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324 this is not the way it should be done. "And the way offends me still," as the Divine Poet makes Signora Francesca da Rimini remark.

The author of this detestable book is still young, and has given evidence of ability to do things not so bad as this. We will remind him, therefore, of a great truth which our fathers have handed down to us, and which we shall entrust as a precious thing to our sons: "Criticism is easy, but art is difficult." And if this stubborn wretch should reply that even criticism may be art, and should persist in his wickedness, we shall retort with a saying of the immortal Manzoni, a saying that is somewhat out of date, but still convenient: "Don't worry, poor creature, it will take more than you to turn Milan upside down."