¬The¬ tourist in Italy.- (¬The¬ landscape annual ; 1831)
256 THE LANDSCAPE ANNUAL. farther decamping, the pious Jesuits built a church over it, and thus made it a prisoner to their holy zeal. Pietro was no bigot, though a religious man, and had even created some scandal at Sienna by his jokes respecting certain modern miracles, which was indeed one reason why his wife was strenuous that he should prove his faith by the present pilgrimage. But the miracle of the holy house was too well attested for him to doubt ; and it was with no heretical feelings
that, on entering the church, he beheld the Virgin's hut, and the numerous pilgrims who had flocked thither, of all nations, anxious to prostrate themselves at the sainted shrine. It was with no slight edification, too, that Messer Pietro beheld all these devout pilgrims, having finished their Latin litanies, of which they understood not a word, enter the holy cottage, fall on their faces, and kiss the floor in the most pious ecstasy; then making the tour of the hut on their knees, all the while
licking the walls with the most profound devotion, and uttering the most pitiful sighs and groans, capable of touching the heart of a much sterner votary than our friend the burgher. As he was about to enter the holy cottage and pay his offering to the Virgin, who is made of cedar-wood, and, as the Jesuit swore on his honour, was constructed by the hands of no lees a workman than St. Luke himself, he was tapped on the shoulder by his ghastly conductor. ' But, my good son, Pietro,' quoth the Jesuit
