The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-12-18

base OF the mountains, Is perhaps iwen-
~ feet in diameter. Its bottom has ne
yer been reached by the longest lines.
Not wave, nor a ripple, nor bub-
Bile is seen U on the unbroken surface
nothing save tu5 le.i eted image Of
crags over hanging the muiel, ~ Of
shrubs of evergreen lodged IN the Gre
vices. Tho outlet of The fountain is
donble--somoimes suhterranean, and
sometimes pouring over bed of rocks
AT tho surface of the ground, covered
with long green moss. A the time of
our visit, the upper channel was per
teCtly dry, being several feet above the
level of The water. Our guide assured
us, that the channel often alternatos in
the course ola single night. The sub
terrannean current gushes out several
rods below the fountain, and all al once
forms river sufficiently large to be ma
yigable with boats. A literary society,
manitesting more zeal than taste or
Judgment have been AT the expense of
erecting shapeless column ne he
margin oithe fountain, to perpemate the
names of Pclrarch and Laura as if the
fame of the poet needed such a monu-
ment!
| Crossing the stream nj its source, GU
riosity prompted us TO climb The moun-
tains which overhang the fount ain and
vale. But the effort cost us dear. We
were obliged TO creep the greater part of
the way upon our hands and knees and
so great was the fatigue, that one of the
party tainted on reaching the top of he
hill, compelling the guide to go in pur-
suit of water. The prospect was worth
much, but would hardly repay an adven-
ture ofthis description. On the summit of
the rock impending over the Sorgia, nre
the ruins OF a castle or chateau, said by
some to have been the house of Laura,
and by others, palace built by the Bsh-
op OF Cavillon. The latter opinion
seems 10 have the fairest claim To au-
thenticity. Nothing now remains but
the shattered walls, perched upon the
preclpice, and iorminga picturesque OBJ
]ect when seen from below.
| Descending from the mountain by n
route less arduous than the one pursued
in reaching the top, we visited the scite of
Petrarch's cottage, nj the base OF stu
penduous cliff, within few PAGES of
the river, and directly under the moun-
tain on the brow of which the prouder
mansion of Laura is said to have stood.
A humble habitatiou covers the ruins
of the poets residence. An old la
dy conducted US toa chystal spring,
gushing from beneath the rocks, and
touching with a wand the moss growing
upon the side, several beautiful trout
shot from the covert, and seemed TO
play IN the fountain at the command Of
their mistress for our amusement.
These waters are said TO have been hal-
lowed by the ystations of the muses.,
and the cool grotto to have been favor
ito haunt Of their solitary and lmpassion-
ed votaries. The spring is shaded by
shrubs OF laurel, branches OF which the
old lady permitted US to pluck, as me-
MORALS Of the consecrated retreat.
Opposite the bold and craggy projec-
ton of rocks, under which the cottage
of Petrarch WIS sheltered, is a little
green island in the Sorgia, once culti-
waited as his garden. 1t contains a few
rods of alluvial ground, lying nearly on
a level with the surface of the water,
and kept always verdant by irrigation.
In one Of his letters descriptive Of Vau-
cluse, Petrarch remarks, Il have
made myself two gardens, which please
me marvellously: 1 do not think tney
are to be equaled in all the world: they
are my transal pine Parnassus. Que Of
these gardens is shady, formed for CON
temptation, and sacred to Apollo. IL
hangs over the source Of the river, and
. terminated by rocks, or places access
sible only to birds. The other is near
CT my cottage, ofan aspect less severe,
and devoted to Bacchus and what is
extremely singular, it is in the middle
ola rapid river. The approach to it is
over aridge Of rocks, which eoIAmuni-
Gates with the garden; and there is a
natural grotto under the rock, which
gives it the appearance of rustic
bridge. Into this grotto the rays of the
sun never generates. am confident
ii resembles the place where Cicero
sometimes went to declaim. 1t invites
10 study. Thither retreat during the
noontide hours. My mornings are en-
gagged upon the hills, and my evenings
either in the meadaws, or in the gar
den sacred to Appollo.'
Leaving spot hallowed by so many
interesting associations, and passing UNI
der a long arch hewn out of the rock,
we sauntered along the left bank of the
Sorgia to the rustic bridge thrown across
the stream, in the midst ofthis little vil-
lage which rises in picturesque man
ner upon its shores. The houses are
small, and in some cases scarcely dis
a. a Il