The narrative of a journey undertaken in the years 1819, 1820 and 1821 through France, Italy, Savoy, Switzerland, parts of Germany bordering on the Rhine, Holland and the Netherlands : $b comprising incidents that occurred to the author, who has long suffered under a total deprivation of sight; with various points of information collected on his tourHolman, James
History
The narrative of a journey undertaken in the years 1819, 1820 and 1821 through France, Italy, Savoy, Switzerland, parts of Germany bordering on the Rhine, Holland and the Netherlands : $b comprising incidents that occurred to the author, who has long suffered under a total deprivation of sight; with various points of information collected on his tour
Holman, James
Europe -- Description and travel
In the evening the city was illuminated, although this was partially
done, and chiefly confined to the public offices, and residences of such
individuals as were more particularly anxious to manifest their loyalty.
This was repeated on the two succeeding nights.
The entrance of the king, appeared to be the signal for the removal of
such persons as were supposed inimical to his government; many were
simply ejected from their situations, while others were imprisoned, or
had passports sent to them, with notice to quit the kingdom before a
certain day; I am not aware that the punishment of death was inflicted on
any.
On the 18th we experienced a very hot day; after breakfast, my friend
C⸺, Dr. R⸺, and myself, set out to visit Virgil’s tomb; which,
notwithstanding they had been there before, we contrived to pass beyond;
returning back we discovered it, and having entered a door which led
through a small vineyard, began to descend a number of steps, which
terminated near the entrance of a stone vault, in which were a number of
recesses for the reception of sepulchral urns, each about two feet high
and eighteen inches broad; these were formed on a level with the floor,
one on either side of the entrance, three in each lateral wall, and two
in front, being ten in all.
Some antiquarians have disputed, whether the ashes of the great Mantuan
bard ever reposed in this vault; this philosophically and abstractedly
taken, perhaps, is a matter of as little consequence to posterity, as to
Virgil himself; but in a sentimental point of view, unless they can point
out indisputably, the spot where the precious exuviæ of this immortal
spirit were actually deposited, it is but a cruel martyrdom of feeling,
to attempt to deprive us, the hapless Ciceroni of the day, of the
exquisite gratification of an imaginary _sepulchretum_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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