the
spirit of their forefathers may be extinct, their memory is not.

The next subject, which formed a sort of _pendant_ to the Cenci, was
the "_Parricide of Tullia_." In this again his success was complete.
The stanza in which Tullia ordered her charioteer to "drive on," was
given with such effect as to electrify us: and a sudden burst of
approbation which caused a momentary interruption, evidently lent the
poet fresh spirits and animation.

The evening concluded with a lively burlesque, entitled "_Il Mercato
d'Amore_" which represented Love as setting up a shop to sell "_la
Mercanzia della Gioventu_." The list of his stock in trade, though it
could not boast of much originality, was given with admirable wit and
vivacity. In conclusion, Love being threatened with a bankruptcy, took
shelter, as the poet assured us, in the bright eyes of the ladies
present. This farewell compliment was prettily turned, and intended,
of course, to be general: but it happened, luckily for Sestini, that
just opposite to him, and fixed upon him at the moment, were two of
the brightest eyes in the world. Whether he owed any of his
inspiration to their beams I know not; but the _a-propos_ of the
compliment was seized immediately, and loudly applauded by the
gentlemen round us.

Sestini is a young man, apparently about five-and-twenty: of a slight
and delicate figure, and in his whole appearance, odd, wild, and
picturesque. He has the common foreign trick of running his fingers
through his black bushy hair; and accordingly it stands on end in all
directions. A pair of immense whiskers, equally black and luxuriant,
meet at the point of his chin, encircling a visage of most cadaverous
hue, and features which might be termed positively ugly, were it not
for the "_vago spirito ardento_" which shines out from his dark eyes,
and the fire and intelligence which light up his whole countenance,
till it almost kindles into beauty. Though he afterwards conversed
with apparent ease, and replied to the compliments of the company, he
was evidently much exhausted by his exertions. I should fear that
their frequent repetition, and the effervescence of mind, and nervous
excitement they cannot but occasion, must gradually wear out his
delicate frame and feeble temperament, and that the career of this
extraordinary genius will be short as it is brilliant.[U]

_April 8._--As Maupertuis said after his journey to Lapland--for the
universe I would not have misse