The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 1, July 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 1, July 1837
Various
Periodicals
Subsequently, an Armenian army, which had come to relieve Zenobia,
are seen from the towers to strike their tents, throw down their
allegiance to the Queen, and join the army of Aurelian. The following
picture of the besieged city affords a striking contrast to the
brilliant metropolis which our readers have seen described in the
former letters:
"This last has proved a heavier blow to Palmyra than the
former. It shows that their cause is regarded by the
neighboring powers as a losing one, or already lost, and that
hope, so far as it rested upon their friendly interposition,
must be abandoned. The city is silent and sad. Almost all the
forms of industry having ceased, the inhabitants are doubly
wretched through their necessary idleness; they can do little
but sit and brood over their present deprivations, and utter
their dark bodings touching the future. All sounds of gayety
have ceased. They who obtained their subsistence by ministering
to the pleasures of others, are now the first to suffer--for
there are none to employ their services. Streets, which but
a little while ago resounded with notes of music and the
loud laughter of those who lived to pleasure, are now dull
and deserted. The brilliant shops are closed, the fountains
forsaken, the Portico solitary--or they are frequented by
a few who resort to them chiefly to while away some of the
melancholy hours that hang upon their hands. And those who
are abroad seem not like the same people. Their step is now
measured and slow, the head bent, no salutation greets the
passing stranger or acquaintance, or only a few cold words
of inquiry, which pass from cold lips into ears as cold.
Apathy--lethargy--stupor--seem fast settling over all."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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