Even among the roses and raptures of the most voluptuous poem of the century their presence makes itself felt, as though to hint that the _Adone_ is capable of being used according to Jesuitical rules of casuistry A.M.D.G.

One warning voice was raised before the publication of this epic.

Cardinal Bentivoglio wrote from Italy beseeching Marino to 'purge it of lasciviousness in such wise that it may not have to dread the lash of our Italian censure.' Whether he followed this advice, in other words whether the original MS.

of the _Adone_ was more openly licentious than the published poem, I do not know.

Anyhow, it was put upon the Index in 1627.