It has been rightly said that to know two languages is to have two souls; in learning that of France the boy felt his heart thrill to the melody of its youthful poetry, and his imagination was mysteriously stirred with dreams of imitating the exploits of the French cavaliers.
But let us not anticipate.

His early life was that of other children of his age.

In the quarter of the town where his house is still shown no vehicles are ever seen; from morning till night the narrow streets are given over to the children.

They play there in many groups, frolicking with an exquisite charm, very different from the little Romans, who, from the time they are six or seven years old, spend hours at a time squatting behind a pillar, or in a corner of a wall or a ruin, to play dice or "morra," putting a passionate ferocity even into their play.
In Umbria, as in Tuscany, children love above all things games in which they can make a parade; to play at soldiers or procession is the supreme delight of Assisan children.

Through the day they keep to the narrow streets, but toward evening they go, singing and dancing, to one of the open squares of the city.