situation and its shadowing trees, still louder and louder grow the sounds, and the terror of battle comes close upon us. Startled from sleep, I mount to the highest point of the sloping roof, and take my stand, with keenly listening ears. Then, indeed, the truth is evident, and the stratagem of the Greeks revealed. Already the mansion of Deiphobus has fallen into ruins, as the god of fire prevails; the house of my neighbor, Ucalegon, is burning; far and wide the Sigean channel gleams with the blaze. There arises the cry of men and the clang of trumpets. Distractedly I take my arms, and yearn to muster a troop for battle, and to hasten to the citadel; frenzy and rage give me reckless resolution, and I think it were glorious to fall fighting.

But lo, Pantheus, escaped from the weapons of the Greeks, with his own hands drags along the sacred vessels, his vanquished gods, and his little grandson, and comes running to my door. "How stands the fortune of the State, Pantheus? What strong

hold are we to seize ?

Scarce had I spoken the words, when, with a groan, he answers: "Troy has reached her final day and her inevitable hour. The Trojans are no more. Ilium is no more. Relentless Jove has transferred all power to Argos; the Greeks lord it in the city they have fired. The horse, erect in the heart of the town, pours forth from its height armed men, and Sinon, now a conqueror, insolently flings the flames abroad. Some are crowding in at the double gates, all the thousands that ever came from proud Mycena; others with their weapons have barred the narrower streets; the sharp sword with glittering blade is drawn and fixed, prepared to kill. The guards at the gates hardly attempt a

contest!"

By such words and by the will of heaven, I am carried into the flames and the fight, whither the fell fury of battle calls me. Comrades join me. When I saw that they formed a band, and were bold for battle, to incite them further: "Warriors," I began, "hearts most valiant, you see what is the state of our fortunes; the gods by whom this realm stood fast, have all

succor a city that is set on fire! the fight and, if need be, die! "

Let us rush into the thickest of

Thereupon, like ravening wolves, we make our way through weapons, through foes, and press on to the centre of the city. Who in words could describe the carnage of that night? An ancient city is falling! Helpless forms in vast numbers are stretched on all sides, throughout the streets, the houses, and the hallowed thresholds of the gods. Nor from the Trojans only is exacted the penalty of blood. Sometimes to the hearts of the vanquished also valor returns, and the victorious Greeks fall. Everywhere is cruel woe; everywhere is panic and death in many a shape.

When the night is spent, I find with astonishment that a vast number have flocked to join me, both matrons and husbands; a band of men assembled for exile, a piteous throng. They have resolved to settle in whatever lands I please to lead them to, over the sea. And now the morning-star was beginning to rise over the topmost ridges of Ida, bringing in the day; and, taking up my father we journeyed toward the mountains.

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL.

[From the Korân.]

WHEN the day that must come shall have come suddenly,

None shall treat its sudden coming as a lie;

Day that shall abase! Day that shall exalt!

When the earth shall be shaken with a shock,

And the mountains shall be crumbled with a crumbling,
And become scattered dust,

And into three bands shall ye be divided;

Then the people of the right hand-how happy

And the people of the left hand — how wretched
The people of the left hand!

And they who were foremost on earth

The foremost still.

These are they who shall be brought nigh to God,
In gardens of delight,

On inwrought couches, reclining face to face.
Immortal youths go round about to them,

With goblets and ewers and a cup from a fountain;
Their brows ache not from it, nor fails the sense;
And with such fruits as they shall make choice of,
And with flesh of such birds as they shall long for;
And theirs shall be the Houris with large, dark eyes,
Like close-kept pearls,

A recompense for their labors past.

And the people of the right hand—how happy

The people of the right hand!

Amid thornless love-trees,

And bananas clad with flowers,

And extended shade, and flowing waters,
And abundant fruits, unfailing and unforbidden.

But the people of the left hand-how wretched
Shall be the people of the left hand!

Amid pestilential winds and in scalding water,
And the shadow of a black smoke,

Not cooling and not pleasant.

Then verily ye, O ye the erring, the imputers of falsehood, Shall surely eat of the tree Zakkoum!

THE

DHOULKARNAIN.

[From the Korân.]

[Dhoulkarnain is probably Alexander the Great.]

HEY will ask thee of Dhoulkarnain [the two-horned]. Say:
I will recite to you an account of him.

Verily he established his power upon the earth, and we gave him a means to accomplish every end, as he followed his way,

Until when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it to set in a miry fount; and hard by he found a people.

We said: "O Dhoulkarnain! whether thou chastise or whether thou treat them generously "

“As for him who is impious," said he, "we will chastise him; then shall he be taken back to his lord, and he will chastise him with a grievous chastisement."

Then followed he a route, until when he reached the rising of the sun, he found it to rise on a people to whom we had given no shelter from it.

Thus it was. were in the sun. Then followed he a route, until he came between two mountains, beneath which he found a people who scarce understood a language. They said: "O Dhoulkarnain! verily, Gog and Magog waste this land; shall we then pay the tribute, so thou build a rampart between us and thou?"

And he had full knowledge of the forces that

He said: "Better than your tribute is the might wherewith my Lord hath strengthened me; but help me strenuously, and I will set a barrier between you and them. Bring me blocks of iron."

Until when it filled the space between the mountain-sides— "Blow," said he, "upon it." Until when he had set it on fire, he said: "Bring me molten brass, that I may pour upon it."

And Gog and Magog were not able to scale it, neither were they

And the people of the left hand - how wretched
The people of the left hand!

And they who were foremost on earth

The foremost still.

These are they who shall be brought nigh to God,
In gardens of delight,

On inwrought couches, reclining face to face.
Immortal youths go round about to them,

With goblets and ewers and a cup from a fountain;
Their brows ache not from it, nor fails the sense;
And with such fruits as they shall make choice of,
And with flesh of such birds as they shall long for;
And theirs shall be the Houris with large, dark eyes,
Like close-kept pearls,

A recompense for their labors past.

And the people of the right hand-how happy

The people of the right hand!

Amid thornless love-trees,

And bananas clad with flowers,

And extended shade, and flowing waters,
And abundant fruits, unfailing and unforbidden.

But the people of the left hand-how wretched
Shall be the people of the left hand!

Amid pestilential winds and in scalding water,
And the shadow of a black smoke,

Not cooling and not pleasant.

Then verily ye, O ye the erring, the imputers of falsehood, Shall surely eat of the tree Zakkoum!