Away From Naples In A Glorious Sunrise, By The Road To Capua, And
Then On A Three Days' Journey Along
By-roads, that we may see, on
the way, the monastery of Monte Cassino, which is perched on the
steep
And lofty hill above the little town of San Germano, and is
lost on a misty morning in the clouds.
So much the better, for the deep sounding of its bell, which, as we
go winding up, on mules, towards the convent, is heard mysteriously
in the still air, while nothing is seen but the grey mist, moving
solemnly and slowly, like a funeral procession. Behold, at length
the shadowy pile of building close before us: its grey walls and
towers dimly seen, though so near and so vast: and the raw vapour
rolling through its cloisters heavily.
There are two black shadows walking to and fro in the quadrangle,
near the statues of the Patron Saint and his sister; and hopping on
behind them, in and out of the old arches, is a raven, croaking in
answer to the bell, and uttering, at intervals, the purest Tuscan.
How like a Jesuit he looks! There never was a sly and stealthy
fellow so at home as is this raven, standing now at the refectory
door, with his head on one side, and pretending to glance another
way, while he is scrutinizing the visitors keenly, and listening
with fixed attention. What a dull-headed monk the porter becomes
in comparison!
'He speaks like us!' says the porter:
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 258 of 268
Words from 70741 to 70997
of 73541
