Page:The Voyage of Italy (1686).djvu/262

 Going up this hill I went to St Alexius his church, where I saw the wooden stairs, under which this saint lodged for seventeen years in his own Father's House (after fifteen years absence ) without being known to anybody, till after his death. The body of this saint lies under the high altar, together with that of St Bonifacius the Martyr.

Hard by upon the same hill, stands St Sabinas church, whither the pope comes upon Ash-Wednesday in a solemn cavalcata, accompanied with the cardinals.

Here also upon this hill, stood anciently the Temple of Liberty, and the Romans Armilustrium.

Dcscending from hence, I made towards St Paul's Gate; and in the way I saw on my right hand the hill called Mons Testacius, which was made of the broken pots thrown there in the Roman's time by the potters. Its half a mile about, and 160 foot high.

A little nearer the Gate of St Paul; I saw the Tomb of Caius Cestius, built like a Pyramid of Egypt, and sll of pure white Marble. This is the most entire work of all the ancient Roman works. This Cestus (as the words upon his Tomb import) was Septemvir epulonum; that is, one of those seven men called epulones anciently, because they had the devouring of those banquets, which were set before the Gods in their Lectisternis, in the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus.

Passing thence through the Gate of St. Paul, anciently called Porta Tergemina ; and Porta Ostiendis; I went to St Paul's church, a little mile from the town. In the way I took notice of a