Roman Mosaics

CHAPTER I. A Walk to Church in Rome

A WALK TO CHURCH IN ROME

A Walk to Church in Country--In the Town--Residence in Capo le Case--Church of San Guiseppe--Propaganda--Pillar of Immaculate Conception--Piazza di Spagna--Staircase--Models--Beggars--Church of Trinita dei Monti--Flowers--Via Babuino--Piazza del Popolo--Flaminian Obelisk--Pincian Hill--Porta del Popolo--Church of Santa Maria del Popolo--Monastery of St. Augustine--Presbyterian Church--Villa Borghese--Ponte Molle

CHAPTER II. The Appian Way

THE APPIAN WAY

Formation of Appian Way--Tombs on Roman Roads--Loneliness of Country outside Rome--Porta Capena--Restoration of Appian Way--Grove and Fountain of Egeria--Baths of Caracalla--Church of Sts. Nereus and Achilles--Tomb of Scipios--Columbaria--Arch of Drusus--Gate of St. Sebastian--Almo--Tomb of Geta--Plants in Valley of Almo--Catacombs of St. Calixtus--Catacomb of Pretextatus--Catacomb of Sts. Nereus and Achilles--Church of St. Sebastian--Circus of Romulus--Tomb of Caecilia Metella--Sadness of Appian Way--Imagines Clipeatae--Profusion of Plant and Animal Life--Solitude--Villa of Seneca--Mounds of Horatii and Curiatii--Villa of Quintilii--Tomb of Atticus--Casale Rotondo--Frattocchie--Bovillae--Albano--St. Paul's Entrance into Rome by Appian Way

CHAPTER III. The Cumaean Sibyl

THE CUMAEAN SIBYL

Promontory of Carmel--Westmost Point of Italy--Mode of reaching Cumae--Few Relics of Ancient City--Uncertainty about Sibyl's Cave--Loneliness of Site--Roman Legend of Sibylline Books--Mode of Keeping Them--Sortes Sibyllinae--Different Sibyls--Apocalyptic Literature--Existing Remains of Sibylline Books--Reverence paid to Sibyl by Christian Writers--Church of Ara Coeli--Roof of Sistine Chapel--Prospective Attitude of Sibyl--Retrospective Characteristic of Greek and Roman Religion--Connection between Hebrew and Pagan Prophecy--Pagan Oracles superseded by Living Oracles of the Gospel

CHAPTER IV. Footprints in Rome

FOOTPRINTS IN ROME

Footprints of our Lord in Church of Domine quo Vadis--Slabs with Footprints in Kircherian Museum--St. Christina's Footprints at Bolsena--Significance of Footmarks--Votive Offerings--Footprint of Mahomet at Jerusalem--Footprint of Christ on Mount of Olives--Footprints of Abraham at Mecca--Drusic Footprints--Phrabat, or Sacred Foot of Buddha--Famous Footprint on Summit of Adam's Peak in Ceylon--Footprints at Gaya--Footprints of Vishnu--Jain Temples--Prehistoric Footprints--Tanist Stones--Dun Add in Argyleshire--Mary's Step in Wales--Footmarks in Ireland, Norway, Denmark, and Brittany--Classical Examples--Footprints in America and Africa--Connection with Primitive Worship

CHAPTER V. The Roman Forum

THE ROMAN FORUM

Geological History--Volcanic Origin--Early Legends--Cloaca Maxima--Work of Excavation--AErarium--Capitol--Temple of Concord--Temple of Jupiter--Arch of Septimius Severus--Milliarium Aureum--Mamertine Prison--Pillar of Phocas--Suovetaurilia--Curia Hostilia--Comitium--Curia of Diocletian--Basilica Julia--Vicus Tuscus--Temple of Castor and Pollux--Atrium Vestae--Temple of Vesta--Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina--Church of SS. Cosma e Damiano--Colosseum--Conflagration in Forum

CHAPTER VI. The Egyptian Obelisks

THE EGYPTIAN OBELISKS

Number of Obelisks in Rome--Sun Worship--Symbolism of Obelisk--Obelisk of Nebuchadnezzar--Original position of Obelisks--Egyptian Propylons--Changes connected with Obelisks in Egypt--Transportation of Obelisks to Rome and other places--Obelisk of Heliopolis--Obelisk of Luxor--Karnac--Lateran Obelisk--Obelisk in Square of St. Peter's--Obelisk of Piazza del Popolo--Association of Fountains with Obelisks--Obelisk of Monte Citorio--Esquiline and Quirinal Obelisks--Obelisk of Trinita dei Monti--Pamphilian Obelisk--Obelisks near Pantheon--Superiority of Oldest Obelisks--Obelisk of Paris--Cleopatra's Needles in London and New York--Religious Devotion of Ancient Egyptians

CHAPTER VII. The Painted Tomb At Veii

THE PAINTED TOMB AT VEII

Excursions in neighbourhood of Rome--History of Veii--Uncertainty of its Site--Journey to Isola Farnese--Village of Isola--Romantic Scenery--Desolate Downs--Roman Municipium--Old Gateway--Ponte Sodo--Necropolis of Veii--Painted Tomb--Archaic Frescoes--Objects in Inner Chamber--Etruscan Tombs imitative of Homes of the Living--Worship of the Dead--Cellae Memoriae--Antiquity of Tomb at Veii--Mysterious character of Etruscan Language and History

CHAPTER VIII. Holed Stones and Martyr Weights

HOLED STONES AND MARTYR WEIGHTS

Bocca della Verita--Primitive Worship of Clefts in Rocks and Holes in Stones--Cromlechs--Passing through beneath Cromlechs and Gates--Tigillum Sororium--Pillars in Aksa Mosque at Jerusalem--"Threading the Needle" in Ripon Cathedral--Standing Stones of Stennis and Oath of Odin--Cremave--Jewish Covenant--Martyr Stones--Originally Roman Measures of Weight--Made of Jade or Nephrite--Remarkable History of Jade--Prehistoric Glimpses--Relics of Stone Age in Rome--Conservation of things connected with Religion

CHAPTER IX. St. Onofrio and Tasso

ST. ONOFRIO AND TASSO

Church of St. Onofrio--Monastery--Garden--Tasso's Oak--Grand View of Rome and Neighbourhood--Tasso's Birthplace at Sorrento--Remarkable Epoch--Bernardo Tasso--Prince of Salerno--Youth of Tasso--Visit to Rome--Sojourn at Venice--Student of Law at Padua--First Poem Rinaldo--University of Bologna--House of Este--Leonora--Composition of Gerusalemme Liberata--Death of Tasso's Father--Visit to France--Aminta and Pastoral Drama--Publication of Gerusalemme Liberata--Della Cruscan Academy--Ariosto--Cold Treatment of Tasso by Alfonso--Confinement in Hospital of St. Anne--Story of Hapless Love--Alleged Madness--Hospital of St. Anne--Torrismondo--Release of Tasso--Pilgrimage to Loretto--Residence at Naples--Connection with Milton--Gerusalemme Conquistata--Universal Recognition of Poet--Better Days--Closing Scenes of Life at St. Onofrio--Proposed Coronation at Capitol--Too Late--Death--Estimate of Life and Work

CHAPTER X. The Marbles of Ancient Rome

THE MARBLES OF ANCIENT ROME

Pleasures of Marble Hunting in Rome and Neighbourhood--Artistic and Educational Uses of Marble Fragments--Geological Formation of Rome--Building Materials of Ancient Rome--Marbles of Conquered Countries introduced into Rome--Christian Churches made up of Remains of Pagan Temples--Parian Marble--Porine and Pentelic Marbles--Hymettian Marble--Thasian, Lesbian and Tyrian Marbles--Marble of Carrara--Apollo Belvedere--Colouring of Ancient Statues and Buildings--Gibson's Colour-creed--Time's Hues on Dying Gladiator--Cipollino--Giallo Antico--Africano--Porta Santa--Fior di Persico--Pavonazzetto--Rosso Antico--Sedia Forata--Faun--Black Marbles--Lumachella Marbles--Column of Trajan--Breccias--Alabasters--Verde Antique--Subterranean Church of San Clemente--Ophite and Opus Alexandrinum--Jaspers--Murrhine Cups--Lapis Lazuli--Church of Jesuits--Abundance of Marbles in Ancient Rome

CHAPTER XI. The Vatican Codex

THE VATICAN CODEX

Vatican Library--Origin and History--Monastery of Bobbio--Splendour and Charm of Library--Contents of two Principal Cabinets--Letters of Henry VIII. and Anne Boleyn--Vatican Codex--Freshness of Appearance--Continuity of Writing--Vacant Space at end of St. Mark's Gospel--A Palimpsest--Origin of Vatican Codex--Sinaitic and Alexandrine Codices--History of Vatican Codex--Edition of Cardinal Mai--Edition of Tischendorf--Disappearance of all Previous Manuscripts--Faults and Deficiencies of Vatican Codex--Vatican Codex used in Revised Version of New Testament--Formation of Sacred Canon

CHAPTER XII. St. Paul At Puteoli

ST. PAUL AT PUTEOLI

Landing of St. Paul in Ship Castor and Pollux at Puteoli--Loveliness of Bay of Naples--Crowded Population and Splendour of Villas--Dissoluteness of Inhabitants--Worship of Roman Emperors--St. Paul's Grief and Anxiety--Encouragement from Brethren--Christians in Tyrian Quarter at Puteoli and at Pompeii--Southern Italy Greek in Blood and Language--Quay at Puteoli--Temples of Neptune and Serapis--Changes of Level in Sea and Land--Monte Nuovo--Destruction of Village of Tripergola--Filling up of Leucrine Lake--Lake of Avernus--Sibyl's Cave--Lough Dearg and Purgatory of St. Patrick--Death Quarter among Prehistoric People in the West--Phlegraean Fields--Scene of Wars of Gods and Giants--Elysian Fields--Pagan Heaven and Hell--Via Cumana and St. Paul--Amphitheatre of Nero--Solfatara--Relics of Volcanic Fires and Ancient Civilisation mixed together--Volcanic Fires and Landscape Beauty--Completion of Gospel in St. Paul's Journey from Jerusalem to Rome

CHAPTER I. A Walk to Church in Rome

A WALK TO CHURCH IN ROME

I know nothing more delightful than a walk to a country church on a fine day at the end of summer. All the lovely promises of spring have been fulfilled; the woods are clothed with their darkest foliage, and not another leaflet is to come anywhere. The lingering plumes of the meadow-sweet in the fields, and the golden trumpets of the wild honeysuckle in the hedges, make the warm air a luxury to breathe; and the presence of a few tufts of bluebells by the wayside gives the landscape the last finishing touch of perfection, which is suggestive of decay, and has such an indescribable pathos about it. Nature pauses to admire her own handiwork; she ceases from her labours, and enjoys an interval of rest. It is the sabbath of the year. At such a time every object is associated with its spiritual idea, as it is with its natural shadow. The beauty of nature suggests thoughts of the beauty of holiness; and the calm rest of creation speaks to us of the deeper rest of the soul in God. On the shadowed path that leads up to the house of prayer, with mind and senses quickened to perceive the loveliness and significance of the smallest object, the fern on the bank and the lichen on the wall, we feel indeed that heaven is not so much a yonder, towards which we are to move, as a here and a now, which we are to realise.

A walk to church in town is a different thing. Man's works are all around us, and God's excluded; all but the strip of blue sky that looks down between the tall houses, and suggests thoughts of heaven to those who work and weep; all but the stunted trees and the green grass that struggle to grow in the hard streets and squares, and whisper of the far-off scenes of the country, where life is natural and simple. But even in town a walk to church is pleasant, especially when the streets are quiet, before the crowd of worshippers have begun to assemble, and there is nothing to distract the thoughts. If we can say of the country walk, "This is holy ground," seeing that every bush and tree are aflame with God, we can say of the walk through the city, "Surely the Lord hath been here, this is a dreadful place." And as the rude rough stones lying on the mountain top shaped themselves in the patriarch's dream into a staircase leading up to God, so the streets and houses around become to the musing spirit suggestive of the Father's many mansions, and the glories of the City whose streets are of pure gold, in which man's hopes and aspirations after a city of rest, which are baffled here, will be realised. I have many pleasing associations connected with walks to church in town. Many precious thoughts have come to me then, which would not have occurred at other times; glimpses of the wonder of life, and revelations of inscrutable mysteries covered by the dream-woven tissue of this visible world. The subjects with which my mind was filled found new illustrations in the most unexpected quarters; and every familiar sight and sound furnished the most appropriate examples. During that half-hour of meditation, with my blood quickened by the exercise, and my mind inspired by the thoughts of the service in which I was about to engage, I have lived an intenser life and enjoyed a keener happiness than during all the rest of the week. It was the hour of insight that struck the keynote of all the others.

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