The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-04


critic Of some authority above the best re-
mains Of antiquity, even the LAGOON and
the Belvidere Apollo. We are told, i. is
true, that German antiquary took this de-
cision 10 such bad part, that he was about
10 box the ears Of the panegyrist, whom
he believed to be laughing at him; but we
shall find that it was the fate Of the statue
throughout TO cause such misunderstanding.
When the kennel-bridge of Maestro
Pasquino was discovered TO be an antique
torso, it was placed upon pedestal against
the Pamphili palace. on the other side Of the
way; but no change Of position could sew
or its connection with the defunct tailor. The
discounted urchins, looking up in wonder
and veneraiion, gave their great enemy bis
name; and while the antiquaries were argu-
ing and scolding about its origin, the people
decided that il was the statue neither Of
Hercules, nor Ajax, nor Patroclus, but Of
Maestro Pas1uino. Nay, when the PAM
phil palace gave way in 1871 before tie
construction Of that of Orsini, the latter re-
linquished its own name, like an obsequi-
Gus heir, and was known thenceforward as
the Pasquin palace. This, however, is not
TO be wondered at, since, at the moment
when the mudlated statue was excited on its
pedestal, it was consecrated by the genius
Of the tailor, that before had seemed buried
with him. 1t spoke with his voice-even
with the Doric vulgaIites Of his tongue; it
breathed around his fine and pungent spirit:
and every morning the Romans ran in
crowds to read on it's twisted back the bul-
letins Of PaSquin. SATIRE, sheltered once
more under the venerable name, was now
as free as ever. The Pont6cial police re-
tired discounted; libels and lampooHs be-
lcarne anew the order Of the day; and Rome
was never OF the grin for moment.
A collection of the sayings OF Pasquin
would be a curious work; but more curl
Gus, we fear, than amusing, since the asso-
Citations Of the time which gave pungency
10 the wit would now be wanting. A few
political squibs are ell that are preserved,
and even these are not very remarkable TO
Us or the present generation. But Pasquln
did not merely speak in his eloquent pla-
cards; he assumed, on great occasions,
betting costume, and became thus one
Of the dramatis persona Nor was he al
ways railer or Jester; sometimes, IN de-
ference to public honor and virtue, he cover
ted his natural grin into an approving smile.
This was policy which the professional
wits of our own day would do well to fol-
low. There is nothing so dull as jest
book, and nothing so tame and singles as
an unbroken succession Of satires. In 1871,
when Colonna returned in triumph from
the battle of Lepanto, he found Pasquin
clothed in warriors garb, with his helmet
sUrmounted by the watchful dragon, and in
his hand the bloody head of the Turkish
prince, with a mortal cash on the brow.
Twenty years after, when Gregory XIV,
on mounting the throne of St. Peter, passed
through the street on his way to the Lateran
church, he received the homage Of Pasquin,
who had transformed himself, for the occa-
sion. into a true courtier. He had restored
his nose, and his mutilated arm, and wore a
gilded helmet; carrying a sword in one
hand, and pair Of scales, horn Of abun-
dance, and three leaves, in the other. All
this signifed generally justice ano plenty
bat the loaves were a personal compliment
TO the pope, who had placed loads Of bread
in the public places, where it was sold to
the people at a third Of the usual price
All this, however, is out Of the usual
character of Pesquin, who generally ming
Lad a sheer even with his aAraHas..l..s;4>s4,
He was great patron, for instance, OF Six.
tus v, to whom Rome was indebted for nu-
merous fountains; and he signifed his salts
faction with the pontifex magnus by clubbing
him lontifex magnus. One day Swiss OF
the papal guard struck with his halberd a
Spanish gentleman, who promptly returned
the blow, and with such effect that the
Swiss died Of the chastisement. Upon this,
the pope caused it to be signi6ed to the
governor Of Rome that he would not dine
till Justice was done, and that he wished that
day to dine early. Every body knew that
it was needless to plead for the criminals |
life; but for the honor of his family, the |
Spanish ambassador and several of the car |
dinals interceded with the pope to have him
decspitated like gentleman. "He shall
be hung" was the reply; ''but in order to
diminish the disgrace Of the execution,
shall myself assist at the ceremony" The
gibbet was accordingly erected under his
windows, and when Sixtus V. had his love
Of Justice fully gratifed, he went in to din
ner, thanking God for his appetite. The
next day Pasquin was seen loaded with
chains, halberds, gibbets, cords and wheels;
and being questioned on the subject, replied,
at is ragout am carrying to excite the
appetite Of St. Peter" Numerous other
were directed against the severi-
ties Of the pope; but they were too much
intenmingled with the religious heartburn
ings Of that day to be read with much inter-
est in ours. Sixtus, however, took every
thing very TRANQUILITY, being aware of the
Of Pasquin; till, unluckily, The
satirist attacked the dignity Of his family in
the person Of his sister Camilla Peretti.
This lady, before her brothers elevation, had
been indebted to her own exertions in par.
ticulsr line Of industry for her support; and
in allusion to the circumstance, Pasquin was
one day seen in very dirty shirt, which he
explained by saying that the pope had made
his washerwoman princess. Sixtus made
many vain attempts to discover the author of
his insult; till at length he offered him his
life and thousand Pistoles for a confession.
him with the gibbet If he should
be denounced by another. The terms were
The wit Immediately presented