in their purity and elegance of diction, and place him among the great makers of the Italian language. To Dante he wrote an ode condoling with him upon the death of Beatrice in tender and musical lines. He died in his native city of Pistoja at the age of sixty-six, upon which Petrarch composed his celebrated lament, beginning: "Weep, women, and may love weep with you; Weep, lovers of all countries, * * * * * For our ever gentle Master, Cino, Is now gone far from us." * * * * * [Illustration: VIA ABBI PAZIENZA] [Illustration: _Alinari_ _Benedetto Buglioni_ CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN OSPEDALE DEL CEPPO, PISTOJA] [Illustration] [Illustration: _Alinari_ _Mino da Fiesole_ MONUMENT OF CARDINAL NICCOLÒ FORTEGUERRA CHURCH OF S. CECILIA, ROME] A SUNDAY AMONG THE HILLS OF BRANCOLI [Illustration: _Alinari_ _Fra Bartolommeo_ THE VIRGIN AND CHILD ENTHRONED, AND SAINTS CATHEDRAL, LUCCA] [Illustration] A SUNDAY AMONG THE HILLS OF BRANCOLI "O day most calm, most bright." --HERBERT. [Illustration] On St. Patrick's Day in the morning we left Florence, had a full day's sight-seeing in Pistoja, Groppoli, and Serravalle, and pushed on to Lucca the same evening, arriving about seven o'clock. [Illustration: _M. M. Newell_ THE OLD CITY WALL AND MOAT, LUCCA] Acting on sound British advices, we drove at once to the Albergo dell'Universo, a comfortable little inn occupying the first floor of the old Palazzo Arnolfo, where we had our belated dinner, took our ease before a cheerful open fire, and congratulated ourselves that at last we were in Lucca--a hope long deferred. [Illustration: _Alinari_ _Jacopo della Quercia_ TOMB OF ILARIA DEL CARRETTO, CATHEDRAL, LUCCA]