XIX

"It’s the Carnival, let each do as he may"
 
It’s the Carnival, let each do as he may,
Let’s dance in masks, and let’s go walking,
View Mark Antony, see the Zany clowning,
With Il Magnifico, in Venetian play:
 
Let’s see the Palio run, the ancient way,
And see the foolish ox, his nose bleeding,
Let’s see the fierce bull proudly fighting,
And see what skill Italian arms display:
 
Let’s see a storm of perfumed eggs let fly,
And fiery rockets whistling through the sky.
And then, let’s hurry onwards to confession:
 
Tomorrow we’ll visit the saints in holy wise,
There we’ll make love, but only with our eyes,
For the law allows but minor indiscretion.