The Rhine, Italy, and Greece, Vol. 1

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Excerpt from The Rhine, Italy, and Greece, Vol. 1: In a Series of Drawings From Nature by Colonel Cockburn, Major Irton, Messrs. Bartlett, Leitch, and Wolfensberger The Rhine - Italy - Greece! To what romantic associations do these cherished names give birth? The ancient, the most chivalrous history of Europe is illustrated by their scenery, and only completely illustrated by this triple alliance. Analogous and united, in interest, in picturesque attraction, in classical remembrances, each still possesses its distinct and peculiar features, giving out separate and varied lights, yet combining for the production of one bright and splendid effect. The Rhine, "whose banks are the very shores of old romance, " has scenes and recollections even more vivid than its beautiful companions. Descending from the distant regions of the Alps, through fertile districts into the open sea - so does it come down from remote antiquity, associated in every age with momentous events in the history of neighbouring nations, a river which presents so many historical revolutions of Roman conquests and defeats - of chivalrous exploits in feudal times - of wars and negociations in modern days - of coronations of kings and emperors, whose bones repose by its side, - whose banks present every variety of picturesque rocks, thick forests, fertile fields, and vineyards, either sloping gently, or seated amongst lofty crags, where industry has won a domain among the fortresses of nature, whose banks are ornamented with populous cities, flourishing towns and villages, castles and ruins with which a thousand legends are connected, and associated with the most important events recorded in the continuous records of European history, a river that constitutes the highway of central Europe, and the varied beauty of whose banks is so forcibly felt by the thousands that annually pass between them. Borne up the current of this majestic river, we enter the classic lands of Italy and Greece - "one the conqueror, the other the teacher of the world" - whence its waters spring, as if we were retracing the stream of time to the source and fountain of history and of learning. That literature, which modern Europe boasts, originated in ancient Greece, passed thence to consular Rome, and, embarking on the rapid Rhine, flowed through and enriched the Western nations. In topography, consequently, these three fair portions of our globe are immediately connected - in their histories, they are continuous, it is in their picturesque claims alone, that any rivalry is created. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.