536 THE GERMAN PLAY AT VENICE, 



for a few moments would vouchfafe him their atten-* 

 tion, to reprefent to them a german piece as good as it 

 was poffible to make one there. 



All were aftonifhed, and the prince no lefs than the 

 others. The latter indeed guefTed at fomething of 

 what was to follow ; however, he went like the reft, 

 full of curiofity, after his chamberlain, who led the 

 company to a great hall below. 



In the very extreme corner of it, a miferable kind 

 of flage- was compofed of a few boards rudely put to- 

 gether, before which chairs were fet in rows. The 

 company feated themfelves, and laid their heads toge- 

 ther in difdainful fmiles. The curtain drew up. The 

 fneering whifpers went about ; for the theatre, fuch as 

 It was, reprefented a tolerably wretched ftreet, in which 

 a few fcattered lamps feemed rather to apologize for 

 their infufficiency than to enlighten the night. 



At length appeared a german traveller, limply but 

 well drefTed, having round his waift a leathern belt, 

 in which were ftuck two piftols ; he flared about him 

 with that curiofity which is natural to a man on find- 

 ing himfelf in fome place quite ftrange to him ; and a 

 ihort foliloquy foon fhewed it more. 



He was come, he faid, deep in the night, to Siena; 

 and was altogether uncertain whether or not he fhould 

 find a lodging. Weary with his long journey, his 

 body indeed required repofe, but for this time he be- 

 lieved it would not fall to his lot. Well, it would be 

 V c:ter to be fure, if it were to be had ; however a 

 11 misfoxtdfie maybe eafily borne, efpecially if a 

 n For indeed what feems formidable 

 Ha! noj I am miftaken. — It is 



true, 



