[17.] The palace learnt to rise. Beside palaces, there are in Italy
many noted buildings which the poet must have seen. Among these are
St. Peter's in Rome, the cathedral in Milan, and St. Mark's in Venice.

[18.] Again the long-fallen column, etc. When architecture began to
flourish anew in Italy, early in the Middle Ages, many of the columns
used were taken from the ruins of buildings erected during the days of
the Roman Empire.

[19.] The canvas glowed. Giotto, born about 1266, was one of the first
of the Italian painters who gained distinction. Later came Leonardo da
Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian, and many others. Michelangelo
(1475-1564) was sculptor, architect, and writer, as well as painter.
Benvenuto Cellini, born in 1500, was noted as goldsmith, sculptor, and
writer.

[20.] More unsteady than the southern gale, etc. The discovery of
America and the opening of a route to India by the way of the Cape of
Good Hope, seriously affected the commerce of the Italian seaports.

[21.] Plethoric ill, ill caused by excess.

[22.] Caesars. The name _Caesar_ was assumed by all the Roman
emperors. _Kaiser_ and _tsar_, or _csar_, come from the word.

[23.] A churlish soil. Nearly three-quarters of the soil of
Switzerland is productive. [Transcriber's note: the word "productive"
may be incorrect, given Switzerland's mountainous terrain, but it is
what was printed in the original book.]