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"Tell him, alfo, I wish I could impart a little of my Profe to his Son."

He laughed and ran off, finging as gaily as a Bird; and I went my Ways mufing in my Mind whether Poetry or Profe have the best of it in the long Run.

For, look you, Profe pays his Bills, and keeps his Credit, and keeps his Friends, and lulls his Enemies, and digests his Meals, and enjoys his Rest, and lives in Quiet. But Poetry cares for none of these Things, if so be he may pursue his own wild Fancies, that ferve him for Meat and Drink and Fuel and Bedding; and as for his Foes, he bites his Thumb at them all!

CHAPTER IV.

Of Laura Ariente, and of the Fifty Conclufions, or Points of Love.

HERE was a very lovely Girl, named Laura Ariente, at this Time in Attendance on Madama Leonora, whom every one liked and admired, and who being well nurtured, modeft, goodnatured and cheerful, I heartily wifhed might become the Object of Torquato's Devotion in place of her exalted Mistress. There had been a good many Paftorals acted this Year at Court; as "Lo Sacrifizio" and "Arethufa"; poor Things at the best, yet which, with fplendid Decorations and Mufic, had paffed muster; and Laura had taken inferior Parts in these, and appeared in them to great Advantage. When I praised her, perhaps somewhat too broadly, to Taffo, he burst out laughing, and faid, "Are

you, then, caught in the Toils at laft? If I had waited fo long, I would have at least selected fome one better worth waiting for than that chubby-cheeked Damfel."

I faid, "Her Eyes are a good deal like Madama Leonora's."

He faid, "You might as well fay an Owl is a good deal like a Porcupine;" and walked

off.

marry

However, I foon found that Count Annibale Turchi was in love with the Girl, and meant to her; fo it was as well I had not further entangled the Web of Torquato's Affairs by getting him into Odium in that Quarter. Just after we had parted, as mentioned in the foregoing Chapter, I fuddenly came upon Claudio Bertazzolo, with his Arm linked in that of Pigna, the Duke's Secretary, with whom he was in earnest Confabulation. Claudio's Eyes looked uncommonly round as they met mine, but I took no Notice, though I could not help fancying that my imprudent Friend's Sonnet was the Subject in Hand. This worried me; and instead of going Home, I proceeded to

his Lodgings, where I found him, not in his Sitting-room, but heard him making a prodigious Bustle and Stir in his Sleeping-chamber, where he seemed to be alternately ftamping on a new Pair of Riding-boots, cording a heavy Box, and practifing a Coranto with the Box for his Partner. On the Table lay a confufed Medley of his Papers, open to the inspection of any impertinent or mischievous Chance-comer: and, as I knew that Claudio Bertazzolo or any others of that Clique would have glanced at them without Scruple, I just made free, as his Father's old Friend, to do the very fame Thing, in order, look you, to fee how far the Boy's Imprudence would carry him. First I came to a Knot of stale Violets; then to a Bit of watchet-coloured Ribbon I recognised at once for Madama Leonora's; then to a Lock of Hair, which I was forry to fee was hers too, or fo like that I could have fworn to it-how he came by it, he best knew, fince it was hardly to be thought she would give it him. After this, I inspected fome half dozen Madrigals and Canzone, which were

chiefly remarkable for this, that the Name of Leonora was scratched through wherever it occurred, and Laura fubftituted, with the Addition of bella, cara, or fome other epithet to make it scan. This tickled my Fancy, the Artifice seemed fo fhallow; I thought I would touch up his Verses a Bit, fo took up a Pencil, and substituted for every Word that could be construed dangerous, another of the fame Sound but of fafer Import; as for Example, instead of "Ardire, fofpiro, delirando, fuoco, amiamo,” “Udire, respiro, ambulando, gioco, pranziamo."

I was juft contemplating my Performance with a filent Grin, when Tasso, hastily entering, cries,

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Cofpetto! what are you about with my Papers?" then, fweeping them hastily up without obferving what I had done, he thrust them into the Bureau, and withdrawing one of them, showed it to me with great Glee, faying,

"See what a capital Device I have hit upon for escaping Danger, if my Papers should be seized in my Abfence! I am off immediately

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