Nineteenth Evening"I come from Rome," said the Moon. "In the midst of the
city, upon one of the seven hills, lie the ruins of the imperial
palace. The wild fig tree grows in the clefts of the wall, and
covers the nakedness thereof with its broad grey-green leaves;
trampling among heaps of rubbish, the a*s treads upon green
laurels, and rejoices over the rank thistles. From this spot,
whence the eagles of Rome once flew abroad, whence they 'came, saw,
and conquered,' our door leads into a little mean house, built of
clay between two pillars; the wild vine hangs like a mourning
garland over the crooked window. An old woman and her little
granddaughter live there: they rule now in the palace of the
Caesars, and show to strangers the remains of its past glories. Of
the splendid thr
