Beaufort, Emily Anne: Egyptian sepulchres and Syrian shrines: including some stay in the Lebanon, at Palmyra and in Western Turkey ; in 2 vol. (Band 1) (London, 1862)

FAREWELL TO PALMYRA.

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Oh! slowly then we elomb the harrier hill,
Where stand a hundred tombs of ancient story,
AVith one long gaze regretful eyes to fill —
Fit place of farewell to Palmyra's glory!

Here stood the sad dethroned Queen, and wrung

Despairing hands where golden fetters clung,—

Here stood to upbraid those mountains stern and great

She deemed sure guardians from the younger world,—

Here gazed upon the splendid home where late

The widowed Queen her own proud banners furled,—

Now — o'er Palmyra, Koman eagles wave,—

Her Temple courts profaned—her Queen, a slave !

But yet, I trow the anguish of that gaze,

Dwelt less upon the pride of brighter days,

Than on the Tombs —now of their treasures reft—

Where thrice four hundred years of honour slept;

And half in envy burned as she descried

The Tomb of that first Queen—th' Egyptian Bride,

(For whose delight, 'tis said King Solomon raised

This home, more lovehy far than that she praised

On mighty Egypt's shore of still unrivalled fame);

And thought how calm she slept—untouched by shame,—

With those proud hearts that Death alone could thrall—

Closed eyes that wept not for their Daughter's fall!

'Tis said Zenobia made another home,

By Tiber's banks, in stern ungrateful Kome,

That on her brow—divinely calm—there reigned

The impress of serenest peace unfeigned:

Hot such the mark that guilt or shame confers,—

Nor chains nor fetters could that soul degrade,—

Erect, she bore the vassal's sign—and made

The shame Aurelian's—and the triumph hers !

Yet oft, I ween, when Evening's golden haze,

In clouds of sunlight wrapped her wondering gaze,

Home's cruel walls no more the heart enthralled,

By memories fond to that loved home recaUed ;

Beneath the shade of waving palms she dwelt,

Before Apollo's sacred shrine she knelt,

Her homage paid as fancy saw again

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