Dowulward the Peri turns her gaze, Alone, beside his native river- And the last arrow in his quiver. And when the rush of war was past, or morning light, she caught the last Last glorious drop bis heart had shed, Betore its frec-born spirit fled! * Be this,” she cried, as she wing'd her flight, " My welcome gift at the Gates of Light. “ Though foul are the drops that oft distil * On the field of warfare, blood like this, * For Liberty shed, so holy is, * 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 offermg Heaven holds dear, " 'Tis the last libation Liberty draws * From the beart that bleeds and breaks in her cause!” * Sweet,” said the Angel, as sbe gave The gift into his radiant land, * Sweet is our welcome of the Brave * Who die thus for their native Land. * But see-alas! the crystal bar * Of Eden moves not-holier far "Than e'en this drop the boon must be, " That opes the Gates of Heaven for thee." Her first fond hope of Eden blighted, Now among Afric's Lunar Mountains. (*) And sleek'd her plumage at the fountains Her frots, and sepulchres of Kings (1) To watch the moonlight on the wings Never did mortal eye behold! (*) The Mountains of the Moon, or the Montes Lunæ of antiquity, at the foot of which the Nile is supposed to arisc.-Bruce. (+) The Nile, which the Abyssinians know by the names of Abey and Alawy or the Giant. -Asiat. Research. vol. i. p. 387. (1) 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. W The orcharls of Rosetta are filled with turtle-loves.-Sonnini. (D Savary mentions the pelicans upon Lako Morris, Who could have thought, that saw this night Those valleys and their fruits of gold Languidly their leaf-crown'd heads, Warns them to their silken beds: (1) Bathing their beauties in the lake When their beloved Sun's awake;- Amid whose fairy loneliness Upon a column motionless Which, full of bloom and freshness then, And ne'er will feel that sun again! Wo to the half-dead wretch, who meets Amid the darkness of the streets! “Poor race of Men!" said the pitying Spirit, “Dearly ye pay for your primal Fall"Some flow'rets of Eden ye still inherit, “But the trail of the Serpent is over them all!” She wept-the air grew pure and clear Aronnd her, as the bright drops ran; Such kindly spirits weep for man! Close by the Lake, she heard the moan of one who, at this silent hour Had thither stol'n to die alone. (9) T'he superb date-tree, whose bead languidly reclines, like that of a handsome woman overcome with sleep:- Dafard et Hadad. (tt) That beaudful 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. (11) Jackson speaking of the plague that occurred in West Barbary, when he was there, says, “ The birds of the air fied away from the abodes of men. The hyænas, on the contrary, visited the cemeteries," &c. CD Brwe. One who in life, where'er he mor'd, Drew after him the hearts of many; Yet now, as though he ne'r were lová, Dies here unseen, unwept by any! The fire that in his bosom lies Which shines so cool before his eyes. To speak the last, the parting word, Is still like distant music heard. That tender farewell on Wie shore Of this rude world, when all is o'er, Which cheers the spirit, ere its bark Puts off into the unknown Dark. Deserted youth! one thought alone Shed joy around his soul in deathThat she, whom he for years had known And lov'd, and might have call'd his own, Was safe from this foul midnight's breath;Safe in her father's princely halls, Where the cool airs from fountain falls, Freshly perfuind by many a brand of the sweet wood from India's land, Were pure as she whose brow they fann'd. But see,-who yonder ccmes by stealth, This melancholy bower to seek, Like a young, envoy, sent by Health, With rosy gifts upon her cheek? 'Tis shefar off, through moonlight dim, He knew his own betrothed bride, She, who would rather die with him, Tban live to gain the world beside! Her arins are round her lover now, His livid cheek to hers she presses, And dips, to bind his burning brow, In the cool lake ber loosen d tresses. Ah! once, how little did he think An hour would come, when he should shrink With horror from that dear embrace, Those gentle arms, that were to him of Eden's infant cheruvim! * The blessed air, that's breath'd by thee; * And, whether on its wings it bear " Healing or death, 'lis 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--thy own lov'd brille *** The one, the chosen one, whose place, " In life or death is by thy side! * 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 the 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 torti, * Before like thee I fade and burn; * Cling to these yet cool lips, and share * Tlie last pure life that lingers there!" She fails, she sinks; as dies the lamp An charnel airs or cavern-damp, So quickly du his baleful sighis Quench all the sweet light of her eyes! One struggle; and his pain is past, Her lover is no longer living! One kiss the maiden gives, one last, Long kiss, which she expires in giving! Sleep," said the Peri, as softly she stole The farewell sigh of that vanishing soul, As true as e'er warmd a woman's breast; * Sleep on, in visions of odour rest, " In balmier airs than ever yet stirr'd “Th' enchanted pile of that holy bird, “Who sings at the last his own death lay, (1) And in music and perfume dies away! Thus saying, from her lips she spread Unearthly breathings through the place, Such lustre o'er each paly face, Upon the eve of doomsday taken While that benevolent Peri beam'd Watch o'er them, till their souls would waken But morn is blushing in the sky; Again the Peri soars above, Bearing to heavin that precious sigh of pure, self-sacrificiug love. High throbb'd her heart, with hope elate, The Elysian palm she soon will win, For the bright Spirit at the gate Smil'd as she gave that offering in; And she already hears the trees Of Eden, with their crystal bells Ringing in that ambrosial breeze That from the Throne of Alla swells; And she can see the starry bowls 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 vainAgain the Fates forbade, again The immortal barrier clos'd" not yet" The Angel said, as, with regret, He shut from her that glimpse of glory" True was the maiden, and her story, " Written in light o'er Alla's head, By seraph eyes shall long be read. “But Perì, see-the crystal bar * Of Eden moves not-holier far “Than e'en this sigh the boon must be " That opes the Gates of Heaven for thee." Now, upon Syria's land of roses(3) Softly the light Eve reposes, And, like a glory, the broad sun Hangs over sainted Lebanon, Whose head in wintry grandeur towers, And whitens with eternal slett, While summer in a vale of flowers Is sleeping rosy at his feel. (1)" In the East, they suppose the Phoenix to have fifty orifices in his bill, which are continued to his tail: aud that, after living one thousand years, he builds himself a funeral pile, sings a melodious air of different barmo bies through Ins fifty organ-pipes, tlaps 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 stairs, out of which souls predestined to enjoy felicity drink the crystal wave.- From Chateaubrianil's De scription of the Mahometan Paradise, in his Beauties of Christianity. (3) Richardson thinks that Syria hall its name from Suri, a beautiful and delicate species of rose, for which that country, has been always famous; hence, Suristan, the Land of Rose's. To one, who look from upper air Banquetting through the flowery vales;- And woods so full of nightingales! Flinging their shadows from on high, Had rais'd to count his ages by! Beneath those Chambers of the Sun, With the Great Name of Solomon, Which, spellid by her illumin'd eyes, An erring Spirit to the skies! Still laughs the radiant eye of Heaven, Nor have the golden bowers of Even In the rich West began to wither:When, o'er the vale of Balbeek winging Slowly, she sees a child at play, As rosy and as wild as they; From his hot steed, and on the brink of a small immaret's rustic fount Impatient fling him down to drink. Then swift his haggard brow he turn'd To the fair child, who fearless sat, Though never yet hath day-beam burn'd Upon a brow more fierce than that (4)" The number of lizards I saw one day in the great court of the Temple of the sun at Balbec, amounted to many thousands; the ground, the walls and stones of the ruined buildings, were com nered 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 sance of whose appearance and their attire procured for them the name of Damsels."Sonnini. Sullenly fierce a mixture dire, Met that unclouded, joyous gaze, Encounter morning's glorious rays. As slow the orb of day-light sets, From Syria's thousand minarets! Kneels, with his forehead to the south, From purity's own cherub mouth, And looking, wbile his hands and eyes Are lifted to the glowing skies, Like a stray babe of Paradise, Just lighted on that flowery plain, And seeking for its home again! Oh 'twas a sight-that Heav'n-that Child A scene, which might have well beguild E'en haughty Eblis of a sigh 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 pare as thou, " I look'd and pray'd like thee-but now-" He hung his head-each nubber aim And bope and feeling, which had slept From boyhood's hour, that instant came Fresh o'er bim, and he wept-he wept! Blest tears of soul-felt penitence! In whose benign, redeeming flow Is felt the first, the only sense Of guiltless joy that guilt can know. " There's a drop,” said the Peri," that dovu " 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 " That drop descends, contagiou 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 dispelld 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 bave the effect of stop ping the plague. While the same sun-beam shines upon * To thee, sweet Eden! bow dark and sad " 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, Passing away like a lover's sigh;- “In my fairy wreath, so bright and brief,- blown, * To the lote-tree, springing by Alla's Throne, (2) " Whose flowers have a soul in every leat! " Joy, joy for ever!-iny task is dene* The Gates are pass'd, and Heav'n is won!" Jewels. Amberaded is another of the cities of Jinnistan. (1) The tree Tooba, that stands in Paradise, in the palace of Mahomet.-vide Sale's Prelim. Disy.--Touba, says D'Herbelot, signifies beatitude, or eternal happiness. (2) Mahomet is described, in the 530 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 wilt 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 landable 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, FOR DECEMBER, 1817. Embellished with a view of the City Hall at New-York, and an engraved title -page. CONTENTS. Correspondence. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Life of sir James Mackintosh, 443 Montbel's Homer--Millin's Agrarius Denterville, or the Homer-Hazlewood's Mir. Victim of Discontent, 458 ror for Magistrates-OuvaAccount of the celebration of roffs Eleusinian Mysteries the Dauphin's birth-day in Remusat's Rewards and PunPhiladelphia, in a letter from ishments among the ChiDr. Rush to 464 nese-Rivet's Literary HisLetter from Alexander Hamil tory of France--Gibbon's ton, esq. to the Marquis de Miscellaneous Works la Fayette, 469 Hunt's Rimini-Lady MorLetter from Gen. Washington gan's France-Wirt's Life to the University of Pennsyl- of Henry-Good's Lectures vania, 470 -Greek Seminary--The Letter from Dr. John Ewing Arch Duke Charles on War on Godfrey's Quadrant, 500 -Roche's Ponsonby-Dufief Epitaph on Tom Paine, 471 in London, 514 The Play at Venice, 472 POETRY An Author's Evenings—The The Deaf and Dumb, 525 Contrast - The Great Ser- Geraldine, (a ballad), ib. pent-Epigramon G. Rose- Beattie's Hermit, in Italian, ib. The river Missouri Popu- Nemorin to Estelle, 526 lation of Great Britain, 477 To her I love, ib. Professor Cooper's Introduc- To Time, ib. ry Lecture on Mineralo- The Blind Man's Lament, ib. gy, 482 Signs of Love, 527 On the Philosophy of Criti- Address to Lord Byron, ib. cism, 505 The Departed Year, 528 On Blue Laws and Witches, 508 Lines written at Bristol, ib. Baptism in Abyssinia, 511 Farewell, ib. Manners of the Athenians, 513 Epigram, ib. PHILADELPHIA: AND IN LONDON, J. Maxwell, Printer. |