THE LOVERS. 193 



earth radiant galaxies of Italian fire-flies, which, rising from 

 the low underwood, or falling from the lofty trees, shoot through 

 the air in scintillating streams of living light. 



Away from the glare of the city, and from its noisy revelry 

 which rose at intervals, on their unheeding ears, a youth and 

 maiden were wandering in the garden of one of those villa 

 palaces then numerous on the outskirts of Genoa. They were, 

 of course, lovers ; for none others, so near their scene, would 

 have been absent from that evening's festivities. The figure 

 of the young man was commanding, and correspondent with 

 his dress, which bespoke him to be of noble rank. His fea- 

 tures also were of uncommon beauty; but an eye, well 

 versed in the lines of character, might have detected about 

 them a certain expression of weakness a wandering of the.eye, 

 and an effeminate softness of the mouth, which gave suspicion 

 of the like defects of disposition ; and one, certainly, who 

 should have so read his countenance would not have very 

 greatly wronged the character of young Marco, only son to 

 the Marchese Bassano, owner of the stately villa, in the grounds 

 of which he and his companion wandered. The latter was a 

 fair girl a fair Italian with eyes deeply blue, like her native 

 skies, and rich brown hair which seemed to have stolen of its 

 golden gleams. She was this, and more; but she was not, 

 like her lover, of patrician birth, and her lowly rank was indi- 

 cated both by her peasant's dress and the air of simplicity; 

 yet, withal, of gentle grace, with which she wore it. The 

 converse of Marco and his sweet Bianca was so low as to be 

 nearly overpowered even by the gentle murmur of the sea, as 

 it broke upon the adjacent shore, and the slight stirring of the 

 surrounding foliage; while, at intervals, their voices were 

 wholly drowned by the shouts of revelry which rose from the 

 illumined city. 



Heard clearly above the mingled sounds rising from the 

 city, the clock of the Annunciata struck nine. It was a signal 

 for the pair to separate Marco to join a party of gay com- 



