DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6095#0199
SICILY AND MALTA. 181
in the Sicilian language ; and is indeed one
of the greatest curiosities I have met with.
The poet sets her at once above all other
saints except the Virgin, and it scems to be
with the greatest relutlance, that he can
prevail upon himself to yield the pas even
to her. I find, from this curious compo-
sition, and the notes upon it, that St. Ro-
solia was niece to King William the Good.
That she began very early to display symp-
toms of her sanctity. That at fifteen (lie
deserted the world and disclaimed all hu-
man society. She retired to the mountains
on the west of this city ; and was never
more heard of for about five hundred
years. She disappeared in the year n^o.
The people thought she had been taken up
to heaven; till in the year 1624, during
the time of a dreadful plague, a holy man
had a vision, that the saint's bones were
lying in a cave near the top of the Monte
Pelegrino. That is they were taken up
With due reverence, and carried in procef-
N 3 sion
in the Sicilian language ; and is indeed one
of the greatest curiosities I have met with.
The poet sets her at once above all other
saints except the Virgin, and it scems to be
with the greatest relutlance, that he can
prevail upon himself to yield the pas even
to her. I find, from this curious compo-
sition, and the notes upon it, that St. Ro-
solia was niece to King William the Good.
That she began very early to display symp-
toms of her sanctity. That at fifteen (lie
deserted the world and disclaimed all hu-
man society. She retired to the mountains
on the west of this city ; and was never
more heard of for about five hundred
years. She disappeared in the year n^o.
The people thought she had been taken up
to heaven; till in the year 1624, during
the time of a dreadful plague, a holy man
had a vision, that the saint's bones were
lying in a cave near the top of the Monte
Pelegrino. That is they were taken up
With due reverence, and carried in procef-
N 3 sion