282 EXTRACTS PROM 



my foul to the ravifhing illufion of the figure and the 

 place. 



The choral fymphonies of the ecclefiaffcics now re- 

 founded through the cave ; the water falling from the 

 various pipes into the refervoir clofe by the altar ; the 

 overhanging rock of the forecourt ; the glimmering 

 light of the body of the church, added greatly to the 

 awfulnefs of the fcene. The univerfal lilence of the 

 defart around, the perfect neatnefs of this fylvan cave ; 

 the gaudy decorations of the popifh, particularly the 

 ficilian, worfhip ; the illufion produced by the figure 

 of the fleeping beauty, charming even to a fkilful eye 

 — fuffice, it was with great difficulty that I could re- 

 folve on quitting this inchanting place ; and it was not 

 till late in the night that I got back to Palermo. 



I have many times fince laughed at myfelf on this 

 fubjecl: ; and thought to attribute the pleafure I felt 

 there to the humour of the moment and a glafs or two 

 of good ficilian wine, more than to the objects them- 

 felves : but, in my vindication, I found in the Voyage 

 Pittorefque de la Sicile, the following paffage : 66 La 

 * c ftatue eft de bronze dore, avec les mains et la tete 

 i( en marbre blanc, mais fi parfaitement fculptee et 

 et dans un pofition fi naturelle, que Ton ferait tente de 

 * c la croire vivante." So that, after this teftimony, I 

 need not be afhamed at the impreflion this lifelefs 

 image made upon me. 



By the fide of the church and the little cloifiier ad- 

 joining to it, are feveral other caverns, nearly equal in 

 magnitude to that I have been defcribing, which ferve 

 for the protection, and as the natural flails, of the nu- 

 merous herds of goats with which thefe parts abound. 



II. ox 



