News reached the Pisan circle early in December that a man who had insulted the Host at Lucca was sentenced to be burned.

Shelley proposed that the English--himself, Byron, Medwin, and their friend Mr.
Taafe--should immediately arm and ride off to rescue him.

The scheme took Byron's fancy; but they agreed to try less Quixotic measures before they had recourse to force, and their excitement was calmed by hearing that the man's sentence had been commuted to the galleys.

The other affair brought them less agreeably into contact with the Tuscan police.
The party were riding home one afternoon in March, when a mounted dragoon came rushing by, breaking their ranks and nearly unhorsing Mr.
Taafe.

Byron and Shelley rode after him to remonstrate; but the man struck Shelley from his saddle with a sabre blow.