DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0125
chap, i.] SHEPHERD LIFE ON THE CAMPAGNA. 23
boldness is requisite to pass through the pack of dogs,
white as new-dropt lambs, but large and fierce as wolves,
which, were the shepherd not at hand, would tear in pieces
whoever might venture to approach the hut; but, with
one of the pecoraj for a Teucer, nothing is to be feared.
The capanne are of various sizes. One I entered not far
from Veii was thirty or forty feet in diameter, and fully as
high, propped in the centre by two rough masts, between
which a hole was left in the roof for the escape of smoke.
Within the door lay a large pile of lambs—there might be
a hundred—killed that morning and already flayed, and a
number of shepherds were busied in operating on the
carcases of others; all of which were to be despatched
forthwith to the Roman market. Though a fierce May
sun blazed without, a huge fire roared in the middle of
the hut; but this was for the sake of the ricotta, which
was being made in another part of the capanna. Here stood
a huge caldron, full of boiling ewes'-milk. In a warm
state this curd is a delicious jelly, and has often tempted
me to enter a capanna in quest of it, to the amazement of
the pecoraj, to whom it is "vilior alg&." Lord of the
caldron, stood a man dispensing ladles-full of the rich sim-
mering mess to his fellows, as they brought their bowls
for their morning's allowance; and he varied his occupation
by pouring the same into certain small baskets; the serous
parts running off through the wicker, and the residue
caking as it cooled. On the same board stood the cheeses,
previously made from the cream. In this hut lived
twenty-five men, their nether limbs clad in goat-skins, with
the hair outwards, realising the satyrs of ancient fable ; but
they had no nymphs to tease, nor shepherdesses to woo,
and never
-------------------" sat all day
Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love
To amorous Phillida."
boldness is requisite to pass through the pack of dogs,
white as new-dropt lambs, but large and fierce as wolves,
which, were the shepherd not at hand, would tear in pieces
whoever might venture to approach the hut; but, with
one of the pecoraj for a Teucer, nothing is to be feared.
The capanne are of various sizes. One I entered not far
from Veii was thirty or forty feet in diameter, and fully as
high, propped in the centre by two rough masts, between
which a hole was left in the roof for the escape of smoke.
Within the door lay a large pile of lambs—there might be
a hundred—killed that morning and already flayed, and a
number of shepherds were busied in operating on the
carcases of others; all of which were to be despatched
forthwith to the Roman market. Though a fierce May
sun blazed without, a huge fire roared in the middle of
the hut; but this was for the sake of the ricotta, which
was being made in another part of the capanna. Here stood
a huge caldron, full of boiling ewes'-milk. In a warm
state this curd is a delicious jelly, and has often tempted
me to enter a capanna in quest of it, to the amazement of
the pecoraj, to whom it is "vilior alg&." Lord of the
caldron, stood a man dispensing ladles-full of the rich sim-
mering mess to his fellows, as they brought their bowls
for their morning's allowance; and he varied his occupation
by pouring the same into certain small baskets; the serous
parts running off through the wicker, and the residue
caking as it cooled. On the same board stood the cheeses,
previously made from the cream. In this hut lived
twenty-five men, their nether limbs clad in goat-skins, with
the hair outwards, realising the satyrs of ancient fable ; but
they had no nymphs to tease, nor shepherdesses to woo,
and never
-------------------" sat all day
Playing on pipes of corn, and versing love
To amorous Phillida."