676 THE UNIVERSE. 



has first of all to disperse the thick veil of mist, ere it can 

 appear in all its splendor. 



In our foggy country, night fades away in tranquil maj- 

 esty. When dawn begins to appear behind the forest or the 

 icy diadem of the mountain, the first gleams of day scarcely 

 illume the pale azure of the sky. And if we were permit- 

 ted to see our pale Aurora athwart the last folds of the 

 tunic of Morpheus, she would appear with that fresh and 

 pleasing countenance which ancient poesy gave her. 



But in the East, that palace of light, this phenomenon 

 shows itself in forms as varied as they are marvellous ; the 

 richness of our most fairy-like decorations is left behind by 

 reality. When the paling splendor of the constellations an- 

 nounces the advent of day, the region where the sun is 

 soon to launch himself into the heavens is covered with an 

 immense and thick black curtain. In a short time this som- 

 bre veil of clouds is irregularly rent, as if, in their aerial 

 dances, the joyous sylphs had torn it here and there, in order 

 to discover to us the dazzling fire on the horizon. Then the 

 Nubian Aurora appears, looking as if she had issued from 

 the furnaces of Etna. She is no longer the fresh and timid 

 goddess, whose tears distil in transparent pearls on our 

 morning flowers, but an intoxicated bacchante, with burn- 

 ing eye and purple visage, whose black tresses float loosely 

 over the azure vault, and who, with fingers of fire, opens the 

 blazing gates of the East. Then, sparkling coruscations are 

 shot from every fragment of night's mantle, which breaks 

 up in all directions, whilst the festoons on high allow us to 

 catch a glimpse between them of celestial vistas of sapphire 

 and opal. 



