gourmet practice of coming for Johannisberg and turtle at nine, and leaving at twelve, as soon as the Johannisberg and turtle are disposed of; and their occasional evenings, which cost them little, and yet have such a strange charm for the most difficile, are more delightful in their abandon, intellectual discussion, and refined wit, than all the heavy and magnificent crushes at Freshlacquers's Eaton-square mansion. There is an element of society better than claret, after all, though, certainly, in most places where one goes, the claret is the only good thing. Five years have passed, and the five years have made Florestine a still more radiant Regina than in our touring days at Interlachen, and Trevelyan, dear old fellow, looking across the table at her last night, said, with a happy smile on his lips, which gave the lie to his words, that the worst thing that ever happened to him was WHEN ONE FIRE LIT ANOTHER, and he repaired THE MISCHIEF DONE BY MY PHOTOGRAPH. CONDEMNED TO DEATH. BY NICHOLAS MICHELL. [The incident narrated in the following little poem took place at one of our assize towns in the north of England, at a time when the crime alluded to not unfrequently incurred the punishment of death.] A LAMP faint lit the cell; Feebly upon her iron bed, The sickly quiverings fell: What passed in that poor bleeding heart, Their cold hearts naught could tell. She looked, how pallid there! Not starting, sighing, weeping now, What anguish soul may bear! She seemed transformed to stone, Condemned to death-how near The fatal, terrible to-morrow! "Twould end her agony and sorrow, Yet, oh! how fraught with fear! Condemned to death-dear Heaven! Condemned to death-oh! dread Thus on her doom to think, What hears she?-a slight sound— Then passionate flung her arms on high, Life! life! bless Heaven for this! To meet loved eyes where pity glows, Life! life! O bliss of bliss! 544 THE STORY OF FRANCESCO NOVELLO DA CARRARA. AN EPISODE IN ITALIAN HISTORY. VII. VISCONTI imagined that he had done the best he could for his children when he divided his dominions amongst them and placed them under the tutelage of able men, but, had he foreseen the consequences of such an arrangement, he would have acted very differently. The widowed Duchess Catherine was pronounced regent during the minority of the young princes-the eldest of whom was only thirteenand a council, composed partly of clever men and partly of nobles, was chosen to aid her in the management of affairs. The result of this combined government was far different from what the departed Duke of Milan had anticipated. Jealousies and dissensions sprang up on all sides. The prisons were soon filled, and deeds of blood stained the conscience of almost every one concerned in the council. The extensive possessions which Giovanni Galeazzo had obtained for himself, and the consequent influence of Milan throughout Italy, seemed on the point of crumbling away to nought under the divided interests of his successors. Feeling her weakness at home, the Duchess Catherine was desirous of peace, and to conciliate Carrara, the most inveterate of all the enemies of Milan, she promised to cede Feltre and Belluno to him. At first the lord of Padua demanded Vicenza also, but he was induced to withdraw this claim by Venice, and contented himself with the two above-named cities. It happened, however, that at the very time arranged for the conclusion of the treaty, it was violated by the Milanese themselves. This so enraged Carrara, that he immediately prepared for war, and his troops invaded the Veronese territory. Carrara himself appeared before Santo Martino with his eldest son, where he found Filippo da Pisa and Giacomo hotly engaged with Facino, who was attempting to project pontoons over the river. Many men were slain, for viretons* were falling in showers around them, and Carrara's horse received three wounds. At evening he was obliged to retire to Padua. On the 17th of March, Facino Cane made an attempt to force the lines at Tencaruolo. With his usual courage, Francesco da Carrara fought in the thickest of the combat, not attempting to shield himself from a danger to which his friends were exposed. He called loudly for Facino, but the arbalists, bombards, and the shouts of the soldiers prevented his voice from being heard; so that they never met face to face. The following day Carrara sent a trumpeter to invite Facino to a conference. He complied with the request, and they met on horseback upon the banks of the stream. Facino and his steed were arrayed in saffron-coloured silk, and Carrara A vireton is a short spit-like spear. in polished steel inlaid with gold. Having ordered their attendants to withdraw to a little distance, they took off their helmets, and Carrara expressed his deep regret that they should meet as foes, which done, he intimated his surprise that certain letters he had despatched had received no answer. He was at a loss to conceive the cause, he said, unless, indeed, Facino was offended at the escape of Francesco Terzo. He had always intended to pay the ransom, he added, and, with Facino's permission, would send a messenger on the following day. The reply to this speech was most courteous, as indeed it deserved to be. Facino began by expressing his esteem for the lord of Padua, and the sorrow he had felt at his son's flight, though he assured him that it was not occasioned by the loss of the ransom. Many fine-sounding words were pronounced ere they separated to return to their stations. Next morning, at dawn of day, Carrara sent Guarnesini, with a mule laden with flasks, to the camp of Facino, which some believed were filled with gold ducats. Not long after this, Gulielmo della Scala arrived in Padua to intercede with Carrara to aid him to recover his rightful possessions. He was very ill at the time, having an attack of dysentery and fever upon him; but, in spite of his extreme weakness, he had frequent interviews with Carrara, and, before the end of the month, a treaty between them was drawn up and ratified, by which the lord of Padua agreed to defray the expenses of the war, upon condition that he was allowed to retain Vicenza and the castle of Legnago after placing Gulielmo in possession of Verona. The Duchess of Milan, having heard of this alliance, sent ambassadors to Venice to seek the aid of that republic, and Carrara, to counteract her influence, despatched the Bishop of Padua and Ogniben, a learned doctor, to prevent the signori from listening too favourably to his enemies. But a cold answer was returned to him, and he therefore determined to commence the war without loss of time, that he might strike some decisive blow before it was too late. On the 30th of March, he quitted the city of Padua by the Santa Croce gate. Gulielmo accompanied him in a spring-carriage, as he was not strong enough to ride. Francesco Terzo, Ubertino, and Marsilio were left to guard the town during the absence of their father. army, At Montagnana, Carrara met Filippo da Pisa with the and on Tuesday, the 1st day of April, they commenced their march, in company with the Marquis of Ferrara, to the castle of Cologna in the Veronese territory, where they pitched their camp. The castle was bombarded, but the garrison held out stoutly, and so vigorous was their defence, that although great part of the building was destroyed, and many men killed, Carrara thought it best to raise the siege on the 7th, and to draw nearer to Verona. A dark night was chosen for the attack upon the town, when Carrara, heading a chosen band of cross-bowmen, scaled the wall. The Marquis of Ferrara, Brunoro, and Antonio della Scala were with him, as also his son Giacomo, who gained great military honours for his brave conduct on this occasion. While the main body of the army was engaged in making breaches in two places below, Carrara and his party remained on the wall to keep off Biancardo, who, on the first alarm, hurried thither with his men-at arms. Breaches were soon opened, and the Paduans dashed through them amid loud shouts of "Scala! Scala!" The excessive darkness of the night was greatly in favour of Carrara, and the Veronese were everywhere forced to retreat from one street to another, till at last they threw themselves into the citadel. Gulielmo was supported to the palace on the 19th, and invested with all the symbols of authority, and on the next day Biancardo agreed to evacuate the citadel if he should receive no succours before the 27th. The anxiety and fatigue consequent on this expedition served to augment the disease of the Signor Gulielmo, and it now assumed fatal symptoms. He expired on the 21st of April, two days after having regained his father's possessions. Malicious persons were not slow to ascribe this death to poison. Carrara had interested motives to get rid of the lord of Verona, they whispered, and so familiar was Italy with the poisoner's cup, that many believed in this report. With the usual upright generosity of his nature, Carrara immediately invested the two young Della Scalas with their father's inheritance, and had he murdered Gulielmo, he would not have raised other barriers between himself and the lordship of Verona. The Venetians thought fit to express their displeasure at the hurried step Carrara had taken against the interests of Milan, and despatched Carlo Zeno to mediate between the opponents. The lord of Padua would listen to no terms of reconciliation; he had deep wrongs to avenge, he said, and this was an opportunity which he would not cast aside. He immediately sent orders to his son Terzo to march against Vicenza, and made preparations to repair thither himself. A somewhat evil omen occurred in the palace square of the city of Verona before the troops started. Carrara had given his great banner, with a red cross on a white ground, quartered with the arms of Carrara, into the hands of one of his officers, and as the standard-bearer fixed the staff in the rest on his saddle-bow, it dropped out of his hands. A murmur ran through the spectators assembled: "This is God's judg ment!" Carrara cared little for this omen, which seemed, however, to depress his followers, and continued to prepare for the march. He expressed a wish to the two young princes Della Scala that they should precede him, but they refused to comply. In the mean time, Francesco Terzo advanced upon Vicenza. He was mounted upon a noble steed, completely cased in steel, and wearing a magnificent surcoat over his cuirass. Like his father, he was foremost in the fight, and everywhere seen encouraging his men. Suddenly a vireton struck his visor, wounded him severely in the face, and knocked out two of his teeth. He succeeded in retiring without making his hurt known, but the troops soon missed him, and, learning the cause, they fought with redoubled fury. The morning following this engagement loud cries were heard within the city, a merry pealing of bells, and thundering of artillery. This unusual commotion excited the curiosity of the Paduans, and they were surprised to see the banner of Milan on the point of being lowered. It was replaced by one resembling in colour that of the House of Carrara, and |