It is true you had better be the servants of the polished and chivalrous French, than of the brutal and barbarous Germans, but it is not pleasant to be a servant to anybody.

However, I do not believe that you will ever get rid of the Austrians, even if the French assist you.

The Pope for certain reasons of his own favours the Austrians, and will exert all the powers of priestcraft to keep them in Italy.

Alas, alas, there is no hope for Italy! Italy, the most beautiful country in the world, the birth-place of the cleverest people, whose very pedlars can learn to speak Welsh, is not only enslaved, but destined always to remain enslaved." "Do not say so, signore," said the Italian, with a kind of groan.
"But I do say so," said I, "and what is more, one whose shoe-strings, were he alive, I should not he worthy to untie, one of your mighty ones, has said so.

Did you ever hear of Vincenzio Filicaia ?" "I believe I have, signore; did he not write a sonnet on Italy ?" "He did," said I; "would you like to hear it?
"Very much, signore." I repeated Filicaia's glorious sonnet on Italy, and then asked him if he understood it.
"Only in part, signore; for it is composed in old Tuscan, in which I am not much versed.