Florence 275 



piece, given more life to canvas tlian northern eyes have been 

 accustomed to acknowledge. But the Titian ! — enough of 

 Venus; — at the same moment to animate marble^ and breathe 

 on canvas, is too much. — By husbanding the luxury of the sight, 

 let us keep the eye from being satiated vv'ith such a parade of 

 charms; retire to repose on the insipidity of common objects, 

 and return another day, to gaze with fresh admiration. In the 

 afternoon, by appointment, to Signore Preposito Lastri, author 

 of the Corso d'Agricoltura, and other much esteemed works, to 

 whom I had letters. He was to have carried me to Signore 

 Zucchino, director of the economical garden, for whom also I had 

 recommendations; I hoped to escape seeing this garden, — and 

 the rain seconded my wishes, for it would not allow us to stir; 

 and that gentleman coming to Signore Lastri's, I had the 

 pleasure of a conversation on our favourite topic. Signore 

 Zucchino seems an animated character, speaks of agriculture in 

 a style that gives me a good opinion of his pursuits; made me 

 very friendly offers, of whatever assistance was in his power, 

 during my stay at Florence, and appointed another day for 

 viewing the economical garden. At night to the opera, the 

 Trami del Lusso, of Cimarosa ; the music as good as the singing 

 bad, and the dancing execrable. An English gentleman, of the 

 name of Harrington (the younger), whom I had met at Mr. 

 Taylor's, at Bologna, entering into conversation, mentioned, 

 among other topics, that the Margrave of Anspach, who is here 

 with Lady Craven, wished to know me personally, in order to 

 speak to me on the subject of Spanish sheep, his highness having 

 imported them to Anspach. I replied that, on a farming topic, 

 I should be happy in the conversation of any prince who loved 

 the subject enough to import a better breed. The father soon 

 after joining us, and probably having been told, by his son, what 

 had passed, observed to me that the Margrave was very found of 

 agriculture, and had made great improvements; adding, " that 

 if I wanted to be introduced to him, he would introduce me." 

 This was another business— my expressing a desire to be pre- 

 sented to a sovereign prince, not at his own court, appeared to 

 be an awkward intrusion ; for no idea could be more disgustful 

 to me than that of pushing myself into such company. I replied, 

 therefore, that if it were the desire of the Margrave to have any 

 conversation with me, and he would inform me of it, in any way 

 he thought proper, I would certainly pay my respects to 

 him, with great readiness. The ^largrave was at the opera; 

 Mr. Harrington quitted me, as if to go to him. I suppose the 



