Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/153

Rh not, he only gazed through his opera-glass, and bowed all the more, and never lost his self-possession. In the midst of all this whirl and confusion, comes a brilliant procession. It is the Governor of the city, and the Roman Senate, driving in a great number of splendid carriages, with splendid horses and servants. Gold and velvet shine oat, and liveries which appear to be colored with fire. The brilliant cortege advanced with great dignity, through the many-colored mass of the Corso, up to the Capitol.

Towards dusk, the light in the street became ever more tumultuous and wild. It still rained, and now very heavily; but people forgot the rain, and every thing else, excepting that they had promised to amuse themselves with as little restraint as possible. But the life of the streets and the boys predominated more and more. Dirty bouquets were thrown into the carriages, and there was need for people to take great care of themselves. We began to long for home; even Jenny had enjoyed enough of carnival-pleasure; but the carriages would not leave the scene of strife, and they were now so numerous, that is was impossible to avoid frequent stoppages. As length was heard the double firing, the signal that the carriages must leave the place, and all now hastily dispersed. The troop of cavalry enter at a heavy trot and clear the street, and the next moment fire from the race-horses' feet, is seen in the twilight. The prize run for this evening is a banner worth fifty scudi, and which was won by a horse belonging to the Borghese family.

Again at home, we merrily talked over the events of the day, at our tea-table, with some of our