AGRICULTURE 0> THE KHIXE. 193 



useful task. To return to the summit of the eminence — 

 all these advantages are imperceptible on first reaching 

 it, because the castle, with its spacious court-yard, covers 

 the whole breadth of the brow of the hill. It is not 

 until we arrive at the balcony of the first floor that the 

 beauty of its position bursts upon us. Whoever chooses 

 a bright day for the excursion will be repaid with a view 

 that is scarcely to be surpassed. The vale of the Rhine, 

 from Bingen to Mayence, lies under the spectator like 

 an unrolled map. Clear and bright the Rhine presents 

 its broadest mass to the view, but studded with islands of 

 various sizes, on which the luxuriant foliage of forest- 

 trees refreshes the eye, and contrasts softly with the 

 extent of lands, " rich in corn and wine," that cover both 

 banks as far as the eye can reach. To the right, Riides- 

 heim, with its hill, and opposite to it Bingen with its 

 *' Scharlachberg," both places crowned with ruins of 

 ancient date ; at the base of the hill Geisenheira, the 

 village of Johannisberg, and Winkel, whose name is said 

 to indicate the spot where Charlemagne had fixed his 

 cellar; on the opposite bank Ingelheim, embosomed in 

 a hollow covered with vineyards, the favourite summer 

 abode of that great man and mighty potentate ; on the 

 left, the long vista of undulating heights, varying with 

 vineyards and forests skirting the bright broad stream 

 until the banks seem to close upon its course, with num- 

 berless additions which the observer can note at his 

 leisure, compose a view of inexpressible beauty — grand 

 from the extent of the scattered signs of richness that it 

 developes, but soothing rather than startling in its general 

 effect. The interest attaching to the vines which run up 

 to the walls of the houses, of course, is rather of an 



