g a headdress composed
of a turban with a lappet. The hair is of a rich fair chestnut hue; the
dark eyes are moistened with recent tears; a perfectly farmed nose
surmounts an infantile mouth; unfortunately, the loss of tone in the
picture since it was painted has destroyed the original fair complexion.
The age of the subject may be twenty, or perhaps twenty-two years.

Near this portrait is that of Lucrezia Petrani the small head indicates a
person below the middle height; the attributes are those of a Roman
matron in her pride; her high complexion, graceful contour, straight
nose, black eyebrows, and expression at the same time imperious and
voluptuous indicate this character to the life; a smile still seems to
linger an the charming dimpled cheeks and perfect mouth mentioned by the
chronicler, and her face is exquisitely framed by luxuriant curls falling
from her forehead in graceful profusion.

As for Giacomo and Bernardo, as no portraits of them are in existence, we
are obliged to gather an idea of their appearance from the manuscript
which has enabled us to compile this sanguinary history; they are thus
described by the eye-witness of the closing scene--Giacomo was short,
well-made and strong, with black hair and beard; he appeared to be about
twenty-six years of age.

Poor Bernardo was the image of his sister, so nearly resembling her, that
when he mounted the scaffold his long hair and girlish face led people to
suppose him to be Beatrice herself: he might be fourteen or fifteen years
of age.

The peace of God be with them!

MASSACRES OF THE SOUTH--1551-1815

CHAPTER I

It is possible that our reader, whose recollections may perhaps go back
as far as the Restoration, will be surprised at the size of the frame
required for the picture we are about to bring before him, embracing as
it does two centuries and a half; but as everything, has its precedent,
every river its source, every volcano its central fire, so it is that the
spot of earth on which we are going to fix our eyes has been the scene of
action and reaction, revenge and retaliation, till the religious annals
of the South resemble an account-book kept by double entry, in which
fanaticism enters the profits of death, one side being written with the
blood of Catholics, the other with that of Protestants.

In the great political and religious convulsions of the South, the
earthquake-like throes of which were felt even in the capital, Nim