1821.] V Aye Italianu.—No. XXIJL 
and want of patience and politeness, 
and the slight estimation in which you 
hold the company. To he amiable and 
loved by others, we must try to render 
ourselves agreeable. 
44 Another unpardonable sin against 
good manners, which I have frequently 
remarked, is a trick of trying the 
merits of the dishes, or the wine in 
company, by applying the nose, as the 
surest test, before we venture to pre¬ 
sent them to our guests. Now, though 
such a gentleman should not happen, 
at the moment he makes the experi¬ 
ment, to stand in need of his pocket 
handkerchief, the idea it presents to 
the imagination of the danger of sueh 
a thing, is far from affording pleasure. 
Nor, for the same reason, is it at all cor¬ 
rect to allow a person to take w ine from 
a glass already tasted, much less to offer 
cake or fruit that may have been broken, 
bitten, or otherwise depredated upon. 
44 Should it be said such instances 
are too trifling to deserve correction, 
let it be considered, that it is from the 
aggregate of these individual habits, 
that the manners of a man are finally 
formed, and that a single drop of water 
repeated often enough is sufficient to 
kill the stoutest criminal alive.” 
44 To illustrate our previous observa¬ 
tions, we shall adduce the instance of 
a 4 very learned and approved good 
Bishop, 1 by name Giovanni Matteo Gi- 
berti, who had the grace to possess, 
among other laudable and more solid 
accomplishments, those of being cour¬ 
teous and liberal to a high degree. So 
much indeed was he celebrated for 
these pleasing qualities, that numbers 
of noblemen and gentlemen thought 
themselves honoured in sitting at his 
table, which always abounded with 
that happy but moderate plenty and 
maguificence wdiich should ever adorn 
the board of a distinguished prelate. 
44 Among others eager to pay their 
court, and partake of the hospitality 
of this ornament of our church, was a 
gentleman, or rather nobleman, called 
II Conte Ricciardo, who passed several 
days in the family of the Bishop, all 
learned and accomplished characters, 
who expressed the highest admiration 
for the Count on account of his agreea¬ 
ble and polished manners. In these, 
after the most scrupulous observation, 
they were unable to discover the least 
defect, until the Bishop remarked that 
though a rare instance of refinement 
and polished manners, he thought he 
had at last discovered a slight blemish 
in this masterpiece of art and nature, 
but that he was unwilling (though he 
wished) to inform him ot it, lest he 
should put him to the blush.. After a 
good deal of conference with his friends 
however, the Bishop hit upon the fol¬ 
lowing method, as the least likely to 
give pain in the operation, 
44 Calling aside one of the discreetest 
and best mannered of his noble train, 
he intreated him after he had politely 
taken leave of his distinguished guest 
the ensuing morning, to follow biro Uf 
a respectful distance, and then joining 
company with him, beg to escort him 
a few stages on his journey. When a 
favourable opportunity occurred, he 
must avail himself of it to explain, in 
the most courteous terms the disagree¬ 
able nature of his mission—to inform a 
man of honour and a gentleman of his 
faults. Perfectly awmre of the delicacy 
of his situation, the Bishop’s gentle¬ 
man, though an aged courtier of great 
experience, and the finest discernment 
with a most insinuating countenace, 
voice, and action, did, nevertheless, 
feel not a little puzzled how to acquit 
himself on so extraordinary and unpre¬ 
cedented an occasion. In truth this is 
he who w as then, and is at the present 
time known by the appellation of II 
Signor Galateo , from whom we have the 
honour of taking the idea, and of giving 
the title of this little work. 
44 Riding gently alongside of the 
Count, with a mingled air of respect 
and kindness, he endeavoured to en¬ 
gage him in pleasing and animated 
conversation, and after running through 
a variety of subjects, in a tone calculat¬ 
ed to win the ear of the Count, he at last 
suddenly drew up and turningliis horse’s 
head towards Verona politely offered to 
take leave of the Count, who, on his 
part, entreated his company, if agree¬ 
able, a little further. Perceiving that 
he offered him his hand with an ex¬ 
pression of pleasure and thanks for his 
company, Galateo, w ith a discreetness 
quite his own, availed himself of this 
happy juncture, while the Count’s mind 
was full of grateful emotion, to dis¬ 
charge himself of the Bishop’s commis¬ 
sion thus :— 4 Fully sensible of your 
kindness, my dear lord, it is with feel¬ 
ings of mingled pleasure and regret, 
that I now proceed to acquit myselt of 
an obligation imposed upon me by my 
good lord and master, the Bishop,whom 
Heaven long preserve. I have to re¬ 
turn you, on his part, the sincerest and 
best thanks for the honour you have 
