Self-difcipline in keeping down his too immoderate Affection for her, he was ready to die of Trouble and Grief,--did, of her heavenly Kindness and Commiferation, carry him and me and two or three others with her to her delicious Country-feat of Cofandoli, where, remote from the Bickerings and Backbitings of an envious Court, in a Palace and Gardens as delightful as thofe of Armida, we led a Life more innocent and improving than Armida's, rifing early, hunting, hawking, fowling, fnaring fmall Birds and Fishes, floating in a gilded Gondolet with filken Awning on the sweet River, playing Lutes, Flutes, Tabrets, and Dulcimers, (I myself could touch the Triangle indifferent well,) making Verses, reading amufing Tales, gathering and eating of Fruit, ftraying among Beds of choice Flowers, dining on the Grafs, fupping in the fancy Dairy-house, warbling Canzoni, writing Letters to this Friend and the other to say how happy we were, and, in fhort, enjoying ourselves in a moft delectable Fashion.

160

Ser Pantaleone's reading a Letter.

one

I have always thought the Air particularly fine at Cofandoli, and the Water particularly wholesome. The Fish, too, which catches there in the River, is fingularly wellflavoured, and the Poultry and Dairy-produce and Fruits, Legumes and Efculents are, or at leaft were, the best of their Kind. I never faw fuch Medlars or Mulberries anywhere else. We had Milk warm from the Cow, and delicious little Milk-rolls hot from the Oven, and broiled Fish fresh caught, and Eggs juft laid; and it is wonderful how much my Appetite improved while I was at Cofandoli. And fo did Taffo's.

CHAPTER X.

Of the Proceedings of the Duchefs of Urbino.

know not if I can fay it was as wifely as kindly done of Madama

Leonora to give my poor troubled

Friend this Haven of Reft in the Midft of his tempest-toft Voyage. True, he was overwrought, weary, and fick at Heart; true, he had Enemies without, and Trials and Temptations within but where there's no Strife, there's no Conqueft; God does not willingly grieve nor afflict the Children of Men, nor submit them to any Temptation that has no Way of Escape.

Taffo loved Madama Leonora with all the Purity and Fervour his Soul was capable of, and that her exalted Goodness was calculated

M

to infpire. Taffo knew he could never win Madama Leonora, and fought manfully with himfelf to conquer a too engroffing Love; Madama Leonora faw him ftriving, wearying, wafting, and had Compaffion on him, and did her best to recompenfe him by the sweet Solace of her Companionship among a little Circle of felect Friends, all in Amity with him, and revering his Genius; but was this the Way to cure him? Ah, was it not bidding the poor Moth play round the Candle?

As I have faid, all our little Party were in Amity and Harmony, and no hidden Foe was among us to breed Rivalry and Jealousy, and carry back an evil Report of us to the City. But, of Course, thofe who were excluded were envious of us, and fet about fpiteful Reports of our ten Days at Cafandoli. However, these, being baseless, deservedly fell to the Ground.

How close and noifome is the Atmosphere of a great City, when one returns to it from the gentle Gales, trickling Waters, Myrtle

Shades, Jafmine Odours and enamelled Paftures of a delicious Villeggiatura ! Juft fo does the tainted moral Atmosphere of the City offend us after the purifying Influences of Seclufion, though I fay not there is never a Snake in the Grafs, nor an Afp among the Fruit, nor a Scorpion under the Moss-grown Capital. There was a lying Serpent even in the Garden of Eden. It is not every one that can, like St. Paul, shake off a Viper into the Fire. Howbeit, our Ancestors did wifely to raise Altars to Feronia, Goddess of Woods and Groves, and fable that her Votaries could walk unhurt over red-hot Coals; which was only faying, in their veiled, pretty Way, that the Lovers of calm Seclufion and Retirement could abide, unharmed, the fiery Ordeal of the World.

No fooner in the City, than a Clash of Swords! I heard a Boy, running along the Street, call in an excited Way to another, "Four Men have fallen upon one, and he has beaten them!"

"Who is it?" cries the other.