Joseph Addison
Remarks on several parts of Italy &c. In the Years 1701, 1702, 1703.
The third edition.
London 1726.
Preface
[Auszug]
"There is certainly no Place in the World where a Man may travel with greater Pleasure and Advantage than in Italy. One finds something more particular in the Face of the Country, and more astonishing in the Works of Nature, than can be met with in any other Part of Europe. It is the great School of Musick and Painting, and contains in it all the noblest Productions of Statuary and Architecture both Ancient and Modern. It abounds with Cabinets of Curiosities, and vast Collections of all kinds of Antiquities. No other Country in the World has such a Variety of Governments, that are so different in their Constitutions, and so refinde in their Politicks. There is scarce any Part of the Nation that is not Famous in History, nor so much as a Mountain or River that has not been the Scene of some extraordinary Action.
As there are few Men that have Talents or Opportunities for examing so copious a Subject, one may observe among those who have written on Italy, that different Authors have succeeded best on different sorts of Curiosities. Some have been more particular in their Accounts of Pictures, Statues and Buildings; some have search'd into Libraries, Cabinets of Rarities, and Collections of Medals; as others have been wholly taken up with Inscriptions, Ruins and Antiquities. Among the Authors of our own Country, we are obliged to the Bishop of Salisbury, for his masterly and uncommon Obervations on the Religion and Governments of Italy: Lassels may be useful in giving us the Names of such Writers as have treated of the several States through which he pass'd: Mr. Ray is to be valu'd for his Observations on the natural Productions of the Place. Monsieur Misson has wrote a more correct Account of Italy in general than any before him, as he particularly Excells in the Plan of the Country, which he has given us in true and lively Colours.
There are still several to these Topicks that are far from being exhausted, as there are many new Subjects that a Traveller may find to employ himself upon. For my own part, as I have taken Notice of several Places and Antiquities that no Body else has spoken of, so I think, I have mentioned but few Things in common with others, that are not either set in a new Light, or accompany'd with different Reflections. I have taken care particularly to consider the several Passages of the Ancient Poets, which have any Relation to the Places or Curiosities that I met with; For before I entered on my Voyage I took care to refresh my Memory among the Classic Authors, and to make such Collections out of them as I might afterwards have Occasion for. I must confess it was not one of the least Entertainments that I met with in Travelling, to examine these several Descriptions, as it were, upon the Spot, and to compare the Natural Face of the Country with the Landskips that the Poets have given us of it. However, to avoid the Confusion that might arise from a Multitude of Quotations, I have given some Image of the Place, or that have something else besides the bare Name of it to recommend them."