TOMBS OF THE KINGS OF ARAGON. 213 



three feet wide, and the entire length about one hundred and thirty. 

 Pliny estimated it at one hundred and thirteen feet long by sixty-three 

 in height. According to Dr. Richardson, the stretch of the back is about 

 one hundred and twenty feet, and the elevation of the head above the 

 sand from thirty to thirty-five feet. 



According to some authors (says the Rev. Mr. Russel, from whose 

 able work on Egypt we copy this), the countenance of a beautiful woman is 

 combined with the body of a lion or other animal, intimating the alluring 

 aspect with which vice at first assails the unwary, and the besotted mon- 

 sters which she makes them when caught in her fangs. Others, again, have 

 regarded them as astronomical symbols, marking the passage of the sun 

 from the sign Leo into that of Virgo, and thereby shadowing forth the 

 happy period when the overflowing of the Nile diffuses the blessings oi' 

 heal tli and plenty throughout the whole land. 



MAN (20.) 

 Average height of five to six feet. 



God spake; he look'd on Earth and Heaven 

 With mild and gracious eye : 

 In his own image mail he made 

 And gave him dignity. 



He springs from the dust, 

 The Lord of the earth, 

 The chorus of Heaven 

 Exult at his birth. 



FROM THE GERMAN. 



TOMBS OF THE KINGS OF ARAGON. 



Aragon is one of largest provinces of Spain ; yet it is, at the same time, 

 one of the least populous, and the least susceptible of improvement. It 

 was formerly an important kingdom, and in the preamble to one of its 

 ancient laws, it is declared, that " such was the barrenness of the country, 

 and the poverty of the inhabitants, that were it not on account of the 

 liberties by which they were distinguished from those of other nations, 

 the people would abandon it and go in quest of a habitation to some 

 more settled region." Mr. Hallam is of opinion that the origin of the 

 kingdom of Aragon was contemporaneous with the Moorish 'conquests. 

 " On both sides of the Pyrennees dwelt an aboriginal people, the last to 

 under go the yoke, and who had never acquired the language of Rome." 

 After passing from the dominion of the Romans to that of the Goths, in 



