Though penned the day whereof it tells the deed:
Part—extant just as plainly, you know where,
Whence came the other stuff, went, you know how,
To make the ring that’s all but round and done.
“Late they arrived, too late, egregious Sir,
“Those same justificative points you urge (240)
“Might benefit His Blessed Memory
“Count Guido Franceschini now with God:
“Since the Court,—to state things succinctly,—styled
“The Congregation of the Governor,
“Having resolved on Tuesday last our cause
“I’ the guilty sense, with death for punishment,
“Spite of all pleas by me deducible
“In favour of said Blessed Memory,—
“I, with expenditure of pains enough,
“Obtained a respite, leave to claim and prove (250)
“Exemption from the law’s award,—alleged
“The power and privilege o’ the Clericate:
“To which effect a courier was despatched.
“But ere an answer from Arezzo came,
“The Holiness of our Lord the Pope (prepare!)
“Judging it inexpedient to postpone
“The execution of such sentence passed,
“Saw fit, by his particular chirograph,
“To derogate, dispense with privilege,
“And wink at any hurt accruing thence (260)
“To Mother Church through damage of her son;
“Also, to overpass and set aside
“That other plea on score of tender age,
“Put forth by me to do Pasquini good,
“One of the four in trouble with our friend.
“So that all five, to-day, have suffered death
“With no distinction save in dying,—he,
“Decollated by way of privilege,
“The rest hanged decently and in order. Thus
“Came the Count to his end of gallant man, (270)
“Defunct in faith and exemplarity:
“Nor shall the shield of his great House lose shine,
“Nor its blue banner blush to red thereby.
“This, too, should yield sustainment to our hearts—
“He had commiseration and respect
“In his decease from universal Rome,
“Quantum est hominum venustiorum,
“The nice and cultivated everywhere:
“Though, in respect of me his advocate,
“Needs must I groan o’er my debility, (280)
“Attribute the untoward event o’ the strife
“To nothing but my own crass ignorance
“Which failed to set the valid reasons forth,
“Find fit excuse: such is the fate of war!
“May God compensate us the direful blow
“By future blessings on his family
“Whereof I lowly beg the next commands;
“—Whereto, as humbly, I confirm myself …”
On the next leaf— (290)
“There, old fox, show the clients t’other side
“And keep this corner sacred, I beseech!
“You and your pleas and proofs were what folks call
“Pisan assistance, aid that comes too late,
“Saves a man dead as nail in post of door.
“Had I but time and space for narrative!
“What was the good of twenty Clericates
“When somebody’s thick headpiece once was bent
“On seeing Guido’s drop into the bag? (300)
“How these old men like giving youth a push!
“So much the better: next push goes to him,
“And a new Pope begins the century.
“Much good I get by my superb defence!
“But argument is solid and subsists,
“While obstinacy and ineptitude
“Accompany the owner to his tomb;
“What do I care how soon? Beside, folks see!
“Rome will have relished heartily the show,
“Yet understood the motives, never fear, (310)
“Which caused the indecent change o’ the People’s Place
“To the People’s Playground,—stigmatise the spite
“Which in a trice precipitated things!
“As oft the moribund will give a kick
“To show they are not absolutely dead,
“So feebleness i’ the socket shoots its last,
“A spirt of violence for energy!
“O fox, whose home is ’mid the tender grape,
“Whose couch in Tuscany by Themis’ throne, (320)
“Subject to no such … but I shut my mouth
“Or only open it again to say,
“This pother and confusion fairly laid,
“My hands are empty and my satchel lank.
“Now then for both the Matrimonial Cause
“And the case of Gomez! Serve them hot and hot!
“The impatient estafette cracks whip outside:
“Still, though the earth should swallow him who swears
“And me who make the mischief, in must slip (330)
“—My boy, your godson, fat-chaps Hyacinth,
“Enjoyed the sight while Papa plodded here.
“I promised him, the rogue, a month ago,
“The day his birthday was, of all the days,
“That if I failed to save Count Guido’s head,
“Cinuccio should at least go see it chopped
“From trunk—‘So, latinize your thanks!’ quoth I:
“‘That I prefer, hoc malim,’ raps me out
“The rogue: you notice the subjunctive? Ah!
“Accordingly he sat there, bold in box, (340)
“Proud as the Pope behind the peacock-fans:
“Whereon a certain lady-patroness
“For whom I manage things (my boy in front,
“Her Marquis sat the third in evidence;
“Boys have no eyes nor ears save for the show)
“‘This time, Cintino,’ was her sportive word,
“When whiz and thump went axe and mowed lay man
“And folks could fall to the suspended chat,
“‘This time, you see, Bottini rules the roast,
“‘Nor can Papa with all
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