Which, heard in foreign lands, the Swiss affect With tenderest passion; leaving him to pine (So fame reports) and die, - his sweet-breath'd kine Remembering, and green Alpine pastures decked Are moved, for me, upon this Mountain named XXIII. FORT FUENTES. THE Ruins of Fort Fuentes form the crest of a rocky emi dence that rises from the plain at the head of the Lake of Como, commanding views up the Valteline, and toward the town of Chiavenna. The prospect in the latter direction is characterized by melancholy sublimity. We rejoiced at being favored with a distinct view of those Alpine heights; not, as we had expected from the breaking up of the storm, steeped in celestial glory, yet in communion with clouds floating or stationary,scatterings from heaven. The Ruin is interesting both in mass and in detail. An Inscription, upon elaborately sculptured marble lying on the ground, records that the Fort had been erected by Count Fuentes in the year 1600, during the reign of Philip the Third; and the chapel, about twenty years after, by one of his descendants. Marble pillars of gateways are yet stand ing, and a considerable part of the Chapel walls: a smooth green turf has taken place of the pavement, and we could see no trace of altar or image; but everywhere something to remind one of former splendor, and of devastation and tumult. In our ascent we had passed abundance of wild vines intermingled with bushes: near the ruins were some ill tended, but growing willingly; and rock, turf, and fragments of the pile, are alike covered or adorned with a variety of flowers, among which the rose-colored pink was growing in great beauty. While descending, we discovered on the ground, apart from the path, and at a considerable distance from the ruined Chapel, a statue of a Child in pure white marble, uninjured by the explosion that had driven it so far down the hill. "How little," we exclaimed, "are these things valued here! Could we but transport this pretty Image to our own garden!"— Yet it seemed it would have been a pity any one should remove it from its couch in the wilderness, which may be its own for hundreds of years. — Extract from Journal. DREAD hour! when, upheaved by war's sulphurous blast, This sweet-visaged Cherub of Parian stone So far from the holy inclosure was cast, To couch in this thicket of brambles alone,— To rest where the lizard may bask in the palm Of his half-open hand, pure from blemish or speck, And the green, gilded snake, without troubling the calm Of the beautiful countenance, twine round his neck; Where haply, (kind service to Piety due!) When Winter the grove of its mantle bereaves, Some bird (like our own honored redbreast) may strew The desolate Slumberer with moss and with leaves. FUENTES Once harbored the good and the brave, Nor to her was the dance of soft pleasure unknown; Her banners for festal enjoyment did wave While the thrill of her fifes through the mountains was blown : Now gads the wild vine o'er the pathless ascent; O silence of Nature, how deep is thy sway, When the whirlwind of human destruction is spent, Our tumults appeased, and our strifes passed away! XXIV. THE CHURCH OF SAN SALVADOR. SEEN FROM THE LAKE OF LUGANO. THIS Church was almost destroyed by lightning a few years ago, but the altar and the image of the Patron Saint were untouched. The Mount, upon the summit of which the Church is built, stands amid the intricacies of the Lake of Lugano; and is, from a hundred points of view, its principal ornament, rising to the height of 2,000 feet, and, on one side, nearly perpendicular. The ascent is toilsome; but the traveller who pertonius it will be amply rewarded. Splendid fertility, rich woods and dazzling waters, seclusion and confinement of view contrasted with sea-like extent of plain fading into the sky, and this again, in an opposite quarter, with an horizon of the Loftiest and boldest Alps, unite in composing a prospect more diversified by magnificence, beauty, and sublimity, than perhaps any other point in Europe, of so inconsiderable an elevation, commands. THOU Sacred Pile! whose turrets rise To sulphurous bolts a sacrifice, On Horeb's top, on Sinai, deigned Why leap the fountains from their cells Cliffs, fountains, rivers, seasons, times, - so oft of sense the thrall, While she, by aid of Nature, climbs May hope to be forgiven. Glory, and patriotic Love, And all the Pomps of this frail "spot Which men call Earth," have yearned to seek, Associate with the simply meek, Thither, in time of adverse shocks, He, too, of battle-martyrs chief! XXV. THE ITALIAN ITINERANT, AND THE SWISS GOATHERD. PART I. I. Now that the farewell tear is dried, * Arnold Winkelried, at the battle of Sempach, broke an Austrian phalanx in this manner. The event is one of the |