Waldenses
191
more than three thousand Vaudois, including the entire population of
the valley of Loyse.”
This one circumstance out of many of a similar character will
give something of an idea of what the Waldenses endured for the
truth’s sake. Terror, mourning, and death everywhere followed in the
footsteps of their persecutors. Whole villages were given to the flames.
Nor could the caves, as we have seen, afford any protection to the
multitudes who sought refuge in them. When the fire kindled at the
mouth of these retreats was extinguished, “all was silent within.”
One can hardly imagine the indescribable feelings with which,
after contemplating such scenes, we looked upon the cave now before
us. After exploring it quite thoroughly, we climbed still higher, upon
the rocks above it, and there bowed in a season of prayer. Jesus seemed
very near while we pleaded with him to imbue us with more of the
spirit of true devotion and firm adherence to principle that had led
so many in these valleys in times past to lay down their lives for the
truth’s sake.
It is beyond my power to describe the picture which opened before
us from this high elevation. That its beauty has attracted the attention
of others, appears from the glowing description which we here give
from the pen of another:—
“At this point the grandeur of the valley Lucerna attains its height.”
“Immediately behind Bobbio shoots up the ‘Barion,’ symmetrical as
an Egyptian obelisk, but far taller and more massive. Its summit
rises three thousand feet above the roofs of the little town. Com-
pared with this majestic monolith, the proudest monument of Europe’s
proudest capital is a mere toy. Yet even the ‘Barion’ is but one item
in this assemblage of glories. Overtopping it behind, and sweeping
round the extremity of the valley, is a glorious amphitheater of crags
and precipices, inclosed by a background of great mountains, some
rounded like domes, others sharp as needles.” “In this unrivaled am-
phitheater sits Bobbio, in summer buried in blossoms and fruit, and
in winter wrapped in the shadows of its great mountains, and the mist
of their tempests.” “A carpet of rich meadows clothes the valley from
side to side; fruit-trees fleck it with their shadows; the Pellice waters
it; and on either hand is a wall of mountains.” “Over these are hung
stupendous battlements of rocks; and above all, towering high in the
air, are the everlasting peaks in their robes of ice and snow.”