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Charles Dickens - Pictures from Italy
sent home, from time to time, in private letters. I do not mention the circumstance as an excuse for any
defects they may present, for it would be none; but as a guarantee to the Reader that they were at least
penned in the fulness of the subject, and with the liveliest impressions of novelty and freshness.
If they have ever a fanciful and idle air, perhaps the reader will suppose them written in the shade of a
Sunny Day, in the midst of the objects of which they treat, and will like them none the worse for having
such influences of the country upon them.
I hope I am not likely to be misunderstood by Professors of the Roman Catholic faith, on account of
anything contained in these pages. I have done my best, in one of my former productions, to do justice to
them; and I trust, in this, they will do justice to me. When I mention any exhibition that impressed me as
absurd or disagreeable, I do not seek to connect it, or recognise it as necessarily connected with, any
essentials of their creed. When I treat of the ceremonies of the Holy Week, I merely treat of their effect,
and do not challenge the good and learned Dr. Wiseman's interpretation of their meaning. When I hint a
dislike of nunneries for young girls who abjure the world before they have ever proved or known it; or
doubt the ex officio sanctity of all Priests and Friars; I do no more than many conscientious
Catholics both abroad and at home.
I have likened these Pictures to shadows in the water, and would fain hope that I have, nowhere, stirred
the water so roughly, as to mar the shadows. I could never desire to be on better terms with all my
friends than now, when distant mountains rise, once more, in my path. For I need not hesitate to avow,
that, bent on correcting a brief mistake I made, not long ago, in disturbing the old relations between
myself and my readers, and departing for a moment from my old pursuits, I am about to resume them,
joyfully, in Switzerland; where during another year of absence, I can at once work out the themes I have
now in my mind, without interruption: and while I keep my English audience within speaking distance,
extend my knowledge of a noble country, inexpressibly attractive to me.
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This book is made as accessible as possible, because it would be a great pleasure to me if I could hope,
through its means, to compare impressions with some among the multitudes who will hereafter visit the
scenes described with interest and delight.
And I have only now, in passport wise, to sketch my reader's portrait, which I hope may be thus
supposititiously traced for either sex:
Complexion Fair.
Eyes Very cheerful.
Nose Not supercilious.
Mouth Smiling.
Visage Beaming.
General Expression Extremely agreeable.
CHAPTER I - GOING THROUGH FRANCE
On a fine Sunday morning in the Midsummer time and weather of eighteen hundred and forty-four, it
was, my good friend, when - don't be alarmed; not when two travellers might have been observed slowly
making their way over that picturesque and broken ground by which the first chapter of a Middle Aged
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