[136] Orte. The foundations of the present bridge are the work of Augustus; the more recent portions having been built by Sixtus V.
[137] He had invited Montaigne to dine with him at his villa near Porto. See page 128.
[138] It is strange that Montaigne, with his partiality for artificial waterworks, should leave the Falls of Terni unnoticed.
[139] L’Angeloni, in his Storia di Terni (Pisa, 1878), describes a figure of Neptune found in some excavations near Lago Velino with the following inscription:—
Neptuno Sacrum
L. Valerius Nigri Lib. Menander
Portitor Ocrisiva.
He also gives the inscription mentioned by Montaigne:—
A. Pompejo A. F.
Clu. Q. Patrono
Municipi Interamnat.
Nahartis quod ejus
Opera universum
Municipium ex summis
Periculis et Difficultatibus
expeditum
et conservatum est ex
Testamento L. Licini T. F.
Statua statuta est.
[140] Petrino was one of the most celebrated brigands of the cinquecento. He began his career about 1577, and for several years afterwards kept in terror the duchy of Spoleto and the south of Umbria. He was active in these parts as late as 1581. His death and capture were several times reported, but he seems to have escaped to Spain, where he lived until 1640, and returned under the favour of the Farnesi. He died at an advanced age in 1650.
Brigandage was rife throughout the papal territories at this time. Gregory XIII. was on bad terms with all his neighbours on account of his arrogance and extortions, and the Florentines and Venetians allowed the bandits to take refuge in their dominions when pressed by the papal forces. It is strange that Montaigne should have had so little to say about it.
[141] Sainte Foix, in Périgord, close to Montaigne’s home.