22 harpies, ravens, cormorants, and, among many other feathered creatures, several little winged boys, that perch in great numbers upon the middle arches.' 'These,' said the Genius, are Envy, Avarice, Superstition, Despair, Love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life.' 17. “I here fetched a deep sigh. 'Alas,' said I, 'man was made in vain! How is he given away to misery and mortality, tortured in life and swallowed up in death!' The Genius, being moved with compassion towards me, bade me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. 'Look no more,' said he, 'on man in the first stage of his existence, in his setting out for Eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick. mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it.' 18. "I directed my sight as I was ordered, and (whether or no the good Genius strengthened it with any supernatural force, or dissipated part of the mist that was before too thick for the eye to penetrate) I saw the valley opening at the further end, and spreading forth into an immense ocean, that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it, and dividing it into two equal parts. 19. "The clouds still rested on one half of it, insomuch that I could discover nothing in it; but the other appeared to me a vast ocean planted with innumerable islands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little shining seas that ran among them. I could see persons dressed in glorious habits, with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trees, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers, and could hear a confused harmony of singing birds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. 20. "Gladness grew in me upon the discovery of so delightful a scene. I wished for the wings of an eagle that I might fly away to those happy seats; but the Genius told me there was no passage to them except through the gates of death that I saw opening every moment upon the bridge. The islands,' said he, that lie so fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as far as thou canst see, are more in number than the sands on the seashore. 21. "There are myrads 23 of islands behind those which thou here discoverest, reaching further than thine eye, or even thine imagination can extend itself. These are the mansions of good men after death, who, according to the degree and kinds of virtue in which they excelled, are distributed among these several islands, which abound with pleasures of different kinds and degrees, suitable to the relishes and perfections of those who are settled. in them. 22. "Every island is a paradise accommo dated 24 to its respective inhabitants. Are not these, O Mirza! habitations worth contending for? Does life appear miserable, that gives thee opportunities of earning such a reward? Is death to be feared, that will convey thee to so happy an existence? Think not man was made in vain, who has such an eternity reserved for him. 25 23. "I gazed with inexpressible pleasure on these happy islands. At length,' said I, 'show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of adamant.' The Genius making me no answer, I turned about to address myself to him a second time, but I found that he had left me. 24. "I then turned again to the vision which I had been so long contemplating; but, instead of the rolling tide, the arched bridge, and the happy islands, I saw nothing but the long, hollow valley of Bagdat, with oxen, sheep, and camels grazing upon the sides of it.' NOTES. 1 Grand Cairo, the capital city of Egypt. 2 Oriental, eastern; from oriens, the east. 3 Manuscripts, writings. 4 Entertainment, amusement. 5 Bagdat, a town on the river Tigris, 6 Contemplation, thought. 8 Genius, a supernatural being, a 9 Affability, courtesy, kindness. 10 Dispelled, scattered, sent away. 11 Soliloquies, speeches addressed to oneself. 12 Pinnacle, point. 13 Prodigious, very large. 14 Consummation, end, completion. 16 A thousand arches, representing 18 Trap-doors, in reference to num- which befal mankind, particu- | 21 Comprehend, understand. larly in early life. 19 Melancholy, sadness. 20 Scimitar, a short sword with a curved blade, worn chiefly in eastern countries. The allusion here is to those who meet their death in war. 22 Harpy, a fabulous monster, half 25 Inexpressible, beyond descrip- THE BRAVE BRETON SAILOR. On the sea and at the Hogue,' sixteen hundred ninety-two, Did the English fight the French-woe to France! And, the thirty-first of May, helter-skelter through the blue, 2 Like a crowd of frightened porpoises a shoal of sharks pursue, Came crowding ship on ship to St. Malo3 on the Rance, With the English fleet in view. 4 'Twas the squadron that escaped, with the victor in full chase: First and foremost of the drove, in his great Close on him fled, great and small, And they signalled to the place, "Help the winners of a race! Get us guidance, give us harbour, take us quick,—or, quicker still, Here's the English can and will!" IO 5 |