It has been
insinuated that the real occasion of this custom is known to the
corporation, but that, for some reason or other, they are tenacious of
the secret."

The local historian then mentions an "obscure tradition," but as it is not
in agreement with my own opinion, I omit it.

S. P. Q.

* * * * *

STORNELLO.

Verses, the rhymes of which return after the fashion of those printed in
"N. & Q." (Vol. vi., p. 603., and Vol. vii., p. 174.), are commonly current
among the peasants of Tuscany, and in many instances form the materials of
their popular songs. It is probable that this description of rhyme
originated in the "bel paese la dove 'l si suona." They usually turn on a
combination of _three_ words, as in those quoted in Vol vii. of "N. & Q."
And the name _stornello_, as will be readily perceived, is derived from
_tornare_, to return. I send you a specimen of one of them, which has a
certain degree of historical interest attached to it, from its connexion
with the movement of 1848. It was difficult to walk through the streets of
Florence in those days without hearing it carolled forth by more than one
Florentine Tyrtaeus. _Now_, I need hardly say, "we never mention it--its
name is never heard." The patriot-flag was a _tricolor_ of white, red, and
green, a nosegay of which colours a youth has brought to his mistress. She
sings as follows:

"E gli diro che il verde, il rosso, il bianco
Gli stanno ben con una spada al fianco.
E gli diro che il bianco, il verde, il rosso,
Vuol dir che Italia il duro giogo ha scosso.
E gli diro che il rosso, il bianco, il verde
E un terno che si giuoca e non si perde."

Of which the following rough version may serve to give a
sufficiently-accurate idea of the meaning, for the benefit of your "country
gentlemen" readers:

"And I'll tell him the green, and the red, and the white
Would look well by his side as a sword-knot so bright.
And I'll tell him the white, and the green, and the red
Mean, our country has flung the vile yoke from her head.
And I'll tell him the red, and the white, and the green
Is the prize that we play for, a prize that we'll win."

"Un terno che si giuoca" is a phrase which refers to the system of the
public lotteries, {300} established (so much to their shame) by the Italian
governments; and a page of explanation of that system would be needful, to
make any literal translation of it intel