CHAP. 
I. 
Manners 
of the 
Athenians. 
ATHENS. 
Marathonian Defile — Importance of the Pass — Return 
to Marathon Village. 
LJ PON our return to Athens from Eleusts, 
Lusieri, (who had expressed, upon former occa- 
sions, considerable doubt respecting the possi- 
biUty of removing the Statue of Ceres, even with 
the means which he possessed, as the agent of 
our Ambassador,) jocularly inquired, whether 
we had abandoned the undertaking. Bat as 
soon as we informed him, that we had not only 
carried off the Goddess, but that she was 
" under iveigli' and upon her voyage to Smyrna, 
to secure a passage to England, he expressed so 
much astonishment, that, with uplifted hands, 
he exclaimed, in his mother-tongue, '' Affe ! se 
anche pensate di rimovere fAgropoli, non avrete 
mai il mio permesso\'"' We remained a week in 
Athens after this event; and during that short 
period we saw more of the manners of the 
inhabitants than we had before done. At the 
Governor's, it is true, our observations were 
restricted to the gravity of his countenance, the 
fumes of his pipe, and the flavour of his coffee : 
but Lusieri introduced us to some Greek families 
(1) " Faith! if you also think, of removing the Acrojiolis, you shall 
not have my permission." 
