The Ballerina’s Departure

 “She is gone : Oh, how lonely and sad is this unhappy city today ! Alas ! in the streets one hardly meets a soul, and not a word is said in passing. Inns are locked, every grindstone is motionless, wells and fountains are dried up, the bells are silent, and only children are happy because there is no school. The monuments and obelisks put on black mourning, and in the orchards and gardens plants droop and flowers wither. Oh, genius of the theatres and puppet shows, either restore her to our hearts or at least transform us into puppets !”

Belli