Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-19
HORACE'S SABINE FARM.

The following genial account of a visit to Llor'
aces Sabine Farm, is from the May number oil
The Crayon. 1t was written by joins IL. GoURLlE.
On a fine morning in June, accompanied by a
few friends. | started from Rome on an excursion
TO the Sabine Farm of Horace. We passed the gate
of San Lorenzo as the morning sun was gliding the
tops of the eastern hills. The yellow harvest that
covered the Campagna, as far as the eye coui ID
reach undulated like a sea of god with every pas
sing breeze, while the long line Of ruined aque-
ducts and broken arches that spanned the tenant
less and solitary fields, gave to the scene an im'
pressive and picturesque grandeur; herds oil caiue
were browsing beneath the shadow OF the ruins,
md now ard then g shepherd boy, sallow and at,
tenuated, looked out upon us as we rode by, nan
wild with surprise to see human beings passing
him in such cheerful and hilarious q mood; 80
rate glowing in the morning radiance, ana the AL
ban range of hills with their villas and gardens,
looked gay and cheerful in the distance, while the
further mountains, encircling the expanse before
US, as in a frame work OF gold, lnclosed Il iahu'
scape that elevated our hearts to the highest sense
of the beautiful and poetical, exciting SUCH emo,
tiuns as can only be felt in the midst OF scenes and
associations which have been hallowed by time ana
immortalized by the inspired pen OF a poet. Twas
a glorious morning! and as we rapidly coursed the
Campagna, our hearts bounded forward to those
classic scenes SO memorable and interesting to the
student of Rome-life.
A few hours brought us to the little inn OF the
Sybil at Tiyoli, where we ordered our breakfast,
which was soon spread for US, beneath the cool
shade of the little temple that stands so graceful
in its chaste and classic beauty, upon the very
edge OF the p~recipice. The scene before me was
one of the deepest interest. Far beyond stretched
the Campagna-its gentle fluctuations reaching tt
the sea. The ravine at my feet, was as picturesque
and wild as an American scene; its fresh and lux
uriant vegetation waving with the summer breeze
The little inn has much to recommend it. The art
lists who are in the habit Of visiting these hills to
the purpose Of study, make it a resting place, an
they had left many a curious menento on Its wall
of upcouth heads of men and animals, OF hall III
ished trees and landscapes, and now aud then
satirical caricature, and that told its own story 9
the expense of some unfortunate brother whose n
dundant hair and beard, or popularity OF face {
manner rendered him a fitting subject for their II
ventive humor. Our breakfast was all that coui
be desired, of fresh trout from the Anio, and Il
best bread that Italian domestic skill could pr
duce, and highly did we enjoy it; and, | will veI
ture to say, that since the days of M@cenas, I
iollier party had ever made those rocks to eel
with pleasanter mirth and frolic than ours.
My companions left me to wander among L
hills, or to descend the preoipice to see the ia
below. The scene was too enchanting to 5e light
canned, and | sat looking out upon it, study il
its varied points Of interest, and associating the
in my Imagination with some event in the life
the poet, whose name is so closely identified wi
every bill and valley around. The pretty temp
which crowns the edge of the precipice, looks
renely down upon the wild scene below. 1t i;
graceful relic of the past, and blends it's char
ing beauty with the rugged and majestic forI
OF nature around it, with a harmony and ga
truly enchanting. Though a ruin, it still retail
enough of it's original form to show its grsce
proportions and symmetry. Among all the
mains of the architectural glories of she Rom
Empire, this one leaves, perhaps, the most agr,
able and cheerful impressions upon the mind.
While my companions were absent. enjoyi
their ramLle among the galleries and ravines
this romantic spot, l reposed quietly beneath t
shadows of the temple, INDUCING in a reverie
the past, and calling up to my imagination the
cidents of those days, so memorably associat
with Horace and his companions. The return
my friends soon brought me back to the realiti
of the present hour. Our horses were ordert
and deierring any further examination of the ia
and the classic ruins Of Thur until my return,
set of for the accomplishment Of the objects Of {
journey. .r-.. -... -
The country through which the Anio runs
very beautiful. The valley is highly ~cultivat
and at this time its orchards were filed with
bright promise of summer. The banks Of
stream are oversbadowed with luxuriant trees
noble growth, through which the winding sire
rushes with impetuosity. The description gil
of By Horace, eighteen hundred years ago
equally applicable at this day. "The precipitat
rapid Anio" has lost none of it's ancient char
~terist,cs, and were it not for the evidences of a
mote past, which are visible everywhere AM
these valleys, an American might inns CINE he
merely strolling along the margin of one Of
streams of his native land.
The valley for its natural beauty, is worth,
all the praise that has been bestowed upon il.
10 fruitful, and everywhere abundant!y watereC
Several streams from the mountain contribute
the full volume of the Anio, which, in the spr
tins. is swollen, and rushes with great rapidly
wards the Thur. The great meadows which 8,
upward from the margin of the stream give a q
and pastoral character to the country, that
trasts agreeably and pleasingly with the pre-
itous mountains that lift their heads to the clio
on every haId. As we further ascend Am