Part 34 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration]

L'ENVOI

A keyhole glimpse at Rome they show 'Twixt cypresses, a stately row, Where all who pa.s.s are free to see The villa of the Priory.

Here belted knights, with cross on breast, In days of old were wont to rest, And 'neath the ilex hedges tall Oft paced the subtle Cardinal, His robe upon the pavement cool Mantling like some ensanguined pool.

St. Peter's keys, traditions tell, Open the gates of Heaven and h.e.l.l.

O'er many a villa gate they 're shown, With triple crown carved deep in stone.

If, then, you crave a fuller view Than keyhole glimpses give to you, Unlock and enter. You shall know A Heaven of art, a h.e.l.l of woe.

THE END

FOOTNOTES:

[1] His magnificent villa of Caprarola and the still more entrancing villa of Lante are linked with legends of Giulio Farnese and Vittoria Accoramboni in the author's _Romance of Italian Villas_, which with the _Romance of the Renaissance Chateaux_ will be found supplementary to the present volume.

[2] From _The Italian Rhapsody_, by permission of Mr. Robert Underwood Johnson.

[3] Translated by E. Frere Champney.

[4] A song composed by Lorenzo de' Medici. ”How lovely is our youth, and yet how fast it flies! Those who wish for joy must s.n.a.t.c.h it now. Trust not to to-morrow; seize it now, seize it now!”

[5] The earliest cards were not inscribed with hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, but with swords, money, clubs, and cups. The same emblems are still used on the Spanish playing-cards.