I foon noticed that a good many more of his Sonnets were addreffed to Madama Leonora than to Madama Lucrezia: fhe feemed to occupy his Thoughts from Morning to Night. If Madama Leonora appeared in a Mantle of myrtle-green Satin, straightway she was compared to a Lily-of-the-valley fheltered by its dark green Leaf; if in a rofe-coloured Brocade, to the Pride of the Garden, a Mofsrofe, if in Jewels, to ftarry Night, more beautiful than Day !-if in Saffron-colour, to Aurora; if with Flowers in her Hair, to Flora. If her Head ached, the Heaviness of her Eyes gave them a heavenly Languor; if a Catarrh made her pale,

Non era pallidezza, ma candore!

and I almost think if it had likewife made her Nofe red, he would have found fome claffic Parallel for it.

One Day at Belvedere, on his fhowing me a Copy of Verses, and asking if I could fuggeft any Improvement, I coolly took his Pencil from him and fubftituted the name

E

of Lucrezia for Leonora. He looked hard at me when he faw what I had done.

"You will get into a Scrape, if you don't take Care," said I.

"Do you think fo?" faid he with Surprise, as if the Idea were presented to him for the firft Time.

My dear

am fure of it.

Taffo, I not only think it, but

You are young

You are young and unverfed in Courts. I have lived in them long, and feen much as a Bystander. The Envy and Rancour to be found in them are enormous, and you are drawing them on yourself, even by what is harmless and laudable; beware, then, of increasing your Dangers by what is heedlefs and reckless."

"But I cannot transfer these Verfes to Madama Lucrezia, for they are inapplicable to her."

"Supprefs them, then, and write her some that are applicable."

"But she doesn't inspire me."

"Wait till she does, then; only don't fend thefe."

<< Ah, Ser Pantaleone !--here are fome good Lines!"

"Pish! you can make good Lines when you will.-Don't be foolish. Be guided by your Father's old Friend."

He tore them in Half with the utmost Good-temper, and flung them over the Baluftrade; then cast his Arm round my Neck and walked off with me, talking of his Father.

As we quitted the Terrace, I happened to look round, and faw Claudio Bertazzolo walking along the Path beneath the Terrace, and earnestly endeavouring to piece together two Fragments of Paper, which, the next Instant, he thrust into his Pocket. I ftopped fhort and faid, "Claudio has your Verfes! He'll make Mischief!"

“I'll run after him, and get them of him!" fays Tafso.

and

Stay," cried I; "he could not fee you me on the Terrace above him, and the pencilling was fo cramped, I don't believe he can identify it. Better leave it alone - he has read the Verses, and your reclaiming them

excellent and still lovely Madama had exactly doubled her Age fince the Portrait was taken. It was notorious that she had the sweetest Mouth in Italy; and as a conventional Matter, of course, it would never have done for any one of her Suite to have implied or admitted that there was the least Diminution of her Bloom; nay, there were those who would probably have defended the fenfelefs Question with their Swords; but I, for my Part, had long become a Man of Peace in the minute Affairs of Life, and held my Tongue refpecting many Matters which my Eye could not but note. Hence I betrayed not by the slightest Movement of Lip or Eyebrow my Amusement at the Fervour of Young Taffo's Declaration, but waited till Madama Leonora was fettled on her Couch with her various little Invalid Comforts about her, and till Madama Lucrezia had kissed and greeted her, and feated herself at her Side. I then, at the firft encouraging Look, stepped forward and presented my young Friend, who kneeled and kiffed the Princefs's Hand with the profoundest Respect.

She fweetly expreffed to him the Pleasure she had experienced in perusing his "Rinaldo," and defired to know on what Theme his Genius was now developing itself. With a Flutter of mingled Modesty and gratified Vanity, the young Man replied that he was now engaged on the "Jerufalem Delivered," which was as yet but roughly sketched out. She requested to have an Outline of the Plot; he detailed it, and fhe greatly admired the Conception of the Characters of Clorinda and Erminia, so beautifully oppofed. She defired to know whether their Love-ftories were to have fortunate Terminations; he replied in the negative; fhe pleasantly chid him for this, and faid young Poets found fuch a Luxury in imaginary Woes that they had no Mercy on the Feelings of tender-hearted Readers. He faid that fooner than coft her a Tear, he would recaft his Poem or throw it into the Fire. She fweetly begged him to do neither, but to be guided folely by the Bent of his own inimitable Genius, or Italy and the whole civilized World would fuftain a Lofs.