Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-07-02

lated fogies?i, Let's have swim. i de.
test antiquatian twaddle.4 Do people
think that I have no lucid intervals. that
| came to Greece to scribble more non
sense? will show them that I can do
something better; wish had never
written a line, to have it cast in my teeth
at every turn" Brown and Candy went
to look for some place where We might
pass the night, as we could not get mules
to go on until the next day. ,"' '...
After a long swim, Byron clambered
up the rocks, and exhausted by his day's
work. fell asleep under the shade OF a
wild fig tree al the mouth OF. cavern
GAMBIA, having nothing to do hunted
him out, and awakened him from pleas:
ant dream, for which the poet cursed
him. We fed on figs and olives, and
passed our night at a goat>heard's cot
tage. ...- ..' - .. .....'.
In the morning We rode through the
pleasant little island to Vathy, the capi-
tai. The Resident, Capt, Knox: his lady,
and every one else who had q house,
opened the doors to welcome us, and the
Pilgrim was received as if he had been
prince. On the summit ofa high moun>.
tain in the island there is au ancient mon
astery, from which there is magnificent
view of the Ionian Sea. Greece, and
many islands. The day after our arrival
| we assembled it our party amounting to
ten or twelve, including servants and
muleteers. AS usual, it was late when
we started; there was not a breath Of air,
and the heat was intense, Following a
narrow, zig gag path between rocks and
precipices in single file, as our mules
crept upwards our difficulty increased.
until the path became merely stone steps.
WON by time and travel in the solid lime
stone. We all dismountcd but Byron: he
was jaded and irritable, as he generally
was when deprived of his accustomed
mid day siesta; it was dusk before we
reached the summit Of the mountain
The Abbot had been apprised by the
Resident of our visit; and when We near
ed the monastery, files Of men stood on
each side OF our path. bearing pine torch,
es. On coming up to. the walls we saw.
the monks in their grey gowns, ranged
along the terrace. They chaun,ed a
hymn of gloriication and welcome to the
great lord, saying, ''ChriSt has risen to
elevate the cross. and trample @on the
crescent in our beloved Greece" Tie
Abbo. called in his sacerdotal robes, re-
ceiveG Byron i'll the porch. and conduct
ed him into he great hall, illuminated
for the occasion; lie monks and others
clustered aroInd the honored guest; boys
swung censors with frankincens under
the Poets nose. The Abbot, after per.
forming variety of ceremonies in a very
digniGed manner, took from the folds of
his ample garments roll of paper and
commenced intoning through his nasal
organs a turgid and interminable euloSi-
um on my Lord Inglese," IN poIyglot
Of divers tongues; while the eyes of the
silent monks, anxious to observe the et
feet Of the holy fathers cloqueuco,
glanced from the Abbot to the Lord.
Byron had not spoken a word from
the lime he entered the monkery; l
thought he was resolved to set US an ex-
ample Of proper behavior. No one was
more surprised than was, when sudden
ly he burst into a paroxysm OF rage, and
vented his ire in torrent of Italian exc
crations on the holy Abbot and all his
brotherhood. Then turning to us with
flashing eyes. he vehemently exclaim-
EN-:
"WilI no one release me from the pres.
ence of these pestilential idiota? they
drive me mad!'-Siezing lamp, he left
the room.
The CONSERVATION of the monks at this
explosion of wrath may be imagined.-
The amazed Abbot remained Tor some
time motionless, his eyes and mouth wide
open; holding the paper he had been
reading in the same position. he looked
at the vacant place left by Byron. and
then at the door through which he had
disappeared. At last he thought he had
solved the mystery. and in low tremu-
lous voice said-signitfcaully putting his
finger to his forehead:
s "Eccolo, matto poveretto!" (Poor
fellow, he is mad. ...
Leaving Hamilton Brown to pacify the
monks, l followed Byron. He was still
fretting and fuming, cursing the whining
dotard," as he called the Abbot, who
had tormented him. Byron's servant
brought him brought him bread, wine,
and olives. l left him and Joined the
monks in their refectory. We had the
best of everything the island produced
for supper. Our host broached several
TASKS OF his choicest vintages; but alth O.
he partook largely of these good things.
they failed to cheer him. We were all
glad to retire early to our cells. ....E
In the morning, Byron came forth re.
freshed, and acted as il he had forgotten
the occurrences Of the evening. The
Abbot had not, and he took care not to
remind him of them. A handsome do
nation was deposited in the alms.box,
and We mounted our mules and depart.
ed, without any other ceremony than a