92 CULTIVATION OF THE 



tion, as one of the most judiciously cultivated 

 vineyards is possessed by their order. 



The Hermitage is the hospitable rest, at which 

 the curious traveller usually halts for an hour's 

 repose, on his toilsome ascent to the crater. 



Whilst the lover of classic lore is drinking 

 deeply at the springs of ancient knowledge that 

 issue from the opening of the long lost city, 

 the cultivator of the vine looks sadly on to see 

 the yearly inroad of his favourite domain, and 

 the destruction of the modern nectar. The Fo- 

 rum of Nundinarium with its dependencies, cost 

 the owner a vineyard of the Lachryma3. Ano- 

 ther fell as the Temple of Isis appeared, and per- 

 haps the incense of a sacrifice more costly never 

 rose from her altar, in the zenith of her heathen 

 glory. The resurrection of the ancient city is 

 the grave of new wine. It is the passing of the 

 Rubicon, which admits of no return. Knowledge 

 triumphs over the^grosser appetite, and the lover 

 of good cheer sighs to see the foot of Minerva 

 on the neck of the rosy god. It must not how- 

 ever be supposed, that the victory is opposed 

 without a strenuous conflict to avert the threat- 

 ened calamity. Efforts are constantly made by 

 the cultivators of that country, to perpetuate the 

 wine by a removal to other positions of the 

 ashes; but the wine is no longer the same, and 

 confirms the history of that versatile plant, which 

 admits of no reasoning, and baffles all analogy, 

 leaving to the vinegrower no star to direct his 

 course, but the knowledge of facts as they un- 

 fold to his practical observation, and furnishing 



