THE CHAPEL OF SANTA ROSALIA, PALERMO.

SICILY.

"Had she not beauty-last, best charm

To woman granted here?

Ah! nature has no other gift

So infinite, so dear!

Yet has she turned away from life,

Alone, apart to dwell,

Within a mountain-solitude,
Within a mountain-cell."

L. E. L.

A MINUTE account has already been given of the death and apotheosis of St. Rosalia; her retirement from the Sicilian court, and the dedication of her grotto on Monte Pelegrino to devotional objects. This illustration presents the exterior of the College of Monks devoted to the care of her shrine, and its romantic position is peculiarly appropriate to the erection of a place of pilgrimage, originating in a legend of so much simplicity and interest. The long and winding causeway, which has been constructed at considerable labour and unlimited expense, is here seen leading towards the chapeldoor, while a fair votary approaching the shrine of a once still fairer creature, is observed kneeling before a little oratory, or covered crucifix, collecting her thoughts, bringing her mind into that peculiar frame, and preparing it for the admission of such pure and holy feelings as alone should arise within it, when she shall have approached the shrine and image of Palermo's tutelar saint. Such oratories are frequent in all Roman Catholic countries; and here, from the toilsome nature of the way that leads from the rich and wide plains of Palermo, up the steep brow of Pelegrino-mountain, the votaries, who are chiefly of the softer sex, must necessarily be numerous.

Although Rosalia has condescended to include every inhabitant of Palermo under her sacred guardianship, there is still a stronger feeling of attachment to her shrine, and more frequent application to her for intercessory prayers, from her own than from the other sex. When labouring under affliction of mind or body, the Palermitan maids turn towards the image of their patroness, for assistance and mental strength. They often vow in secret, that if the saint will condescend to take their peculiar griefs into consideration, and either grant a release, or accomplish the object of the supplicants' entreaties, a pilgrimage to her grotto, and on naked feet, shall be, in gratitude, performed. Whenever the fair petitioner has been successful in the attainment of her wishes, the merit is uniformly ascribed to St. Rosalia, and the promised vow faithfully fulfilled : and should the saint seem dilatory, a pilgrimage is then, in fact, still more necessary in order to propitiate her-so that Saint Rosalia is tolerably secure of preserving a number of affectionate admirers amongst the loveliest class of the creation, however dull or hard of belief those that are less so may remain.