broad-flowing Moldau (broad as Thames at half-flood, but nothing
like so deep); after which the streets become level, and spread out
in intricate plenty to right and to left, and ahead eastward,
across the River, till the Ziscaberg, with frowning precipitous
brow, suddenly puts a stop to them in that particular direction.
From Ziscaberg top to Weissenberg top may be about five English
miles; from the Hradschin to the foot of Ziscaberg, northwest to
southeast, will be half that distance, the greatest length of Prag
City. Which is rather rhomboidal in shape, its longer diagonal this
that we mention. The shorter diagonal, from northmost base of
Ziscaberg to southmost of Hradschin, is perhaps a couple of miles.
Prag stands nestled in the lap of mountains; and is not in itself a
strong place in war: but the country round it, Moldau ploughing his
rugged chasm of a passage through the piled table-land, is
difficult to manoeuvre in.

"Moldau Valley comes straight from the south, crosses Prag;
and--making, on its outgate at the northern end of Prag (end of
'shortest diagonal' just spoken of), one big loop, or bend and
counter-bend, of horse-shoe shape," which will be notable to us
anon--"again proceeds straight northward and Elbe-ward. It is
narrow everywhere, especially when once got fairly north of Prag;
and runs along like a Quasi-Highland Strath, amid rocks and hills.
Big Hill-ranges, not to be called barren, yet with rock enough on
each hand, and fine side valleys opening here and there: the bottom
of your Strath, which is green and fertile, with pleasant busy
Villages (much intent on water-power and cotton-spinning in our
time), is generally of few furlongs in breadth. And so it lasts,
this pleasant Moldau Valley, mile after mile, on the northern or
Lower Moldau, generally straight north, though with one big bend