118 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



Dallaway represents the Seraglio of Constantinople as 

 " encircled with embattled walls, with its domes and 

 kiosques clustered in splendid confusion, and intermixed 

 with gigantic Cypresses, rising in the sea from an ele- 

 vation which nature seems to have intended for the seat 

 of dominion over the whole world.'" 



Lord Byron describes 



" The cypress saddening by the sacred mosque." 



Corsair. 



Again, he says, speaking of the Simoom : 



Beneath whose widely wasting breath 

 The very cypress droops to death ; 

 Dark tree ! still sad when others' grief is fled. 

 The only constant mourner o'er the dead." 



Giaour. 



Browne, it seems, was of a different opinion : 



'Tis not a cypresse bough, a count'nance sad, 



A mourning garment, wailing elegie, 

 A standing herse in sable vesture clad, 

 A toombe built to his name's eternitie. 

 Although the shepherds all should strive 



By yearly obsequies, 

 And vow to keep thy fame alive 

 In spight of destinies ; 

 That can suppresse my griefe . 



All these and more may be, 

 \^et all in vain to recompence 

 My greatest loss of thee. 



Cypresse may fade, the countenance be changed; 



A garment rot, an elegie forgotten, 

 A herse 'mongst irreligious rites be ranged, 



A toombe pliickt down, or els through age be rotten; 



