honors that can be awarded to slavery without intrigue. But they have long occupied, nevertheless, a part of the "House of Bondage," who has lately multiplied her many mansions. It would be difficult, perhaps, to find the annals of a nation less stained with crimes than those of the Armenians, whose virtues have been those of peace, and their vices those of compulsion. But whatever may have been their destiny and it has been bitter-whatever it may be in future, their country must ever be one of the most interesting on the globe; and perhaps their language only requires to be more studied to become more attractive. If the Scriptures are rightly understood, it was ir Armenia that Paradise was placed - Armenia, which has paid as dearly as the descendants of Adam for that fleeting participation of its soil in the happiness of him who was created from its dust. It was in Armenia that the flood first abated, and the dove alighted. But with the disappearance of Paradise itself may be dated almost the unhappiness of the country; for though long a powerful kingdom, it was scarcely ever an independent one, and the satraps of Persia and the pachas of Turkey have alike desolated the region where God created man in his own image. THOMAS MOORE. 1779-1852. (Manual, pp. 404-411.) FROM "LALLA ROOKH." 278. PARADISE AND THE PERI, One morn a Peri at the gate Of Life within, like music flowing, Through the half-open portal glowing, 'Mid flowers that never shall fade or fall; And sweetly the founts of that Valley fall; How the waters of Heaven outshine them all! "Go, wing thy flight from star to star, From world to luminous world, as far As the universe spreads its flaming wall: Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, And multiply each through endless years, One minute of Heaven is worth them all!❤ The glorious Angel, who was keeping The gates of Light, beheld her weeping! And, as he nearer drew and listened To her sad song, a tear-drop glistened Within his eyelids, like the spray From Eden's fountain, when it lies On the blue flower, which - Bramins say-Blooms nowhere but in Paradise! "Nymph of a fair but erring line!" Gently he said – "One hope is thine, 'Tis written in the Book of Fate, The Peri yet may be forgiven Who brings to this Eternal gate The Gift that is most dear to Heaven! Go seek it, and redeem thy sin "Tis sweet to let the Pardoned in!" Cheered by this hope she bends her thither; Yet tranquil now that man of crime, Met that unclouded, joyous gaze, But hark! the vesper call to prayer, From Syria's thousand minarets! Kneels, with his forehead to the south From purity's own cherub mouth, And looking, while his hands and eyes Like a stray babe of Paradise, Just lighted on that flowery plain, And seeking for its home again! O, 'twas a sight that Heaven - that Child A scene, which might have well beguiled E'en haughty Eblis of a sigh For glories lost and peace gone by! And how felt he, the wretched Man Nor brought him back one branch of grace! "There was a time," he said, in mild, Heart-humbled tones "thou blessé! child! "There's a drop," said the Peri, "that down from the moon Falls through the withering airs of June The precious tears of repentance fall? -- One heavenly drop hath dispelled them all!" And hymns of joy proclaim through Heaven 'Twas when the golden orb had set, While on their knees they lingered yet, My feast is now of the Tooba Tree, Whose scent is the breath of Eternity! "Farewell, ye vanishing flowers, that shone In my fairy wreath, so bright and brief, — Whose flowers have a soul in every leaf! The Gates are passed, and Heaven is won!" 279. "TIS The Last Rose of Summer. "Tis the last rose of summer Left blooming alone; No rose-bud, is nigh, Or give sigh for sigh. I'll not leave thee, thou lone one! To pine on the stem; Since the lovely are sleeping, Go, sleep thou with them. Thus kindly I scatter Thy leaves o'er the bed, So soon may I follow, When friendships decay, When true hearts lie withered, And fond ones are flown, O! who would inhabit This bleak world alone? 280. FORGET NOT THE FIELD. Forget not the field where they perished, All gone- and the bright hope we cherished Gone with them, and quenched in their grave! |