ii.] YOUTHFUL TRAVELS, 1826-27. 29 



Lamentations of Jeremiah. It is very interesting to 

 accompany the service with a book. At the same time 

 that artificial darkness is spreading by the extinction of 

 the candles, the twilight increases into the shades of 

 night, and the effect of the sun's parting rays over the 

 frescoes of the chapel is very fine ; and by the time that 

 the Benedicitus begins, and the fifteen candles are all out 

 but one, the sun is probably set. At this moment two 

 persons with extinguishers commence putting out the 

 corresponding tapers on the altar and rail of the chapel, 

 one at each verse of this beautiful Psalm ; and when all 

 are gone, the fifteenth candle, which still remains, is 

 removed from its place probably as a symbol that our 

 Saviour, though apparently dead, after all the desertion 

 of His friends and the darkness which overspread His 

 soul, still lived, though unseen. At this juncture the Pope 

 descends from his throne, and kneels before the altar, 

 the Cardinals and the whole court doing the same at 

 their stations. The chapel is in perfect darkness, except 

 some lights from the music gallery, the last shades of 

 twilight gleaming most softly through the northern 

 windows, and the single taper throws a faint glow from 

 behind the deserted altar on the priests who kneel before 

 it. At such a crisis how does the first thrilling swell 

 of Allegri's Miserere burst upon you ! how silent the 

 moment, when the finest piece of vocal music ever 

 composed, and performed by the best vocal choir in the 

 world, seems to draw to earth the notes of the angelic 

 chorus, and exalt your thoughts to higher spheres ! 

 When the last words, " Tune imponent super altare tuum 

 vitulas," have died on the ear, the Pope in a low tone 

 reads a short prayer, still kneeling ; a rumbling noise is 

 then heard, which represents the confusion attendant on 

 the Redeemer's death ; after which the flambeaux are 

 introduced, and all depart in silence/ 



These descriptions of scenes so often before and since 

 described will show what opportunities James Forbes 

 had presented to him, and how he profited by them. For 



