He would have judged very severely of such a woman in England, but he did not apply the usual etiquette of society to Italy, and the coronation of Corinne inspired him beforehand with that interest to which an adventure of Ariosto would give birth.
Very fine and brilliant music preceded the arrival of the triumphal procession.

Any event, whatever it may be, which is announced by music, always produces emotion.

A great number of Roman Lords, and some foreigners, preceded the car of Corinne.

"_That is the train of her admirers!_" said a Roman.

"_Yes_," replied the other, "_she receives the incense of everybody; but she grants nobody a decided preference: she is rich and independent; it is even believed, and certainly her appearance bespeaks it, that she is a woman of illustrious birth who desires to remain unknown_." "_Be it as it may_," replied a third, "_she is a goddess wrapt in a cloud_." Oswald looked at the man who spoke thus, and every thing about him indicated that he belonged to the most obscure rank in society; but in the south people so naturally make use of poetical expressions, that one would say they were inhaled with the air and inspired by the sun.
At length way was made through the crowd for the four white horses that drew the car of Corinne.