Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1829.pdf/20

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"The sands of those deserts which lie to the westward of Egypt are encroaching on and narrowing, by a constant and irresistible inroad, the valley of the Nile of Egypt. We see the pyramids gradually diminishing in height, particularly on their western sides; and we read of town and villages which have been buried in the desert, but which once stood in fertile soil, some of whose minarets were still visible a few years ago, attesting the powers of the invading sand. * * * Advancing, I repeat, to the annihilation of Egypt and all her glories, with the silence, but with the certainty too, of all-devouring time! * * * We have a broad and inextinguishable flood of light breaking in on this death-like gloom."—Sir Rufane Donkin's Course, &c. of the Niger.

dwelt in a valley of sunshine, those Brothers; Green were the palm-trees that shadowed their dwelling; Sweet, like low music, the sound of the fountains That fell from the rocks round their beautiful home: There the pomegranate blushed like the cheek of the maiden When she hears in the distance the step of her lover, And blushes to know it before her young friends. They dwelt in the valley—their mine was the corn-field Heavy with gold, and in autumn they gathered The grapes that hung clustering together like rubies: Summer was prodigal there of her roses, And the ringdoves filled every grove with their song.