Downward the Peri turns her gaze, Alone, beside his native river- And the last arrow in bis quiver. False flew the shaft, though pointed well- And when the rush of war was past, Of morning light, she caught the last- "Be this," she cried, as she wing'd her flight, "It would not stain the pur st rill "That sparkles among the Bowers of Bliss! From the heart that bleeds and breaks in her "Sweet," said the Angel, as she gave Her first fond hope of Eden blighted, Now among Afric's Lunar Mountains. (*) And sleek'd her plumage at the fountains Her grots, and sepulchres of Kings (1) (*) The Mountains of the Moon, or the Montes Lunæ of antiquity, at the foot of which the Nile is supposed to arise.-Bruce. (†) The Nile, which the Abyssinians know by the names of Abey and Alawy or the Giant. -Asiat. Research. vol. i. p. 387. (4) V. Perry's View of the Levant for an ac count of the sepulchres in Upper Thebes, and the numberless grots, covered all over with hieroglyphics in the mountains of Upper Egypt. The orchards of Rosetta are filled with turtle-doves-Sonnini. (D) Savary meations the pelicans upon Lake Moris 437 Who could have thought, that saw this night Bathing their beauties in the lake Amid whose fairy loneliness Nought but the lap-wing's cry is heard, And glittering, like an idol bird!- Who could have thought, that there, e'en there, Wo to the half-dead wretch, who meets "Poor race of Men!" said the pitying Spirit, She wept-the air grew pure and clear Such kindly spirits weep for man! Just then beneath some orange trees, Had thither stol'n to die alone. (1) The superb date-tree, whose head languidly reclines, like that of a handsome woman overcome with sleep.-Dufard et Hadad. (+) That beautiful bird, with plumage of the finest shining blue, with purple beak and legs, the natural and living ornament of the temples and palaces of the Greeks and Romans, which from the stateliness of its port, as well as the brilliancy of its colours, has obtained the title of Sultana.-Sonnini. (+4) Jackson speaking of the plague that occurred in West Barbary, when he was there, says, "The birds of the air fled away from the abodes of men. The hyenas, on the contrary, visited the cemeteries,""&c. (1) Bruce. One who in life, where'er he mov'd, Is still like distant music heard. Deserted youth! one thought alone Shed joy around his soul in death- But see,-who yonder comes by stealth, His livid cheek to hers she presses, In the cool lake her loosen'd tresses. An hour would come, when he should shrink Those gentle arms, that were to him Holy as is the cradling place Of Eden's infant cherubim! And now he yields-now turns away, "The blessed air, that's breath'd by thee; "And, whether on its wings it bear "Healing or death, 'tis sweet to me! "There-drink my tears, while yet they fall"Would that my bosom's blood were balm, "And well thou know'st, I'd shed it all, "To give thy hrow one minute's calm. "Nay, turn not from me that dear face"Am I not thine-th; own lov'd bride"The one, the chosen one, whose place, "In life or death is by thy side! Think'st thou that she, whose only light, "In this dim world, from thee hath shone, "Could bear the long, the cheerless night, "That must be hers, when thou art gone? "That I can live, and let thee go, "Who art my life itself? No, no, "When the stem dies, the leaf that grew "Out of its heart must perish too! "Then turn to me, my own love, turn, "Before like thee I fade and burn; Cling to these yet cool lips, and share The last pure life that lingers there!" She fails, she sinks; as dies the lamp In charnel airs or cavern-danıp, So quickly do his baleful sighs Quench all the sweet light of her eyes! One struggle; and his pain is past; Long kiss, which she expires in giving! "Sleep," said the Peri, as softly she stole Thus saying, from her lips she spread Like their good angel, calmly keeping Watch o'er them, till their souls would waken! But morn is blushing in the sky; Bearing to heav'n that precious sigh High throbb'd her heart, with hope elate, Smil'd as she gave that offering in; Of Eden, with their crystal bells That lie around that lucid lake, Upon whose banks admitted Souls Their first sweet draught of glory take!(2) But ah! e'en Peri's hopes are vain Again the Fates forbade, again The immortal barrier clos'd-* not yet” He shut from her that glimpse of glory- 66 Written in light o'er Alla's head, By seraph eyes shall long be read. "That opes the Gates of Heav'n for thee." (1)" In the East, they suppose the Phoenix to have fifty orifices in his bill, which are con tinued to his tail: and that, after living one thousand years, he builds himself a funeral pile, sings a melodious air of different harmnenies through his fifty organ-pipes, flaps his wings with a velocity which sets fire to the wood, and consumes himself.”—Richardson. (2) "On the shores of a quadrangular lake stand a thousand goblets, made of stars, out of which souls predestined to enjoy felicity drink the crystal wave.-From Chateaubriand's Description of the Mahometan Paradise, in his Beauties of Christianity. (3) Richardson thinks that Syria had its name from Suri, a beautiful and delicate species of rose, for which that country, has been alway famous;-hence, Suristan, the Land of Roses To one, who look'd from upper air With brilliants from the mine or made Banquetting through the flowery vales;And Jordan, those sweet banks of thine, And woods so full of nightingales! But nought can charm the luckless Peri; Had rais'd to count bis ages by! Yet haply there may lie conceal'd With the Great Name of Solomon, Cheer'd by this hope she bends her thither;- From his hot steed, and on the brink (4)“ The number of lizards I saw one day in the great court of the Temple of the sun at Bal bec, amounted to many thousands; the ground, the walls and stones of the ruined buildings, were covered with them."-Bruce. (5) The Syrinx or Pan's pipe is still a pastoral instrument in Syria.-Russel. (6) The Temple of the Sun at Balbec. (7)" You behold there a considerable number of a remarkable species of beautiful insects the ele gance of whose appearance and their attire procured for them the name of Damsels."-Sonnini. Sullenly fierce-a mixture dire, Yet tranquil now that man of crime, Met that unclouded, joyous gaze, But hark! the vesper call to prayer, From Syria's thousand minarets! Kneels, with his forehead to the south, Lisping th' eternal name of God From purity's own cherub mouth, Oh 'twas a sight-that Heav'n-that Child-e For glories lost and peace gone by! And how felt he, the wretched man Reclining there-while memory ran O'er many a year of guilt and strife, Flew o'er the dark flood of his life, Nor found one sunny resting-place, Nor brought him back one branch of grace! "There was a time," he said, in mild, Heart-humbled tones- thou blessed child! "When young and haply pure as thou, "I look'd and pray'd like thee-but now-" He hung his head-each nobler aim And hope and feeling, which had slept Blest tears of soul-felt penitence! Of guiltless joy that guilt can know. "There's a drop," said the Peri, “that down "from the moon "Falls through the withering airs of June "Upon Egypt's land, (8) of so healing a power, "So balmy a virtue, that e'en in the hour 66 That drop descends, contagion dies, "And health reanimates earth and skies! "Oh, is it not thus, thou man of sin, "The precious tears of repentance fall? "Though foul thy fiery plagues within, "One heavenly drop hath dispell'd them all And now-behold him kneeling there By the child's side in humble prayer, (8) The Nucta, or Miraculous Drop, which falls in Egypt precisely on St. John's day, in June, and is supposed to have the effect of stopping the plague. While the same sun-beam shines upon And hymns of joy proclaim through Heaven 'Twas when the golden orb had set, While on their knees they linger'd yet, "Joy, joy for ever! my task is done- "To thee, sweet Eden! how dark and sad 'Are the diamond turrets of Shadukiam,(9) "And the fragrant bowers of Amberabad! (9) The Country of Delight, the name of a Province in the kingdom of Jinnistan, or Fairy Land, the capital of which is called the city of "Farewell, ye odours of Earth, that die, "Farewell ye vanishing flowers, that shone "To the lote-tree, springing by Alla's Throne, "Whose flowers have a soul in every leaf! "Joy, joy for ever!-my task is done "The Gates are pass'd, and Heav'n is won!" Jewels. Amberaded is another of the cities of (1) The tree Tooba, that stands in Paradise, in the palace of Mahomet.-vide Sale's Prefan. Diss.-Touba, says D'Herbelot, signifies beatitude, or eternal happiness. (2) Mahomet is described, in the 53d Chapter of the Koran, as having seen the Angel Gabriel "by the lote-tree, beyond which there is no pas sing: near it is the Garden of Eternal Abode." This tree, say the commentators, stands in the seventh Heaven, on the right hand of the Throne of God. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. The American Philosophical Society have in the press, another volume, of those disquisitions which they have published under the singular title of Transactions. The first five volumes being very scarce and difficult to be procured, the present will be called the first of a new series. All the papers in this volume, have been read before the society, and have been selected for publication, by members appointed for that purpose. They will be found to be various in their subjects, and valuable in the augmentation which they will bring to the domestic stock of science. Thomas R. Peters, Esq. of this city, is engaged in the compilation of Memoirs of the late Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne-one of the most gallant among those who achieved our revolution. These memoirs will be composed chiefly from papers, with which the author has been furnished by the son of the deceased; but as many documents and anecdotes, illustrative of the services and character of Gen. Wayne, may be preserved among his cotemporaries, it is hoped that they may be freely contributed to Mr. Peters; that he may complete the laudable task which he has undertaken. with justice to the subject and honour to himself. Mr. Harrison Hall, of Philadelphia, has in the press a new edition, with additions and improvements, of his Distiller, which will be published before Christmas. The rapid sale of the last edition, and the opinions which have been publickly expressed, concerning the merits of this practical treatise, fully authorise us to announce it as the standard book, on the subject of which it treats. |