| THE LORD BE WITH YOU | THE PEACE OF THE LORD BE EVERWITH YOU. | ||
| —I, BENO DE RAPIZA, WITH MARY, MY WIFE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD ANDBLESSED CLEMENT, HAD IT PAINTED FOR A FAVOUR RECEIVED. | |||
| CARVONCELLE. | ALBERTEL. | COSMARIS. | SISINIUS. |
| GET BEHIND THECOLUMN CARVONCELLEWITH ALEVER. | ALBERTEL, COSMARIS,DRAW ITUP. | FOR THE HARDNESSOF YOUR HEARTSYOU DESERVE TODRAW STONES. | SONS OFPute DRAWIT UP. |
On the inside of this pier are S. Antoninus, and Daniel in the Lions' Den. On the same wall, higher up, Life, Death, and Recognition of S. Alexius; above which is our Lord seated, attended by Gabriel, Michael, Clement, and Nicholas, holding a book.
| STRONG AS THE BONDS OF DEATH. | |
| THAT IS MY RESIDENCE IN IT;YOU SHALL FIND AN ASYLUM. | COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOURAND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILLGIVE YOU REST. |
| THE FATHER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHO ASKS HIS PITY. | |
The arabesque ornament at the bottom is very beautiful. Beyond this, at the side of the pier, are S. Giles and S. Blasius; at the end of the wall, S. Prosperius, the Maries at the Sepulchre, Christ releasing Adam and Eve from Hades, the Supper at Cana, the Crucifixion; and just beyond, the Assumption (eighth century).
| MOST HOLY LORD LEO, POPE OF ROME. | SANCTUS VITUS |
| THAT THIS PICTURE MAY OUTSHINE THE REST IN BEAUTY, BEHOLD THEPRIEST LEO STUDIED TO COMPOSE IT. | |
Passing into the south or left aisle, on the wall, at this end, is a painting representing the Miracle of S. Libertinus, and one representing
WHERE THE ABBOT BEGS PARDON OF LIBERTINUS.
At the west end of this aisle, over the stairs, are the remains of a painting of the Crucifixion of S. Peter; and in the right-hand corner, S. Cyril's parting audience with Michael III. In the opposite corner is a baptism of some barbarian by S. Cyril, beyond which the projecting brickwork marks the site of the tomb of S. Cyril.
The nave is formed by a line of seven columns in their original places, in a wall of débris built to support the church above. These columns are of beautiful marbles, and stand upon a wall of the imperial period, which has been traced for 98 feet.
At the west end of the north aisle a flight of narrow steps leads down to a passage, 25 inches wide, formed between massive walls: that on the right is brick of the imperial period, forming the wall of S. Clement's house; that on the left, tufa, of the kingly period, being part of the walls of Servius Tullius. This has been heightened by a travertine wall of the republican period. The tufa wall has been traced for 500 feet, and the travertine wall upon it for 410 feet. About 20 feet is still buried, showing how low ancient Rome was in this valley. At the end of this passage another flight of steps leads up into the south aisle. In the centre of the passage is an entrance through the imperial wall (now blocked up on account of the water) into