ITALIAN S C ENE RY, MA N N E R S , A N D CUSTOMS . 11
P I L A T E V I .
THE DANCE OF THE TARANTELLA.
JNIoST countries have a national dance, wliich is a favourite with the majority of the people
; but it is generally confined to the lower class, for which reason, however, it is the move
known, and the more celebrated. "What the fandango is to the Spaniards, the tarantella is
to the Neapolitans; and the seriousness of the former, and the vivacity of the latter, are admirably
pourtrayed in the tunes of the two dances.
We have already noticed the skill of the Neapolitan women on the t ambour ine ; but we sec
in the plate one playing on the gui t a r ; and it is to be observed, that the Neapolitans arc
equally skilful on this instrument. TIic Spanish guitar is nearly twice the depth of the Ne a -
politan ; and it is this alone that constitutes the difference between them. The instrument in
the plate before us, however, is that species of guitar which is called the lute. It is a favourite
instrument in Lower I t a l y ; and is the sweetest in point of sound, as well as more
extensive in compass.
The woman is dancing with castanets, which at Napl e s are called castagnette, and in Tuscany
naccJiere. This instrument is a species of the ancient cymbalum, as the tambourin is of
the tympanum, which in some medals is one of the attributes of Ceres. The man who is
dancing holds a riband in his hand, and with it forms a variety of attitudes, which are at
once whimsical and entertaining.
At the commencement of the danc e the ma n and woman are stationed opposite each other :
they advance, retire, change {)laces, and look passionately at each other, with movements
and gestures full of expression. The position of the feet is generally as here represented,
only that the right and the left are alternately brought foremost; and sometimes the dancei-s
show their skill by dancing cither on their toes or heels.
It is not certain whether the appellation of tarantella, givcji to this dance, come from the
territory of Taranto, or from the spider called tarantola, many of which are there found, and
the bite of which has been said to be mortal, unless cured by dancing to a brisk tunc, like
that appropriated to this dance. The wonderful effects of the venom of this spider arc so
improbable, that, though formerly an article of common belief, both the disease and cure are
now generally discredited. This dance, however, has been so much spoken of, t l i a twe have
thought proper to annex the tune.
i i s i 11 ii i! S H ' i i ' ! i'Ts'- ! i' i-'i '•I'lf Pf l i f l mimi . IMU II llM^ i V, Its HII