rose

Charles Burney

The Present State of Music in France and Italy (2nd, corrected edition)

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Rome


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most of the best hands, as I was informed,
were occupied in the convent with the
internal ceremony, the external was all
performed in the chapel.

When the cardinal was robed, the
novice was led into the chapel by a lady
of the first rank in Rome, and brought
to the altar in an exceeding splendid
dress. Her hair was of a beautiful light
brown, and curled en tte de mouton all
over her head. Her robe was of the
richest embroidered, and, I believe, em-
bossed, blue and silver, I ever saw.
She had on a large stage hoop, and a great
quantity of diamonds; more than two
yards of her train swept the ground;
she seemed rather a pretty sort of young
person than a beauty.

When she first appeared, she looked
very pale, and more dead than alive; she
made a most profound reverence to the
cardinal, who was seated on the steps of
the altar in his mitre and all his rich
vestments, ready to receive her. She threw

herself