GROTTO OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST. 353 quite unable to rise. To no purpose I called for help to my guide, whom I had left behind; instead of hastening up, the idiot stood still, looking at me, and crying out to me with all his might to go more slowly. I was obliged to wait till the pain I felt had subsided, and to get up of myself as well as I could. The cavern is about twelve feet long by eight wide. The Franciscan Fathers go thither to say mass on the festival of the saint. The spot is marked where he was accustomed to lie down to rest. At the farther end is a spring, the water of which is excellent. I filled a bottle with it, and carried away with me a few little pieces of stone from the rock. The spot where was situated the tomb of Elizabeth is a quarter of a league distant. It is pointed out by a tree and a few stones. I did not go thither it was late; and, suffering from my fall, I was anxious to get back to the monastery. END OF VOL. I. LONDON: F. SHOBERL, JUN., PRINTER, 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET. |