IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
AGE, 42-44 NIEDLEVAL TRAVELLERS LIFE IN TUSCANY
lvii
an invalid, but from this date doctor's orders left her no choice in
the matter."
About this time, Yule took in hand the first of his studies of
mediaeval travellers. His translation of the Travels of Friar
Jordanus was probably commenced earlier ; it was completed
during the leisurely journey by carriage between Chambéry and
Turin, and the Dedication to Sir Bartle Frere written during a
brief halt at Genoa, from which place it is dated. Travelling
slowly and pleasantly by vetturino along the Riviera di Levante,
the family came to Spezzia, then little more than a quiet village.
A chance encounter with agreeable residents disposed Yule
favourably towards the place, and a few days later he opened
negotiations for land to build a house ! Most fortunately for
himself and all concerned these fell through, and the family
continued their journey to Tuscany, and settled for the winter
in a long rambling house, with pleasant garden, at Pisa, where
Yule was able to continue with advantage his researches into
media val travel in the East. He paid frequent visits to
Florence, where he had many pleasant acquaintances, not least
among them Charles Lever (" Harry Lorrequer "), with whom
acquaintance ripened into warm and enduring friendship. At
Florence he also made the acquaintance of the celebrated
Marchese Gino Capponi, and of many other Italian men of
letters. To this winter of 1863-64 belongs also the com-
mencement of a lasting friendship with the illustrious Italian
historian, Villari, at that time holding an appointment at
Pisa. Another agreeable acquaintance, though less intimate,
was formed with John Ball, the well-known President of the
Alpine Club, then resident at Pisa, and with many others, among
whom the name of a very cultivated German scholar, H. Meyer,
specially recurs to memory.
54 I cannot let the mention of this time of lonely sickness and trial pass without recording here my deep gratitude to our dear and honoured friend, John Ruskin. As my dear mother stood on the threshold between life and death at Mornex that sad spring, he was untiring in all kindly offices of friendship. It was her old friend, Principal A. J. Scott (then eminent, now forgotten), who sent him to call. He came to see us daily when possible, sometimes bringing MSS. of Rossetti and others to read aloud (and who could equal his reading ?), and when she was too ill for this, or himself absent, he would send not only books and flowers to brighten the bare rooms of the hillside inn (then very primitive), but his own best treasures of Turner and W. Hunt, drawings and illuminated missals. It was an anxious solace ; and though most gratefully enjoyed, these treasures were never long retained.
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