MAY 329 



auspices of Murray, founded that branch of literature, 

 and within the compass of one very moderate volume 

 expounded in every particular the whole continent of 

 Europe. But this is only the outside of the ease. A 

 visit to Italy was then the summit of a young man's 

 aspirations ; it now supplies some half-dozen rapid 

 stages in larger tours, where we run much risk of losing 

 in discipline and mental stimulus what we gain in mile- 

 age. When it took sixteen or eighteen days to post to 

 Eome, each change of horses was an event. The young 

 traveller could not but try to make the most of what he 

 had bought so dear. Scene, history, and language now 

 flash before the eye ; then they soaked into the soul. 

 Men were then steeped in the experiences of Italy ; they 

 are now sprinkled with the spray. Its scenery, its art, 

 its language, which was a delight and luxury to learn ; 

 its splendid literature ; its roU of great men, among 

 whom Dante himself might serve to build up the entire 

 fame of a nation ; and its place in history, which alone 

 connects together the great stages of human civilisation 

 — all these constituted a many-sided power which was 

 brought to bear almost in a moment on the mind of 

 Arthur Hallam. I knew it, for I suffered by it. The 

 interval between his progress and my own, always long, 

 became such that there was no joining hands across it. 

 I was plodding on the beaten and dusty path, while 

 he was 



Where tlie lost lark wildly sings, 

 Hard by the sun.' 



Everyone takes with him to Florence Mr. Hare's 

 'Cities of Central Italy.' In his introduction to the 

 'Cities of Northern Italy,' he puts it well as regards the 

 changes that have in my life -time come over travelling. 

 I can remember things as he describes them : 



