The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-20


green, and bordered by trees, among
which was the almond already in full
blom. Its flower is delicious in com.
PleSon as well as in fragrance and
was d0ably grateful from being found in
this seqoesteged retreat, as also for af.
fording the first indications of the return
ct sPnng. Vegetation was here sever
al weeks in advance of the adjacent
country, owing to southern exposure.
10 Constant irrigation, aud above ali to a
security against the icy winds from the
north. On the day Of our sisit the air
possessed the temperature of May, and
The sotest gales breathed around US.
ahe sme causes must operate the
whole year, and it may be doubted
whether the frost of winter are ever
severe in this sunny vale, enbosomed 10
the form of a crescent among the hills.
Leaving our carriage at the small inn,
which bears tie name of The Two
Lauras," and taxing the landlord for
guide, we trace up the silver stream of
the Sorgia TO its fountain.-Nolhing can
be more exquEiteIy beautiful. The
water is clear a crystal, being as per-
fec,ly Transparent as air itself, and of
snch depth as o exhibit all the hues Of
the rocky bed reflected from the surface
of the current. We counted SIX or sew
en- distinct colours, such as green, pur-
pie, blue, aid white, blending by the
most deIcae shades, and forming the
most splenid pieces OF liquid mosaic
imaginable. This is striking peculi-
arity whic distinguishes the Sorgia
from all otIer streams.
From thecascade already mentioned,
at the Quite of the valley, to the foun-
tain, the current is the whole way so
rapid as frequently tO break over the
rocks; and o several places are falls of
considerable height, the murmuVs of
which fill he glen, aud die away in
echoes amog the hills. The confused
and perpetual uPro4r, sent back npon
the ear, thu hollow reyerberations from
the cliffs, has an iudescrIbahle effect in
soothing tie mind, and in lullng the
feelings inc a pleasing melancholy.
Sauntering along the green margin OF
the stream we often paused TO read Pc
trareb, and to think how often he had
watched the descent and listened to the
music OF the same bright waters |! So
vis'a - H. i..> nrnssin - T---l - y ,
the enchanting scene, that the hills
seem scarcely to have forgotten the
name of Laura -
"Je redenandais Lure l'eeho du vallou,
1t l'echo liavsit pont oublie &c doux nom."
But have not YET conduc led the
reader to the fountain itself. Let him
approach with me, and gaze at Tire gas
sy, dark, and fathomless abyss of wa
tiers, sleeping at the base of an impend-
ing cliff, which rises to the height OF
about six hundred feet, and strikes the
spectator With awe. The semicircuiar
basin, the chord of which is formed by
the shelving base Of the mountain, is
perhaps twenty feet in diameter. Its
bottom has never been reached by the
longest lines. Not wave, nor ripple,
nor a pebble is seen upon the unbroken
surface--nOthiDg, save the reflected i'm
age of thecrags overhanging the mir
ror, and oil shrubs Of evergreen lodged
in the crevices. The outlet of the
fountain is dou6le-somelilnes subter-
ranean, ana sometimes pouring over a
bed of rocks at the surface of the
ground, covered with long green moss
AT the time Of our visit, the upper
channel was perfectly dry, being several
feet above the level Of the water. Our
guide assured us, that the channel otter
alternates in the course of single night
The subterranean current gushes gu
several rods below the fountain, and al
at once forms a river sufficiently large
to be navigable with boats. A literary
society, mauifesting more zeal than taste
of Judgment, have been at the expense
of erecting shapeless column near The
margin of the fountain, 10 perpetuate
the names of Petrarch and Laura; as i
The fame Of the poet needed such {
monument
Crossing the stream at its source, Gu
riosity prompted US to climb the noun
tain which overhangs the fountain vale
But the effort cost us dear. We were
obliged 10 creep the greater part o
our way upon our hands and knees; and
SO great was the fatigue, that one OF che
party tainted on reaching the top of the
hill, compelling the guide to go in Pursui
Of water. The prospect was worth much
but would hardly repay an adventure o.
this description, On the summit Of the
rock impending over the Sorgia, are the
ruins Of a castle or chateau, said BY
some to have been the house of Laura
and by others, a palace built by the
Bishop of Cavsillon. The latter opin'
ion soams 70 have the fairest claim &c