Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-02-29

To the English and American traveller
on the continent of Europe. there is no
msusoleum Of antiquity which will ava
ken more peculiar emotions Of interest than
so often reproduced by models, aad the en-
graver's art, that description Of it is un-
necessary. 1t was the custom Of the an.
cient Romans to erect their sepulchres on
the principal highways which led from the
city. That beautiful portion Of the Cam
pagns, which was divided by the lava
paved Appian way, appears to have been
q favorite spot Of sePulture. The traveller
in passing over it views the remains Of
tombs fer several miles from Rome. The
highway, being lined on both sides with
these ruins it presents the aspect Of vast
monumental avenue. OF all the tombs,
without the walls of the city, which have
suffered the least. from all the ravages Of
war, and the mutations Of time is that
"round tower OF stone" which has perpet-
uated for nineteen centuries the name Of
Cecilia Metella.
We ask history to tell us something Of
the character of that woman. whose name
has been embalmed in the memory of three
different, and distant. nations, by three
different, and distinct, arts. But upon
this subject, history preserves an unbroken
silence. As one gazes upon the massive
tomb, beneath which she has SO long
slumbered, he will doubtless attempt to
delineate her character, but after all, the
picture will be but a fancy sketch. The
inscription below the frieze, tells him all
that no can ever know respecting her,
"This much alone We klov-Mettells died,
The wealthiest Romans wife,
Behold his love OF pride"
To those who read and speak our Ian
guaRe this tomb will ever be an object Of
interest from the associations coan ected
with it. Situated as il is two miles from
Rome, and from the elevation Of its posi-
ton it commands the finest view OF the
Campagns. Not very far from il is the
Protestant burying ground. and there was
buried, far away from his English home
that bird of song. "who~s name was writ
in water" On the hillside. inst below his
grave there was pillowcd another head -
And he who SO sadly wrote at the early
| age Of twenty-six.
K 81 could lie down like tired child,
And weep away the life of care
Which have borne, and yet must bear"
at last rested there. Keats and Shelley,
they who have added much to the embel
ishment Of our literature. persecuied in
their native land, wooed peace, health and
happiness, in Itsly's bslmier cline, and
found that everlasting repose which can
not be disturbed by the anxieties aud sor
rows Of life. So lovely was the place when
they were first laid thele, that il has been
said, it was enough to reconcile one with
death, il he were assured his body nigh,
forever remain there.
The tomb of Cecilia has been immortal
lied in poetry by the graphic pen Of that
poet over whose grave has blossomed some
of the most beautiful flowers Of thought
and fancy, as veil as some Of the rsskesl
weeds Of infdslity. So long as that admi
rable poem, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage is
read, SO long will that "stern round tower
of other days" with the memory of him
who has so beautifully described it, be as
ISOLATED in the mind Of the traveller, as he
gaxes upon it.
This tomb will ever he an object of ia.
terest to our countrymen, as long as they
contemplate with pride and pleasure the
triumphs of American art. Who that has
ever studied that beautiful painting. that
ehefd'ouUre Of American art. the "Campag
ma" painted by Coles. but will thiak of
that tower, which having been built for no
other purpose than to crafty the pride Of a
wealthy Roman, and that through this
means his name should be transmitted TO
posterity. then Of its serving as fortress.
and then think Of il as being more eslebra-
ted by that "divinest Of all arts poetry"
and lastly that the painters easel should
crown it's fame. for it was from this tower,
that the artist. after having gszsd upon
the Roman Csmpagna as IL lay. spread out
10 all It's loneliness before him, transferred
its living beauties to that canvass which
has done much to espfer Immortality on
his genius.
4RATHA.