en rode in triumphal procession to the Vatican passing under seven
arches adorned with representations of his extraordinary and heroic
deeds[26].

[Sidenote: Sixtus V and Captain Bresca.]

When Sixtus V. undertook to erect in the Piazza di San Pietro the
ponderous egyptian obelisk[27], which formerly adorned Nero's circus
at the Vatican, he forbade on pain of death that any one should speak
lest the attention of the workmen should be taken off from their
arduous task. A naval officer of S. Remo, who happened to be present,
foreseeing that the ropes would take fire, cried out "_acqua alle
funi_". He was immediately arrested by the Swiss guards, as we see
him represented in the small fresco in the Vatican library, and was
conducted before the Pontiff. Sixtus shewed that his severity was
based on justice; for instead of punishing the transgressor of his
orders, he offered him the choice of his own reward. They who have
observed the great abundance of palms which grow in the neighbourhood
of S. Remo, on the coast between Nice and Genoa, will not be surprised
to hear, that the first wish of the gallant captain was to enjoy the
privilege of supplying the pontifical chapel with palms. The Pope
granted him this exclusive right and it is still enjoyed by one of
his family.

[Sidenote: Return of Pius VII to Rome.]

When the meek and benevolent Pius VII was returning to Rome from
exile and captivity, Dr. Bresca, one of the captain's descendants,
contrived, though not without great risk, to convey to Rome the
choicest palms of S. Remo and Bordighera. At the house of his friend
Viale half a mile outside the Porta del Popolo, he assembled twenty
five _orfanelli_ dressed in their white cassocks, and forty-five
_verginelle_. When the carriage of the beloved Pontiff approached,
this double choir of children appeared, bearing palms in their hands
and singing joyous canticles of benediction but I must describe this
lovely scene in the melodious language of the south. "Ciascuno di
essi (says Cancellieri) recava in mano una di queste palme di color
d'oro altissime e cadenti come tante vaghissime piume. Sei zitelle
sostenevano de'galanti panieri di freschissimi fiori pendenti dal
loro collo, con nastri bianchi e gialli, relativi allo stendardo
Pontificio. Quindi tutti si schierarono in buon ordine sulle due ale
delta strada, e mentre le ragazze versavano graziosamente a mani piene
da' loro canestrelli la verzura ed i fiori, quella selva