Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna . or THE PIOUS PILGRIMAGES AND PROFANE PROMENADES. 273 still when we shall be far away in the midst of a northern winter, or sultry, colourlesssummer. Therefore, oh spirit, drink thy fill of air and light and sunshine, of forms andimages, and carry a rich store of memories over the mountains and their cloudy summits,to thy home ! And if the gods will, thou mayest some day return hither, and feel oncemore the ever-new aspirations amidst the ever-young beauties. We will speak our farewell greeting to the city from the Monte Pincio. There are. no graves here ; on
Italy from the Alps to Mount Etna . or THE PIOUS PILGRIMAGES AND PROFANE PROMENADES. 273 still when we shall be far away in the midst of a northern winter, or sultry, colourlesssummer. Therefore, oh spirit, drink thy fill of air and light and sunshine, of forms andimages, and carry a rich store of memories over the mountains and their cloudy summits,to thy home ! And if the gods will, thou mayest some day return hither, and feel oncemore the ever-new aspirations amidst the ever-young beauties. We will speak our farewell greeting to the city from the Monte Pincio. There are. no graves here ; only a blooming, joyous life among flowers and music and ever-greenfoliage. Here the northern pine-tree mingles its branches with those of the palm : andhere the melancholy longing of the north, is changed to deep contentment and serenity ofsoul. Here Time gives us minutes to which we would fain say : Tarry awhile; ye areso fair! We lean upon the balustrade and look down upon the amphitheatre-shapedspace at our feet, the Piazza del Popolo. A gay throng of people is pressing out at thecity gate, bound either for some noisy ostcria or for the pleasant woodland shades of theVilla Borghese. As the mild evening approaches, busy life withdraws from the streets ofthe city over which twilight is already drawing her veil. As the sun sinks towards thesea, all the world hastens up hither to catch his last rays from beneath the trees of thePincian, and to feast their eyes on the rosy glow of a southern sunset. Already theheights behind the Vatican are in deep shadow ; already nig
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