"It would not stain the purest rill, "That sparkles among the Bowers of Bliss! "Oh! if there be, on this earthly sphere, "A boon, an offering Heaven holds dear, " "Tis the last libation Liberty draws "From the heart that bleeds and breaks in her cause !". "Sweet," said the Angel, as she gave The gift into his radiant hand, "Sweet is our welcome of the Brave I "Than ev❜n this drop the boon must be, "That opes the Gates of Heav'n for thee!" Her first fond hope of Eden blighted, Now among AFRIC'S Lunar Mountains, Far to the South, the PERI lighted; And sleek'd her plumage at the fountains Of that Egyptian tide, whose birth Is hidden from the sons of earth, "The Mountains of the Moon, or the Montes Lunæ of anti quity, at the foot of which the Nile is supposed to arise." — Bruce. Deep in those solitary woods, Where oft the Genii of the Floods Dance round the cradle of their Nile, In warm ROSETTA's vale + now loves To watch the moonlight on the wings Of the white pelicans that break The azure calm of MœRIS' Lake.' 'Twas a fair scene a Land more bright Never did mortal eye behold! Who could have thought, that saw this night 2 "The Nile, which the Abyssinians know by the names of Abey and Alawy or the Giant.” — Asiat. Research. vol. i. p. 387. 3 V. Perry's View of the Levant for an account of the sepulchres in Upper Thebes, and the numberless grots, covered all over with hieroglyphics in the mountains of Upper Egypt. 4" The orchards of Rosetta are filled with turtle-doves.". 5 Savary mentions the pelicans upon Lake Moris. Sonnini. Those groups of lovely date-trees bending Like youthful maids, when sleep descending Bathing their beauties in the lake, That they may rise more fresh and bright, The relics of a splendid dream; Amid whose fairy loneliness Nought but the lap-wing's cry is heard, And glittering, like an idol bird! 6 « The superb date-tree, whose head languidly reclines, like that of a handsome woman overcome with sleep." - Dafard el Hadad, 7 "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. Who could have thought, that there, ev'n there, The Demon of the Plague hath cast Of human shape, touch'd by his wing, The sun went down on many a brow, Is rankling in the pest-house now, Only the fierce hyæna stalks 8 Throughout the city's desolate walks 8 Jackson, speaking of the plague that occurred in West Barbary, when he was there, says, "The birds of the air fled away from The hyænas, on the contrary, visited the the abodes of men. cemeteries," &c. At midnight, and his carnage plies — Woe to the half-dead wretch, who meets The glaring of those large blue eyes' "Poor race of Men !" said the pitying Spirit, "But the trail of the Serpent is over them all!” She wept the air grew pure and clear Around her, as the bright drops ran; For there's a magic in each tear, Such kindly Spirits weep for man! Just then beneath some orange trees, Were wantoning together, free, Like age at play with infancy Beneath that fresh and springing bower, Close by the Lake, she heard the moan Of one who, at this silent hour, Had thither stol'n to die alone. |