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The customary sounds of human occupation or pleasure had ceased;

and this silence of death was interrupted only by the funeral

cars, the lamentations of the sick, the shrieks of the frantic,

or the vociferations of the monatti.

At the break of day, at noon, and at night, a bell of the

cathedral gave the signal for reciting certain prayers, which had

been ordered by the archbishop, and this was followed by the

bells of the other churches. Then persons were seen at the

windows, and a confused blending of voices and groans was heard,

which inspired a sorrow, not however unmixed with consolation. It

is probable that at this time not less than two thirds of the

inhabitants had died, and of the remainder many were sick or had

left the city. Every one you met exhibited signs of the dreadful

calamity. The usual dress was changed of every order of persons.

The cloak of the gentleman, the robe of the priest, the cowl of

the monk, in short, every loose appendage of dress that might

occasion contact, was carefully dismissed; every thing was as

close on the person as possible. Men's beards and hair were alike

neglected, from fear of treachery on the part of the barbers.