The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol. 2 No 4, October, 1862: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The race over, Caper proposed their once more ascending the main street
and making a bold endeavor to discover the top of the town, from which
he argued there must be a fine view. Sturdily mounting up, they found
themselves at last on the summit of the mountain, and passing several
houses, an academy and a church, found before them a pleasant walk
called the Pianillo, which was the crown of the conical mountain, and
from whence, looking over the valley below and around them, they saw far
off the Albanian mountains to their front and left, while away to their
right hand and fading into the clouds, the chain of the Abruzzi showed
them the confines of Naples. From this walk they saw the mountains and
towns of San Germano, Santo Padre di Regno, l'Arnara, Frosinone,
Torrice, Monte San Giovanni, Veroli, Ferentino, Morino, Agnani, Acuto,
Piglio, Serrone, Paliano, Roviate, Civitella, Olevano, San Vito,
Capranica, Gennazzano, Cave, Palestrina, Valmontone, Montefortino,
Lugnano, Zagarolo, Colonna, Rocca Priora, and the neighboring towns of
Sgurgola, Gorga, and Gavignano, with that lovely valley, La Villamagna.
Lost in admiration of the splendid panorama before them, our artists
were not at first aware that the Pianillo was fast filling up with the
people who had lately attended the horse-race; believing they were
attracted here by the lovely scenery, they only admired their good
taste, when Rocjean, overhearing two of the Segnians, discovered that
they came there to enjoy a very different spectacle--that of _La Giostra
del Porchetto_, or
SMALL-HOG GAME.
What this might be, our artists had yet to learn; it sounded slightly
sensual for a Sunday amusement, but as there was a bishop in the town,
and nothing could consequently be permitted that would shock, etc.,
etc., Caper, Rocjean, and Dexter at once agreed to assist the heads of
the church in their pious endeavors to celebrate the day--as the Romans
do. Not far from where they were standing, at the foot of wild rocks and
the ruins of an old Roman watchtower, was a curious basin cut in the
solid rock, its sides lined with large blocks, and its circular form
preserved entire; its depth was from five to seven feet, and its bottom
was like the sides, paved with smooth blocks. It was popularly said to
have been anciently a cistern, a fish-tank, etc., but nothing was known
definitely as to its original purpose; it now served for the circus,
where the Small-Hog Game was annually indulged in.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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