THE MONKS OF OLD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 214, 1 June 1877, Page 3

THE MONKS OF OLD.

(Contributed to the Sydney Freeman's Journal.) Far away in the fair peninsula, of Italy, between Catholic Rome and the remnants of Pagan Ponipeii,ithe world-renowned monastery of Monte Cassino may be seen, sitting sedate and gloomy on the summit of a huge mountain, half enveloped in cloud, and hid by aged trees, which cluster round that venerable pile, and partially veil it from the traveller's eye, as though such a great monument of bygone ages — ages, indeed, of faith and devotion, of pristine zeal and youthful vigour — were too sacred a thing to be exposed to the public gaze. But -what was it that crowned this monastery with such a halo of glory ? Whence first arose its great fame, its world-wide renown, its thrice glorious reputation ? Was it its position — one, indeed, of the most picturesque and romantic in Europe ? or the extent of its territory and lands — for its possessions were once very large f No ! it was nothing of that sort. Its chief merit lies in its having been the dwelling-place of St. Benedict, and the cradle of his order. It was from this rude height that the first few drops began to trickle down which were afterwards to form into a strong and mighty current, spreading its ramifications far and wide throughout the whole length and breadth of Europe, and fertilizing in its course the different countries it passed through. Indeed, if we view it in its course, first through France and Sicily, and then beyond that again, we shall notice how science and learning, zeal and piety, grew up and ripened beneath its influence, like the tree planted near the running waters, which brings forth its fruit in due season. In England itself (for time forbids us to cast even a passing glance at other countries) what a marvellous change was wrought ! It is hard, indeed, to say which appears more wonderful, the sudden transformation of the gloomy, sombre region into a fertile smiling land; or that of the fierce, stalwart, and warlike Pagans into the peaceful, docile, and obedient Christians, who won for their country that eminence and position in Europe it afterwards so deservedly obtained, and so long preserved. Whatever the cais» may be, it is evident that Englishmen owe much of their formcrvpeatness and worth to these indefatigable monk a. We see them, than a thousand years ago, come to their land in a small body, and there increase and multiply. They take up their abode in some desolate spot, amid the swamps and fens, and. there they spend their lives, and work and toil with spade atid hoe, until at last the land is reclaimed ; the water and mud disappear ; the rotting swamp becomes a green valley j the rank, baleful weeds make room for trees and shrubs j and the fetid stench of decomposing vegetation is exchanged for the pleasing odour of blooming fields. Even the huge cataract which tore open the mountain side, and laid waste, with destroying force, the surrounding country, is overcome and subdued by these religious, and quietly led, tamed and docile, in different channels, to irrigate and refreshen the soil which before it tore up in its fury. Or else they make themselves a home in the dense forest, dwelling mid the wild ferocious beasts, which in those times were common enough in the country. Here in a few years a place was cleared, the giant trees felled, and the soil tilled and rendered fruitful; the fields of golden corn and meadows of rich clover covered the unineuinbered ground, and the horn of plenty was filled throughout the land. Yet all this came about as if in the ordinary course of nature. The country seemed to change its vest as suddenly and as silently as the dark repulsive chrysalis glides into the beautiful painted butterfly.

♦ Longfellow's translatlou.