A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Three | Page 4

and the rustics of the
adjacent country--all, glittering in their gayest sabbath-attires, mingled
in the throng, and appeared to vie with each other in gaiety and
loudness of talk.
We gained a more private walk, within a long avenue of trees; where a
small fountain, playing in the midst of a grove of elm and beech,
attracted the attention both of the Professor and ourselves. "It is here,"
observed the former--"where I love to come and read your favourite
Thomson." He then mentioned Pope, and quoted some verses from the
opening of his Essay on Man--and also declared his particular

attachment to Young and Akenside. "But our Shakspeare and Milton,
Sir--what think you of these?" "They are doubtless very great and
superior to either: but if I were to say that I understood them as well, I
should say what would be an untruth: and nothing is more disgusting
than an affectation of knowing what you have, comparatively, very
little knowledge of." We continued our route towards the convent, at a
pretty brisk pace; with great surprise, on my part, at the firm and rapid
movements of the Professor. Having reached the convent, we entered,
and were admitted within the chapel. The nuns had just retired; but we
were shewn the partition of wood which screens them most effectually
from the inquisitive eyes of the rest of the congregation. We crossed a
shallow, but rapidly running brook, over which was only one plank, of
the ordinary width, to supply the place of a bridge. The venerable
Professor led the way--tripping along so lightly, and yet so surely, as to
excite our wonder. We then mounted the hill on the opposite side of the
convent; where there are spiral, and neatly trimmed, gravel walks,
which afford the means of an easy and pleasant ascent--but not
altogether free from a few sharp and steep turnings. From the summit
of this hill, the Professor bade me look around, and view a valley which
was the pride of the neighbourhood, and which was considered to have
no superior in Suabia. It was certainly very beautiful--luxuriant in
pasture and woodland scenery, and surrounded by hills crowned with
interminable firs.
As we descended, the clock of the convent struck eight, which was
succeeded by the tolling of the convent bell. After a day of oppressive
heat, with a lowering atmosphere threatening instant tempest, it was
equally, grateful and refreshing to witness a calm blue sky, chequered
by light fleecy clouds, which, as they seemed to be scarcely impelled
along by the evening breeze, were fringed in succession by the hues of
a golden sun-set. The darkening shadows of the trees added to the
generally striking effect of the scene. As we neared the town, I
perceived several of the common people, apparently female rustics,
walking in couples, or in threes, with their arms round each others
necks, joining in some of the popular airs of their country. The off-hand
and dextrous manner in which they managed the _second parts_,
surprised and delighted me exceedingly. I expressed my gratification to

Mr. Schweighæuser, who only smiled at my wondering simplicity. "If
these delight you so much, what would you say to our
professors?"--observed he. "Possibly, I might not like them quite so
well," replied I. The professor pardoned such apparent heresy; and we
continued to approach the town. We were thirsty from our walk, and
wished to enter the tea gardens to partake of refreshment. Our guide
became here both our interpreter and best friend; for he insisted upon
treating us. We retired into a bocage, and partook of one of the most
delicious bottles of white wine which I ever remember to have tasted.
He was urgent for a second bottle; but I told him we were very sober
Englishmen.
In our way home, the discourse fell upon literature, and I was anxious
to obtain from our venerable companion an account of his early studies,
and partialities for the texts of such Greek authors as he had edited. He
told me that he was first put upon collations of Greek MSS. by our _Dr.
Musgrave, for his edition of Euripides_; and that he dated, from that
circumstance, his first and early love of classical research. This
attachment had increased upon him as he became older--had "grown
with his growth, and strengthened with his strength"--and had induced
him to grapple with the unsettled, and in parts difficult, texts of Appian,
Epictetus, and Athenæus. He spoke with a modest confidence of his
Herodotus--just published: said that he was even then meditating a
second Latin version of it: and observed that, for the more perfect
execution of the one now before the public, he had prepared himself by
a diligent perusal of the texts of the purer Latin historians. We had now