170

LENZBURGH.

clothed only with thick cobwebs, and themassy black beams, and inlaid oaken floors,gave it a dismal aspect. Our conductressstopped at the barred door of a chamber,and with signs bade us peep through acrevice, where we saw an emaciated oldman seated upon some straw apparently ina deep reverie—but with all our ingenuitywe were unable to discover from the oldlady who he was, or why he was thusconfined; afterwards we heard that hewas an old Italian, who was deranged andhad been here many years. Under thegreat court-yard the rocks were excavatedand formed into dungeons, but the dampair prevented us entering far into them.

This chateau put into repair, which mightbe done in this country at but little ex-pence, would be a delightful retirement forone who could enjoy some of the finestscenery which nature affords—

“ The world forgetting, by the world forgot,”

and who had the domestic comforts of a