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"Conceive of a sublime creation, wherein the marvels of the visible universe are reproduced with immeasurable grandeur, lightness, swiftness, and extension; wherein sensation is infinite, and whither certain privileged natures, possessed of divine powers, are able to penetrate, and you will have some notion of the ecstatic joys of which Cataneo and Capraja were speaking; both poets, each for himself alone.

"The sun, monsieur, gives light and heat to the world, only because it is at a distance of thirty-three millions of leagues. Get nearer to it, and science warns you that it is not really hot or luminous, for science is of some use," he added, looking at Capraja. "Not so bad for a Frenchman and a doctor," said Capraja, patting the foreigner on the shoulder.

"How eagerly Capraja, with his passion for embellishments, must have looked forward to this air, which derives all its value from execution," remarked Massimilla. "Here Rossini has, so to speak, given the reins over to the singer's fancy. Her cadenzas and her feeling are everything. With a poor voice or inferior execution, it would be nothing the throat is responsible for the effects of this aria.

Entering by the great iron gates of what looks like a neglected park, you climb by a stony road up to the great villa itself, among the broken statues and the stone pines, where is one of the most beautiful views of the Pisan country and seashore, with the islands of Gorgona, Capraja, Elba, and Corsica in the distance.

In consequence of this movement, Nelson blockaded that port, and landed a British force in the Isle of Elba, to secure Porto Ferrajo. Soon afterwards he took the Island of Capraja, which had formerly belonged to Corsica, being less than forty miles distant from it; a distance, however, short as it was, which enabled the Genoese to retain it, after their infamous sale of Corsica to France.

"She is like the gorgeous Indian plant, which deserting the earth absorbs invisible nourishment from the atmosphere, and sheds from its spiral white blossom such fragrant vapors as fill the brain with dreams," replied Capraja. On being recalled, la Tinti appeared alone.

To-morrow night we are to hear Mose, the grandest opera produced by Italy's greatest genius." All present left the conversation to the Duke and Capraja, not wishing to be the victims of mystification. Only Vendramin and the French doctor listened to them for a few minutes.

In their greatest moments the arts are but the expression of the grand scenes of nature. "I am not learned enough to enlarge on the philosophy of music; go and talk to Capraja; you will be amazed at what he can tell you.

"And you," retorted Cataneo, "have you never seen the direct ray of a star opening the vistas above; have you never mounted on that beam which guides you to the sky, to the heart of the first causes which move the worlds?" To their hearers, the Duke and Capraja were playing a game of which the premises were unknown. "Genovese's voice thrills through every fibre," said Capraja.

Too keen a feeling, at the moment when you want to represent that feeling, causes an insurrection of the senses against the governing faculty." "Might we not convince ourselves of this by some further experiment?" said the doctor. "Cataneo, you might bring your tenor and the prima donna together again," said Capraja to his friend. "Well, gentlemen," said the Duke, "come to sup with me.