234 ATHENS. 
throughout the metopes, and in all the exquisite 
sculpture of the frieze which surrounded the 
outside of the cell of the temple, this may be 
observed : a person putting his hand behind 
the figures, or upon the plinth, where the parts 
have been less exposed to the atmosphere, may 
perceive the polished surface, as it was left 
when the work was finished, still preserving a 
high degree of smoothness ; but the exterior 
parts of the stone have been altered by wea- 
thering; and where veins of schistus in the 
marble have been affected by decomposition, 
considerable parts have fallen off. Yet, to ope- 
rate an effect of this nature, it required the 
lapse of twenty-three centuries; and we may 
fairly conclude that what remained had under- 
gone sufficient trial to have continued unaltered 
fer a series of ages : at all events, it would have 
been safe from the injuries to which the finest 
parts of the sculpture have been since so 
lamentably exposed, when they were torn from 
the temple, either to be swallowed by the waves 
of Cythera, or to moulder under the influence of 
a climate peculiarly qualified to assist their pro- 
gress towards destruction 1 . 
(l) " The Ambassador has carried off every rich morsel of sculpture 
that was to be found in the Parthenon : so that he, in future, who 
wishes to see Athens, must make a journey to Scotland." Colonel 
Squire' MS. Correspondence. 
