a traveller's journal. 281 



perform my devotions. To this end he Ihewed me .an 

 altar to the left hand in- the cave, as a LTirine of pecu- 

 liar holinefs, and then left me to myfelf. 



I faw through the apertures of a large brafs fcreen 

 of foliage work, feveral lamps gleaming under the al- 

 tar; upon this I knelt down clofe before it, to get as 

 good a view of it as I could through thefe interfaces. 

 Within was Hill another lattice of fine brafs wire curi T 

 oufly wrought, fo that the objecl: behind it could 

 only be diltinguilhed as through a tranfparent gauze. • 



I perceived a beautiful lady, by the folemn light of 

 the lamps. ' 



She lay as if in a kind of trance, the eyes half fhut, 

 the head negligently reclining on the right hand, which 

 was ornamented with feveral rings. I could not be fa- 

 tisfied in contemplating the figure; it feemed pecu- 

 liarly charming. Her clrefs, compofed of gilt metal 

 curioufly wrought, was a clofe imitation of cloth of 

 gold. The head and hands are of white marble ; I 

 cannot take upon me to fay, in a high ftyle, but yet 

 fo naturally and agreeably carved, that it is impoffible 

 not to believe that they breathe and move. 



A little angel Hands near her, and feems to fan her 

 with a bunch of lilies. 



While I was thus employed in conlidering the fi- 

 gure, the eccleliaftics came into the cave, placed then> 

 felves in their Halls, and fung vefpers. 



I feated myfelf on a bench facing the altar, and 

 heard them for a while. I then repaired again to the 

 altar, knelt down, ftrove to get a fuller and plainer 

 light of the beautiful image of the faint ; and religned 



my 



