[FROM COWPER.]

A RAVEN, while with glossy breast,
Her new-laid eggs she fondly press'd,
And, on her wicker-work high mounted,
Her chickens prematurely counted.
A fault, philosophers might blame,
If quite exempted from the same,
Enjoyed at ease the genial day;
'Twas April, as the bumpkins say;-
The legislature called it May;
But suddenly, a wind, as high
As ever swept a winter's sky,
Shook the young leaves about her ears,
And filled her with a thousand fears,
Lest the rude blast should snap the bough,
And spread her golden hopes below.
But just at eve the blowing weather,
And all her fears were hush'd together.
"And now," quoth poor unthinking Ralph,
"'Tis over, and the brood is safe."
(For RAVENS, though as birds of omen,
They teach both conjurors and old women;
To tell us what is to befal,

Can't prophesy themselves at all.)
The morning came, when neighbour Hodge,
Who long had mark'd her airy lodge,
And destined all the treasure there,
A gift to his expecting fair,

And bore the worthless prize away.

MORAL.

Safety consists not in escape
From dangers of a frightful shape;
Fate steals along with silent tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.

THE FOX AND THE SWALLOW.
[FROM DODSLEY.]

A Fox, swimming across a river, happened to be entangled in some weeds that grew near the bank, from which he was unable to extricate himself. As he lay thus exposed to whole swarms of flies, who were galling him, and sucking his blood, a offered to drive them away. "By no means," SWALLOW, observing his distress, kindly said the Fox; "for, if these should be chased away, who are already sufficiently gorged. another more hungry swarm would succeed; and I should be robbed of every remaining drop of blood in my veins.

FROM BEYROUT TO DAMASCUS.
"A CITY in confusion fair,

Magnificently formed, irregular; Where woods and palaces at once surprise; Gardens on gardens, domes on domes, arise." Lady M. W. Montague. Ir may be a matter of curiosity with some of my readers to know who I am, how I arrived at Beyrout, and the cause of my journey; therefore, for fear they may entertain some erroneous notions upon the subject, suffice it to say, that I formerly belonged to one of Her Most Gracious Majesty's ships; that I endured,

in common with others, a certain amount of sea-sickness, and the usual discomforts attendant upon sea voyages; and that my visit was not from choice.

Like many others in the navy, my rambles were made without any regard to arrangements here to-day, there tomorrow; and my present purpose is to give only such of them as present either the greatest novelty, beauty of scenery, or historical associations, along the shores of the great sea.

We started from Beyrout at five o'clock in the morning, in the early part of September-a goodly troop of men and cattle, with eatables and drinkables, pipes, guns, &c., and we were all fully determined to make a merry trip of it, if we did nothing else.

The morning was bracing, clear, and gladsome; the air resounded with the chirp of birds, and the lane through which we wound our path, with the hum of the muleteer's song, the tramp of our horses and mules, and the clank of our waterbottles, chains, &c. Ever and anon one of our muleteers would start off at a full gallop, giving a shout, and flourishing his pipestick in imitation of the Bedauwi, and

he was soon followed by another of our guides, and then by the whole party.

We struck off, after crossing the plain of Beyrout, into a beaten path leading over Lebanon, our way lying through groves of prickly pears (cactus opuntia), olives, and the sweet-smelling mimosa. We had scarcely gained the foot of the mountain, when the sun arose in all the splendour alone to be witnessed in the East, and

"The air

The rugged road he has just passed, the slow pace he travelled on the whole, the heat, his companions, the novelty of the costumes, the khan, and his mode of living, are all forcibly contrasted with those at home. It has been said that comparisons are odious, but in such a case I deny it; for home, dear old England, always conquers. When far away from those we love, and those that love us, who have

flinging rays

That seem like diamond darts,
Shot from a fairy's bow-

The murmuring sounds of mossy streams, discoursing

Of happiness as they flow-the song of birds-
And deep hymn of the branch that bends
Its proud form to the wind-"

all filled us with pleasure.

On we went, dashing up the side of the mountain at the lower part, and after crossing a brook, arrived at the first khan, where we speedily proceeded to refresh both ourselves and horses.

First impressions, it has often been said, are everything; and mine were favourable with respect to the khan- the inn of the East. There is something very consoling, nay even jolly, in the bubbling nargeleh and cup of coffee that is presented on alighting from your horse, though the legions of ravenous fleas that assail you on every side, the smoke from the wood fires that make you weep with out woe, and the tough, pancake-looking dirty bread, take away a considerable portion of the romance and beauty of Eastern travelling, when experienced very often. Yet, notwithstanding all these discomforts, the khans are, most unquestionably, just the sort of thing that is required nice cool retreats for the weary wayfarer from the scorching heat, when

budding years, have beheld us grow up under their fostering care, have awarded praise when due, and censured justly can we forget them? No! the heart yearns after them and the scenes of our childhood; there is a feeling that no one can describe, or conquer, that we must all have experienced at some time, when away from cherished scenes, a thrill passes through us at the very mention of their names.

From this khan the road ascends the steep side of the mountain, and turns and winds round in such a manner, that it appears as if the summit would never be reached; for, on account of the winter rains washing away the soil, the roads are obliged to be made, in most parts, in angular terraces. They almost defy description: covered with stones as large as an ordinary sized turnip, you are in danger of a fall every minute, as they keep rolling about; and not the least unpleasant thing is a shower of them occasionally from a terrace above you, caused by some wild Arab dashing on. Happy the man that escapes without one or two falling on him! No sooner have you arrived at the summit of a hill, and began to examine the picturesque scenes around, which you have secretly promised to enjoy as a recompense for the multitudinous joltings of the past two hours, than you are doomed to undergo the labour and inconvenience of descending again into the valley, and ascending on the other side, in order to reach a place not more than ten minutes' ride in a straight line-a process which generally occupies an hour at least.

We certainly did not quite like the idea of travelling along such roads, with a

yawning precipice beneath us at least eighty or a hundred feet deep; but the sagacity and sure-footedness of our noble horses soon inspired us with confidence, and, before long, we were regardless of chasms, steeps, declivities, or precipices. We dined at two o'clock off grapes, figs, and a host of European delicacies, among which some oyster soup was prominent, and some rum-grog. While we rested and feasted, our beasts were not forgotten; they had a feed of chopped straw, and were rubbed down with some grass; then, all being refreshed, the traps repacked, and the whole party mounted, we set off again. Our path lay between two ridges of the mountains, which were high, broken, and rugged on either side, ever presenting the appearance of extreme old age; and the road, encumbered as it was with fallen rocks, was exceedingly difficulty for our horses to thread, so that we were in constant apprehension of a tumble.

The sun has set, and as the day was fast waning, we arrived at our haltingplace for the night. Here we found about twenty mules, laden with slabs of marble for paving court yards, and the muleteers quarrelling about some eggs, which, after being cooked for their supper, had been stolen. Their gestures, language, and costumes were striking; and so were they, for they found the thief, and thrashed him pretty soundly.

As soon as the wrangling was over, we turned our attention to our own affairs, looked after the horses, examined the khan, made up a fire, unpacked the baggage, and, in fact, endeavoured to make ourselves comfortable.

The khan was built of mud, and contained two rooms; a sort of store for corn, chopped straw for the horses, and the constant fare of all khans, viz. eggs, goatcheese, figs, grapes, and the pancake-looking bread, which is almost tough enough to write upon.

In form, the khan was square, with a rude colonnade in front; under this we hung our hammocks-for, sailor-like, we carried them with us; and not finding the cold air of the mountains too agreeable as an evening companion, we wisely fastened up some baggage coverings and

blankets to the inside of the colonnade, so as to make ourselves snug.

It may be well to remind my readers, in case that they should ever travel in the East, that there are certain things which they will find convenient and comfortable on a short journey like this; the requisites for a long one shall be given in one of my future rambles. In the first place, by all means have a hammock, as it will save you from the legions of fleas that celebrate European arrivals, and be a much softer and more comfortable bed than any you can get in the mountain districts. The next thing is a couple of gimlets of two sizes, and two cot-hooks, to append the hammocks to; the gimlets will serve the double purpose of boring the holes for your hooks, and for hanging your various things upon, so that they may not afford shelter for the fleas. A few pieces of twine and cord are very handy on many occasions, particularly when a stirrup is broken, or a sumptermule rolls over in the road with all the eatables, breaking the boxes, and letting the contents get adrift. Pins, a few buttons, and some needles and thread, are also in frequent request, but, too generally, not in response. Above all, do not forget a pocket-flask, to contain some drinkable, be it wine or water; as thirst in the desert is not very agreeable when you have not the means of quenching it.

We had scarcely arranged our quarters for the night, manufactured some excellent punch, and commenced a song, when one of our messmates made his appearance with some letters for several of the party, and a dispatch for another-now, alas! gathered to his fathers, with most of the merry group that were then assembled. The despatch was answered on the blank half-sheet of the letter; the officer writing it with a reed pen, and soot and water. When the business of the evening had been concluded, we resumed our mirth, and made what is generally termed " a night of it;" for the morning had dawned before we attempted to court sleep; but it was so intensely cold that we were unable to get a nap until the snow-capped summits of Lebanon had been gilded with the sun's rays.