Identifier: countryofringb00trev (find matches)
Title: The country of The ring and the book
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Treves, Frederick, Sir, 1853-1923
Subjects: Browning, Robert, 1812-1889
Publisher: London : Cassell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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of the Tiber. The street on the left is the StradaPaolina or Via del Babuino, where, at the corner of theVia Vittoria, was the home of Pompilia. There areample steps leading up to the doors of the two churches,and there can be little doubt that they were crowdedwith spectators on that afternoon in February when thefive men were done to death in the centre of the arena. On the opposite side of the piazza is the mightystone gate, the famous North Gate of Rome. It isa singularly massive structure, dating from 1562, inwhich there is an intolerable deal of masonry to ex-ceeding little gate (Plate 26). It must have looked stillmore overpowering at the time of the story, for the sideentries were not added until 1878. The stonework isof a delicate drab colour, shaded with faint tints ofbrown and yellow. The north side of the gate islavishly decorated with marble columns, marble tabletsand most copious inscriptions. On either side of thecentre gateway are two immense statues of solemn men. 146
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The Piazza del Popolo Each holds a book in his hand, while on the face ofeach is an expression of such vast vacuity as can onlybe observed in the state known as senile dementia. From the gate starts that very ancient road, the ViaFlaminia, which—straight as an arrow—makes for thenorth, by Narni and Foligno, pushing on until it meetsthe shores of the Adriatic at the old Umbrian town ofRimini, which was the frontier fortress of Italy lookingtowards Gaul. It was through this gate that Guido and the fourslunk on the eve of the murder. It was throughthis gate that they fled to gain the road to Tuscany.Under this forbidding archway passed Caponsacchi andPompilia on their way from Castelnuovo to the greatprison in the Via Giulia. Guido, as he stood on thescaffold, would face this stolid gateway. Through thearch he could see the white road leading to his homein Arezzo, and, where the road ended, the green countryaround his brothers villa by the Ponte Milvio. By the side of the gate is the

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