There's your true Ashantee, gentlemen;
there howl your pagans; where you ever find them, next door to you;
under the long-flung shadow, and the snug patronizing lee of churches.
For by some curious fatality, as it is often noted of your metropolitan
freebooters that they ever encamp around the halls of justice,
so sinners, gentlemen, most abound in holiest vicinities.
"'Is that a friar passing?' said Don Pedro, looking downwards
into the crowded plazza, with humorous concern.
"'Well for our northern friend, Dame Isabella's Inquisition wanes
in Lima,' laughed Don Sebastian. 'Proceed, Senor.'
"'A moment! Pardon!' cried another of the company. 'In the name
of all us Limeese, I but desire to express to you, sir sailor,
that we have by no means overlooked your delicacy in not substituting
present Lima for distant Venice in your corrupt comparison.
Oh! do not bow and look surprised: you know the proverb all along
this coast--"Corrupt as Lima." It but bears out your saying, too;
churches more plentiful than billiard-tables, and for ever open-and
"Corrupt as Lima." So, too, Venice; I have been there; the holy
city of the blessed evangelist, St. Mark!--St. Dominic, purge it!
Your cup! Thanks: here I refill; now, you pour out again.
Pages:
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415