VINTA^ ENTINE.

Vagle a placé sur le Mont Avensorands par leur histoire, le utes on orbe leur origine

DR STAEL.

the dry realities of history, the trabolation of Rome, is anxious to reFing the scenes consecrated by classad ample gratification in exploring Aventine Mount. The first objet y will be, of course, the den of Cary of which it is probable that he will as Hercules. Many an eager traA fine in search of the care, Island his anger excited by

MOUNT AVENTINE.

Là poësie vient encore embellir ce séjour. Virgile a placé sur le Mont Aventin la caverne de Cacus; et les Romaines, si grands par leur histoire, le sont encore par les fictions heroiques, dont les poëtes ont orné leur origine fabuleuse.

DE STAEL.

IF, fatigued with the dry realities of history, the traveller, in his perambulation of Rome, is anxious to refresh himself by visiting the scenes consecrated by classical fiction, he will find ample gratification in exploring the boundaries of the Aventine Mount. The first object of his curious inquiry will be, of course, the den of Cacus, in the discovery of which it is probable that he will not be so fortunate as Hercules. Many an eager traveller has traversed the Aventine in search of the cave, till, like the demigod, he has found his anger excited by his failure;

ter totum fervidus ira

Lustrat Aventini montem; ter saxea tentat

Limina nequicquam: ter fessus valle resedit.

Certainly, the task of pulling up the steep ascent of the Aventine by their tails

Quatuor a stabulis præstante corpore tauros,

was a feat well worthy of the hero to whom it is ascribed. "The cave of Cacus," says a very intelligent traveller, we are gravely informed, is still extant on the steep

side of the Aventine that overhangs the Tiber; and some of our active friends scrambled about in search of it among the thorns and brushwood that fringe its perpendicular bank, at the imminent peril of breaking their necks, and to the actual demolition of their clothes. But though they found holes in abundance, they never met with any that could contain a single ox, or that by any stretch of courtesy could be dignified with the name of a cave, so that the abode of Cacus, as far as I know, remains undiscovered to this day."

It was upon the Aventine Hill, also, that Numa met the rural gods Faunus and Picus, to whom he insidiously administered an undue quantity of wine and honey, and taking advantage of their intoxication, compelled them to reveal to him their celestial secrets.

The Aventine Hill was added to the city by Ancus Martius, and for a long period, during the early history of Rome, it appears to have been unbuilt upon. It was the scene of those popular nocturnal meetings which, in the infancy of the republic, led to the secession of the people, and, indeed, according to some authorities, the secession of war to Mount Aventine. A little later, the citizens who rose against the tyranny of the decemvirs established their camp upon this hill, and in more modern times Rienzi assembled upon its summit the hardy spirits who conspired to regenerate Rome-an attempt which has excited the genius of Petrarch and of Moore.

At dawn, in arms went forth the patriot band,
And as the breeze, fresh from the Tiber, fann'd
Their gilded gonfalons, all eyes could see

The palm-tree there, the sword, the keys of Heaven

Types of the justice, peace, and liberty

That were to bless them when their chains were riven.

On to the Capitol the pageant moved,

While many a shade of other times that still
Around that grave of grandeur sighing roved
Hung o'er their footsteps up the sacred hill,
And heard its mournful echoes, as the last
High-minded heirs of the republic passed.

The Aventine was the site of the temple dedicated to Diana by Servius Tullius in imitation of the Ephesian temple. Of this magnificent fabric no trace whatever is now to be discovered; nor, indeed, are the ruins of the other temples which formerly crowned this hill—of Juno, of Liberty, and of the Bona Dea-now visible. Monasteries and churches have succeeded the heathen fanes, amongst the most conspicuous of which are the churches of Santa Maria del Priorato, of S. Alessio, and of Santa Sabina. It ought not to be forgotten, that when Rome was free, the Aventine was the residence of Ennius, and that in later days it was the site of the Palace of Trajan.

A considerable portion of the base of the Aventine is covered with the extensive and magnificent ruins of the baths of Caracalla. With the exception of the Colosseum, there is no remnant of ancient Rome which presents so perfect an idea of the magnitude and splendour of the edifices with which the imperial city was adorned. The length of the building, as measured from the ruins, was 1840 feet, and the breadth 1476. It is said that it was begun by Caracalla, that Heliogabalus added the porticos, and that the whole was completed by Alexander Severus. The number and size of the apartments, which

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