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is the most friendless of all persons in the kingdom, is the beingwho rules the rest: so that we who have but little love of powerin our souls cannot but have a lingering sense of pity for thosewho are doomed to occupy the high places in this world,—cutoff as they are from all that makes life truly admirable, andso surfeited, doubtlessly, with the sycophancy of courtiers, thatthey can hardly but believe the whole human race to be aswily and untruthful as Jesuits.

To quit, then, the heated and impure atmosphere of a courtfor the fresh and sweet air of such a place as this, mustindeed be a relief that none others than monarchs can know;and if the vine-clad mountains, and the wooded Valleys, andthe commingling of the streams, that make up the lovelyRhine-picture here seem beautiful in our eyes, how muchmore beautiful must it all appear to ihem — one bright bit ofreal open nature—of God's own handiwork^after so muchof man's meanness — so much artificial life !

§ 2.The Medleval Steonghold — Marksburg.

From Stolzenfels it is a pleasant hour's excursion to theCastle of Marksburg, especially if you journey by the roadrather than by water, for the path lies close alongside theRinne, and the mountains immediately adjoin it; so thatin the autumn it is a pretty sight to see the peasant-womenin their white " kappe-tücher" peeping from on high amid thevineyard terraces, busy gathering the grapes far up on thetall hill-sides; while, as you journey on, you meet the ever-