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broken arches, which, added to those that were entire, made up the number about an hundred. As I was counting the arches, the genius told me that the bridge consisted at first of a thousand arches; but that a great flood swept away the rest, and left the bridge in the ruinous condition I now beheld it: "But tell me further," said he, "what thou discoverest on it.".

"I see multitudes of people passing over it," said I, "and a black cloud hanging on each end of it."

As I looked more attentively, I saw several of the passengers dropping through the bridge into the great tide that flowed underneath it; and, upon further examination, perceived there were innumerable trap-doors that lay concealed in the bridge, which the passengers no sooner trod upon, but they fell through them into the tide and immediately disappeared. These hidden pit-falls were set very thick at the entrance of the bridge, so that throngs of people no sooner broke through the cloud but many of them fell into them. They grew thinner towards the middle, but multiplied and lay closer together towards the end of the arches that were entire. There were, indeed, some persons, but their number was very small, that continued a kind of hobbling march on the broken arches, but fell through one after another, being quite tired and spent with so long a walk.

I passed some time in the contemplation of this wonderful structure and the great variety of objects which it presented. My heart was filled with a deep melancholy to see several dropping unexpectedly in the midst of mirth and jollity, and catching at everything that stood by them to save themselves. Some were looking up towards the heavens in a thoughtful posture, and in the midst of a speculation stumbled and fell out of sight. Multitudes were very busy in the pursuit of bubbles that glittered in their eyes and danced before them; but often when they thought themselves within the reach of them their footing failed and down they sank. In this confusion of objects I observed some with scimitars in their hands, who ran to and fro upon the bridge, thrusting several persons on trap-doors which did not seem to lie in their way, and which they

might have escaped had it not been thus forced upon them. The genius seeing me indulge myself on this melancholy prospect, told me I had dwelt long enough upon it. "Take thine eyes off the bridge," said he," and tell me if thou seest anything thou dost not comprehend."

Upon looking up, "What mean," said I, "those great flights of birds that are perpetually hovering about the bridge, and settling upon it from time to time? I see vultures, harpies, ravens, cormorants, and among many other feathered creatures, several little winged boys that perch in great numbers upon the middle arches."

"These," said the genius, "are Envy, Avarice, Superstition, Despair, and Love, with the like cares and passions that infest Human Life."

I here fetched a deep sigh. "Alas!" said I, "man was made in vain! How is he given away to misery and mortality, tortured in life and swallowed up in death!"

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The genius, being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. "Look no more,' said he," on man in the first stage of his existence in setting out for eternity, but cast thine eye on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it."

I directed my sight as I was ordered, and (whether or no 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 farther 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. 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 singingbirds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. Gladness grew in me at the discovery of so delight

ful 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 on the bridge. "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 sec, and more in number than the sands on the sea-shore; there are myriads of islands behind those which thou here discoverest, reaching farther than thine eye, or even thine imagination can extend itself. These are the mansions of good men after death, who, according to the degree 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 in its respective inhabitants. 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 the happy islands. At length, said I, "Show me now, I beseech thee, the secrets that lie hid under those dark clouds which cover the ocean on the other side of the rock of adamant."

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 Bagdat, with oxen, sheep, and camels grazing upon the sides of it.

EXERCISE.-33. PARSING, ETC.

1. Parse the first three sentences.

2. Analyze the first three sentences.

3. Write out the second and third persons singular, and the first persons plural of the indicative moods of the verbs:-keep, have, be, fall, say, hear.

4. Parse the word that wherever it occurs in the second paragraph. 5. Parse the simple and compound relatives in the lesson from the fortieth to the seventieth line.

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des-ert [L. desertus, from de, negative, and sero, to bind], a barren spot, a wilderness. im-pa-tient [L. in, not; patior, to suffer], restless, fretful, eager. curbed [F. courber, from L. curvo, to bend], checked, restrained. ex-iled [L. exsul, an exile, from ex, from; solum, the ground], banished, sent from one's country.

My beautiful! my beautiful! that standest meekly by, With thy proudly arched and glossy neck, and dark and fiery eye,

Fret not to roam the desert now with all thy winged speed, I may not mount on thee again-thou'rt sold, my Arab steed;

*The Hon. Mrs. CAROLINE ELIZABETH SARAH NORTON, whose maiden name was Sheridan, is the granddaughter of the famous Richard Brinsley Sheridan. She was born in 1808, and in 1827 was married to the Hon. George Chapple Norton, a son of the first Lord Grantley. She is as well known as a novelist as a poetess. A writer in the Quarterly Review styles her "the Byron of our modern poetesses." "She has," he continues, "very much of that intense personal passion by which Byron's poetry is distinguished from the larger grasp and deeper communion with man and nature of Wordsworth. She has also Byron's beautiful intervals of tenderness, his strong practical thought and forceful expression. It is not an artificial imitation but a natural parallel."

Fret not with that impatient hoof, snuff not the breezy wind

The further that thou fliest now, so far am I behind.

The stranger hath thy bridle rein, thy master hath his gold; Fleet limbed and beautiful, farewell! thou'rt sold, my steed, thou 'rt sold!

Farewell! these free, untired limbs, full many a mile must roam,

To reach the chill and wintry sky which clouds the stranger's home.

Some other hand, less fond, must now thy corn and bed prepare;

The silky mane I braided once must be another's care.

The morning sun shall dawn again, but never more with thee

Shall I gallop through the desert paths where we were wont to be.

Evening shall darken on the earth, and o'er the sandy plain, Some other steed, with slower step, shall bear me home

again.

Yes, thou must go; the wild, free breeze, the brilliant sun and sky,

Thy master's home--from all of these my exiled one must fly.

Thy proud, dark eye will grow less proud, thy step become less fleet,

And vainly shalt thou arch thy neck thy master's hand to

meet.

Only in sleep shall I behold that dark eye glancing bright; Only in sleep shall hear again that step so firm and light; And when I raise my dreaming arm, to check and cheer thy speed,

Then must I startling wake, to feel thou'rt sold, my Arab steed.

Ah! rudely then, unseen by me, some cruel hand may chide, Till foam wreaths lie, like crested waves, along thy panting

side,

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