Page 138. _The moonbeam._ In Scripture is this passage—“The sun shall not harm thee by day, nor the moon by night.” It is, perhaps, not generally known that the moon, in Egypt, has the effect of producing blindness to those who sleep with the face exposed to its rays, to which circumstance the passage evidently alludes. Page 139. _The lone Albatross._ The Albatross is said to sleep on the wing. Page 139. _The murmur that springs, etc._ I met with this idea in an old English tale, which I am now unable to obtain and quote from memory:—“The verie essence and, as it were, springe-heade and origine of all musiche is the verie pleasaunte sounde which the trees of the forest do make when they growe.” Page 140. _Have slept with the bee._ The wild bee will not sleep in the shade if there be moonlight. The rhyme in this verse, as in one about sixty lines before, has an appearance of affectation. It is, however, imitated from Sir W. Scott, or rather from Claud Halcro—in whose mouth I admired its effect: O! were there an island, Tho’ ever so wild, Where woman might smile, and No man be beguiled, etc. Page 141. _Apart from Heaven’s Eternity—and yet how far from Hell._ With the Arabians there is a medium between Heaven and Hell, where men suffer no punishment, but yet do not attain that tranquil and even happiness which they suppose to be characteristic of heavenly enjoyment. Un no rompido sueno— Un dia puro—allegre—libre Quiera— Libre de amor—de zelo— De odio—de esperanza—de rezelo. _Luis Ponce de Leon._ Sorrow is not excluded from “Al Aaraaf,” but it is that sorrow which the living love to cherish for the dead, and which, in some minds, resembles the delirium of opium. The passionate excitement of Love and the buoyancy of spirit attendant upon intoxication are its less holy pleasures—the price of which, to those souls who make choice of “Al Aaraaf” as their residence after life, is final death and annihilation. Page 141. _Tears of perfect moan._ There be tears of perfect moan Wept for thee in Helicon.—_Milton._ Page 142. _The Parthenon._ It was entire in 1687—the most elevated spot in Athens. Page 142. _More beauty clung, etc._ Shadowing more beauty in their airy brows Than have the white breasts of the Queen of Love. _Marlowe._ Page 142. _My pennoned spirit._ Pennon, for pinion.—_Milton._ SCENES FROM POLITIAN [Illustration] SCENES FROM “POLITIAN” [Illustration] I ROME.—A Hall in a Palace. ALESSANDRA and CASTIGLIONE. _Alessandra._ Thou art sad, Castiglione. _Castiglione._ Sad!—not I. Oh, I’m the happiest, happiest man in Rome! A few days more, thou knowest, my Alessandra, Will make thee mine. Oh, I am very happy! _Aless._ Methinks thou hast a singular way of showing Thy happiness—what ails thee, cousin of mine? Why didst thou sigh so deeply?