Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/222

232 strangers, it is said, can only venture at the risk of their lives, amongst its ruffianly population of two thousand souls.

They do not however remain always confined to the rock, but are scattered about over the country, seeking for their prey.

We found our coffee in the temple of the Sibyl remarkably good, the scene around incomparably lovely, especially in the golden glory of the evening sun-light,—but it might be less agreeable to remain here for any length of time in the neighborhood of Rocca di Papa.

The full moon rose like a golden shield above the Campagna, as, in the tranquillity of evening, we drove back to Rome.

April 5th.—The Holy Week, which amongst people of the Reformed church, is called “the still week,” which is entirely devoted to the spiritual celebration of a great and holy memory, is, in Catholic Rome, the most troublesome and restless week of the whole year. People have no time for religious worship, from the ceaseless succession of religious festivals and ceremonies. The number and the crowding of foreigners at these festivals, contributes also very greatly to convert them into mere spectacles, as wearisome to the body as they are little edifying to the soul.

The church festivals begin towards the close of Lent, with the blessing of the Golden Rose. This precious symbol of the spiritual life of the church—the rose