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46
by the Kings of France, whenever they had any difference with the Pope, and again
reftored at the peace. But in 1791 it was finally re-united to France, and is now included
in the department of Vanclufe.
The ruins of a temple difcovered on the fummit of the mountain already mentioned,
which is called Dons, feems to corroborate the idea that the city originally extended as far
as that fpot. The following infcription alfo, dug out of the earth in the vicinity of thefe
ruins, in the courfe of the lafl: century, proves that this temple was dedicated to Hercules,
and anciently of great repute.
I t has likewife given rife to the conjefture that this city had been founded by Hercules;
but that idea is certainly erroneous, as we have every reafon to fuppofe that it owes its
origin to the Phocians of Marieilles, and that the name of Avennico had been given to
Hercules, in like manner as Capitolinus by the Romans to Jupiter of the Capitol, as is
demonftrated by feveral other examples fimilar to thefe.
There has alfo been difcovered on the fame mountain, within thefe forty years, veftiges
of another temple, but dedicated to Diana j which feems to confirm the general opinion
that Avenio (the name given to the city by the Romans) owes its derivation to the Latin
words Ave Diana, in honour of that goddefs, which in the courfe of time were changed
to Ave Niana, and then to Avenio. Within a mile of thefe ruins were likewife public
baths, which, if we may judge by the aimexed infcription found on the fpot, were famous,
and much frequented in thofe days.
Vide the Worki of James Gruter on Ancient lofcriptions,
Beiides the fr^ments already defcribed, there are feveral fcattered about in the
of the city, too numerous to particularize, yet very well meriting the attention of the
curious. A column, in particular, of beautiful white alabafter, finely executed, and of
47
excellent proportion, muft not be omitted. It was found i n 1146, and has feveral infcriptions
and figures in bafs-relief upon it, which appear to refer to the vidory gained by
Domitius iEnobarbus over the Saliens, about ninety-eight years before Chrift.
• The modern buildings and magnificent churches, which adorn this city, will alfo
furniili much fatisfa<£tion to every traveller of tafte. The infcripUons and tombs, which
are in great abundance, relate chiefly to the hiftory of the Popes who have refided there,
and to the Sovereigns and Counts who have fucceflively governed the fouthern provinces
of France.
In the Church of the Cordeliers is the tomb of the celebrated and much admired Laura,
whom Petrarch has immortalized in the fourteenth centmy. It is only a ftone in the
pavement with a figure engraven on it, partly effaced, furroundcd by an infcription in
Gothic letters, and another in the wall adjoining, with the armorial of the family of Sade.
This monument was opened by pei-miflion of her family about one hundred and twenty
yeai-s ago, when a roll of parchment was found in it, containing fome Italian verfes in
PeU-arch's hand writing, as alfo a leaden medal, bearing a woman' s buft on one fide, and
the following letters on the other, M. L. M. J. which have been explained, viz. ' Madonna
Laura Morta Jace. '-' Madam Laura is dead.' The verfes on the parchment ran thus:
Qui ripofan quel cafte e feliei olTa
Di quella alma gmtille e fola in terra, &c. &c.
And are in the works of the poet publiihed at Lyons 1545.
T h e celebrated fountain of Vaudufe, in this neighbourhood, cannot fail to attradt the
attention of the traveUer, not only from having been the poet's favourite fpot, and of
courfe more interefting to our feelings, from the celebrity which great talents have given
it, but from its being in itfelf Angularly romantic.
On the fummit of a rock abo^'e the village, but below the moimtain, is a ruin, which
the people of tl\e country call Petrarch's Caille.
From hence the Autlior recommends vifiting O i ^ g e , as being ilill diftinguilhed by
feveral monuments of antiquity, which afforded him great fatisfadtion. This city lies
noi-th eaft of Avignon, at the diftance only of fifteen miles.