The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-04-18

to change horses, and we're happy to leave
at its gates the clamOrons crles for charity,
as well as to escape from the stencil of con-
fined streets to the breathing fragrance of
the enyirons. The Vale of the Clitumnus
is worthy of all the panegyrlcs, which
have been lavished on its rural beauties by
poets and tourists, from Virgil to Byron
Nature here wantons in luxurlance, While
the Incidence of the inhabitants has lett
her to fling over the landscape many OF her
wild and negligent graces. The district
from the earliest times seems to have oeeh
appropriated in considerable part to graz
mo: and descendants of the snow-whlte
victims. which once graced the trlumphs
and sacrifices of Rome, are still found
straying in the rich pastures, beautifully
enalnelled with the species of red clover
alluded to in former pare graph. Inter
mingled with the pastures, are rich helds
of grain, vineyards, and plantations OF
fruit trees.
The next post brough us to Spoleto, a
large town of great antiquity, situated on
a gentle activity at the southern extreml-
ty of the Vale of the Clitumnus, OF which
it commands an enchanting view. More
than two thousand years ago, 1t was OF sui
ficient strength to withstand siege and
repel the arms of Hannibal; and in the e.
ternal successession of wars, by which TIA
" has been visited since that period, Spole-
to has always been deemed an important
post, as commanding pass VI CIIe IrIUuIT'
tains leading to Rome. An immense Goth
ic fortress, erected by Theodore, crowns
an indulated hill, which overloks the town
and forms picturesque object at a dis
lance. The ramparts and gates are mas
sive, resembling rather garrison than {
city, though at present it contains no othel
warriors than an army ofprlests and monks
forming a portion of the church militant
Like all the other towns on this route, tn
interior is dirty, gloomy, and mean, exhib
ting an image of poverty and decay.
In making our exit under the lofty walls
we had fine view of the environs, EN-
bracing one or two palaces and convent
on the right, and colossal structure o.
the left, crossing deep ravine, and serv
ing in the double capacity of bridge an
an aqueduct. Our ascent for several mile
up the activities Of Monte Somma, drag
ged as usual by six horses and four oXeI
1.-THE latter having on this occasion the ne0
appendage of string of BELLS, was e8
tremely slow and toilsome. The top c
this mountain, over which the road runs,
UNG IHOuShUu lGet III Height. II COilIilloIlti
most enchanting prospect backward int
the Vale of Cltumus, over the antiqu
towers of Spoleto, rising at the outlet of tn
pass.
Half mile beyond the village of Narn
our carriages were left to climb long bill
while we FASTENED to view the ruins of tn
bridge of Augustus, extending from on
mountain to another across the Mar, wher
the river makes its exit from the vale
through rugged pass of the Apprentices
1t was a sight worth seeing. There wer
originally four stupendous arches, one c
which is yet standing, though its massiv
blocks of stone, started from their places
and hanging at dizzy height in the all
seemed ready at every moment to dro
upon our heads. Some of their fellow
have already yielded to the pressure of tn,
hand of time, and left wide rents in the i'm
shane of a dilapidaJeu tower, VIVA y
shrubbery springing from its top, has brav
ed for nearly two thousand years the impet
uous current of the Mar, which foams an
dashes round the ruin