DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0211
Ch.1V. THROUGH ITALY. 183
and Pisa, this city shall become a superb solitude,
whose lonely grandeur will remind the traveller,
that Venice was once great, and independent.
The state of society in Venice seems to be
upon a more enlarged scale than formerly; the
casinos indeed continue still to be the places of
resort, of card-parties and of suppers; but various
houses are open to strangers; and balls and con-
certs, and club dinners are given frequently; to
all which, introduction is not difficult. The
carnival was distinguished by plays in the day,
and by masked balls at night; the illumination of
the theatre on such nights is very beautiful. One
species of theatrical amusement at this season
is singular. It is a regular farce, carried on at
all hours; so that the idle part of the community
may, if they please, pass all the twenty-four hours
in the play-house, fall asleep, and awake, go out
and come in, and still find the play going on with
its usual spirit. In such pieces, the actors seem
to be obliged to have recourse to their own inge-
nuity for the dialogue, which, however, seldom
flags for want of materials; such is their natural
talent for repartee and buffoonery.
A person accustomed to the rides, the walks,
the activity of ordinary towns, soon grows tired
of the confinement of Venice, and of the dull,
and Pisa, this city shall become a superb solitude,
whose lonely grandeur will remind the traveller,
that Venice was once great, and independent.
The state of society in Venice seems to be
upon a more enlarged scale than formerly; the
casinos indeed continue still to be the places of
resort, of card-parties and of suppers; but various
houses are open to strangers; and balls and con-
certs, and club dinners are given frequently; to
all which, introduction is not difficult. The
carnival was distinguished by plays in the day,
and by masked balls at night; the illumination of
the theatre on such nights is very beautiful. One
species of theatrical amusement at this season
is singular. It is a regular farce, carried on at
all hours; so that the idle part of the community
may, if they please, pass all the twenty-four hours
in the play-house, fall asleep, and awake, go out
and come in, and still find the play going on with
its usual spirit. In such pieces, the actors seem
to be obliged to have recourse to their own inge-
nuity for the dialogue, which, however, seldom
flags for want of materials; such is their natural
talent for repartee and buffoonery.
A person accustomed to the rides, the walks,
the activity of ordinary towns, soon grows tired
of the confinement of Venice, and of the dull,