"Ask him and he'll set before ye
Vino birra e liquori,

Asti, Grignolino, Sherry
Prezzi moderati--very."


There was more, but I have forgotten it. Joseph Rossi was a famous
old waiter long since retired, something like Pietro at the Hotel
Rosa Rossa at Casale, whom all that country side knew perfectly well.
This last entry reminds me of a somewhat similar one which I saw some
five and thirty years ago at the inn at Harlech; -


1.

[Greek text which cannot be reproduced]
By this 'ere I mean to testify how very well they feed you.

2.

"Quam superba sit ruina,
Ipsa sua semper laus,
And the castle--nothing finer,
With its ivy and jackdaws."


It is a pity the art of writing such pleasing little poems should be
now so generally neglected in favour of more ambitious compositions.