76 Mr Arnott's Tour to the South of France 



mer *. To-day the fountain was uncommonly low, and all the 

 stones which are covered by the water when high, were now ab- 

 solutely green with the Hedzoigia aquatica and Cinclidotusjon' 

 tinaloides, but of which the former was the more abundant. 

 We were so fortunate as to observe here during the short time 

 we remained, Tortida chloronatos (T, memhranifolia Hook.^, 

 Grimmia qfricana, Clypeola Jonihlaspi, Hutchinsia jpetrcea. 

 Thymus vulgaris (or garden thyme), Vallantia cruciata, Hes- 

 peris laciniata, and Asplenium glanduhsum Loisl. (called by 

 some A. PetrarchcB^ and by others A. Vallisclausce). Of the 

 two last we gathered only one or two specimens ; they are very 

 scarce, and if not taken care of may be soon entirely eradicated. 

 The Targionia hypophylla actually grows here, though, if the 

 notes I have be correct, Sir J. E. Smith seems to think there is 



* It may be interesting to some to have Sir J. Smith's observations on 

 this scene. They are contained in his " Tour to the Continent," a book 1 

 regret I had not carried with me. 



*' Nov. 30 — Nothing about Avignon could interest us so much as the fa- 

 mous fountain of Vaucluse, consecrated to immortality by the sweet muse of 

 Petrarch, and now rivalling in celebrity the Castalian font, which it excels in 

 beauty and magnificence. We arrived on its brink about 3 o'clock in a bright 

 afternoon, when the i"glowing refulgence of the declining sun on the rocky 

 scenery around, increased, by contrast, the charms of the sequestered vale, at 

 whose extremity the fountain is situated. 



" It was now in great perfection, rather fuller than usual. The water, 

 though clear as crystal, appears green as it runs, from the depth of the chan- 

 nel. This fountain is, in fact, a considerable river, arising from an unfathom- 

 ably rocky basin of a circular form, at the foot of a stupendous perpendicular, 

 or rather impending rock. A few yards from its source, the stream falls, in 

 the most majestic and picturesque manner, over fragments of rock, and then 

 forms a rapid river, winding through the vale, whose sides, for some distance, 

 rise suddenly to an immense height from its banks, and then gradually ex- 

 pand into an open plain. The village (Dr Smith might have called it mise- 

 rable) of Vaucluse is built on some of the most accessible parts of these pre- 

 cipices, and many of its houses overhang the river. The only approach to 

 the fountain is by a single path along the bank opposite to the town. 



" Although it may seem approaching to impiety to visit this place with 

 any other thoughts than that of Laura and her sublime lover, whose elo- 

 quence I almost adore, and to whose refinement I do all possible reverence ; 

 yet I cannot but remark, that its beauties are in themselves sufficient to ren- 

 der it one of the most interesting spots in the world. A naturalist or painter, 

 as well as a poet, might spend many days here most delightfully. The 

 neighbouring scenery wants only a little more wood." 



