DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.847#0490
460 CLUSIUM.
coffin lids in stone or terra cotta; but the greater num-
ber of these monuments were cinerary urns or chests
of large size, some part of which, perhaps the arm, or
the crown of the head, or the vase in the hand, lifted
out and admitted the ashes. I have reserved to the
last mentioning the one which pleased and astonished
us the most. In the midst of all these sarcophagi,
upon the ground, and in front by itself, like the pre-
siding genius of the place, sat a white-robed figure, of
grave and solemn appearance, in a curule chair. It
made me start when I first saw it, for it looked like
life, and as if it were going to rise and demand from
us why we intruded there. I am sure, had I seen
it in the tomb, so pure and still, yet so dignified and
commanding, I could never have drawn it forth.
I could not have laid rude hands upon it. It was to
my mind the most beautiful and solemn manner of
embellishing death that ever entered a mortal's head,
and reminded me of those lines,
" Enfant de I'art, j'imite la nature,
" Et sans prolonger la vie j'empeehe de mourir;
" Je conserve tous vos traits de la maniere la plus sure,
" Et je devienne plus jeune a force de vieillir."
It was the portrait and figure of the deceased ; but
what increased my wonder was to perceive that it
was a woman! The Larthia of Chiusi. She sat in
queenly dignity, in her robes of ceremony, and in
her chair of state; and the inscription which told of
what she had been, was placed beneath her feet, as
if, when she entered the grave, the things of earth
coffin lids in stone or terra cotta; but the greater num-
ber of these monuments were cinerary urns or chests
of large size, some part of which, perhaps the arm, or
the crown of the head, or the vase in the hand, lifted
out and admitted the ashes. I have reserved to the
last mentioning the one which pleased and astonished
us the most. In the midst of all these sarcophagi,
upon the ground, and in front by itself, like the pre-
siding genius of the place, sat a white-robed figure, of
grave and solemn appearance, in a curule chair. It
made me start when I first saw it, for it looked like
life, and as if it were going to rise and demand from
us why we intruded there. I am sure, had I seen
it in the tomb, so pure and still, yet so dignified and
commanding, I could never have drawn it forth.
I could not have laid rude hands upon it. It was to
my mind the most beautiful and solemn manner of
embellishing death that ever entered a mortal's head,
and reminded me of those lines,
" Enfant de I'art, j'imite la nature,
" Et sans prolonger la vie j'empeehe de mourir;
" Je conserve tous vos traits de la maniere la plus sure,
" Et je devienne plus jeune a force de vieillir."
It was the portrait and figure of the deceased ; but
what increased my wonder was to perceive that it
was a woman! The Larthia of Chiusi. She sat in
queenly dignity, in her robes of ceremony, and in
her chair of state; and the inscription which told of
what she had been, was placed beneath her feet, as
if, when she entered the grave, the things of earth