430 THE SICILIAN CHARACTER. (From Galt's Voyages and Travels.) OUR knowledge of the characters of nations is derived from history; but there are moral features among every people which history never describes. In estimating the character of the Sicilians, this consideration ought to be particularly borne in mind. The island has been so long connected with Naples, that the two countries, in opinion, have become almost inseparably blended; and much of that bloody colouring, which darkens the complexion of their general national character, may, properly, belong only to the Neapolitan. Still, however, the circumstances of the Sicilian government, from an early era, serve to show, that the political attachments of the people have never been lasting, nor have they, in any epoch of their story, evinced that they possessed that resolute courage which has often enabled small communities to acquire immortal renown, in their opposition to superior powers. The Sicilians are rather a sly than a cunning race; perhaps no nation in Europe possesses so much naïveté. Loquacious and ingenious, they make more use of persuasion in their dealings than any other people. It is not enough that a Sicilian objects the high price of what he desires to purchase; he expatiates on the inferiority of the quality; recalls to recollection how long he has been a customer; enumerates, one by one, counting them on his fingers, the circumstance of unlucky bargains that he has had; flatteringly contrasts the opulence of the English with the poverty of the Sicilians; animadverts on the politics of the government; magnifies the value of his ready money; insinuates that he may change his merchant; and often retires, and returns several times, before he offers his ultimatum. Nor in selling does he practise less address. There is not a single point of his wares that does not possess something extraordinary, or beautiful: no other shop in the town has any thing like them; so cheap, or so excellent. If the price be high, What will you give? and it is seldom that a Sicilian refuses the offer of an Englishman. The inhabitants of this island are, in the proper sense of the term, highly superstitious; but the dicta of ignorance are so interwoven with the creeds of popery, that many notions of vulgar superstition are regarded as essentials of religion. The only exception is a belief in the effects of the influence of evil eyes: and even over this the priesthood have acquired jurisdiction. For they persuade the people to buy bits of blessed rags and paper, which, when worn suspended round the neck, have the effect, as they pretend, of neutralizing the malignancy. The influence of an evil look is instantaneous; and the person who happens to glance it, may be unconscious of what he does: it smites the subject with sudden malady, or impresses his mind with lugubrious images, and unfits him for the prosecution of premeditated intentions. It is useless to speculate on the fantasies of the human mind; but, in this case, the constant flickering of electricity in this climate, and the occasional breathing of pestiferous exhalations, from the vegetable corruptions in the bottoms of the valleys, afford a plausible reason for the sudden distempers and dejections which are ascribed to the aspect of ungracious eyes. The same superstition is well known in Scotland; but it is more generally prevalent among the Sicilians than the Scotch. Whether it is, among us, an imported or indigenous belief, cannot now be ascertained. Over all the ancient extent of the papal empire there is a great similarity in the topics of vulgar credulity. The Sicilians have, certainly, a very keen relish of humour; and,' now and then, one may perceive in them a strong trait of peculiarity, not individual but national, which, notwithstanding their ancient proficiency, is an assurance to think that they may yet attain some literary superiority which shall be regarded as original. A description of manners and customs, by a genuine Sicilian, otherwise properly qualified, would equally surprise and delight. SICILIAN NOBILITY. (From the Same.) Of the character and condition of the Sicilian nobles I have uniformly received but one opinion. The time of by far the greater number is spent in the pursuit of amusement, and of any other object than the public good. The most of them are in debt, and the incomes of but few are adequate to their wants: many are in a state of absolute beggary. One evening, as I happened to be returning home, I fell in with a procession of monks and soldiers bearing an image of St. Francis; and not having seen any thing of the kind before, I went with the crowd into a church towards which the procession was moving. While reckoning the number of the friars as they entered, and having reached a hundred and seventy, all excellent subjects for soldiers, a well-dressed gentleman came up to me, and, bowing, pointed to some of the ornaments as objects worthy of a stranger's cu riosity; but, perceiving me shy of entering into conversation with him, and the procession entering the church at the same time, he walked, or was forced by the current of the crowd, away. The idol being placed near the high altar, the crowd began to chant a hymn. As they all fell on their knees, and my tight prejudices and small clothes would not permit me to do the same, I turned into one of the side chapels, and, leaning against the railing of the altar, began to speculate on the spectacle before me, when the stranger again accosted me. Somewhat disconcerted by the interruption, and by the forwardness of the man, I abruptly quitted my place. But, before I had moved two steps, he approached, and bowing, said, I am the Baron M, and my palace is just opposite. At this instant the worshippers rose, and the procession turning to go out at one of the side doors near where we were standing, before I could retreat, I found myself involved in the crowd, and obliged to go with the stream. When I reached the street, I found the stranger again at my side. This is very extraordinary, thought I; and, without seeming to notice him, walked away. He followed; and when we had got out of the nucleus of the throng, he seized me firmly by the arm, and drew me aside. Enraged and alarmed at this mysterious treatment, I shook him fiercely from me. For about the time that one might count twenty, he seemed to hesitate; and then, suddenly coming back, repeated, in Italian, with considerable energy, "I-I am the Baron M This is my palace; but I have nothing to eat!" I looked at the building, near the gate of which we were then standing; it was old and ruinous; there was no lamp in the court-yard, and only a faint light glimmering in one of the windows. Mistaking my silence and astonishment, he pulled out his watch, and, placing it in my hand, entreated me to give him some money. As I had no disposition to become a pawnbroker, I returned it with some expressions of surprise, and took out my purse with the intention of giving it to him, for it only contained two or three small pieces. But here all the solemnity of the adventure terminated. He snatched it out of my hand, and emptying the contents into his own, returned it; and wishing me a good night, ran into the gateway. POETRY. For the Analectic Magazine. THE RETURN OF SPRING. "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." AWAKE, my beloved! my fair come away, O sweet as thy breath is each zephyr that blows, Then come and I'll lead thee to close woven bowers, The wild brook shall dimple with pleasure and pride, How sweet at this season to wander the grove And the glance quick withdrawn where the soul stands confess'd. Alas, that the glories of morning should fly! That the bud of the rose should just open and die; Thus beauty decays-but returns never more! And the spring-time of youth-ah how soon is it o'er! Then enjoy youth, and spring-time, and morn, while you may O rise, my beloved! my fair come away! VOL. III. New Series. 55 [The following pungent and delicately managed sarcasm is extracted from “THE STRANGER," a well conducted paper, published weekly at Albany.] Backward coil'd and crouching low, Upon the futile, faithless thing. Now, wheeling round, with bootless skill, Thy bo-peep tail provokes thee still, As oft beyond thy curving side Its jetty tip is seen to glide; Till from thy centre starting far, Thou sidelong rear'st with rump in air, Erected stiff, and gait awry, Like madam in her tantrums high: |