The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 4, April, 1852Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 4, April, 1852
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
Morning dawned at last. The nightingale, the goldfinch, and the
swift-flying bunting, announced the rising of the orb of day; the
flowers unclosed their buds in the transparent morning ray, wafting
forth their delicious odors, and perfuming with their fragrance the
tranquil abode where breathed this innocent and lovely maiden. This
abode was within a small gallery, decorated with crystal; and surrounded
by vast shrubberies of the laurel, cypress, and myrtle, whose dark
foliage mingled with the fragrant boughs of the citron and lemon.
Through occasional vistas might be remarked, amid these labyrinths of
eternal green, the deep mulberry-colored branches of the towering
spice-tree, while the rose, the jessamine, and the mallow, crowned the
raised terraces in sweet luxuriance, seeming to vie with the tall
cassia, and darkening the bowers where the sunlight had been allowed to
penetrate by the abundance of their white and crimson bloom. The
blue-bell, the white lily, and the lily of the valley, blossomed
beneath, shedding their perfume on the lower earth, as though too lowly
to mingle with the clouds of fragrance emitted by the loftier plants,
above which in their turn the ambitious woodbine exalted its gay
festoons; and in the more distant shades of the garden, the green sward
spread a soft and variegated carpet over the ground, spangled with
plants of the dwarf violet, and aromatic spikenard. It was upon these
scenes that the eyes of the fair Hebrew unclosed, after her long and
profound sleep. So fair a sight filled her with a tranquil and serene
pleasure; the warbling of the singing birds that fluttered amid the
branches around her, or flew here and there amid the flowery mazes of
the garden, were heard with delight, and while she watched them she
envied them their liberty.
It was with surprise and admiration that the young Jewess examined the
embellishments of this gallery, which were, indeed, a triumph of art and
ingenuity. Again and again did she admire it, reclining on her couch.
One of the Moorish ladies, seeing her attention thus engaged, addressed
her, with an affectionate salutation. Sol replied in accents of
kindness, and entered into conversation with her, speaking with innocent
admiration of the picturesque beauty of the landscape she beheld from
this gallery.
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