Ветер в ивах

           O,Veniceisafinecity,whereinaratcanwanderathiseaseandtakehispleasure!Or,whenwearyofwandering,cansitattheedgeoftheGrandCanalatnight,feastingwithhisfriends,whentheairisfullofmusicandtheskyfullofstars,andthelightsflashandshimmeronthepolishedsteelprowsoftheswayinggondolas,packedsothatyoucouldwalkacrossthecanalonthemfromsidetoside!Andthenthefood—doyoulikeshell-fish?Well,well,wewon’tlingeroverthatnow."

           Hewassilentforatime;andtheWaterRat,silenttooandenthralled,floatedondream-canalsandheardaphantomsongpealinghighbetweenvaporousgreywave-lappedwalls.

           "Southwardswesailedagainatlast,"continuedtheSeaRat,"coastingdowntheItalianshore,tillfinallywemadePalermo,andthereIquittedforalong,happyspellonshore.Ineversticktoolongtooneship;onegetsnarrow-mindedandprejudiced.Besides,Sicilyisoneofmyhappyhunting-grounds.Iknoweverybodythere,andtheirwaysjustsuitme.Ispentmanyjollyweeksintheisland,stayingwithfriendsupcountry.WhenIgrewrestlessagainItookadvantageofashipthatwastradingtoSardiniaandCorsica;andverygladIwastofeelthefreshbreezeandthesea-sprayinmyfaceoncemore."

           "Butisn’titveryhotandstuffy,downinthe—hold,Ithinkyoucallit?"askedtheWaterRat.

           Theseafarerlookedathimwiththesuspicionofawink."I’manoldhand,"heremarkedwithmuchsimplicity.