ost alive to the power of classical
associations, delivered, verbatim, about one half of the first
oration of Cicero against Catiline. He would have delivered the
whole of it, and more also, beyond a doubt, had not Frank put a
sudden stop to his flow of eloquence by pressing his hand against
David's mouth, and threatening to gag him if he didn't "stop it."

On the afternoon of the second day they arrived at Terracina. This
town is situated on the sea-shore, with the blue Mediterranean in
front, stretching far away to the horizon. Far out into the sea
runs the promontory of Circaeum,--familiar to the boys from their
studies in Homer and Virgil,--while over the water the white sails
of swift-moving vessels passed to and fro. The waves broke on the
strand, fishing-boats were drawn up on the beach, and there were
wonderful briskness and animation in the scene.

Terracina, like all other towns in this country, has remains of
antiquity to show. Its Cathedral is built from the material of a
heathen temple, probably that of Apollo, which was once a magnificent
edifice, but is now in ruins. But it was the modern beauty of the
town, rather than this or any, other of its antiquities, that most
attracted the boys,--the sea-beach, where the waters of the
Mediterranean rippled and plashed over the pebbles; the groves and
vineyards, that extended all around; the wooded hills; the orange
trees and the palm, the thorny cactus and the aloe; and above all,
the deep, azure sky, and the clear, transparent atmosphere. To the
intoxication of all this surrounding beauty they gave themselves
up, and wandered, and scrambled, and raced, and chased one another
about the slumberous town.

They slept soundly that night, lolled to rest by the long roll of
the Mediterranean waters, as they dashed upon the beach, and on
the following morning resumed their journey. The road now passed
through the Pontine Marshes, and they all entered upon this part
of their journey with strong feelings of curiosity.

The district which goes by the name of the Pontine Marshes is one
of the most famous places in Europe. It is about forty-five miles
long, and varies in breadth from four to eleven miles. The origin
of these marshes is not known. In the early ages of the republic
of Rome numerous cities are mentioned as existing here. But all
these gradually became depopulated; and now not a vestige remains
of any one of them. From a very remote period numerous efforts