Page:Costello - A pilgrimage to Auvergne from Picardy to Velay - A 30154 1.pdf/18

4 silver and gold, and different objets in gold émail, the work of a celebrated Abbé Guillaume, a golden cross presented by Charlemagne, and a precious relic of miraculous virtue, no other than the head of St. Bertin ; but, as may well be imagined, no vestige of any of these wonders remains. There were formerly two refectories, both fitted up with great luxury and attention to convenience, one appropriated to summer indulgence, the other for winter, and here the pious recluses appeared sufficiently to enjoy themselves: their beautiful gardens were watered by the limpid river Lia, which furnished them with execllent fish, game of all sorts was to be procured in their forests and plains, and they were protected by powerful knights whose interest it was to keep them in good humour, From their tower their own men at arms watehed over the safety of the town, and its gates were neyer opened till their signal had been given that all was seeure beyond. Captive monarchs became the slaves of that proud and powerful community, and Childeric, the last of the Merovingians, was here forced to adopt the cowl and quit a dungeon for a ecll. No pride, no glory is left now at St. Bertin except that of the guardian of the stupendous tower who looks upon everything with contempt which has not reference to his beloved bells and the rains which he appears to regard with