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PENCIL SKETCHES IN ROME. OV
canoes. How long were the struggles necessary, before
the colonists completed its change into a healthy and
populous land, is not known ; that is a question that lies
on the other side of history ; but the temples that most
ancient Rome raised to Fever and Mephites, were memo-
rials of the victory of the plough over an enemy terrible
still, in his overthrow.
It is probable that the marsh fever, quite as much as
the hostile tribes around, worked towards the clinching
of the Latin confederacy. Whenever discord among the
small communities of Latium caused the implements of
agriculture to rest, the malaria raised its head. A disused
drain, in which under the burning sun weeds rotted in
stagnant water, mixed with the mire of the volcanic soil,
carried fever and death into the nearest houses. Thus
neighborly friendship found its mightiest advocate in the
fever, which well deserved a temple by the side of that
to peace. To the patron of neighborly friendship, Jupiter,
the Latins built a shrine on the highest summit of the
Alban chain, on the brow of the extinct fire mountain,
Monte Cavo. Once a year, from all the villages of Lati-
um, a procession in holiday garb moved along the sacred
way up to this spot, to celebrate the feast of the confed-
eracy, and sacrifice to Jupiter ; and delegates from them
all, assembled in the beautiful valley adorned with ever-
green oaks, down by Marino, to settle by the Ferentine
spring their disputes, and take council together touching
their common affairs. A hundred years ago, venerable
remains of the very ancient temple of the confederacy
were yet standing. In the year 1783, they were torn
down by the last Stewart, cardinal bishop of Frascati, who
out of the fragments built a Passionist convent. With
this achievement did that royal race go into its grave.
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