Page:Pleasant Memories of Pleasant Lands.djvu/125

 100 JEWS* BURIAL GROUND.

washed by a stream, and spanned by a graceful structure appropriately called the &quot; Bridge of Sighs.&quot; On its apex is a lofty column, surmounted by a colossal statue of John Knox, and visible to a great distance. It was erected before the spot was consecrated to the purposes of general sepulture.

It was a bright morning when we walked there, and the sun rested pleasantly upon the homes of the dead, the turrets of the grand old cathedral in its vicinity, and the noble city stretching itself beneath. That portion of the cemetery appropriated to the Jews was deeply buried in shades, and had an air of solemnity border ing on desolation. Over the entrance was inscribed, &quot; I heard a voice from Ramah ; lamentation, mourning, and woe ; Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they were not.&quot;

On the shaft of a column, which is finished in imi tation of Absalom s Pillar in the King s Dale at Jerusa lem, are the stanzas from Byron s Hebrew Melodies, commencing,

&quot; Oh, weep for those, who wept by Babel s stream.&quot;

How adapted to the dispersion and sorrow of the chpsen, yet scattered people, is the close of that pathetic effusion :

&quot; Tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast, Where shall ye flee away and be at rest ? The wild dove hath her nest, the fox his cave, Mankind his country, Israel but a grave.&quot;

�� �