ENTRANCE OF HELLAS. ^ 591 
observed a prodigious block of white marble, CHAP. 
lying out of the road, upon the brink of the 
precipice; which had been thrown down, and 
had very nearly fallen from the heights into 
the sea. There was an inscription upon it, perhaps 
relating to the widening of the pass, and to the 
repairs of the road by Hadrian ; but we could 
only trace a semblance of the following letters : 
OA 
At the place where the Arch stood, was perhaps 
formerly the Stbli erected by Theseus ; inscribed 
on one side, " HERE is PELOPONNESUS, NOT 
IONIA ;" and upon the other, " HERE is NOT 
PELOPONNESUS, BUT IONIA." Having passed Entrance 
the spot, we now quitted the Morea, and once 
more entered HELLAS *, by the Megarean land. 
We began to descend almost immediately; 
and, as we had expected from the frequent 
instances which characterize the Grecian cities, 
we no sooner drew nigh to MEGARA, than the 
prospect of a beautiful and extensive plain 
opened before us, walled on every side by 
mountains, but in this example somewhat 
(l) " Ab Isthmi angustii&//e/fas incipit, nostris Grtecia apptllata." 
Pirn. Hist. Nat. lib. iv. c. 7. torn, I. p. 210. L. Bat, 1635. 
