Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna . in wrapt adoration somany a morning, has much of this grandeur, in the firm, goddess-like, enchanting mouth,the decided chin, the broad forehead, and the nostril slightly raised with a touch ofdisdain. Goddess and woman at once, and both in the highest perfection ;Say, which is chiefly divine,—where reigns the woman supreme?Feminine beauties attract and charm thee to warm admiration,But, lo, the goddess prevails, and silent thou bendest in worship ! Fair-haired Roman women are very rare. But the wealth of black locks suits mag-nificently with the rich brown
Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna . in wrapt adoration somany a morning, has much of this grandeur, in the firm, goddess-like, enchanting mouth,the decided chin, the broad forehead, and the nostril slightly raised with a touch ofdisdain. Goddess and woman at once, and both in the highest perfection ;Say, which is chiefly divine,—where reigns the woman supreme?Feminine beauties attract and charm thee to warm admiration,But, lo, the goddess prevails, and silent thou bendest in worship ! Fair-haired Roman women are very rare. But the wealth of black locks suits mag-nificently with the rich brown of their complexions mellowed by a southern sun, and withthe pomegranate-flower red of their lips. Such liveliness as that of the Neapolitan THE ETERNAL CITY IN A MODERN TOGA. 241 women, and coquetry, are foreign to Roman female nature. These women move likequeens, with fine broad-shouldered and broad-hipped figures, well-proportioned throats,and flexible waists. They do not bend, or wave from side to side as they walk, but glide. STELLA, A ROMAN MODEL. along with sweeping draperies, like so many wandering goddesses. In them we findunited,—like the seven hues in the rainbow,—the seven beauties of which the popularrhymes sing throughout Italy : Scttc bellezze vuolc aver la donna,Prima che bclla si possa chiamare :Alta dcvesser senza la pianella,E bianca e rossa senza su lisciare. : Larga di spalla, e stretta in ccnturella,La bella bocca, e il bel nobil poi si tira su le oscure trecce,Dccco la donna di sette bellezze ! T/^ri, Canti popolari Toscani. I I 2 A2 ITAL Y. Which may be roughly but faithfully rendered thus A woman, to be truly beautiful,Must have seven beauties which I now recite :She must be tall of stature, and her skinMust bloom with Natures colouring, red and white. The shoulders wide, the girdle small and thin ;Her mouth, well-shaped, all hearers must delightWith noble speech. Now add thick raven tresses,And all the seven beauties she possesses ! Th
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcavagnasangiulianidig, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870
