A Midsummer Drive Through the Pyrenees by Edwin Asa Dix

Author:Edwin Asa Dix [Dix, Edwin Asa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780598505774
Google: lNA8AAAAYAAJ
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Published: 1891-01-15T00:15:10+00:00

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The deed now in prospect is high, but not superlatively heroic. The hamlet we seek is stowed away upon the mountain-side across the ravine from Eaux Chaudes, 3000 feet above the sea, and will require a climb of perhaps three-quarters of an hour. We cross the diabolic Bridge,—"facilis ascensus,"

"The gates of Hell are open night and day,

Smooth the ascent and easy is the way,"—

and shortly strike off from the road and up among the bushes. There is a well-worn pathway, and it toils easily skyward, doubling back on itself to rest and unrolling wider and wider vistas of the valley. The Gourzy across the chasm enlarges its proportions as we rise. Here comes a peasant or two posting valley-ward, going to his world-centre, the metropolis of Eaux Chaudes, or perchance even on to the universe-hub,—Laruns. Birches and beeches mingle everywhere with the darker, green of the fir-trees; alders and oaks and hazels are abundant; among all run the heavy growths of box. Tree life is profuse and rich on these warm lower flanks of the range, while wild flowers and butterflies tempt one to constant digressions. The path grows steeper. After all,

"to ascend, to view the cheerful skies

In this the task and mighty labor lies."

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