DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61893#0120
92
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. I.
and its size, form, and furniture are well adapted
to its antiquity. Its exterior is dignified with
turrets, spires, and battlements; and its large
halls are hung with spears, shields, and helmets,
and lined with the forms of hostile knights
mounted upon their palfreys, with visors down
and spears couched, as if ready to rush forward
in battle. The smaller apartments are fitted up
with less attention to Gothic propriety than to
utility, and contain various natural curiosities,
intermingled with gems, medals, and pictures.
Though at Inspruck we had made a consider-
able progress in the defile, yet we had not risen
in elevation so much as might be imagined ; for
that city is said to be no more than fifteen hun-
dred feet above the level of the sea. But, about
three miles farther, the road suddenly turns, and
the traveller begins in reality to work up the steep.
The road is well contrived to lessen the labor of
ascent, winding gently up the mountains, and af-
fording· every-rwhere perfect security, though ge-
nerally ska ting the edge of a precipice. It pre-
sents some striking objects, such as the xAbbey of
Willtean, anciently Villitenum, the castle of
Sonenherg, and, through a break to the west, a
transient view of a most majestic mountain, rising
from the midst of the urrounding glaciers, and
lifting its pointed summit to the skies. Its craggy
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. I.
and its size, form, and furniture are well adapted
to its antiquity. Its exterior is dignified with
turrets, spires, and battlements; and its large
halls are hung with spears, shields, and helmets,
and lined with the forms of hostile knights
mounted upon their palfreys, with visors down
and spears couched, as if ready to rush forward
in battle. The smaller apartments are fitted up
with less attention to Gothic propriety than to
utility, and contain various natural curiosities,
intermingled with gems, medals, and pictures.
Though at Inspruck we had made a consider-
able progress in the defile, yet we had not risen
in elevation so much as might be imagined ; for
that city is said to be no more than fifteen hun-
dred feet above the level of the sea. But, about
three miles farther, the road suddenly turns, and
the traveller begins in reality to work up the steep.
The road is well contrived to lessen the labor of
ascent, winding gently up the mountains, and af-
fording· every-rwhere perfect security, though ge-
nerally ska ting the edge of a precipice. It pre-
sents some striking objects, such as the xAbbey of
Willtean, anciently Villitenum, the castle of
Sonenherg, and, through a break to the west, a
transient view of a most majestic mountain, rising
from the midst of the urrounding glaciers, and
lifting its pointed summit to the skies. Its craggy