"We went (Petrarch and his brother Gerard), from Avignon to Malaverne, which is at the foot of the mountain on the north side, where we slept at night and refreshed ourselves the whole of the next day. The day after my brother and myself, followed by two domestics, began to ascend the mountain with much trouble and fatigue, though the weather was mild and the day very fine. We had agility, strength, and courage; but this mass of rocks is of a steepness almost inaccessible. To- . wards the middle of the mountain we found an old shepherd, who did all he could to divert us from our project. 'It is about fifty years ago,' said he,' that I had the same humour with yourselves. I climbed, with infinite labour, to the top of the mountain; and what did I get by it? My body and clothes torn to pieces by rocks and briars, much fatigue and repentance, with a firm resolution never to go thither again. Since that time I have not heard it said any one has been guilty of the same folly.'

"Young people are not to be talked out of their schemes. The more the shepherd exaggerated the difficulties of the enterprise, the greater the desire we felt to conquer them. When he saw that what he said had no effect, he showed us a steep path along the rocks. 'That is the way you must go,' said he.

"After leaving our superfluous clothes, and all that could embarrass us, we began to climb with inconceivable ardour. Our efforts, which is not uncommon, were followed with extreme weakness; we found a rock on which we rested some time; after which we resumed our march, but it was not with the same agility; mine slackened very

much. While my brother took a very steep path, which appeared to lead to the top, I took another which was more upon the acclivity. 'Where are you going?' cried my brother with all his might: that is not the way; follow me.'-' Let me alone,' said I; I prefer the path that is longest and easiest.' This was an excuse for my weakness. I wandered for some time; at last shame took hold of me, and I rejoined my brother, who had seated himself to wait for me. We marched one before another for some time, but I became weary again, and sought an easier path; and at last, overwhelmed with shame and fatigue, I stopped again to take breath. Then abandoning myself to reflection, I compared the state of my soul, which aims to gain heaven, but walks not in the way to it, to that of my body, which had so much difficulty in attaining the top of Mount Ventoux, notwithstanding the curiosity which caused me to attempt it. This reflection inspired me with more strength and courage.

"Mount Ventoux is divided into several hills, which rise one above the other; on the top of the highest is a little plain, where we seated ourselves on our arrival.

"Struck with the clearness of the air and the immense space I had before my eyes, I remained for some time motionless and astonished. At last waking from my reverie, my eyes were insensibly directed towards that fine country, to which my inclination always drew me. I saw those mountains covered with snow, where the proud enemy of the Romans opened himself a passage with vinegar, if we believe the voice of Fame. Though they are at a great distance from Mount Ventoux, they seem so near that one might touch them. I felt instantly a

vehement desire to behold again this dear country, which I saw rather with the eyes of the soul than those of the body: some sighs escaped me which I could not prevent, and I reproached myself with a weakness which I could have justified by many great examples.

"The sun was going to rest, and I perceived that it would soon be time to descend the mountain. I then turned toward the west, where I sought in vain that long chain of mountains that separates France from Spain. Nothing that I know of hid them from my sight; but nature has not given us organs capable of that extensive view. To the right I discovered the mountain of the Lyonnoise, and to the left the surges of the Mediterranean, which bathe Marseilles on one side, and on the other dash themselves in pieces against the rocky shore. I saw them very distinctly, though at the distance of several days' journey. The Rhone glided under my eyes, the clouds were at my feet. Never was there a more extensive, variegated, and enchanting prospect! What I saw rendered me less incredulous of the accounts of Olympus and Mount Athos, which they assert to be higher than the regions of the clouds, from whence descend the showers of rain.

"After having satisfied my eyes for some time with the delightful objects which elevated my mind and inspired me with pious reflection, I took the book of 'St. Augustine's Confessions,' which I had from you, and which I always carry about me. It is dear to me from its own value; and the hands from which I received it render it dearer still. On opening it I accidentally fell on this passage in the tenth book:- Men go far to observe the

summits of mountains, the waters of the sea, the beginning and the courses of rivers, the immensity of the ocean, but they neglect themselves.'

"I take God and my brother to witness that what I say is true! I was struck with the singularity of an accident, the application of which it was so easy for me to make.

"In the midst of contemplation I had got, without perceiving, to the bottom of the mountain with the same safety, though with less fatigue, than I went up. A fine clear moon favoured our return. While they were preparing our supper, I shut myself up in a corner of the house to give you this account, and the reflections it produced in my mind. You are my father, and I hide nothing from you. I wish I was always able to tell you not only what I do but what I think. Pray to God that my thoughts, now, alas! vain and wandering, may be immovably fixed on the only true and solid good!"

We will now leave mountain and glaciers for a while, and proceed on our route to Martigny, through the interesting hamlet of Lavey, which will furnish us materials for another chapter.

LAVEY.

Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,
And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;
And as a child, when scaring sounds molest,
Clings close and closer to the mother's breast;
So the loud torrent and the whirlwind's roar
But bind him to his native mountains more.

GOLDSMITH.

NEAR the town of St. Maurice, on the road to Martigny, stands the small sequestered hamlet of Lavey. If the taste of the traveller lead him to enjoy the quiet and unobtrusive beauties of village scenery, he will not fail to recognize this spot with delight. An appearance of delicious calmness, of deeply harmonized repose, pervades this enchanting retreat, and is in admirable keeping with the tranquil hour of evening, and the modified beauty of the whole scenery around.

The habitations likewise bear an appearance so perfectly primitive that one might, with reason, believe their architecture had known no alteration since the time when houses were constructed with no other earthly view than that of shelter. Yet, although we entirely acquit the rustic architect of any variety in the design, a Swiss cottage is an exceedingly picturesque object. The heavy projecting roof, independent of all rule or order, but constructed solely as a defence from the weather; the staircases and communications to the interior, which are