SUNRISE FROM CAP D'AMPEGLIO 3 



would embrace the sea. 1"lie east was aglow, and the 

 purple light tinged the crests of the steel-blue waves 

 uith its warm tones. Not a cloudlet flecked the sky, 

 ^^'hlch passed trom deepest blue above into tender green 

 as It neared the sea. Suddenly the red orb of the sun 

 rose, sending its iiery rays over the wide waters as 

 though to kindle a vast conflagration; and a thousand 

 rays penetrated the deep bays and dark valleys of the 

 coast, driving away the shades of night. The houses 

 of Monaco blazed in the distance as though on fire, and 

 even remote Antibes threw back golden gleams as a 

 morning greeting to the sun. The whole landscape was 

 illuminated, and all Nature responded with a jubilant 

 thrill. Thus on that loveh' morning by the blue Mediter- 

 ranean did Heaven and Eartli celebrate the festival of 

 the Resurrection. 



I was lost in contemplation of this spectacle and 

 heedless of the lapse of time, so that the sun stood high 

 in the sk^' before I resumed my wanderings. The whole 

 surface of the sea sparkled with innumerable lights as 

 though it were sprinkled with diamonds. Distant Corsica 

 gradualh' faded into a mist\- streak as if it had been 

 but a vision. Before me on the Cap d'Ampeglio lav 

 Old Bordighera, now bathed in sunlight. 



The ascent of Monte Nero is said to take two 

 hours — at least some people told me the^' had heard 

 so — ibr in truth I did not succeed in finding anyone 

 who could boast of ever having been to the top. 

 Without some strong inducement the natives here hardly 

 ever climb a mountain of any height; only one passion 



1 



