_The Violin_ (Vol. iv., p. 101.).--This article reminds me of a distich
said to have been inscribed on the violin of Palestrina, the "Musicae
Princeps" of the sixteenth century:--
"Viva fui in sylvis; sum dura occisa securi;
Dum vixi tacui; mortua dulce sona."
Thus translated into French:
"La hache m'arracha mourant du ford des bois;
Vivant, j'etais muet; mort, on vante ma voix."
Palestrina's violin was made by a great musical instrument maker at
Bologna, who had the same lines graven on his lutes, bass-viols, &c.