ARIOST. Canto I.

"Together through dark woods and winding ways
They walk, nor on their hearts suspicion preys."

I delivered Signor Antonetti the letter for his deceased cousin. He read
it, and received me with unaffected cordiality, making an apology for my
frugal entertainment, but assuring me of a hearty welcome. His true
kindly hospitality was also shewn in taking care of my servant, an
honest Swiss, who loved to eat and drink well.[86]

[Footnote 86: Like master, like man.--ED.]

I had formed a strange notion that I should see every thing in Corsica
totally different from what I had seen in any other country.[87] I was
therefore much surprised to find Signor Antonetti's house quite an
Italian one, with very good furniture, prints, and copies of some of the
famous pictures. In particular, I was struck to find here a small copy
from Raphael, of St. Michael and the Dragon. There was no necessity for
its being well done. To see the thing at all was what surprised me.

[Footnote 87: See Appendix B for a curious custom described by
Boswell.--ED.]

Signor Antonetti gave me an excellent light repast, and a very good bed.
He spoke with great strength of the patriotick cause, and with great
veneration of the General. I was quite easy, and liked much the opening
of my Corsican tour.

The next day, being Sunday, it rained very hard; and I must observe that
the Corsicans with all their resolution, are afraid of bad weather, to a
degree of effeminacy. I got indeed a drole but a just enough account of
this, from one of them. "Sir," said he, "if you were as poor as a
Corsican, and had but one coat, so as that after being wet, you could
not put on dry cloaths, you would be afraid too."[88] Signor Antonetti
would not allow me to set out while it rained, for, said he, "Quando si
trova fuori, patienza; ma di andare fuori e cattivo. If a man finds
himself abroad, there is no help for it. But to go deliberately out, is
too much."

[Footnote 88: A friend of mine, driving last September from Tunis to
Utica, was overtaken by a storm of rain. The driver at once got down
from the box and seated himself on the ground under the carriage. By way
of excuse he said that he had but one coat.--ED.]

When the day grew a little better, I accompanied Signor Antonetti and
his family, to hear mass in the parish church, a very pretty little
building, about half a quarter of a mile off.

Signor Antonetti's parish priest was t