ON THE VALE OF TEMPE. 



531 



The following extract from my Journal describes the remainder of 

 the vale, or as it may be termed with more propriety, the Defile 

 of Tempe. 



" The road through the Bogaz is chiefly the work of art, nature 

 having left only sufficient room for the channel of the river. This 

 road is, nevertheless, broad enough for the use of wheel-carriages ; 

 and in some parts or its course consists of a paved causeway, which 

 has been laid on the bank of the river ; whilst in others, it is a solid 

 terrace of rock, hewn out of the base of the mountain. It is carried 

 on for a great way, at the height of 20 or 30 feet above the river ; 

 but towards the eastern end of the vale it rises much higher, in order 

 to surmount the brows of some promontories which fall there 

 precipitately, and without any basement, into the water. In short, 

 it appears to have been conducted with as much attention to the ease 

 and safety of passengers, as the nature of the ground would admit 

 of ; and even, in its present neglected state, inspires a traveller with 

 sufficient confidence, to contemplate the various features of the 

 scenery. 



" This scenery, of which every reader of classical literature has 

 formed so lively a picture in his imagination, consists of a dell or 

 deep glen, the opposite sides of which rise* very steeply from the 

 bed of the river. The towering height of these rocky and well- 

 wooded acclivities above the spectator ; the contrast of lines exhibited 

 by their folding successively over one another ; and the winding of 

 the Peneus between them, produce a very striking effect ; which is 



* The Editor is obliged to Professor Gaisford for a copy of the following passage 

 relating to Tempe, and now published for the first time from a manuscript of Nicetas, in 

 the Bodleian library. The passage occurs in fol. 446. of the MS. and corresponds with 

 p. 658. of Wolfius's edition, Genev. 1593. It follows the word Tep7re<rtv. 



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