Asia Volume 22 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 Excerpt: ... BENINA TO BELSHAZZAB. I Hear abroad The exultation of unfettered earth From east to west they lift their trampled necks, The indignant nations: earth breaks out in scorn; The valleys dance and sing; the mountains shake Their cedar-crowned tops The strangers crowd To gaze upon the howling wilderness, Where stood the Queen of Nations. Lo even now, Lazy Euphrates rolls his sullen waves Through wastes, and but reflects his own thick reeds. I hear the bitterns shriek, the dragons cry; I see the shadow of the midnight owl Gliding where now are laughter-echoing palaces O'er the vast plain I see the mighty tombs Of kings, in sad and broken whiteness gleam Beneath the o'ergrown cypress, --but no tomb Bears record, Babylon, of thy last lord; Even monuments are silent of Belshazzar Henry Hart ifilman. BABYLON. MANY a perilous age hath gone, Since the walls of Babylon Chained the broad Euphrates' tide, Which the great king in his pride Turned, and drained its channel bare, -Since the Towers of Belus square, Where the solid gates were hung That on brazen hinges swung, Mountain-sized, arose so high That their daring shocked the sky. Famous city of the earth, What maghian gave thee birth? What great prince of sky or air Built thy floating gardens fair? Thee the mighty hunter founded: Thee the star-wise king surrounded With thy mural girdle thick Of the black bitumen brick, --Belus, who was Jove, the God: He who each bright evening trod On thy marble streets, and came Downwards like a glancing flame, Love-allured, as fables tell. But the last who loved thee well Was the king whose amorous pride (All to please his Median bride) Fenced thee round and round so fast, That, while the crumbling earth should last, Thou, he thought, shouldst be, and Time Should not spoil thy lo...