r P. 161. Friezes from Tadmor and Persepolis. 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?" 8 P. 161. Of beautiful Gomorrah! O, the wave. "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 engulfed 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 (engulfed)—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." t P. 161. That stole upon the ear, in Eyraco.]-Eyraco-Chaldæa. u P. 161. Is not its form-its voice-most palpable and loud? I have often thought I could distinctly hear the sound of the darkness as it stole over the horizon. x P. 162. Young flowers were whispering in melody. Fairies use flowers for their charactery.-Merry Wives of Windsor. y P. 163. The moonbeam away. 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. z P. 164. Like the lone Albatross. The Albatross is said to sleep on the wing. aa P. 165. The murmur that springs. I met with this idea in an old English tale, which I am now unable to obtain, and quote from memory:-"The verie essence and, as it were, springe-heade and origine of all musiche is the verie pleasaunte sounde which the trees of the forest do make when they growe." bb P. 165. Have slept with the bee. The wild bee will not sleep in the shade if there be moonlight. The rhyme in this verse, as in one about sixty lines before, has an appearance of affectation. It is, however, imitated from Sir W. Scott, or rather from Claud Halcro-in whose mouth I admired its effect: O! were there an island, Tho' ever so wild, Where woman might smile, and ce P. 168. Apart from Heaven's Eternity-and yet how far from Hell!. With the Arabians there is a medium between Heaven and Hell, where men suffer no punishment, but yet do not attain that tranquil and even happiness which they suppose to be characteristic of heavenly enjoyment. Un no rompido sueno Un dia puro-allegre-libre Libre de amor-de zelo De odio-de esperanza-de rezelo.-Luis Ponce de Leon. Sorrow is not excluded from "Al Aaraaf," but it is that sorrow which the living love to cherish for the dead, and which, in some minds, resembles the delirium of opium. The passionate excitement of Love and the buoyancy of spirit attendant upon intoxication are its less holy pleasuresthe price of which, to those souls who make choice of "Al Aaraaf" as their residence after life, is final death and annihilation. dd P. 168. Unguided Love hath fallen-mid "tears of perfect moan. There be tears of perfect moan Wept for thee in Helicon.-Milton. ee P. 169. Was a proud temple called the Parthenon. It was entire in 1687-the most elevated spot in Athens. ff P. 170. Than e'en thy glowing bosom beats withal. Shadowing more beauty in their airy brows Than have the white breasts of the Queen of Love.-Marlowe. gg P. 171. Failed, as my pennoned spirit leapt aloft. |