denly withdrawn, and urged them to trust to their own abilities and never seek to regain the rank of which his execution would deprive them. To one he gave his chain, to the other his breviary, all that he still possessed, and then died bravely. Marco, the intended bridegroom, entered the Church, and became Bishop of Monte Peloso ; but Filippo entered the army, and was executed for participation in the endeavour to free the imprisoned Duke of Calabria.
Another hamlet, higher up the valley, but also forming part of Scala, is S. Pietro di Castagna, formerly S. Pietro di Campoleone, where Angelo Trara founded a hospital in 1320, called Lo Speciale di S. Angelo dei Trari, reserving to himself the right to nominate one inmate of the institution, and one person to share in the administration of his endowment. The hospital had ceased to exist by the fifteenth century, but its chapel remains. The steps have been roughly repaired by placing a granite column beneath them, and several portions of inscriptions and broken sarcophagi remain. In the interior is a fine stone to the memory of two brothers Trara, with an inscription in Lombard letters describing one who died in 1346 as an abbot, the other (died in 1374) as leaving the twelve children represented at the foot of the slab, each one with his or her name in Latin. Above an altar on the south side is a figure of St. Michael and the name of "Pauli di Sasso, 1358," already referred to with regard to this family and their connection with Ravello.
The path from this remote little church leads by scattered houses to the chestnut woods, the stream of the Dragone flowing far below, to which at evening files of women may be seen descending for their scanty supply of water, with which they toil up the steep banks and rocky paths. On the opposite height, concealed by trees and vineyards, are the ruins of the Castle of Ravello.
The roughness and steepness of the paths make the outlying hamlets somewhat difficult of access, but they will well repay a visit on account of the remains of a forgotten past, and yet more because of their beautiful situation and commanding views.
The Rufoli And Other Noble Families
Plazzo Dei Rufoli And The Legend
'decamerone,' Second Day, Fourth Tale