eat writers who have
smoothed the way for us in science and in art, but every age has its
dominant genius and every climate its national taste. The Greek and
Roman writers knew human nature and copied it closely, but without
illusion and without skill. To this is owing that want of moderation
and decency which has led to the proscription of the drama by the
Church."

At Pavia, Goldoni spent his time over everything else but study, nor
was his sojourn there long, for a satire composed and published, taken
together with other pranks, led to his expulsion from the College. His
parents as usual forgave him, and he was allowed to accompany his father
on one of his business journeys, during the course of which Goldoni
tells that he obtained much knowledge of men and things. At Modena, it
happened that the pair fell in with some very devout people, and saw
the "admonition" of an abbe of their acquaintance, who was punished in
public after a severe and impressive fashion. Carlo, who was at the time
suffering from a juvenile attack of disgust with the world, felt this
spectacle arouse in him the desire to become a Capuchin monk. His wise
father did not contradict him, and took him to Venice, ostensibly
to present him to the Director of the Capuchins. But he plunged him
also into a round of gaieties, dinners, suppers, theatres; and Carlo
discovered that, to avoid the perils of this world, it was not needful
to renounce it altogether. He had now arrived at man's estate, it was
requisite he should have an occupation. Through the kindness of friends
he obtained a position in the service of the government, not lucrative
but yet remunerative, which he contrived to make useful to his dramatic
training, the one idea to which he ever remained faithful. This
position, Chancellor to the Podesta, required almost continual change
of place, and although Goldoni himself liked it very well, his mother
disapproved of it highly, calling it a gipsy's post.

In 1731, Goldoni lost his father, an irreparable sorrow to him. He
now found himself, at twenty-four, the head of his family. His mother
consequently insisted he should give up his wanderings and assume the
lawyer's toga. He therefore went to Padua to finish his studies, and
this time he studied really, passing a brilliant examination, though
the whole night previously he had spent at the gaming-table, whence
the University beadle had to fetch him to come before his examiners.

Behold him no