Gregory the
Thaumaturgist; to him was dedicated a Greek monastery, built on the
ruined site of Vivariense. After the Byzantine conquest of the sixth
century, Magna Graecia once more justified its ancient name; the
civilization of this region became purely Greek; but for the
Lombards and ecclesiastical Rome, perhaps no Latin Italy would have
survived. Greek monks, who through the darkest age were skilful
copyists, continued in Calabria the memorable work of Cassiodorus.
The ninth century saw Saracen invasion, and then it was, no doubt,
that the second religious house under Mons Moscius perished from its
place.
Thinking over this, I walked away from the cave and climbed again to
the railway; my friends also were silent and ruminative. Not
unnaturally, I suspected that a desire for substantial thanks had
some part in their Silence, and at a convenient spot I made suitable
offering. It was done, I trust, with all decency, for I knew that I
had the better kind of Calabrian to deal with; but neither the
jovially intelligent man nor the pleasant simpleton would for a
moment entertain this suggestion.
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