Essays on Life 



of a stronghold belonging to the Counts of 

 Biandrate. 



The incidents which it illustrates are treated 

 with even more than the homeliness usual in 

 works of this description when not dealing 

 with such solemn events as the death and 

 passion of Christ. Except when these sub- 

 jects were being represented, something of 

 the latitude, and even humour, allowed in the 

 old mystery plays was permitted, doubtless 

 from a desire to render the work more attrac- 

 tive to the peasants, who were the most 

 numerous and most important pilgrims. It 

 is not until faith begins to be weak that it 

 fears an occasionally lighter treatment of 

 semi-sacred subjects, and it is impossible to 

 convey an accurate idea of the spirit prevail- 

 ing at this hamlet of sanctuary without 

 attuning oneself somewhat to the more 

 pagan character of the place. Of irrever- 

 ence, in the sense of a desire to laugh at 

 things that are of high and serious import, 

 there is not a trace, but at the same time 

 there is a certain unbending of the bow at 

 Montrigone which is not perceivable at Varallo. 



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