218 VIEW OF PARNASSUS. 
CHAP, called Castri. After journeying three hours, 
1 - . having passed over a ridge of hills, the antient 
boundary between Phocis and Bceotia, pre- 
vious to our descent into a valley reaching quite 
View of up to the base of Parnassus, we enjoyed a glo- 
Parnuisus. '■ 
rious prospect of this mountain'. Persons who 
have beheld Snoivdon from Anglesea, may have 
some notion of this prospect, as afforded by a 
more diminutive object ; and as it brought to 
our recollection the sublime Druidical Chorus 
of Mz.yo^'s Charactacus, we were ready at every 
instant to exclaim, " Hear, thou king of moun- 
tains, hear!" It was at this time almost without 
a cloud ; its upmost ridges being white with 
snow : below these, appeared a wide expanse 
of naked and rugged rocks, exhibiting hues of 
silver}^ grey, peculiar to Parnassus : still lower, 
towards the base, and in the sheltered recesses 
of the valley, were trees, dispersed or collected 
into thickets and tufted groves ; presenting 
altogether such a region of bold and dignified 
scenery — of varied and broken eminences, of 
wilderness, and woodland, and pasture, as we 
have seldom seen. Among the thickets we 
observed the Arbutus, and Myrtle, and Valloma 
Oak, flourishing luxuriantly ; and we recognised 
(1) See the Plate annexed to p. 172 of the Quarto Edition of these 
Travels; in which the author has vainly endeavoured to represent the 
appearance of Parnassus. 
