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

304

CLASSICAL TOUR

Ch. V11L

We were now in the midst of regions once in-
habited by warlike tribes well known in the early
periods of Roman history, and not unfrequently
recorded by the poets.
Hi Fescenninas acies aequosque Faliscos,
Hi Soractis habent arces, Flaviniaque arva,
Et Cimini cum monte lacum, lucosque Capenos.
Firg. En. vii. 695.
We were in the very capital itself, Fescennium,
about six or seven miles from Soracte, as many
from the mountains and lake of Ciminus, and
close to Falerium*. Some days might have been
passed here with pleasure, and perhaps with im-
provement ; we might have ascended Soracte,
and endeavored to discover the remains of the
temple of Apollo—“ Sancti custos Soractis^ we
might have explored the Ciminian forest, which
the Romans once beheld with awe and even ter-
ror, as impenetrable to human steps j ; we might
have ranged along the borders of its lake, which
is said to have swallowed up a city ; and in fine,

* Perhaps in it, as Cluverius supposes, that Civita Castel-
lana occupies the site of that city, and that Fescennium lay
nearer the Tiber.
t JEneid xi.
X Liv. lib. ix. cap. 36.