DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.69035#0207
THE CURAT*E ARLOTTO.
GIOVANNI DI SAN GIOVANNI*
The Curate Arlotto is a humorous character, only
familiar to the Italians. His jests have been collected
under the title of “ Facezie del piovano Arlotto.” To this
book, but little known in this country, and almost for-
gotten in Italy, we have had recourse for the explanation
of the subject of the picture before us.
Some country squires^ after a hunting party, having
taken up their residence with the ingenious Arlotto, put
his cellar and his table for several days under contribution,
without making him the offer of a single head of game.
Compelled to return to Florence, they promised the
curate they would soon pay him a second visit, and left
their hounds under his care, to the number,of sixteen.
Arlotto conceived the idea of avenging himself for their
want of liberality: he presented food to the pack left
under his management, but at the instant the dogs were
seizing it he ordered his people severely to flog them.
This stratagem, frequently repeated, caused the poor
animals to decrease in flesh ; for, on nourishment being
offered to them, they immediately ran away. When the
sportsmen returned to Arlotto’s house, they complained
of the extreme leanness of their hounds; when the cun-
ning curate assured them the dogs would never take their
food. The hunters threw a loaf to the famished pack,
and were greatly surprised to see the dogs precipitately
131
GIOVANNI DI SAN GIOVANNI*
The Curate Arlotto is a humorous character, only
familiar to the Italians. His jests have been collected
under the title of “ Facezie del piovano Arlotto.” To this
book, but little known in this country, and almost for-
gotten in Italy, we have had recourse for the explanation
of the subject of the picture before us.
Some country squires^ after a hunting party, having
taken up their residence with the ingenious Arlotto, put
his cellar and his table for several days under contribution,
without making him the offer of a single head of game.
Compelled to return to Florence, they promised the
curate they would soon pay him a second visit, and left
their hounds under his care, to the number,of sixteen.
Arlotto conceived the idea of avenging himself for their
want of liberality: he presented food to the pack left
under his management, but at the instant the dogs were
seizing it he ordered his people severely to flog them.
This stratagem, frequently repeated, caused the poor
animals to decrease in flesh ; for, on nourishment being
offered to them, they immediately ran away. When the
sportsmen returned to Arlotto’s house, they complained
of the extreme leanness of their hounds; when the cun-
ning curate assured them the dogs would never take their
food. The hunters threw a loaf to the famished pack,
and were greatly surprised to see the dogs precipitately
131