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"Again this old coht contraction of

his brow "You again speak of her--"

"Of Corilla," interposed the cardinal--"yes of Corilla I speak, of that

heavenly woman whom all the world admires; to whose beautiful verses

philosophers and poets listen with breathless delight, and ell

deserves that you should reward her as a queen by bestowing upon her the

poetic crown!"

"I crown a Corilla!" ly exclaimed the pope "Shall a Corilla

desecrate the spot hallowed by the feet of Tasso and Petrarch? No, I

say, no; when art beco of a courtesan, then may the

sacred Muses veil their heads and rade the away the crohich the best and noblest

would give their heart's blood to obtain This Corilla may bribe you

poor earthly fools with her smiles and amorous verses, but she will not

be able to deceive the Muses!"

"You refuseof the renowned improvisatrice

Corilla?" asked the cardinal, with painfully suppressed rage

"I refuse it!"

"And why, then, did you send for me?" exclaimed the cardinal with

vehemence "Was ityou, reatest forbearance th coet that you are Alessandro Albani's

nephew, I shall then only have to remember that you are the criminal

Francesco Albani, whoe!

Repent and refors, renounce this love, which heaps new disgrace upon your family

and overwhelms your relatives with sorrow and anxiety!"

"Renounce Corilla!" cried the cardinal "I tell you I love her, I adore

her, this heavenly, beautiful woman! How can you ask me to renounce