Monday, January 30... As we approached Lodi, we found the snow deeper ; at the Sun, a comfortable little inn, we met with a blazing fire in the sala, and several other travellers, the clients of vetturini, like ourselves: they were from Piacenza, and very civil persons ; they did not confine themselves to mere verbal courtesies, but produced some good, sound, strong wine, which was creditable to the Piacentine vineyards. The lieutenant spoke to me in his German, of which I understood as much as it was my destiny to comprehend, and I answered him in his own language; fortunately for him it had the desired effect; for the Italians asked him, if he did not understand English very well; he answered, no—with the tone and air of a man who does not wish to be believed; they replied, but you have been speaking English all the evening to this gentleman : I did not say any thing ; he therefore got the credit of understanding English ; and was so delighted with me for keeping his secret, and for my acquiescence in his harmless deception, that I narrowly escaped being kissed by him when he too.k leave.The cold, the fatigue of travelling, and the strong wine of Piacenza, induced drowsiness, and enabled me to sleep like a steed that does not dream of his tail:—
" This miller hath so wisely bibbed ale,
That as an hors he snorteth in his sleepe
Ne of his taile behind he tooke no kecpe."
n S
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