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Untitled Article
ger lying' in Lissa harbour—to this end , about two o ' clock in the morning , we wei'e standing in towards that projection of rocks , which runs out west from the bay of Pola , in the yawl , which was manned by ten stout , dare devils for rowers , and three * jollies ' sitting in the stern sheets , where were also I and Charles Nourse , holding converse with Pietro Camiso . * La Casa del Diavolo ? ' said I . ' May per che ¥
Scior sci , ' said Pietro , and proceeded to relate , with due emphasis and * Ob ' s and Hah ' s ! ' and sundry head shakings and hand upliftings , the manner in which a trio of pious Fradelli laid their heads together to build a church to the glory of the holy —( I have forgotten the saint ' s name , but it is the same brazen fellow who stands a tip-toe on the top of the Torazzo at Rovigno , a few miles from Pola)—and in the midst of their debate , a gentleman in a dark blue cloak , with a red feather
in a broad-leafed capello , which capello seemed to rest on certain invisible protuberances on his forehead , suddenly presented himself in the earnestness and very marrow of their counsel , and , with much politeness in his manner , sat down , arranging his feet under the table , and then smiled his wish to aid in their consultation , to which the priests thankfully assented ; but as he pleaded thirst from a long and warm walk , a cup of wine was proposed to cool and lubricate his
throat , in which the brotherhood , in sheer good fellowship , participated : health , prosperity , long life , and success in all designs , were mutually pledged , and the gentleman in the red-feathered capello , ( which at first gave somewhat of offence , as he never lifted it from his head , ) informed them , most graciously , that his assistance in the building was at their command— ' any thing he could do to serve them , ' the only return for which he stipulated being their prayers , and a
repetition of their lately uttered good wishes ; to this instant and full acquiescence was given , and they sat to it till the three cowled heads nuzzled the table , and the gentleman evaporated , leaving them asleep . And lo ! as all three at once opened their eyes in the morning , they saw the sides of the little cell stepping out , all round , and lengthening upwards , into a noble and gorgeous building , full of altar places , and confessionals , and gilded colonnades , and fine pictures and beautiful
images . ' And there it is , ' said Pietro , * as much as remains of it , ' pointing to the amphitheatre , * which was now distinctly risible under the eye of the moon ; ' but oh ! would you think it , Scior , the very first time that mass was sung in it , just as Frere Matteo was lifting the sacred cup to his lips , a clap of thunder shook the building , and the roof tumbled in , crash ! crash ! and down it fell ! and buried every
body beneath the ruins ! except Frere Matteo , who was seen to fly away through the top , with a score of dragons at his heels , lashing him with their forky tails . ' * Oh , then , it was the devil that built the Casa ? ' * Scior ^ sci—but how could the Fradelli be blamed ? they did not know who had got into their company—and the gentleman was so civil too ! ' ' And a skilful workman , ' said Nourse ; * I wish he would
come to Lissa , and build us a few seventy-fours , for we shall require them up here if they send out a few such ships as the Rivoli , which is fitting out at Venice . ' 4 Troppo—troppo I Gvarda 1 La Luna t * exclaimed Pietro , in evident alarm , as the oars were now cutting deep * The amphitheatre at Pola is better known in Iitria ai La Cm * del Diayolo *
Untitled Article
A utbb iography of 'PeL Verjuice . 625
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1833, page 625, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2622/page/41/
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