My horse had suffered by the journey more than had I, and I would have taken a fresh one at Magliano, but there was none to be had--so they told me--this side of Narni, wherefore I was forced to set out once more upon that poor jaded beast that had carried me all night.
It was high noon when I came, at last, to Narni, the last league of the journey accomplished at a walk, for my nag could go no faster.

Here I paused to dine, but here, again, they told me that no horses might be had.

And so, leading by the bridle the animal I dared no longer ride, lest I should kill it outright, I entered the territory of Urbino on foot, and trudged wearily amain through the snow that was some inches deep by now.

In this miserable fashion I covered the seven leagues, or so, to Spoleto, where I arrived exhausted as night was falling.
There, at the Osteria del Sole, I supped and lay.

I found a company of gentlemen in the common-room, who upon espying my motley--when I had thrown off my sodden cloak and hat--pressed me, willy-nilly, into amusing them.