exaggerated; but his history is from an authentic source, and from his
voluntary confession.

The reader may wish to know something of the person of Spatolino. He was
of low stature, long visage, fair skin, but his face of an olive pale
hue; his eyes of a light blue, and full of animation; his aspect fierce;
hair light; long whiskers; lips pale; broad back; swift of foot; and
particularly animated in his action. He wore a jerkin lined with red, a
dark yellow waistcoat, blue breeches, a breast-pouch with fifty
cartridges, four pistols, and a small hanger by his side. In his
breeches-pocket he kept a small stiletto. He also bore a long gun. On
his head he wore continually a net, and upon that his hat. His wife
followed him in all his excursions, and he greatly esteemed and loved
her. He remained some time in the mountains near Rome, and with his
associates laid in a store of whatever was necessary for their new
avocation. He then resolved upon proceeding to Sonnino, the common
rendezvous of the greater part of the banditti in the papal states. In
Sonnino he found some followers, who, going deeply into his notions, did
not scruple to join him. They swore to entertain an eternal friendship
for each other, implacable hatred against the French, and laid it down
as a duty to rob and kill them. Spatolino, before commencing his career
as brigand, repaired to the curate of Sonnino, and requested absolution
for all the crimes he had or might commit; the curate, surprised at this
request, observed to him, that absolution was only given after sins were
committed. Spatolino very soon quieted the scruples of the curate, by
making him a present of a very handsome watch; upon which he immediately
raised his hands and gave him the desired absolution. Sonnino may be
compared with Pontus, where Ovid was in exile, and which is thus
described by that celebrated author:--"The men I meet with are not even
worthy of the name; they are more fierce than wolves; have no laws, as