said Oswald, “whose grief is not mingled with remorse!” “Do you talk of remorse,” cried Corinne; “you whose only failings, if they may be so called, are an excess of virtue, a scrupulosity of heart, an exalted delicacy—­” “Corinne, Corinne, do not approach that subject,” interrupted Oswald, “in your happy country, sombre thoughts disappear before the lustre of a brilliant sky; but that grief which has penetrated to the depths of our soul, must for ever sap the foundation of our existence.”  “You form an erroneous judgment of me,” replied Corinne; “I have already told you, that though I am formed by the nature of my character, for lively enjoyment, I should suffer more exquisitely than you if—­” She did not conclude; but changed the discourse.—­“My only desire, my lord, is to divert your attention for a moment; I hope for nothing more.”  The sweetness of this reply moved Lord Nelville, and seeing a melancholy expression in the looks of Corinne, naturally so interesting and so full of fire, he reproached himself for having afflicted a woman, born for the most tender and lively sensations, and endeavoured to atone for it.  But the disquietude which Corinne experienced with regard to the future intentions of Oswald, and the possibility of his departure, entirely disturbed her accustomed serenity.

She conducted Lord Nelville outside the gates of the city, where are to be seen the ancient vestiges of the Appian way.  These vestiges are indicated in the midst of the Campagna, by the tombs to the right and to the left, which extend out of sight for several miles beyond the walls.  The Romans would not permit their dead to be buried inside the city:  the emperors alone were allowed that privilege.  One private citizen, however, named Publius Bibulus, obtained this favour in reward of his obscure virtues.—­Cotemporaries are always more willing to honour virtues of that description than any other.

It is the gate of St Sebastian, formerly called Capene, that conducts to the Appian way.  Cicero tells us, that the first tombs we meet after passing this gate, are those of the Metelli, the Scipios, and the Servilii.  The family tomb of the Scipios has been found in this very spot and since transplanted to the Vatican.  It is almost a sacrilege to displace the ashes of the dead or to change the aspect of ruins.  Imagination is more closely connected with morality than is generally believed, and should not be offended.  Among so many tombs which strike our sight, names are ascribed to some without any positive certainty; but even the emotion which this uncertainty inspires will not permit us to contemplate any of these monuments with indifference.  There are some in which houses for the peasantry are built; for the Romans consecrated an extensive space and vast edifices to the funereal urns of their friends or their illustrious fellow-citizens.  They were not influenced by that dry principle of utility which fertilized a few corners of the earth, while blasting with sterility the vast domain of sentiment and of thought.