From the Thames to the Tiber

B. E. H. Plumbtree says:

“Through haughty Rome’s imperial streetThe mighty Trajan rode,And myrrh and balm and spices sweetIn silver censers glowed;In car of state erect he stood,And round him rushing like a floodThe people poured with shout and song,And every eye through all that throngTurned to him with delight.For he had triumphed far and wide,Had sated Rome’s high-soaring pride,And, laying captive nations low,Now dragged the pale and trembling foeBent down in sore affright.And still before him spread afarNew pathways for his conquering car,More crowns of world-wide fame to win’Mid shouts of warriors battle din:One triumph being o’er he spurnedAnd still his fevered spirit burnedNew realms, new worlds to gain.And still his legions on he led,Legions that ne’er from foe had fled,The glory of his reign.”

We left the mighty column standing in its solitary grandeur, a memorial of man’s achievement, while yet other things around us testified to the instability of all earthly things.  “Change and decay in all around I see.”

We reached our hotel tired and hungry.  We, however, soon found the value of a good wash, then a good table-de-hote meal, and then to write up our diaries and think of the day’s experiences, then to go to rest.  After a good night’s sleep we rose refreshed.  Had a good wash, then breakfast.  After letters, postcards, etc., we prepared for further investigations of the great city.  We went out, but no sooner did we appear in the great square facing our hotel, when, I should think, at least a dozen cabmen turned their horses heads towards us, asking for our patronage.  We could only hire one, so we had choice and it fell upon a decent looking man—the very picture of a son of Italy—with a very good looking horse.  This time we drove to the mound upon which stands the noble monument to General Garibaldi, the statue of one of Italy’s noblest heroes and patriots.  Garibaldi was born at Nice in 1807.  His family were quite obscure, and without name or fame.  His father had a small coasting vessel, and to this, probably, is due something of the adventurous spirit of his son.  When he had attained his manhood, he went to Genoa and then to Rome.  Here he joined a band called “Young Italy,” and as a member of this band he was indicted for treason and sentenced to death.

By some means he escaped this sentence and fled to Marseilles in France.  From here to South America, and here he joined the army and fought against Brazil.  He became a most adventurous and daring leader.  In 1848 he returned to Italy with a view to give himself to the army of Italy.  They, however, did not receive him with the cordiality he deserved.  He, however, raised an army of 1,500 brave men, like-minded with himself, and went against the Austrians, who were threatening Italy severely and dangerously.  He showed skill and bravery on the field of battle, and so attracted the notice of Victor Immanuel, who with his own hand fastened on the hero’s breast the gold medal for military bravery.  He became the idol of the nation of Italy, as General Gordon might be called the hero of the Soudan.  So Garibaldi may be called the hero of Italy, and as in Gordon’s case, riches, titles, conventional distinctions were as nothing, so in the case of this illustrious soldier and hero.  He had the honour of a seat in the Parliament of Italy in 1875.  The latter part of his life was spent in retirement, and he died suddenly in the year 1882.  And here to his memory is erected, in the very heart of the Eternal City, a splendid monument.  His life-sized figure in bronze on a fine charger, while around the monument are bas-reliefs of great interest.  From this high elevation we had a good view of the city and of the river Tiber, which is about equal to our river Trent for width, it is spanned in several places by bridges.  Here we could look down the Appian Way.  It would not be difficult, standing here, to imagine just away at yonder port, some ten or twelve miles away, a shipwrecked crew has landed its cargo of grain; also some soldiers with three prisoners, amongst them is Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles.  He is chained to a soldier; they come along the Appian Way, where we are just looking—a road that had often rung with the plaudits to the victors in many a hard fought fight.  A strange sight to see this poor man, without money, friends, or influence.  Yet he was the true conqueror of Rome.  He said truly “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.”  Cor., chapter I, verse 27.  St. Paul says again: “And so we went towards Rome, and from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and the three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.”  Acts, chapter 28, verses 14 & 15.  Paul is allowed to speak for himself, having appealed to Cæsar.  “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.”

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