Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-04-27
LACED MoN--RUINs OF SPAR.
ia.
TFron, Cbateau6riand !

Il u
The whole site of Laced9mon is IN.
cul,ivated-the sun parches 1t IN si'
lence. and is necessarily consuming the
marble Of the tombs. When bsheid
this desert, not a plant adorned the
ruins, not bird, not an insect, not a
creature enlivened them, save millions
of lizards, which crawled without neise
up and down the sides of the scorehlng
walls. A dozen half wild horses were
feeding here and there upon the With
cred grass; a shepherd was cultiv atins
few water MELONS in corner OF the
theatre; and at Nagoula, which gives
it's dismal name to Laced9mon, l OBJ
served a small grove Of expresses. But
this Magoula, formerly considerable
Turkish village, has also perlshed IN
this scene of desolation its buildings
are overthrow, and the index OF RUNS
is itself bat ruin.
/ descended frsm the citadel, and,
after walking about quarter OF an hour,
reached the Eurotas.
Famous rivers share the same tate as
famous nations; at first unknown, then
celebrated throughout the whole world,
they afterwards sink into their original
obseurity. The Eurotas, at hrst demo
minatedHimera, now flows forgotten un-
der the appellation of ri; as the II.
Der, more anciently Aibula, now rolls to
the sea the unknown waters of the Ts-
verone.
Thus, after ages of oblivion, this
river, whose banks were trodden by tho
Laeedgmonians, whom Plutarch has
celebrated, this river, / say, perhaps
rejoiced, amid this neglect, at the SQUAD
Of the footsteps of an obscure stranger
upon its shores. 1t was on the 18th OF
August, 1906, at nine in the morning,
that took this lonely walk along the
Enrotas, which will never be erased
from my memory If hate the man-
ners Of the Spartans, | ain not blind to
the greatness of free people, neither
was it without emotion that trampled
on their noble dust. One single fact is
sufficient to proclaim the glory OF this
natien. When Nero visited Greece,
he burst not enter Lscsdemon. What
a magnificent panegyric on that city!
returned to the citadel, stopping to
survey the ruins which met with on
thy way: AS Misitra has probably
been built with materials from the ruins
of Sparta, this has undoubtedly contri-
buted much to the destruction OF tbs
edlices OF the latter city. | found my
companion exactly where | lett him;
he bad sat down, and fallen asleep; ha-
wing Just awoke, he was smoking bis
pipe, after which he went to sleep again.
The horseswsrs peacefully grazing in
the palace of king Msnelaus; but He
len had not left her distaf laden with
wsol, dyed of purpls color, to give
them pure corn in a magnificent man
ger.
1t was noon, and the sun darted his
rays perpendicularly on ~ heads. We
retired to the shade in aeSsEner of.thc
theatre, and |. began .to|write d2s my
observations, and to take vie8sOi the
different PLACES :: this occupied me full
two hours, &Afr. which l determined to
examine the rsanunlents the west OF
the citadel. knew that III this quarter
the tomb Of I.eonidas must be situated.
We wandered from ruin TO ruin, the ia
nissary following me, and leading the
horses by the bride. We were the only
living human beings among such mum.
bers Of ilustrious dead {; both OF US
sere barbarians strangers 10 each other,
as well as TO Greece: sprung from the
forests of Gaal, and the rocks OF Cau-
sasus, VIC hsd met st the extremity OF
the Peioponese, the one to pass over,
the other to live upon tombs which were
not those of our fsrsfaIhcrs.
In vain examined the smallest stones
TO discover the spot where the ashes OF
Leonidas were deposited.
Night drew on pace, when l re.
luotan,ly quilted these renowned ruins,
the shade of Lycurges the recollection
of Thermopyls, and all the lotions OF
fable and history. The sunsunk behind
the Taygetus, SO that had beheld him
commence and finish his course on the
ruins of Lacsdemen. 1t was three
thousand Ave hundred and forty.tbree
years, since he first rose and set over
this infant city. ! departed with mind
absorbed by the objects which had just
seen, and indulging in endless retiec-
tons. Such days enable man to en-
du;e many mistor,unes with patience,
and above all, render him Indifferent 10
many spsctacles.