View through the Key-hole of the Gate of the Villa of the Knights of MaltaView through the Key-hole of the Gate of the Villa of the Knights of Malta
L'ENVOI
A keyhole glimpse at Rome they show'Twixt cypresses, a stately row,Where all who pass are free to seeThe villa of the Priory.Here belted knights, with cross on breast,In days of old were wont to rest,And 'neath the ilex hedges tallOft paced the subtle Cardinal,His robe upon the pavement coolMantling like some ensanguined pool.St. Peter's keys, traditions tell,Open the gates of Heaven and Hell.O'er many a villa gate they 're shown,With triple crown carved deep in stone.If, then, you crave a fuller viewThan keyhole glimpses give to you,Unlock and enter. You shall knowA Heaven of art, a Hell of woe.
the end
FOOTNOTES:[1]His magnificent villa of Caprarola and the still more entrancing villa of Lante are linked with legends of Giulio Farnese and Vittoria Accoramboni in the author'sRomance of Italian Villas, which with theRomance of the Renaissance Châteauxwill be found supplementary to the present volume.[2]FromThe Italian Rhapsody, by permission of Mr. Robert Underwood Johnson.[3]Translated by E. Frère Champney.[4]A song composed by Lorenzo de' Medici. "How lovely is our youth, and yet how fast it flies! Those who wish for joy must snatch it now. Trust not to to-morrow; seize it now, seize it now!"[5]The earliest cards were not inscribed with hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, but with swords, money, clubs, and cups. The same emblems are still used on the Spanish playing-cards.[6]The French historians call him Richart de Cornouailles, the Italians Ricciardo.[7]Astornello a fioreconsists generally of a couplet beginning with an invocation to a flower, as:Fior di limone!Limone è agro e non si puoi mangiareMa son più agre le pene d'amore.Fior di granato!Se li sospiri mie fossere fuocco,Tutto il mondo sarebbe buciato.See also thestornelliin Browning'sFra Lippo Lippiof two of which Richard's are variants.[8]Palliano or Pagliano, for the name is variously spelled.[9]John Addington Symonds further relates in what strange ways fate fulfilled this prediction. "Disaster fell on each of the five brothers. The first of them, Ottavio, was killed by a cannon-ball at sea in honorable combat with the Turk. Another, Girolamo, who sought refuge in France, was shot down in an ambuscade while pursuing his amours with a gentle lady. A third, Alessandro, died under arms before Paris in the troops of General Farnese. A fourth, Luca, was imprisoned at Rome for his share of the step-mother's murder, but was released on the plea that he had avenged the wounded honour of his race. He died, however, poisoned by his own brother Marcantoni in 1599. Marcantoni was arrested on suspicion and imprisoned in Torre di Nona, where he confessed his guilt. He was shortly afterward beheaded on the little square before the bridge of St. Angelo."[10]Hamilton was aided in his work by Piranesi whose engravings record the state of the ruins at this time.[11]The same figure is depicted in the frescoes of Pompeii, and here the deep blue of an Italian night glittering with stars gives the added touch of colour.
[1]His magnificent villa of Caprarola and the still more entrancing villa of Lante are linked with legends of Giulio Farnese and Vittoria Accoramboni in the author'sRomance of Italian Villas, which with theRomance of the Renaissance Châteauxwill be found supplementary to the present volume.
[1]His magnificent villa of Caprarola and the still more entrancing villa of Lante are linked with legends of Giulio Farnese and Vittoria Accoramboni in the author'sRomance of Italian Villas, which with theRomance of the Renaissance Châteauxwill be found supplementary to the present volume.
[2]FromThe Italian Rhapsody, by permission of Mr. Robert Underwood Johnson.
[2]FromThe Italian Rhapsody, by permission of Mr. Robert Underwood Johnson.
[3]Translated by E. Frère Champney.
[3]Translated by E. Frère Champney.
[4]A song composed by Lorenzo de' Medici. "How lovely is our youth, and yet how fast it flies! Those who wish for joy must snatch it now. Trust not to to-morrow; seize it now, seize it now!"
[4]A song composed by Lorenzo de' Medici. "How lovely is our youth, and yet how fast it flies! Those who wish for joy must snatch it now. Trust not to to-morrow; seize it now, seize it now!"
[5]The earliest cards were not inscribed with hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, but with swords, money, clubs, and cups. The same emblems are still used on the Spanish playing-cards.
[5]The earliest cards were not inscribed with hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, but with swords, money, clubs, and cups. The same emblems are still used on the Spanish playing-cards.
[6]The French historians call him Richart de Cornouailles, the Italians Ricciardo.
[6]The French historians call him Richart de Cornouailles, the Italians Ricciardo.
[7]Astornello a fioreconsists generally of a couplet beginning with an invocation to a flower, as:Fior di limone!Limone è agro e non si puoi mangiareMa son più agre le pene d'amore.Fior di granato!Se li sospiri mie fossere fuocco,Tutto il mondo sarebbe buciato.See also thestornelliin Browning'sFra Lippo Lippiof two of which Richard's are variants.
[7]Astornello a fioreconsists generally of a couplet beginning with an invocation to a flower, as:
Fior di limone!Limone è agro e non si puoi mangiareMa son più agre le pene d'amore.
Fior di granato!Se li sospiri mie fossere fuocco,Tutto il mondo sarebbe buciato.
See also thestornelliin Browning'sFra Lippo Lippiof two of which Richard's are variants.
[8]Palliano or Pagliano, for the name is variously spelled.
[8]Palliano or Pagliano, for the name is variously spelled.
[9]John Addington Symonds further relates in what strange ways fate fulfilled this prediction. "Disaster fell on each of the five brothers. The first of them, Ottavio, was killed by a cannon-ball at sea in honorable combat with the Turk. Another, Girolamo, who sought refuge in France, was shot down in an ambuscade while pursuing his amours with a gentle lady. A third, Alessandro, died under arms before Paris in the troops of General Farnese. A fourth, Luca, was imprisoned at Rome for his share of the step-mother's murder, but was released on the plea that he had avenged the wounded honour of his race. He died, however, poisoned by his own brother Marcantoni in 1599. Marcantoni was arrested on suspicion and imprisoned in Torre di Nona, where he confessed his guilt. He was shortly afterward beheaded on the little square before the bridge of St. Angelo."
[9]John Addington Symonds further relates in what strange ways fate fulfilled this prediction. "Disaster fell on each of the five brothers. The first of them, Ottavio, was killed by a cannon-ball at sea in honorable combat with the Turk. Another, Girolamo, who sought refuge in France, was shot down in an ambuscade while pursuing his amours with a gentle lady. A third, Alessandro, died under arms before Paris in the troops of General Farnese. A fourth, Luca, was imprisoned at Rome for his share of the step-mother's murder, but was released on the plea that he had avenged the wounded honour of his race. He died, however, poisoned by his own brother Marcantoni in 1599. Marcantoni was arrested on suspicion and imprisoned in Torre di Nona, where he confessed his guilt. He was shortly afterward beheaded on the little square before the bridge of St. Angelo."
[10]Hamilton was aided in his work by Piranesi whose engravings record the state of the ruins at this time.
[10]Hamilton was aided in his work by Piranesi whose engravings record the state of the ruins at this time.
[11]The same figure is depicted in the frescoes of Pompeii, and here the deep blue of an Italian night glittering with stars gives the added touch of colour.
[11]The same figure is depicted in the frescoes of Pompeii, and here the deep blue of an Italian night glittering with stars gives the added touch of colour.