Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-19

more picturesque, tho mountains increase III mum n
Der aud interest. Hero aud .here, in the dis n
lance. can be seen, nm elevated peak that hides it, u
dim outline in the clouds. Upon others, the white c
walls Of towns are visible, Looking like fortified g
and ir0wning castles, These are cities OF the mid 8
die ages, aud have been placed there for the secu' I
rity OF the inhabitants from the attack OF the horueo
that, at one period, desolntcd the valleys. These
towns. so far up and difficult If access, IRE OF.
|iccts Of great interest to the traveller, and he re-
CARDS them as parts OF the 'drunatis persoi 40 IN
the trogicul and bloody drama VI tho dark ages
Tho poor people who dwell in these solitary anu
lofty cities, retain to the present day, many ct
the costumes and habits Of their ancestors OF 3OO
years ago. They are employed by the lnrdly pat
ron in the cultivation Of the fields, OF the valleys,
and live. as the poor of Italy always live, upon
hard.carned and prccarious bread. There is some.
thing melancholy in the fortune and character OF
these poor inuuntaincers. As Water approaches,
the sad and trying condition to which they are
sometimes reduced, is ritiable enough.
To a stranger, the picturesque character OF the
situations of these towns, the grandeur of the see
merry around, and the fertile add rich valley, with
its beautiful streams that wind like rivers OF sill
yer, through groves OF, chestnut and fields OF pastor
ri loveliness, are objects Of great interest, not only
from their intrinsic claims upon his admiratlon'
but from the classical associations with which they
are all connected. The city OF Madama, with It's
population of 200 souls, is situated on oneol the
highest peaks of this mountain region. The clouds
' hoated at this time at the foot OF ito walls, while
the submits of its towers shone IN the respiien,
4 dent glory of the summers sky. Nlco Naro Told
Narium) is similarly situated The slopes OF the
hills around it are ornamented with chestnut and
! olive groves, and il seems to rise Ike o huge oa'
= Element amid a sea Of vegetation OF surprising
beauty and richness.
!, We soon reached the convent OF Santa Cosa
Mato, from the site of which we had a fine view
Of the village of Saricinesco, inhabited by the
descendants of the Saracens. Curiosity led us 10
pay a visit to the monks who inhabit this inter
esting and romantically situated convent. Ihoy
Z received us with kindness, and silently offered Tor
our refreshmcnt the white Orvieto wine OF the
/ country, which we drank with pleasure. This con
vent is situated on an eminence above the Anio,
about two miles from Vico Naro, and is worthy
3 of a visit for the beauty of its site, and Tor the
many objects of interest in its neighborhood. AFTER
resting ourselves, we descended to the GINS ana
galleries which are cut through them to the stream
that runs far below. The increditable labor oil the
monks in cutting passages through these irowulng
rocks, could not have been more useiully empioyeu
for US, for we were thereby enabled to obtain a
: fine view of the river, which runs in the picturesque
ravine at our feet. The monks had built several
little chapels in the caves of the rocks, and ado,h'
ed them with images Of the virgin and some OF the
saints; and here, at times, they descended to their
=. silent and solitary worship. These rocky caves
had q very cheerful appearance. Some OF the IN,
! teriors had been cleaned ana white washed, ana
were rendered otherwise attractive. The lnhabi'
a tants of this convent are very civil people, and al
n lnOuGn they received US WITHOUT cereWunf vi euo"
G of welcome, they treated us with agreeable kind
@ ness. The interiors of the cells of the convent re-
I sembled those of a well-ordered prison; the iurnl'
ture was very scanty, still an air of neatness pre-
vailed in ali The apartments. Here are to be seen
: some of the finest Expresses in Italy. The va Va
leria once crossed the river at this place ny q
bridge.
e After satisfying our curiosity in examining the
!. objects that seemed worthy of observation, we set
. out for the Sabine farm Of Horace. Returning on
Il Al -. - la xH,aaI nunr urn tnrnp6 4 n
the left and proceeded up a valley skirted by high
and unwooded mountains, passing the town OIL
/. Cantalupo, situated on a high hill at the opening
of the valley Of the Digentia. Thence we went
10 through the valley over a white pebbly bottom, the
RI channel of the stream. The width OF this channel
showed that the river at times is quite wide. from
the rains from the mountains. The stream q. this
o.. time, however, WAS inconsiderable. After adVah
I'd cling about four miles, we entered upon a mos
I'd wretched road near the river, which continued to'
two miles further up, leading to the town of Lii
cenza 1.-THE Digentia of Horace.) From this place
a guide conducted us to Horace's farm. The site
40 is a short distance above the road, and not between
it and the river as Murray says. tits on a plat
10 form of land which falls abruptly down into &
# sort of wooden gorge which separates it from the
town of Liconza, which stands in front of it on
hill about 500 feet high. Very lofty mountain
surround both the town and the farm; among then
is the celebrated Mons Lucritelis, about 5OOo Zee
al high, and Monte COrnarrano, which Is said to b
w one of the most beautiful mountains of Italy Nv
w fountains are said to rise under this latter noun
tain, one of which is supposed to be the celebrate
Blandusia, mentioned by the poet. There are ie'
-. or none of the remains of Ilorace's villa now to b
for seen. We were shown a piece OF Mosaic hoe
nd which is said to he a portion of the house, but
II, this we had our doubts. The soil does not appei
~ to be good. The solitude of the place, and tt
murmuring of the river Digen,ia below, and Il
~ lofty and grand mountains which surround
r !. make it a proper place for q scholar and a lover
or retirement.
+" Horace must have been very fond of this retrea
rid as he spent his time between this Sabine farm az
49, his villa at Thur. One can readily imagine he
,ro. attractive to him must have been this beautif
and retired country, surrounded on every har
m with the most lofty mountains, and watered wi
- beautiful streams that spread fertility and fres
' ness in their wanderings. Even at this day
,ho possesses many charms, yet the absence OF tn
alls our r'.o "nron !. nSu I'LL 80, rLohi
To the intelligent traveller, the associations wi
.ns which it is connected render it an object of gre
interest. The scholar, familiar with the life al
writings of the poet, cannot but regard 1t with
feeling bordering on enthusiasm, and will 81
free scope to his Imagination in re-peopling
o cheerful halls with the poet and his companions.
- " The farm, it is well known. was the gift of his p
run ron and friend, M@cenas. His introduction to hi
became the turning point in his fortunes.
aims ~ L;m.olf d. ueIarota oonte,
ment." Poverty" in his own words, "was t
re- inspiration of his verse;"
"Psupertas inpulit audax,
Ut versus facerem." L.
Horace died in the same year as MS friend NJ
wing cenas. We have the following description Of
IS of person: ale was of short stature, dark eyes a
the dark hair. but early tinged with grey. His hea
e of was not always good. AT one psriOd he was
i'm Augustus joked him upon his fat belly. WI
ated young, he was irascible in temper, bat easily pl
n of able. In dress careless. His habits frugal a
abstenious, although, on occasions, he indulG
red, in free cOnvivality. lie liked choice wine, and
the society of friends enjoyed the luxuries of
We times"
our Although Horace has informed us that he v
a man Of moderate fortune and pretensions,
Is is probably lived in a style of refined comfort, st
ated, as would be thought Injurious and expensive
the our day. If his floors were covered with mosaics,
the we may be led to think from those that have b
es of discovered on the site Of his house-and ifthe m
ream hla colnma and canitais which have ham disc