130 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
zebe, and during each successive reign, until it came 
into the possession of the English ; that its domes of 
pure gold have been induced to make the voyage to 
England; that the marble palaces and tesselated halls 
have been converted into store -rooms ? Who does 
not know that both Delhi and Agra, the first and 
second capitals of the most powerful and glorious 
empire of the East, are now little better than a heap 
of ruins, without trade — without a show of royalty ? 
But to those who have looked upon these magnificent 
relics of oriental grandeur there is no treat so great 
as talking or writing of them : it is with great self- 
denial that I refrain from telling my tale throughout, 
and turning over again my whole budget of inform- 
ation upon the subject; especially when I alight upon 
some favorite object of admiration. Thus, kind reader, 
if. I should ever weary you by my prosaic descrip- 
tions, I trust I may claim some sympathy in my 
overfond dilation of the scene. The poet Sadi 
makes the lover apologize for his wearisome rhap- 
sodies, in the following beautiful strain. “ My com- 
panion oft reproaches me for my love, will he never 
hehold her charms, that my excuse may he accepted ? 
Would to heaven that they who hlame me for my 
passion could see thy face, oh, thou ravisher of 
hearts! that at the sight of thee, they might be con- 
founded, and inadvertently cut their heads instead of 
the fruit which they hold, thou hast no compassion 
for my disorder: my companion should be afflicted 
