The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-02-06

A Trip through Switzerland and
Southern Germany.
BY JOHN PhGNIX, JR.
NO IL.

NO II.
About hundred years before the Christian
era, Roman army entered Helvetia. On
the shoas of the Leman they met the Hell
yet.ans commanded by their celebrated lead
er Divicus, and were totally defeated but
the victory was a frutless one. Other ar
mics were sent and fifty years later, Helvetia
was Roman province, of which Aventicum,
situated near the Lake of Morat, was the
capital. In the ancient 'Aventcum were
baths, temples, colonades, palaces, theaters,
in short it was miniature Rome. In the
var Of the succession, after the death of the
emperor Galbra, hostile army appeared be-
fore its walls. The city was filled with con-
srernaton and at once sent deputies to treat
for peace. The commander, Cecinia, de-
manded the death of julius Alpinus, the
first magistrate of the nation.
The people without opposition delivered
him up; but his daughter Julia, the priestess
OF the Goddess of the town, resolving to
make an effort to save his life, performed one
Of those noble deeds we so love to contem-
plate. Alone and unprotected, in spite OF
every obstacle, she fore ed her wav to the
tent Of the general, and prostrating herself at
his feet, implored pardon for her father. But
ht, beauty, her tears, and her entreaties were
Of 70 avail, and sentence of death was pro-
noUnccd. Fifteen centuries later the follow
ing epitaph was found beneath the ruins of
Aye,ticum. +''Here lies Julia Alpinula,
Wps,ess of the Goddess of Aventicum, the
Unhappy offspring of an unhappy sire. My
eNtreaties could not save a father from death
he was ioomed to a sad fate. l have lived
'0nnty-three years.
Byron in his Childe Harold thus sings of
lis heroic maiden:
AHt thcrc-oh sweet and sacred be the name
l"!|-ihc daughter, the devoted-gave
t.- "'h - Heaven; her heart beneath claim
aye. 10 Heavens broke Ser her fathers grave
I"' hose are deeds which should no: pass away,
A.! names that must no. withei though the earth
't1",S her empires.
II Iater date Aventicum, doomed to even
worse fate than its proud model, was re-
1.e-d to ashes. At the present time one can
,1,y see the ruin of its walls, and an isolated
coUmn, all that remains Of once magnif
at temple of Juno.
BY long wall linier column rears
\ grey and griefwOrn aspect Of old DAYS;
is the last remnant of the wreck of years."
U2s, grows in its amphi,heatre. The plough
share often strikes pictures, affairs, mausole
-mS, and other vestiges of ancient splendor
Inc Roman has passed away, and the work:
Of MS hands are in ruins but the Alps still
Tear their heads to heaven as in the elder
cay, and the same stars look down upon the
rlIHs OF Aventicum as shone upon it in its
CORY and pride.
One leaves spot like this with shadow
n the heart, ard will he not learn lesson?
\ few miles from AvencheS is the littl,
town Of Morat, whose name every true Swis
pyonounces with honest pride, as he we'll may
After his defeat at Grandson, of which w
have spoken in our last, the Duke Charlie
.e.. into a profound melancholy. For
tine he lived in the strictest retirement an,
Hot even his intimates dared approach him.
But ambition and desire for vengeanc,
gave him new courage, and he left his re
treat, led on as it were BY his evil destiny
tie assembled the remnants of his shattere
army, levied new troops, and prepared aga
70 invade the territory of the Swiss. Lau
same was chosen as the rendezvous of tn
troops The house, which was occupied b
the Duke during his stay at Lausanne is sti
70 be seen.
The llth of June 1916, Charles pitche
tS camp under the walls of Morat As
the time of Tell, the signal fires blazed o
tie mountain tops, and the hardy mountain
eers responding to the CALL seized their weaI
'n>, and in many instances with their wive
and daughters armed like themselves, wer
n all haste toward Morat On the mornin
OF the 22d, 10000 had already assembled
and although it was raining in torrents the
Qemanded 10 be led against the enemy.
Al the moment for joining combat, tt
ine modern Ayenches is situated near II
'"e 'i the Aventicum Of the Romans.
JULIA ALPINULA
HIC JACEO
lnfelixis patris infelix probes
Deal Aventica sacerdos
Exorarare patrs necem non potui:
Male mori in fatis lille erat
Wiki Amos XVIII