GEOLOGY. 711 



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 hght, 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 splendour of the constella- 

 tions announces 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 sombre 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 trans- 

 parent pearls on our morning flowers, but an intoxicated 

 bacchante, with burning 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 corruscations 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. 



