For some moments our glances wandered irresolutely from point to point; we could fix our attention on nothing, so great was the number of beauties surrounding us: splendid architecture--arches rising boldly into the air, supported on lofty pillars--every thing wore an air so severely classic, and yet all was gorgeously elegant, and at the same time perfectly tasteful.
At first we reviewed every thing in a very hasty manner, for our impulse hurried us along, and we wished to take in every thing at one glance.

Afterwards we began a new and a more deliberate survey.
As we enter a large open courtyard, our eye is caught by numerous pieces of marble and fragments of columns, some of the latter resting on tastefully sculptured plinths.

Almost every thing here is prostrate, covered with rubbish and broken fragments, but yet all looks grand and majestic in its ruin.

We next enter a second and a larger courtyard, above two hundred paces in length and about a hundred in breadth.

Round the walls are niches cut in marble, and ornamented with the prettiest arabesques.