Each brilliant bird that wings the air is seen; Whose scent hath lur'd them o'er the summer flood; 3 9 "Thousands of variegated loories visit the coral-trees." Barrow. "In Mecca there are quantities of blue pigeons, which none will affright or abuse, much less kill." Pitt's Account of the Mahometans. 2❝ The Pagoda Thrush is esteemed among the first choristers of India. It sits perched on the sacred Pagodas, and from thence delivers its melodious song."-Pennant's Hindostan. 3 Birds of Paradise, which, at the nutmeg season, come in flights from the southern isles to India, and "the strength of the nutmeg," says Tavernier, so intoxicates them that they fall dead drunk to the earth." And those that under ARABY'S soft sun Build their high nests of budding cinnamon; e 6 So on, through scenes past all imagining, More like the luxuries of that impious King, " Whom Death's dark Angel, with his lightning torch, Struck down and blasted even in Pleasure's porch, Than the pure dwelling of a Prophet sent, Arm'd with Heav'n's sword, for man's enfranchisement—— 4 "That bird which liveth in Arabia, and buildeth its nest with cinnamon."- Brown's Vulgar Errors. 5" The spirits of the martyrs will be lodged in the crops of green birds.” — Gibbon, vol. ix. p. 421. 6 Shedad, who made the delicious gardens of Irim, in imitation of Paradise, and was destroyed by lightning the first time he attempted to enter them. "Is this then," thought the youth, "is this the way "To free man's spirit from the deadening sway "Of worldly sloth; to teach him, while he lives, 66 Thy Freedom nurs'd her sacred energies; "Oh! not beneath th' enfeebling, withering glow "Of such dull luxury did those myrtles grow, "With which she wreath'd her sword, when she would ❝dare "Immortal deeds; but in the bracing air "Of toil, of temperance, of that high, rare, "Etherial virtue, which alone can breathe "Life, health, and lustre into Freedom's wreath! "Who, that surveys this span of earth we press, "Would sully the bright spot or leave it bare, "Its rights from Heaven, should thus profane his cause "With the world's vulgar pomps; no, no "Is but to tempt, to try the eaglet gaze I see "Of my young soul; - shine on, 'twill stand the blaze!" So thought the youth; - but, ev'n while he defied This witching scene, he felt its witchery glide Through every sense. The perfume, breathing round, Like a pervading spirit; the still sound Of falling waters, lulling as the song In its blue blossoms hum themselves to sleep!" 66 7 My Pandits assure me that the plant before us (the Nilica) is their Sephalica, thus named because the bees are supposed to sleep on its blossoms." Sir W. Jones. And music too dear music! that can touch His soul up to sweet thoughts, like wave on wave They sat and look'd into each other's eyes, Silent and happy as if God had given Nought else worth looking at on this side heaven! "Oh my lov'd mistress! whose enchantments still "Are with me, round me, wander where I will "It is for thee, for thee alone I seek "The paths of glory — to light up thy cheek "With warm approval in that gentle look, 66 I gain a smile, worth immortality! |