Page:Syria, the land of Lebanon (1914).djvu/23

Rh up to the level profile of the central ridge, two miles above the sea.

This "goodly mountain," which dying Moses longed to see, became to Hebrew poets the consummate symbol of all that was most strong and virile, most beautiful and enduring. The springs of Lebanon, the forests of Lebanon, the glory of Lebanon — of these they dreamed and, in ecstatic eulogy or lofty spiritual hope, of these they loved to sing. "Thou art a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and flowing streams from Lebanon," exclaims the hero of the Song of Songs. "The smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon." The bride, too, sings of her lover, "His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars." In more solemn vein, the prophets who spoke of the coming Day of Jehovah drew imperishable imagery from these northern mountains. "The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.… The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it." Israel "shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.… They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon." " The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together."

Toward evening I strolled out to the end of the [ 3 ]