PLAIN OF THEBES. r,Q 
is naturally distributed into a series of distinct 
craters, each containing a spacious and level 
area, admirably adapted to the purposes of 
maintaining and defending as many different 
colonies'. Among the mountains that surround 
the Plain of Thebes, the snow- clad ridges of Sm round- 
xx\<T See- 
Parnassus, and of Helicon, are particularly con- ne"y. 
spicuous. It may easily be imagined, with- 
out much description, what scenes for the 
painter such a country must afford — what 
subjects for poetry it must contain : heaven 
and earth seem to be brought together : 
the mountain-tops appear shining above the 
clouds, in regions of ineffable light, as thrones 
for immortal beings ; and the clouds, collected 
into stupendous volumes of inconceivable splen- 
dour and of every possible form, come rolling 
(l) The most practical method of exhibiting this position of the 
Grecian mountains, and the contiguity of plains thus surrounded, 
although in an imperfect manner, is by placing together a number 
of saucers with broken lips, upon a table ; thejirst of which may be 
supposed to contain the Plain of Athens, the scco?id that of Thebes, the 
third that of Larissa, &c. &c.; for these plains are all so many vast 
basins of limestone, with high and broken sides, through which the 
rivers flow. Attention to this circumstance of external character in 
the general appearance of limestone, upon the outer crust of the 
Earth, may enable us to form a reasonable conjecture as to the nature 
of the surface of the Moon; which exhibits, when viewed through a 
telescope, precisely the same features, by the disposition of the moun- 
tains visible upon its surface ; and hence it may be inferred, that the 
Moon's surface is similar to that of the Earth. 
