Eustace, John Cretwode: A classical tour through Italy An. MDCCCII (Vol. 3): 3. ed., rev. and enl (London: J. Mawman, 1815)

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CLASSICAL TOUR

CA. ΙΠ.

worthy guide cited the historian with great volu-
bility, enlarged upon the critical situation of
the Romans and the generosity of the Samnites,
whom he considered as his countrymen and called
Nostri Sanniti, and inveighed with great vehe-
mence against the ingratitude and cowardice
of the former, who returning with superior num-
bers almost exterminated their generous adver-
saries. It was amusing to see passions so long
extinguished revive, and patriotism, which had
lost its object for more than two thousand years,
and had been absorbed in well-grounded at-
tachment to a more glorious and more extensive
country, glow with useless ardor in the bosom
of a solitary individual. In truth, these generous
passions that long made Italy so great and so
illustrious, and turned every province and almost
every city into a theatre of deeds of valor and
achievements of heroism ; that armed every
hand, first against the ambition, and afterwards
for the glory of Rome the Capital and the pride
of their common country ; all these passions exist
still in Italy, burn with vigor even in the bosoms
of the populace, and want only an occasion to
call them into action, and a leader to combine
and direct them to their proper object.
Upon an attentive inspection of the valley
now before us, it is impossible for the candid