brilliant moonlight on the terraced root, where lake and valley, mountain and convent, were as distinct as in the day—a vivid yet visionary scene.

The little cemetery of Beilan had none of the gloom of an Eastern burial-place: the light was full on its bosom, broken by the shadows of its rude monuments, whose inscriptions told not of the faith or hope of Christ: yet its hushed and pastoral character might well recall the exquisite lines of Wilson on a purer scene.

How sweet and solemn, all alone,

With reverend step, from stone to stone,

O'er intervening flowers to move—

And hear, in the calm air above,

Time onwards, softly flying;

To meditate, in Christian love,

Upon the dead and dying!

Across the silence seem to go

With dream-like motion, wavery, slow,

And shrouded in their folds of snow,

The friends we loved long, long ago!

And while we gaze, how dim appears

This world's life, through a mist of tears!

Vain hopes! wild sorrows! needless fears!

Such is the scene around me now:

A little church-yard, on the brow

Of the wild Alpine hill:

And loudly, here, is heard the flow

Of the lone mountain-rill.

What lulling sound, and shadow cool,

Hangs half the dark sepulchres o'er,

From thy green depths, so beautiful,

Thou gorgeous sycamore!

HOUSE OF GIRGIUS ADEEB, AT ANTIOCH.

Hospitality to the stranger was the virtue of the East in ancient times, when it derived from the pastoral life of the patriarchs a charm, a simplicity, and a picturesqueness which is rarely found at present, save among the Arab tribes, who dwell in tents amidst their flocks and pastures. It seems to be the heritage of this people, even from the earliest tradition of their existence, even from the days of Esau: they are kind to the stranger who halts at their door; a repast is set before him, a lodging for the night is offered. The writer, when crossing an extensive plain in Syria, was obliged to put to the proof the hospitality of these people, whose encampment stood most invitingly in the way, the only habitations in the wilderness, if the expression may be applied to a vast tract of wild and rich pasture land. The tents were pitched on a long line, near a small and rapid stream; the numerous flocks and herds were grazing on every side. Since day-break we had travelled five or six hours, and had begun to look wistfully