244 FROM THE HELLESPONT 
Archipelago in view. It is not possible for any 
power of language adequately to describe the 
appearance, presented at the rising, or setting 
View of Q^ i-j^g ^ -j^ ^Y\Q ^^ean Sea. Whether in dim 
the cy- perspective, through grey and silvery mists, or 
amidst hues of hveliest purple, the isles and 
continents of Greece present their varied features, 
nor pen, nor pencil, can pourtray the scenery. 
Whatsoever, in the v/armest fancies of my 
youth, imagination had represented of this 
gifted country, was afterv.^ards not only realized, 
but surpassed. Let the Reader picture to his 
, conception an evening sun, behind the towering 
cliffs of Patmos, gilding the battlements of the 
Monastery of the Apocalypse with its parting rays ; 
the consecrated island, surrounded by inexpres- 
sible brightness, seeming to float upon an abyss 
of fire'; while the moon, in milder splendour, is 
rising full over the opposite expanse. Such a 
scene we actually witnessed, with feelings na- 
turally excited by all the circumstances of local 
solemnity; for such, indeed, might have been 
the face of Nature, when the inspiration of an 
Apostle, kindling in its contemplation, uttered 
the Alleluias of that mighty Voice ^ telling of 
(l) " Aud 1 saw 35 it were a sea of glass mingled with fire." Rev. 
(2} Rev. xix. 1. • 
