DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53553#0026
8
LETTER II.
Naples, April —, 18(fe.
DO not envy my lot, dear T. when I tell you, that
an hour ago I visited the antique mausoleum of the divine
Maro. I had purposely denied myself this exquisite plea-
sure until the season should be more advanced, and the
weather more improved. When we wait on a great man,
we are desirous to appear in our best attire; ought not then
nature to be clad in her most brilliant garb, for my approach
to the tomb of her poet? A heavenly morning had cheered
my spirits into the most pleasing harmony, when I resolved,
without waiting for breakfast, to enter on this classic pil-
grimage.—“ Your excellency is early this morning,” ex-
claimed Signor Don Giuseppe on entering the room; and
when I acquainted him with the cause, he added, in per-
fect astonishment, “ You will feel the want of your break-
fast, Sir, by the time you get there; and what is more, you
will never find the place unless I go with you.”—Giving
him to understand that this was my business, I left him
muttering some observations on the singular whims del
Signori Inglesi, and hastened down the Infrescata and the
street of Toledo, towards the sea-beach. In my way, I
called at my physician’s, whom I found very busy in the
preparation of his breakfast. “ You are just in time to take
a dish of coffee, such as you will probably not meet with
any where else in this city.” Notwithstanding the inter-
dict which this guardian of my constitution had, on his first
visit, pronounced against that favourite beverage of mine,
such was the aromatic odour attending the process, and the
craving of my stomach, that I felt little hesitation in trans-
gressing the law, on the temptation of the legislator. This
observation, however, I kept to myself till I had made an
excellent
LETTER II.
Naples, April —, 18(fe.
DO not envy my lot, dear T. when I tell you, that
an hour ago I visited the antique mausoleum of the divine
Maro. I had purposely denied myself this exquisite plea-
sure until the season should be more advanced, and the
weather more improved. When we wait on a great man,
we are desirous to appear in our best attire; ought not then
nature to be clad in her most brilliant garb, for my approach
to the tomb of her poet? A heavenly morning had cheered
my spirits into the most pleasing harmony, when I resolved,
without waiting for breakfast, to enter on this classic pil-
grimage.—“ Your excellency is early this morning,” ex-
claimed Signor Don Giuseppe on entering the room; and
when I acquainted him with the cause, he added, in per-
fect astonishment, “ You will feel the want of your break-
fast, Sir, by the time you get there; and what is more, you
will never find the place unless I go with you.”—Giving
him to understand that this was my business, I left him
muttering some observations on the singular whims del
Signori Inglesi, and hastened down the Infrescata and the
street of Toledo, towards the sea-beach. In my way, I
called at my physician’s, whom I found very busy in the
preparation of his breakfast. “ You are just in time to take
a dish of coffee, such as you will probably not meet with
any where else in this city.” Notwithstanding the inter-
dict which this guardian of my constitution had, on his first
visit, pronounced against that favourite beverage of mine,
such was the aromatic odour attending the process, and the
craving of my stomach, that I felt little hesitation in trans-
gressing the law, on the temptation of the legislator. This
observation, however, I kept to myself till I had made an
excellent