(19) 
ON THE 
SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS 
OF 
SARDIS AND MYCEN£. 
By WILLIAM RATHBONE GREG, Esq. 
(Read December 13th, 1853.) 
“Years roll away oblivion claims 
Her empire o’er heroic names; 
And hands profane disturb the clay 
That once was fired by glory’s ray, 
And avarice from their secret gloom 
Drags e’en the treasures of the tomb.” 
ALARIC IN ITALY :—MRS. HEMANS. 
To look back upon the history, and to trace the 
monuments of remote ages, is one of the most 
invaluable privileges of literary leisure. And 
no one can indulge, even for a few moments, in 
such an occupation, without feeling forcibly the 
truth of Dr. Johnson’s remark, as to the eleva- 
ting influence of such studies on the mind. 
The occasional indulgence of them, in addition 
to the genuine pleasure it bestows, tends almost 
insensibly to give us juster notions of the rela- 
tive value of what is present and immediately 
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