Of their own dissolution, while they die- A dome, by linked light from heaven let down, And rays from God shot down that meteor chain, * Voltaire, in speaking of Persepolis, says, "Je connois bien l'admiration qu'inspirent ces ruines, mais un palais érigé au pied d'une chaine des rochers sterils, peut il être un chef-d'œuvre des arts!" 66 + Oh, the wave!" Ula Deguisi is the Turkish appellation; but on its own shores it is called Bahar Loth, or Almotanah. There were undoubtedly more than two cities Sound loves to revel in a summer night: Is not its form-its voice-most palpable and loud?+ But what is this ?-it cometh-and it brings A music with it: 'tis the rush of wings! A pause-and then a sweeping, falling strain, And Nesace is in her halls again. From the wild energy of wanton haste Her cheeks were flushing, and her lips apart; engulphed in the Dead Sea. In the valley of Siddim were five Adrah, Zeboin, Zoar, Sodom, and Gomorrah. Stephen of Byzantium mentions eight, and Strabo thirteen (engulphed); but the last is out of all reason. It is said [Tacitus, Strabo, Josephus, Daniel of St. Saba, Nau, Maundrell, Troilo, D'Arvieux] that, after an excessive drought, the vestiges of columns, walls, &c., are seen above the surface. At any season, such remains may be discovered by looking down into the transparent lake, and at such distances as would argue the existence of many settlements in the space now usurped by the "Asphaltites." * Eyraco-Chaldea. I have often thought I could distinctly hear the sound of the darkness as it stole over the horizon. And zone that clung around her gentle waist Had burst beneath the heaving of her heart. Within the centre of that hall to breathe She paused and panted, Zanthe! all beneath, The fairy light that kiss'd her golden hair And long'd to rest, yet could but sparkle there! Young flowers were whispering in melody * To happy flowers that night, and tree to tree; Fountains were gushing music as they fell In many a star-lit grove, or moon-lit dell; Yet silence came upon material things, Fair flowers, bright waterfalls, and angel wings, And sound alone that from the spirit sprang Bore burden to the charm the maiden sang: 66 'Neath blue-bell or streamer, Or tufted wild spray, That keeps from the dreamer * Fairies use flowers for their charactery.-Merry Wives of Windsor. + In Scripture is this passage,- "The sun shall not harm thee by day, nor the moon by night." It is, perhaps, not generally known, that the moon, in Egypt, has the effect of producing blindness to those who sleep with the face exposed to its rays, to which circumstance the passage evidently alludes. Bright beings! that ponder, On the stars which your wonder Till they glance through the shade, and Like eyes of the maiden Who calls on you now. Arise! from your dreaming In violet bowers, To duty beseeming These star-litten hours; And shake from your tresses, Encumber'd with dew, The breath of those kisses That cumber them too (Oh, how without you, Love! Could angels be blest?)— Those kisses of true love That lull'd ye to rest! Up! shake from your wing The dew of the night It would weigh down your flight; And true love caresses Oh, leave them apart! They are light on the tresses, But lead on the heart. I |