"It was no longer night: a star created by nature to illuminate the universe, shone with majesty. His course was marked by dignity; his motion by harmony, and his repose by serenity: every eye, even the weakest, was ready to contemplate it. From his car, resplendent over the universe, he spread his magnificence. As G.o.d enclosed in the ark all the works of creation, he collected, on the banks of the Seine, the animals, vegetables and minerals dispersed in the four quarters of the globe.
Every form, every colour, all the riches and instincts of the world were offered to our eyes, and to our understandings. Every thing was revealed; every thing enn.o.bled; every thing rendered interesting, brilliant or graceful. But a funeral groan was heard---Nature grieved in silence---with Buffon, the last lamp was extinguished."
_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
REMARKS ON MUSIC.
(Continued from page 124.)
Some Historians affirm that music was first known in Egypt, and by comparing the accounts of Didorus Siculus, and of Plato, there is reason to suppose, that in very ancient times the study of music in Egypt, was confined to the Priesthood, who used it only on religious and solemn occasions; that, as well as sculpture, it was circ.u.mscribed by law: that it was esteemed sacred, and forbidden to be employed on light or common occasions; and that innovation in it was prohibited; but what the style or relative excellence of this very ancient music was, there are no traces by which we can form any accurate judgment. After the reigns of the Pharoahs, the Egyptians fell by turns under the dominion of the Ethiopians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. By such revolutions, the manners and amus.e.m.e.nts of the people, as well as their form of government, must have been changed. In the age of the Ptolemies, the musical games and contests inst.i.tuted by these monarchs were of Greek origin, and the musicians who performed were chiefly Greeks. The most ancient monuments of human art and industry, at present extant at Rome, are the obelisks brought there from Egypt, two of which are said to have been erected by Sesostris at Heliopolis, about 400 years before the siege of Troy. These were by the order of Augustus brought to Rome after the conquest of Egypt. One of them called _guglia rotta_, or the broken pillar, which during the sacking of the City in 1527 was thrown down and broke, still lays in the Campus Martius. On it is seen the figure of a musical instrument of two strings and with a neck. It resembles much the calascione still used in the kingdom of Naples.
This curious relict of antiquity is mentioned, because it affords better evidence than, on the subject of ancient music, is usually to be met with, that the Egyptians at so very early a period of their history, had advanced to a considerable degree of excellence in the cultivation of the arts. By means of its neck, this instrument was capable, with only two strings, of producing a great number of notes.
These two strings if tuned fourths to each other, would furnish that series of sounds which the ancients call _heptichord_, which consist of a conjunct tetrachord as B. C. D. E; E. F. G. A; if tuned in fifths; they would produce an octave, or two disjunct tetrachords. The annals of no other nation than Egypt, for many ages after the period of the obelisk at Heliopolis, exhibit the vestige of any contrivance to shorten strings during performance by a neck or finger board. Father Montfaucon observes, that after examining 500 ancient lyres, harps, and citheras, he could discover no such thing.
A. O.
(_To be continued._)
_For the +New-York Weekly Magazine+._
THE ROSE--A REFLECTION.
Addressed to Mr. ----.
This morning it unfolded its beauties to the eastern sun; it exhaled its rich perfume; I beheld the beautiful flower with pleasure. A person past my window, and, no doubt, to please me, plucked it from the stalk. He gave it me; I placed it in my bosom. It faded--it died away--and when evening came it was no longer charming.
Vain man! in this flower thou mayest behold an emblem of thyself. Thou too in the morning of thy days wast amiable. But when thou hadst arrived at mature age, then thou wast severed from conscious innocence; then thou didst imbibe the vices of the age. As the flower lost its crimson hue, thou wast fast losing thy hold of virtue. And as the rose had entirely faded, so rect.i.tude, integrity, innocence, and every amiable virtue became strangers to thy heart; and left thee, entirely, a man of the world.
L. B.
_October 25. 1796._
GENEROSITY.
Generosity is the part of a soul raised above the vulgar. There is in it something of what we admire in heroes, and praise with a degree of rapture.
In paying his debts a man barely does his duty, and it is an action attended with no sort of glory. Should _Lysippus_ satisfy his creditors, who would be at the pains of telling it to the world? Generosity is a virtue of a very different complexion. It is raised above duty, and, from its elevation, attracts the attention and the praises of us little mortals below.
CURIOUS OBSERVATIONS.
The word _Pat_, has a peculiarity hardly belonging to any other; read it which way you will, though it forms different words, yet they are exactly of the same import, for a _Pat_, or a _Tap_, it is well known, signify a gentle stroke.
The word _murmur_ read backwards, repeatedly names a liquor that some people are remarkably fond of, viz. _rum rum_; and when this dear delightful beverage cannot be had, read it forwards, and it will shew you what they will be very apt to do, viz. _murmur_.
Again in the word _gla.s.s_---this is what some men love exceedingly, and if we use what is called the _aph.o.e.risis_, or the taking away of a letter, it will then be what most men love, viz. a _la.s.s_, but take away the _l_, and the remainder will shew what he is who loves neither a _gla.s.s_ nor a _la.s.s_, viz. an _a.s.s_.
Interesting History Of _THE BARON DE LOVZINSKI._
With a relation of the most remarkable occurrences in the life of the celebrated COUNT PULASKI, well known as the champion of American Liberty, and who bravely fell in its defence before Savannah, 1779.
_Interspersed with Anecdotes of the late unfortunate KING of POLAND, so recently dethroned._
(Continued from page 135.)
Lodoiska uttered the most dreadful groans, to which I answered by cries of fury. Boleslas rushed from one part of the prison to another, like a madman; he sent forth the most terrible howlings; he attempted to burst open the door with his hands and feet. As for myself, I remained at the window, and shook, amidst my transports of fury, those ma.s.sive iron-bars which I was unable to bend.
All of a sudden, the domestics, who had lately mounted the battlements, descend with precipitation, and open the gates: we heard the voice of Dourlinski himself, begging for quarter. The victors instantly precipitate themselves amidst the flames; and being at length attracted by our cries, they force open the door of our prison with their hatchets.
By their dress and their arms, I know them to be Tartars: their chief arrives----it is t.i.tsikan!
"Ah! ah!" exclaims he; "it is my brave friend!"
I instantly throw myself on his neck:--"t.i.tsikan!----Lodoiska!----a lady!----the fairest of women!----in that tower!----about to be burnt alive!"
These were the incoherent expressions by which I made my feelings known.
The Tartar instantly gives the word of command to his followers----they fly to the tower---I fly along with them---Boleslas follows us. They burst open the doors; and near to an old pillar we discover a narrow, winding stair-case, filled with smoke.
The Tartars, affrighted at the danger, start back: I prepare to ascend.
"Alas! what are you about?" exclaims Boleslas.
"To live or die with Lodoiska!"