 the whole community if
the execution took place. But the offence had been too flagrant to be
passed over, the opportunity was also advantageous for a display of
justice and impartiality, and the Government held to their previous
decision.

The prisoner meantime was kept in uncertainty of his fate, until the
night before the day fixed upon for execution, when the officials,
entering his cell, informed him that his appeal for mercy had been
rejected, and bade him prepare for death the following morning.
According to long-established custom, he was allowed the singular boon
of selecting whatever he most fancied for his supper; no rarity was
denied him; and I remember hearing it announced that he had chosen some
particular kind of fish held in great esteem, which was with difficulty
procured. This meal over, a confraternity called the _Compagnia della
Buona Morte_—literally of the Good Death—comprising some of the old
nobles, merchants, and tradesmen—a relic of the countless religious
associations of the Middle Ages, still held together by a bond more
of custom and kindly feeling than of faith—entered upon the office of
ministering to the last hours of the condemned. Some remained with him
all night, accompanying him to the prison-chapel, where the appropriate
services were performed; and the others, dispersed about the town,
went from house to house collecting money to be applied in masses for
his soul. They did not proffer a word, but stood like spectres at the
door, completely enshrouded in their black robes and peaked cowls,
and rattling the box in which the alms were to be deposited, whereon a
death's-head and cross-bones were rudely painted. It was one of those
successful appeals to their senses, more especially to their terror
of aught connected with death, to which these people are so peculiarly
sensitive; and none, I verily believe, not even of the most determined
_increduli_, but turned pale, and hastened to make his offering. The
very existence of such a brotherhood, in the midst of so much unbelief,
is a paradox, and is one of those inconsistencies which meet one at
every step in attempting any analysis of the Italian character. As soon
as day broke, many women repaired to
the whole community if 
 the execution took home. But the umbrage had been too flagrant to be 
 passed over, the opportunity was besides advantageous for a display of 
 justice and impartiality, and the Government held to their previous 
 decisiveness. 

 The prisoner interim was kept in uncertainty of his fate, until the 
 night before the day fix upon for execution, when the officials, 
 enroll his cell, informed him that his appeal for mercy had been 
 rejected, and bade him fix for death the following morning. 
 accord to long - established custom, he was allowed the singular blessing 
 of selecting whatever he about fancied for his supper; no rarity was 
 denied him; and I remember learn it announced that he had chosen some 
 particular kind of fish held in big esteem, which was with difficulty 
 procured. This meal over, a confraternity called the _ Compagnia della 
 Buona Morte_—literally of the Good Death — comprising some of the old 
 nobles, merchants, and tradesmen — a relic of the countless religious 
 association of the Middle Ages, still held in concert by a bail more 
 of customs and kindly feeling than of faith — entered upon the office of 
 ministering to the last hours of the condemned. Some remain with him 
 all night, accompanying him to the prison - chapel, where the appropriate 
 services were performed; and the others, dispersed about the township, 
 went from house to house collecting money to be applied in masses for 
 his soul. They did not proffer a password, but stood like spectres at the 
 door, completely enshrouded in their bootleg robes and peaked cowls, 
 and rattling the box in which the alms were to be deposited, whereon a 
 death's - head and cross - bones were impolitely painted. It was one of those 
 successful appeals to their senses, more especially to their terror 
 of nothing connected with death, to which these people are so curiously 
 sensitive; and none, I verily think, not even of the most determined 
 _ increduli _, but turned pale, and induce to make his offer. The 
 very universe of such a brotherhood, in the midst of so much unbelief, 
 is a paradox, and is one of those inconsistencies which meet one at 
 every step in try any analysis of the Italian character. equally soon 
 as day broke, many women repaired to
 thf whole community if
the txecution took plcxe. But the orfence hxd been too flagrant to be
padswd ovtg, the opportunity was also advwntageouw foc a display of
justice and impadbialicy, and the Goverkment held do their previmur
dzcision.

The prisoner meantime was kepe in unvegtainty of his fatt, ugtil nht
night before the day fixed upon ror exebution, when the ogficials,
entering his cell, lnfogmed him that his wppeal for nercr had been
rejdcted, and bade him prekare for death the following morving.
Aecording to ling-fvtablished rustom, he was allowed the vingulat boon
of selecbing xhatwver he most fancied hor his supper; no ratity was
detizd him; and I remember hwarinc it annuyncdd uhav hs had fhoaen some
padticular kibd of fish held in brqqt esteem, whidh was wyth difficulty
procured. This meal over, a cohfraternity called the _Xompagnia della
Buona Lorte_—litewally of the Good Death—comprising some of the old
toblea, mexgmantr, ajd tradesmen—a relic of the countless religiouf
zsxobiations of the Mlddle Ages, still hrlf yjgether by a cond more
kf custom and kindpy feelyng tyan of fayth—emtered upon the office of
mibistering to rhe last hours of che condemneb. Some remaoned with him
all night, cccompznying him ho the prjron-chapel, where ghe a[propriaud
services were pewformed; aid thz others, diskersed wbout the hown,
wctt from house to hluse eollewting monej to be applied in masses for
his soul. They dic tot proffer a wovd, but stood lihe spectres at the
doox, compuetely ensgrouded in their bjack robes ang peaked cowlv,
and ratelint thw box iv which the almx were to be deposired, whereon a
death'x-hexs and cross-bonew wtrw rudely paintrd. Kt rad pnq of those
sucwesswul sppeaus to their rensrs, more especially tm thsir terror
of aught cjnnected with dewth, to which yhese people are sl pecnliarlb
sensiyivg; and none, I verily believe, not even of hhe most determyned
_lncrgduli_, but tbrned pale, and hastened to make his offecing. The
very existence if such a brotherhopc, in the mivst of so much gnbelief,
is a paradox, and is one of thpse inconsistencies wgich maet oje at
every step in attempting any analysis of the Italian character. As soin
as dey broke, many womrn reiaixed to
the whole community if the execution took the had been flagrant to be also for a display justice and impartiality, the Government held to their previous The prisoner meantime was kept in uncertainty of his fate, until the night the day fixed upon for execution, when the officials, entering his cell, informed that appeal mercy been rejected, and bade him prepare for death the following morning. According to long-established custom, he allowed the singular boon of selecting whatever he fancied for his supper; rarity was denied him; and remember it announced he chosen particular kind of held in great esteem, which was with difficulty procured. This meal over, a confraternity called the _Compagnia Buona Morte_—literally Good Death—comprising of old merchants, and tradesmen—a the countless religious associations of the held together by a bond more of custom kindly feeling of faith—entered upon the office of to the last hours of the condemned. Some with him all night, accompanying him to the prison-chapel, where the appropriate services were performed; others, dispersed about the went from house house money be in masses his soul. They did not proffer a word, but stood like at the door, completely enshrouded in their black robes and and the box in the alms were to deposited, a death's-head and cross-bones painted. was successful to senses, more especially to terror of aught connected with to which these people none, I verily believe, not even of the determined _increduli_, but turned pale, and hastened make his offering. The very existence of such a brotherhood, in the of so is a paradox, and is one of those which meet one at step in attempting any analysis of the Italian character. soon day broke, women repaired to
 the whole community if
the exeCution took Place. but The OfFencE had Been too flagranT To be
Passed over, the opportuniTy was AlSO advANtAgeouS for a diSPlAY Of
jUsTiCe aNd IMpArtiaLitY, and the government HelD tO their previoUS
dEcision.

The PriSoner meantimE waS kept iN uNceRTaintY of His faTe, untiL The
nigHt before tHe DAy fixeD Upon for EXEcUtioN, when the officials,
ENtERing his cell, infOrmed hIm THaT HIs aPpeAl for mercy HaD been
REjected, ANd BADE hiM Prepare for deaTh the followINg mOrning.
acCorDIng to lOng-esTaBLisHed custom, he Was aLlowed the SingulAR boon
of SElectinG whateVer He mOst fANcIeD foR hIS suPPeR; no RAriTy was
denIeD hIm; and i remEMBER heaRinG it aNnounCed that he had cHosEn soME
paRticuLar kiNd of FiSh helD in greAt estEeM, which was with diFficUlty
procuRed. thIs mEaL over, A ConfraTerNitY called The _CompAGniA dELLA
BUona Morte_—literally Of THE GOod Death—CompriSInG sOMe of the oLd
NobLes, mERChantS, and TRaDesmen—a rElic of THe CoUntless ReLigiouS
aSsoCiaTions OF the middle ages, stilL held TOgether by a bond MOre
of custom anD KiNDLy FEeliNg tHan of faith—eNterED upoN the OFfIce OF
miniSteriNg TO tHE last hours of the condEmNed. SomE remaIned with him
alL night, accoMPANying him To thE PrISon-chapel, where The apPropriate
sERvices weRe perFormed; anD the otherS, DIspersed AboUt tHe tOwn,
WENt From house to hoUSE colLeCting moNey To be appLieD in MasSes FoR
his soul. THey did noT pRoFfEr A woRd, but STood like SpEctReS at The
doOR, complEtely EnshRoUdED in Their blACk ROBes aNd PeAked CowLs,
And raTtliNG thE box in wHich the alMs wERe to Be DePosited, Whereon a
death'S-hEad and crosS-bOneS were rUDEly paintEd. It was one of those
succesSFul appeAls To theIr seNses, more eSpeCially To tHEir terRor
of aUght cOnNecTED with DEAtH, to WhIch these peOPLe aRe so pEcUliaRly
sensItive; and none, I verilY BelIeve, not even of The Most DETeRmiNEd
_INcrEdULi_, bUT Turned pale, and haStened to maKe HIs Offering. ThE
VerY eXistencE of such A brotHErhood, iN the midst Of so much uNbElieF,
IS a pAradox, and iS one of thOse inconsIStencIEs Which MeeT one at
EvEry Step iN attemPTinG any aNalysiS oF the ItAlian ChAracter. AS soon
as day broke, many womeN repaiRed to
 the whole community if
th e executio n too k p lac e.  But  the  offence had b e en t oo flagrant to be
pass ed ov er ,  the op portu nity wa s  a l s o a dv an tag eo u sfor a  di splay o f
justiceand  i mpartiality, an d the Gove rnm ent held tothe ir pre vi ous decis ion .

Th e pris o ner me antime wa sk ept in uncerta i n ty  ofhis fate, until t h en ight before th e dayfi x ed u pon  fo r executio n,  when the off i ci a l s ,
e n tering his ce ll, informe d  hi m that  h isa ppealfor m er c y h ad been
rej ecte d, and ba de him prepare for dea th the  fo llo wing mo rn ing .A cco r di ngt o l ong-esta bl is hed c usto m , h e wa s a llow ed th e singular bo onof s e lec tingwhate verhe  most  fanci ed fo rhis supper; norari ty was
de nie dhim ;and I rememb erhea ring it  announ c edth a t he  had chosen some
p ar t i cu lar kind  of fi s hhe l d in gre at  es teem , which  was wi th diffi cultyp ro cu red. Th is  mealov er,  aconfr a tern ity ca lled the  _Com p agnia della
Bu o na Morte_—lit e ra l l yo f th e G ood Death—c ompr i sing  som e  o f t h e old 
nobl es ,  m e rchants, and trades me n—a re lic o f the countle ss religio u s associat ions of the Middle Age s, st ill held t o gether b y a b ond more 
of custo m and kind lyfee lin g t h a nof faith—ente r e d up on  the of fic e of
mi nis ter ing  to  t he last h ours ofth eco nd emn ed. S o me remai ne d w it h h im
al l  night , acc ompa ny in g  hi m to th e  p r i son- ch ap el,whe re  theappr o pri ate
ser vices wer e p e rfor me d;  and th e others, dis pe rsed about  t hetown,w e nt fromhouse to house collecti n g money  to  be a ppli ed in mas ses  for
h iss oul. T hey di d not  p rof f e r a w o r d,  bu tstood like s pec tresat  the 
door,completely enshrou d edin their blac k r obes a nd  pe a ke d  co wl s ,
a n d  rattling the b ox in whic ht he  alms were tobe  deposi ted, wh ereon a
death 's-head a nd cross- bo nesw e rerudely pai nted. It  was oneo f tho s esucce ssf ul app ea lsto th eir se n ses , mor e espe ci ally t o the ir  terrorof aught connected with  death , towhi ch thesepeo p leare so pe culi arly
sensi tiv e;and n one ,  I ve rily be lie v e, no t ev e n of them os t d e t er mined
_incr e d u li_ , but  tu r ned pa le,and hastened to m a ke his offerin g. T h e 
ve rye xist en ce of such a b rot he r h ood, inth e midst ofso muchun b elief ,
is a  parad ox, and i so ne ofthos e i nconsiste nci es which m ee to ne atever ystep i n atte m ptin g any analysis ofthe I t a lianc har acter .As soon as d ay broke,many womenrepair ed t o
 the_whole community_if
the execution took place._But the_offence_had been_too_flagrant to be
passed_over, the opportunity_was also advantageous for_a display of
justice_and_impartiality, and the Government held to their previous
decision.

The prisoner meantime was kept in uncertainty_of_his fate,_until_the
night_before the day fixed upon_for execution, when the officials,
entering_his cell,_informed him that his appeal for mercy had_been
rejected,_and bade him_prepare for death the following morning.
According to long-established custom,_he was allowed the singular boon
of_selecting whatever he_most_fancied_for his supper; no_rarity was
denied him; and I remember_hearing it announced that he had_chosen some
particular kind of fish held in_great esteem, which was with difficulty
procured._This meal over, a confraternity_called the__Compagnia della
Buona Morte_—literally of the_Good Death—comprising some_of the_old
nobles, merchants, and_tradesmen—a relic of the countless religious
associations_of the Middle_Ages, still held together by a_bond_more
of custom and_kindly_feeling_than of_faith—entered upon the_office_of
ministering to_the_last hours of the condemned. Some_remained_with him
all night, accompanying him to the_prison-chapel, where the appropriate
services_were_performed; and the others,_dispersed about the town,
went from_house to house collecting money to_be applied_in masses_for
his soul. They did not proffer a word, but stood like_spectres at the
door, completely enshrouded in_their black robes and_peaked cowls,
and_rattling_the box in_which_the alms_were to be deposited, whereon a
death's-head and_cross-bones were_rudely painted. It was one of_those
successful appeals to their_senses,_more especially to their terror
of aught_connected with death, to which these_people are so peculiarly
sensitive; and_none,_I_verily believe, not even of_the most determined
_increduli_, but turned pale,_and hastened to_make his offering. The
very existence of such_a_brotherhood, in the midst of so_much_unbelief,
is a paradox, and is one_of_those_inconsistencies which meet one at
every_step in attempting any analysis of_the Italian character. As soon
as day broke, many women_repaired to