Madame Montoni only shuddered as she looked down precipices near
whose edge the chairmen trotted lightly and swiftly, almost, as the
chamois bounded, and from which Emily too recoiled; but with her
fears were mingled such various emotions of delight, such admiration,
astonishment, and awe, as she had never experienced before.
Meanwhile the carriers, having come to a landing-place, stopped to
rest, and the travellers being seated on the point of a cliff,
Montoni and Cavigni renewed a dispute concerning Hannibal's passage
over the Alps, Montoni contending that he entered Italy by way of
Mount Cenis, and Cavigni, that he passed over Mount St. Bernard. The
subject brought to Emily's imagination the disasters he had suffered
in this bold and perilous adventure. She saw his vast armies winding
among the defiles, and over the tremendous cliffs of the mountains,
which at night were lighted up by his fires, or by the torches which
he caused to be carried when he pursued his indefatigable march. In
the eye of fancy, she perceived the gleam of arms through the
duskiness of night, the glitter of spears and helmets, and the
banners floating dimly on the twilight; while now and then the blast
of a distant trumpet echoed along the defile, and the signal was
answered by a momentary clash of arms.
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