290 THE HOLY LAND. 
^vrr^' ^ flourishing and stately metropolis ; presenting 
" — V ' a magnificent assemblage of domes, towers, 
palaces, churches, and monasteries ; all of which, 
glittering in the sun's rays, shone with incon- 
ceivable splendour'. As. we drew nearer, our 
whole attention was engrossed by its noble and 
interesting appearance. The lofty hills sur- 
rounding it give to the city itself an appearance 
of elevation less than it really has^ About three 
quarters of an hour before we reached the walls, 
we passed a large rUin upon our right hand, 
close to the road. This, by the reticulated 
masonry upon its walls, as well as by the re- 
mains of its vaulted foundations of brick-work, 
evidently denoted a Roman building. We could 
not obtain any account of it ; neither has it been 
mentioned by any of the authors who have de- 
scribed the antiquities of the country. 
(1) At the same time it should be confessed, that there is no other 
point of view where Jerusalem is seen to so much advantage. In the 
celebrated prospect from the Mount of Olives, the city lies too low ; is 
too near the eye ; and has too much the character of a bird's-eye view : 
it has all the formality of a plan or topographical survey. 
(2) 'H Oi ay la, •Jt'oXi; xtTrai fJLito-t oia.(poptav (pccpayyaiv, xai P>ouvuv, xa,\ iffr) to 
Iv at/T'^ ^ica^auf/Avot 6a.vf/.a.(rTov, iv ra.urri yap V'Xipa.iKtr'/ix.moc oparai « mXi; xai 
^^a/x,aXn' -Tt^; ykp t:)v r?; 'loiiSaia; X'^f'^ itrriv v^npxsifiivti, -rpoi %i ra s-^s^sva 
ravrtti yniXoipK x^xf4.a>.l^irai. " Sancta civitas variis vallibus et monti- 
bus circumsepitur, nee admiratione caret quod in ea spectatur ; eodem 
euim teuiporis momento, et supereminens et depressa apparet : nam- 
que si Judaeae oram inspexeris, supereminet ; si colles illi adhaerentes 
complanatur." PIwcce Desc. Terr. Sunct. c. 14. Colon. 1653. 
