rO EXAMINE THE REMAINS> &C. 39 



sliape from being known, and it is really very cu- 

 rious to observe howthistreehas penetrated bej 

 tween tbe minutest junctions of the stone, and haa 

 gradually sapped and entwined the whole; pres- 

 sing closely from without against some parts of 

 the wallj then disappearing, and suddenly after- 

 wards it is seen in various forms^ sometimes like 

 a rope^ sometimes like a knotted branch, cora- 

 municating silently and secretly the infection to 

 every part, till at last we find it overtopping the 

 whole^ proudly viewing the magnificent ruin it 

 has helped io forni^ and as in pity embracing 

 and clinging about the beauteous and venerable 

 ruin of former grace^ preserving it yet a little 

 longer, a few centuries, from irretrievable des* 

 truction.-— Like a secret foe, insidiously decor- 

 ating the beauty it is working to destroy, and 

 apparently reluctant to complete the work, in 

 «miles suiveying the ruin it has made. 



1 now retraced my steps and turned off 

 to another ruinous ediiicej which on in- 

 spection appeared to be in better preservation 

 than any of the other edifices. In fact I could 

 here find nothing to induce me to suppose it 

 was a Temple (see the description of it the 

 foUowing day. ) 



