For you know I'm so fond of the land of Corinne
That my thoughts are still dwelling its precincts within,
And I read all that authors, or gravely or wittily,
Or wisely or foolishly, write about Italy;
From your shipmate John Evelyn's amusing old tour,
To Forsyth's one volume, and Eustace's four,
In spite of Lord Byron, or Hobhouse, who glances
At the classical Eustace, and says he romances.
—Pray describe me from Venice, (don't think it a bore,)
The literal state of the famed Bucentaur,
And whether the horses, that once were the sun's,
Are of bright yellow brass, or of dark dingy bronze;
For some travellers say one thing, and some say another,
And I can't find out which, they all make such a pother.
Oh! another thing, too, which I'd nearly forgot,
Are the songs of the gondoliers pleasing or not?
These are matters of moment, you'll surely allow,
For Venice must interest all—even now.
These points being settled, I ask for no more hence,
But should wish for a few observations from Florence.
Let me know if the Palaces Strozzi and Pitti
Are finish'd; if not 'tis a shame for the city
To let one for ages—was e'er such a thing?—
Its entablature want, and the other its wing.
Say, too, if the Dove (should you be there at Easter,
And watch her swift flight, when the priests have released her)
Is a turtle, or ring-dove, or but a wood-pigeon,
Which makes people gulls in the name of Religion!
Pray tell if the forests of famed Vallombrosa
Are cut down or not; for this, too, is a Cosa
About which I'm anxious—as also to know
If the Pandects, so famous long ages ago,
Came back (above all, don't forget this to mention)
To that manuscript library called the Laurentian.
Since I wrote the above, I by chance have found out,
That the horses are bright yellow brass beyond doubt;
So I’ll ask you but this, the same subject pursuing,
Do you think they are truly Lysippus's doing?
—When to Naples you get, let me know, if you will,
If the Acqua Toffana's in fashion there still;
For, not to fatigue you with needless verbosity,
'Tis a point upon which I feel much curiosity.
I should like to have also, and not written shabbily,
Your opinion about the Piscina mirabile;
And whether the tomb, which is near Sannazaro's,
Is decided by you to be really Maro's.
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