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The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

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THE CHURCH OF CENTURIES. 3<br />

Europe, thyself unreformecl, thou dost wed<br />

us to <strong>an</strong>tiquity. In <strong>the</strong> year 1100, thou<br />

hadst thy protest, before Lu<strong>the</strong>r convulsed<br />

Europe, or <strong>the</strong> technical term was begotten<br />

at Spires.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Churches <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Val Louise, Barcelon-<br />

nette, Saluces, Provence, Calabria, Pragela,<br />

have been utterly destroyed by that Church<br />

whose olive w<strong>an</strong>d is <strong>the</strong> sword, <strong>an</strong>d whose<br />

rubrics are written in blood. But thou<br />

hast triumphed over <strong>the</strong> onslaughts <strong>of</strong> ages,<br />

abiding as a Witness for <strong>the</strong> Almighty.<br />

Let us unroll <strong>the</strong> map <strong>of</strong> Europe.<br />

Monte Yiso is but a speck, <strong>an</strong>d <strong>the</strong>se<br />

<strong>valleys</strong> are not visible ; but <strong>the</strong>y have<br />

wielded <strong>an</strong> influence, <strong>an</strong>d challenged <strong>an</strong><br />

interest that kingdoms could not boast.<br />

This mountainous district is little known<br />

to <strong>the</strong> explorers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hidden corners <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> earth, yet its glens have been <strong>the</strong><br />

treasury <strong>of</strong> truths which, when divulged,<br />

have convulsed <strong>the</strong> myriad-peopled city<br />

with <strong>the</strong> throes <strong>of</strong> spiritual life.

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