thine eye on that thick mist, into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it."

+

14. I directed my sight as I was ordered, and, whether or not 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. 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.

15. 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. 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.

16. "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 sea shore. There are + myriads 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 degrees 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. Every island is a paradise accommodated to its respective inhabitants.

+

17. "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." I gazed, with + inexpressible pleasure, on those happy islands. At length, said I, "Show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie under those dark clouds, that cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of adamant."

18. 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. 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 Bagdad, with oxen, sheep, and camels, grazing upon the sides of it. ADDISON.

QUESTIONS. What is this kind of fiction called? Why is the scene of almost all allegories laid in the East? Why is instruction conveyed by parable or allegory, more likely to be remembered than that communicated by any other method? What is figured by the arches of the bridge? What, by the pitfalls? Who are the persons with cimeters? What are meant by the birds and winged boys? What do the islands represent? What do you suppose is intended by the "dark clouds," and why did not the Genius reply to this question?

Explain the inflections in paragraphs 5, 6, and 7. What inflection prevails in the 13th paragraph ?

LESSON LXXXI.

REMARK.-Observe the poetic pauses in the following lines, viz: one at the end of each line, and the cesural pause, which occurs near the middle of the line.

ARTICULATE distinctly.-Dust, not duss: just, not juss: old, not ole: bold, not bole: rust, not russ: trust, not truss: fast, not fass: last. not lass: lust, not luss: Je-ru-sa-lem, not J'ru-s'lem.

1. Vas'-sal, n. a servant, a subject.
Scep'-ter, n. a kind of staff borne by
kings as a sign of royalty.

2. Throng, n. a crowd, a great multitude.
3. Her'-ald-ed, p. introduced as if by a
herald.

Rue, v. to regret deeply.

4. Ran'-som-ed, a. rescued from death or captivity by paying an equivalent.

5.

Gor'-geous, a. showy, splendid.
Mar'-tyr, n. one who suffers death in
defense of what he believes to be
the truth.

A DIRGE.

1. "EARTH to earth, and dust to dust!"
Here the evil and the just,

Here the youthful and the old,
Here the fearful and the bold,
Here the matron and the maid,
In one silent bed are laid;

+

Here the vassal and the king,
Side by side, lie withering:
Here the sword and scepter rust:
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust!

2. Age on age shall roll along,
O'er this pale and mighty throng;
Those that wept them, those that weep,
All shall with these sleepers sleep:
Brothers, sisters of the worm,
Summer's sun, or winter's storm,
Song of peace, or battle's roar,
Ne'er shall break their slumbers more;
Death shall keep his sullen trust:
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust!"

3. But a day is coming fast,

Earth, thy mightiest and thy last!
It shall come in fear and wonder,
Heralded by trump and thunder:
It shall come in strife and toil;
It shall come in blood and spoil;
It shall come in empires' groans,
Burning temples, trampled thrones:
Then, ambition, rue thy lust!

"Earth to earth, and dust to dust!"

4. Then shall come the judgment sign;
In the east, the King shall shine;
Flashing from heaven's golden gate,
Thousands, thousands round his state,
Spirits with the crown and plume;
Tremble, then, thou solemn tomb;
Heaven shall open on our sight;
Earth be turned to living light,
+Kingdom of the ransomed just!
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust!"

5. Then thy mount, Jerusalem,
Shall be gorgeous as a gem:
Then shall in the desert rise
Fruits of more than +Paradise,
Earth by angel feet be trod,
One great garden of her God!
Till are dried the martyr's tears
Through a thousand glorious years:
Now in hope of him we trust:
"Earth to earth, and dust to dust!"

CROLY.

QUESTIONS.-For what occasion is a "Dirge" used? What is inculcated in the 1st stanza? What is taught in the 2d stanza? What, in the 4th? What, in the 5th? What is the argument of the whole ?

To what words in this lesson, does Rule VI, §1, for inflections, apply ? To what, Rule II? To what, Rule IV?

Parse the first "earth," in the first line.

LESSON LXXXII.

REMARK.- -In reading any thing solemn, a full, slow, and distinct manner should be preserved, and particular attention paid to the stops.

PRONOUNCE Correctly and ARTICULATE distinctly.-Might-i-ly, not might'ly: re-mem-ber'd, not re-mem-bud: lux-u-ri-ous, not lux-u-r’ous : wid-ow, not wid-der: mourn-ing, not mourn-in: o-dor-ous, not o-d'rous: i-vo-ry, not i-ver-y, nor i-v'ry: del-i-ca-cies, not del'ca-cies: trump-et-ers, not trum❜p-tuz.

1. AND after these things, I saw another angel descending from heaven,

Having great power: and the earth was enlightened with his glory:

And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying,

She is fallen! she is fallen!

5. Babylon the great!

And is become the habitation of demons,

And the hold of every impure spirit;

And the cage of every impure and hateful bird;

For in the wine of the wrath of her lewdness hath she pledged all nations;

10. And the kings of the earth have with her committed lewdness; And the merchants of the earth, from the excess of her wanton luxury, have waxed rich.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying,
Come out of her, my people;

That ye be not partakers of her sins,

15. And of her plague that ye may not receive:
For her sins have reached up unto heaven,
And God hath remembered her iniquities:
Repay to her as she also hath repaid,

And double to her double, according to her works.

20. In the cup which she hath mingled, mingle to her double; As much as she hath glorified herself and played the luxuri

ous wanton,

So much give to her torment and sorrow:

For in her heart she saith:

"I sit a queen

25. And a widow am not I:

And sorrow I shall not see;

Therefore, in one day, shall come her plagues;

Death, and mourning, and famine.

And with fire shall she be consumed!!

30. For strong is the Lord God, who hath passed sentence upon
Then shall bewail her, and smite the breast for her,
The kings of the earth who have committed
Lewdness with her, and lived in wanton luxury,
When they shall see the smoke of her burning,

her.

35. Standing afar off, because of the fear of her torment; saying, "Woe! Woe! the great city, Babylon, the strong city!

In one hour thy judgment is come!"

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her,
For their merchandise no man buyeth any more:

40. Merchandise of gold and silver;

Of precious stones and pearls;

And of fine linen and of purple ;

And of silk and scarlet;

And every odorous wood and every vessel of ivory;

45. And every vessel of most precious wood;

And of brass, and iron, and marble;

of

And cinnamon and amomum;

And perfumes, and myrrh, and incense;
And wine and oil;

50. And fine flour and wheat;

And cattle and sheep;

And horses, and chariots, and slaves;

And the souls of men:

And the autumnal fruits of thy soul's desire are gone from thee;

55. And all delicacies and splendors have +vanished from thee;

And thou shalt never find them any more

!

The merchants of these things, who were enriched by her,
Shall stand afar off because of the fear of her torment,
Weeping and mourning; saying,