Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-08-20
From shs Nov York Review.
MODERN ROME.

~ Wouiu De easy 10 em0elilSh II with
scenes Of tho highest interest for every
class Of readers. The incidents Of agri-
cultural life have more variety and more
picturesque. effect here, than in any other
part Of the world; and the vast farms of
Campo Morio and Santa Maria dl GaIera
give very different idea, from that which
generally prevails OTTOMAN industry and
skill. The difference is still more striking
in some Of the villages above the VALLEY
Of the Tiber. There the rude dwellings
Of the inhabitants remain as when they
Est clustered around the castle of
their fendal lord. The caste, too, with
It's towers, its embattled walls, its aTched
and grated windows, still wears the sui
len irown Of absolute dominion. But no
banner waves upon its walls, no signal fire
blazes upon lis watch tower, and the iron
studded portal has long since ceased to
graie upon its massive hinges. But vet
a more striking contrast between the
past and the present, is that which meets
the eye as il turns lfom the narrow and
squalid streets of the hamlet, to the ver-
dant cultivation that surrounds it. The
vine upon each sunny slope, the olive
upon the bill side; fruits and grain in the
depths Of the valley, and precipitous
banks which seem almost inaccessible TO
man or beast, rising in terraces, plat above
plat, and smiling with foliage and fruit.
Alter all, however, tho historical associa-
tions Of the Campagna form the most in.
tcresting point of view from which it
can be studied.-N5where does the past
wear so solemn, so imposing an aspect;
nowhere does the present recall,with such
stern realty, the scenes and the lessons
Of the past.
To see the same sun that shone so
brightly on the glitiering array of Roman
legions, on the havoc of the Goth OF The
Lombard, Of the Norman, now pouring
down its burning rays on tho scattered
hamlets and silent fields; the samo moon
that looked so meekly on the revels Of
the senatorial villa, on the midnight mys-
teres of the sacred groves, now Soften
ing down the rude rents oftime, and re-
storing TO the naked ruin a portion of that
beauty il can never wear again in the
glare of dayi TO meet the same smile on
the landscape, the same soothing breath
on the mountain side, as when they well
coined Cicero, Horace, a Virgil to
their cool retreat;whai scene can CO npare
with this, what cp;taph can plead SO
touchingly for pause in the hurried
march Of life; for tear upon this sep.
ulchre of world, whose destiny has been
fulfilled, and all ofwhich sayc lis memo
ry, has passed away. Let us seat our
selves again upon the summit of. the Al
ban mount, and give few more moments
to the past.--Below and around US, far
as the eye can reach, spreads the broad
unbroken expanse Of the Campaena.
tho seven hills seem TO have shrunk to
level with the plain, and Rome, though
she still sits proudly upon their crests, is
only known by her massive palaces and
the solemn swell Of tho dome ofSt. Peters.
To the north, upon the uttermost verge of
the horizon, stands Soracle, stern, soli-
tary carrier, scarcely soGened by the dis
iance. The undulating chain of the Sa-
bine mounts, rough, precipitous, now
covered with dark, close grown forests,
now standing out craggy and bare, draws
an impossible line TO the east, and is sep
arated by broad valley from the long
slope Of the Alban mount. The sea from
Centum Celia TO Antium washes tho
whole western coast, and is scarcely dis
tinguished by IFS deep blue, and the pu.
rer line Of its horizon, except from tho
Cainpagna itself. The Tiber CLEANS out
brightly in its tortuous course, aud the
white walls Of modern village mark tho
spot where it mingles with the waters Of
Of the Mediterranean.
Ages ago, those waters girdled the
base Of the mountain on which wo sit,
and tho highest points Of the Campagna
were but specks on the surface. A few
hardy sayages fed on tho chesnuts and
acorns Of the Sabine mounts, but the Al
ban was wreaihed in clouds of volcanic
smoke, and poured forth its torrents Of
lava through the broad cratcrs. Years
passed away; tho waters gradually retired
from the foot of the mountains, and the
land, raised by the earthquakes shock
aud lava flood, came forth smiling in the
Vendure Of new creation. Its smile
allured the hardy mouniaineers to a sol-
-ter dwslling, and as they descended, tribe
aftAT tribe, their clustering cottages, and
spreadiii;x hamlets, revealed tho pres.
ence Of q sairit more than human, For
the father ofNee gods himself, driven by
rebellion from Ms celestial seat, hnd de-.
scended to this Nyored spot and taken
up bis abode among pen. II was then
that the arts and alGJhe powers Of the
mind, and all the sympaihies ftho heart,
frat developed their humanizing inauen-
eos, and often did the men ofafter times
look back with sigh to the sunny period,
and radiant we're The colors in which they
painted the golden age.
Three silver lakes had risen up in the
cralefs Of the volcano, and on the shores
= Gths IL r.