Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-12-10
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Charles Warren Stoddard writes to the San
Francisco Chronicle: "The chief novelty Of
Naples is the Grotto OF Posilipo and the mouth
Of this grotto is the tomb Of Virgil. The csrri-
age drew up ut a small door in the solid rock,
ont OF which the grotto is hewn. A ring At this
door summoned a griny fellow from black
smith shop, also hewn out OF the rock--the shop,
not the man. entered and found long flight
of steps that led into vineyard full Of grapes
and sunshine, a lovely spot. A narrow path
wound through this Eden, and the grape-haryes-
ters, brown, stalwart fellows, directed me from
time to time, SO that after many turns that
brought me deeper into the dense green grap-
cry, came at last to = rock overhanging the
mouth Of the grotto. and here entered an an
cieht colnmDarum, entirely overgrown with
grass. temple on an island could not be more
completely separated from the turmoil and traffic
OF the town.
"Ihe one chamber, about fifteen feet SQUARE,
held many vacant recesses which probably once
contained cinerary urns, and in front OF one Of
the unglazed windows stood marble slab erect
ed to the memory OF the poet and bearing q
lengthy epitapll, not qnite SO long, however, as
the Eneld. 1t Is not surprising That tomb
even thongh it shelter the remains OF 20 distin
sulshed parsonage AZ Vigil should have fallen
10 decay IN The course of inoteen centuries.
Many have doubted that his dust rcposes here |;
yet l'etrarch, with the poets easy faith,
planted a laurel on the roof of the colum-
barium, which ilourizhcd until its vitals
had been gashed by the knives Of those
who make p. actice o: robbing every shrine
they visit While stood in that secluded spot,
Hooded with green and amber light that sifted
through the vine-screens at the windows.
thought OF long gothic hall filled with desks,
and at every @esk u young head bowed over a
well-tnumbcd and pnzaleing textbook. The
green amber light OF the summers afternoon
stole in there also and through the half-open
window was heard the chant OF summer birds.
''Ihere was blisy silence in that half hour OF
school, and after it came the hour Of deliver
ance, the tramp Of triumphant feet, and the
shout Of JOY into which entered all the sup.
pressed physical vitality of the day. Then there
was silence deeper than before, while the light
faded from green to brown and from amber 10
gray. At the far end Of the hall sat him who
was at once tutor and tormentor, under whose
rule we grew apace, bnt groaned the while we
grew. ALI many All hour when my heart was
elsewhere. have my eyes sought the fascinating
pages linn who sang of wars and hero in q
tongue that then seemed to me q mistake.
Through all these centuries his enchanting
verse has caused the youthful heart
10 quicken and to quake. Ihe chant that came
to us before tile gospels yet is still AZ fresh and
clear the larks first song la the sprin,'. What
have We to thank thee for, Virgil though for
thy sake we have lost many half-holiday and
borne the iaskmasters retrbutive stripes?
did not imagine IN those troublous days that the
time would come when, with uncovered head,
should enter the mausoleum where thy revered
dust reposes. and there, with flood Of tender
and half regretfu memories rushing upon me,
should houcstly say, III the funess Of my heart,
% Virgil, forgive you for having sung in La
tin r"-