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from their pristine models. The Neapolitan declaimers, singers, or rhapsodists *, have their origin in the lowest class of people, and are, for the most part, blind, lame, or otherwise disqualified for any other employment. Some of these travel through the provinces, and even pass the confines of their kingdom; but the greater number confine themselves to the capital, where, to the sound of a tionbat, they sing, or recite poems, interspersed with songs and prose narrations, generally on religious subjects, but often containing stories of the Paladines, or popular love tales. The reward of these itinerant poets is at the discretion of their auditors, whose liberality is not excessive, but usually proportioned to the effect produced by the performance. In all this, little more may appear to a superficial observer than that the inhabitants of Italy are a more imaginative race than are to be met with in higher latitudes; and that a disinclination to labour, which may also be traced to the effects of their glowing climate, induces that idle, vagrant propensity, which causes many, even of

* "Rapsodi."

A kind of lute.

Twelve knights appointed by Charlemagne, to assist and follow him in the holy wars.

those who might work, and cannot sing, to choose a life of the most abject poverty, in preference to one of decent industry; and this will of course prevail in every case where nature has granted the power of earning a subsistence, which, although precarious, is not likely ever to fail entirely.

But beyond this we may perceive, in the respect evinced by the lower orders of people for music and poetry, a natural tendency to civilization, and a greater degree of discernment than they usually have credit for possessing. As a proof of this may be adduced the extreme facility with which they retain and repeat the most beautiful passages of music; the songs of the Lazzaroni* are sufficient to remind the hearer that he is in the country of Pergolesi, of Cimarosa, and of Paisiello. The eagerness of the people of Naples to hear the effusions of their itinerant composers attests their desire of information; and this is still farther evident in the pride with which they repeat portions of what they have heard, whilst the devotion with which they listen to religious hymns, and the respect shewn to the mendicants who sing them, are proofs of the piety which animates them.

Diseased mendicants, subsisting entirely on charity, and forming a large portion of the population of Naples.

But it is to be remarked that the piety of the people is not generally prejudicial to their good taste. Those whose voices and instruments are the most melodious, and whose stories are the most plausible, have always the greatest number of listeners; and it is not unusual to see a blind man, full of enthusiasm, exerting his lungs to their utmost pitch, for the amusement of the crowd, by which he flatters himself he is surrounded, while, alas! not a single auditor is near. Nature *, who delights to astonish by her varied powers in every class of being, has frequently, amongst these untaught bards, produced instances of such vivacity of imagination, depth of thought, and force of language, as to recall Gray's melancholy reflection, "Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest.” Such talents are rare; but many of the rhapsodists rise far above mediocrity, whilst some, on the contrary, scarcely appear even to understand themselves; and others not only do not instruct the people, but often corrupt their morals by profane or indecent songs.

It seems not improbable that the eager taste of the populace for the performances of these vaga

* All are but parts of one stupendous whole,
Whose body nature is, and GOD THE SOUL.

bond minstrels may, in the course of time, suggest the amelioration of their condition as a measure of moral and political expediency. By instructing them in the first rudiments of literature, supplying some trifling periodical assistance to furnish them with the means of support, and obliging them to refrain from such declarations as are inconsistent with piety and good principles, they might be converted from a public burthen to a national benefit, from a source of corruption to a powerful instrument for disseminating truth and encouraging virtue.

It is the duty of the powerful and the enlightened not merely to declaim against the errors of the people, but to suggest and afford every possible means of improving and reforming them; and if in the case in question the hope of such improvement be not visionary, it is not to be relinquished without regret.

ESSAY XI.

ON IMMODERATE GRIEF.

"Mine be it rather those mild images

To paint, which soften, not extirpate grief;
The wildness of distraction, which convert
To tender recollection, and soft pain

With pleasure not unmingled; patience calm,
And resignation, with meek eye upturned

To heaven, and blessing Him that gave the blow."
ANONYMOUS.

A PAINFUL circumstance, which has lately engrossed my thoughts, suggests to me a few remarks on the subject of immoderate grief. It may, perhaps, be remarked, and not without truth, that mankind are not often inclined to grieve too profoundly, and that excess of levity, and impatience to shake off serious impressions, is a more common failing. Whether too much or too little sensibility be the most hurtful extreme, it is not my intention, in this place, to inquire; my observations will relate only to that which has recently and

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