DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0372
268 BIEDA. [chap. xvii.
to the former purposes is a very profanation, but of the
latter change who shall complain \ Surely it is—
" Better to hold the sparkling grape
Than nurse the earthworm's slimy brood."
At the top of the ascent we were in an undulating plain,
apparently an unbroken level, with the village of Bieda in
the midst. The Count pointed out the extent of his
domain, which was far too large for the limited number of
his tenantry. At the close of every year he assembles his
vassals, as they may be called, and having determined what
part of his estate is to be cultivated, and having partitioned
it into lots, he makes them draw for the several portions.
He takes a share of the produce in lieu of rent.
On our return to the village we visited the church, in
front of which stood a Roman sarcophagus with a good
bas-relief, found in the neighbourhood. We were not a
little surprised to see in this secluded place a genuine
altar-piece of Annibale Caracci—the Scourging of Christ.
At the Count's mansion we found a handsome repast spread
for us, and refusing his pressing invitation to stay the night,
we groped our way in the dark to Vetralla—thus closing
one of the most agreeable days of our Etruscan travel.
This was not our only visit to Bieda. We spent several
days in exploring its glens, avoiding the Count's hospitality,
which, however gratifying as a proof of native kindliness
not often met with in Italy, would have greatly interfered
with the objects we had in view in visiting the place.
Bieda is a site which deserves much more attention than
it has yet received from antiquaries. In no Etruscan
necropolis are the tombs hollowed in the face of cliffs
more numerous. The glens on every side of the town
abound in them, and they face every point of the compass,
though here, as elsewhere, few have a northern or eastern
to the former purposes is a very profanation, but of the
latter change who shall complain \ Surely it is—
" Better to hold the sparkling grape
Than nurse the earthworm's slimy brood."
At the top of the ascent we were in an undulating plain,
apparently an unbroken level, with the village of Bieda in
the midst. The Count pointed out the extent of his
domain, which was far too large for the limited number of
his tenantry. At the close of every year he assembles his
vassals, as they may be called, and having determined what
part of his estate is to be cultivated, and having partitioned
it into lots, he makes them draw for the several portions.
He takes a share of the produce in lieu of rent.
On our return to the village we visited the church, in
front of which stood a Roman sarcophagus with a good
bas-relief, found in the neighbourhood. We were not a
little surprised to see in this secluded place a genuine
altar-piece of Annibale Caracci—the Scourging of Christ.
At the Count's mansion we found a handsome repast spread
for us, and refusing his pressing invitation to stay the night,
we groped our way in the dark to Vetralla—thus closing
one of the most agreeable days of our Etruscan travel.
This was not our only visit to Bieda. We spent several
days in exploring its glens, avoiding the Count's hospitality,
which, however gratifying as a proof of native kindliness
not often met with in Italy, would have greatly interfered
with the objects we had in view in visiting the place.
Bieda is a site which deserves much more attention than
it has yet received from antiquaries. In no Etruscan
necropolis are the tombs hollowed in the face of cliffs
more numerous. The glens on every side of the town
abound in them, and they face every point of the compass,
though here, as elsewhere, few have a northern or eastern