XXIII. MY DEAR GARRET,—It is true we have been a long time silent, and I fear very blameably so; but the truth is, that, whether importantly or no, we have been as much engaged as possible. The Session has been long and busy; and we have been obliged to appear for some time inattentive to our friends, though I think it impossible we should forget them. We begin now to breathe a little, and our consultation must be how we are to dispose of ourselves in the summer. My idea is to go to Italy. It would be pleasing to me, and not without some use; but I am not sure, that something may not happen to disconcert my scheme. Your talking of taking a trip to Parkgate, gives us pleasure; because, perhaps, you may be tempted to come further. London is but two days in the machine from Chester; and I need not say how happy we should all be to see you. If you come at all, I could wish it were soon; that we may not be dispersed before your arrival. James Hennessy's letter I got some time ago; but I do not recollect, and I think I could hardly forget, his mentioning my Uncle Atty's accident. I doubt the letter which spoke of that accident might have miscarried. I know not of what nature it was, but most sincerely rejoice at his being in a way of recovery, as I am at your father's continuing in a good way; I hope he believes there are few things in the world which could give me a more sincere pleasure than good news of him. As to the improvements at Clohir, I must leave them altogether to your discretion. You know pretty nearly what I would wish to have done, and I am sure you know the time and manner of doing it much better than I do. Though my hurry here prevented me from giving any thing like directions about the principal parts, I take it for granted, that so much as regarded Roche's little garden, from the road downward, &c. was done of course, and that he had his usual little relief at Christmas. The planting art you will settle with Mr. Crotty. The glins and rocks, I think might be sown to advantage with ash keys and the like. But of that you will judge. I send you inclosed a sensible book on some of the topics which have been bandied about here for this year past. I think you will like it. Poor unfortunate James came to us, as you guessed he would. I am sorry he behaved as he did on leaving the country. He was in a miserable condition; but severity would not have mended it, or improved the weak understanding that brought him into it. He told us he intended to go to Quebec. Dick gave him some little assistance, and got him sea clothing and necessaries. After this we saw nothing of him for some time, and concluded him on his voyage. But he called here lately; his reception was not quite so good as it had been; and we have not seen him these ten days; but I believe he is still in town. Somebody persuaded him to ask me to get him a place in the Customs. I had two letters from Atty Nagle containing a request of the same kind; a desire that he might be made surveyor of the coast of Cork. I have not yet answered him; but I neither will nor can do it. You will be so good as to settle some gossip accounts for me. I think Mrs. Burke stood for Betty's daughter, I for Nelly Hennessy's, and Dick for Mrs. Garret Nagle's of Rinny. I think the nurse's fee on these occasions is three guineas; and you will be so good as to give three guineas to each of the ladies, with our most affectionate compliments and thanks for choosing us. Adieu, my dear Garret, and believe me most truly yours, EDM. BURKE. XXIV. MY DEAR SIR,-I am not a little ashamed to find myself so long in your debt, especially as your health seemed in so uncertain a situation at the time when you wrote. Believe me I was not indifferent to you, though a most excessive hurry of various sorts of business scarce left me a moment's leisure to tell you so. In reality, I am now far from idle. Be so good to let me hear from you soon, and gratify me with an account of your amendment. There are few things could give me a more sincere uneasiness than any suffering of yours. You mention some particulars relative to my accounts: you know I am not very knowing in the particulars of them, and may easily be guilty of mistakes. I leave all to your discretion and friendship. I could wish that the little commissions, I spoke of in my last letter, should be performed; and as you have probably nothing of mine in your hands, you may draw on me for the charge, as well as for what other matters you may think fit to do for the poor of your village and parish at this rigorous season. To be sure, the trees ought to be replaced; and too many of them cannot be planted; as allowance must be made for those that naturally will be stolen and destroyed in a country so ill supplied with wood as yours. Garret's horses If I remember right, you said something about poor I don't now remember what. Do as you think best; always remembering, what he said at his death, that those of them he was fond of should be put into such hands as would use them tenderly. His steward at Clohir, I think, was a sort of favourite of Garret's; if so, he will in all things be treated accordingly. If the poor on that farm be in distress, you will relieve them a little, and you may depend on it, your bills for the whole will be punctually answered; else it would not be reasonable to desire that you should be in advance for me. Dick has been for some time past at Paris. It is true he has not wrote; but no man living loves and values you more; not even myself. He will make up for his neglects. By your saying nothing of Ned, though I have been very particular about him two or three times, I conclude you have changed your mind in relation to our former plan for him. In whatever way you think best to put him, you shall always find me equally ready to assist him; for I loved his father, and I think very well of the boy's own dispositions. Jenny and little Dick desire me to wish you all many happy years. Pray remember us affectionately to our dear friends at Ballywalter, to all the Garrets, to my friend and agent, to Ballylegan, and to all those with whom I hope you passed a Christmas in the old manner; cheerful and happy. May you have many of them! I am myself well, other than a cold I got on Monday se'nnight at my election at Wendover. The event of that election I am sure will give you pleasure; and at your next meeting you will drink Lord Verney and my old friend (and indeed yours) Will Burke. It was on Lord Verney's interest I was chosen at that borough. I am with unalterable affection, my dear Uncle, your affectionate, EDM. BURKE. TO A SHAPE SEEN IN SLEEP. WHITHER hast thou wandered, Long time have I pondered Or a Spirit beaming Was it burning pleasure, Such as lost hearts treasure Oh! to me the tender Tell me, tell me why! -Let who loves the peril Dream of endless change: Is that eye so strange, Which, round love's devotion Keeps its stedfast motion, And will never range? A. Z. GONNELLA, THE COURT FOOL OF FERRARA. THE life of a Fool cannot but be interesting to the larger portion of the community. Let us not be misunderstood, and thus give offence to any of our too susceptible readers. The glory or the shame of such a title exists in the word's being written with a small for a large F. We request the printer will be particular on this point, or he will commit a capital blunder. Think of Shakspeare's Fools! It is one thing to wear motley, and another to "wear it in our brains." We by no means intend to enter minutely into Gonnella's biography. Those who are curious on this subject, either from fellow feeling, or whatever other motive, are referred to Bartolomeo del' Uomo, who in his wisdom has thought fit to publish a considerable volume in very inconsiderable prose, upon this facetious and imaginative jester. Ah! that Gonnella had lived in the days of Boccaccio! Then would he have been immortal as Bruno and Buffalmacco! He was born between the years 1390 and 1400, the son of a glover " in Florence. His father took pains in his education, and the boy proved himself an apt scholar; though nothing delighted him so much as a jest or a repartee. This humour endeared him to all the pleasant fellows of the city; and if his practical jokes sometimes gave disturbance to the severe and the maudlin, was he to blame? At about the age of twenty, he roved, away from his father's every-day shop, to Bologna; but soon after he made his appearance there, hearkening to the fame of Niccolo the Third, Marquis of Ferrara, off he went to his court. He instantly ingratiated himself, and was solemnly installed "the Fool." Here he revelled in delight. No one could be greatly displeased at his jests, however they were aimed, for he was a kind-hearted fellow, and besides, he wore motley. The Marquis, in particular, bestowed on him every sort of favour; in public always, and sometimes, we have heard, he took the Fool's advice in his cabinet. After awhile, he craved permission-it was during the winter season, -to visit Florence for a wife elect; when punning upon his name, he protested, as a humane apology, that one petticoat was not enough for such cold weather. The girl's name was Checca Lapi, a comely sort of person, saith my authority. When he returned with her to Ferrara, some merry inquiries were made at court respecting the Fool's wife, when he replied she had one excellence, and one fault, and both comprised in one,-namely, she was a woman. "Sirrah! how now?" quoth the Marchioness, looking more tartly than ordinary,-for, by the by, she always had a tart look." Alack!" answered the Fool, "I trust you will pardon your poor buffoon, for he would not impute the like to your highness, no,-not in either way,-unless by a thousand fold." This was uttered in so meek and humble a tone, and accompanied with so profound a reverence, that the Marchioness, who was uncommonly dull in matters of raillery, received it as a thousand-fold compliment. Some in the company laughed,-they were impertinent fellows. Indeed so overflowing was her good humour, that she graciously expressed her command for Checca to be introduced. "What a misfortune!" exclaimed Gonnella, “what a dilemma am I in! Poor Checca! Why she is deaf as a corrupt judge to one side of the question. Then she has an ugly trick of bawling, as if she felt a comfort in supposing every body as hard of hearing as herself. Besides, if she is introduced, my sublime mistress will be compelled to bawl in return, and that's quite shocking!" His sublime mistress, however, insisted on being obeyed, and without delay. Off tripped our motley wag, informed his wife of the honour about to be conferred on her, and gravely schooled her into a belief that the Marchioness was so deaf it was necessary she should bawl prodigiously. The Marquis and his friends were let into the secret. Few things can be imagined more ludicrous than the scene that followed between these two ladies of high and low degree, each believing the other deaf, and screaming out their utmost high-strained compliments, while the rest of the company stood round them in a ring, enjoying, seriously as they could, a joke that told itself so loudly. It was too good a thing to die in the Court of Ferrara, and has therefore been frequently imitated. The Marchioness, when the jest was blown, unable to contend against the roar of laughter, took the politic course of pretending to join in it, and turning round to Gonnella, actually thanked him for so merry an invention, while at the same time she resolved on revenge for the insult to her dignity. Nothing but main force could avail her against a wit,—and in this she also has frequently been imitated. Accordingly she sent for him one morning into her chamber; and no sooner did he come than the door was locked, and the Fool found himself surrounded by a crowd of women, with her highness as their general, all armed with switches of the most cutting description. "Now, thou varlet," said the Marchioness, "thou shalt be chastised. I will teach thee never again to pass a jest on any woman above the condition of thy paltry wife." The Fool penitently declared himself deserving of their most feminine and tender anger, merely entreating they would grant him one small request, then they might cut him to pieces. His petition was unadvisedly acceded to; upon which, kneeling down amidst the enraged amazons, he thus continued. "Most honourable lady, and ye undoubted maids of honour, I request no more than that she, and she alone, will be the first to lay a switch across my back, who hath, at any time or in any way, in stealth, or in darkness, or otherwise, forfeited her aforesaid honour, and all that ye all wot of." Upon this the honourable lady herself, of course, could not strike first; but she commanded three or four of the oldest to commence,-a very unfair and preposterous command, and it was accordingly declined. The young ones were then appealed to, but they laughed outright, in defiance of etiquette. In fact every switch became impossible, and Gonnella got clear out of the scrape. He played an admirable game at quid pro quo against the Franciscans. One of the servants of the court had confessed himself to the superior of that order; when among divers remittable sins, the penitent owned he had once entertained the intention of killing a man who he imagined was his enemy. Upon this the superior told him that none but the bishop himself could absolve him from so heinous a sin. "You do not understand me," pleaded the servant; "I did not even attempt to kill him, and now my mind is not only at peace, but he and I are cordial friends together."-"I understood thee too well," the friar answered; "and I have not studied divinity so long as not to know thou hast committed murder,-quia voluntas pro facto reputatur, the meaning of which is, that the will is equivalent to the act. Go, and humble thyself before the bishop, my son; and when he shall have absolved thee from this sin, return hither, and I will grant thee absolution for the other sins thou hast confessed." This was so harsh and troublesome a doctrine, that the man went to his regular parish priest, who, after listening to his confession, immediately absolved him, not without throwing out some strong expressions against the silly and ignorant Franciscan. During the Easter week the man was talking of this annoyance on the part of the friar to his fellow-servants, among whom was Gonnella. He ran laughing to the Marquis with the story, and proposed to treat the holy brethren with a practical touch of their own doctrine. To this the marquis readily agreed, glad of an opportunity to turn the Franciscans into ridicule, as he held himself up as the patron of their rivals the Dominicans. On the following morning Gonnella, attired in a magnificent dress from his master's wardrobe, went to the Church of St. Francis, and caused it to be buzzed abroad that he was the Prince of Bissignano, on his way to |