journey is pursued without any in. termission." main, destroying every appearance of vegetation. During their short "Two or the days after the first stay, they have all the inquietude passage, other bodies, equally large, and instability of hunger: wild as and prompted by the same destruc- the country they inhabit, it is imtive intrepidity, follow in their steps, possible for any one to get near devouring the bark and branches of them. Often, while following their those very trees which their prede- dilatory course, they push on too cessors had already stript of leaves far, and are precipitated into the and fruit. For they covered the sea; at other times, a sudden north face of the whole earth, so that the wind destroys them by millions, land was darkened: and they did when the country is immediately eat every herb of the land, and all covered for many miles by their the fruit of the trees which the hail putrid bodies, which is frequently had left and there remained not the source of pestilential diseases. any green thing in the trees, or in They have also, upon more than one the herbs of the field, though all the occasion, when highly favoured by land of Egypt.'-Exod. x. 15." the weather found their way to the coast of France, Spain, and Italy." 66 : Having continued this predatory warfare for nearly a month, and "If the Moors were less indolent, laid waste the whole country, they or less blinded by superstition, much reach their natural growth: this is might be done towards the total dethe signal for their undergoing a struction of these voracious insects, partial metamorphosis, by changing when their eggs are first laid; but, their coat; an operation which is in addition to their favourite doceffected by fixing themselves on trine of pre destination, which acbushes or rocks, and it does not re- celerates many a serious calamity, quire more than ten minutes before the Arabs and negroes firmly believe they are enabled to appear in their in the existence of a bird called the new dress lying for a short inter- samarmog; which destroys the loval after this in a state of languor, cust, as storks do serpents and the heat of the sun soon gives fresh other reptiles with this fabulous vigour to their wings, by removing notion, the boys who happen to take the humidity, and they are once up one in their hand, cry out samarmore restored to their original ac- mog: and on its trembling, or maktivity. Taking a higher flight, their ing any effort to escape, they imnumbers darken the air, while the mediately fancy it must be produced sound of their wings is heard for from hearing the name of their imseveral miles. The unchangeable placable enemy pronounced." steadiness with which this singular tribe act in concert during their irruption, seems to imply a regular direction, rather than its being the effect of instinct." mere "Whenever a country is condemned to the above terrible visitation, nothing can exceed the alarm created amongst the inhabitants, and with good reason, for wo to the district over which they pass! All is destroyed in little more than the space of an hour: they do not suffer even a leaf or blade of grass to re "It is also related that the Arabs go to Korazan, the country of the samarmog, and bring a pitcher of water back to their own dwelling; it attracts the bird, who is thus induced to come and make war on the locust." "Whenever any district is attacked, as already observed, the whole population unites in every possible effort to dislodge the enemy: but seeing the inutility of these efforts, they not only cease any longer to torment themselves at the disappointment, but very wisely en- tasted some that were fried in a pan, deavour to turn their misfortune in- and broiled; they are by no means to a source of some advantage; this unpalatable, and something roliken is effected by beating the bushes and sprats, though not very wholesome 42, trees on which the locusts settle, the natives seem to swallow them / and on their falling off, putting them with a particular zest. This insect into sacks prepared for the purpose; is, I believe, the acrides of the an they are then boiled, and after be- cients; and, according to some hising dried on the terrace, are consi- torians, ministered to the wants of dered as very good eating. I have the Anchorites in the Thebaid. LEGEND OF ST. WINEFRED'S WELL. From the Monthly Magazine. THE HE legend of St. Winefred, on solved to make an attempt upon her the faith of which many a pre- virtue; but, not being able to gratify tended miracle has been formed, is nis passion, in a rage of disappointbriefly as follows: ment he cut off her head. Divine "In the seventh century, Wine- vengeance instantly pursued him fred, a virgin of uncommon beauty, for the atrocious deed; he fell down made a vow of perpetual chastity, dead upon the spot, and the earth, ane lived with her uncle, Bueno, an opening, swallowed up his impious ecclesiastick, who officiated in these corpse. The head of the virgin, who parts. A neighbouring prince, who thus fell a inartyr to her chastity, was enamoured of her charms, re- rolled down the hill, and stopped at the foot of the altar where Bueno This is, without exception, the most was kneeling; he took it up, carried copious spring in Britain; nor is it easy it again to the corpse, and, offering to account for the singular fact which it up his devotions, united them to exhibits, of a body of the clearest water, gether; after which she lived fifteen equal to an hundred tons, being thrown up perpendicularly through the rock be. years. The valley, which was hilow, in each minute of time, without in- therto called Sych-nant, (dry valley) termission, and almost without any va- now lost its name, and a spring of riation in quantity, in the wettest, or the uncommon size burst forth from the driest seasons. As it rises in a spot place where the head rested: the which is nearly encircled by hills, it is most probably the united produce of moss on its sides diffused a fragrant them, conveyed by subterraneous pas- smell; the stones at the bottom.besages to a general reservoir, above the came tinctured with her blood, and,s level of the well; and that the head of like the flowers of Adonis, annually water, and a contracted aperture, occa- commemorate the fact, by assuming sion the violence with which it is thrown a colour unknown to them before! up. The bottom of the well is apparently covered with stones and rubbish; and though the water rushes up from between them with a force sufficient to prevent a person in it from sinking, and to cause a strong ebullition on the surface through a head of water six feet deep, the smal lest stone at the bottom is as much at rest, and the places whence it issues are no more perceived, than if it proceeded from a distant spot. Luctus monumenta manecbunt Semper Adoni mei; repetitaqne mortis imago The situation of the well, and the natural appearance of the place, favour the belief of the miracle, and increase the credibility of the le gend; the spot is encompassed by series of years, and had found annually to recur. The embellishment respecting the blood upon the stones is particularly ingenious; and. if the author of it was accus tomed to observe how unalterable and constant Nature is in the distribution of her productions, he may claim the merit of having fixed upon hills, the moss round the well certainly diffuses a fragrant smell, and the stones at the sides and bottom are apparently tinged with blood! Yet, in all this, there is nothing supernatural, nor, in similar situations, uncommon. The moss is the jungermannia asplenioides, which, like others of its genus that grow near running water, is well-known the most effectual method of having to be sweetscented: the blood-co- secured the advantage to his brethloured crustaceous substance upon ren in future time; each successive the stones, is also a vegetable pro age would increase the celebrity of duction, possessing a fragrant smell, the spring, and the credibility of the resembling violets, which, Dr. Smith legend; and, as piety was associatsays, is equally strong after the spe- ed with it, the wished-for result cimens have been long preserved, would be likely to continue as long whenever they are wetted. as the principles which gave it birth obtained credit among men. As I have taken the liberty to expose the pious fraud of the authors of the legend, it is but just that the ingenuity they have displayed in framing it, should have its due reward of praise. In all ages have interested persons made use of the uncommon appearances, and even the ordinary productions, of nature, to impose upon the credulous, for their own advantage. The Monks of the abbey of Basingwerk, being naturally anxious to render this fine spring conducive to their own emolument, attracted the notice of pious devotees to it by framing the above related miracle, with which they took care to interweave those natural facts, which they themselves had probably witnessed through a long Superstition, which has at all times called forth the boldest exertions of genius, and has employed it to construct the most durable and costly temples in honour of her imaginary deities, has, in more modern times, raised over this far-famed well, a beautiful Gothick chapel; which, in this particular instance, may now be said to be a monument to herself. It is said to have been erected by the munificent piety of Margaret, Countess of Richmond, mother of Henry VII. and partakes, or, rather, originally did partake, of the richness and beauty which characterize the ecclesiastical architecture of that period. It is built of a compact yellowish free-stone; its form is an oblong square, about ten The Byssus Iolithus, of Linnæus; yards long by eight, and its height and Lepraria Iolithus, of Dr. Smith; about twelve yards. Its principal (English Botany, vol 35, t. 2471,) and front, which faces the direction of other late botanists. It raught the ob- the stream, has three rather obtusely servation of the young Linnæus, in his pointed arches, over each of which arduous journey among the wilds of Lap- is a window. Its interior consists land him to have been partially the stones on which it grew ap of a ground-floor and a story above, stained with blood. Lachesis Lapponica, the latter of which is now used as a vol 1, p. 26-It decorates the margin of charity-school. The height of the many an obscure and unfrequented spring, former may be about two-thirds of with as bright a tint as at Holywell, where the whole building; it is entered. it has so often been gazed on with rap from the street by a flight of steps, turous devotion, and been regarded, for the long period of a thousand years, as thousand years, as facing which, in the opposite wall, is the sacred blood of a sainted virgin. a canopied niche, containing an whole of this central inclosure forms empty pedestal, on which a sculp tured figure of the martyred saint a beautiful little chapel, or oratory, has doubtless stood, to meet the over the spring. Theother part of eyes and receive the prostrations of the roof is also groined and ornapious strangers: it was probably re- mented, and on one of the pannels moved either at the reformation, or in the wall, may be perceived the during the rancorous times of the remains of a painting of the legend, civil wars. In the centre of the if we may judge from the inscrip. floor, is the inclosure which contains tion above it, not yet quite defaced→→ the spring, occupying, perhaps, two- "In Honorem Sancti Winefredi thirds of the width of the building. Virginis et Martyris." Another Its shape may be best defined by stone shews in relief, the usual letcomparing it to eight chevrous, dis- ters, I. H. S. 1683; but it is imposposed in a circle, or by two square sible that this can be the date of the cards placed one over the other, so erection. A narrow flight of steps that the corners of the under one descends into the water on each side shall appear and be equi-distant from for the convenience of the bathers, those of the upper, looking some- and of those who fetch it away for what like the projecting angles in a domestick purposes; and close at plan of the outworks of a fortified hand are two dressing-rooms for the town. From all these angles rise former. The stream passes under light clustered pillars, which ramify the arched floor, with considerable above, and for the converging ribs vehemence, into a spacious oblong of a beautiful canopied roof, the reservoir without. The catholicks centre of which supports a pendant, used to swim, or rather dive under containing some obscure figures on the arch, as an act of penance; the sides, and the arms of France others are said to have continued in and England, quarterly, at the bot- the water, immersed to the neck for tom. The intersections of the hours together, praying most degroins are ornamented with emboss- voutly. This reservoir is twelve ments of flowers, &c. The spaces yards long by six wide, and about between the pillars, to the height of five feet deep; it is formed of stone, two and a-half, or three, feet, are and has a flagged walk round it, filled by a wall, over which the inclosed by iron palisades, and a spectator leans to look down into flight of steps descending into it. the well; above this, they have been On leaving it, the water iminediateconnected together by a light ele- ly turns a corn-mill, and is then gant stone screen-work, carved like conveyed (to preserve the proper the mullions and tracery of a Go- level) in a raised wooden trough, thick window, with borders of vine five feet wide by three deep, to the leaves, &c. in low relief; but this next mill, and afterwards turns suchighly ornamental part is in a great cessively several cotton, lead, and measure destroyed, as are also the copper factories. The whole length finer parts of the architecture in of the stream, from the well to its general. Over that side which is junction with the sea, is not more left open for the passage of the than a mile and a-half; yet in this stream, and on a level with the sur- short space it turns tenor eleven face of the water, is a narrow stone mills of different descriptions. The arch, which appears, from holes at quantity of water it produces is alequal distances upon it, to have been most incredible, it is said to be not the pediment of an iron railing, less than one hundred tons per which completed the inclosure of minute, as proved by an experiment the well, but is now removed. The made on purpose to ascertain the * fact. In general, it is so clear, that it appears in patches of a bright a pin may be seen at the bottom of cerulean blue: over the darker parts the bason, though six feet below the of the ground-work, it assumes an surface; but we were informed by azure green, and reflects an obscure the engineer at one of the factories, and trembling outline of the surthat, after heavy rains, it is some- rounding arches; or shews, through what discoloured; and, in dry sea- its transparent body, while it prosons, that it abates about a-third of tects from profane hands, the sacred its usual supply. Whilst there, we blood of the Virgin saint, which is observed its level to vary several in- besprinkled upon the stones below. ches, which I attributed to its being The partial shade which pervades drawn off quicker, or slower, by the the interiour of the building, gives a mills. A beautiful view of the chapel, mellowness to the whole, and renthe reservoir, the stream, and the ders the charm complete. various factories, may be had from the church-yard, above the spring. I was desirous to view it under a different character, and visited it I cannot take leave of this inter- again in the sober hour of evening; esting spot, without attempting to when the misty obscurity of twilight describe the impression which it overspread every object. The stillleaves upon the mind. It communi- ness that reigned around strongly cates a feeling like that produced invited contemplation: I embraced by a survey of the great and won the favourable moment, and resigned derful scenes of nature, aided and myself into her power; the world, accompanied by a kind of solemn with all its gaudy joys and busy foldevotional awe. A deep and power- lies, was soon forgotten; and every ful interest is excited, and we feel sense and thought filled with the impatient to discover the cause strong impression of the surroundwhich produces so grand an effect, ing scene. I glanced rapidly at the at a moment when the faculties are periods of its remoter history, and overpowered by it. The continual figured to myself the many admirdampness of the atmosphere, which inggroups which had assembled here, is a natural consequence of the the many miraculous cures Faith had situation of the well, and the want assisted the waters to complete, the of a free circulation of air, while it many "shrouded spectres Superunfortunately hastens the decay of stition had seen," and the numerous the building, has nevertheless con- acts of penance which had been pertributed very materially to produce formed here, through the successive its present picturesque effect. It generations of a thousand years; has partially covered the walls, the and, pausing for a moment at the clustered pillars, and what still re- present hour, the period of my own mains of the elegant tracery of the ephemeral existence, darted forarches and surrounding screen-work, wards into futurity, and pictured its with patches of litchens, mosses, and more dilapidated appearance in the other cryptogamous plants, whose course of another century or two, varied hues of green and yellow, red when plants of a more luxuriant sand brown, blend into each other, growth than lichens and mosses, and beautifully harmonise with the shall bloom upon its broken arches, natural colour of the stone. The and shall fill the crevices of its walls crystal stream itself, whose surface the pencil marks of time, and, is agitated by a perpetual ebullition, in conjunction with the still flowing possesses tints not less beautiful stream, shall speak, in powerful lanthan the building that encircles it. guage, the eternity of the works of Over the white pitchers, which have nature, compared with those of man! been thrown in, and lie upon its bed, Nantwich, Jan. 24, 1816. |