第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"Alps and Sanctuaries of Piedmont and the Canton Ti",免费读到尾

  Thechurchhasbeenagooddealrestoredduringthelastfewyears,andaninterestingoldchapel——withanaltarinit——atwhichmasswassaidduringatimeofplague,whilethepeoplestoodsomewayoffinameadow,hasjustbeenentirelyrenovated;butaswithsomeEnglishchurches,themorecloselyapieceofoldworkiscopiedthemorepalpablydoesthemodernspiritshowthroughit,soheretheoppositeoccurs,fortheold-worldlinessoftheplacehasnotbeenimpairedbymuchrenovation,thoughtheintentionhasbeentomakeeverythingasmodernaspossible。

  IknowfewthingsmoretouchingintheirwaythantheporchofRossurachurch。Itisdatedearlyinthelastcentury,andisabsolutelywithoutornament;theflightofstepsinsideitleaduptothelevelofthefloorofthechurch。OnelovelysummerSundaymorning,passingthechurchbetimes,Isawthepeoplekneelinguponthesesteps,thechurchwithinbeingcrammed。Inthedarkerlightoftheporch,theytoldoutagainsttheskythatshowedthroughtheopenarchbeyondthem;farawaytheeyerestedonthemountains——

  deepbluesavewherethesnowstilllingered。Ineversawanythingmorebeautiful——andtheseforsootharethepeoplewhomsomanyofusthinktobetterbydistributingtractsaboutProtestantismamongthem!

  WhileIwaslooking,therecameasoundofmusicthroughtheopendoor——thepeopleliftinguptheirvoicesandsinging,asnearasI

  canremember,somethingwhichonthepianowouldcomethus:-

  [Atthispointinthebookamusicscoreisgiven]

  Ilikedtheporchalmostbestunderanaspectwhichitnolongerpresents。Onesummeranopeningwasmadeinthewestwall,whichwasafterwardsclosedbecausethewindblewthroughittoomuchandmadethechurchtoocold。Whileitwasopen,onecouldsitonthechurchstepsandlookdownthroughitontothebottomoftheTicinovalley;andthroughthewindowsonecouldseetheslopesaboutDalpeandCornone。BetweenthetwowindowsthereisapictureofaustereoldS。CarloBorromeowithhishandsjoinedinprayer。

  ItwasatRossurathatImadetheacquaintanceofawordwhichI

  havesincefoundverylargelyusedthroughoutNorthItaly。Itispronounced\"chow\"pureandsimple,butiswritten,ifwrittenatall,\"ciau,\"or\"ciao,\"the\"a\"beingkeptverybroad。Ibelievethewordisderivedfrom\"schiavo,\"aslave,which,becamecorruptedinto\"schiao,\"and\"ciao。\"Itisusedwithtwomeanings,bothofwhich,however,arededuciblefromthewordslave。Initsfirstandmorecommonuseitissimplyasalute,eitherongreetingortakingleave,andmeans,\"Iamyourveryobedientservant。\"

  Thus,ifonehasbeentalkingtoasmallchild,itsmotherwilltellittosay\"chow\"beforeitgoesaway,andwillthennodherheadandsay\"chow\"herself。Theotheruseisakindofpiousexpletive,intending\"Imustendureit,\"\"Iamtheslaveofahigherpower。\"ItwasinthissenseIfirsthearditatRossura。

  AwomanwaswashingatafountainwhileIwaseatingmylunch。ShesaidshehadlostherdaughterinParisafewweeksearlier。\"Shewasabeautifulwoman,\"saidthebereavedmother,\"but——chow。Shehadgreattalents——chow。IhadhereducatedbythenunsofBellinzona——chow。Herknowledgeofgeographywasconsummate——chow,chow,\"&c。Here\"chow\"means\"pazienza,\"\"IhavedoneandsaidallthatIcan,andmustnowbearitasbestImay。\"

  Itriedtocomforther,butcoulddonothing,tillatlastitoccurredtometosay\"chow\"too。Ididso,andwasastonishedatthesoothingeffectithaduponher。Howsubtlearethelawsthatgovernconsolation!Isupposetheymustultimatelybeconnectedwithreproduction——theconsolingideabeingakindofsmallcrosswhichRE-GENERATESorRE-CREATESthesufferer。Itisimportant,therefore,thatthenewideaswithwhichtheoldaretobecrossedshoulddifferfromtheselastsufficientlytodiverttheattention,andyetnotsomuchastocauseapainfulshock。

  Thereshouldbealittleshock,ortherewillbenovariationinthenewideasthataregenerated,buttheywillresemblethosethatprecededthem,andgriefwillbecontinued;theremustnotbetoogreatashockortherewillbenoillusion——noconfusionandfusionbetweenthenewsetofideasandtheold,andinconsequence,therewillbenoresultatall,or,ifany,anincreaseinmentaldiscord。Weknowverylittle,however,uponthissubject,andarecontinuallyshowntobeatfaultbyfindinganunexpectedlysmallcrossproduceawidediversionofthementalimages,whileinothercasesawideonewillproducehardlyanyresult。Sometimesagain,acrosswhichweshouldhavesaidwasmuchtoowidewillhaveanexcellenteffect。Ididnotanticipate,forexample,thatmysaying\"chow\"wouldhavedonemuchforthepoorwomanwhohadlostherdaughter;thecrossdidnotseemwideenough;shewasalready,asIthought,saturatedwith\"chow。\"Icanonlyaccountfortheeffectmyapplicationofitproducedbysupposingthewordtohavederivedsomeelementofstrangenessandnoveltyascomingfromaforeigner——justaslandwhichwillgiveapoorcrop,ifplantedwithsetsfrompotatoesthathavebeengrownforthreeorfouryearsonthissamesoil,willyetyieldexcellentlyifsimilarsetsbebroughtfromtwentymilesoff。Forthepotato,sofarasIhavestudiedit,isagood-tempered,frivolousplant,easilyamusedandeasilybored,andone,moreover,whichifbored,yawnshorribly。

  AsanexampleofacrossprovingsatisfactorywhichIhadexpectedwouldbetoowide,Iwouldquotethefollowing,whichcameundermynoticewhenIwasinAmerica。Ayoungmancalleduponmeinafloodoftearsoverthelossofhisgrandmother,ofwhosedeathattheageofninety-threehehadjustheard。Icoulddonothingwithhim;Itriedalltheordinarypanaceaswithouteffect,andwasgivinghimupindespair,whenIthoughtofcrossinghimwiththewell-knownballadofWednesburyCocking。{7}Hebrightenedupinstantly,andleftmeinascheerfulastateashehadbeenbeforeinadespondingone。\"Chow\"seemstodofortheItalianswhatWednesburyCockingdidformyAmericanfriend;itisakindofsmallspiritualpick-me-up,orcupoftea。

  FromRossuraIwentontoTengia,aboutahundredandfiftyfeethigherthanRossura。FromTengiathepathtoCalonico,thenextvillage,isalittlehardtofind,andaboyhadbetterbetakenfortenminutesorsobeyondTengia,Calonicochurchshowswellforsometimebeforeitisactuallyreached。Thepastureshereareveryrichinflowers,thetigerliliesbeingmoreabundantbeforethehayismown,thanperhapsevenatFusioitself。Thewholewalkislovely,andtheGribbiascawaterfall,themostgracefulintheValLeventina,isjustopposite。

  HowoftenhaveInotsatabouthereintheshadesketching,andwatchedtheblueuponthemountainswhichTitianwatchedfromunderthechestnutsofCadore。Nosoundexceptthedistantwater,orthecroakofaraven,ortheboomingofthegreatgunsinthatbattlewhichisbeingfoughtoutbetweenmanandnatureontheBiaschinaandtheMontePiottino。ItisalwaysapleasuretometofeelthatIhaveknowntheValLeventinaintimatelybeforethegreatchangeinitwhichtherailwaywilleffect,andthatImayhopetoseeitafterthepresentturmoilisover。Ourdescendantsahundredyearshencewillnotthinkoftheincessantnoiseasthoughofcannonadingwithwhichweweresofamiliar。FromnowherewasitmorestrikingthanfromCalonico,theMontePiottinohavingnosoonerbecomesilentthantheBiaschinawouldopenfire,andsometimesbothwouldbefiringatonce。Posteritymaycaretoknowthatanotherandlessagreeablefeatureofthepresenttimewasthequantityofstonesthatwouldcomeflyingaboutinplaceswhichonewouldhavethoughtwereoutofrange。Allalongtheroad,forexample,betweenGiornicoandLavorgo,therewasincessantblastinggoingon,anditwassurprisingtoseetheheighttowhichstonesweresometimescarried。Thedwellersinhousesneartheblastingwouldcovertheirroofswithboughsandleavestosoftenthefallofthestones。Afewpeoplewerehurt,butmuchlessdamagewasdonethanmighthavebeenexpected。ImaymentionforthebenefitofEnglishreadersthatthetunnelsthroughMontePiottinoandtheBiaschinaaremarvelsofengineeringskill,beingbothofthemspiral;theroaddescribesacompletecircle,anddescendsrapidlyallthewhile,sothatthepointofegressasonegoesfromAirolotowardsFaidoisatamuchlowerlevelthanthatofingress。

  Ifanaccidentdoeshappen,theycallitadisgrazia,thusconfirmingthesoundnessofaphilosophywhichIputforwardinanearlierwork。Everymisfortunetheyholdandquiterightlytobeadisgracetothepersonwhosuffersit;\"Sondisgraziato\"istheItalianfor\"Ihavebeenunfortunate。\"Iwasoncegoingtogiveapennytoapoorwomanbytheroadside,whentwootherwomenstoppedme。\"Nonmerita,\"theysaid;\"Sheisnodeservingobjectforcharity\"——thefactbeingthatshewasanidiot。Neverthelesstheywereverykindtoher。

  CHAPTERV——CalonicocontinuedandGiornicoOurinventionsincreaseingeometricalratio。Theyarelikelivingbeings,eachoneofwhichmaybecomeparentofadozenothers——somegoodandsomene\'er-do-weels;buttheydifferfromanimalsandvegetablesinasmuchastheynotonlyincreaseinageometricalratio,buttheperiodoftheirgestationdecreasesingeometricalratioalso。TakethismatterofAlpineroadsforexample。ForhowmanymillionsofyearswastherenoapproachtoaroadovertheSt。

  Gothard,savetheuntutoredwatercoursesoftheTicinoandtheReuss,andthetrackofthebouquetinorthechamois?Forhowmanymoreagesafterthiswastherenotamereshepherd\'sorhuntsman\'spathbytheriverside——withoutsomuchasalogthrownoversoastoformarudebridge?Noonewouldprobablyhaveeverthoughtofmakingabridgeoutofhisownunaidedimagination,morethananymonkeythatweknowofhasdoneso。Butanavalancheorafloodoncesweptapineintopositionandleftitthere;onthisagenius,whowasdoubtlessthoughttobedoingsomethingveryinfamous,venturedtomakeuseofit。Anothertimeapinewasfoundnearlyacrossthestream,butnotquite,andnotquite,again,intheplacewhereitwaswanted。Asecondgenius,tothehorrorofhisfellow-tribesmen——whodeclaredthatthistimetheworldreallywouldcometoanend——shiftedthepineafewfeetsoastobringitacrossthestreamandintotheplacewhereitwaswanted。Thismanwastheinventorofbridges——hisfamilyrepudiatedhim,andhecametoabadend。Fromthistocuttingdownthepineandbringingitfromsomedistanceisaneasystep。

  Toavoiddetail,letuscometotheoldRomanhorseroadovertheAlps。Thetimebetweentheshepherd\'spathandtheRomanroadisprobablyshortincomparisonwiththatbetweenthemerechamoistrackandthefirstthingthatcanbecalledapathofmen。FromtheRomanwegoontothemediaevalroadwithmorefrequentstonebridges,andfromthemediaevaltotheNapoleoniccarriageroad。

  Thecloseofthelastcenturyandthefirstquarterofthispresentonewasthegreateraforthemakingofcarriageroads。Fiftyyearshavehardlypassedandherewearealreadyintheageoftunnellingandrailroads。Thefirstperiod,fromthechamoistracktothefootroad,wasoneofmillionsofyears;thesecond,fromthefirstfootroadtotheRomanmilitaryway,wasoneofmanythousands;thethird,fromtheRomantothemediaeval,wasperhapsathousand;fromthemediaevaltotheNapoleonic,fivehundred;

  fromtheNapoleonictotherailroad,fifty。Whatwillcomenextweknownot,butitshouldcomewithintwentyyears,andwillprobablyhavesomethingtodowithelectricity。

  Itfollowsbyaneasyprocessofreasoningthat,afteranothercoupleofhundredyearsorso,greatsweepingchangesshouldbemadeseveraltimesinanhour,orindeedinasecond,orfractionofasecond,tilltheypassunnoticedastherevolutionsweundergointheembryonicstages,orarefeltsimplyasvibrations。Thiswouldundoubtedlybethecasebutfortheexistenceofafrictionwhichinterferesbetweentheoryandpractice。Thisfrictioniscausedpartlybythedisturbanceofvestedinterestswhicheveryinventioninvolves,andwhichwillbefoundintolerablewhenmenbecomemillionairesandpaupersalternatelyonceafortnight——

  livingoneweekinapalaceandthenextinaworkhouse,andhavingperpetuallytobesoldup,andthentobuyanewhouseandrefurnish,&c——sothatartificialmeansforstoppinginventionswillbeadopted;andpartlybythefactthatthoughallinventionsbreedingeometricalratio,yetsomemultiplymorerapidlythanothers,andthebackwardnessofoneartwillimpedetheforwardnessofanother。Atanyrate,sofarasIcansee,thepresentisabouttheonlycomfortabletimeforamantolivein,thateithereverhasbeenoreverwillbe。Thepastwastooslow,andthefuturewillbemuchtoofast。

  AnotherthingwhichwedonotbearinmindwhenthinkingoftheAlpsistheirnarrowness,andthesmallextentofgroundtheyreallycover。FromGoschenen,forexample,toAiroloseemsaverylongdistance。OnemustgouptotheDevil\'sBridge,andthentoAndermatt。FromherebyHospenthaltothetopofthepassseemsalongway,andagainitisalongwaydowntoAirolo;butallthiswouldeasilygoontothegroundbetweenKensingtonandStratford。

  FromGoschenentoAndermattisaboutasfarasfromHollandHousetoHydeParkCorner。FromAndermatttoHospenthalismuchthesamedistanceasfromHydeParkCornertotheOxfordStreetendofTottenhamCourtRoad。FromHospenthaltothehospiceonthetopofthepassisaboutequaltothespacebetweenTottenhamCourtRoadandBow;andfromBowyoumustgodownthreethousandfeetofzig-

  zagsintoStratford,forAirolo。Ihavemadethedeviationfromthestraightlineaboutthesameinonecaseasintheother;ineach,thedirectdistanceisnineandahalfmiles。ThewholedistancefromFluelen,ontheLakeofLucerne,toBiasca,whichisalmostonthesamelevelwiththeLagoMaggiore,isonlyfortymiles,andcouldbeallgotinbetweenLondonandLewes,whilefromLucernetoLocarno,actuallyontheLagoMaggioreitself,wouldgo,withagoodlargemargintospare,betweenLondonandDover。Wecanhardlyfancy,however,peoplegoingbackwardsandforwardstobusinessdailybetweenFluelenandBiasca,assomedoubtlessdobetweenLondonandLewes。

  ButhowsmallallEuropeis。Weseemalmostabletotakeitinatasinglecoupd\'oeil。FromMontBlancwecanseethemountainsontheParissideofDijonontheonehand,andthoseaboveFlorenceandBolognaontheother。WhataholewouldnotbemadeinEuropeifthisgreateyefulwerescoopedoutofit。

  ThefactisbutitissoobviousthatIamashamedtosayanythingaboutit,scienceisrapidlyreducingspacetothesameunsatisfactorystatethatithasalreadyreducedtime。Takelamb:

  wecangetlamballtheyearround。Thisisperpetualspring;butperpetualspringisnospringatall;itisnotaseason;therearenomoreseasons,andbeingnoseasons,thereisnotime。Takerhubarb,again。Rhubarbtothephilosopheristhebeginningofautumn,ifindeed,thephilosophercanseeanythingasthebeginningofanything。Ifanyoneaskswhy,Isupposethephilosopherwouldsaythatrhubarbisthebeginningofthefruitseason,whichisclearlyautumnal,accordingtoourpresentclassification。Fromrhubarbtothegreengooseberrythestepissosmallastorequirenobridging——withone\'seyesshut,andplentyofcreamandsugar,theyarealmostindistinguishable——butthegooseberryisquiteanautumnalfruit,andonlyalittleearlierthanapplesandplums,whichlastarealmostwinter;

  clearly,therefore,forscientificpurposesrhubarbisautumnal。

  Assoonaswecanfindgradations,orasufficientnumberofunitinglinksbetweentwothings,theybecomeunitedormadeonething,andanyclassificationofthemmustbeillusory。

  Classificationisonlypossiblewherethereisashockgiventothesensesbyreasonofaperceiveddifference,which,ifitisconsiderable,canbeexpressedinwords。Whentheworldwasyoungerandlessexperienced,peoplewereshockedatwhatappearedgreatdifferencesbetweenlivingforms;butspecies,whetherofanimalsorplants,arenowseentobesounited,eitherinferentiallyorbyactualfindingofthelinks,thatallclassificationisfelttobearbitrary。Theseasonsarelikespecies——theywereatonetimethoughttobeclearlymarked,andcapableofbeingclassifiedwithsomeapproachtosatisfaction。Itisnowseenthattheyblendeitherinthepresentorthepastinsensiblyintooneanother,andcannotbeclassifiedexceptbycuttingGordianknotsinawaywhichnonebutplainsensiblepeoplecantolerate。Strictlyspeaking,thereisonlyoneplace,onetime,oneaction,andoneindividualorthing;ofthisthingorindividualeachoneofusisapart。Itisperplexing,butitisphilosophy;andmodemphilosophylikemodernmusicisnothingifitisnotperplexing。

  Asimpleverificationoftheautumnalcharacterofrhubarbmay,atfirstsight,appeartobefoundinCoventGardenMarket,wherewecanactuallyseetherhubarbtowardstheendofOctober。Butthiswayoflookingatthematterarguesafatalineptitudeforthepursuitoftruephilosophy。ItwouldbeamostseriouserrortoregardtherhubarbthatwillappearinCoventGardenMarketnextOctoberasbelongingtotheautumnthensupposedtobecurrent。

  Practically,nodoubt,itdoesso,buttheoreticallyitmustbeconsideredasthefirst-fruitsoftheautumnifanyofthefollowingyear,whichbeginsbeforetheprecedingsummeror,perhaps,morestrictly,theprecedingsummerbutone——andhence,butanynumber,haswellended。Whetherthis,however,issoorno,therhubarbcanbeseeninCoventGarden,andIamafraiditmustbeadmittedthattothephilosophicallymindedtherelurkswithinitatheoryofevolution,andevenPantheism,assurelyasTheismwaslurkinginBishopBerkeley\'starwater。

  Toreturn,however,toCalonico。Thechurchisbuiltontheextremeedgeofacliffthathasbeenformedbythebreakingawayofalargefragmentofthemountain。Thisfragmentmaybeseenlyingdownbelowshatteredintocountlesspieces。Thereisafissureinthecliffwhichsuggeststhatatnoverydistantdaysomemorewillfollow,andIamafraidcarrythechurchtoo。Myfavouriteviewofthechurchisfromtheothersideofthesmallvalleywhichseparatesitfromthevillage,seeprecedingpage。

  Anotherverygoodviewisfromcloseruptothechurch。

  ThecuratoofCalonicowasverykindtome。Wehadlongtalkstogether。IcouldseeitpainedhimthatwasnotaCatholic。Hecouldneverquitegetoverthis,buthewasverygoodandtolerant。

  HewasanxioustobeassuredthatIwasnotoneofthoseEnglishwhowentaboutdistributingtracts,andtryingtoconvertpeople。

  ThisofcoursewasthelastthingIshouldhavewishedtodo;andwhenItoldhimso,heviewedmewithsorrow,buthenceforthwithoutalarm。

  AllthetimeIwaswithhimIfelthowmuchIwishedcouldbeaCatholicinCatholiccountries,andaProtestantinProtestantones。Surelytherearesomethingswhich,likepolitics,aretooserioustobetakenquiteseriously。Surtoutpointdezeleisnotthesayingofacynic,buttheconclusionofasensibleman;andthemoredeepourfeelingisaboutanymatter,themoreoccasionhavewetobeonourguardagainstzeleinthisparticularrespect。

  Thereisbutonestepfromthe\"earnest\"tothe\"intense。\"WhenSt。Paultoldustobeallthingstoallmenheletinthethinendofthewedge,nordidhemarkittosayhowfaritwastobedriven。

  IhaveItalianfriendswhomIgreatlyvalue,andwhotellmetheythinkIflirtjustatrifletoomuchwithilpartitonerowhenIaminItaly,fortheyknowthatinthemainIthinkastheydo。

  \"Thesepeople,\"theysay,\"makethemselvesveryagreeabletoyou,andshowyoutheirsmoothside;we,whoseemoreofthem,knowtheirroughone。Knuckleundertothem,andtheywillperhapscondescendtopatroniseyou;haveanyindividualityofyourown,andtheyknowneitherscruplenorremorseintheirattemptstogetyououtoftheirway。\"Ilprete,\"theysay,withasignificantlook,\"esempreprete。Forthefutureletushaveprofessorsandmenofscienceinsteadofpriests。\"Ismiletomyselfatthislast,andreply,thatIamaforeignercomeamongthemforrecreation,andanxioustokeepclearoftheirinternaldiscords。

  Idonotwishtocutmyselfofffromonesideoftheirnationalcharacter——asidewhich,insomerespects,isnolessinterestingthantheonewithwhichIsupposeIamonthewholemoresympathetic。IfIwereanItalian,Ishouldfeelboundtotakeaside;asitis,Iwishtoleaveallquarrellingbehindme,havingasmuchofthatinEnglandassufficestokeepmeingoodhealthandtemper。

  InoldtimespeoplegavetheirspiritualandintellectualsoptoNemesis。Evenwhenmostpositive,theyadmittedapercentageofdoubt。Mr。Tennysonhassaidwell,\"Therelivesmoredoubt\"——I

  quotefrommemory——\"inhonestfaith,believeme,thaninhalfthe\"

  systemsofphilosophy,orwordstothateffect。Thevictorhadaslaveathisearduringhistriumph;theslavesduringtheRomanSaturnaliadressedintheirmasters\'clothes,satatmeatwiththem,toldthemoftheirfaults,andblackedtheirfacesforthem。

  Theymadetheirmasterswaituponthem。Intheagesoffaith,anassdressedinsacerdotalrobeswasgravelyconductedtothecathedralchoiratacertainseason,andmasswassaidbeforehim,andhymnschanteddiscordantly。TheelderD\'Israeli,fromwhomI

  amquoting,writes:\"Onotheroccasions,theyputburntoldshoestofumeinthecensers;ranaboutthechurchleaping,singing,dancing,andplayingatdiceuponthealtar,whileaBOYBISHOPorPOPEOFFOOLSburlesquedthedivineservice;\"andlateronhesays:

  \"Solateas1645,apupilofGassendi,writingtohismasterwhathehimselfwitnessedatAixonthefeastofInnocents,says——\'I

  haveseeninsomemonasteriesinthisprovinceextravagancessolemnised,whichpaganswouldnothavepractised。Neithertheclergynortheguardiansindeedgotothechoironthisday,butallisgivenuptothelaybrethren,thecabbagecutters,errandboys,cooks,scullions,andgardeners;inaword,allthemenialsfilltheirplacesinthechurch,andinsistthattheyperformtheofficesproperfortheday。Theydressthemselveswithallthesacerdotalornaments,buttorntorags,orweartheminsideout;

  theyholdintheirhandsthebooksreversedorsideways,whichtheypretendtoreadwithlargespectacleswithoutglasses,andtowhichtheyfixtherindsofscoopedoranges……;particularlywhiledanglingthecenserstheykeepshakingtheminderision,andlettingtheashesflyabouttheirheadsandfaces,oneagainsttheother。Inthisequipagetheyneithersinghymnsnorpsalmsnormasses,butmumbleacertaingibberishasshrillandsqueakingasaherdofpigswhippedontomarket。Thenonsenseversestheychantaresingularlybarbarous:-

  Haecestclaradies,clararumclaradierum,Haecestfestadiesfestarumfestadierum。\'\"{8}

  Faithwasfarmoreassuredinthetimeswhenthespiritualsaturnaliawereallowedthannow。Theirreverencewhichwasnotdangerousthen,isnowintolerable。Itisabadsignforaman\'speaceinhisownconvictionswhenhecannotstandturningthecanvasofhislifeoccasionallyupsidedown,orreversingitinamirror,aspaintersdowiththeirpicturesthattheymayjudgethebetterconcerningthem。IwouldpersuadeallJews,Mohammedans,Comtists,andfreethinkerstoturnhighAnglicans,orbetterstill,downrightCatholicsforaweekineveryyear,andIwouldsendpeoplelikeMr。GladstonetoattendMr。Bradlaugh\'slecturesintheforenoon,andtheGrecianpantomimeintheevening,twoorthreetimeseverywinter。IshouldperhapstellthemthattheGrecianpantomimehasnothingtodowithGreekplays。TheylittleknowhowmuchmorekeenlytheywouldrelishtheirnormalopinionsduringtherestoftheyearforthelittlespiritualoutingwhichIwouldprescribeforthem,which,afterall,isbutanotherphaseofthewisesaying——Surtoutpointdezele。St。PaulattemptedanobviouslyhopelesstaskastheChurchofRomeverywellunderstandswhenhetriedtoputdownseasonarianism。Peoplemustandwillgotochurchtobealittlebetter,tothetheatretobealittlenaughtier,totheRoyalInstitutiontobealittlemorescientific,thantheyareinactuallife。Itisonlybypulsationsofgoodness,naughtiness,andwhateverelseweaffectthatwecangetonatall。Igrantthatwheninhisoffice,amanshouldbeexactandprecise,butourholidaysareourgarden,andtoomuchprecisionhereisamistake。

  Surelytruces,withoutevenanarrierepenseeofdifferenceofopinion,betweenthosewhoarecompelledtotakewidelydifferentsidesduringthegreaterpartoftheirlives,mustbeofinfiniteservicetothosewhocanenteronthem。Therearefewmerelyspiritualpleasurescomparabletothatderivedfromthetemporarylayingdownofaquarrel,eventhoughwemayknowthatitmustberenewedshortly。ItisagreatgrieftomethatthereisnoplacewhereIcangoamongMr。Darwin,ProfessorsHuxley,Tyndall,andRayLankester,MissBuckley,Mr。Romanes,Mr。Allen,andotherswhomIcannotcalltomindatthismoment,asIcangoamongtheItalianpriests。IrememberinonemonasterybutthiswasnotintheCantonTicinothenovicetaughtmehowtomakesacramentalwafers,andIplayedhimHandelontheorganaswellasIcould。I

  toldhimthatHandelwasaCatholic;hesaidhecouldtellthatbyhismusicatonce。Thereisnochanceofgettingamongourscientistsinthisway。

  SomefriendssayIwastellingaliewhenItoldthenoviceHandelwasaCatholic,andoughtnottohavedoneso。Imakeitaruletoswallowafewgnatsaday,lestIshouldcometostrainatthem,andsoboltcamels;butthewholequestionoflyingisdifficult。

  WhatIS\"lying\"?Turningformoralguidancetomycousinstheloweranimals,whoseunsophisticatednatureproclaimswhatGodhastaughtthemwithadirectnesswemaysometimesstudy,Ifindtheploverlyingwhensheluresusfromheryoungonesunderthefictionofabrokenwing。IsGodangry,thinkyou,withthisprettydeviationfromtheletterofstrictaccuracy?orwasitnotHewhowhisperedtohertotellthefalsehood——totellitwithacircumstance,withoutconscientiousscruple,notonceonly,buttomakeapracticeofit,soastobeaplausible,habitual,andprofessionalliarforsomesixweeksorsointheyear?Iimagineso。WhenIwasyoungIusedtoreadingoodbooksthatitwasGodwhotaughtthebirdtomakehernest,andifsoHeprobablytaughteachspeciestheotherdomesticarrangementsbestsuitedtoit。Ordidthenest-buildinginformationcomefromGod,andwasthereaneviloneamongthebirdsalsowhotaughtthematanyratetosteerclearofpriggishness?

  Thinkofthespideragain——anuglycreature,butIsupposeGodlikesit。Whatameanandodiouslieisthatwebwhichnaturalistsextolassuchamarvelofingenuity!

  OnceonasummerafternooninafarcountryImetoneofthoseorchidswhomakeittheirbusinesstoimitateaflywiththeirpetals。Thislietheydisposesocunninglythatrealflies,thinkingthehoneyisbeingalreadyplundered,passthemwithoutmolestingthem。Watchingintentlyandkeepingverystill,methoughtIheardthisorchidspeakingtotheoffspringwhichshefeltwithinher,thoughIsawthemnot。\"Mychildren,\"sheexclaimed,\"Imustsoonleaveyou;thinkuponthefly,mylovedones,forthisistruth;clingtothisgreatthoughtinyourpassagethroughlife,foritistheonethingneedful;oncelosesightofitandyouarelost!\"Overandoveragainshesangthisburdeninasmallstillvoice,andsoIlefther。ThenstraightwayIcameuponsomebutterflieswhoseprofessionitwastopretendtobelieveinallmannerofvitaltruthswhichintheirinnerpracticetheyrejected;thus,assertingthemselvestobecertainotherandhatefulbutterflieswhichnobirdwilleatbyreasonoftheirabominablesmell,thesecunningonesconcealtheirownsweetness,andlivelonginthelandandseegooddays。No:lyingissodeeplyrootedinnaturethatwemayexpelitwithafork,andyetitwillalwayscomebackagain:itislikethepoor,wemusthaveitalwayswithus;wemustalleatapeckofmoraldirtbeforewedie。

  Alldependsuponwhoitisthatislying。Onemanmaystealahorsewhenanothermaynotlookoverahedge。Thegoodmanwhotellsnolieswittinglytohimselfandisneverunkindly,maylieandlieandliewheneverhechoosestootherpeople,andhewillnotbefalsetoanyman:hisliesbecometruthsastheypassintothehearers\'ear。Ifamandeceiveshimselfandisunkind,thetruthisnotinhim,itturnstofalsehoodwhileyetinhismouth,likethequailsintheWildernessofSinai。Howthisissoorwhy,Iknownot,butthattheLordhathmercyonwhomHewillhavemercyandwhomHewillethHehardeneth。

  MyItalianfriendsaredoubtlessinthemainrightaboutthepriests,buttherearemanyexceptions,astheythemselvesgladlyadmit。FormyownpartIhavefoundthecuratointhesmallsubalpinevillagesofNorthItalytobemoreoftenthannotakindlyexcellentmantowhomIamattractedbysympathiesdeeperthananymeresuperficialdifferencesofopinioncancounteract。

  Withmonks,however,asageneralruleIamlessabletogeton:

  nevertheless,Ihavereceivedmuchcourtesyatthehandsofsome。

  Myyoungfriendthenovicewasdelightful——onlyitwassosadtothinkofthefuturethatisbeforehim。HewantedtoknowallaboutEngland,andwhenItoldhimitwasanisland,claspedhishandsandsaid,\"OhcheProvvidenza!\"Hetoldmehowtheotheryoungmenofhisownageplaguedhimashetrudgedhisroundshighupamongthemostdistanthamletsbeggingalmsforthepoor。\"Beagoodfellow,\"theywouldsaytohim,\"dropallthisnonsenseandcomebacktous,andwewillneverplagueyouagain。\"Thenhewouldturnuponthemandputtheirwordsfromhim。Ofcoursemysympathieswerewiththeotheryoungmenratherthanwithhim,butitwasimpossiblenottobesorryforthemannerinwhichhehadbeenhumbuggedfromthedayofhisbirth,tillhewasnowincapableofseeingthingsfromanyotherstandpointthanthatofauthority。

  WhathesaidtomeaboutknowingthatHandelwasaCatholicbyhismusic,putmeinmindofwhatanothergoodCatholiconcesaidtomeaboutapicture。HewasaFrenchmanandverynice,butadevot,andanxioustoconvertme。Hepaidafewdays\'visittoLondon,soIshowedhimtheNationalGallery。WhilethereIpointedouttohimSebastiandelPiombo\'spictureoftheraisingofLazarusasoneofthesupposedmasterpiecesofourcollection。Hehadtheproperorthodoxfitofadmirationoverit,andthenwewentthroughtheotherrooms。AfterawhilewefoundourselvesbeforeWest\'spictureof\"Christhealingthesick。\"MyFrenchfrienddidnot,I

  suppose,examineitverycarefully,atanyratehebelievedhewasagainbeforetheraisingofLazarusbySebastiandelPiombo;hepausedbeforeitandhadhisfitofadmirationoveragain:thenturningtomehesaid,\"Ah!youwouldunderstandthispicturebetterifyouwereaCatholic。\"Ididnottellhimofthemistakehehadmade,butIthoughtevenaProtestantafteracertainamountofexperiencewouldlearntoseesomedifferencebetweenBenjaminWestandSebastiandelPiombo。

  FromCalonicoIwentdownintothemainroadandwalkedtoGiornico,takingtherightbankoftheriverfromthebridgeatthetopoftheBiaschina。Notasodoftherailwaywasasyetturned。

  AtGiornicoIvisitedthegrandoldchurchofS。Nicolao,which,thoughalaterfoundationthanthechurchatMairengo,retainsitsoriginalcondition,andappears,therefore,tobemuchtheolderofthetwo。Thestonesareverymassive,andthecoursesarehereandthereirregularasinCyclopeanwalls;theendwallisnotbondedintothesidewallsbutsimplybuiltbetweenthem;themaindoorisveryfine,andthereisasidedooralsoverygood。Therearetwoaltarsoneabovetheother,asinthechurchesofS。AbbondioandS。CristoforoatComo,butIcouldnotmaketheloweraltarintelligibleinmysketch,andindeedcouldhardlyseeit,sowasobligedtoleaveitout。Theremainsofsomeveryearlyfrescoescanbeseen,butIdidnotthinkthemremarkable。Altogether,however,thechurchisonewhichnooneshouldmissseeingwhotakesaninterestinearlyarchitecture。

  Whilepaintingthestudyfromwhichthefollowingsketchistaken,Iwasstruckwiththewonderfullyvividgreenwhichthewhitewashedvaultofthechancelandthearchdividingthechancelfromthebodyofthechurchtookbywayofreflectionfromthegrassandtreesoutside。Itisnoteasyatfirsttoseehowthegreenmanagestofinditswayinsidethechurch,butthegrassseemstogetineverywhere。Ihadalreadyoftenseengreenreflectedfrombrilliantpasturageontotheshadowundertheeavesofwhitewashedhouses,butIneversawitsuffuseawholeinteriorasitdoesonafinesummer\'sdayatGiornico。IdonotremembertohaveseenthiseffectinEngland。

  Lookingupagainagainstthemountainthroughtheopendoorofthechurchwhenthesunwasinacertainposition,Icouldseeaninfinityofinsectlifeswarmingthroughouttheair。Noonecouldhavesuspecteditsexistence,tillthesun\'sraysfellonthewingsofthesesmallcreaturesataproperangle;onthistheybecamerevealedagainstthedarknessofthemountainbehindthem。Theswallowsthatwereflyingamongthemcannothavetohuntthem,theyneedonlyflywiththeirmouthswideopenandtheymustrunagainstasmanyaswillbegoodforthem。Isawthisincrediblymultitudinousswarmextendingtoagreatheight,andamsatisfiedthatitwasnomorethanwhatisalwayspresentduringthesummermonths,thoughitisonlyvisibleincertainlights。TotheseminutecreaturesthespacebetweenthemountainsonthetwosidesoftheTicinovalleymustbeasgreatasthatbetweenEnglandandAmericatoacodfish。Many,doubtless,liveinthemid-air,andnevertouchthebottomorsidesofthevalley,exceptatbirthanddeath,ifthen。Nodoubtsomeatmosphericeffectsofhazeonasummer\'safternoonareduetonothingbuttheseinsects。What,again,dothesmallerofthemliveupon?Ongerms,whichtothemarecomfortablemouthfuls,thoughtousinvisibleevenwithamicroscope?

  IfindnothingmoreinmynotesaboutGiornicoexceptthatthepeopleareveryhandsome,and,asIthought,ofaRomantype。TheplacewasaRomanmilitarystation,butitdoesnotfollowthatthesoldierswereRomans;nevertheless,thereisastrainofbullet-

  headedbloodintheplace。AlsoIrememberbeingtoldin1869thattwobearshadbeenkilledinthemountainsaboveGiornicotheprecedingyear。AtGiornicothevinebeginstogrowlustily,andwineismade。Thevinesaretrellised,andlookingdownuponthemonewouldthinkonecouldwalkuponthemasuponasolidsurface,socloselyandluxuriantlydotheygrow。

  FromGiornicoIbegantoturnmystepshomewardincompanywithanengineerwhowasalsoabouttowalkbacktoFaido,butweresolvedtotakeChironicoonourway,andkeptthereforetotherightbankoftheriver。AfteraboutthreeorfourkilometresfromGiornicowereachedChironico,whichiswellplaceduponafilled-uplakeandenviedasapaesericco,butisnotsocaptivatingassomeothers。HenceweascendedtillatlastwereachedGribbio3960

  ft。,acollectionofchaletsinhabitedonlyforashorttimeintheyear,butaniceplaceinsummer,richingentiansandsulphur-

  colouredanemones。FromGribbiothereisapathtoDalpe,offeringnodifficultywhateverandperfectinitsway。Onthisoccasion,however,wewentstraightbacktoFaidobyarathershorterwaythantheordinarypath,andthiscertainlywasalittledifficult,orasmycompanioncalledit,\"untantinodifficoltoso,\"inoneortwoplaces;Iatleastdidnotquitelikethem。

  AnotherdayIwenttoLavorgo,belowCalonico,andthenceuptoAnzonico。ThechurchandchurchyardatAnzonicoareverygood;

  fromAnzonicothereisapathtoCavagnago——whichisalsofullofgoodbitsforsketching——andSobrio。ThehighestvillagesintheimmediateneighbourhoodofFaidoareCampelloandMolare;theycanbeseenfromthemarket-placeofthetown,andarewellworththetroubleofaclimb。

  CHAPTERVI——PioraAnexcursionwhichmaybeverywellmadefromFaidoistotheValPiora,whichIhavealreadymorethanoncementioned。Thereisalargehotelherewhichhasbeenopenedsomeyears,buthasnothithertoprovedthesuccesswhichitwashopeditwouldbe。Ihavestayedtheretwoorthreetimesandfounditverycomfortable;

  doubtless,nowthatSignorLombardioftheHotelProsahastakenit,itwillbecomeamorepopularplaceofresort。

  ItookatrapfromFaidotoAmbri,andthencewalkedovertoQuinto;herethepathbeginstoascend,andafteranhourRoncoisreached。ThereisahouseatRoncowhererefreshmentsandexcellentFaidobeercanbehad。TheoldladywhokeepsthehousewouldmakeaperfectFate;Isawhersittingatherwindowspinning,andlookingdownovertheTicinovalleyasthoughitweretheworldandshewerespinningitsdestiny。Shehadasomewhatsternexpression,thinlips,iron-greyeyes,andanaquilinenose;

  herscantylocksstraggledfromunderthehandkerchiefwhichsheworeroundherhead。Heremploymentandthewistfulfar-awaylookshecastupontheexpansebelowmadeaveryfineensemble。\"Shewouldhaveafforded,\"asSirWalterScottsays,\"astudyforaRembrandt,hadthatcelebratedpainterexistedattheperiod,\"{9}

  butshemusthavebeenasmart-lookinghandsomegirlonce。

  Shebrightenedupinconversation。ItalkedaboutPiora,whichI

  alreadyknew,andtheLagoTom,thehighestofthethreelakes。

  ShesaidsheknewtheLagoTom。Isaidlaughingly,\"Oh,Ihavenodoubtyoudo。We\'vehadmanyagooddayattheLagoTom,Iknow。\"

  Shelookeddownatonce。

  Inspiteofhernearlyeightyyearsshewasactiveasawomanofforty,andaltogethershewasaverygrandoldlady。Herhouseisscrupulouslyclean。WhileIwatchedherspinning,Ithoughtofwhatmustsooftenoccurtosummervisitors。Imeanwhatsortofalook-outtheoldwomanmusthaveinwinter,whenthewindroarsandwhistles,andthesnowdrivesdownthevalleywithafuryofwhichweinEnglandcanhavelittleconception。Whataplacetoseeasnowstormfrom!andwhataplacefromwhichtosurveythelandscapenextmorningafterthestormisoverandtheairiscalmandbrilliant。Therearesuchmornings:Isawoneonce,butIwasatthebottomofthevalleyandnothighup,asatRonco。Roncowouldtakealittlesuneveninmidwinter,butatthebottomofthevalleythereisnosunforweeksandweekstogether;allisindeepshadowbelow,thoughtheupperhillsidesmaybeseentohavethesunuponthem。Iwalkedonceonafrostywinter\'smorningfromAirolotoGiornico,andcancalltomindnothinginitswaymorebeautiful:everythingwaslockedinfrost——therewasnotawaterwheelbutwassheetedandcoatedwithice:theroadwashardasgranite——allwasquietandseenasthroughadarkbutincrediblytransparentmedium。NearPiottaImetthewholevillagedraggingalargetree;thereweremanymenandwomendraggingatit,buttheyhadtopullhardandtheyweresilent;asIpassedthemIthoughtwhatcomely,well-begottenpeopletheywere。Then,lookingup,therewasasky,cloudlessandofthedeepestblue,againstwhichthesnow-cladmountainsstoodoutsplendidly。Noonewillregretawalkinthesevalleysduringthedepthofwinter。ButIshouldhavelikedtohavelookeddownfromthesunintothesunlessness,astheoldFatewomanatRoncocandowhenshesitsinwinteratherwindow;oragain,Ishouldliketoseehowthingswouldlookfromthissamewindowonaleadenmorninginmidwinteraftersnowhasfallenheavilyandtheskyismurkyandmuchdarkerthantheearth。Whenthestormisatitsheight,thesnowmustsearchandsearchandsearcheventhroughthedoublewindowswithwhichthehousesareprotected。Itmustrestupontheframesofthepicturesofsaints,andofthesister\'s\"grab,\"andofthelasthoursofCountUgolino,whichadornthewallsoftheparlour。NowonderthereisaS。MariadellaNeve——a\"St。MaryoftheSnow\";butIdowonderthatshehasnotbeenpainted。

  FromRoncothepathkeepslevelandthendescendsalittlesoastocrossthestreamthatcomesdownfromPiora。ThisisnearthevillageofAltanca,thechurchofwhichlooksremarkablywellfromhere。Thenthereisanhourandahalf\'srapidascent,andatlastallonasuddenonefindsone\'sselfontheLagoRitom,closetothehotel。

  Thelakeisaboutamile,oramileandahalf,long,andhalfamilebroad。Itis6000feetabovethesea,verydeepatthelowerend,anddoesnotfreezewherethestreamissuesfromit,sothatthemagnificenttroutinthe,lakecangetairandlivethroughthewinter。Inmanyotherlakes,asforexampletheLagodiTremorgio,theycannotdothis,andhenceperish,thoughthelakeshavebeenrepeatedlystocked。ThetroutintheLagoRitomaresaidtobethefinestintheworld,andcertainlyIknownonesofinemyself。

  Theygrowtobeaslargeasmoderate-sizedsalmon,andhaveadeepredflesh,veryfirmandfullofflavour。IhadtwocutletsoffoneforbreakfastandshouldhavesaidtheyweresalmonunlessI

  hadknownotherwise。Inwinter,whenthelakeisfrozenover,thepeoplebringtheirhayfromthefartherLakeofCadagnoinsledgesacrosstheLakeRitom。Here,again,wintermustbeworthseeing,butonaroughsnowydayPioramustbeanawfulplace。Thereareafewstuntedpinesnearthehotel,butthehillsidesareforthemostpartbareandgreen。Piorainfactisafinebreezyopenuplandvalleyofsingularbeauty,andwithasweetatmosphereofcowaboutit;itisrichinrhododendrons,andallmannerofAlpineflowers,justatriflebleak,butasbracingastheEngadineitself。

  ThefirstnightIwaseverinPioratherewasabrilliantmoon,andtheunruffledsurfaceofthelaketookthereflectionofthemountains。Icouldseethecattleamileoff,andhearthetinklingoftheirbellswhichdancedmultitudinouslybeforetheearasfirefliescomeandgobeforetheeyes;forallthroughafinesummer\'snightthecattlewillfeedasthoughitwereday。A

  littleabovethelakeIcameuponamaninacavebeforeafurnace,burninglime,andhesatlookingintothefirewithhisbacktothemoonlight。Hewasaquietmoodyman,andIamafraidIboredhim,forIcouldgethardlyanythingoutofhimbut\"Ohaltro\"——politebutnotcommunicative。SoafterawhileIlefthimwithhisfaceburnishedaswithgoldfromthefire,andhisbacksilverwiththemoonbeams;behindhimwerethepasturesandthereflectionsinthelakeandthemountains;andthedistantcowbellswereringing。

  ThenIwanderedontillIcametothechapelofS。Carlo;andinafewminutesfoundmyselfontheLagodiCadagno。HereIheardthattherewerepeople,andthepeoplewerenotsomuchasleepasthesimplepeasantryoftheseuplandvalleysareexpectedtobebynineo\'clockintheevening。FornowwasthetimewhentheyhadmovedupfromRonco,Altanca,andothervillagesinsomenumberstocutthehay,andwerelivingforafortnightorthreeweeksinthechaletsupontheLagodiCadagno。AsIhavesaid,thereisachapel,butIdoubtwhetheritisattendedduringthisseasonwiththeregularitywithwhichtheparishchurchesofRonco,Altanca,&c。,areattendedduringtherestoftheyear。Theyoungpeople,I

  amsure,liketheseannualvisitstothehighplaces,andwillbehardlyweanedfromthem。Happilythehaywillbealwaysthere,andwillhavetobecutbysomeone,andtheoldpeoplewillsendtheyoungones。

  AsIwasthinkingofthesethings,Ifoundmyselfgoingoffintoadoze,andthoughttheburnishedmanfromthefurnacecameupandsatbesideme,andlaidhishanduponmyshoulder。ThenIsawthegreenslopesthatriseallroundthelakeweremuchhigherthanI

  hadthought;theywentupthousandsoffeet,andtherewerepineforestsuponthem,whiletwolargeglacierscamedowninstreamsthatendedinaprecipiceofice,fallingsheerintothelake。Theedgesofthemountainsagainsttheskywereruggedandfullofclefts,throughwhichIsawthickcloudsofdustbeingblownbythewindasthoughfromtheothersideofthemountains。

  AndasIlooked,Isawthatthiswasnotdust,butpeoplecomingincrowdsfromtheotherside,butsosmallastobevisibleatfirstonlyasdust。Andthepeoplebecamemusicians,andthemountainousamphitheatreahugeorchestra,andtheglaciersweretwonoblearmiesofwomen-singersinwhiterobes,rangedtierabovetierbehindeachother,andthepinesbecameorchestralplayers,whilethethickdust-likecloudofchorus-singerskeptpouringinthroughthecleftsintheprecipicesininconceivablenumbers。WhenI

  turnedmytelescopeuponthemIsawtheywerecrowdeduptotheextremeedgeofthemountains,sothatIcouldseeunderneaththesolesoftheirbootsastheirlegsdangledintheair。Inthemidstofall,aprecipicethatrosefromoutoftheglaciersshapeditselfsuddenlyintoanorgan,andtherewasonewhosefaceIwellknewsittingatthekeyboard,smilingandpluminghimselflikeabirdashethunderedforthagiantfuguebywayofoverture。I

  heardthegreatpedalnotesinthebassstalkmajesticallyupanddown,liketheraysoftheAurorathatgoaboutuponthefaceoftheheavensoffthecoastofLabrador。Thenpresentlythepeopleroseandsangthechorus\"Venuslaughingfromtheskies;\"buterethesoundhadwelldiedaway,Iawoke,andallwaschanged;alightfleecycloudhadfilledthewholebasin,butIstillthoughtI

  heardasoundofmusic,andascampering-offofgreatcrowdsfromthepartwheretheprecipicesshouldbe。Themusicwentthus:-

  {10}

  [Atthispointinthebookamusicscoreisgiven]

  Byandbythecantering,gallopingmovementbecameatrottingone,thus:-

  [Atthispointinthebookamusicscoreisgiven]

  AfterthatIheardnomorebutalittlesingingfromthechalets,andturnedhomewards。WhenIgottothechapelofS。Carlo,Iwasinthemoonlightagain,andwhennearthehotel,Ipassedthemanatthemouthofthefurnacewiththemoonstillgleaminguponhisback,andthefireuponhisface,andhewasverygraveandquiet。

  NextmorningIwentalongthelaketillIcametoagood-sizedstreamletonthenorthside。Ifthisisfollowedforhalf-an-hourorso——andthewalkisaverygoodone——LakeTomisreached,about7500feetabovethesea。Thelakeisnotlarge,andtherearenotsomanychaletsasatCadagno;stilltherearesome。TheviewofthemountaintopsontheothersidetheTicinovalley,asseenfromacrossthelake,isveryfine。Itriedtosketch,butwasfairlydrivenbackbyacloudofblackgnats。Theridgesimmediatelyatthebackofthelake,andnogreatheightaboveit,arethemaindividinglineofthewatershed;soarethosethatrisefromtheLagodiCadagno;infact,about600feetabovethislakeisthetopofapasswhichgoesthroughthePianodeiPorci,andleadsdowntoS。MariaMaggiore,ontheGermansideoftheLukmanier。IdonotknowtheshortpiecebetweentheLagodiCadagnoandS。Maria,butitissuretobegood。ItisapitythereisnoplaceatS。Mariawhereonecanputupforanightortwo。Thereisasmallinnthere,butitdidnotlooktempting。

  BeforeleavingtheValLeventina,IwouldcallattentiontothebeautifuloldparishchurchatBiasca,wherethereisnowanexcellentinn,theHotelBiasca。ThischurchisnotsooldastheoneatGiornico,butitisagoodthoughplainexampleofearlyLombardarchitecture。

  CHAPTERVII——S。MicheleandtheMontePirchirianoSometimeafterthetravellerfromParistoTurinhaspassedthroughtheMontCenistunnel,andshortlybeforehearrivesatBussolenostation,thelineturnseastward,andaviewisobtainedofthevalleyoftheDora,withthehillsbeyondTurin,andtheSuperga,inthedistance。Ontheright-handsideofthevalleyandabouthalf-waybetweenSusaandTurintheeyeisstruckbyanabruptly-descendingmountainwithalargebuildinglikeacastleuponthetopofit,andtheneareritisapproachedthemoreimposingdoesitprovetobe。Presentlythemountainisseenmoreedgeways,andtheshapechanges。Inhalf-an-hourorsofromthispoint,S。Ambrogioisreached,onceathrivingtown,wherecarriagesusedtobreakthejourneybetweenTurinandSusa,butleftstrandedsincetheopeningoftherailway。HereweareattheveryfootoftheMontePirchiriano,forsothemountainiscalled,andcanseethefrontofthebuilding——whichisnoneotherthanthefamoussanctuaryofS。Michele,commonlycalled\"dellaChiusa,\"

  fromthewallbuiltherebyDesiderius,kingoftheLombards,toprotecthiskingdomfromCharlemagne。

  Thehistoryofthesanctuaryisbrieflyasfollows:-

  Atthecloseofthetenthcentury,whenOthoIIIwasEmperorofGermany,acertainHughdeMontboissier,anobleofAuvergne,commonlycalled\"HughtheUnsewn\"losdruscito,wascommandedbythePopetofoundamonasteryinexpiationofsomegraveoffence。

  HechoseforhissitethesummitoftheMontePirchirianointhevalleyofSusa,beingattractedpartlybythefameofachurchalreadybuilttherebyarecluseofRavenna,GiovanniVincenzobyname,andpartlybythestrikingnatureofthesituation。HughdeMontboissierwhenreturningfromRometoFrancewithIsengardehiswife,would,asamatterofcourse,passthroughthevalleyofSusa。Thetwo——perhapswhenstoppingtodineatS。Ambrogio——wouldlookupandobservethechurchfoundedbyGiovanniVincenzo:theyhadgottobuildamonasterysomewhere;itwouldverylikely,therefore,occurtothemthattheycouldnotperpetuatetheirnamesbetterthanbychoosingthissite,whichwasonamuchtravelledroad,andonwhichafinebuildingwouldshowtoadvantage。Ifmyviewiscorrect,wehavehereanillustrationofafactwhichiscontinuallyobservable——namely,thatallthingswhichcometomuch,whethertheybebooks,buildings,pictures,music,orlivingbeings,aresuggestedbyothersoftheirownkind。Itis;alwaysthemostsuccessful,likeHandelandShakespeare,whoowemosttotheirforerunners,inspiteofthemodificationswithwhichtheirworksdescend。

  GiovanniVincenzohadbuilthischurchabouttheyear987。ItismaintainedbysomethathehadbeenBishopofRavenna,butClarettagivessufficientreasonforthinkingotherwise。Inthe\"CronacaClusina\"itissaidthathehadforsomeyearspreviouslylivedasarecluseontheMonteCaprasio,tothenorthofthepresentMontePirchiriano;butthatonenighthehadavision,inwhichhesawthesummitofMontePirchirianoenvelopedinheaven-descendedflames,andonthisfoundedachurchthere,anddedicatedittoSt。

  Michael。ThisistheoriginofthenamePirchiriano,whichmeans[Greektext],ortheLord\'sfire。

  Thefameoftheheavenlyflamesandthepietyofpilgrimsbroughtinenoughmoneytocompletethebuilding——which,tojudgefromtheremainsofitembodiedinthelaterwork,musthavebeensmall,butstillachurch,andmorethanamerechapelororatory。Itwas,asIhavealreadysuggested,probablyimposingenoughtofiretheimaginationofHughdeMontboissier,andmakehimfeelthecapabilitiesofthesituation,whichamereordinarywaysidechapelmightperhapshavefailedtodo。Havingbuilthischurch,GiovanniVincenzoreturnedtohissolitudeonthetopofMonteCaprasio,andthenceforthwentbackwardsandforwardsfromoneplaceofabodetotheother。

  AvogadroisamongthosewhomakeGiovanniBishop,orratherArchbishop,ofRavenna,andgivesthefollowingaccountofthecircumstanceswhichledtohisresigninghisdioceseandgoingtoliveatthetopoftheinhospitableMonteCaprasio。ItseemstherehadbeenaconfirmationatRavenna,duringwhichhehadaccidentallyforgottentoconfirmthechildofacertainwidow。

点击下载App,搜索"Alps and Sanctuaries of Piedmont and the Canton Ti",免费读到尾