Part 28 (2/2)
Along this silver thread their eyes wandered, till at length it was lost for a ti The athtly hazy in this direction, so that they could not rove, or a town; but it looked ularities and projections see these projections was one larger mass, which rose up above all the others, and formed the chief feature in that indistinctway, like one who suspects the truth, but does not feel at all sure about it
”Dat,” said the guide, ”dat is Rome; and dat black mass dat you see is de Church of St Peter's It's not clear to-day--some time we can see it all plain”
At this the boys said nothing, but stood in silence, looking upon the scene It was one which ht have stirred the souls of even the least e this little company there were two, at least, ere quick to kindle into enthusias connected with the storied past These were David and Clive, who each, though from different causes, now felt himself profoundly moved by this spectacle David's enthusiasm was that of a scholar; Clive's was that of a poet; yet each was keen in his susceptibility, and eloquent in the expression of his feelings
As for Frank and Bob, they were far less deh they had plenty of enthusiasm of their own, yet it was not often excited very violently by either poetic feeling or classical reminiscences The scene before thes also, on the present occasion; but they were not in the habit of indulging in exclae, and so they looked on in quiet appreciation, without saying anything
Not so the other two, David and Clive Each burst forth in his oay
”How nificent!” cried Clive ”What a boundless scene! How fortunate we are to have our first view of Roht in all the world But what a scene lory!”
”Yes,” said David, chi in, ”such a place doesn't exist anywhere else in all the world It's the cradle of history, and an There is the Ros and the consuls; and down there is the arena, where they fought out that long battle that arranged the course of future ages”
”Besides,” said Clive; ”there is the scene of all the latter part of the Aeneid, and of all the irowth of Rome What a place this would be to read Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Roreat asylum!
Hail to the hill-tops seven!
Hail to the fire that burns for aye!
And the shi+elds that fell from heaven!”
At this moment Frank's attention was attracted to a place not very far ahere the sheen of soreen hue of the surrounding hills
”What is that?” he asked of the guide ”It looks like a lake”
”It is de Alban Lake”
”The Alban Lake!” cried David, in a fresh transport of enthusiasm; ”the Alban Lake! What, the lake that the Roe of Veii?”
”It is de sauide
”Is it really? and is the canal or tunnel still in existence?
”It is”
”Is it far away?”
”Not ver far”
”Boys, we reatest curiosity of the country about here”