Julia Alpinula Infelicis patris, infelix proles I know of no human composition so affecting as this, nor a history of deeper interest. These are the names and actions which ought not to perish, and to which we turn with a true and healthy tenderness, from the wretched and glittering detail of a confused mass of conquests and battles, with which the mind is roused for a time to a false and feverish sympathy, from whence it recurs at length with all the nausea consequent on such intoxication. 17. In the sun's face, like yonder Alpine snow. Stanza Ixvii. line 8. This is written in the eye of Mont Blanc (June 3d, 1816), which even at this distance dazzles mine. (July 20th.) I this day observed for some time the distinct reflection of Mont Blanc and Mont Argentiere in the calm of the lake, which I was crossing in my boat; the distance of these mountains from their mirror is 60 miles. 18. By the blue rushing of the arrowy Rhone. Stanza Ixxi. line 3. The colour of the Rhone at Geneva is blue, to a depth of tint which I have never seen equalled in water, salt or fresh, except in the Mediterra nean and Archipelago. 19. Than vulgar minds may be with all they seek possest. Stanza Ixxix. line last. This refers to the account in his "Confessions. of his passion for the Comtesse d'Houdetot (the mistress of St. Lambert), and his long walk every morning for the sake of the single kiss which was the common salutation of French acquaintance. Rousseau's description of his feelings on this occasion may be considered as the most passionate, yet not impure description and expression of love that ever kindled into words; which after all must be felt, from their very force, to be inadequate to the delineation a painting can give no suffi. cient idea of the ocean. 20. Of earth-o'ergazing mountains. Stanza xci. line 3. It is to be recollected, that the most beautiful and impressive doctrines of the divine Founder of Christianity were delivered, not in the Temple, but on the Mount. To wave the question of devotion, and turn to human eloquence, the most effectual and splendid specimens were not pronounced within walls. Demosthenes addressed the public and popular as semblies. Cicero spoke in the forum. That this added to their effect on the mind of both orator and hearers, may be conceived from the difference between what we read of the emotions then and there produced, and those we ourselves experience in the perusal in the closet. It is one thing to read the Iliad at Sigaeum and on the tumuli, or by the springs with Mount Ida above, and the plain and rivers and Archipelago around you; and another to trim your taper over it in a snug library this I know. Were the early and rapid progress of what is called Methodism to be attributed to any cause beyond the enthusiasm excited by its vehement faith and doctrines (the truth or error of which I presume neither to canvass nor to question) I should venture to ascribe it to the practice of preaching in the fields, and the unstudied and extemporaneous effusions of its teachers. The Mussulmans, whose erroneous devotion (at least in the lower orders) is most sincere, and therefore impressive, are accustomed to repeat their prescribed orisons and prayers where-ever they may be at the stated hours of course fre quently in the open air, kneeling upon a light mat (which they carry for the purpose of a bed or cushion as required): the ceremony lasts some minutes, during which they are totally absorbed, and only living in their supplication; nothing can disturb them. On me the simple and entire since rity of these men, and the spirit which appeared to be within and upon them, made a far greater impression than any general rite which was ever performed in places of worship, of which I have seen those of almost every persuasion under the sun; including most of our own sectaries, and the Greek, the Catholic, the Armenian, the Lutheran, the Jewish, and the Mahometan. Many of the negroes, of whom there are numbers in the Tur kish empire, are idolaters, and have free exercise of their belief and its rites: some of these I had a distand view of a Patras, and from what I could make out of them, they appeared to be of a truly Pagan description, and not very agreeable to a spectator. 21. The sky is changed!— and such a change! Oh night. Stanza xcii. line 1. The thunder-storms to which these lines refer occurred on the 13th of June, 1816, at midnight. I have seen among the Acroceraunian mountains of Chimari several more terrible, but none more beautiful. 22. And sunset into rose-hues sees them wrought. Stanza xcix. line 5. Rousseau's Heloise, Lettre 17, part 4, note. "Ces montagnes sont si hautes qu'une demi-heure "après le soleil couche, leurs sommets sont encore "éclairés de ses rayons; dont le rouge forme sur "ces cimes blanches une belle couleur de rose "qu'on apperçoit de fort loin. " This applies more particularly to the heights over Meillerie. "J'allai à Vevay loger à la Clef, et pendant deux "jours que j'y restai sans voir personne, je pris "pour cette ville un amour qui m'a suivi dans tous "mes voyages, et qui m'y a fait établir enfin les "héros de mon roman. Je dirois volontiers à ceux "qui ont du goût et qui sont sensibles;, allez à "Vevai visitez le pays, examinez les sites, pro"menez-vous sur le lac, et dites si la Nature n'a "pas fait ce beau pays pour une Julie, pour une "Claire, et pour un St. Preux; mais ne les y "cherchez pas.. Les Confessions, livre iv. page 306. Lyons ed. 1796. In July, 1816, I made a voyage round the Lake of Geneva; and as far as my own observations. have led me in a not uninterested nor inattentive survey of all the scenes most celebrated by Rons. seau in his "Heloise, I can safely I can safely say, that in this there is no exaggeration. It would be diffi cult to see Clarens (with the scenes around it, Vevay, Chillon, Bôveret, St. Gingo, Meillerie, Eivan, and the entrances of the Rhone) without being forcibly struck with its peculiar adaptation to the persons and events with which it has been. peopled. But this is not all: the feeling with which all around Clarens, and the opposite rocks of Meillerie, is invested, is of a still higher and more comprehensive order than the mere sympa. thy with individual passion; it is a sense of the existence of love in its most extended and sublime. capacity, and of our own participation of its good. and of its glory: it is the great principle of the universe, which is there more condensed, but not less manifested; and of which, though knowing ourselves a part, we lose our individuality, and mingle in the beauty of the whole. If Rousseau had never written, nor lived, the same associations would not less have belonged to such scenes. He has added to the interest of his works by their adoption; he has shown his sense of their beauty by the selection; but they have done that for him which no human being could do for them. I had the fortune (good or evil as it might be) to sail from Meillerie (where we landed for some time) to St. Gingo during a lake storm, which added to the magnificence of all around, although occasionally accompanied by danger to the boat, which was small and overloaded. It was over this very part of the lake that Rousseau has driven the boat of St. Preux and Madame Wolmar to Meillerie for shelter during a tempest. On gaining the shere at St. Gingo, I found that the wind had been sufficiently strong to blow down some fine old chestnut trees on the lower part of the mountains. On the opposite height of Clarens is a chateau. The hills are covered with vineyards, and interspersed with some small but beautiful woods; one of these was named the "Bosquet de Julie, and it is remarkable that, though long ago cut down by the brutal selfishness of the monks of St. Bernard (to whom the land appertained), that the ground might be enclosed into a vineyard for the miserable drones of an execrable superstition, the inhabitants of Clarens still point out the spot where its trees stood, calling it by the name which consecrated and survived them. Rousseau has not been particularly fortunate in the preservation of the local habitations he has given to "airy nothings. The Prior of Great St. Bernard has cut down some of his woods for the sake of a few casks of wine, and Buonaparte has levelled part of the rocks of Meillerie in improving the road to the Simplon. The road is an excellent one, but I cannot quite agree with a remark which I heard made, that "La route vaut mieux que les souvenirs.. 23. Lausanne! and Ferney! ye have been the abodes. Stanza cv. line 1. Voltaire and Gibbon. 24. Had I not filed my mind, which thus itself subdued. Stanza cxiii. line last. For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind... 25. Macbeth. O'er others' griefs that some sincerely grieve. Stanza cxiv. line 7. It is said by Rochefoucault that "there is always something in the misfortunes of men's best friends not displeasing to them... |