Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/180

196 opened at my request, to my friend Penchaud, who wished to see the writings of some of the oldest fathers of the church in their original language.

“It is quite wrong,” said the mild abbot, “that our library should not be open to all who may have an interest in its collections.”

Father Brandis and Father Gallmorell gave me several books, partly with reference to Einsiedeln, and partly of a higher interest, amongst which was Möhler's celebrated work, his Apology for the Roman Catholic Doctrine. Father Gallmorell gave me a printed collection of his poems, in which there is really “la scintella celesta” The learned father accompanied me to the grated door of the monastery, behind which they withdrew, taking leave with a chivalric politeness which would have perfectly become courtiers; and I fear that the pious brothers were that, rather than servants of the Gospel. If amiable kindness and courtesy, united to handsome exteriors, could have converted me to the Roman church, these monks would have converted me; but——

I spent the remainder of the afternoon partly within, and partly out of the splendid church, observing the same scene, and listening to the same Ave Marias and Pater Nosters incessantly repeated.

At vespers, a magnificent Salve Regina was sung in St. Meinrad's chapel, by fifty monks. The music and choristers are excellent, but the singing is without shading in its strength; it is one continued fortissimo. Late, in the twilight, I went alone to pay a farewell visit to the church. The state of things there was very peculiar. The prayers were much louder, much