LIFE IN AX ISLAND. 105 



Limbo ; past the wild bastion that confronts Ischia 

 and the setting sun ; and now again we sweep along by 

 the foot of frightful precipices to the south, rocks rising 

 into such a line of rocky needles, sharp and gigantic, as 

 remind one of the Aiguilles farther north among the 

 eternal snows. But it is rare indeed that the snow 

 lies at Capri, and all those peaks of rock burn all day 

 long in the full sun. Down below, at the base of 

 those tremendous cliffs, lies the Grotto Verde, no 

 secret and sacred place like the other, but a wonder- 

 ful brief passage riven through the rocks, which glow 

 inside with a sulphureous golden green, and throw 

 upon the water deep emerald reflections, strange to 

 behold in the midst of that blue sea ; for blue and 

 green are not comparative expressions in the Bay of 

 Naples, but mean to the fullest extent the colour 

 they represent : and the green of that marvellous 

 opening, as our boat pushes cautiously through it, 

 grinding on the rocks on either side, is greener than 

 any verdure about Capri green like nothing but the 

 brilliant profound tint of the emerald ; though it 

 requires but one long sweep of the oars, one bend of 

 the brown xinanimous figures, to carry us over patches 

 of deep indigo into the common heaven of blue, the 

 universal Mediterranean colour. And here now 

 comes the little Marina, and that lovely pool shut in 

 by .rocks, and sweet with such bewildering tints and 

 gradations of colour as would drive any painter wild, 

 which we have christened Diana's Bath. Most good 



