Wordsworth, Christopher: Greece, pictorial, descriptive and historical (London, 1853)

140 KTJ1NS OF DECELEA.

Aristophanes, in liis Play of the Nephel^e, brings his goddesses, the
Clouds, from the heights of Mount Pames, when, in compliance with the
invocation of Socrates, they descend to visit the earth. Quitting their aerial
station on this lofty mountain, they soar over the Athenian Plain, they float
across the peaked hill of Lycabettus, at the north-east extremity of the
city, and above the town itself, and the rock of the Acropolis, they fly over
the Parthenon, and at last alight on the stage of the Theatre, on the south
side of the citadel. Before they commence their flight, they join their voices
in a choral strain, replete with poetical beauty, which furnishes conclusive
evidence that the poet who composed it might have been as distinguished for
lyrical, as he was for his dramatic excellence; that, in a wrord, he might have
been a Pindar, if he had not been an Aristophanes.

While listening to the beautiful language and melodious harmony of this
song, the audience might almost imagine itself to be placed in the same
elevated position supposed to be occupied by those who united in giving
it utterance; and thence it might seem to contemplate the noble and fair
spectacles which they there see and describe. With the Chorus of Clouds,
it might suppose itself looking down upon the objects of which they speak
as then visible to themselves—to see the land of Pallas stretched out below
them, and the lofty Temples and Statues of Athens at their feet; to trace the
long trains of worshippers in festal array traversing the hills to the Sacred
Mysteries of Eleusis; to follow the sacred processions winding through the
streets to the Acropolis of the Athenian city; to witness the banquets and
sacrifices on solemn holidays; to behold the crowds seated in the Theatre
at the beginning of spring, witnessing the dances and listening to the melodies
which there gave an additional charm to that season of festivity and joy.

Mount Pames wras the natural barrier which protected the Athenian terri-
tory from foreign invasion on the north. But, as a military fortress, when it
falls into the hands of an enemy, becomes the cause of danger to those whom
it was before accustomed to defend, so this mountain, when the foes of Attica
had obtained possession of a stronghold upon it, proved as much fraught with
peril to the Athenians, as it had before been productive of advantage.

Pursuing our course eastward along its heights, we arrive at a point, about
ten miles distant from the fortress of Phyle, above described, and discover the
ruins of some ancient walls on a circular and isolated hill, near the little
village of Tatoi, and which projects from the mountain where we now are.

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