428 IL BANCOLO. 
her history, prevailed in Italy, had, towards the middle of the eigh- 
teenth century, entirely disappeared ; yet, notwithstanding the French 
fashions which were then in vogue, the natives of each province still 
retained some relics of the ancient costume. It was thus that the 
Venetian ladies still wore the ancient Moorish plume, and the breast- 
plate studded with stars of gold and silver. The gentlemen were, in 
general, dressed after the French fashion ; and the ancient Milan 
dagger, and the old Roman poignard, which, in the last generation, 
lent so much elegance to the figure of our fathers, were replaced by 
the modern sword with the steel handle. The cane, which is now 
universally worn, both on foot and horseback, by all aspirants to fa- 
shion, though it may be a great improvement, is certainly far less 
graceful than a sword. 
The ladies were also provided with weapons. They bore immense 
nosegays formed of the flowers of the rose, the pomegranate, the 
tuberose, the jonquil, and the lily; and before the commencement of 
the play amused themselves with stripping off the leaves and strew- 
ing them on the young patricians assembled below, which, falling on 
their heads and shoulders, seemed to convert the pit into an extended 
plain of undulating verdure. 
But the ordinary festivities of the Carnival would not have formed 
an attraction sufficiently powerful to collect this magnificent assembly. 
A much stronger motive was united to the desire of joining in the 
annual festivity. Rumours had been circulated in every part of 
Italy that the great Polichinelle was about to retire from the stage. 
It had been announced that on this evening he was to appear for the 
last time, and that this would be the last opportunity of witnessing 
the splendour of his talents in the full lustre of their glory. All 
Italy had, accordingly, risen as one man to pay in crowns, dithyram- 
bics, and testimonies of every description, the tribute of admiration 
and gratitude to that man who had been, during so long a period, 
the presiding genius of their amusements. 
Polichinelle stood alone; he united in himself all the vices and 
virtues common to humanity. Vain, presuming, avaricious, quarrel- 
some and cowardly, incredulous and superstitious, he was, at particu- 
lar seasons, and under the influence of peculiar impressions, generous 
and compassionate, and, according to circumstances, a philosopher or 
a spendthrift. But, whether under the influence of his good or evil 
propensities, a charming simplicity, which is one of the most promi- 
nent features of his character, is always predominant. His reason- 
ing, though sometime approaching to coarseness, is just and power- 
