deservedly) precedence [10], declaring that we will have nothing to do with them in any scheme of a vernacular language. We say, then, that the vulgar tongue of the Romans, or rather their hideous jargon, is the ugliest of all the Italian dialects; nor is this surprising, since in the depravity of their manners and customs also they appear to stink worse than all the rest. For they say ‘Mezzure, quinto dici?’ [1] After them, let us got rid of the inhabitants of the March of Ancona, who say, ‘Chignamente scate sciate?’ [2] [20] with whom we reject the Spoletans also. Nor must we forget that a great many canzoni have been written in contempt of these three peoples, among which we have have noticed one correctly and perfectly constructed, which a certain Florentine named Castra had composed. It began: –
‘Una fermana scopai da Casciòli
Cita cita sen gia'n grande nina.’[3]
[30] And after these let us weed out the people of Milan and Bergamo with the neighbours, in reproach of whom we recollect that some one has sung : —
‘Enti l'ora del vesper,
Ciò fu del mes d'ochiover.’[4]
After them let us sift out the Aquileians and
