedded 

 as it was, looking from the level ground, in tangled, uncut, broom and 

 copse. But, from the brow of the height which the road reaches above, 

 when the legate looked downwards, alriiough through rain and darkness, 

 the glare of light which poured through its broken casements shewed the 

 situation of the hut at once ; while, even so far off, a strain of boisterous 

 revelry, trolled by rough voices, and eked out with the merciless 

 plucking of a guitar, mingled snatches of its music with the long loud 

 gusts, which, at intervals, swept hoarsely through the pine trees of the 

 forest. 



Merrily, merrily rose the song ! — a rude melody — fit to be heard, 

 and listened to in the forest and in the fell. Tlie strain was wild, but 

 not unmusical ; and the verse told of the trade of the singers, and the 

 condition of the time. 



" Heavily" (it went), " heavily heaves the flood. 



And patters loud the rain, 

 Tlie north wind howls throush the fir tree wood. 



And darkness shrouds the plain. 



The thunder peals on the mountain side, 



The pale moon hides her ray ; 

 And the lightning's flash alone may" guide 



The traveller on his wav. 

 .M. M. Ne.vo Series.— \oL. I. No. L" I 



