THE STAR OF THE EAST. 131 



days and months and years. " God of the He- 

 brews/' continued he, as he left the chamber, and 

 looked from the house-top on the star-lit heavens 

 above him, " show now thy sign, and my heart shall 

 bless thee ; make manifest thy presence, and I will 

 give thee praise." Long and earnestly did the wise 

 man gaze on the countless orbs, as each in its bright 

 sphere rolled on in silent loveliness. Whether it 

 lifted its pale light above the eastern horizon, or 

 mounted higher in its glorious zenith, or declined 

 towards the darkened west, still his eye tracked its 

 onward course ; and still disappointment followed 

 its disappearance. One alone sunk not like the 

 others : one alone remained stationary in the illim- 

 itable space, shedding a bright yet hallowed radiance 

 on the sleeping world beneath. " Behold the hope 

 of Israel appeareth,''* exclaimed the enraptured spec- 

 tator, " God of their fathers, I thank thee ! " and 

 throwing himself prostrate, his heart rose to the 

 Great First Cause with as much devotion as the 

 Hebrew before the Holy of Holies, where so often 

 Jehovah had mysteriously manifested his presence. 

 Whilst the anxiety of his mind remained, the body 

 felt no weariness ; but now, when that anxiety was 

 changed for calm delight, his limbs relaxed, his 

 thoughts fled, and — with the words of praise still 

 faultering on his lips — the Philosopher slumbered. 

 When he again arose, the scene of starry gran- 

 deur had vanished, and its softened glory was re- 

 placed by the sun's rays struggling through a thin 

 white vapour which floated over the great river of 

 Babylon. From some parts this veil of morning's 

 beauty was removed, and discovered points more 

 lovely from their being rare. In a short time a light 

 breeze sprang up, and, sporting awhile with the 

 fleecy mass, at length dispersed it in all directions, 

 and displayed at once the scene of earth's former 

 magnificence, and present vanity. Before him lay 

 the remains of that " golden city," " the lady of 

 kingdoms, once abundant in treasures and the praise 



