143
ing at a desk, in the act of writing a book.
His head was directed upwards, with the
mouth open, preserving an air of the most
quaint, but sanctimonious seriousness : he
was surrounded by monks. Above, in the
clouds, was the Virgin, leaning over and
reo’ardine him with affection. Across the
picture there appeared to be a ray of light
descending to the saint, the meaning of
which, from its strange position, we could
not comprehend. The ladies and gentlemen
of our party had been poring over it
for some time in doubtful conjecture, when,
on turning the picture to the window, we
perceived that what we had mistaken for a
ray of light, was something more substantial
and nourishing ; the Virgin was pressing
her bosom with her hand, and squirting
a stream of milk very adroitly into the
mouth of the enraptured saint below. The
unexpected discovery of this novel mode
of inspiration completely overpowered our
gravity, and excited an involuntary laugh
from all the party, without regard to the
feelings of our conductor. We were unable
to learn the name of this favoured
saint.
About half a mile behind the monastery.
ascending through some beautiful fields,
we came to a small plain, on which there
is a circular grove of trees, with seats. It
is close by the Fontaine des Merveilles.
It was under the shade of this grove that
the brethren from the monastery used to
regale themselves during the heats of summer
; the fountain supplying them with the
clearest and coolest water, to mix with
their wines. A sybarite could scarcely conceive
a situation better chosen for luxurious
enjoyment. It was a bright but sultry
day in July; we brought provisions, intending
to dine in the grove, and wait for the
flowino; of the fountain. We were exceed-
ingly fortunate ; for after standing at the
spring a quarter of an hour, we retired to
take our repast, leaving a boy to watch the
fountain: but we were scarcely seated,
before we heard the signal, and running to
the place, we saw that the water was just
beginning to flow. In a little time it ran
with considerable force and noise, filling
the reservoir: it then abated, and the
water in the resei:voir began to sink again;
the whole process lasted about twenty
minutes. About an hour afterwards we
had another opportunity of seeing it from
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