The national Republican., 1867-07-09
aatiunal @spnblitau.
tYor the National Republican,
Italy I'm I7o1-Avtgnon.

My frst desire was for the fountain oI
yancluse. 1 saw II yesterday. know
not why say yesterday, for il seems to
me that still see II to-day.
fancy still see, escaping from the
midst Of chain Of mountains, as from the
depth Of a vast funnel, river, which rises
and rises and suddenly overaows, with an
impetuosity, with thunder. with an ebul-
lition, with foam, with fall, which nei-
ther the pencil Of q poet, nor that Of q
painter, can ever represent. II is the
fountain Of Vancluse. A moment after,
this river becomes calm, like q happy ma
ture, at first hurried away by vivacity, and
suddenly moderated by kindness. Then
II changes its silvery waves to waves Of
azure, and spreads, and rolls, and aban-
dons them on an emerald carpet; but
soon 1t separates into multitude Of little
brooks, TO run across O charming valley.
Coming forth from the valley, these brooks
reunite and part again at the same instant
by hundred different routes, TO refresh
fecundatc, and embellish, under the name
Of the Sorgue, the delightful country ol
Avignon.
The picture drawn by Delille Of this
beautiful scene is very correct. / have
verified all the verses they tell the truth,
like prose, which is not common either to
travellers or poets. Nevertheless, these
verses cannot give q perfect idea OF the
place; they give but remembrance Of it
do not find in the verses either SO much
foam, so much noise, or so many murmurs
tha fnsxNai,, AHarg Nm nnf
there these black rocks, which form SO ad
mirable contrast with the snow Of the
waves that break upon them; lastly, the
poet has not spread forth in his verses this
brilliant carpet Of emerald where the Naiad
reposes.
Vancluse presents at the same time Q
most exquisite picture and most singular
phenomenon. But / will say with the
poet:
"Thsss waters, this sky, this valley impart,
Less than Laura and Potrarch, . Joy to my
heart"
The remembrance Of Petrarch and Laura
animates the landscape; It adorns, enchants
it. sought traces Of these lovers over
all the rocks. 1t was here, then, said l.
that they came and sat together; that
Petrarch was so animated; that he shed so
many tears; that he uttered those immor.
tai sighs which are heard even now.
sat on the declivity Of q rock, and there,
during an hour, surrendered myself to the
sound OF these waters-to the verdure ol
his grass; to the azure Of this beautiful
ky; to the youth-time Of spring and the
memory Of Laura. There, called-I re
assembled round my heart-all the OBJ
jects which are dear to it. represented
to myself all my children wandering ovel
this grass, running along this shore, ant
striking the echoes with envy, and my
heart with a thousand cries Of happiness
and joy.
Before going away wished to know If
as Delille assures us
''Swest name Of Laura fond Echo remembers.
would not displease the poet, but tn
migrate has forgotten one half Of 1t.
= Adieu, charming fountain Of Vancluse
We scarcely know the places where Alex
ander gained his battles. We shall recog
nize forever the scenes where Laura AM
Petrarch have loved. The murmurs Of th!
waves, oh Vancluse, and the verses Of tn,
songs Of the gardens and the mouths
lsee the Sd Chant deS Jardins, 7th o
the Mois, will tell them to every eye.
Ma