Портрет Дориана Грея

           PietroBarbi,theVenetian,knownasPaultheSecond,whosoughtinhisvanitytoassumethetitleofFormosus, andwhosetiara,valuedattwohundredthousandflorins,wasboughtatthepriceofaterriblesin; GianMariaVisconti,whousedhoundstochaselivingmen, andwhosemurderedbodywascoveredwithrosesbyaharlotwhohadlovedhim; theBorgiaonhiswhitehorse,withFratricideridingbesidehim,andhismantlestainedwiththebloodofPerotto; PietroRiario,theyoungCardinalArchbishopofFlorence,childandminionofSixtusIV., whosebeautywasequalledonlybyhisdebauchery, andwhoreceivedLeonoraofAragoninapavilionofwhiteandcrimsonsilk, filledwithnymphsandcentaurs,andgildedaboythathemightserveatthefeastasGanymedeorHylas; Ezzelin,whosemelancholycouldbecuredonlybythespectacleofdeath,andwhohadapassionforredblood,asothermenhaveforredwine —thesonoftheFiend,aswasreported,andonewhohadcheatedhisfatheratdicewhengamblingwithhimforhisownsoul; GiambattistaCibo,whoinmockerytookthenameofInnocent,andintowhosetorpidveinsthebloodofthreeladswasinfusedbyaJewishdoctor; SigismondoMalatesta,theloverofIsotta,andthelordofRimini,whoseeffigywasburnedatRomeastheenemyofGod andman,whostrangledPolyssenawithanapkin,andgavepoisontoGinevrad’Esteinacupofemerald, andinhonourofashamefulpassionbuiltapaganchurchforChristianworship; CharlesVI.,whohadsowildlyadoredhisbrother’swifethataleperhadwarnedhimoftheinsanitythatwascomingonhim, andwho,whenhisbrainhadsickenedandgrownstrange,couldonlybesoothedbySaracencardspaintedwiththeimagesofLoveandDeathandMadness;