Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/146

156 to begin. The people gathered themselves close together by the walls of the houses; a pause succeeded, and then a loud exulting shout, which ran like wildfire along the Corso; and from the Piazza del Popolo sped, in flying career, a little troop of small horses, adorned with gold-paper wings or flags. Away they rush at full speed along the Corso up to the Piazza di Venezia, where they are stopped, and the judges of the race award the prizes which their owners shall receive. Scarcely have the swift-footed steeds passed, when the throng of people crowds after them like a swarming ant-hillock. This closes the amusements of the day, and every body goes home, the greater number of pedestrians, more's the pity!—under umbrellas; as do we, amongst the rest. But my young friend is delighted with the sport, has a great number of beautiful bouquets, and is extremely amused. We close our day by reading Guinginé's interesting history of Italian literature.