DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55699#0314
254
THE LANDSCAPE ANNUAL.
might, at no distant period, realize. His wife, on the
contrary, not being tempted by such inordinate ambition,
was contented with the competence which a long-con-
tinued career of honest industry had procured them,
and thought the chance of official dignity but too re-
mote to incur the certain danger of a long and perilous
journey; yielding, however, to tire continued impor-
tunities of her ambitious helpmate, and perhaps, in spite
of her judgment, not wholly free from those little sparks
of female vanity which the title of lady mayoress could
not but gratify, she granted her permission to Messer
Pietro to undertake the journey. One condition, how-
ever, accompanied her consent, and with which she would
on no account dispense—that her spouse should, before
proceeding on his w7ay, make a detour of no inconsider-
able importance to the shrine of the most miraculous of
all ladies, that of Loretto, and implore her protection on
his journey, and assistance in the dealings which were
to ensue. Seeing that he could make no better terms,
Messer Pietro was fain to consent to this arrangement,
more particularly as his wife affirmed that such a pro-
ceeding would render the success of his mission no longer
doubtful.
It was with some degree of pride, though not unmixed
with grief, that the wife of honest Pietro surveyed her
spouse on the morning of his departure for distant lands.
The handsome and ample cloak, made of the best cloth of
the looms of Padua, defended his portly person against
the elements, from w’hose unceremonious assaults the com-
fortable burgher knew himself to be as little exempted
as the goatherd on the Apennine mountains; a hat of
THE LANDSCAPE ANNUAL.
might, at no distant period, realize. His wife, on the
contrary, not being tempted by such inordinate ambition,
was contented with the competence which a long-con-
tinued career of honest industry had procured them,
and thought the chance of official dignity but too re-
mote to incur the certain danger of a long and perilous
journey; yielding, however, to tire continued impor-
tunities of her ambitious helpmate, and perhaps, in spite
of her judgment, not wholly free from those little sparks
of female vanity which the title of lady mayoress could
not but gratify, she granted her permission to Messer
Pietro to undertake the journey. One condition, how-
ever, accompanied her consent, and with which she would
on no account dispense—that her spouse should, before
proceeding on his w7ay, make a detour of no inconsider-
able importance to the shrine of the most miraculous of
all ladies, that of Loretto, and implore her protection on
his journey, and assistance in the dealings which were
to ensue. Seeing that he could make no better terms,
Messer Pietro was fain to consent to this arrangement,
more particularly as his wife affirmed that such a pro-
ceeding would render the success of his mission no longer
doubtful.
It was with some degree of pride, though not unmixed
with grief, that the wife of honest Pietro surveyed her
spouse on the morning of his departure for distant lands.
The handsome and ample cloak, made of the best cloth of
the looms of Padua, defended his portly person against
the elements, from w’hose unceremonious assaults the com-
fortable burgher knew himself to be as little exempted
as the goatherd on the Apennine mountains; a hat of